A Gentleman Says "I Do" by Amelia Grey Read Free Book Online Page B

caught thinking about that man. She looked at her aunt, thinking to tell her one more time that Mr. Brentwood was not there to see her, but instead, she simply smiled. How did the woman do it? She was a completely different person this morning from who she was last night. Her hair was perfectly coiffed beneath the wide-brimmed straw hat, and her light brown carriage dress and accessories were impeccable. Her speech was well bred, and her cheeks naturally rosy. Catalina always loved her aunt, but this was the one she adored.
    “The truth is, Auntie, that I didn’t sleep well last night and awakened with a pain in my neck and my stomach feeling like it has a ball of yarn rolling around in it.”
    “You should have told me,” Aunt Elle admonished. “I would have gone to my cabinet and chosen one of my tonics for you. A generous dose is what you need. You would have felt better in no time at all.”
    Catalina laughed. “I don’t ever want to taste any of your tonics again. You can keep them all for yourself.”
    “But I have a cure for almost anything that ails you.”
    “I know, and you can keep them. One sip all those years ago was enough for me. I’d rather be sick than take your medicine.”
    Catalina smiled and refrained from saying more. Aunt Elle had a bookcase in her room crammed from top to bottom with bottles filled with tonics, elixirs, and more concoctions than Catalina had a desire to know about.
    She owed the knot in her stomach to Mr. Brentwood, and probably the pain in her neck, too. Medicine couldn’t take away those kinds of feelings. Mr. Brentwood had put her in an untenable position. He had been very brave to come into her home and threaten her father. That was something no gentleman should ever do, even if he had just cause. She probably wouldn’t believe he was serious if it weren’t for the rumor that Mr. Iverson Brentwood had given Lord Waldo a black eye. For that reason alone, she had to take the man at his word that he would seek out her father and harm him if anything else were printed about the Brentwood family.
    Her aunt’s eyes softened, and she patted Catalina’s gloved hands. “I’m sorry you don’t feel well, dearest.”
    “I’m fine, Auntie. Really, I’m enjoying looking at all the people, elegant barouches, and post chaises we’re passing.”
    “That’s my young lady. Keep your chin up. Now, I know you told me last week you didn’t want to do this, but I truly need you to go with me to Lady Windham’s party. All the others this week we can skip, if you insist. Even though she has been my dear, dear friend for many years, she will feel I have snubbed her if I don’t put in an appearance at her home. You know how easily she gets her stays bent out of shape.”
    Eloisa Lucinda Gottfried spoke the truth. She never went to a party alone anymore, and Catalina didn’t want her to. She teased her aunt by asking, “Are you trying to say that because you have come with me today I should go with you to Lady Windham’s party?”
    “Heavens no!” Her aunt laughed. “I’d never say that, but if you take what I said that way, I suppose it’s all right.”
    Catalina laughed, too. “Of course I will go with you, Auntie.”
    “Good. You can wear one of the new gowns we had made for the Season.”
    The laughter died in Catalina’s throat, and her smile slowly faded. She hadn’t yet told her aunt that she didn’t have new gowns for the Season. By the time Catalina had paid for her aunt’s and her father’s new clothing, along with everything else, there simply wasn’t the money for her. Catalina didn’t mind. She had made do with buying lace and other trimmings. Her modiste had done a lovely job of remaking her old dresses to look new by using contrasting fabrics to make flounces, bows, and ruffles. Hopefully, only the most discerning eyes would know the gowns were last year’s.
    Catalina breathed in deeply as the carriage came to a halt in front of the tall, imposing