Read An Honest Deception Online

Authors: Alicia Quigley

Tags: #Nov. Rom

An Honest Deception (10 page)

“Now you are
speaking nonsense again,” declared Letitia.

The conversation
wound its way through still waters, and soon both Lord Eynsford and Lady Morgan
were easy in their minds that their earlier feelings had been nothing out of
the ordinary at all. The marquess departed with a promise to return soon, Lady
Morgan responded with a smile and a thank-you, and both returned home tolerably
pleased with themselves. If Letitia's dreams that night were haunted by a pair
of lapis-blue eyes she did not recall that in the morning, and if Lord Eynsford
could find no lady at the ball he attended that evening that he deemed worthy
of his attentions, he did not lay that at Lady Morgan's feet.

Chapter 16

Lady Morgan rested
in her sitting room, her feet up on a stool, her embroidery in her lap, a novel
in her hand. The children were playing in the nursery after their daily stroll
in the park. They had encountered Mr. Markham again that day, and once again he
had been very pleasant. He had played with the children they and discussed some
ideas for Jamie’s schooling. His ideas had been sensible and Letty had been
grateful for his advice. She smiled; his sureness comforted her.                

The housemaid
knocked on the door and entered the room. “Gentleman to see you, ma’am,” she
said, bobbing a curtsey.

“Whoever is it,
Nellie?” asked Letitia. She was not expecting Lord Exencour and could think of
no other gentleman who might be calling.

“The Bishop of
Mainwaring, ma’am,” replied the maid.

Letitia rose
hastily, about to tell Nellie to deny him, but she was too late. The doorframe
was filled with a presence, which bore down upon her solicitously.

“My dear Lady
Morgan,” said the presence. “I hope you do not mind me calling upon you. Bainstall
assured me that you would greet me with pleasure, and so I present myself. Your
cousin is a very dear friend of mine. Such an intelligent and sober gentleman.”

“Indeed,” said
Letitia. “My cousin has said the same of you.”

The bishop beamed
at her. He was both tall and rotund, which, along with a loud voice, allowed
him to easily dominate a room, though he believed it was his force of
personality, not his mere size, which permitted this. A Roman nose was the
focal point of his face, which also featured watery blue eyes and bushy eyebrows.
His graying brown hair was carefully brushed into a fashionable style and his
clothes indicated that, while he was a churchman, he still had an eye for
style, however little it became his stout figure. He appeared to be about
forty-five and gave off a strong aura of self-satisfaction.

“How kind of him,”
he announced. “Lord Bainstall has also told me pleasant things about you, Lady
Morgan. He spoke of your gentle and biddable nature and your many womanly
accomplishments. And when he said you were well looking, he did not do you
justice. You are quite lovely, quite lovely indeed.”

The bishop peered
at Letitia in a way that made her distinctly uncomfortable. She removed her
hand from his clasp and moved towards the settee.

“Will you not sit
down?” she asked.

Dr. Wolfe seated
himself with alacrity. “What a lovely home you have here,” he said. “I commend
you on your taste. Kensington, while not so fashionable as other areas, is well
suited for a widow in straitened circumstances.” At Letitia’s surprised look he
continued. “I know you will not mind that your cousin has shared with me the
details of your situation. As a man of God and a trustworthy friend he knew
that I could be trusted with such a confidence.”

The bishop paused
politely for Letitia’s comment, but as she was too startled to make one, he
continued.

“I must convey to
you my condolences on the death of your husband. I did not know Lord Morgan,
but I am sure he was a noble soul, as any member of such an old and
distinguished family must be. It is very sad that his life was cut short in
such an unhappy way.”

“Indeed,” said
Letitia, struggling to get her bearings.

“But as sad as a
death is, the survivors must go on,” continued Dr. Wolfe. “My own dear wife
died some two years ago, and I mourned her deeply, but now I find that it is
time I put that behind me. It would be selfish of a gentleman, still relatively
young and with a good fortune, not to marry again.”

“I am sure that
many women would find you a most eligible suitor,” Letitia answered cautiously.

“I thank you, Lady
Morgan, for that compliment. A young woman might be excused for considering me
a bit mature. I am glad to find you do not.”

Letitia felt that
the conversation was entering dangerous territory that she did not care to
tread, and asked the bishop if he would care for some tea. Upon his agreeing,
she rang for the maid, and some moments passed in the ordering of refreshments.

Letitia attempted
to restart the conversation on a more general note. “How are you acquainted
with my cousin?” she asked.

“Bainstall and I
were at Oxford together,” said the Bishop. “We grew close then, as we were more
serious-minded than our other classmates. I have a great admiration and
affection for him, as I am sure you do as well.”

