Cupid's Choice: She's a shy beauty in distress. He's a chivalric gentleman. (19 page)

“Why, Arnold!” exclaimed Mrs. Holland in accents of surprise. “What a pretty thing to say!” She was never impervious to flattery, and her attention was diverted as she allowed her brother to help her out of the carriage.

“I assure you,” said Colonel Caldar. “It is grown quite chilly. You must not stand about in the night air, Aurelia. Let us go inside directly.” With a backward glance for his niece and nephew, who were just descending from the carriage, he hurried his sister up the town house steps.

Standing on the walkway, in the pool of light cast from a flambeau, Guin and Lord Holybrooke looked at each other. They shared a rueful smile. “Thank God for our uncle,” said Lord Holybrooke, offering his arm to his sister. “I very nearly said something quite sharp to Mama.”

“I could see that you were, and I was in dread of it,” said Guin. “I am glad our uncle stepped in to such good purpose. I would not like you to quarrel with Mama, Percy, especially on my behalf.”

Lord Holybrooke ushered her through the door that the porter was holding open for them. “There’s nothing in that, Guin. I am coming to the point where I can scarce keep my tongue between my teeth. Some of the things Mama says and does!”

Guin pinched him warningly. “Sh, Percy! The servants shall hear you.”

“I don’t care whether they do or not,” said Lord Holybrooke, though he did lower his voice as they went up the stairs to the upper landing. “I tell you, Guin, Mama and I shall have it out one day.”

“I hope not, Percy. I truly do,” said Guin, a pucker of anxiety forming between her brows.

Lord Holybrooke chuckled. “Now, don’t worry about it, Guin! You know that I shall always come about with Mama.”

Her expression cleared. “Of course, how silly I am being.”

“Well, you are.” Lord Holybrooke yawned. “In any event, it was a jolly party. Miss Beasely is an unaffected girl, isn’t she? I like her better than I thought I did.”

“Do you, Percy? I like her, too. She surprises me into laughing,” said Guin eagerly.

Pausing with her outside her bedroom door, Lord Holybrooke tweaked one of her dusky curls. “Capital, for you don’t laugh enough, Guin. I’m off to bed.” He walked off down the hallway, humming tunelessly.

Guin murmured good night and went into her own bedroom. Her maid, Morgan, was waiting up for her and helped her to change for bed. Before Guin fell asleep, she reviewed everything that had happened that evening. With a smile, she snuggled beneath her covers. Even her mother’s disturbing approval of Mr. Lloyd could not dim her contentment.

After the Beasely
soiree,
there was a spate of visits from several young gentlemen. Mrs. Holland was surprised that they were not all calling for Lord Holybrooke, but rather to further their acquaintance with Guin. Among their lively number was to be counted Mr. Lloyd’s more sober figure.

It became quickly apparent that Mr. Lloyd had entered his suit in earnest. Mrs. Holland was delighted, especially since Mr. Lloyd met all of her criteria of birth and fortune and had firm expectations of a title. She began to weave plans for a brilliant society wedding, and only the groom’s face was in doubt, for Mrs. Holland could not decide whether it would be Lord Holloway or Mr. Lloyd. However, one afternoon the odds became shortened in Mr. Lloyd’s favor.

“Well! It seems that you are finally beginning to come into your own, Guin,” said Mrs. Holland with a rare note of approval as she came into the back sitting room and found her daughter. “I have just come from talking with Percy. He wishes to see you in the library, Guin.”

“Does he, Mama? Whatever for?” asked Guin, surprised, looking up from her embroidery.

Mrs. Holland laughed, her eyes sparkling. “Run along, child. I shall allow Percy to give you the good news.”

Guin obeyed, wondering what news could have persuaded her mother to be so kind toward her. She knocked and entered the library. “Percy?”

Lord Holybrooke turned from contemplating the fire on the hearth. He wore a slight frown. “Guin, please sit down. I thought it best to break the news to you myself.”

Guin sank down into a wing chair, her gaze fixed on her twin brother’s face. She eyed him with foreboding. “Why, what is it, Percy?”

Lord Holybrooke said baldly, “Mr. Lloyd left me less than an hour ago. He has applied to me, as head of the family, to make a formal request for permission to address his suit to you.”

“Oh, my!” exclaimed Guin faintly. “Mr. Lloyd! How— how odd, to be sure!”

“That is a rare understatement, my dear,” said Lord Holybrooke with a lopsided grin. “My feelings were rather stronger, though I managed to maintain a polite front. Guin, do you wish to wed Mr. Lloyd?”

“Of course I don’t! Why should you think that?” asked Guin, astonished.

“Mr. Lloyd assured me that he already knows he has Mama’s support and only applied to me out of courtesy. He told me that Mama has implied you would not look with disfavor upon him,” said Lord Holybrooke.

Guin bounced up from her chair. In greatest agitation she exclaimed, “That is not true! Oh, Percy, she is determined to thrust me willy-nilly into marriage. If it is not Mr. Lloyd, it will be Lord Holloway! What am I going to do?”

