A Matter of Honor (24 page)

Silence filled the room for long moments as Aggie fought to keep the tears from spilling over and betraying her. Finally he spoke. “You seem to know a lot about the feelings of a woman in love. Yet you are still unmarried.”

Aggie did not raise her eyes. She did not dare. “I am a woman.” She managed to get the words out over the lump in her throat. “And I need not have experienced love to know about it. After all, I have eyes.” She kept her gaze resolutely on his waistcoat.

“You have loved someone,” he said flatly. “You cannot fool me about that. I am well past my grasstime and not so easily deceived as you may believe.”

She felt his hands grasp her arms and a tremor of excitement swept over her as he drew her closer. “I should very much like to know who the man was,” he said in a voice hoarse with suppressed emotion. “Tell me, Aggie. Who was the man who stole you away from me? Who was that thief?”

Astonishment kept her silent and immobile. How had he twisted the past to arrive at such a conclusion? She struggled against the grip of his hands, but he pulled her against his chest and held her there. Under her ear she heard the rapid beating of his heart and hers thudded violently in unison. Still she did not raise her head.

With one hand he kept her tightly against him and with the other he tilted back her chin, forcing her to look at him. His eyes were dark with desire and Aggie shuddered a little at the sight of them. Then, without another word, he slowly lowered his head and kissed her. Actually, she had time to avoid his lips
,
or at least to try, but she did not even make a token resistance, her lips opening eagerly under his and her body melting against him. Her brain, of course, clamored that this behavior was wrong, but her body was completely out of control. When f
i
nally his lips left her mouth to slide across her throat and stop beneath her ear, she was limp in his arms.

And then he put her slowly from him and smiled down at her tenderly. “Never mind, Aggie,” he said, gently pushing back a curl on her forehead. “I see that he hurt you terribly, but never mind. I’ll make it up to you, you’ll see.”

A strange coldness began to creep through Aggie’s body. He was going to offer her
carte
blanche
, she knew it. And the thought appalled her. Some women might consent to a “marriage by the left hand,” as the
ton
so delicately put it, but she had too much respect for herself to descend to such a level. She must not let him make her such an offer. Carefully she extricated herself from his arms and, summoning all her strength, she said coldly, “I am afraid that you go too far, milord. I have told you before. I do not wish to alter our relationship. If you would only desist from taking these liberties with my person, we should deal together much more pleasantly.”

For long moments he looked at her in surprise and then slowly the warmth faded from his eyes and his mouth, which moments before had possessed hers so passionately, drew into a grim line. “Very well
,
Miss Trimble
.
But one thing before you return to your charge.”

“Yes?” She kept her tone cold and his reply was equally chill.

“I have decided to send for my mother, the dowager countess. Perhaps she may succeed with the girl where we cannot.”

She was about to argue the point with him. Being ordered around by an overblown dowager would only infuriate Cecilie more. But she saw from his face that further discussion was useless and, besides that, she was afraid to stay alone with him any longer. Even now she yearned to move back into the arms that were so invitingly close. Resisting the impulse, she swung on her heel. “I’m sure you’ll do just as you please - as usual,” she added sharply and, not trusting herself to say more or to look at him again, she left the room.

Her first order of business was to find Cecilie and try to undo some of the damage the Earl had done. Later she would have leisure to consider the change to be wrought in their life by the advent of a dragonish
dowager who
,
if she were anything like her overbearing son, was apt to be haughty, proud, excessively high in the instep - and a great deal of trouble.

Chapter Sixteen

Aggie did what she could to calm Cecilie
,
but the girl was obviously distraught. It was no light thing for her to have been deprived of her f
i
rst genuine admirer and, when she was not crying, she sulked. The news that Denby’s mother was arriving did nothing to elevate her spirits. And it was apparent that like Aggie she envisioned a heavyset dragon dowager given to loud yellow gowns and huge purple turbans.

Late in the second day after Lord Gale’s disturbing visit, Cecilie and Aggie were walking the monkey in the garden when Bates came to announce, “The dowager countess has arrived
,
Miss Trimble
,
and is waiting for you both in the library.”

