Anne Barbour (9 page)

“No, I don’t suppose you are,” muttered Hester. She rose and put out a decisive hand. “I shall consider your proposal, my lord, but I must tell you, I am most disinclined to enter into it.”

Thorne grasped her hands once more, drawing her back into her chair. His smile contained a blend of mischief and errant sweetness, and Hester drew in a sharp breath despite herself. “That is all I ask. Miss Blayne,” he murmured. “I promise you, I shall see to it that a stay in my home for a mere three months will make not the slightest ripple in your life. I shall put no impediment in the way of your meeting your deadline, and I shall provide every comfort for you and your companion.

“I shall not press you any further, Miss Blayne. What I shall do is send my carriage to Rosemere Cottage in a week’s time. If you have decided to accept my proposal, you have but to climb aboard and the outriders will take care of any luggage you wish to bring. If you would rather not avail yourself of my offer, simply send the carriage back empty. I shall importune you no further.”

The earl’s smile was benign as he bent over Hester’s fingers, but lurking in the back of his eyes was a gleam so unsettling that Hester snatched her hand away and sprang to her feet.

‘Thank you, my lord,” she murmured, finding it difficult to talk past the knot that had formed in her throat. “I shall think over all you have said.”

With this, she fairly bolted from the room to the safety of Larkie’s presence, though why she should feel the need for sanctuary she could not have said.

Chapter Seven

Later, after the earl and his ward had departed with mutual expressions of goodwill, Hester divulged the earl’s proposal to Larkie over yet another bracing cup of tea.

“I told him I’d think it over,” she concluded, “but, of course, the thing is impossible.”

She lifted her gaze to the older woman, waiting for confirmation of this conclusion. To her uneasy surprise, Larkie shook her head doubtfully.

“I don’t see that, Hester,” she said, stirring a spoonful of sugar into her tea. “That is, three months is not so terribly long, and—well… Five hundred pounds . . .” She spoke the words softly, rolling them around on her tongue as though she could taste the wealth they represented. Giving herself a little shake, she continued prosaically, “You have no other obligations on your time right now except for the book. You have that lecture scheduled next month in Canterbury, but being in London would make the trip just that much shorter, I should—

“Larkie, you know that when I am writing, my work takes all my attention.”

“Not all, Hester. It sounds as though his lordship does not expect you to dance attendance on Miss Venable. I think he just wants you around for those occasions when he gets into a brangle with her.”

“From what I can see, those occasions arise fairly frequently,” said Hester dryly. “But you are right.” She sighed. “Five hundred pounds is a great deal of money.”

“Just think of the mortgage, my dear.” Once more Larkie’s voice sank to an awestruck whisper. “We could get the roof repaired—or even a new one, and—”

“Yes, I know, and the windows, and a new stove, and your spectacles, and perhaps that new bed we talked about for you.”

“Oh my.” A beatific expression crossed the older woman’s face. “I would not ask for anything for myself, of course, but the spectacles would be nice, and a new bed would be—oh my!”

“Considering that the lacings have given way twice in the last month, I would say it’s a necessity. Very well, I’ll think on it.”

And she did. For the better part of three days and nights she could think of little else. It was soon borne on her that she would be insane not to accept the earl’s proposal, unorthodox though it might be. To have all her financial difficulties solved in one swoop, to say nothing of the pleasure of living in elegant surroundings, and to have one’s every wish catered to was a compelling prospect. A three-month sojourn in London would be enjoyable, as well. Lord Bythorne had spoken correctly when he surmised that many of her friends lived there. She was a member of several intellectual societies, and since she had moved to Overcross, her participation in their sponsored events had been rare.

Her thoughts flicked briefly to Trevor. He had been highly overset when she had declared her intention of removing herself from the urban scene, his long, sensitive face clouded and anxious. His affection for her had always been obvious. Hester admitted that her only feelings for Trevor Bentham, a lettered gentleman of independent means, were of friendship, but she did look forward to seeing him again.

Yes, all in all there could be little doubt that the earl’s offer of employment was well timed and perfectly unexceptionable.

Then why did she feel such a deep sense of unease at the prospect of living in his home, even for a period of such short duration? There could surely be no hint of impropriety in the situation, with both Larkie and the earl’s Aunt Lavinia on the scene.

