Tenacious Trents 01 - A Misguided Lord Read Online Free PDF

September, he
was her guardian, leaving her little choice. If they weren’t so
broke, near penniless, she would have never agreed to come to
London. But they could not go on as they had. She needed a rich
husband and she didn’t care who he was as long as her family could
remain with her.

    *

    Clayton’s attention was drawn to the
door at the announcement of Lord and Lady Stanhope, and Miss
Westin. She looked radiant this evening with her mahogany tresses
curled gently around her head and a face that glowed with happiness
in the candlelight. She had more color than most debutants. Perhaps
it was because she played in the sun today without shading herself
with a parasol or hat. The light blue gown complimented her
complexion and hair, as well as her figure.
    The next family to arrive was Lady
Anne and her parents. The young woman, while pretty in pink, paled
in comparison to Miss Westin. Why couldn’t Miss Westin possess the
demeanor of Lady Anne?
    Clayton placed an empty glass on the
tray and made his way to Lady Anne’s side. If he did not claim a
dance now, they would all be taken. Gentleman always clamored to
her side the moment she stepped into the room, and for good reason.
Not only was she lovely, but her dowry would please any man. Not
that Clay needed funds. He was settled enough for this life and the
next generation. By the time he reached her side, the only
remaining dance was a quadrille toward the end of the evening. He
penciled his name in, bowed and turned away.
    At that very moment, Miss Westin took
a step back, right onto his left booted foot. With a squeak she
moved away and turned.
    “ Do you ever watch where
you are going, Miss Westin?”
    Color rose to her cheeks. “I am very
sorry, my lord.”
    “ You’ve met my
granddaughter?” Lord Stanhope inquired.
    Clayton forced a pleasant
smile. “No, actually. We bumped into each other at a ball the other
evening.” Collided was a more apt
description .
    Lord Stanhope looked between the two.
“Might I present my granddaughter, Miss Eleanor Westin. Eleanor,
this is Lord Bentley.”
    She dropped to a quick curtsey and
Clay bowed. Eleanor? The name didn’t quite suit her. It was so
staid for someone with such energy.
    “ It is a pleasure to meet
you, Lord Bentley.”
    “ And you, Miss Westin,” he
returned.
    He should excuse himself, but could
not make his feet move. What was it about this woman? He couldn’t
keep his eyes off her at the Pranth’s ball, nor last night. Then
today, after their encounter in the park, he spent far too much
time wondering about her and her younger brothers. Nothing good
could come from his interest, so why didn’t he just move
on.
    “ Might I see your dance
card?” Why was he asking her to dance? They were not suited so this
was simply a waste of time.
    A curious frown marred her brow but
she held it out to him anyway. The first dance was not claimed and
he penciled in his name. Perhaps once he danced with Miss Westin he
could put her from his mind.
    The strings began to tune in
preparation. Clay offered Miss Westin his arm and led her to the
dance floor. The perplexed look never left her face. Not that he
could blame her. He was perplexed as well. If any couple was ill
suited it was they.
    They continued through the motions of
the quadrille not uttering a sound. Other couples were engaged in
animated conversation, Clay was thinking about what to do next. How
long should he court Lady Anne before asking for her hand? Were
there rules he was unaware of? It was a shame she wasn’t as lovely
as Miss Westin. But that glint in Miss Westin’s eyes, as if she
knew secrets no lady should know, made it impossible to consider
her for the position as his countess. He would not repeat his
father’s mistake with his second wife. The pain had been too hard
as a child and he refused to experience it as an adult.
    “ Are you always so somber,
Lord Bentley?” Miss Westin asked with a hint of humor in her
voice.
    Startled,