A Matter of Honor (26 page)

Cecilie clapped her hands in glee. “Dear Countess. What a wonderful, wonderful friend you are. He is perfect, absolutely perfect.”

Aggie, who had been watching and listening in utter astonishment, found herself completely at a loss. She could hardly reprimand Cecilie for discussing such things when the Countess was so obviously encouraging her. But she felt the whole proceeding was highly irregular.

And then Cecilie spied Heatherton just as he emerged from the darkness with Dillydums again riding on his shoulder. She squealed with happiness and could barely be restrained from running to his side.

As Heatherton passed his lordship, the Earl fell in step behind him, but there was a certain stiffness in his carriage that made Aggie uncomfortable. Surely now that Cecilie had found someone suitable to care about he would be pleased. But that did not seem to be the case.

Cecilie’s effusiveness, however, made up for any cordiality lacking in the Earl. “Oh, what a wonderful man you are,” she breathed. “It’s just marvelous the way you found him.”

“It seems rather marvelous to me how he got away in the f
i
rst place,” commented Denby in rather acid tones.

Aggie was shocked that he should behave so rudely. And so stupidly, she told herself. Any fool could see that Cecilie was taken with this man. Now why must his lordship complicate matters by disapproving of him? And apparently without sound reason.

Fortunately
,
Heatherton ignored the remark and so did everyone else. The rest of the evening passed in a very curious fashion. Cecilie and the Viscount ambled on
,
laughing and chatting, while behind them came a silent Denby, his mother on one arm and Aggie on the other, his face set in an expression of grim displeasure. Because of having his lordship between them, Aggie could not ask Lady Denby any questions and she found this excessively galling.

All in all, it was quite an odd outing, thought Aggie, as she stood beside the others at the close of their stroll, watching the skyrockets explode in the summer heavens. She could not get over the feeling that there was something very peculiar about his lordship’s behavior, but exactly what it was, she could not say.

The f
i
reworks over, they returned to the entrance and sought out their carriage. As Heatherton handed Cecilie up
,
he spoke softly, “I shall call upon you tomorrow.”

Aggie waited, holding her breath, for the Earl to deny him that privilege, but at this moment his lordship was deep in conversation with his mother and the Viscount’s words went unheeded.

The ride home was uneventful. Everyone seemed lost in their own thoughts, Cecilie smiling in silent happiness. And then, just as they reached the great stairs, the Earl spoke, “I cannot very well forbid Heatherton the house because of my mother’s affection for his mother,” he said harshly to Cecilie. “But do not allow yourself to form a partiality for him. I cannot abide the man.”

He wheeled on his heel and was gone before Cecilie could answer and, as she opened her mouth to call after him
,
Aggie shook her head in warning. A hard look of determination settled on Cecilie’s delicate features and then, without a word to Aggie or Lady Denby
,
she swept on up to her rooms.

Aggie looked at the Countess. There was something very odd about this whole business; but when she opened her mouth to ask about it
,
Lady Denby forestalled her. “I must speak to my son,” she said. “Good night, Aggie.”

Chapter Seventeen

The next several days were odd ones for Aggie. Lord Heatherton called daily and was met with joy by a radiant
Cecilie.
Bates ushered him in and out with quiet dignity and Aggie saw that her charge was properly chaperoned, but no one mentioned any of this. Lady Denby avoided all Aggie’s attempts to discuss the matter with her and Denby absented himself so completely from the house that Aggie did not once see him.

Cecilie could do nothing but sing young Heatherton’s praises. Aggie, torn between sympathy for the young woman in love and her awareness that Denby could never be expected to approve the match, hardly knew what to say. She was especially provoked by the fact that the more she saw of Heatherton
the more she liked the man. His feeling for animals and youngsters was quite genuine, she felt sure
,
one only had to see him play with Dillydums to know that. And his affections for Cecilie seemed sincere and strong. Denby was being very unfair, Aggie thought angrily
,
unfair and stupid. For it was quite clear to her that Cecilie would make Lord Heatherton an affable and loving wife and his children a good mother. But some little thing, some stupid little thing, had made Denby dislike him.