Lord Holybrooke took hold of her shoulders and looked down at her with a grim set about his mouth that Guin had never seen before. “Listen to me! You cannot let it just happen, Guin. You must have the fortitude to refuse Mr. Lloyd when he offers, if you don’t want him.”

“Yes, of course I must,” said Guin doubtfully. “But it would have made it so much easier if you had simply refused him, Percy!”

“I couldn’t very well do so when I know nothing disreputable about Mr. Lloyd,” retorted Lord Holybrooke. “Be reasonable, Guin! You must stand up for yourself sometime, you know.”

Guin pulled herself free. She stared at her brother with open hurt. “You promised, Percy. You promised to help me!”

“And so I shall! Stay here, Guin. I wish you to be here when I talk to Mama,” said Lord Holybrooke. He yanked open the door of the library and exited, to return a bare minute later with Mrs. Holland.

“Really, Percy, I don’t know what all the heat is about,” said Mrs. Holland. She glanced toward her daughter. “Pray do not tell me that Guin is being difficult!”

“No, Mama, she is not,” said Lord Holybrooke evenly. He shut the door with a snap. “However, I felt it timely to bring to your attention a certain matter since we have been speaking of eligible
partis.
Pray be seated, Mama. And you, Guin.”

When the ladies were seated, Lord Holybrooke leaned against the front of the mahogany desk. “Mama, you agreed that I should inquire into the circumstances of any gentleman who seemed interested in my sister. Some time ago, I did so with Lord Holloway.”

“Lord Holloway! Why, Percy, I am certain that was not at all necessary. His lordship is quite an eligible
parti,
as we already know,” said Mrs. Holland with a little laugh.

“On the contrary, Mama.” Lord Holybrooke told his mother and sister that from everything he could discover, Lord Holloway’s estates were mortgaged to the hilt, while his personal fortune was rumored to be in danger of evaporation through his gaming excesses.

“I am told that Lord Holloway faces immediate foreclosures on all of the mortgages. It appears certain his lordship will lose those fine northern estates of his,” said Lord Holybrooke. He glanced toward his sister. “There is more that does not rebound to the gentleman’s credit, but I shan’t sully your ears with it.”

Guin knew instantly what sort of thing her brother was referring to and flushed. Fortunately, her mother was too concerned with what Lord Holybrooke had imparted to wonder at her daughter’s obvious discomfiture.

“But, Percy, are you certain?” asked Mrs. Holland in acute dismay. “How came you by this information? Surely it is mere conjecture!”

“It is indeed true, Mama. Sir Frederick brought the information to me. You know how well connected he is. There can be no question,” said Lord Holybrooke firmly.

Guin’s eyes flew to her brother’s face. “Sir Frederick! But why—” She stopped, warned by the quick frown that her brother threw her. She gave a tiny shrug. The why was not so important, she supposed. Warmth coursed through her. A quiet smile lit her face. It was enough to know that once more Sir Frederick had come to her rescue.

However, Mrs. Holland was quick to grasp her daughter’s point. “Yes, why would Sir Frederick come to you with this, Percy?”

“Sir Frederick considers himself to be a friend of our family, Mama. He took steps—that is, Sir Frederick knew something about the mortgages held on Lord Holloway’s estates. I am more than satisfied,” said Lord Holybrooke. He spoke quietly, with a peculiar smile, and there was hardness in his eyes. Once more he glanced at his sister.

Of a sudden, Guin recalled what her brother had said about there being a better way to settle accounts with Lord Holloway. She had it in her to feel an instant compassion for his lordship.

“I suppose the news of Lord Holloway’s ruin will be all over London before the week is out,” said Mrs. Holland thoughtfully.

The earl gravely nodded. “I don’t know how you may feel about it, Mama, but it is my opinion that our stature would not be enhanced if my sister were to form an alliance with Lord Holloway.”

“No, indeed! I am profoundly shocked, Percy,” exclaimed Mrs. Holland. She shook her head, her lips firming to a straight line of determination. “We shall no longer receive his lordship here. Guin, you will be guided by me in this. On no account are you to encourage Lord Holloway, though you may accord him a civil bow in company. Do you understand me, Guin?”

“Yes, Mama,” said Guin obediently, even as a rush of relief ran through her. Guin did not know why her brother had set inquiries afoot concerning Lord Holloway, but the upshot was gratifying, at least to her. She had disliked Lord Holloway at first meeting, and she had never had cause to revise her initial reaction. There had been something about his lordship’s mincing manners and the way he had of looking her over. Then had come that disgraceful interlude at the theater, when she had been so ignobly discovered in Lord Holloway’s arms by Sir Frederick. The memory of it still had the power to fill her with shame. She was tremendously relieved when Mrs. Holland announced her intention to drop Lord Holloway from her guest list.

“For it is of no use pretending that his lordship is anything but a liability to us now,” said Mrs. Holland, rising to her feet. “Thank you, Percy. It is good of you to look out for our interests so closely.”

Guin looked at her brother, tears forming in her eyes. She felt wretched at treating him so badly. “Yes, thank you, Percy.”

Lord Holybrooke flashed a quick grin. He made a graceful bow. “I live to serve.”

