Dont think of that. It was no great deal. The rash was almost gone by now. A cool bath, perhaps with oatmeal in it, would cure the rest. Deauville might wonder, but he valued his position too well to ask questions. Daniel need only say that the gritty bath was for his skin, and let the man think he was primping for tomorrow.
Devil take it, tomorrow. They still had to face the public, after tonight.
Will you ride with me in the morning? he asked. You ought to be seen out and about, not in hiding as if you had something to be ashamed of. And you wont have to face any of the curious quizzes if you are not home. Well have a groom along for propriety, of course. And Susanna if she wishes.
She seemed to be coming down with something.
Some reason to leave Haigh House, Daniel suspected. Shell be fine.
Then yes, a ride would be lovely, far better than waiting for callers to ask awkward questions. That is, if you are not busy.
No, I like a ride in the morning when the park isnt so crowded. And he had no intention of facing his mothers guests and the ladies admirers any sooner than he had to. Which reminded him: Id like to say a word or two about Jeremy Babcock.
She sat back on the cushions, more relaxed now. A charming gentleman.
Too charming, if you ask me. He needs money, badly. The devil goes through it like a hot knife through butter.
Yes, I guessed that. He wouldnt be in the ballroom if he was not looking for a rich wife, would he? Hed be in the cardroom with the other men, the husbands and fathers and confirmed bachelors.
Which was where Daniel was going to be at every ball he had to attend from now on, but not Babcock. No, hed be at some low gambling den with higher stakes, trying to stave off his creditors with a big win.
I suspected such was the case. But he is an amusing companion, and your friend.
He might be my friend, more like a companion at cards, but I do not intend to marry him.
Neither do I.
Relieved, Daniel sat back, too, with his arm resting on the top of the sofa. If he reached a little farther, he could just touch one of the trailing curls at her neck. He brought his hand back to his side, where it was safer. Chadwick?
She did not misunderstand his question. I fear I am not learned enough for his lordship. Listening to him and Miss Thomlinson conversing made me realize how inadequate my education was. A gentleman might not care that his wifes brain is not as well developed as his, but Id hate feeling so inferior to my own husband.
And bored.
She smiled for the first time. And bored.
Daniels hand twitched to touch that nearest curl. Damn, his mothers affliction must be contagious. Forgetting his own intentions to see the women settled within a few weeks, he said, Ah well, it is early days yet to be thinking of marriage.
She looked away. Unless the whispers continue.
He could not deny the possibility. Too many people had heard the rumors. That cousin of Haighs could dine out for days on what he knew. No one wanted the mother of his children to be steeped in scandal. Have you other prospects? A gentleman back home? Perhaps someone your father refused in the past? I could see about improving his circumstances, if that would help.
Corie shook her head, then took the necklace from around her neck. These are my only prospects. The diamonds were hers from her mother, not part of her fathers estate. Hed kept them in the vault and released them only when Lady Cora insisted Corie needed the jewels to make a good impression, meaning she needed them to attract a wealthy man. Corie worried her father would give them to the Rivendale woman if he married her. Her father, she knew, worried shed use the money the gems could bring to run away, which was exactly what she intended to do if she did not find a husband.
Ill sell these, for one thing, and my pearls. I have a few other trinkets your mother has given me over the years. Then I will find a little cottage or something. Or a position if the jewelry does not fetch enough money. Would you consider taking them to be appraised, so I know how much money I might expect? I fear women do not get treated as fairly as gentlemen.
She handed the heavy necklace to Daniel, and started to take off the earbobs and the bracelet.
The necklace still felt warm from her skin, and at first he thought that was why his fingertips tingled. He jiggled it in his hand, but the sensation remained.
These are yours, you say?
Yes, my mothers gift from her own father.
The prickle was strange, and growing stronger. He didnt think a rash was coming on, but something felt distinctly wrong. He handed the diamonds back. You keep them for now. Ill take care of it if there is a need.
His fingers brushed hers as he handed the necklace over. Now, that tingle felt different. And a lot better.
They rode in the morning, Susanna and Clarence, too. Daniel was correct in thinking not many members of the beau monde were out and about so early, but enough gentlemen were exercising their cattle. Theyd go home to their wives and daughters and report seeing the young ladies from Royce House in elegant new habits, on highbred new horses, gaily welcoming the new day. Daniel sat proudly on Gideons wide back. Hed picked the horses. Hed paid for the gowns. Hed brought a smile to Miss Abbotts beautiful face.
When they got home, the drawing room was filled with flowers and callers, so society had accepted their story. Miss Corisande Abbott was still an eligible heiress. She was still to be wooed.
If Daniel was not quite as relieved as the ladies, it was because he didnt want to keep tripping over bacon-brained mooncalves and their bouquets. That was what he told himself, anyway.
Morning calls actually took place in the afternoon, for no lady was expected to rise before noon after a night of partygoing. A gentleman was expected to visit each lady hed danced with, which made no sense to Daniel. He said thank you, didnt he? But his mother, his sister, and his valet all reminded him of the foolish convention, so he sent a bouquet to Miss Thomlinson, along with a note from his mother inviting the dowdy bluestocking to go shopping with her and Susanna. The spinster needed a stylish gown far more than she needed a galumphing gentleman in her drawing room. She also needed friends.
Well satisfied with the days work, Daniel took himself off to practice his boxing techniques. With all those suitors in the house, he might need them.