No, she decided after some uncomfortable soul-searching. It was the oh-so-charming peer himself who caused such a feeling of unsettlement in her, although why this should be she was at a loss to explain. Notorious rake though he might be, he would scarcely be tempted to the seduction of her spinsterish person. And she certainly felt no attraction toward him. He was just the sort of male she most disliked—an arrogant, chauvinistic user of women. Who had, she thought in a muttered aside, displayed his true colors the day he had shown up on her doorstep, ranting at her as though she were a scullery maid. Not, she added with a sniff, that the most menial scullery maid was deserving of such treatment.

No, the earl’s good looks, his charm, and his riveting air of maleness posed no threat to Miss Hester Blayne.

The matter decided to her satisfaction, she reported to Larkie on the morning of the fourth day of her deliberations that she had decided to accept Lord Bythorne’s offer.

‘That’s wonderful, my dear,” responded Miss Larkin. “Miss Venable will be ecstatic.”

“Mm,” said Hester. “I hope she will not be too disillusioned at the inevitable discovery that her idol is all too human. At any rate,” she concluded, “his lordship’s carriage will be here in a few days. I suppose we’d better begin packing.”

“Oh dear,” responded Miss Larkin. “We? I did not realize—that is, am I expected to go, as well?”

“But, of course, Larkie. I would not wish to stay in a strange house without you, nor would I expect you to stay on here all alone.”

“Oh, my dear,” said Miss Larkin a little breathlessly. “I would much prefer to stay here. I’m afraid I am a country mouse at heart and would feel sadly out of place in the city. I would not mind staying here alone, for I have much to keep me busy—and I would hate to leave now. Who would prepare the children for the pageant? And you know I am overseeing the jumble sale for the ladies of the church. And there’s—”

“Oh, Larkie, I am so sorry, f did not mean to be so thoughtless. I’m afraid I just assumed—

“Of course, if you really need me . . .” Miss Larkin’s face crumpled in dismay.

“No, of course not. I would love to have you with me, but Lord Bythorne’s aunt sounds like a very nice person, and she will certainly serve to lend countenance to my visit. Actually,” Hester continued in a reassuring tone, “it would relieve my mind to have you occupying the cottage while I am gone. I did hate the idea of leaving it empty for so long.”

She clasped the older woman’s hands in her own. “Only promise me you will write often and tell me all the village doings.”

“Of course, my dear.” Miss Larkin reached to bestow a kiss on Hester’s cheek. “And three months is not such a very long time.”

* * * *

When the earl’s elegant traveling coach arrived a few days later, it contained, not to Hester’s complete surprise, two passengers. The first person to alight was Chloe, who tumbled down the step the moment the door was opened without waiting for the assistance of the groom just clambering down from his perch. The earl stepped out next, climbing down in a more leisurely fashion.

Chloe hurled herself into Hester’s arms and greeted Miss Larkin enthusiastically.

“I do apologize for this invasion,” said Thorne smoothly, without a hint of regret in his tone. “I know I said I would merely send the carriage, but when I broached my plan to Chloe, she was absolutely ecstatic and insisted on traveling down here. She made the excellent point that we should present a united front, thus minimizing the chance of your refusal.”

He bent another of those melting smiles on her, and to her intense irritation she felt a traitorous heat flood her cheeks.

“However,” continued the earl, eyeing the small mound of luggage at his feet, “it appears we need not have worried.”

Of course not, thought Hester rancorously. There had not been the slightest doubt in the earl’s mind, she realized, that she would leap at his largesse, mouth open and ready for the hook.

“Oh, Hester!” cried Chloe. “Are you really going to come live with us?”

“No,” replied Hester quickly. “I do appreciate your warm welcome, my dear, but this is to be a temporary visit only.”

“Oh, yes, of course. That is what I meant,” said Chloe ingenuously.

“Well,” said the earl, rubbing his hands briskly, “if you are ready, ladies, shall we be on our way?”

After personally directing the placement of Hester’s meager belongings into the roomy storage compartments of the carriage, he handed her into the vehicle. Chloe clambered in beside her and, with a few tears from Miss Larkin and some cautionary instructions regarding Hester’s well-being in the city, the vehicle rattled off to London.

