The Guardian's Dilemma. Gail Whitiker

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      “Mr. Brandon, I must confess to a certain…surprise at having received your letter.

      “It is most unusual for a schoolmistress to spend time alone with the parent of one of her girls,” she observed.

      “I seldom trouble myself with what is or is not unusual, Miss de Coverdale,” Oliver replied. “I wished to speak to you alone and perceived this to be the best way of doing that.”

      “But what did you wish to speak to me about?”

      Oliver sent her a mocking glance. “Do you really need to ask that, given the nature of our first aquaintance?”

      The Guardian’s Dilemma

      Gail Whitiker

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

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      GAIL WHITIKER

      Originally hailing from Pembrokershire, Gail Whitiker now lives on beautiful Vancouver Island on the west coast of Canada. When she isn’t indulging her love of writing, you’ll find her enjoying brisk walks along the island’s many fine beaches, or trying to catch up her second love, reading. She wrote her first novel when she was in her teens, and still blesses her English teacher for not telling her how bad it really was.

      THE STEEPWOOD SCANDAL:

      Lord Ravensden’s Marriage, by Anne Herries

      An Innocent Miss, by Elizabeth Bailey

      The Reluctant Bride, by Meg Alexander

      A Companion of Quality, by Nicola Cornick

      A Most Improper Proposal, by Gail Whitiker

      A Noble Man, by Anne Ashley

      An Unreasonable Match, by Sylvia Andrew

      An Unconventional Duenna, by Paula Marshall

      Counterfeit Earl, by Anne Herries

      The Captain’s Return, by Elizabeth Bailey

      The Guardian’s Dilemma, by Gail Whitiker

      Lord Exmouth’s Intentions, by Anne Ashley

      Mr. Rushford’s Honour, by Meg Alexander

      An Unlikely Suitor, by Nicola cornick

      An Inescapable Match, by Sylvia Andrew

      The Missing Marchioness, by Paula Marshall

      Contents

       Chapter One

       Chapter Two

       Chapter Three

       Chapter Four

       Chapter Five

       Chapter Six

       Chapter Seven

       Chapter Eight

       Chapter Nine

       Chapter Ten

       Chapter Eleven

       Chapter Twelve

       Chapter Thirteen

       Chapter Fourteen

       Chapter Fifteen

       Chapter Sixteen

      Chapter One

      August 1812

      ‘Elope!’ The shocked exclamation burst from Oliver Brandon’s lips as he turned to stare at the young woman standing by the window. ‘What in the world are you talking about, Sophie? Gillian would never do such a thing.’

      ‘Wouldn’t she?’ Mrs Sophie Llewellyn glanced at her brother with an expression of amused indulgence. ‘You know what a headstrong young girl our stepsister is. She has the determination of three and she has shown in the past that if she is pushed too hard, she will rebel. Do you not remember that little incident several years ago?’

      Oliver snorted. ‘Gillian was ten years old when she set off for Dover on her pony. At seventeen, I expect her to have more sense.’

      ‘And at seventeen she should have, dearest, but that is not to say that she has. For all her protestations to the contrary, Gillian is very young. She has been pampered and cosseted most of her life and has not half the maturity you or I had at that age.’

      Oliver’s dark brows arched upwards in surprise. ‘Are you saying I’ve spoiled her?’

      ‘No, but she has certainly been indulged. And not only by you, so you needn’t look at me like that.’ Sophie’s mouth twitched. ‘I too am guilty of having given in to her whims. But Gillian has such a sweet, amiable nature that one cannot help oneself. However, you cannot deny that she likes to have her own way, Oliver, and when she doesn’t get it, she can become…’

      ‘Troublesome?’

      ‘I prefer to use the word challenging.’ Sophie smiled as if hoping to soften the criticism. ‘Troublesome has such a disagreeable connotation to it, don’t you think?’

      ‘Hmm.’ Oliver clasped his hands behind his back and joined his sister at the window. It was easy to discern the resemblance between the two. They both had the same dark, wavy hair and finely sculpted features of the Brandon side of the family, and the same height and physical stature of their late mother’s Howden connections. But that was where the similarities ended. In matters of personality and temperament, they were as different as night and day. Oliver might be only four years older than his sister, but his brooding countenance and serious nature often made him appear considerably more.

      At