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

Plans?” Emily
asked
    “ Yes.” Phoebe brightened.
“Are you free for dinner tomorrow evening? I thought you would like
to become reacquainted with some of your father’s other
students.”
    “ Lord Sandlin’s friends?”
She would love to see them all again, but would they treat her as
Taylor just had?
    “ Of course. I know they
would love to see you again. You have changed since they last saw
you,” Taylor encouraged.
    “ I’m not sure I have changed
that much.”
    “ Forgive me, Emily, but you
have changed very much. We last saw you as a young girl and now
here you are, a lovely young woman.”
    Emily turned to Her Grace for guidance.
“Yes, go, dear. Claresta and I are going to stay in tomorrow
evening, but that isn’t any reason why you shouldn’t go and enjoy
yourself.”
    “ I’ll call for you at
seven,” Taylor insisted.
    “ I can take His Grace’s
carriage.” Emily knew she would not be able to avoid the
dinner.
    “ A lady shouldn’t travel
alone, especially at night,” Her Grace reminded her.
    “ Very well. I’ll look
forward to seeing everyone again,” Emily stated graciously, trying
to ignore the butterflies in her stomach. She hadn’t seen any of
them since she was fifteen, except Noah. What if Taylor was wrong
about them wanting to meet her again?

    * * *
     
    Why didn’t he just call on her? Dillon
argued with himself. He knew where she lived, but how would he
explain their knowing one another? If Emily had been afraid to tell
her aunt and uncle of their association, he was certain she hadn’t
mentioned it to the duke. A gentleman doesn’t just call on a lady
without a proper introduction first.
    Each day he was becoming more and more
frustrated. If he didn’t see her soon, he would arrange an
introduction to Lady Claresta. At least that would get him in the
door. Besides, his mother would be overjoyed if she believed he was
interested in the duke’s daughter. Dillon had no intention of
allowing the young lady to believe it however, and he would have to
be careful in his approach.
    Unfortunately, that approach
would have to wait for another evening. His servants had learned
that the duke’s household was to remain in this evening. Why they
could never learn if Emily would be accompanying them he hadn’t
been able to ascertain. At least they had been able to find out
where and when the Duchess of Ellings and her daughter would be
present, saving him much time. Unfortunately, he had missed the
musicale the evening before, much to his irritation. Not that he
enjoyed that type of entertainment forced on the ton by eager parents each
season, he hated missing any opportunity he could have to finally
see Emily, if she ever decided to come out of hiding.
    Another reason he would have had to
forgo looking for Emily this evening was because of an invitation,
not to be ignored, from Phoebe. Taylor had given each of them the
sealed envelope stating, in a telling manner, that they would be
attending Phoebe’s impromptu dinner. There was to be a guest. A
lady everyone was familiar with but had not seen in sometime. None
of them could begin to guess who Phoebe’s mysterious guest was and
reluctantly agreed to join them that evening. Not that any of them
really had a choice in the matter.
    Had the Ellings family made plans for
the evening, Dillon would have probably missed Phoebe’s dinner and
suffered her anger later. At least he now had something to do
instead of sitting around, thinking about Emily.
    His decision was made as he dressed for
the evening. He was also running an hour behind. If Emily didn’t
show the following evening then he would begin a friendship with
Lady Claresta and find out where it led.
     
    * * *
     
    Emily was a bundle of nerves by the
time the carriage called for her. Her Grace had continually
reassured her and helped her pick the perfect dress.
    In the carriage Emily tried to calm
herself. It wasn’t nerves over seeing the gentlemen, it was being a
guest in