Unconventional Suitors 02 - Her Unconventional Hero by Ginny Hartman Page B

would not lead to another uncomfortable encounter but that it could be pleasant for the both of them.
    By the time he returned to the Desmond’s townhouse, Lady Adel was waiting for him adorned in a blue and white striped pelisse with a fetching bonnet perched atop her head. He offered her his arm and led her to his carriage where he helped her alight before joining her on the seat.
    As soon as his driver had pulled away from the curb, he turned to her and said, “I spent some time scanning The Morning Post this morning,” then waited to observe her reaction. Her face remained impassive so he continued. “I don’t usually read the scandal sheets, but a certain name happened to catch my eye.”
    “Oh?” she inquired as calmly and unaffected as could be. “Who’s name would that be, my lord?”
    “Lady Grace,” he stated as he watched her shrewdly for any reaction at all. Her green eyes didn’t even blink. Her face betrayed no reaction whatsoever.
    After a moment, she turned to gaze out the side of the carriage. “I myself do not pay much heed to the scandal sheets. There is enough gossip being passed around London’s drawing rooms that I find I do not need to seek it out in the papers as well.”
    Griffin felt relief at her words, convinced that she had no part in the gossip printed about Lady Grace. Not that he had ever truly believed she would have done something so ludicrous, but it was good to be reassured nonetheless.
    ***
    Adel hadn’t realized that she had been holding her breath until she released it in a long, slow huff. She sincerely hoped that Lord Straton would not be able to tell how her heart was racing at his words. She had underestimated his astuteness. Perhaps he was more observant than she gave him credit for. She would have to be much more careful in the future when trying to obtain her information. She hoped he was convinced by her indifference to the conversation.
    She was infinitely relieved when he finally said, “I do not care much for gossip myself.”
    Giving him a shy smile she asked, if only to change the subject. “Tell me about your family, Lord Straton.”
    “My family?” he exhaled slowly as he casually reclined against the seat.
    “Yes, your family. I find myself somewhat curious about the man who insists on placing himself as my protector.”
    “I don’t view myself as your protector,” he said irritably.
    “Oh really? I thought your interest in me was purely as a protector of sorts, hoping to save me from the men who would only pursue me because of the generous dowry bestowed by my father.”
“Why do you fault me for being concerned for your happiness?”
Adel laughed sardonically. “I highly doubt your concern is for my happiness, my lord.”
    “Your high opinion of me is flattering. If you must know, my concern is genuine. My mother died as well, not too long ago, and I fear that as a result, my only sister suffered miserably because of it.”
    Adel was startled by his admission. Ignoring the reason for the conversation, she couldn’t help but ask, “Did you suffer as well?”
    Her eyes searched his face, hoping to see some real emotion instead of the mask of impassiveness he always wore. He refused to meet her eyes, turning his head to stare out the side of the carriage instead. Several moments passed by and Adel was afraid her bold question had offended him. She was just about to make her apologies when he turned back to her, settling dark eyes upon her.
    “No one could possibly understand how much I miss her.”
    Adel sucked in a sharp breath, the raw pain in his eyes taking her off guard. For a moment she felt as if their mutual pain had blended together, bonding them in a completely unexpected way. She found herself admitting her own sadness to him in a voice barely above a whisper. “It’s the worst sort of pain I’ve ever experienced. I keep waiting for it to diminish, hoping time will dull the heartache, but it never does.”
    “Sometimes it feels