Miss Dower's Paragon

by Gayle Buck

  Mr. Hawkins nodded pleasantly to the other two ladies while he watched Lady Pomerancy drain the glass. With sympathy, he asked, “Do you truly wish a second glass?”

  Lady Pomerancy grimaced. “Pray do not tempt me, sir. You are well aware that I am ordered to take the customary three glasses, even though I detest drinking it.”

  “I will bring back the second glass with all due speed,” Mr. Hawkins promised.

  “Detestable man! Get on with it, then,” said Lady Pomerancy irascibly.

  Mr. Hawkins left on a laugh, the empty glass in hand.

  Mrs. Dower, anxious to be gone from her ladyship’s proximity, decided that she had sufficiently discharged her duty. “Oh, I have just seen an acquaintance of mine, my lady. I hope that you will not think I am abandoning you, but I really should greet her before she gets away.”

  “Of course you must,” said Lady Pomerancy agreeably.

  Mrs. Dower looked immensely relieved and began to take her leave.

  Evelyn made her excuses as well, but Lady Pomerancy caught her by the wrist. Evelyn glanced down in surprise. There was unexpected strength in the old, twisted fingers.

  “Miss Dower, you may keep me company until my grandson returns,” said Lady Pomerancy.

  “I—I believe that my duty to my mother must be foremost, my lady,” Evelyn said, taken off guard.

  “Mrs. Dower is perfectly capable of traversing the room without your youthful support, my dear. She ain’t yet in her dotage,” said Lady Pomerancy with an arrogance quite irrefutable. She fixed her eyes on Mrs. Dower. “Leave the girl with me, ma’am. I assure you that she will be perfectly chaperoned while in my charge.”

  “Quite so. I could not think otherwise,” said Mrs. Dower unhappily. With a helpless glance for her daughter’s appalled expression, Mrs. Dower made good her escape.

  Once they were alone, Lady Pomerancy released the girl, disdaining to rely on that means of restraint. She fixed Evelyn with steely eyes. In an interrogating tone, she asked, “Well, girl? What have you to say for yourself?”

  Evelyn felt her eyes widen with startled surprise. She stammered, “My lady?”

  “Pray do not play the nodcock with me. Come girl. We haven’t much time before someone comes to interrupt us. I understand that you have rejected my grandson’s suit,” said Lady Pomerancy.

  Evelyn flushed. Her eyes sparked with annoyance and angered pride. Lady Pomerancy had no right to question her at all, let alone in such a setting. However, she was no shrinking miss to grovel before the old woman’s glower, and she held her head high. “Yes, ma’am. I have.”

  “Do you dislike him?”

  Lady Pomerancy was treading increasingly dangerous ground.

  With an attempt at politeness, Evelyn smiled. “My lady, I do not believe that this is the time or the place to discuss—”

  “A straight answer if you please! Do you dislike my grandson?”

  Evelyn tightened her lips, recognizing that Lady Pomerancy had no intention of being diverted. “Very well, my lady, since you insist. I do not dislike Mr. Hawkins.”

  “Then why have you not accepted his offer, Miss Dower? You do not appear to be a stupid girl. Quite the contrary. Certainly you must understand the advantages of the match,” said Lady Pomerancy.

  “Of course I do.” Evelyn realized that she had just given Lady Pomerancy more fodder for her cannon, and to forestall her ladyship’s next obvious question, she said quickly, “However, there are reasons which make it impractical for me to accept any offer at this time. I wish to become familiar with society and to meet several other eligible partis.”

  “Ah, yes. My grandson very carefully explained it all to me,” said Lady Pomerancy. She made an impatient dismissive gesture. “Nonsense, all of it. That might wash in London, but not in this society. We’ve a surfeit of retired admirals and meek parsons, but precious few eligible titles. No, I suspect that you are playing some game of your own with my grandson, my dear. Pray do not allow your fanciful notions to cloud your judgment for too long. My grandson is patient, but he is also a gentleman ripe for the altar. He’ll not wait on you forever.”

  Evelyn was made so furious by this extraordinary speech that if she had replied as she desired, she feared she would give grave offense. She bit back the hasty retort that she would have made, struggling to find something less combustible to say. It was just as well that she held her tongue, for a moment later Mr. Hawkins returned with her ladyship’s second glass of water.