Cecilie made a face, which fortunately Bates could not see as his back was toward her, and Aggie said, “Please tell her ladyship we will be there as soon as we send the monkey upstairs.”

“Her ladyship is very interested in the monkey,” said Bates soberly. Aggie could have sworn that his eyes twinkled, but she decided that her senses must be deceiving her. “And she asked that Miss Winthrop
bring him along.”

Aggie sighed. “Very well. Come along
,
Cecilie.”

Cecilie looked about to make another face, but then, perhaps intrigued by the dowager’s interest in the monkey, did not. “Come, Dillydums
,”
she told the little animal. “You are going to meet a dowager countess.”

As they left the courtyard Cecilie picked a red rose and stuck it in her hair. An expression of def
i
ance, Aggie thought, but said nothing. The dowager countess would soon learn about Cecilie’s character, if her son had not already told her what a hoyden he had on his hands.

Together she and Cecilie entered the library and together they stopped, amazed. Turning from the window to greet them was not the dragon they had imagined, but a little birdlike woman, dressed in a fashionable gown of pearl gray. She bore herself with dignity, but her gray eyes sparkled as she surveyed them. “You must be Miss Trimble
,”
she said, giving Aggie a smile. “And this is the young woman my son calls the impossible Cecilie.” The twinkle in her eye was more pronounced now and to Aggie’s great relief Cecilie responded to it.

“His lordship can be impossible, too,” she said with a gamine grin.

“Indeed he can,” replied Lady Denby
.
“How well I remember what a trial that boy was to me. But one has to admit that he has a high sense of duty.”

Cecilie hesitated only a moment. “I suppose one has to admit it,” she said with a small grimace. “But one need not admire it.”

“No, I suppose not,” agreed Denby’s
mother. “Also, I’m afraid my son knows very little about dealing with young ladies. And he does behave in a rather lofty fashion.” She smiled ruefully. “I’m much afraid that I’m responsible for that. You see, he was my only child and I’m afraid I doted on him. Spoiled him rotten, I think they call it.”

“Oh, I shouldn’t worry too much about it, milady,” replied Cecilie with an innocent smile. “My papa spoiled me, too. But actually I have turned out rather well. No doubt his lordship will mellow with time.”

A sort of sputtering sound, half laughter, half choking, issued from Lady Denby’s small but firm mouth. “No doubt he will, my dear,” she said finally. “But it will take time. And certainly you will not want to wait that long to marry.”

“No, indeed not. You see
,
” said Cecilie conf
i
dently, “his lordship insists on sending away the men I favor. Of course
,
” she paused as though just realizing it
,
“he was right about Lord Parrington’s horses. But,” she hurried on, “he cannot be right about Lord Gale. I
know
he adores me.”

“I’m sure he does, my dear,” said Lady Denby
.
“You are quite a lovely girl. But come, there is no need for us to stand. Let us be comfortable and Bates will bring us a little tea.”

As Cecilie settled onto a divan and she and the countess found chairs, Aggie wondered that the Earl had not sent for his mother sooner. Never had she seen anyone who could handle Cecilie so well.

“You must tell me about Lord Gale and what it is you are looking for in a husband,” said Lady Denby after Bates had brought the tea and macaroons.

“Of course,” said Cecilie eagerly. “Lord Gale is young, not much older than me. He dresses very fashionably. You would notice him in any crowd.”

Aggie caught the flicker in the dowager’s eyes and knew that this piece of information did not work in Lord Gale’s favor.

“And he’s very attentive.”

“I see.” Lady Denby was suitably impressed. “And how does he fit your requirements for a husband?”

Cecilie looked thoughtful. “Well, I haven’t yet seen him on the ballroom floor or on a horse, but I’m sure he must be good in both those places. I am quite certain that he loves animals. He and Dillydums get along famously.” She looked down at the monkey who was sitting in her arms, silently regarding the stranger.

Though Aggie was not at all as certain of Lord Gale’s accomplishments on horseback or the ballroom floor as Cecilie was, she would have to concede that he and Dillydums were quite compatible.

Lady Denby nodded. “So a love of animals is necessary for your husband?”