Chapter Fourteen
C
orie felt Daniel did not understand. Hed given back the diamonds as if they were nothing, like one might give a child a pat on the head and say, There, there. Everything will be fine. Like theyd tried to tell her nothing was wrong when Duchess Haigh accused her of being a wanton.
Daniel Stamfield had shown her a great deal of kindness since then. He acted for his mothers sake; Corie did not fool herself into thinking he had any other motive than seeing his kin happy, and happily out of his vicinity. He was still a thickheaded dolt.
He actually believed she could, and should, simply go home to her father if her plans did not work out, if no gentleman came up to scratch. Susanna could. Shed always be welcome at her family home, no matter the scandal, no matter if her needs and desires were not what her mother or brother shared.
Just look at the way Mr. Stamfield accepted Clarence Haversmith in their midst, although he obviously disapproved of the very young man for his sister. And he went to all the sights Susanna wanted to see, despite being bored, except at the Royal Menagerie, the Egyptian Rooms, and the steam engine exhibition where Miss Thomlinson acted as guide. In fact, he was not half as bored as he pretended to be, Corie decided. He even enjoyed the opera, once everyone switched seats so Miss Thomlinson could translate for him.
Corie wondered why he was so obviously fostering a match between that woman and Lord Chadwick, when he admired her himself. Miss Thomlinson looked almost pretty, too, now that Lady Cora had taken her under her wing. Corie supposed Daniel would like a learned wife as little as she wanted to marry a scholarly gentleman. Although Corie told herself she would, if he was kind and made her an offer. So far, no one had.
Not that she lacked for partners at the dances. Lady Cora insisted Mr. Stamfield have the second dance with her at every ball they attended, after he led Susanna out for the first set, to show that Miss Corisande Abbott was under his familys care, and thus above suspicion. He was too busy watching his steps to make conversation during those dances, and afterward he disappeared into the cardroom, if there was one, but hed done his duty.
His show of approval kept an uninterrupted flow of gentleman callers coming to their at-homes, plus offers for drives in the park, visits to the theater, and private dinners. She had plenty of those last invitations and refused them all, along with picnics, garden tours, and masquerades, anywhere Lady Cora was farther than a few feet away. She knew she had a reputation for being hard to please, but that was better than one for being easy to seduce.
She supposed those gentlemen on the lookout for a wife were waiting to see if there was any truth in the old rumors, despite the Stamfields statements and shows of support. Or they were waiting for more young women to arrive for the height of the Season, to have the widest selection.
Lady Cora said not to worry; it was early days yet; Corie would find the perfect, loving match. If not this year, she said, then next year.
She did not understand, either.
Corie could not go home. Her father had forbidden her to go to London, relenting only when Lady Cora insisted. Corie had accepted against his wishes. Hed make her pay for her disobedience, one way or another. She was not going to give him the chance. Shed learned years ago never to cross the squires will.
Shed rent a room in a boardinghouse attic before going back to Abbott Grange. Shed mop floors in the boardinghouse, too, if she had to, until she came of age and claimed her portion from her mothers settlements. She thought about asking Daniel to recommend a solicitor for her, to read those documents, to verify the terms of her dowry, and what recourse she had if her father refused permission for her to wed whichever man she chose.
Then shed have to explain too much that was too shameful. Besides, Mr. Stamfield was doing enough on her behalf, suffering through those dances, taking her for rides. And as with the diamonds, hed merely tell her not to worry. She wished he could tell her how to accomplish that.
Meanwhile, she was going to try to enjoy herself. The flowers and compliments were lovely, but the chance to experience new things, meet new people, see plays and paintings she had only read aboutthat was almost worth the fears. Reestablishing friendships with old schoolmates was delightful, even if one of their husbands tried to corner her in a dark hallway, and another had two screaming infants hanging on her skirts. Theyd be no help in her dilemma.
She needed a husband, plain and simple. Naturally, Corie wanted one who was comely and bright, but shed take what she could get. She vowed to be more agreeable to every clumsy dance partner, every incompetent whip, every gentleman with wayward thoughts and roving hands. Except Jeremy Babcock. He might be a friend of Mr. Stamfields, and in need of a wifes dowry, but she could not trust him.
No one else could, either, it seemed.
Daniel, Clarence wishes to speak to you. I suppose I should be calling him Mr. Haversmith.
Daniel looked up from his correspondence, glad for the interruption, but not the cause. Why should you? Youve been Sukey and Clarence since the day you met, and why Mother permits that is beyond me. And the answer is no, so I do not need to talk to the gudgeon. Now go away and leave me to the accounts. Then he noticed Miss Abbott in the doorway and lost the use of his tongue and his wits, as usual with the confounded woman.
Uh, begging your pardon, Miss Abbott. I did not see you at first. In a bright yellow gown? Didnt mean to shoo you out, too. That is, I was speaking to my sister. Not that its a private talk, or anything.
Corie still hovered at the doorway, waiting to see if Susanna was ready to return to the parlor.
She was not. She marched herself closer to her brothers desk in the library and pounded it with her fist. How do you know what he wants to say?
Daniel sighed. Because I have had the same conversation with scores of gentlemen already who want my permission to pay their addresses. No, I will not let any of them offer for you, Miss Abbott, or, heaven help me, Mother.
Corie gasped and came closer, too. You have been turning gentlemen down on my behalf?
Of course I have. Not one of them is a serious suitor, except for your money. I told them I would not entertain any proposals until you have appeared at Almacks in two weeks. By then, you might know which gentleman you prefer. It is absurd to think youd make a choice on a single waltz. Or who knows? You might fall head over heels at Almacks. Love at first sight and all that rot.