  He glanced at Evelyn’s carefully expressionless face and lowered eyes. A small frown came into his eyes. He turned to his grandmother. “Here is your water, my lady. I hope that I did not keep you waiting too long.”

  “Not at all. Miss Dower and I have enjoyed a comfortable gossip.” Lady Pomerancy took the glass but made no immediate move to drink the water it contained. Instead, she stared balefully at it. “Vile stuff. It is hardly worth the hope that it will do one good.”

  Mr. Hawkins smiled down at her. “It is worth it to me, my lady.”

  Lady Pomerancy glanced up quickly. A reluctant smile tugged at her withered lips. “You were always one with just the right word,” she said approvingly. She waved her hand in an imperious fashion. “Go away, the two of you. If I must drink it, I prefer not to have others hovering about to watch my agony. Peter, take Miss Dower on the promenade. I shall do very well by myself, you know.”

  Mr. Hawkins laughed. “Your wish is my command, my lady.”

  Evelyn started a little at his statement, and her eyes flew to his face in a searching glance.

  He did not appear to notice, but merely offered his arm to her. “Miss Dower, will you do me the honor?”

  As much as she disliked to fall into Lady Pomerancy’s machinations by even that much, Evelyn felt that she had little choice but to accept his escort. She certainly had no desire to remain in the old lady’s company and be subjected to more impatient interrogation.

  She nodded at the glass in Lady Pomerancy’s gnarled hand. “Your health, my lady,” she murmured, and had the satisfaction of seeing a flash of annoyance in the elder lady’s eyes.

  Mr. Hawkins led her off.

  “Oh, there is my mother by the window. She will be wondering where I have gotten to,” said Evelyn brightly. She quickly realized that Mr. Hawkins was not going to take her broad hint when the gentleman steered her in the opposite direction. She looked up at him. “I should prefer to be returned to my mother’s chaperonage, sir.”

  “In good time, Miss Dower.” He glanced down at her, a faint smile quirking his mouth. “I realize that it is unbearably rude of me not to accede instantly to your wishes, Miss Dower. You have my leave to bite off my head at your convenience.”

  Evelyn’s sense of the ridiculous was reluctantly roused, and she chuckled. “Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. I do appreciate the offer,” she said, her ill feeling toward him lessening.

  They walked in companionable silence for a few minutes.

  “You must not let my grandmother tease you, you know. She means well, I assure you. She is naturally quite concerned about my affairs, perhaps even overly so at times,” remarked Mr. Hawkins.

  Evelyn threw a quick glance up at him. “Indeed! One would never have guessed it,” she said in a marveling tone.

  Mr. Hawkins grinned, which so startled her that she lost her hold on her returned sense of ill usage. “I am glad that you can take it in that spirit, Miss Dower. It says much for your own sense of humor and compassion.”

  Evelyn had had no intention of creating such an erroneous impression in the gentleman’s mind. On the contrary, she had wanted him to be acutely aware that she had been outraged and displeased by Lady Pomerancy’s delving into a matter that should never have concerned her ladyship to such a great degree at all.

  Yet, however much she wanted Mr. Hawkins to understand that, she was reluctant to disabuse him of the pleasant picture that he had formed of her character. Evelyn sighed. It was all so very difficult.

&
nbsp; She attempted to make some sense of her confused feelings. “Mr. Hawkins, I find this whole business to be rather awkward. It has caught me so at a disadvantage that I discover myself entertaining quite unworthy thoughts, as well as making statements that I later regret for their stupidity.”

  “I think I understand. Believe me, it was never my intention to place you in an untenable position,” said Mr. Hawkins, frowning.

  “Do you understand? Do you truly?”

  Evelyn stopped and turned toward him, her hand slipping from his arm. She searched his face before she shook her head. “I do not think that you do, sir. Or otherwise you would never have made the offer in quite the manner that you did.”

  Mr. Hawkins appeared startled. “My dear Miss Dower, I do not take your meaning at all. What is it that you are trying to convey to me?”

  Evelyn smiled a little sadly. “If you need ask me, Mr. Hawkins, then how can I possibly explain it to you? No, I suspect that would but humiliate us both. I—I think it best that we leave off this subject. Would you be so kind as to return me to my mother, sir?”

