His Lordship's Chaperone (17 page)

Miss Price continued. “Yes, I’m afraid the young
lady who manages to get Lord Haverton to the sticking point may have his name,
his title, and his children but still may yet to have his heart. It is a sad
thing.”

“Sad for his wife, perhaps,” said Miss Trueblood.
“But not sad for the remaining female population of London.”

Catherine gasped, her heart ached, thinking herself
a fool again to believe that he loved her. She wished she had never overheard
the trio. Was it truly impossible for Haverton to remain true to one woman?

“What do you think you are doing with that milk and
water miss?” The Duchess did not allow Haverton a chance to answer and
continued, “What of Catherine?”

At the mention of Catherine’s name, Haverton
smiled. Where was she? Ah, yes, there she stood, across the room holding court
with a half dozen men. Knowing that not one of them, he mused, had the
slightest chance with her. The lovely creature was his, all his.

“You are to be wooing her! How do you suppose it
looks to have you off dancing with some insignificant chit? Are you not going
to propose before the Season’s end? Which, I might remind you, comes in a
fortnight.”

“Yes, Mother. I am very well aware of that.”

“You don’t seem to be … and you certainly don’t act
as if you are aware. I think it’s high time you do something about your
upcoming betrothal or else you won’t have a betrothal to bother with. In the
event that you might have changed your mind about her, do not worry, Catherine
has her choice of several
eligibles
.
”

“Don’t be silly, Mother, I am as devoted to her as
I ever was. She is merely—” Haverton glanced back at Catherine and noted not a
polite bearing, but her serious, interested expression in the men around her.
It was one of … he looked closer and took note of her smile, of how her eyes
sparkled as she conversed. Her fan dropped open and she swung away from the
gentleman before her and peered over the top edge at him. Was she flirting?

By Gad, he would put a stop to this right now!

Haverton went to move past his mother, only to run
into the barricade of her fan.

“Where do you think you are going?”

“I’m going to save Catherine from that swarm of
preying men.”

The Duchess looked over her shoulder. “I believe
she is managing the situation quite well, considering.”

“Considering what?”

“Considering she hasn’t the experience of handling
men, other than yourself, that is. And I believe we can both agree that you are
not like most men.”

Haverton pushed the fan aside and growled through
clenched teeth. “Do you expect me to stand here and watch her flirt with the
Pinks of the ton? Make overtures to every eligible peer?”

“Well, I had not thought she would actually engage
any of them …” The Duchess stared in Catherine’s direction and feigned shock.
“Oh dear, it appears that I am wrong. She is doing rather well, don’t you think?”

“I do not want her doing well when it comes to
engaging other men’s attention.” He leaned toward his mother and whispered, “Or
had you forgotten she and I are to be married.”

“Really?” Again his mother had the audacity to
appear shocked. “One would not know it if they were to look at you. It appears
that you have interests in a different quarter.”

Is that how his behavior had looked to Catherine?
Yes, he had danced, flirted, and pretended to court Honoria Darlington. That’s
what he wanted Honoria’s mother to think. And that is no doubt what his own
mother thought.

“I’d best clear up this mess.” He must speak to
Catherine at once. He needed to explain to her that it was for Simon’s and
Honoria’s happiness. Haverton had to tell her immediately before the situation
got out of hand.

“Good thinking—I knew you’d see the right of it.”
The Duchess snapped her fan shut. “Swallow your anger and hurry along.” She
gave him an encouraging push with the tip of her fan.

Taking his mother’s advice, Haverton waded among
the throng, approaching the woman he loved.

“Lord Haverton,” Catherine called out graciously
and smiled.

He could tell it wasn’t a real smile but one
applied for the benefit of the guests. Catherine might not have had the
practice the other ladies had but she had his mother to coach her.

He’d been told that, in her time, the Duchess had
been the year’s Incomparable. She had had three proposals the first week of her
Season and no less than twenty by the time the Season had ended. She knew
exactly how to make a man come up to scratch.

His mother was an amazing woman. It was a good
thing she was on his side. The Duchess was on his side, wasn’t she?

“Miss Hayward,” Haverton called out. The men around
Catherine parted, creating a clear path directly to her. Several of the men
left, no doubt intimidated by the Marquess as competition for her attention.
“Our dance is next, is it not?”

“I’m sorry, I’ve changed my mind. I do not care to
dance. I am so very fatigued.”

“A stroll about the room, perhaps?”

“No, thank you,” she returned quite kindly.

“A breath of fresh air in the gardens?” She was
going to turn him down again. A word alone with you, he mouthed.

“Is your chaperone present?”

“As always. She is a necessary evil,” he answered
with practiced calm.

“Then I accept.” Catherine nodded.

After offering her his arm, he led her out of the
room, and Mrs. Goddard followed.

“She tends to her task, no doubt?” Catherine asked,
glancing at the woman trailing them.

Haverton signaled Mrs. Goddard not to follow.
“Isn’t she a fright?”

Catherine took a second look. “I find her quite an
acceptable replacement.”

Haverton stilled and gazed into her eyes.
“Catherine, there is no replacing you.”

“From what I have seen you’ve been trying very hard
to do exactly that,” she replied unconcerned. “You seem to find Lady Honoria
quite enchanting.”

