Chapter 15
Fifteen
“It is unfathomable that you are sitting here, waiting for a suitor,” Chastity teased, flopping onto the settee across from her sister. “I mean, Lord Gillies of all people, who would have thought?” She winked mischievously.
“Chastity!” Minerva hissed, her face warming. “He is a gentleman, and he is coming to call on me. That is all you need to know.”
“Such a gentleman,” Samantha chimed in, draping herself over the arm of the chair.
“Why are you here again?” Minerva demanded, glaring at her friend.
“We thought you needed moral support,” Samantha teased, plopping down next to Chastity. “Or at least coaching, so you do not make a mess of it.”
It was calling hour, and today she was expecting Lord Gillies to arrive.
She had prepared herself for this moment, going over everything in her mind—what she would say, how she would react.
Lord Gillies was a suitable match, after all.
He was steady, respectful, and his intentions were clear.
This is exactly what you want, she reminded herself.
Yet, no matter how much she told herself that, there was an unsettling flicker of doubt that she couldn’t shake.
Her mind kept drifting to the night before—the tension on the dance floor, the way Evan’s smirk had faltered when she mentioned Lord Gillies calling on her.
And now, she was left with the gnawing feeling that something about this arrangement wasn’t quite as simple as she had hoped.
Minerva gave them both a sharp look, but before she could scold them further, the doorbell jingled. Her heart gave a small leap, and she rose to her feet, smoothing her skirts. “He has here,” she whispered, more to herself than anyone else.
Samantha stifled a giggle, but Chastity did not bother hiding her grin. “Oh, this will be fun.”
But when the maid entered the drawing room, she wasn’t followed by Lord Gillies.
“Lady Minerva,” the maid said softly, “a delivery has just arrived for you.”
Minerva blinked in surprise. “A delivery?”
Chastity gasped dramatically. “Well, someone certainly knows how to make an impression!”
Minerva’s brow furrowed as she approached the bouquet, her fingers brushing the petals.
The extravagant bouquet of flowers was lush, vibrant, and far too grand for an ordinary calling hour.
The arrangement was stunning, with little red roses, blue delphinium, and deep blue clematis that seemed to overflow from the vase.
It was the kind of bouquet one couldn’t ignore. “Who are these from?”
The maid handed her a small card. Minerva hesitated before taking it, her curiosity piqued. She unfolded the card, and there, in neat, bold handwriting, were the words: If his are not bigger, show him the door.
Her heart skipped a beat, and she felt her face flush with a mix of irritation and amusement. No signature was needed—she knew exactly who had sent them.
“Who are they from?” Samantha asked, leaning forward with interest.
Minerva’s mind raced. She quickly folded the card and tucked it into her palm. “Oh, just... flowers from a friend,” she said, her voice a little too high-pitched.
Chastity raised an eyebrow. “A friend? A very bold friend, if you ask me.”
“Indeed,” Samantha chimed in, her eyes twinkling with curiosity. “I did not know any of your friends had such extravagant taste.”
Minerva forced a smile, willing herself to keep calm. “It is nothing, really. A gesture of... goodwill.”
Chastity looked at her, narrowing her eyes suspiciously. “Minerva, you are blushing.”
“I am not,” Minerva shot back quickly, trying to suppress the heat in her cheeks. “It is just warm in here.”
“Oh, is it?” Chastity teased, exchanging a knowing glance with Samantha. “Or is it because you have been hiding something from us?”
“I am not hiding anything!” Minerva snapped, but her protest sounded weak even to her own ears.
Samantha tilted her head, eyeing the flowers. “These are meant to match your eyes, aren’t they? Whoever sent them knows you quite well.”
“If my memory does not mistake me, the rosebuds and delphinium, with clematis, that almost sounds like forbidden love to me,” Chastity said, watching Minerva skeptically.
Minerva’s heart pounded in her chest as her sister and friend continued their teasing. She needed to steer the conversation away from Evan and these ridiculous flowers, but no matter how hard she tried, the memory of his smirk, his voice, his infuriating presence stayed with her.
Just then, the doorbell rang again, saving her from further interrogation. The maid returned, this time announcing Lord Gillies.
