Free Gentleman's Guide 01 - His Impetuous Debutante by Jane Charles Page A

was.
    “ Remind me that when an
offer does finally come, that she would accept, to make the
gentleman promise to have pianofortes in the houses where they will
reside.” Felding got up and poured them something stronger than
tea.
    “ Why is that?” Taylor’s
curiosity was getting to him.
    “ Believe it or not, Phoebe
tends to keep her most personal emotions inside. The music she
plays is often the only clue we have to her true emotional
state.”
    Taylor didn’t comment. He found it
difficult to believe that Lady Phoebe kept anything
inside.
    “ When Father died, she
barely shed a tear after the initial news. While we didn’t know if
Mother would recover, Phoebe stuck by her side, taking over the
duties of mistress to the house and seeing to my sisters. It was
only her playing Beethoven, Pachelbel, Vivaldi or Hayden for the
following months that reminded us that her mourning was as deep as
ours, if not deeper.”
    Taylor just nodded his
head. More personal
emotions . Perhaps it wasn’t the lesson he
had thought to teach her last night that had her so disturbed.
Perhaps she was awakened to the same frustrations plaguing him. As
much as he wished it were so, he also knew it was impossible to
pursue.

Chapter 8

    Phoebe continued to remain at her
brother’s side at every function they attended. Well, at least when
she wasn’t dancing. And, she never missed a dance with Lord
Sandlin.
    “ These evenings have
become quite mundane now that you are such an exemplary young
lady.”
    “ Please, Lord Sandlin,”
she begged. She hoped he wouldn’t mention the night of her
excursion. She wished she could forget it.
    “ I admire the restraint
you have shown.” He looked down at her, then twirled her across the
floor. “I’ve seen the longing in your eyes when you look toward the
gardens.”
    “ I will survive. Soon, I
will be in the country again, where it cannot be nearly as
stifling.” She wished he would leave her be. There was no reason
why he had to be anywhere in her vicinity. Didn’t he know how much
it pained her to care for him when he considered her nothing more
than Noah’s troublesome sister?
    While suitors came by on a regular
basis, Phoebe did not find any of them the least bit desirable. It
irritated and frustrated her that the only man she was attracted to
would never become a suitor.
    As the days and nights dragged on, she
looked forward to the house party more and more. At least in the
country she could get away from these huge gatherings and possibly
find time to be out by herself. If she could only find some peace
in the country air, alone, she knew she would feel much
better.
    Perhaps then she could play her music
again. She hadn’t dared touch the instrument since the day Lord
Sandlin and Noah interrupted her. The only music in her was the
same pieces she had chosen that day. Her family knew her too well
and she had no desire to alert them to her emotions.
    Sandlin said little else
and returned her to Noah at the end of the Waltz. There was barely
any room to move and men were constantly approaching her, asking to
dance. She did, it was expected. As the night continued, her
irritation grew to the point that she wanted to scream and leave
the place, which was something the ton would frown upon. She had to get
away. The air was stifling and the temperature rose by the moment.
The balcony called to her, with its cool evening breeze. She
watched as dozens of couples strolled, noting it was well lit,
easily observed from inside. It was a safe place where she could
get away from everyone.
    “ I will return shortly,”
she told her brother.
    Noah inclined his head, so that she
knew he heard her, but continued watching Lady Draden
dance.
    She strolled out into the moonlight,
inhaled deeply and allowed the tension to ooze out of her as the
cool breeze blew at her skirts and over her skin. Several people
stood in groups of two or more not far from her and this was no
different than standing in the