The Aim of a Lady (22 page)

“She had no mother’s guidance, George.”

“I know, and her governess, Miss Parston, had recently left her, so that she was at the time without anyone to lay a restraining hand on her. When I arrived I was very heavy-handed about the matter. I forbade Diana to see him again, which I really had to do; but do you not see that the very nature of their parting left her suspended? She had no time to bid him farewell, no chance to hear from him that he regretted his behavior, if indeed he did.”

“Yes, I can see that would be very unsatisfactory.”

“And now he arrives penitent, a handsome young man who is matured into a worthy fellow. It is not that I fear he will seduce her, but that she will mistake her own feelings for him, having been thwarted so long ago. I really should go to the Park. She is alone there.”

“But, George, our. engagement ball is tomorrow night,” Alonna said wistfully.

“Yes, love, I know, and that is why I am chafing so. I cannot go to her, and I cannot without reason order her to town.”

They were interrupted at this point by the butler announcing Lord Alma, who was following at his heels and entered before Alonna had a chance to agree to have him admitted. Alma was waving a letter and appeared disturbed.

“George, have you heard from your sister?” he demanded.

“Yes, this morning.”

“So have I, and I do not like the sound of it,” he asserted.

“Whatever is my sister doing writing to you?” George asked mildly.

“I sent her some books and she wrote to thank me."

“I cannot see anything in that to upset you.”

Alma regarded him belligerently. “You are deliberately misunderstanding me, George.”

“Yes,” George sighed. “You are disturbed because she mentioned an old acquaintance arrived in the neighborhood, are you not?”

“Are not you?” he shot back.

“Somewhat,” George temporized. “Diana writes that Lewis has become a perfectly respectable young man.”

“She is there alone, George.”

“I am aware of it.”

“Well, are you going to go to her?”

“You forget that my engagement ball is tomorrow night, Ellis. I cannot go.”

“Then you must have her come to you,” Alma retorted stubbornly, his black brows drawn thunderously low.

“I cannot think Diana would like that.”

“Are you going to do nothing?” Alma asked coldly.

“I cannot see that it is any concern of yours, Ellis, but if it will relieve your mind I intend to go to the Park the day after the ball.”

“Her virtue must wait on your pleasure, of course,” Alma said sardonically.

“Understand this, Ellis, I am not concerned for her virtue. Diana is quite capable of maintaining it herself, as you well know.”

Alma flushed and cast a glance at Alonna, who had sat silently through the whole exchange. He attempted to keep his voice calm as he said, “I beg to differ with you. Have you not considered that it was this same young man who introduced her to..." He rubbed a distracted hand over his face. “Lord, George, she is the most curious little thing, and there is something very intriguing about a first love.”

“I know,” George replied patiently. “That is why I will go in a few days, but I do not think you need to worry about Diana, Ellis. She is very sensible.”

Alma nodded, unconvinced. It was not George who had held that passionate little bundle of flesh in his arms. Alma could not bear to think of her in another man’s embrace. He rose to take his leave. “Forgive me for barging in on you. I will see you both tomorrow night, no doubt.”

When he had left, Alonna turned to George with a smile. “I didn’t know he was in love with her.”

“He does not know it yet himself,” George sighed, “though he is beginning to understand, I think.”

“And Diana? Does she love him?”

“Yes, I believe so, but she is almost as bad. They had such a difficult time while he was injured that they find it hard to acknowledge the truth of it.”

“They would do well together.”

“Yes, if they ever get it sorted out,” George grumbled.

* * * *

Alma went directly to his house and ordered his traveling carriage. He wrote a note to Fanny while his valet packed for him. If George would not do something about the situation, Alma had no intention of letting matters rest. There was an inn in Linton where he could stay, since it would be impossible to stay at the Park. He could be there that very evening.