Chastity grinned. “Saved by Lord Gillies’s impeccable timing.”
She couldn’t let thoughts of Evan distract her—not now, not with the man she was supposed to be considering for marriage standing right in front of her. But as much as she tried, the flowers—and the man who sent them—stayed stubbornly at the front of her mind.
Minerva felt her face flush with a mix of frustration and... something dangerously close to amusement. Of course he would do this, she thought, biting back a smile.
His audacity knew no bounds, and yet here she was, standing in her own drawing room, staring down at a bouquet of flowers far more ostentatious than any proper gentleman should have sent during calling hour.
How dare he? Minerva’s fingers tightened around the edge of the card, though she couldn’t entirely suppress the small, treacherous part of her that found the whole thing absurdly amusing.
She stood there for a long moment, staring down at the flowers, trying to decide how she felt. Evan was toying with her—there was no question about that—but what unsettled her was how easily he seemed to slip into her thoughts, even now.
You are waiting for Lord Gillies, she reminded herself firmly. He has the one you should be thinking about. Not Evan. Not the Duke of Colburn.
The sound of footsteps echoed down the hall, and Minerva quickly slipped the card into her pocket, her heart racing. She straightened, smoothing her expression into something calm and composed. If Lord Gillies arrived now, she did not want him to see the confusion swirling inside her.
The footman reappeared in the doorway. “Lady Minerva, Lord Gillies has just arrived.”
Lord Gillies stepped into the drawing room with the same composed demeanor that Minerva had come to expect from him. His dark hair was neatly combed, his cravat tied perfectly, and his coat pressed with not a wrinkle in sight. He was, as always, the picture of respectability.
“Lady Minerva,” he greeted with a warm, practiced smile as he bowed slightly. “Thank you for receiving me this afternoon.”
“Of course, Lord Gillies,” Minerva replied, returning his smile with one of her own. She gestured for him to sit, keeping her tone polite and pleasant, even as the lingering presence of Evan’s flowers tugged at the edges of her mind. “It is a pleasure to have you here.”
Minerva’s thoughts wandered as she glanced briefly toward the extravagant bouquet on the side table. She had positioned it just out of immediate view, hoping that it wouldn’t draw too much attention during Lord Gillies’s visit. But her effort proved futile.
He noticed.
As Lord Gillies reached for his teacup, his gaze slid toward the flowers. There was a slight pause, barely perceptible, but Minerva caught it. His smile stiffened ever so slightly as he set his teacup back down, his fingers curling around the saucer just a little too tightly.
“Those are quite... lovely,” he remarked, his tone carefully measured, though there was no mistaking the undertone of irritation beneath his words.
As soon as Lord Gillies made his comment, Chastity, who had been lingering near the door with Samantha, exchanged a mischievous glance with her friend. Minerva barely had time to prepare before Chastity’s voice rang out, full of false innocence.
“Oh, those flowers?” Chastity began, her eyes twinkling. “They arrived just before you, Lord Gillies. Very impressive, aren’t they? You wouldn’t believe the audacity of the sender.”
Samantha stifled a laugh, her hand fluttering up to cover her mouth as she added, “Yes, quite the grand gesture, I would say. I do not think we’ve ever seen anything quite so... extravagant.”
Minerva shot them both a warning look, her cheeks flushing slightly. “Chastity, Samantha,” she said, trying to maintain composure, “perhaps you two could excuse yourselves for a moment?”
Chastity’s grin widened. “Of course, Minerva. We wouldn’t want to intrude on such an... important visit.” She emphasized the word with a teasing lilt before slipping her arm through Samantha’s and leading her toward the door. “We’ll just be in the garden if you need us.”
Samantha gave Minerva a sympathetic smile before following Chastity out, her quiet giggles trailing behind them as they disappeared into the hallway.
Minerva let out a small breath as they left the room, though her nerves were far from settled. She turned back to Lord Gillies, who had been watching the exchange with a polite, if slightly strained, smile.
“I trust You have had a pleasant morning, Lady Minerva,” Lord Gillies began, offering a smile that did not quite reach his eyes. His tone was as measured as ever, not a note out of place.
