B006DTZ3FY EBOK (10 page)

“I
hope my daughter did not inconvenience you,
”
she said. Her lips were stiff with disapproval.

What was the matter with her? He tried to make his smile more convincing.
“N
ot at all.
”
He meant to reassure her. However, he could not resist adding,
“I
t was my horse that was inconvenienced. I was merely crowded a trifle.
”

Lady Ballymere plainly did not like the picture that his remark conjured. Her lips compressed into a thin line.
“C
rowded? I see. But I suppose you could have relieved the crowding, had you elected to lead the animal.
”

“C
ertainly,
”
Derek agreed.
“T
hat would have been easier on the horse. But not nearly as enjoyable for
me
.
”

John Ellsworth gave a muffled guffaw, and Lord Grafton
’
s three daughters giggled. But the duke and duchess were not amused, and neither was Lady Ballymere.

Cynthia
’
s glacial calm seemed undisturbed, but Derek was hyper-aware of her. He se
nsed, rather than saw, the anxiety
that quivered through her at his jibe. She immediately intervened to break the moment, stepping languidly forward to say
—
with every appearance of boredom
—
“I
t was a large horse, Mama, and the distance was not great. I believe Mr. Whittaker is joking you.
”

“I
s he? I see,
”
said Lady Ballymere tonelessly.
“V
ery amusing.
”

Chapter
5
             
             
             
             

She could feel his eyes on her. At every lull in the conversation they fell on her, willing her to look up and return his gaze. Resisting their pull took enormous concentration. She longed to meet his gaze. She wished she dared to stare right back at him. She wished he would look away, so she might have the luxury of gazing her fill of
him
! But that was unthinkable, of course. Even were it possible to sneak a glance at him undetected, she would not dare to try. She must not. Derek Whittaker was not for her.

Avoiding Derek
’
s eyes seemed to diminish the rest of her senses. She tasted none of her dinner. She heard none of the pleasantries that flowed around her. When called upon to contribute to the conversation, she answered almost at random. By the time the covers were cleared away, her head ached with the effort to behave normally. Beneath her calm exterior, every nerve was jumping.

In addition to Derek
’
s burning gaze, she was keenly aware of her mother watching her with accusing eyes.
Cynthia
felt trapped between the two of them. Derek she could avoid
—
she hoped
—
but Mama
’
s recriminations must be dealt with. It was best to get them over with sooner rather than later. When the ladies withdrew from the table,
Cynthia
deliberately fell into step beside her mother, bracing herself for yet another trial.

She was not kept waiting. Lady Ballymere took her arm at once, leaning in so they would not be overheard.

“Y
ou did not tell me that Mr. Whittaker shared his saddle with you.
”

Cynthia
shrugged, trying to appear indifferent.
“D
id I not? I suppose it did not strike me as important.
”

“I
t strikes
me
as important.
”
Her tone had a definite edge to it.
“Y
ou are not the blacksmith
’
s daughter! Why did you not have a groom with you? Or a footman?
”

“T
his is not our home, Mama. We are guests. I thought it would be vastly inconsiderate, to take a servant away from his tasks merely to suit my whim.
”

Her mother pounced on this.
“I
n that case, you should have asked Mr. Ellsworth to accompany you. He is a guest as well, with nothing better to do. I
’
m sure he would have been happy to oblige.
”

“I
t did not occur to me to ask him,
”
said
Cynthia
truthfully.

Lady Ballymere frowned in exasperation.
“
Cynthia
, when will you learn to consult me before you act?
”
she exclaimed.
“T
here are so few situations where a lady may, with perfect propriety, spend time alone with a gentleman! Had you asked Mr. Ellsworth to ride out with you, you might have furthered your acquaintance without poor Hannah following you about like a tanthony pig.
”

Cynthia
felt herself tense. She did not like to hear her mother speak disparagingly of her one and only friend.
Cynthia
had many admirers, but friends, she had found, were harder to come by.

“M
ama, pray do not forget that we owe our presence here to Hannah
’
s invitation.
”

“I
do not forget it,
”
said Lady Ballymere crossly.
“I
t
’
s just unfortunate that Lady Hannah demands so much of your attention. Attention that would be better bestowed
elsewhere.
”
This last was said in a significant whisper.
“I
merely point out that you squandered an opportunity today.
”

“Y
es, Mama,
”
said
Cynthia
listlessly.
“I
will try to do better.
”

Lady Ballymere seemed mollified by this. She patted her daughter
’
s arm and addressed her in a more affectionate tone.
“T
he truth, I suppose, is that you simply wanted to ride alone. You have ever been thus.
”

This was a safer subject.
Cynthia
embraced it with gratitude.
“I
am fond of solitude,
”
she admitted.