In actuality it did not turn out to be so simple. First there was the problem of the off leader going lame and a very slow journey to the next posting inn in Woodford Wells. Then near Loughton an overturned cart across the road delayed Alma almost an hour. He had a meal at the Black Lion in Bishop’s Stortford, was stopped by an inefficient and unsuccessful highwayman short of Quendon and eventually gave up and spent the night at The Horns in Newport, leaving instructions to be called early. In the morning things went more smoothly and he arrived at the Park at a reasonable hour, an innate caution making him bypass the archery range on his way to the stables. Jenkins was more than a little surprised to see him but made no comment, merely indicating that he believed Miss Diana was in the garden with Mr. Lewis, who had just arrived. When Alma rounded the house and came upon them he stopped dead.

Harry had just burst upon Diana where she was reading poetry on the stone bench and announced that he had been appointed to the post in the Foreign Office. She was delighted for him and thought nothing of it when he jubilantly swung her in a circle and hugged her. “I am so happy for you,” she beamed, as she allowed him to continue the grasp he had taken on her hands.

“It is especially important to me because I..."

“Diana,” Alma said grimly from his spot at the corner of the house.

Her eyes darted to him at the sound of his voice. “Good God, Alma, what are you doing here?”

Although it should have occurred to Alma that he would have to answer this particular question when he arrived, it had not. Instead of answering her he said indignantly, “Obviously it is a good thing that I have come.”

“A good thing for whom?” she retorted, the color mounting in her cheeks. Harry released her hands.

Alma had progressed until he stood before them. “George could not come until tomorrow because of his engagement ball.”

“There is no need for George to come at all!” she protested. “What is the matter with the two of you? Harry, this is Lord Alma, a friend of my brother’s. Alma, Harry Lewis.” The two men bowed stiffly, and Diana continued coldly, “You have not answered my question, Alma.”

“I shall discuss it with you in private, Diana.”

“Then you may wait in the house. I was speaking with Mr. Lewis when you interrupted us.” Her eyes flashed angrily at him, and he glared at her in return.

Harry began gravely, “I assure you, Lord Alma, that there was no impropriety in..."

“There is no need for you to explain to him, Harry. It is none of his concern,” Diana asserted hotly.

The three stood eyeing each other uncertainly. Diana was the first to regain her composure. “If you will wait for me inside, Alma, I shall be with you in a few minutes. Please.”

“Very well.” He turned his back on them and disappeared around the side of the house.

“I am sorry for that, Harry. Alma seems to have appointed himself my guardian recently. I doubt George sent him.”

“But your brother did obviously find the news of my arrival disturbing enough that he intends to come home,” he said sadly. “Not that I blame him, Diana. I behaved reprehensibly when we knew each other years ago, and he is not likely to forget that.”

“I told him in my letter that you were become quite respectable,” Diana replied with a tremulous smile.

“You cannot expect a loving brother to accept that until he has seen for himself. I started to say a while ago that I was especially pleased about the appointment because it will make my life more settled. Would you consider the possibility of becoming my wife, Diana?”

She regarded him soberly. “You hardly know me, Harry. Or I you. You must not let our experience in the past lead you to such a rash gesture.”

He shook his head emphatically. “That has little to do with it, I promise you, Diana. I have enjoyed the time we have spent together these last few days more than I can tell you.”

“I have enjoyed it, too, Harry, but I cannot believe it is enough on which to base a decision of marriage.”

“I only ask you to consider the possibility, Diana. I must go to London directly, and I cannot say when I will be able to return.”

She smiled at him. “I will be in London in about a month. Perhaps I shall see you there.”

“You can be sure of it,” he said. “I shall say good-bye now, but I shall seek your brother out in London so that he will not make a journey to no purpose.” His mouth twisted mournfully.

“George is not one to hold a grudge, Harry, but I would appreciate your preventing him from dashing about on my behalf.” She extended her hand and he lifted it to his lips and kissed it lightly.

When he had disappeared from sight Diana sighed and wearily made her way to the small parlor where Alma awaited her. She did not relish the thought of their interview. He rose when she entered and she waved him back into his seat while she sat down.

“Does George know you’re here, Alma?”

"No."

“Then I would greatly appreciate your explaining to me why you are.”

