Lord Sidley's Last Season (23 page)

“Certainly.” Marian quickly leaned to unwrap the
painting and free it from the embracing frame.

“Yes.” Lady Adeline eyed it intently. “It is wonderful. You are pleased?”

“I am, my lady. Though there are still details I should
like to finish.” She smiled. “But surely the question is
whether Lord Sidley is pleased?”

Lady Adeline returned the smile. “He would not have
sent for it were he not pleased. Though his urgency does
mystify…”

“I believe he chose not to have it, as a proxy for himself, attract such public scrutiny.”

Lady Adeline lips twitched. “Did he not? How unusual.” Again she studied the portrait. “It is excellent,
Miss Ware. Beautifully composed and most professionally rendered. I must confess, though, to a slight preference for the other.”

“The other?”

“The watercolor sketch.”

“That was very quick…

“Whatever the method, it is perfect. Sidley is having
it framed.”

“Oh” Marian stood for a second at a loss for words.
She had been fond of the watercolor. She had thought at
first to keep it as a remembrance of Sidley. But she’d determined that retaining his company, in any form, was
inadvisable.

“Your lessons do not continue much longer, I suppose, Miss Ware?” his aunt asked. “Surely you are now qualified to give them?”

Marian smiled and shook her head. “It will take me
many years to feel I master even a fraction of so much.
But I shall probably continue with my tutors for another
month at least. Until I depart with my cousins for Bath
and their house at Enderby.”

“You go to Bath with them? But surely Edith said-I
believe your young lieutenant is expected to return
shortly?”

“He has already returned, ma’am. Returned and departed” As Lady Adeline frowned, Marian breathed
almost in relief. She was not comfortable with dissembling. “Lieutenant Reeves has married another, my lady.
He was just in town yesterday to tell me. I am no longer
betrothed”

“No longer-but, my dear, this is appalling!”

“‘Tis rather unsettling for me, certainly.”

“But I mean, it is not done! ‘Tis unconscionable behavior, and most hurtful.”

Marian smiled. “I fear Lieutenant Reeves is beyond
caring.”

“You are too understanding, Miss Ware. You are not
angry?”

“I am resentful, ma’am. I would have wished to end
the engagement myself.”

“Indeed?” Lady Adeline’s glance was sharp. “‘Twas
not a love match?”

“William was a friend of long-standing, my lady. My
affections have been his for so many years that I cannot
recall when I did not believe them fixed. I had thought
such sufficient for marriage.”

“It can be. It can be, my dear. But for one of your nature…” Her voice softened. “I have loved only one man
in my life, Miss Ware. ‘Tis no secret. I lost him at Guildford Courthouse-in the Carolina colonies-more than
thirty years ago. There has never been another.”

“I am sorry to hear that, my lady. He must have been
extraordinary.”

“Extraordinary? Yes, I thought him so. And together,
I believe-perhaps we were extraordinary together.”
She rallied, clearing her throat. “So, you are no longer
betrothed. What of your situation? What shall you do
with yourself? Take more commissions for portraits?”

“I shall try to attract them, though I keep a home with
my cousins.” As Lady Adeline frowned once more, Marian said quickly, “I have intruded long enough here this
evening, my lady. I see that you are going out. I shall take
my leave” She bobbed and turned to go, but Lady Adeline came closer.

“Stay. Do stay, Miss Ware” If it were possible for so
formidable a lady to look uncertain, Lady Adeline did.
“We do not go out until after dinner. Will you not stay
and join us? We have time to send a note ‘round to
Edith.”

“I thank you, but I should not. I really only came
because I was concerned-” As she glanced again at the portrait, Lady Adeline followed her gaze. For some seconds the two of them contemplated Sidley.

“Do you know what it is you have painted?” Lady
Adeline asked at last. “I wonder if you do. Despite all the
sadness in this family, he is determined to see it-the joy
in life. He will not surrender it. ‘Tis why others are attracted to him. Like moths to flame! He is not all shallow
amusements and clowning about, Miss Ware. Though
he was out all last night again. And here I thought he
had settled” She spoke so reprovingly that Marian was
moved to defend Sidley.

