Candice Hern by Once a Gentleman Read Free Book Online

suspect.”
    “Yes. All of that. I know how you must despise them.”
    He looked into her clear blue eyes and saw nothing of guile or deceit. He knew in that instant that her ideals were as true as his own, that she had never “played” at reform, but had been a true colleague. He only had to recall how tireless she had been in her work on the magazine, especially with Edwina gone.
    It was this wretched forced marriage. There was a simmering anger deep down in his gut that he had kept in check all day, and the effort made him a bit crazy. He ought not to have doubted Pru. None of this was her fault.
    “They are your family,” he said. “Some of them may have different ideals than mine, but it does not matter. This is not a political meeting or public debate. It is a family affair, and I promise to exert myself to be charming.”
    She smiled and looked away, then, in a very low voice said, “That should not be difficult.”
    And so Nick steeled himself to face the noble Armitage family.
    They stepped onto the terrace, where several dozen fashionably attired people mingled and talked loudly above the din of voices. Covered tables were scattered about, and some guests were seated at them, picking at small plates of dainty-looking morsels. A few guests looked Nick’s way, but William led him and Pru down the steps to the garden below.
    “Let’s grab something to eat first,” William said. “I declare I am starved to death. I do hope Margaret has laid out a good spread. She likes to call this a breakfast, even though it is afternoon. I sincerely hope it is more than tea and toast.”
    The garden was filled with more small tables, but most people were standing or strolling about the gravel paths. It was an elegant crowd. Beneath the top hats and bonnets and turbans, it seemed that almost everyone was fair-haired, like Pru’s father and brothers. It was indeed a tall, big-boned, good-looking family. A gathering of Vikings. There was an occasional brunette and one or two redheads. Relatives by marriage, no doubt.
    His own dark coloring—inherited from his Italian grandmother—made him feel like a blot of ink on a pristine sheet of parchment. No wonder heads turned his way when they entered the garden.
    William filled a plate with food from the buffettable, though neither Nick nor Pru was inclined to eat. She was probably as wound up inside as he was. He did convince her to take a glass of champagne when a footman passed with a tray of glasses. He took one as well, and clinked his glass to hers in a silent toast. She stared at him for a moment, a quizzical, uncertain look in her eye. Then she gave a small shrug and brought the glass to her lips.
    “Come, Parrish,” William said, carrying a plate with him. “Let me introduce you to my aunt Jane, Lady Gordon.”
    And so it began.
    William led them to a tall, handsome woman who looked to be in her sixties, elegantly dressed in spotted muslin. “Hello, Willy,” she said. “You are looking positively mischievous. And who is this gentleman?”
    “May I introduce Nicholas Parrish, ma’am.”
    She offered her hand and peered at him through a quizzing glass held in the other. Nick took her hand but did not bring it to his lips. Not with a quizzing glass pointed at him.
    “How do you do, Lady Gordon?” he said.
    “I thought this was to be the family only, Willy. I will, however, forgive you bringing along your friend since he is such a handsome devil.”
    “He is family, Aunt Jane. He is married to Prudence.”
    Her brow furrowed. “To whom?”
    William inched his sister forward, though shehad not been hiding in the background. She was standing right beside him. “To Prudence, Aunt.”
    Lady Gordon looked at Pru as though only just noticing her. “Prudence? Married?” Her eyebrows disappeared beneath the silvery-gold curls peeking from beneath a turban of twisted muslin, and her wide-eyed gaze moved back to Nick. “To this young man?”
    “Yes, Aunt Jane,” Pru