One day about a week after their trip to Vauxhall
,
Aggie and Cecilie were sitting in the drawing room. Cecilie, with much enthusiasm, but not a great deal of success
,
was working on a fire screen. Aggie had long ago given up attempting to teach her the fine points of needlepointing
,
indeed, Cecilie had had so much difficulty in that area that Aggie had despaired of ever teaching her anything of the art. But on his last visit the Viscount had remarked on the design that Aggie was engaged on and Cecilie had hardly seen him out before she insisted on having some needlework of her own. Aggie had been glad to oblige and Cecilie now sat, happily stabbing the needle in and out, secure in the knowledge that whatever she did would be much admired by her suitor.

Aggie continued her own work, the top for a footstool, only giving Cecilie assistance from time to time as she tangled her wool or otherwise erred. “You know, Aggie,” said Cecilie, her eyes still intent on her work, but her mouth curving in a little grin, “I still think I had a good idea about that marriage marketplace.”

Aggie smiled. “Perhaps, dear. But consider. There are many things you know about the Viscount that you could not have learned in such a place.”

Looking up, Cecilie stabbed her finger, but she ignored it to ask, “Like what, Aggie? I know that you know a great deal about love and I respect your judgment.”

For some reason Aggie found a lump in her throat. She spoke over it. “Well, Cecilie, I suppose I know no more than most women. But I have experienced love.”

Cecilie nodded. “Yes. That’s what I mean.” She sighed dreamily. “How pleasant it would be if we could both have the men we love.”

Aggie swallowed, blinking back the tears. She knew that Cecilie did not mean to hurt her. “Yes dear, but that cannot be. What I meant for you to consider were things like Dillydums running away into the Dark Walks. Now the sign above a man in your marketplace might
say
that he loved animals. But we all know how easy it is for a man to puff himself falsely. This way you saw the Viscount in action. Just as you observed Lord Parrington’s horses, you had a chance to observe Lord Heatherton
.
You
saw
how the Viscount behaved with Dillydums and how much Dillydums liked him.”

Cecilie nodded. “Yes, Aggie. That is very true.”

“And of course, you also have a chance to see how he treats you. Though of necessity he is on his best behavior, it does give you some idea.”

Cecilie smiled. “Oh yes. And the way he looks at me.” Her smile broadened. “So eagerly and so warmly. I like that.”

Aggie nodded
.
She was seeing the Earl’s smile as he had once gazed tenderly upon her, once - before time and something else had separated them. She choked back a sob.

“And the way he takes my elbow,” Cecilie continued, unaware of Aggie’s pain, lost as she was in her own pleasure. “And when he shawls me, the way his fingers feel on my neck.” She sat lost in thought for some moments and Aggie successfully banished her longing to weep. Cecilie looked up slyly. “I don’t suppose you could leave us alone for just a moment.”

“Cecilie!”

“But Aggie, when he kisses my hand, when I feel his warm breath on my fingers, I get all shivery inside.”

Aggie forced herself to smile though she felt a pain deep inside, a pain like a twisted knife. Just so did the Earl make
her
shiver.

“Please, Aggie? I want to feel what it’s like to have him kiss my lips.”

“Cecilie! I cannot do such a thing. Whatever would the Earl say? I could not possibly do such a thing.”

“Just for a little minute
,
” pleaded Cecilie, her wide eyes begging. “I know he wouldn’t hurt me.”

“I know that, too, dear,” replied Aggie. “But it would not be proper for me to allow such a thing.”

“I don’t know why not,” said Cecilie. “Just for a little minute.”

Aggie did not reply to this and finally Cecilie went back to her needlework. But after a few minutes she raised her head to ask, “Aggie, did your young man kiss you?”

“Cecilie!” Aggie began, but the youngster interrupted her.

“Aggie! I need to know these things. And I’ve no mama to ask.”

Aggie recognized the truth of this and, much as the subject caused her pain, she decided to allow Cecilie to pursue it. “Yes, he did.”

“And was it wonderful?” asked Cecilie eagerly. “Did it seem like stars shining and fireworks going off?”

Aggie could not forbear smiling. “It was rather like that, dear. But I think it is different for different people. Not everyone sees fireworks, at least not all the time. Sometimes it’s very peaceful, like coming home.”