Alma did not look at her, but out the window, while he spoke. “I had your letter and I remembered George mentioning Mr. Lewis, so I went to George and..."

“Yes?” she prompted him.

“He could see that it would be wise for him to come to the Park, but he has the engagement ball this evening and could not come until tomorrow."

“Do not tell me you thought he would approve of your coming in his stead,” she said scathingly.

“Well, no, I am sure he would not, but I could not leave you alone with such a man around.”

“I told you in my letter, Alma, that he is become a perfectly acceptable man, did I not?”

“Yes.”

“And you could not believe me?”

“It was not that. There are tons of plausible rascals, Diana.”

“Yes, I seem to have met a number of them. You men live by your own rules, I notice, and expect women to live by a different set which you have established for us."

Alma restlessly rose from his chair and paced about the room, eventually stopping in front of her. He spoke gently. “Listen to me, Diana. I came here because I did not want you to be seduced by that man. You have every reason to censure me for my behavior the day we fenced, but you must remember that you responded to me. I am aware that you had sufficient control to stop us; I cannot believe that I would have taken your virtue, but there is no reason for you to believe that if you do not wish to. It was because of that experience that I came. George felt it was our proximity which created it, and it seemed to me that the same thing could happen with Lewis. More so with Lewis than anyone else, perhaps, since you had been fond of him before. You might have been right that he had changed, but I could not take that chance.”

Silent tears streamed down Diana’s cheeks and Alma handed her his handkerchief. “If I was wrong, I am sorry. When I came upon you and he was hugging you, I thought I was right. If I embarrassed you, I did not mean to.”

Her tears continued to flow, and much as he wanted to comfort her, he would not touch her. He walked over to the window where he stood facing out. After a while he said, “If you can assure me that there is no danger to you, I shall leave now.”

Diana gulped back a sob and said, “He brought good news of a post he has obtained in the Foreign Office. He was not making an improper advance, nor has he since he arrived.”

Alma turned and came over to her. “Shall I tell George not to bother to come?”

“Harry was leaving immediately for London and said he would see George so that he need not make the trip.”

Alma paled slightly at her words. “Is there an understanding between you and Mr. Lewis, Diana?”

She regarded him perplexedly. “An understanding? Oh, you mean of marriage. No, Alma, we have merely agreed to see each other in London when I return there.”

“I see. Have I sunk myself irretrievably with you, or may I see you in London, too?” he asked awkwardly.

“Of course you may see me.” She dropped her eyes to her clasped hands. “I was upset that you and George should distrust me, but I am grateful that you were concerned enough to come to me in case I needed help.”

“I will always be there if you need me, Diana.” He stood staring at her downturned head, very conscious of what he had just said and that he meant it. What he wanted was to do just that, to marry her and take care of her, to cherish this inquisitive, charming woman always. But even more than that he wanted her to be happy, and he had seldom made her happy for long. She should have time to decide whether Lewis would make her happy; and hopefully she would grant Alma the opportunity to show that he could do so, if indeed he could.

He cleared his throat and she looked up at him, her eyes red and her cheeks tear-stained. “If I am to put in an appearance at Miss Sanfield’s ball I must leave now. Are you all right?”

“Y—yes. T—tell George he has no need for concern." She dried the last of the tears and smiled pathetically at him. “This morning I was reading the poetry books you sent; it was thoughtful of you.”

“There is a very fine library at Stillings, as well as at my house in London. When your curiosity is aroused on some subject you have only to let me know and I will see what I have.”

“I don’t suppose you know anything about water distribution in London, do you?” she asked wistfully.

He regarded her perplexedly, and then shrugged his shoulders. “No, my dear, but I will see what I can find before you return to London.” His face broadened into a smile as he realized where this particular interest had arisen, and he was grateful that she had come to him for information.

“Did Crusader win his match?”

“Yes, but it was a very near thing, and I do not intend to race him again.” He picked up his elegant beaver and turned it in his hands. “Good-bye, Diana. I look forward to seeing you in town.” He took her hand in a firm clasp.