“Yes, indeed,” said Cecilie. “It was that which f
i
nished Lord Parrington
.
He was really light on his feet, but I simply could not tolerate a man who is cruel to his animals.”

“I see.”

“And of course,” continued Cecilie, “he must also love little ones. For, though I don’t know much about them, I’m sure I shall want several.”

Lady Denby kept her attentive expression through this recital and Aggie gave her great credit for it. “Yes, of course,” the dowager agreed. Then, as Cecilie was silent for a moment, she asked, “And have you any more requirements?”

Cecilie looked at Aggie and hesitated. “Come, come, my dear,” said Lady Denby
kindly. “We are all friends here. You can tell

me.”

“Aggie has told me it’s wrong to speak of such matters,” said Cecilie and Aggie closed her eyes in mute despair. What would Denby’s mother think of them now? “And I do not want to get her in trouble.”

“That is very commendable of you,” said Lady Denby. “But, I assure you, there is nothing that can shock me at my age.” She sent Aggie a reassuring smile. “And if I am to help you find the right man, I must know what we are looking for.”

Cecilie nodded. “Yes, that’s very true.” Still she looked at Aggie as though for permission.

Aggie sighed. “Go ahead, you might as well tell her.”

“Well, it needs some explaining. So you will understand and not blame Aggie.”

“Of course, my dear. Tell me however you wish.” Lady Denby’s smile was warm.

“Well, the morning after we arrived Dillydums got loose and startled his lordship. Since then they do not deal well together,” she confided. “Though I know his lordship takes excellent care of his cattle. At any rate, he was yelling and shouting, his lordship, you see, because he hadn’t known there was a monkey in the house and Dillydums had his razor. It must have been a terrible shock to him. And anyway, he came running out into the hallway in his breeches and boots, yelling. And I woke up and came to see what all the commotion was about. And I saw his chest.”

Lady Denby’s expression did not change as she repeated, “You saw his chest?”

“Yes, it was bare
,
you see. Because he had not finished dressing yet.”

“Yes, of course.” Lady Denby was clearly bewildered.

“And that’s what I want,” concluded
Cecilie
happily.

The dowager shook her head. “Cecilie, my dear
,
I’m afraid the journey has left me somewhat fatigued. My wits are not all they were. Exactly
what
is it that you want?”

“His lordship’s chest. It looks so cute with all that tangled black hair on it.”

If Aggie had not been so embarrassed, she might have found Lady Denby’s expression of amazement amusing.

“Of course,” continued Cecilie. “I should never think of marrying the Earl himself. He’s far too old and he still needs a great deal of mellowing.”

“Yes, of course,” agreed Lady Denby
,
obviously struggling to regain her composure. “Aggie - Miss T
ri
mble - was quite right to caution you against speaking about such things. It is not considered proper. But I am very glad you told
me.
Because I do want to help you.”

“Yes, I am quite sure of that.” Cecilie’s
golden head nodded in absolute agreement.

“Tell me,” said Lady Denby with a swift look of commiseration at Aggie, “how did you expect to discover this last - fact - about your intended?”

“I thought I would just ask him.”

Again that curious choking sound came from Lady Denby.

“Of course, I should not ask him right away,” Cecilie explained. “Not until I knew the other things about him. I did not ask Lord Parrington
,
nor even Lord Gale.”

“That was very wise of you,” said Lady Denby. “That question can be construed rather dangerously.”

“Yes,” agreed Cecilie. “That is what Aggie thought, I’m sure.”

Lady Denby nodded. “This Lord Gale now. What is he like? Physically, that is. How does he look?”

“He is taller than I,” said Cecilie
.
“Fair skinned, with red hair.”

“I see.” There was something in Lady Denby’s voice that indicated to Aggie that she already possessed this information, but Cecilie did not notice. “Red hair.”

Cecilie nodded.

“If this young man has red hair,” said the dowager, “is it not likely, since the hair of his head is red, that that of his chest - providing of course that he has hair there - should also be red?”

Cecilie considered this. “Yes, milady. I suppose so. I had not thought of that.”