“I am aware that he
has a great interest in my welfare,” said Letitia.

“As he should. A
woman alone must be a great concern for the head of the family, and Bainstall
has a well-developed sense of duty. He is aware that it is very important for a
young widow with small children to find another husband to take care of her.”

Letitia fought down
a rising sense of panic at the uncomfortable turns the conversation continued
to take. “My husband has been dead less than half a year, Dr. Wolfe,” she said
as repressively as possible. “I have given no thought to a second marriage.”

“A certain amount
of loyalty to the dead is, of course, very proper,” said the bishop firmly. “However,
you must not allow your sorrow to overshadow what is best for you and your
children. Women are not fit to govern themselves, and your son needs the firm
hand of a father, just as a girl needs a mother’s loving care. I myself have
two daughters who miss their mama dreadfully.”

At this welcome
moment Nellie returned with the tea tray. Letitia was appalled that the Bishop
had not only materialized, but had apparently been led by her cousin to believe
that she was seeking a second husband, and that he was a likely candidate. As
she poured the tea she cudgeled her brains, trying to think what Isobel might
do in such a situation.

Letitia handed the
bishop his cup of tea and made one last attempt to steer the conversation away
from uncomfortable topics. “We have been having exceptionally pleasant weather
of late, have we not?” she asked. It was not what Lady Exencour might have
said, but at least it did not have to do with marriage.

“Quite delightful,”
said Dr. Wolfe. “We are lucky to be blessed with sunshine so early in the year.”

“The Gardens are
lovely. The children enjoy playing there very much,” observed Letitia.

“My daughters also
enjoy playing out-of-doors, although I usually attempt to turn their minds to
more studious matters,” said the Bishop. “Girls do need some education, though
I would not be so foolish as to encourage them in scholarly pretensions. Perhaps
I might bring them to visit someday so our children may become acquainted. I
fancy they would get along very well.”

“I am sure that
they would, but I am not certain that...” Letitia’s voice dwindled off.

“If you are worried
about the impropriety of my visiting you, you need not,” said Dr. Wolfe. “As a
man of God I believe that no one could judge my actions to be less than proper.
You need not worry about the gossips.”

“I have no reason
to fear wagging tongues,” said Letitia with dignity. “However,” she continued, her
color heightening, “I yet have some concerns about your visit.”

“What concerns are
these, ma’am?” asked Dr. Wolfe, seeming quite bewildered.

“It seems my cousin
misled you into believing that I seek a husband,” said Letitia, keeping a firm
image of Isobel in her mind. “This is not the case. I have no notion of when I
may wish to remarry, but it will not be soon.”

“Your sentiments
are very proper, Lady Morgan, and they do you credit,” said the bishop
heartily. “However, I would have thought you past the stage of being missish. Your
children are young, your situation precarious. Bainstall simply indicated that
you were a sensible woman who would realize my value.”

“I am sure your
value is great,” said Letitia, suppressing a giggle that threatened to escape
her, for although she was alarmed she had not lost her sense of the ridiculous.
“But I am afraid my cousin has misrepresented my situation. I have no intention
of marrying again soon.”

Bishop Wolfe gazed
at her for a moment in some perplexity and then, to Letitia’s surprise, a smile
broke out on his round face.

“But of course,” he
said jovially. “I must apologize. You are still young enough that you wish to
be wooed in proper fashion. Bainstall and I should have realized that you are
not ready to let go of your romantic longings. Say no more, Lady Morgan. I will
take your warning to heart. You shall have a proper courtship.”

It was now
Letitia’s turn to look perplexed. “I do not wish to be courted,” she began, her
voice rising a bit. “I am very sorry, but--”

“Now, my dear, you
must not go on,” interrupted the bishop. “All ladies wish to be courted, and I
assure you that I will do so very properly. I appreciate your scruples, but you
must not discourage me too thoroughly, or perhaps I might not come back!” He
laughed merrily to indicate to his listener that this statement was a mere
jest, and she was not to be concerned. “I think we understand one another very
well,” he continued.

Letitia lapsed into
silence, quite certain that the bishop did not understand her at all. Her
unwelcome visitor stayed some fifteen minutes more, regaling her with very dull
stories of his days at Oxford with her cousin, to which he obviously felt it
was unnecessary for her to respond. Presently he rose to his feet.

“I will be on my way,”
he said. “But I will see you again very soon, my lady. It was most pleasant
making your acquaintance.” With something approaching a wink he bowed over her
hand, and gave it a squeeze. Letitia pulled it away as soon as soon as she
could and bid him a frosty farewell. The bishop seemed unfazed; with a smile
and a nod he was gone, but his promises to return remained.