“There was an accident last night, ma’am. Fatal to
one gentleman. I believe Lord Sidley lent a hand”

“Well, yes, he would, would he not? Though he never
says a word to me, mind you. I am never out without an
explanation.”

“No, ma’am.” Despite all, Marian could not hide her
smile.

Lady Adeline observed her closely. “Tell me, Miss
Ware, has your cousin Lady Katherine chosen Carroll?”

“I believe Lord Carroll interests her at the moment,
ma’am. Though there is no understanding…

“You needn’t be so careful, my dear. I assure you,
my nephew’s heart is not engaged. Though I had hopes.
I now believe his interest fixed in another quarter.”

“Oh” Marian backed up two steps. “Please excuse
me now, my lady-”

“Clara will be disappointed.”

“Do convey my apologies.”

“I think I shall enjoy having her at Aldersham, particularly if events unfold as I anticipate.”

Marian’s misery left her mute. She feared that the
others might be down at any moment and again quickly
bobbed a curtsey.

“Miss Ware, does Sidley know of Lieutenant Reeves’s
departure?”

Marian shook her head.

“You have not forgiven him?”

“Forgiven Lord Sidley, my lady?”

“For the misapprehension, for that silly hum about
his state of health. He was never so done in. Edith told
me all of you knew.”

“Yes, my lady.” Marian’s chin rose. “Though ‘tis very
difficult to excuse such a hoax. His purpose still eludes
me. I suppose no lasting harm has been done. Yet to devise such a deception, for any reason, much less his own
entertainment-”

“Oh, but it was not Sidley’s devising, my dear. He attempts to protect my reputation by withholding the
truth. ‘Twas my own doing. Not purposely, of course,”
she added at Marian’s incredulous expression. “I sincerely thought him dead to me, or certainly nearly so. I
was not entirely myself, Miss Ware, when I first saw
him so ill. So very pale-laid out like a corpse! I have
seen too many. And once the mistaken belief had circulated, we found it `nigh impossible to counter. You must
never permit yourself to become an object of speculation, Miss Ware. ‘Tis a most unfortunate position.”

“Such things cannot be helped, ma’am,” Marian
sighed. “My own position, with Lieutenant Reeves …”

Lady Adeline considered her. “If you should marry
another, ‘twill hardly be noted.”

“I have been painting, my lady.” Marian tried to smile.
“I have not been accumulating prospects.”

“No, no, of course not” Lady Adeline appeared to
muse. “But weddings are such happy events. I am delighted to think that Clara shall at last be part of the
family.”

“Indeed?” Marian felt faint. “I like her very much.
When is the-have they picked a day?”

“About six weeks from today, in early August, I believe. It is not enough time, but Richard is, of course,
most enthusiastic, and her father has not objected.”

“Her father already knows?” Marian had believed
the Pooles’ parents to be in India.

“Certainly. He was there when they announced.” Observing Marian’s face, she said, “There seems to be
some confusion, Miss Ware. Of whom do you think I
speak?”

“Why, of Clara and Lord Sidley, ma’am.”

Lady Adeline looked most imperious. “Delia
TinckneyDwight is a distant cousin of mine, Miss Ware,
through her mother. When Delia marries Richard Poole,
Clara will at last become a member of the family-in the
broadest sense, of course. She and Simon had had an understanding, and Sidley and the Pooles have always been
much like siblings.”

“I see” Relief made her heart race. She bobbed dutifully and turned to go.

“Will you not stay to speak with him, Miss Ware?”
Lady Adeline’s voice had softened.

“Another time, perhaps, my lady. You are very kind,
but I must not intrude. Lord Sidley would be put out.”

“Put out! Miss Ware, I beg your pardon, but is that
the impression he gives you? That he would be inconvenienced? Do you care nothing for him at all?”

At that Marian blushed. She could picture herself, in
vivid shades of crimson, scarlet, rose. And as her discomfort soared, so did Lady Adeline’s astonishment.

