Gentleman's Guide 01 - His Impetuous Debutante Read Free Page A

and he was probably right. On her first night out she was
almost lured into the very situation she had been warned against.
Yet, she didn’t take too kindly to having her hand taken and placed
on this man’s arm. She hadn’t even been introduced to him,
regardless of his association with Noah. She tried to pull away but
his hand tightened. With their backs now to Carlyle, she looked up
at him in anger. “I believe you are one of the gentlemen my mother
suggested I avoid.” She wanted him to be as insulted as she was at
the moment.
    He merely chuckled. “Believe me, your
mother will view me as the lesser of two evils.” They stopped
directly in the doorway and the handsome gentleman shot a look
toward Noah.
    Phoebe saw her brother directly ahead,
bent over in conversation with the beautiful redhead she had seen
earlier. Currently the redhead was motioning toward the door with a
worried look. Was she trying to get her brother to take her out for
some cool air? Slowly, as his face lifted to hers, Phoebe saw the
worry that quickly turned into irritation when he spotted her
escort. The man holding her arm tensed and Phoebe was afraid Noah
would be angry with him when he had only helped her. As Noah
approached, she could sense his mood and groaned.
    “ It is not how it
appears,” she offered hastily, believing Noah thought that she had
already broken a rule by being seen with this man.
    “ On the contrary, it is
exactly what I feared,” Noah said through clenched teeth, while
keeping a pleasant smile on his face. Phoebe watched him curiously,
wondering how he did that.
    “ Please don’t be angry
with this gentleman.” She stopped and turned toward the stranger.
“I am sorry, but I don’t know your name.”
    He glanced toward Noah and then back
to her. A smile pulled at his lips. “Taylor Qualls, Earl of
Sandlin.” Bowing, he kissed her hand. “I am pleased to make your
acquaintance, Lady Phoebe.” He tucked her hand back in his elbow
again and faced Noah.
    Why, this man wasn’t dangerous at all.
In fact at this very moment, he appeared quite charming. His eyes
weren’t so very dark or hard any longer. They were actually a warm
brown, with flecks of gold, she amended to herself. The poor
lighting on the balcony must have caused them to appear otherwise.
He also had a lovely smile, with straight white teeth. This Lord
Sandlin was actually a very handsome man. She would have to see
about finding a wife for him as well.
    Shaking her thoughts, she turned her
attention back to Noah, hoping to calm him and keep him from
ruining a friendship. She started to open her mouth to speak, but
Noah glared at them both.
    “ I wasn’t angry with
Sandlin.” He shot a look at his friend. “However, his need to
escort you back can only mean one thing, sweet sister.”
    Phoebe stiffened. How could he know
what had almost occurred? She slid a glance at Lord Sandlin, then
back to her brother. Before she could offer a word, her escort
spoke, “Jeremy Carlyle.”
    Phoebe was humiliated on the spot. So
much for charming. She was hoping her little error would remain a
secret, but apparently not.
    Noah gave a quick nod of his head.
“That one didn’t waste much time.”
    Phoebe watched their exchange. Had
Lord Sandlin been sent to watch her? Ridiculous, it was just a
coincidence he had been on the balcony at the same time.
Regardless, she knew something was going on by the way her brother
and his friend exchanged looks and short phrases. At least the
tension began to leave their posture.
    “ Would you like me to take
care of it?” Lord Sandlin asked.
    Noah took on a stern look. “I believe
I will.”
    Taylor simply nodded, then glanced at
Phoebe and smiled. “While you see to him, Felding, perhaps you
would allow me a dance with your lovely sister.”
    A warning glare came from Noah, but he
approved the request. “As you have already been seen with her in
the doorway, you might as well,” Noah groaned and walked past