“Oh.” Cecilie digested this news in silence for some moments. “Like belonging?”

“Yes, dear,” Aggie replied. “Like belonging.” Resolutely she pushed from her mind the memories that wanted to come flooding back.

“I truly think I am in love,” said Cecilie with a contented little sigh. “And it does not seem nearly as painful as it is in Shakespeare’s stories.”

“Cecilie.” Aggie knew she was not going to be heard, but she could not let the girl go on like this. “You know how the Earl feels about Lord Heatherton
.”

Cecilie shrugged slim shoulders. “I don’t care. I let him drive away Lord Gale
,
who was really a very nice man who said the most beautiful things.” She sighed speculatively
,
a faraway look in her eyes. “But I shall not let him send Heatherton away. I shall run away first,” she added defiantly. “To that place you told me of, where the fortune hunters take young women.”

“Cecilie
-”
Aggie began, but Bates appeared at the door at that moment to announce Lord Heatherton and Aggie could not say any more on the matter. She determined, however, that she must discuss the subject with the Countess. She must do something before matters got out of hand - if they had not already.

And so after the Viscount left, and without the opportunity for Cecilie to sample his kisses, Aggie sought out Denby’s mother.

The Countess greeted her with a sweet smile. “And how is Cecilie today?”

“She is well,” said Aggie, not quite able to keep a note of worry out of her voice. “And as usual she is raving about the incomparable Lord Heatherton. Who, incidentally, just finished his daily visit.”

“He is a nice boy,” said her ladyship complacently.

Aggie thought perhaps she was dreaming. The whole thing seemed so strange. “But the Earl - he would never approve. And Cecilie
is really taken.”

Lady Denby smiled. “Sit down, Aggie. Let me tell you something.”

A small voice inside Aggie told her she should run, but she could not disobey the Countess.

“You must think my son is a strange f
i
sh,” Lady Denby said. “But he says he has his reasons for objecting to Heatherton
.
And really, considering that in holding out for the proper husband for Cecilie he is delaying his own plans, I feel he is to be respected.”

“Delaying?” Aggie’s heart threatened to stop beating altogether.

“Yes. He is particularly anxious to get Cecilie settled because, you see, he wants to marry himself.”

Now Aggie was sure her heart had stopped momentarily. Denby - to marry?

“He has fallen deeply in love with a beautiful and talented lady and he plans to marry her after Cecilie’s future is assured.”

Aggie nodded. She must keep her emotions from overcoming her. She had rejected him and he had gone to Lady Alicia
.

“That’s one of the reasons I came to the city,” said the Countess. “To meet her and give him my approval.”

Aggie nodded dumbly, wondering how Denby could hope his mother would approve of Lady Alicia
.
But then, the Countess was a real lady and she wanted her son to be happy.

Aggie sat stiffly erect as the Countess continued. “So you see, all this delay is most disturbing to him. Especially since he feels that he can’t marry until Cecilie is settled.”

A shiver trembled over Aggie. Thank God! To live in the same house with a triumphant Lady Alicia would be more than she could stand. Much more.

“He does want to do his best for Cecilie,” Lady Denby was saying.

“Then why does he behave so foolishly about Heatherton
?”
Aggie forced herself to push Denby to the back of her mind. She must concentrate on Cecilie.

Lady Denby shrugged. “You will have to ask him yourself, Aggie. I cannot say. Heatherton seems a most suitable young man to me.”

Aggie nodded. The more she thought about it the more she believed that Denby was making a mistake about his ward, but with this news causing her heart to thud madly in her throat she did not think she dared face him.

“Aggie, Aggie!”

She realized that Lady Denby had already spoken her name several times. “Yes, milady?”

“You are looking rather pale. Perhaps you have taken a chill. Why don’t you go lie down for a while?”

* * * *

Aggie slipped off her shoes and stretched out on the bed. To think of Denby actually marrying Lady Alicia seemed so strange. She simply could not sort all of it out, she thought, the tears rising to her eyes. The one clear thing seemed that whatever Denby’s feelings had once been, he was now in love with another woman.