“My dear, forgive me-” she began, but they heard
footsteps in the hall. As pink as Marian felt, she grew
more so when Sidley’s voice reached them.

“Auntie, when should you like-” And on entering
the doorway, he halted abruptly.

Sidley watched his aunt brush past him into the hall.
Then he fixed an inquiring gaze on Marian. “Will she
be returning?”

Marian shook her head, not in answer but in the absence of one. Sidley was not yet fully dressed. Though
he wore a shirt and waistcoat, he was fastening cuffs at
his wrist. And at his collar … He had no collar. He had
not tied the cravat over his open throat.

He held her shocked gaze. “Bandling,” he called over
his shoulder, and the wiry little valet appeared from
nowhere. “I need a coat”

“Yes, m’lord. The blue for painting, m’lord?”

“Miss Ware is not here to paint just now, Bandling.
Any coat will do. I would spare the lady’s blushes.”

Swiftly the servant wheeled and departed.

“Do forgive me. I was not informed of company” As
Sidley bowed to her, Marian managed to focus on his
head of glossy black hair. She took a deep breath. She
still felt the warmth in her cheeks. “I came with the painting,” she said in a rush.

“Ah, yes! I should have expected you to fuss with the
thing.”

“The `thing,’ my lord? You do not sound as though
you care much for the `thing’ at all.”

“I care more for the painter than the painting, that is
certainly true.”

She stared at him. Confronting him here in the hall,
though such an event should not have been unexpected,
seemed to addle her wits.

“Miss Marian.” He was most courteously indicating
the drawing room behind her. “Won’t you please have
a seat?”

“You are about to have dinner.”

“Not at all.” He smiled, as though aware that he disputed the obvious. “The meal can wait. And in any
event, this no longer can”

Believing she heard an ominous stress on the word
this, Marian turned with some resolve to take a seat
at the fireside beneath the magnificent Holbein. When
she glanced at Sidley, who had followed her to the hearth,
she noticed he had managed, quickly and adeptly, to toss
his linen into something resembling a cravat. The valet
raced in behind him. As Marian focused on some point
beyond Sidley’s left shoulder, he shrugged into his coat, leaving it unbuttoned. She had never before seen
him dressed in less than sartorial splendor, but his present informality scarce detracted.

“That will be all, Bandung,” Sidley told the valet,
though he did not look to him. Sidley’s gaze was entirely on Marian. “And, Bandling, shut the door.”

At once Marian protested. “My lord-”

“You mustn’t cavil, my dear, as you were so bold as
to come here unaccompanied. And you are in no danger. There are two other respectable ladies in this
household who may enter the room at will.”

“You take liberties,” she said, even as he settled into
the seat opposite.

“Surely not. This is my home.”

“Then I must leave.” She rose to her feet.

Sidley winced as he also rose. “I wish you would not,
Miss Marian, as we have much to discuss and never
seem to be left to do so”

“Anything you say might be said as easily with the
door open”

“But I am much more likely to be understood with
the door closed.” At her frown he indicated the chair
once again. “Please.”

Marian returned to her seat. As she did so, her glance
strayed nervously to the Holbein.

“You like that portrait?” Sidley asked.

“How could I not? You must know it is superb. Unique
and superb.”

Sidley observed her closely. “You share something of his skill. Oh, not in style, of course,” he said, dismissing her immediate objection, “but in a certain frankness. An honesty of portrayal. I might even term it
sincerity, Marian. A sincerity that, unfortunately, does
not appear to convey to your private affairs.” As Marian
once again moved as though to stand, Sidley held up a
palm. “But you are here now,” he conceded, “which is a
promising start.”

Marian’s chin rose. “Lord Sidley, I have often been
in your debt-”

“A position you have sorely resented”

“No, I-”

“Come, my dear. Do you believe me a stranger to my
own devices? You are a most levelheaded young woman.
Indeed, were you less so, I suspect I’d not be half as enchanted”