Bythorne House was situated in Curzon Street. It was one of several town houses that lined that spacious thoroughfare, distinguished from the others by its size and its air of genteel elegance. It was set back from the street and hidden from the view of common passersby by a stone wall, and admittance was gained through two gates set at either end of the property. The circular drive thus provided for the convenience of guests was already open when the earl’s carriage approached, and after craning his neck for a moment, the earl uttered a groan.

“Oh, my God, what the devil is she doing here?”

Following his gaze, Hester beheld an elegant barouche standing under the portico in front of the house. The carriage bore a crest, and its occupant had apparently already disembarked and been admitted to the house, for the coachman had taken his place on the driving seat preparatory to moving the vehicle to the stables.

Hester glanced questioningly at Thorne.

“It’s Gussie—that is, my Aunt Augusta, Lady Bracken. She lives in Hampshire. Not that one would know it,” he added bitterly, “for she’s forever descending on me, usually to avert what she perceives as some family crisis or other. Good God!” he exclaimed, suddenly arrested. “I wonder if—” He paused abruptly before heaving a deep sigh. “Well, there’s no help for it. We’d better go in.”

Not unnaturally, this statement produced in Hester’s breast a certain feeling of uneasiness, but, following the earl’s lead, she descended from the carriage with what dignity she could muster. The front door swung open wide and an austere figure in butler’s livery descended the front steps.

‘“Afternoon, Hobart,” said Thorne. “I see my aunt has dropped from the skies once more. Is she inside?”

“Yes, my lord,” replied the butler with a nice blend of deference and sympathetic understanding. “Her ladyship arrived some fifteen minutes ago and she is at present taking tea in the gold saloon with Lady Lavinia.”

After acquainting Hester with Hobart, who bustled inside to apprise the housekeeper of the arrival of the master of the house and his guest, Thorne led Hester into the house with an air of preoccupation. Crossing the polished parquetry floor of the entrance hall, from which a lofty staircase rose gracefully to the first floor, he opened the door to an adjoining chamber.

Two women were seated on a settee before the fireplace. One appeared to be of some fifty years of age, of medium height with gray hair arranged becomingly about pleasant features. The other was some years younger. Tall and thin and dressed in the first stare of fashion, she rose at the entrance of the earl and his guests. Her penciled brows rose disdainfully as she moved toward the earl.

Thorne bent to bestow a kiss on the older women before grasping the hand extended to him by the younger. “Gussie,” he said heartily, “what the devil brings you to Town at this time of year? I thought you had decided to forgo the Season this year.”

“Good afternoon, Bythorne,” replied the woman, smiling faintly. “What I said was that I do not plan to participate extensively, but since Bracken is here for Parliament, I decided I might as well join him. I shall attend a few functions while I am here.”

“I’m sure you will,” murmured Thorne. “Well, you are just in time to help me welcome my guest.” He turned to the older woman. “Aunt, may I present Miss Hester Blayne? Miss Blayne, my aunt, Lady Lavinia St. John. And this is another aunt—Augusta, Lady Bracken. We are only a few years apart in age, thus we do not stand on ceremony.”

Lady Bracken nodded regally, but did not move forward.

“How do you do,” she said, her expression indicating that she had just bit into something sour. “Lavinia told me of your imminent arrival. Welcome to Bythorne House.”

A more unwelcoming visage she never hoped to behold, thought Hester, dropping a small curtsy.

“I have rung for Mrs. Murray,” said Lady Lavinia, producing a smile that eased Hester’s apprehension only minimally. “I know you will—ah, here she is.” She gestured toward a woman who had just entered the room, dressed in the conservative garb of an upper servant.

“Very good,” intoned Lady Bracken. “I am sure you will wish to retire to your rooms to refresh yourself from your journey. Chloe,” she said in minatory tones to her nephew’s ward, “I know you will wish to go upstairs as well.”

Dismissal was plain in her voice, and Chloe pouted ominously. Hester stepped forward.

“Yes, do please come up with me,” she said. “I always feel so—unsettled in a strange house.”