Free Unconventional Suitors 01 - Her Unconventional Suitor by Ginny Hartman

heart, but he refused to allow it full access knowing full well that if his mother found out about his father’s infidelity, it would affect her much more intensely than his silly attire or poor reputation ever would.
    “You are not looking well, Mother. I think you should consider staying in for the evening and resting. Perhaps you aren’t quite ready to enter back into society. Surely the ton will understand that.” He sincerely hoped she would take his advice to heart.
    Much to his chagrin, large pools of tears welled up in her eyes. “Benedict, why are you doing this to me? To yourself? Your father left you a vast fortune and a title and estate to be proud of. You can afford fine clothing, and you will need them if you wish to attract an acceptable wife. Perhaps you are not interested in that now, but someday you will meet a lady of quality who turns your head, and I would hate to see her not give you a second glance because of your poor appearance.”
    Benedict’s mind wandered back to the conversation he’d had with Lady Gillian where she had begun to question society’s high estimation of appearances. “Mother, I do not wish to find a wife who is only concerned with vain and frivolous things. I wish to find a wife who is interested in more than the cut of my clothing, who is interested in the man I am inside.”
    His mother searched his face in that uncomfortable way only a mother could, with an odd mixture of love and disappointment. “Oh Benedict, is this a scheme you have concocted in hopes of finding a wife who is not shallow?”
    “Perhaps, but my reasons do not matter. I am a grown man and do not find the need to justify my every decision to you.” Benedict knew his words sounded harsh, but the pain that filled his mother’s eyes made him feel like the lowest of cads.
    “I think you are right, I am not feeling well. I will not be going to the ball tonight after all.” His mother held her head high as she shouldered past him, but as she began making her way up the stairs he saw her shoulders slump and he felt horrible.
    “Mother,” he called out to her. “Please forgive me for speaking so harshly.”
    “Never mind,” she said, not even bothering to turn around. “You are a grown man; you do not need to explain your actions to me. You’re opinion has been duly noted, and I will not interfere with your life again.”
    Benedict was speechless. He had never felt so horrible in all of his life. He tried to temper his guilt the entire way to the ball, but that just resulted in his guilt being replaced with an anger directed at his bacon-brained friends. By the time he reached the ball, he was steaming and ready to plant a facer to each one of their perfectly sculpted faces.
    The thought of seeing Lady Gillian was the only thing that helped elevate his mood and alleviate his yearning desire to call out his friends. By the time he walked into the ballroom, he had only barely managed to replace his anger with the desire to behold her lovely face.
    The Barringtide ball was a veritable crush, he thought as he shrewdly scanned the occupants trying to locate Lady Gillian. His gaze paused on every brunette he beheld, anxious to find the one person he had come to see. He found her dancing merrily with a gentleman he didn’t know. The man was tall and undoubtedly handsome and looking down upon Lady Gillian with unmistakable interest. A twinge of jealousy furled within him as he watched Lady Gillian laugh at something the man said. He hardly noticed the dance end, or his friends making their way to him until he heard Griffin speak.
    “Ah Beni, you are looking splendid tonight! Do tell us how Lady Gillian liked the poem we wrote.”
    “Yes,” Marcus interjected. “Please do tell us everything.”
    “She hated it,” Benedict spit out between clenched teeth. “Just as you knew she would.”
    Warren had the gall to look offended. “Lud! How could she have hated such an eloquently written verse? I’ll