The Reluctant Debutante Read Online Free Page B

apple bob before he spoke.
    “So, Miss Fitzpatrick, remind me again. How long has it been since you’ve seen your brother?”
    “He’s been in the West for over a year. He looks completely different. I mean, he was always charming and handsome, but he was rather pasty-faced and not so rugged ... ”
    Her voice tapered off when she realized she was describing the same characteristics that Quentin possessed. She cleared her throat and decided to wait for him to ask the next question instead of digging a deeper hole for herself. She glanced around the room while waiting for Quentin to pick up the reins of the conversation, and spied Joseph standing beside Basil.
    Her gaze flickered from Joseph to Quentin as she assessed the two men. Joseph had beautiful light brown skin; Quentin’s pale white flesh hadn’t seen sun in months. Joseph’s strong black eyebrows arched above eyes that were like pools of dark chocolate; Quentin’s unruly brows met in the middle over pale blue nondescript eyes. Joseph had lips she wanted to kiss; Quentin’s protruding lips made her skin crawl. Joseph’s touch left her weak in the knees; Quentin’s sweaty palm made her want to pull back. Her head swiveled back and forth as Quentin made no further attempt at conversation and merely moved through the steps of the dance. She thought the waltz would never end. The moment the music stopped, Quentin deposited Ginger back at her mother’s side and quickly walked away.
    Ginger turned to her mother in exasperation. “I don’t care if my dance card is filled for the night. I want to talk to Basil. It’s been forever since we’ve seen each other. And we should welcome his friend into our midst, don’t you think?”
    “You will have all night to talk to your brother, not to mention the next few months during his visit here with us. It is such a coup to have your card filled so early in the evening of your first ball and you need to honor the requests of these fine gentlemen. Glance around the room and see all the women who are sitting by the walls, unable to find a partner for even one dance. You are an extremely lucky young lady, and I won’t have any of your foolishness. However, you’re right. We should welcome Mr. Lafontaine. I will let you have one dance with him. He’ll replace Halwyn on your dance card.”
    A shiver crept up Ginger’s spine. A dance with Joseph! She ducked her head as she replied, not wanting her mother to see her excitement. She willed her voice to be calm as well. “As you wish, Mother. One dance with Mr. Lafontaine. Basil can wait.”
    Charlotte and Ginger approached the two men at the edge of the family gathering, Charlotte spoke, “Mr. Lafontaine, we wish to welcome you to our town and into our family. I told Ginger she can have one dance with you this evening.”
    Joseph and Basil exchanged glances before Basil smiled slyly. “You’d best do what our mother says, Joseph, if you value your life.”
    Joseph took Ginger’s hand, and they took their place among the other couples on the ballroom floor. The crowd hushed as the strings of the violin and harp plucked out a gentle rhythm. As the dancers began moving around the floor, Joseph placed one hand on Ginger’s waist. She gulped and put her hand on his shoulder. And promptly tripped over her feet.
    She glanced up at him, horrified. He smiled slightly.
    “Calm down, ma petite . I will not bite. Just follow my lead.” His voice was soothing.
    She took a deep breath and raised her eyes to him again. “That’s exactly what you told me when we met yesterday. ‘Just follow my lead.’”
    “And by doing so you were spared the experience of going to jail and missing your ball. How is your arm?”
    “Oh, it’s fine. A little Pear’s Almond Bloom was all it took to hide the bruising.”
    “And your friend? Have you heard of her fate?”
    “No, I read in the paper that she had been arrested, but I haven’t had a moment to myself to talk to her. She gets