Madcap Miss (17 page)

“
You indicated more than once an eagerness for our play to fold,
”
he reminded her.
“
It is a visit of two or three months she has in mind, Grace.
”

Grace frowned as she imagined the future.
“
I could grow up a little over the months
—
lower my voice by the minutest of degrees and become more interested in the doings of ladies. She did mention finding me a beau.
”

“
Aha! That
’
s the attraction, is it? You mean to pose as an heiress and set yourself up with a well-inlaid laird. No, seriously, it is much too risky. Here you can come to me in case of any difficulty arising. I am bound to protect you. In Scotland you would be at her mercy. She would not deal easily with you if she ever learned the truth. It is a small world, you know. Someone from your own neighborhood or mine might be visiting and reveal your masquerade. She
’
d be furious. You
’
d find yourself clamped into prison, my girl.
”

“
Perhaps you
’
re right,
”
she said reluctantly.
“
You always meet someone you don
’
t want to when you are doing something wrong. It is practically a law. How shall we get out of it though? She considers it settled.
”

“
I
’
ll be damned if I know,
”
he admitted.
“
We must cudgel our brains and come up with something. We can
’
t offend her with a refusal when she
’
s just told me Gussie is her heir.
”

“
Some occurrence at Dover that I must attend?
”
Grace suggested halfheartedly.

“
What could be important enough to prevent the visit?
”
he asked, drumming his fingers on his knee, while a deep frown creased his brow.

“
Your imminent danger of falling into Mrs. Elton
’
s clutches?
”
she asked, but in no serious way.

Whewett regarded her with a curious smile.
“
That has definite possibilities. Best let her suggest it herself, however. Grandma likes to be the instigator. Your role, daughter, will be to insinuate in that sweet childish way you have developed that whatever about your papa not wanting you to go, Mrs. Elton will be delighted at your absence. And of course you
do
hope that Papa won
’
t be so lonesome that he invites Mrs. Elton to visit again. Yes, I think this has possibilities.
”

“
I was only funning! It would never work, Whewett.
”

“
I know it,
”
he admitted.

“
Perhaps if you became ill ...
”

“
She
’
d only haul me off to Scotland for a cure
—
and a wife.
”

“
Sickness, death, and accident are the only things I can think of that might put her off. You have not mentioned any relative being ill, and I cannot think we should go so far as to kill someone.
”

“
An accident should be sufficient. Why don
’
t I just break your leg or fracture your skull? You wouldn
’
t mind, Grace? I
’
ll pay you extra,
”
he offered, and drained his glass.

“
How much?
”
she asked, with a face quite serious, but for a certain sparkle in her eyes.

His gaze wandered from her head to her ankles.
“
Your head is worth little enough
—
quite empty. If we must damage one of those charming ankles, however, that is a different matter.
”
He set down his glass, rose, and made his bow.
“
I shall leave before I succumb to temptation.
”

“
You didn
’
t quote a price on the ankle,
”
she reminded him.

“
I was not speaking about the ankle.
”

“
Then it is to be a fractured skull. I repeat, how much?
”

“
I wasn
’
t speaking about the skull, either,
”
he said.
“
Good night, Grace.
”

She listened as he slid the bolt on the door. If he wasn
’
t talking about incapacitating her, what on earth
—
Grace gave a light laugh. So
she
was the temptation he referred to! Was it possible Whewett was trying to flirt? It must have been the champagne. She picked up the bottle and discovered it was empty, so she prepared for bed.

It had been established that Whewett was to take his daughter out on Thursday but not at what hour they might leave and when they should return. Lady Healy informed them at breakfast that they might have the better part of the day.

“
Mulkins and I will be selecting items to take to Scotland and packing them. I only want a few portraits and historical mementos of the Brougham family. At my age there is no point squirreling up a deal of sentimental rubbish.
”

She figured her work would not take more than an hour. The truth was that she felt dreadful and meant to spend the day in bed so Alfred would not take the notion she was sickly and use it as an excuse to keep Gussie from going to Scotland. She hoped to be revived when they returned from their outing.

“
I have already found some things you will want, Alfred,
”
she told him.
“
The painting of Irene from Mama
’
s room, done by Phillips. I have collected up some of Irene
’
s needlework for you and a sketch or two. They will be of interest to Gussie.
”

“
I would like to see them,
”
Whewett replied eagerly.

The items were brought to the Purple Saloon after breakfast. Grace
’
s first interest was the painting of Whewett
’
s wife. He must have been remarkably fond of her to have remained a bachelor for ten years. Grace thought she was about to see a stunning beauty, but from the canvas smiled a face no more than pretty.

“
I see traces of her in you, Augusta,
”
Grandma said fondly.

Grace looked in vain for this unlikely resemblance. Both were young, brown-haired girls with faces of an oval shape. Other than this, no likeness existed. She looked at Whewett and saw he was smiling wistfully at the portrait, so intent that he might have been alone in the room. How much he had loved his Irene! She felt a twinge of envy.

“
It doesn
’
t do her justice,
”
Whewett said at last.