  Mr. Hawkins regarded her for a short moment, an unhappy expression in his eyes. “Miss Dower, if I have offended you in any way—”

  “Not at all, Mr. Hawkins. How could you think it?”

  He saw that there was nothing more to be said. With a bewildering sense of defeat, he offered his arm to her again. “Very well, Miss Dower. I shall be happy to lend you escort back to Mrs. Dower’s side.”

  There was not another word exchanged between them as they retraced their steps.

  Mrs. Dower greeted their appearance with pleased surprise. “Evelyn and Mr. Hawkins! Why, this is nice. But where is dear Lady Pomerancy?” She looked around as though expecting that lady and her chair to materialize behind them.

  “Her ladyship tired of my company and sent me off with Mr. Hawkins,” said Evelyn with an attempt at a smile.

  “Oh, I am certain she was no such thing, for you are never boring, dearest,” said Mrs. Dower with an arch glance upward at Mr. Hawkins. However, for once her dependence upon that gentleman’s exquisite manners was disappointed, for he did not catch up her broad hint.

  Mr. Hawkins merely smiled and bowed. “I shall leave you now, Miss Dower. My grandmother will be waiting for me to fetch her last glass of the water.”

  Evelyn inclined her head, but she did not raise her eyes. “Of course, Mr. Hawkins.”

  Mrs. Dower made one last attempt. “I trust that we shall see you at tea again, sir?”

  Mr. Hawkins glanced at Miss Dower’s averted face. “You may depend upon it, ma’am.”

  When Evelyn’s glance flew up to meet his, his mouth quirked. He said quietly, “I do not give up so easily.” He bowed again and walked away.

  When the gentleman was out of earshot, Mrs. Dower at once rounded on her daughter. Her eyes sparkled with satisfaction. “Evelyn! Did you hear? Mr. Hawkins remains determined to press his suit.”

  Evelyn made a small, tired gesture. “It scarcely matters, Mama, for I shall not entertain it.”

  Mrs. Dower’s face fell. Without heeding their surroundings, she said clearly, “Well! You are certainly the oddest girl. Any other young lady would be in high alt at such a compliment.”

  A couple of ladies who stood nearby sent curious glances in the direction of the Dower ladies. Evelyn realized that she and her mother were engaging interest, and well aware of how indiscreet her mother’s tongue could become, she said desperately, “Mama, could we not return home? I believe I feel the headache coming on.”

  At once Mrs. Dower was all solicitude. “I shouldn’t wonder at it. You have had a harrowing time of it, indeed, what with your scolding from Lady Pomerancy and now from myself. And of course, there was Mr. Hawkins as well! I do understand, completely, believe me. I shall accompany you home and myself prepare a cloth for your head.”

  Chapter Six

  Evelyn made a determined effort to put Peter Hawkins out of her mind. It was more difficult than she had hoped, since Mr. Hawkins came to tea that week on three separate occasions. On those days that he did not appear, there was a civil note conveying his apologies.

  Reading one of these notes, Mrs. Dower remarked, “Such a remarkably civil young gentleman. I am really quite impressed with Mr. Hawkins.” She eyed her daughter, who was calmly matching embroidery yarns, and said hopefully, “Do you not wish to encourage him just a little, Evelyn?”

  “No, Mama, I do not,” said Evelyn firmly. “Mr. Hawkins may be all that is exemplary, but I do not find him in the least romantic. The gentleman who finds favor with me must be able to sweep me off my feet.”

  “My dear child, how very extraordinary of you! I had thought you to be quite practical, just like your dear papa. He did not care in the least for such things, calling it all nonsense and worse, besides. I had not realized that you were so very like me,” said Mrs. Dower wonderingly.

  Evelyn was not certain that she cared for this comparison, for though she loved her mother dearly she nevertheless thought of Mrs. Dower as somewhat foolish and scatterbrained. “I do not think it in the least impractical to look about for a gentleman for whom I have a decided preference,” she said stiffly.

  Mrs. Dower hastened to reassure her. “No, indeed! Why, that is exactly what I did. I refused ever so many offers before I accepted your father. He was so handsome and so very clever. Of course I did not discover until much later how uncomfortable he could make one.”