“As to that, it’s not what you believe.”

Catherine’s voice rose and turned sharp. “And what
is it, precisely, am I to believe?”

“My affection for you remains unchanged. I am
completely and utterly devoted to you.”

“I see.” She sounded thoughtful.

Did she not feel the same? Would she not respond to
him in kind?

“It may very well appear as if I am interested in
Lady Honoria but the truth of the matter is, I am not.” It seemed all very
complex at the moment but if she would only take the time to hear him out.

“That is very interesting.” But she did not seem to
care in the least.

“If you would allow me a few minutes of your time
to explain.”

“I’m afraid I do not have the time.” She turned
away from him and faced into the ballroom. “I’ll be dancing the next set with
Sir Giles.”

“Sir Giles? I thought you did not care to dance.”

“I beg your pardon, I should have made myself
clearer. I do not care to dance with you. And tomorrow I’m planning a drive
with Sir Alex Pemberton in Hyde Park.”

“Sir Alex?” Haverton could not believe what he was
hearing. Pemberton the Popinjay? She couldn’t possibly mean it. “But what of
our whirlwind romance where you and I make a public show of falling madly in
love?”

“It seems you are too busy courting Lady Honoria
for that type of display.” Catherine gave a little sigh. “I believe it appears
that we only have a passing acquaintance—allowing my godmother is your mother.”

“But we are to wed!” Haverton was outraged.

“Are we? I do not recall an announcement or even a
proposal for that matter.” She blinked, looking up, trying to bring such a
memory to mind. “I believe until the time of my betrothal, I am free to do as I
wish, with whom I wish. My chaperone is quite liberal-minded and suggests I
enjoy myself.”

Haverton could hardly believe what he was hearing.
“Your chaperone?”

“Did you not know? My chaperone is the Duchess of
Waverly.”

The following afternoon, Haverton thought he saw
Catherine stepping into the yellow high-perched phaeton in the drive of his
mother’s house. He must have been mistaken and wished he was closer for a
better look. Who the devil was that?

The yellow monstrosity pulled away, moving down the
drive. What a disgrace—the high-flying, meddlesome, Sir Alex. Why would he be
hovering about here? He had no business with Catherine.

Haverton stepped out when his rig came to a stop
and headed for the house. “Mother! Mother?” He strolled through the front door.
“Was that Pemberton?”

“Why yes, dear, it was he.”

The Marquess’ frustration began to build. Haverton
felt as if he was a stranger coming to call, instead of her son. “Why does
Catherine keep company with Pemberton?”

“Well, you see, I’m afraid she’s become a bit
disillusioned with you.” Mother’s demeanor was odd. “I’m afraid it’s very clear
to all of us that you are about to offer for another young woman.”

“I have no intention of the sort.”

“That’s the difficult part of it, I’m afraid. Men
just don’t understand.”

“Understand what?”

“That’s exactly what I mean.” She motioned to him
with her gardening clippers. “You have no idea what you’ve done to drive
Catherine away.”

“Drive Catherine away? I’ve done no such thing. I
adore her … she is my heart!” What was Mother talking about? Nothing could have
been further from his mind. He thought of nothing but Catherine except for his
little diversion to help his brother—he tried to explain all that to her last
evening. She should have no doubt he was completely devoted to her, he had
reassured her of his affections—except she was a bit put off when he mentioned—

“Lady Honoria…” the Duchess uttered painfully.
“Oh, yes. I have noticed. Indeed, we have both noticed, Catherine and
I
. I fear we are not the only ones. Do you not know how this
appears to others? Do you ever consider the feelings of anyone before you act?”

“Honoria means nothing to me. Catherine knows.”
Haverton had no idea anyone had thought his attention to this chit could be
serious. Well, Honoria’s mother perhaps but not his own mother. Catherine must
know how much he cared for her.

Haverton glanced out the window, down the road
where he watched his beloved drive off with another man. She did know, didn’t
she?

An hour and thirty-seven minutes later, not that he
had been keeping track of the time, Haverton, who had waited in his mother’s
sitting room, heard Catherine’s and Pemberton’s return.

Haverton leaped out of the chair and stepped
carefully toward the door, listening to their exchange. He should be prepared,
he told himself, to come to Catherine’s aid if that cad Pemberton should force
his attention on her.

“Thank you kindly for the drive, Sir Alex,”
Catherine spoke softly.

“I am your humble servant,” said Pemberton.

Haverton crossed his arms, leaned against the frame
of the door and glanced toward the heavens. His short prayer was for a measure
of patience, composure, or deliverance … in that order.

“If you are in need, please do not hesitate to
call. I am at your complete disposal.”

That’s all Pemberton was good for … disposal.

The sound of the door closing told the Marquess of
the bounder’s departure. Haverton left the sitting room and headed down the
hall toward his mother’s voice.

“Here he is now, you see?” she said to Catherine.

“Oh, Lord Haverton?” Catherine’s cool tone made him
feel like an outsider too.

He was her betrothed!

“How kind of you to pay a call but it is getting
late, isn’t it?”

“Late? It’s not too late to go for a drive with
Pemberton but it’s too late to have a word with me?” Hostility and outrage
coated his words.

“I’m sure you can make some time to speak to Robert,”
the Duchess intervened.