“
It flattered her,
”
Lady Healy countered baldy.

But the old lady usually contradicted any statement. Grace assumed it was a fair likeness. She was surprised that so little beauty had engendered this stoic, long-lasting devotion from Whewett. She was probably mistaken to imagine he had any flirts at home. Yet he hadn
’
t really been angry at her inventing Mrs. Elton. In fact, he had seemed to enjoy the little game. Perhaps Whewett was ready to break free of Irene at last.

He examined the needlework and sketches, all rather indifferently done.
“
Augusta will want these,
”
he decided.

“
Now it is time for you to be off,
”
Lady Healy said.
“
I
’
ll expect you home for dinner at six. Don
’
t stuff Gussie up with bonbons.
”

As the two hastened upstairs to prepare for the day-long excursion, Whewett said,
“
Would it be possible for you to wear that convertible outfit you had on when we met? It will be an excellent chance for you to cease being a child for the day. In case we want to do something more adult, I mean.
”

“
Precisely what I had in mind. My bonnet and slippers are still in your carriage?
”

“
Yes, you can slip them on there. Think what you would like to do and where. Of course Wickfield is out.
”

Grace scrambled into her old serge suit in two minutes. She met Whewett belowstairs before he thought it was possible. They had made their adieus to Lady Healy, so there was nothing to do but call the carriage and leave, their hearts light with the anticipation of a holiday.

“
A whole day!
”
Grace crowed.
“
What shall we do."

“
My carriage and myself are at your disposal. Also my pocketbook. You have earned a good time.
”

“
Are we too far from London to go there?
”

He looked at her, astonished.
“
Was geography not on the Bixworth curriculum? We could not be there before nightfall. The gayer spots are all beyond our reach
—
Paris, Rome.
”

“
Brighton?
”
she asked hopefully.

“
That was my first idea. Unfortunately I have many friends and relatives who summer there.
”

“
I can
’
t think of any other place worth going to.
”

“
I blush to confess the inferior destination I have in mind. Tunbridge Wells. As the scene of
your
next performance, it might be of some interest to you. It
’
s only twenty miles away. You can look over the gouty widowers and see if any of them appeal to you.
”

He watched, enchanted, as a smile warmed her face.
“
Lovely! I should adore it.
”

“
Tunbridge Wells it is. Where will you transform yourself into a lady?
”
he inquired.

“
Inside this carriage, right before your very eyes. A swish of the magic wand and, abracadabra, a young lady will appear.
”
She pulled off her hat, slid the blue bows from her hair and shook it out, while Whewett regarded her, smiling. She couldn
’
t unroll the band of her skirt while sitting, and the carriage was too small for her to stand up. She knelt on the floor and wrestled with it.
“
I have some idea how a dog feels, trying to catch his tail,
”
she complained, but finally succeeded and sat down.

“
There goes my pleasure in the trip,
”
Whewett said.
“
Not another sight of the ankles all day.
”

“
I hope I have not run off with a gazetted flirt! Where are you hiding my slippers and bonnet, Whewett? You are a very slow magician
’
s helper.
”

He pulled the slippers from the pocket pf the chaise, handed them to her, and looked with interest for another glimpse of the ankles while she put them on. She pulled a hand mirror from her reticule and instructed him to hold it while she combed her hair and pinned it up. It was difficult to do in a moving carriage, with only two inches square in which to see a corner of her face at a time.

“
I shan
’
t attract even a gouty widower with my hair falling about my ears,
”
she said impatiently.

“
There are bound to be a few blind ones in the lot,
”
he consoled her.

“
Please move the mirror to the left so I may see the other side of my head. Oh, that
’
s worse than the other! I look hideous. You
’
ll be ashamed to be seen with me.
”

“
You look charming. I shall be proud to be your escort,
”
he said, tucking a loose curl up behind her ear.

“
You must be one of the blind ones. Where are you hiding my bonnet? Let us hope it will cover this mess.
”

“
Right here,
”
he said, pulling it out of a paper, where his busy servants had concealed it. It had become crushed during its various peregrinations. Grace straightened it as best she could do and set it on her head, with a dubious eye on her escort.

“
Well now, I
am
ashamed to be seen with that bonnet,
”
he said.
“
Could you give it a touch of your magic wand?
”

“
As a matter of fact, I could.
”
With a flourish she reached into her jacket pocket and brought forth the blue feather, its spine broken, so that it hung limply.
“
Oh, dear!
”

“
Can that wand make things disappear?
”
he asked hopefully.

“
I
’
m afraid not.
”

“
We
’
ll try mine,
”
he said, and before she knew what he was about, he opened the window and picked up the bonnet.

“
Whewett!
”
She stopped him and put the bonnet on.

“
We know where our first stop must be. I trust Tunbridge Wells has a milliner
’
s shop,
”
he said.

“
You
’
ll have to give me an advance on my pay.
”

“
The bonnet will be a bonus. Meanwhile, would you mind awfully to take off that thing you are wearing? It doesn
’
t do you justice.
”