Free His Not So Sensible Miss (A Gentleman's Guide to Once Upon a Time - Book 3) by Jane Charles Page A

you, my lady.”
    Taylor reached for her elbow and lifted
her back into a standing position. “What would your father have
said to that display?” he asked with a gruff tone, but a twinkle in
his eyes.
    “ That it is appropriate for
the circumstances, Lord Sandlin,” Emily replied
confidently.
    “ You have never addressed me
by my title before,” Taylor reminded her.
    “ We are no longer in my
father’s home with his rules.”
    “ It feels awkward and I
don’t like it. After all, we do share a history and I wish you
would continue to address me as you have in the past.”
    “ Very well, Taylor.” Emily
returned his smile, warmed that he really remembered her and sought
her out.
    Taylor turned to his wife.
“Professor Frasier refused us to be addressed by titles or even
last names in his home. He insisted it was to humble us to make us
better men than the current gentlemen of the ton . If we remembered we were men and
not aristocracy we would be better for it.”
    Emily warmed at the memory.
    “ I’ve been told.” Lady
Sandlin smiled and returned her attention to Emily. “You must call
me Phoebe as well.”
    “ I am not sure that is
proper, my lady.”
    “ Of course it is,” Taylor
interjected.
    Emily looked again at Phoebe, Lady
Sandlin, who nodded her head in agreement.
    “ I brought you some punch,
Emily, since you didn’t wish to join us for refreshments,” Her
Grace approached from behind Lord and Lady Sandlin.
    “ Thank you.” Emily accepted
the cup. “May I introduce Lord and Lady Sandlin. Lord Sandlin was a
student of my father’s”
    The older woman smiled warmly. “I am
well acquainted with them, my dear.” Her Grace turned to Lady
Sandlin. “You look lovely as always, dear, and how are the
children?”
    “ They are well, thank
you.”
    The duchess then turned her attention
to Lord Sandlin. “You, my lord, are you well also, and are you
taking proper care of your wife? Raising twins can’t be
easy.”
    Taylor wasn’t put off by the duchess.
“I try my best, Your Grace.”
    “ See that you do.” She
turned back to Emily. “I don’t know why it didn’t occur to me
before. I should have remembered that you would probably become
reacquainted with your father’s former students. Perhaps it would
have gotten you out of the house sooner.”
    “ It wouldn’t have mattered.
I would have doubted they’d remember me.” Emily
shrugged.
    “ How could we not?” Taylor
argued, then glanced at the duchess. “She was always part of her
father’s studies. Emily knew more about history than I and she was
merely a child. It was quite insulting and something none of us
forgot.”
    “ You exaggerate.” It was
nice to hear praise from one of them. Her father had chosen his
special students well.
    “ Did she take part in the
tutoring?” The duchess asked, intrigued.
    “ She was with us most of the
time when we visited. Her father liked having her close, and we
really didn’t mind. Even at a young age Emily had more maturity and
sense than the young ladies we met in society.”
    Emily looked away, her face heated at
the compliment.
    “ Well, she risks turning
into a spinster,” Her Grace informed him. “This is the first
function she has agreed to attend with my daughter and me. She
wouldn’t even allow my husband to give her a proper season and she
is now practically on the shelf.”
    Emily’s face was on fire after that
statement. “Your Grace, you know the reason as well as I.” Emily
wished the duchess would talk of something else.
    “ Posh.” Her Grace dismissed
her and returned her attention to Taylor. “Emily believes that
since her father was only a mere professor, she is unworthy of
the ton . Tell me,
do you really see that as a problem?”
    Taylor looked at Emily. “No. I believe
you are mistaken, Emily.”
    “ Please, can we discuss
something else?”
    Phoebe turned the topic of discussion
much to Emily’s relief. “Yes, why don’t we make plans?”
    “