Unconventional Suitors 02 - Her Unconventional Hero Read Online Free PDF Page A

sat next to the fireplace reading a book of poetry.
    Neither of them noticed Adel joining them until she cleared her throat softly. Both heads snapped up to look at her expectantly, though Aunt Tabitha’s was filled with concern. “Dear child, are you not feeling well? Katherine told me that you were up early this morning, unable to sleep.”
    Adel waved away her aunt’s concern with one hand. “I feel much better now,” she lied as she went and sat next to Katherine on the settee, feigning an excessive amount of interest in her embroidery in hopes of deflecting any more questions.
    Though Aunt Tabitha held her tongue, Adel could feel her shrewd eyes inspecting her person, and it made her rather uncomfortable. She didn’t want any attention or pity from anyone. In hindsight, her rare display of emotions this morning was an embarrassment. She felt foolish for breaking down in tears and blubbering over her mother to Katherine. She was usually the strong one of the pair. She was the oldest sister after all, and it was expected that she should set the example for Katherine.
    Several minutes passed in stony silence before their butler, Edward, swept into the room. Holding a silver tray in one of his gloved hands, he bowed before Adel and stretched forth the tray, where a simple, nondescript white envelope sat. Adel reached forth and plucked the envelope from the tray, her heart beating frantically. She recognized the envelope for the simple fact that it did not have her name penned on the front.
    “Thank you, Edward,” she said as she quickly rose and retreated to the window, her back towards Katherine and Aunt Tabitha. She wanted desperately to remove herself to the privacy of her bedchamber but she knew that would only rouse her family’s suspicion. Instead, she hunched her shoulders and slid her finger underneath the seal of the envelope and slid the sheet of parchment from the folds.
    Dear Mrs. Tiddlyswan,
    I am writing to inform you that your most recent contributions to the scandal sheet of the Morning Post have been mediocre at best. While The Times has been reporting the most salacious of gossip, you have merely been reporting on the most mundane of topics, such as the severely outdated apparel of Lady Smith. Your next contribution must return us to your former talent of reporting on the most scandalous and most intriguing on dits of the ton, or we will be forced to terminate our agreement with you.
    Respectfully,
    Mr. Bell
    Adel quickly returned the missive to its envelope and stuffed it into the pocket of her day dress before anyone could see it. She knew that her contributions as of late had not been up to par, but she hadn’t thought them to be as awful as Mr. Bell had made them sound. She slowly made her way back to the settee where Katherine was staring at her expectantly, determined to redouble her efforts and try harder to be privy to the latest gossip of the ton .
    “Who was your letter from, Adel?”
    “No one,” she snapped, knowing she sounded waspish but knowing she couldn’t possibly tell Katherine about her secret identity as Mrs. Tiddlyswan.
    “Well it had to be from somebody, dear,” Aunt Tabitha pointed out. “It didn’t just write itself and deliver itself here, to your father’s townhouse, of its own accord.”
    Adel furiously tried to think of an excuse, as both Aunt Tabitha and Katherine’s eyes settled on her expectantly. Finally she answered lamely, “It’s from an old friend; that is all.”
    “How lovely. Which one is it from?” Katherine asked with delight, no doubt most anxious to hear word from one of their mutual acquaintances.
    Adel bolted to her feet, “I’m afraid it is from one you do not know. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I find that I am most eager to reply so that my response can be sent out with tomorrows post.”
    Without waiting for a reply, Adel disappeared from the room. She paused for a moment in the foyer, inhaling a deep breath before deciding to retreat