“Quite,” she replied, mirroring his smile. “And yourself?”
“Oh, very much so. I spent a portion of it overseeing the estate improvements. It is rather dull work, but necessary.” He paused, eyes flickering toward the extravagant bouquet of flowers sitting on the side table.
His gaze lingered just a moment too long.
“I see someone has already brightened your day.”
Minerva followed his gaze to the bouquet, the vivid blue flowers a perfect match for her eyes.
The note tucked between them, bearing Evan’s infuriatingly teasing words, suddenly seemed to radiate tension in the room.
“Yes, a rather unexpected gift,” she said, keeping her tone light, though her fingers tightened slightly on the armrest of her chair.
“From a gentleman caller, I assume?” Lord Gillies’s voice was casual, but there was an unmistakable undercurrent of displeasure beneath his words.
Minerva glanced at him, studying his face. His smile was still in place, but his fingers had gone rigid on the arm of his chair. “Not a caller, exactly. Merely an acquaintance.”
Lord Gillies raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. “An acquaintance with quite a... grand gesture.”
Minerva resisted the urge to roll her eyes. “I suppose some men enjoy making a show of things.”
He chuckled, though the sound was more forced than genuine. “Indeed. Some are more inclined toward spectacle than substance.”
She smiled, but it did not reach her eyes. “And some prefer to keep things simple, I assume?”
“Simple, but meaningful,” Lord Gillies agreed.
“I believe in actions that speak to a person’s character, not just their ability to impress.
” He leaned forward slightly, his gaze now fixed on her.
“It is one of the reasons I admire you, Lady Minerva. You are not one to be swayed by superficial gestures.”
Minerva nodded, though the compliment felt oddly rehearsed. “I have always valued sincerity above... grand displays.”
“Precisely,” he said, clearly pleased with her response. “That is why I wished to speak with you today, Lady Minerva. You are a woman of great poise and intelligence, and I find myself increasingly drawn to those qualities.”
Minerva’s smile tightened. “That is... kind of you to say, Lord Gillies.”
“I mean it,” he continued, oblivious to the subtle shift in her demeanor. “It is rare to find someone who values the same things, who understands the importance of duty and respectability.”
Minerva nodded, though something about his words left her feeling hollow. “Respectability is certainly important.”
“Quite,” he agreed. “And that is why I wished to ask if I might call on you more formally in the coming days.”
Minerva blinked. She had expected this—had even prepared herself for it. But now, sitting here, listening to his carefully chosen words, she felt... nothing. No thrill of excitement, no anticipation. Just the dull, nagging sensation that something was missing.
Before she could respond, Lord Gillies glanced at the flowers again, his smile faltering ever so slightly. “Though I must admit,” he said, his tone a bit stiffer, “I had not expected to encounter... competition.”
Minerva’s brow furrowed. “Competition?”
He gestured toward the bouquet. “I was under the impression that your attentions were not yet spoken for. But I see I may have been mistaken.”
Minerva’s cheeks flushed, not with embarrassment, but with irritation. “There is no competition, Lord Gillies. As I said, the flowers are from an acquaintance. Nothing more.”
“An acquaintance with rather bold intentions, it seems,” Lord Gillies said, his voice cooler now. “It would be remiss of me not to acknowledge it.”
Minerva’s eyes narrowed slightly. “I assure you, Lord Gillies, there is no need to concern yourself with the matter. The flowers were sent in jest.”
Lord Gillies’s lips pressed into a thin line, his composure cracking just enough for Minerva to see the bruised ego beneath.
“I see,” he said, though his tone suggested otherwise.
He straightened in his chair, his fingers drumming lightly on the armrest. “In any case, I hope you will consider my request to call on you more formally.”
Minerva forced a smile. “I will give it thought, Lord Gillies.”
“Very good,” he said, rising to his feet. “It has been a pleasure, as always, Lady Minerva.”
As she rose to see him out, Minerva couldn’t help but feel nauseous. A suitable match. Respectable. Agreeable. The words echoed in her mind, Everything she’d once wanted, but now they seemed so.. cold.