“I
daresay your father and I have indulged you overmuch.
”
Lady Ballymere gave a regretful little sigh.
“W
e ought to have impressed upon you that a lady does not ride about the countryside unchaperoned. It is dangerous.
”

A ripple of laughter escaped
Cynthia
.
“D
angerous? I am an excellent horsewoman. Papa saw to that.
”

Her mother
’
s irritated frown returned.
“I
do not doubt your skill,
Cynthia
. But I
’
m afraid I must question your judgment. It adds nothing to your consequence, to be seen sharing a horse with a gentleman. I cannot imagine why you consented to do so.
”
She pulled her shawl more closely round her shoulders, giving the fringe a sharp little tug.
“A
nd, to be sure, it says little for Mr. Whittaker
’
s judgment,
”
she added tartly.
“T
aking you up before him, as if you were the veriest hoyden. Most ill-bred, upon my word! Far, far too familiar. But then, he seems a flippant, disrespectful young man. He should have given you his horse. You should have insisted upon it, my dear.
”

Cynthia
tried not to sound as annoyed as she felt.
“M
ama, that is unfair. Pray remember that he was just completing an arduous journey. How could I ask him to walk?
”

But here they reached the drawing room and their privacy was, perforce, at an end.
Cynthia
was glad of it. She entered the lighted area with relief, joining Hannah on the settee. It was a refreshment to the spirit, she thought, just to be with Hannah. Hannah was so undemanding.

Her friend gave her a shy, admiring smile.
“H
ow beautiful you look,
”
she blurted. Hannah
’
s complete lack of envy was one of her most endearing qualities
—
and,
Cynthia
often suspected, the only thing that made their friendship possible.
“D
id you have that gown made up in London?
”

“N
o. It is Irish.
”
Cynthia
smoothed the gleaming folds of taffeta across her lap.
“I
would not admit that to another living soul,
”
she said teasingly.

Hannah giggled.
“Y
our secret is safe with me. Such a lovely color! I wish I could wear that shade.
”

Hannah was dressed very correctly for a girl of nineteen, in a modest, but elegant, Indian muslin. It was true that the white of her gown was a better choice for her than soft pink would have been. The delicate tint would have made Hannah
’
s already-pink complexion appear red as a beet.

“Y
our own costume is quite becoming,
”
said
Cynthia
loyally.

Hannah pulled a face.
“T
hank you. I look plump as a pigeon in it, of course. But that can
’
t be helped.
”

Cynthia
was hard-pressed to think of an answer to this. Hannah
was
short and plump; there was no denying it. Fortunately, Lady Ballymere interrupted them before she needed to reply. Lady Ballymere drifted over to the two friends and perched on a nearby chair, smiling archly.

“L
ady Hannah, I am agog to know your opinion of Mr. Whittaker. You have known him for some time, have you not? A most handsome young man. Or so I think.
”

Cynthia
felt her hackles rise again, but Hannah seemed to see nothing suspicious in Lady Ballymere
’
s overture.
“M
r. Whittaker is very handsome,
”
she agreed innocently.
“H
e and Lady Malcolm are often mistaken for twins. And I think my Aunt Natalie a very pretty person.
”

“H
e seems agreeable as well.
”

“O
h, he is more than that.
”
Hannah suddenly sat up, animated.
“H
e is the kindest man imaginable. You know, I have always been stupidly afraid of horses
—
always!
—
and last year, he taught me to ride. Just a little, but no one had been able to teach me anything before. He was so patient, and never once laughed at me. I was excessively grateful.
”

“O
ho! Handsome
and
kind. He sounds the perfect match for some lucky young lady.
”
Lady Ballymere shot an amused glance at
Cynthia
, inviting her to share the joke.
“I
wonder why he singled you out, Hannah dear? What reason could there possibly be?
”

Hannah looked startled.
“I
don
’
t believe he singled me out, precisely.
”

Lady Ballymere gave an indulgent laugh.
“W
as he teaching other young ladies to ride? No?
”
She tilted her chin as if considering, then laughed again, shaking her head.
“W
ell, I daresay you would think my view of the matter quite impertinent, so I shall not voice it.
”

She rose and drifted away to join Lady Malcolm and the duchess by the fire, so she did not see the bright blush that suffused Hannah
’
s face.

“I
…
I never thought of that,
”
muttered Hannah, stiff with distress.
“I
wouldn
’
t
think of that.
”

“Y
ou are too modest,
”
said
Cynthia
quietly. Pain moved in her heart. Was it jealousy? She refused to examine it. She would think about it later. For now, she kept her attention firmly focused on Hannah
’
s embarrassed face. It bothered her that Hannah evidently thought so little of her own charms.
“I
s it such a strange thought?
”
she asked her gently.
“T
hat a gentleman might admire you?
”

Hannah gave a tiny gasp. Her hands fisted in her lap, clutching her muslin skirts.
“A
dmire
me?
Derek Whittaker?
”
She shook her head with mute vehemence.
“I
t wasn
’
t like that. I cannot explain, but it wasn
’
t like that.
”

Cynthia
was watching her friend closely.
“T
he notion seems unwelcome to you.
”

“O
f course it is!
”

“W
hy?
”

Hannah seemed, for a moment, to be at a loss for words. Then she found her tongue.
“B
ecause I wouldn
’
t know what to do,
”
she exclaimed, then gave a shaky laugh.
“O
nly think how awkward it would be! I
’
ve never been admired, you know. Not in that way. And to have a gentleman like Mr. Whittaker admire me
—
a man who is such a favorite
of the ladies, so sought-after
...
”
She blushed again, biting her lip.
“O
h, it
’
s preposterous! I would never catch the eye of a man like that. You should see the way
women look at him! And, besides
... he is
family,
you know. He is Aunt Natalie
’
s brother. There is something... I don
’
t know
...
wrong about it. Or so it seems
to me.
”