Chapter 17

Letitia did her
best to forget that Dr. Wolfe had promised to call again, but she found the
prospect so alarming that she unburdened herself to Isobel when she called on
Letty a few days after the bishop’s visit.

“Only fancy,” she
said, “he means to call again and to court me, for when I objected to his
obvious designs he took that to mean I wished to be wooed, not that I did not
care to receive his visits.”

“You must be quite
firm with him,” said Isobel.

“I tried, Isobel,
but he is that sort of person who believes so strongly in his own desirability
that he cannot fathom that one’s opinion may differ. No matter what I say he persists
in his aim. My cousin has apparently led him to believe that I am, if not eager
to wed, at least resigned to the need, and he seems to feel that I am the
perfect woman to be his next wife. It is extremely vexing.”

“He sounds
dreadful. You must simply be as discouraging as possible, and when he finally
asks you to marry him, you must refuse,” replied Isobel. “Or perhaps you should
encourage him; it will be over all the sooner, then.”

Letitia giggled. “Can
you see me married to a bishop? You will have to meet him, Isobel. He is very
portly and proud; I think you would be excessively entertained. If he were not
courting me, I should find him funny, I am sure. However, as he is bothering
me, I fear that it simply serves to make me nervous.”

“You see,” said
Isobel teasingly, “you should have allowed me to introduce you to Lord
Eynsford. If he were calling on you, even your bishop would be more easily
discouraged. Eynsford can be very cutting when he chooses.”

“You do not
consider one suitor to be enough, but wish to burden me with another?” asked
Letitia with a smile. “You think too highly of my stamina, Isobel. I do not
think I could deal with another gentleman, particularly one who was very high
in the instep.”

“Lord Eynsford is
perhaps very grand, but that is only in public,” said Isobel. “As a friend he
is amusing and kind. Francis is very fond of him, and I am now as well. Do you
know that he remembers dancing with you some seven years ago?”

Letitia was
diverted from her thoughts of the bishop. “Does he? How strange. I have no
recollection of dancing with the Marquess of Eynsford.”

“That would have
been his father at the time,” observed Isobel. “He was merely Lord Phillip
Masham, a younger son of no great significance. He says that you were already
engaged to Alfred so he did not pursue your acquaintance. I sometimes fancy he
had a slight
tendre
for you then. I do wish you would consent to meet
him, Letitia. Even if you have no interest in him as a suitor, I think you
would like him as a friend.”

Letitia sighed. “Perhaps
when I am out of mourning, Isobel. It is not that I do not trust you; I am sure
he is a delightful man. I just do not feel prepared to meet people. I find this
bishop to be quite enough of a strain! I think I prefer simpler men.”

“Simpler men?”
asked Isobel. “Whatever do you mean?”

Letitia colored. She
found to her surprise that a definite image had formed in her mind as she spoke
the words: that of Mr. Markham. His ease of manner, the comfort she found in
his company, his calm way of seeming in control, all appealed to her, in
addition to his remarkable physical attractiveness. Naturally, he was nothing
more to her than a friend, but she thought that his manners were better and
intelligence keener than the majority of gentlemen she encountered.

“Nothing at all,
Isobel. I merely feel that gentlemen who are not so caught up in the ways of
Society may be preferable to those that are.”

Isobel gave her a
shrewd look. “You are a positively blushing, Letitia. Have you met a ‘simpler
man?’”

Letitia hesitated.
“Of course not, Isobel,” she said. “I was speaking in a general sense.”

“Don’t try to pull
the wool over my eyes, Letty,” persisted Isobel. “I have known you too many
years to believe such nonsense. Whom have you met?”

Letitia bit her
lip. “I have made the acquaintance of a solicitor, who has become something of
a friend,” she said. “There is nothing to it but that.”

“A solicitor! Letty,
wherever did you encounter such a person?”

“In Kensington
Gardens,” said Letty. “He aided me when Emily stumbled and hurt herself. I see
him there occasionally, and we talk a little. He is a pleasant gentleman and
sometimes gives me sensible advice.” She felt bad about concealing from Isobel
her deep friendship with Mr. Markham, but somehow could not bring herself to
reveal it.

Isobel looked
doubtful. “Letty, are you sure that is all there is to it? I do not mean to
pass judgment on your friends, but a solicitor...well, it is hardly suitable.”

Letitia’s lips
tightened. “As a woman who spends a good deal of her time in the company of
rough workers digging up old buildings, I hardly think you should deny me my
solicitor,” she said, somewhat tartly.

Isobel laughed. “Speak
exactly so to your bishop, my dear! He will soon leave you alone.” She watched
as Letitia’s face softened. “I do not mean to offend you, and I am sure your
innate sense of propriety would make it impossible for you behave improperly. It
is simply that ladies of
ton
do not often have friendships with
solicitors. ‘Tis most unusual.”

