Unconventional Suitors 02 - Her Unconventional Hero by Ginny Hartman

not going to dance?”
    “Of course we are, but I wanted to tell you that the kisses we shared in my carriage—“
    “Well, well, if it’s not my favorite brother-in-law,” an arrogant voiced boomed behind them, cutting Lord Straton off mid-sentence. Adel wasn’t sure if she should be relieved or annoyed.
    Adel turned, curious to see the man that surely must be Rose’s husband, but it wasn’t just a man who had approached them, there was a lady as well. The Baron Moncreif was a stalky man with a nearly bald head, save it be a few wisps of greasy hair combed over the front to make it appear as if he had more hair than he actually did. Adel glanced from his bulbous nose, not wishing to spend much time on that unsightly feature, down to the dark shadow of hair across his jaw and figured he was the type of man whom, regardless of having just been shaved by his valet, still appeared slightly unkempt. How unfortunate that his head did not have the same ability to grow hair as his face did.
    What stood out to her more than the man’s appearance, however, was the lady clinging intimately to his arm. She was dressed in a tasteless dress that exposed an indecent amount of cleavage, her neck dripping with jewels. She wondered if they were a gift from the baron. She had heard of men giving extravagant things to their mistresses, though she had no knowledge of it firsthand.
    “Lord Moncreif, how…interesting to see you,” Lord Straton bit out as he stiffened next to Adel. “Especially with this lady on your arm instead of your wife.”
    Adel watched Lord Moncreif shrewdly, curious to see his response. The man had the audacity to not even appear slightly flummoxed.
    “Unfortunately, your sister has taken ill and wasn’t able to attend tonight.” It did not escape notice that the baron failed to introduce the woman on his arm.
    “I know that is false, for I just called upon her this afternoon and her health was fine.”
    Lord Moncreif coughed nervously into his hand. “Yes, she was feeling fine all day. Then suddenly, as she was being readied for the ball, she came down with a headache. Such a disappointment for her, since I know how much she was looking forward to attending.”
    Adel could practically feel the anger rolling off of Lord Straton’s body, and she certainly did not fault him, for Lord Moncreif’s blatant lies were upsetting her as well. Her eyes darted back and forth between the two men. For a brief moment she was afraid that Lord Straton was going to call the man out. Her respect for him multiplied when, instead of issuing a duel, he took her arm and led her away, giving Lord Moncreif and his mistress the cut direct.
    As soon as they were out of earshot, he turned to her and said, “I’m sure that scene will find its way into tomorrow’s gossip columns. I’m not sure what I was thinking giving my brother-in-law the cut direct. All I know is that it was the most polite thing I could think to do at the moment.”
    Adel knew that if such an incident were mentioned, it would not be in her column, for she had no desire to embarrass him for his actions which she found rather noble. “I’ll confess that I am rather proud of you for choosing the higher road. I was worried for a moment that things were going to turn violent.”
    “Oh, do not imagine that I haven’t fantasized about killing the man, for surely I have more times than I can count, but I couldn’t live with myself if I were to actually go through with it. I hope that doesn’t make you think less of me.”
    “Quite the contrary. I find it rather dignifying.”
    Lord Straton smiled down at her, “I must insist you cease with the compliments. I find them quite disheartening. I will never be able to live up to your lofty views.”
    Adel actually laughed, causing the remaining tension from the encounter with the baron to dissolve completely. “If you do not mind my boldness, I must insist you claim your dance at once, for I have some business I