A few days later, Guin was walking in the park with Miss Beasely and confiding to her friend the misgivings she felt about Mr. Lloyd’s suit. “The gentleman is perfectly amiable, but I simply don’t wish to marry him.”

“Of course you do not,” said Miss Beasely emphatically. “How nonsensical of Percy to give his permission. I am certain there are any number of gentlemen whom you would find more attractive.”

Guin did not say so, but she could have told Miss Beasely there was only one gentleman who held any portion of her heart. Instead, she asked, “Has my uncle been to call on Mrs. Roman again today?”

Miss Beasely laughed. “Oh, yes! It is the dearest thing, too! Colonel Caldar has quite swept my cousin off of her feet. I feel it must be a match between them.”

“I think you are right. My uncle actually blushed when I teased him just a little about Mrs. Roman,” said Guin with a smile.

The young ladies heard themselves hailed and looked around. Mrs. Richardson pulled up her phaeton beside them and smiled down at them. “I perceive you are enjoying this fine weather!”

They exchanged pleasantries for a few minutes, before Miss Beasely complimented Mrs. Richardson on the stylish carriage and team she was driving. Mrs. Richardson laughed. ‘Thank you, Miss Beasely! I plume myself having achieved just the right effect. May I offer you and Miss Holland a ride home?”

With real regret, Miss Beasely said, “My mother’s carriage is waiting for me at the gate, ma’am. But since Miss Holland came with me, there is no reason that she cannot take you up on your very flattering offer!”

Mrs. Richardson nodded at Guin, her eyes twinkling. “Will you trust yourself to my handling of the ribbons, Miss Holland? I shall endeavor to bear you safely home.”

“I should like that very much, ma’am!” said Guin with alacrity. She told her friend good-bye, parting from Miss Beasely with assurances that they would meet again on the morrow, and climbed nimbly up onto the seat beside Mrs. Richardson.

Guin closely watched Mrs. Richardson’s driving skills, and she was much impressed. “I should like very much to learn to drive as well as you, ma’am.”

“Well, perhaps one day you shall. I am positive there must be some gentleman of your acquaintance who would be more than willing to give you lessons,” said Mrs. Richardson with a quick smile.

Guin colored slightly and smiled, nodding her head. “Oh, I am persuaded that Sir Frederick would do so if I asked him. He is so very kind to me, ma’am, that there is no explaining it.”

Mrs. Richardson turned an interested glance on her. “Indeed? Sir Frederick has been a friend of mine for a number of years. He is utterly charming and affable, of course.”

Guin turned to her with enthusiasm. Her eyes glowed. “Exactly so! I don’t think I shall ever meet anyone half as nice. Sir Frederick is truly a gentleman. He tells me just how to go on, and he is never cross or betrays the least impatience with me.”

Mrs. Richardson was slightly taken aback. “Do you see much of Sir Frederick, then?”

“Oh, yes! He is quite one of our closest acquaintances,” said Guin with the flash of a smile. “Sir Frederick often takes me driving, and I may be certain of having a dance partner whenever we attend the same function. I am so very grateful to him.”

“I see! Well, that is something, indeed.” Mrs. Richardson attended to her driving for a few minutes, her fine brows drawn together as she negotiated a corner, shooting between a dray wagon and a coach.

“Bravo, ma’am! I don’t think even Sir Frederick could have done better,” said Guin.

Mrs. Richardson glanced at her. “This is flattery, indeed,” she said dryly.

Guin looked swiftly around. When she saw Mrs. Richardson’s somewhat ironic gaze, she colored. “Forgive me, Mrs. Richardson! I did not intend to go boring on in such a fashion. It is just that Sir Frederick is such a particular friend of mine.”

“You have no need to apologize, my dear. I am too well acquainted with Sir Frederick’s charm to doubt the impression he could make on a susceptible heart,” said Mrs. Richardson, smiling.

“You misunderstand!” said Guin quickly. “Sir Frederick does not fl-flirt with me. He is always a gentleman. It is only that I am so grateful to him. You see, I—I have always been awkward in company. Sir Frederick has been at pains to teach me how to go on so that I shall be more comfortable.”

“You have made a hero of him, my dear. That is a dangerous thing for a young lady to do,” said Mrs. Richardson, her smile fading. “You are likely to lose your heart to him if you are not careful.”

Guin dropped her gaze. “Will—will I, ma’am?” She looked up again, to meet Mrs. Richardson’s eyes. “Would it be such a bad thing? I know that I am beneath Sir Frederick’s touch, but I am confident I shall not take hurt at his hand. And—and when I do wed, I shall know better how to go on just because I have known him.”

Mrs. Richardson felt she had learned more than she had ever anticipated. “My dear!” She was silent a few moments, at last throwing her young friend a measuring glance. “Miss Holland—Guineveve! Pray do not be offended that I offer you a word of advice. More than anyone, I believe making a good match is essential to one’s future happiness. It is not fortune or a handsome face or any other worldly consideration that will count in the end, as much as it will be whether one loves and is loved in return. Those other things are important, of course, but they will be as ashes where there is also indifference or perhaps even hatred.”