  Evelyn’s attention was truly caught. She looked up from the spread of colored thread in her lap. “What do you mean, Mama?”

  Mrs. Dower waved her hand in a vague manner. “Oh, it was that side of his nature that always remained completely foreign to me. He was often utterly consumed by politics and other such things which I have never thought to be of much interest. You will not remember, of course, but there was always such a swirl of drama about him! He felt things so strongly. You have no notion how often I cringed at what was said about your papa by various personages.” Mrs. Dower shuddered as she recalled. “Quite, quite uncomfortable, I assure you!”

  “Is that why you removed permanently to Bath after Papa died?” Evelyn asked.

  “The society was easier, you see. I was always more comfortable in Bath. One was not as likely to run into one of your dear papa’s antagonists just as one was beginning to enjoy oneself at dinner or on the dance floor,” said Mrs. Dower apologetically. She gave a little shrug. “Besides, Bath is so much less expensive than London. However frivolous I may seem, I do understand how to manage an allowance, and I knew that I would be quite run off my feet if we remained in London. I did not wish to be obliged to dip into the portion that your father settled upon you, dearest.”

  Evelyn returned to her task, and with exaggerated deliberation she chose some yarns. She did not pay as much attention to her mother’s last revelation as she might have done at another time. “I had not previously known that you were so unhappy with Papa,” she said quietly.

  “Unhappy!” Mrs. Dower exclaimed, astonished. She looked at her daughter, suspecting that the girl was playing off one of her funning tricks. But Evelyn appeared perfectly serious, and she exclaimed, “No such thing! Why, wherever did you get such an odd notion? Really, Evelyn, how you do catch one up and put a meaning that one never intended to one’s words.”

  Evelyn was taken aback. “But, Mama, you have just been saying how awful London was for you because of Papa’s connections.”

  “That was quite a different thing altogether!” said Mrs. Dower emphatically.

  When Evelyn shook her head, she regarded her daughter somewhat pityingly. “My dear Evelyn, you are so very young. I do hope that given a little time you will learn to discern the chaff from the wheat.”

  With that obscure remark, Mrs. Dower rose, announcing her intention to see to the next week’s menus. “For what with your coming out in a few days’ time, I must make certain that Cook understands what will be required of her when we begin to ente
rtain.” She left the sitting room.

  Evelyn was left to ponder her mother’s meaning, a faint frown gathering her brows. She felt that she had been rebuked in no uncertain terms, but she had little inkling what her true offense had been. She had never paid great heed to anything that her mother ever said, having learned at an early age that Mrs. Dower’s remarks were not of the most profound nature, but this particular time there had been an unusual perceptivity in her mother’s eyes that had startled her.

  After a few moments of reflection, however, she shrugged away the odd feeling that her mother had truly been trying to convey something momentous to her and turned her full attention to her dull task. She worked over the yarns, matching shades and colors, and that was how she was occupied when a visitor was ushered in.

  The young lady was rather tall with a graceful carriage. She regarded Evelyn with slightly raised brows, and her green gaze was amused. “I did not know you were of such a domestic bent, Evelyn.” She sauntered forward, dragging off one of her supple gloves.

  Evelyn laughed. “You know very well I am not! It is for Mama, of course.”

  The young lady flashed a smile. She stretched out her browned hand in greeting. “Of course. Good day, my dear. How do I find you?”

  “Well enough, Pol.” Evelyn shook her friend’s hand, as always tensing her own hand against the other girl’s hard grip. “Pray do sit down. I am going out of my mind with this, as you may well imagine.” Her friend accepted the invitation and gracefully sank down on the settee beside her.

  Evelyn nodded at the other’s somewhat worn but well-fitted riding dress. “I see that you have just come in. What goes on up at the manor?”

  “The squire is hard at it this fine morning, which is the reason you see me now,” said Miss Woodthorpe, peeling off her other kid glove and smoothing both between her fingers. Considering a moment, she said meditatively, “My parent is very dear to me, but on occasion he tries my patience most effectively.”

  “Oh dear! I do hope that the squire calms down soon. I know that you do not particularly care to come into town on such a fine day,” Evelyn said sympathetically.