“He does not call on
me,” said Letitia defensively. “We only see each other upon occasion in the
park, when we both happen to be there. I have invited him to tea once or twice.
It is not as though I contemplate marriage, Isobel.”

“Of course not!”
said Isobel. “That would be unusual indeed. I suppose there is nothing wrong
with having a solicitor as a friend; as you very rightly pointed out, my own
activities are hardly normal. Well, Letty, I believe I must be leaving you. My
mother-in-law insisted that I pay calls with her today, and I must not be late.
Will you come to dinner sometime soon? Francis says he misses you.”

“Of course,” said
Letitia. “As long as you engage not to have several suitors on hand as well.”

“You are
ridiculous,” said Isobel as she drew on her gloves. “Why would I have several
suitors present? I would invite only Eynsford! Do not look so disapproving, I’m
only teasing. You will be the only guest, and we shall dine in monastic
splendor!”

Letitia and Isobel
were moving towards the door, when it opened, and Dr. Wolfe was ushered in by
the maid.

“Lady Morgan!” he
said jovially. “I knew you would not mind if I called again soon, and so here I
am. As we spoke of our children meeting, I brought along my daughters, Margaret
and Druscilla.”

Two small figures
stood on either side of the bishop. They were dressed in identical outfits,
their straight brown hair braided into identical plaits. They had,
unfortunately, the look of their father, with prominent noses and round
figures. If one had not been somewhat taller than the other, Letitia doubted if
she could have told them apart.

“Dr. Wolfe!” said
Letitia. “I did not expect you today.”

“I did not apprise
you of my intention to visit,” admitted the bishop, “but I knew that you would
have no objections, as we got along so famously when last I saw you.”

Letitia became
aware of Isobel, and seized on her friend’s presence as a means of distracting
the bishop. “Lady Exencour may I present Dr. Wolfe, the Bishop of Mainwaring?”

The bishop bowed. “Your
servant, Lady Exencour. Am I correct in thinking I address a member of the
house of Strancaster?”

“My husband is the
current Duke’s son,” said Isobel stiffly. Letitia noted with appreciation that
her manners had suddenly become very grand.

“Lady Morgan is
fortunate to have such a noble friend,” said the bishop. “I am gratified to
meet you. I look forward to furthering our acquaintance now that Lady Morgan
and I are on such excellent terms.”

Isobel’s eyebrows
rose slightly. “I was unaware that you and Lady Morgan were so close,” she said
coldly.

The bishop rubbed
his hands. “We have met only once, but I flatter myself that we have a good
understanding of one another,” he said. “I am a close friend of her cousin,
Lord Bainstall, and that must count for something. Family is always the best
influence, is it not, Lady Exencour?”

“Indeed,” said
Isobel dampeningly. “But Lady Morgan knows that she can rely on her friends, as
well.” She turned towards Letitia and took her hand. “I am very sorry that I
must go, but do remember what we spoke of. I will see you very soon.”

With a haughty nod
to the bishop Isobel moved towards the door, and Letitia walked with her. “A
veritable toad-eater, Letty!” Isobel said under breath. “I find the idea of
your friendly solicitor more charming by the minute, while Eynsford looks like
a paragon! I am sorry to abandon you, but my mother-in-law calls; courage, my
dear.”

Letty turned to
face her visitors. The bishop seemed very well pleased, while the children
gazed at her stolidly, betraying no emotions at all.

“A charming lady to
be sure,” said the bishop. “So very dignified. Of course, your cousin warned me
about her, and told me that he feels she has an undue influence over your
actions, Lady Morgan. I assured him it is merely the lack of a strong man in
your life. I am sure she means only the best by giving her advice, but of
course, as a woman her judgment must be suspect. I am sure you agree.”

“I do not agree,”
said Letitia, her temper nearly overset by his comments and her spirits
bolstered by Isobel’s words. “I find Lady Exencour’s advice to be very sound.”

Dr. Wolfe beamed at
her. “I admire a lady with spirit,” he said jovially. “Even when she is wrong.”

This statement
effectively silenced Letitia, who could think of no suitable retort. The bishop
smiled at her once again.

“And where are your
delightful children?” he asked. “I am eager to meet them, as are Margaret and
Druscilla. Are you not, my girls?”

Margaret and
Druscilla did not present the appearance of children eager to do anything at
all, but their father took their silence for agreement.

“You see how
impatient they are,” he announced.

“We were just about
to go to the Gardens,” said Letitia. “I am sure James and Emily are dressed to
go out-of-doors.”

“Then we shall join
you!” announced Dr. Wolfe. “Margaret and Druscilla enjoy strolling in the park.”

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