Testing Miss Toogood

by Stella Cameron

  Dominic bowed his head and looked at her in time to catch the upward flicker of her mouth. “How you do love to play with me,” he told her. “No wonder you’re my favorite parent.”

  “I am your only parent.”

  “Quite so. This afternoon a young woman, a girl, will come to Heatherly looking for a place. Her name is Jane Weller and I told her to ask for you. Her former employers will not speak for her but I will.”

  Mother nodded slightly. “Another of your underdogs. Wrongly dismissed, you think?”

  “I know. She was Miss Victoria Crewe-Burns’s maid and it’s my hope that the Crewe-Burnses need never know she’s here.” He spoke of the story the family had used about the girl. “She is reduced to living in a room not far from Covent Garden and cleaning for the harridan who runs the place in exchange for a lower rent.”

  “I won’t ask how you know this girl and all the details,” Mother said and paused.

  Dominic smiled, knowing she wanted him to tell her those very details. “Thank you,” he said. “I believe I will be able to explain one day. Meanwhile, my impression was that she is a superior young person. Perhaps her family came upon bad times, and reduced circumstances forced Jane into service.”

  “Very well. Make sure McGee knows to bring her directly to me.” Visitors did not get past McGee, head butler at Heatherly. “We’ll see what can be found for her.”

  “You won’t like this, but Jane Weller doesn’t know who I am, and—”

  “You said you knew her.”

  “Yes, but…Mother, I must ask you not to tell the girl I recommended her. Please say a friend spoke for her.”

  His mother regarded him narrowly for long enough to make him sweat. “Very well,” she said at last. “To my knowledge you are an honest man. I’ll do it as long as I don’t decide it’s against Jane Weller’s interests.”

  “Thank you, Mother.” He kissed her hand. “Forgive me, but now I must rush.”

  “No such thing,” she said calmly, indicating an ancient Chinese chair strewn with satin pillows. “Be comfortable. We have much more to discuss. Have you had breakfast?” When she moved, the soft fabric of her dress floated and caught the light.

  “Yes,” he told her shortly. “And the moment I arrived I told you I’ll have nothing to do with some silly scheme to bring out a country parson’s daughter.”

  “Sit down.”

  He opened his mouth to protest but set his teeth together instead. His mother sat on a divan heaped with more brilliant pillows. Reluctantly, Dominic also sat down.

  “Did you hear Vivian Simpson is engaged?” Mother said, offhand.

  Dominic envisioned Lady Vivian. “No. I wish her happiness. She deserves it.”

  “You don’t wish, even a little, that the lucky man was you?”

  “Sweet girl, Vivian. But whatever may have been between us was over years ago.” So this was only a ploy to get him here for one of Mother’s reminders that she wanted him to marry. He would not hurt her by telling her he would never marry, that his work didn’t lend itself to marriage, to family life.

  “I wish I could hear your thoughts,” his mother said.

  Dominic made to get up. “I really must get on.”

  “Sit,” she said, and he did.

  “Miss Fleur Toogood,” Mother said, “is the daughter of a dear friend of mine. We hadn’t met in years but a month or so ago I had reason to visit her and I decided—”

  “To adopt the daughter you never had and fuss with a Season for her. Commendable, but—”

  “Kindly allow me to finish.”

  Dominic looked into his mother’s eyes and closed his mouth.

  “And I will thank you not to make rude and belittling comments, young man.”

  He supposed that if he were sixty and his mother still lived, she’d continue to call him “young man” when she wanted to put him in his place.

  “Nathan went from here in high glee,” she said. “He always had a wicked love of torturing you, but that’s one of the trials of the younger brother. I assume he told you the accurate gist of what I want you to do.”

  Dominic braced his elbows on his knees and buried his face. “I hope he made most of it up.”

  “This will not be difficult for you, Dominic,” Mother said. “I have noted that in your work—the work you will never discuss with me—you find it necessary to move about extensively in Society. Taking a charming young girl with you should pose no problem. You can do whatever it is you do at those gatherings and all you have to do is keep an eye on her to make sure she meets the right people—men, that is—and that she is not taken advantage of.”

  “Wonderful,” Dominic muttered.

  “John says Hattie may act as chaperon while he’s in Vienna on business, as long as you accompany the two women on all occasions.”

  “Gad.” He scooted his rear to the edge of the chair, stretched out his legs and flopped against the back of the chair with his arms trailing. “In other words, I’m to watch over my brother’s gorgeous wife while she supposedly watches over this girl. Let me remind you that the Marquis of Granville’s lady turns every head and I will be too busy making sure no man offends her honor to be about my own business. Brother John would kill me—and I mean that—if some drunken lout was to offend Hattie.”

  “But we know you’re up to the task,” Mother said, studying a red lacquer screen as if she’d never seen it before. “Hattie is a sensible woman and quite capable of putting unwanted attention aside.”

  He grunted.

  “Of far more concern is the nubile Miss Toogood,” Mother said. “You haven’t seen her yet.”

  Dominic tilted his head forward and narrowed his eyes. “What does that mean?”

  “Beauty, brains, wit, piety—”

  “You should have stopped with the wit,” Dominic interrupted.

  “Piety,” Mother repeated. “Reverence, a serious outlook, quiet—not one to speak unless she’s spoken to—Miss Toogood is the perfect catch for some lucky young buck.”

  “Buck?” Dominic muttered. “Saint, you mean. Why me? Why not Nathan?”

  “You know why.”

  “Ahem, my lady.” Lymer came into the room, her ample figure leaning forward as it invariably did. “Miss Fleur Toogood is here to see you. Since you were engaged with Lord Dominic, I put her in the morning room but you did say you wanted to see her as soon as she arrived.”

  “Bring her in,” Mother said.

  Lymer hurried away and Dominic leaped to his feet. He made for French doors which opened on a side terrace.

  “Remain,” Mother said shortly. “Do this for me, please, Dominic. I rarely ask anything of you.”

  He rolled his eyes, but turned back from the doors.

  Lymer reappeared, stood aside and ushered in Mother’s Miss Toogood. A glance at her blue pelisse and bonnet left him in no doubt that he’d passed her on his way here.

  Shabby was the word that came to mind, but there the negatives ended. My word, this serious-faced miss was no mouse, even if she did come from the country.

  “Fleur,” Mother said, getting up with her customary fluid elegance. “Come here at once and let me see you. I do believe blue is your color. What a charming bonnet. Meet my son, Lord Dominic. Dominic, this is Miss Fleur Toogood, daughter of a dear old friend of mine.”

  Bloody hell. Why couldn’t the creature be plain and all but invisible? “Pleased to meet you, Miss Toogood,” he said, taking her hand and bowing over a finely darned glove. “Welcome to Heatherly.” He straightened and released her hand at once.

  She bobbed a curtsey. “Thank you, my lord. I’m pleased to see you again, my lady. My mother and father asked me to convey their good wishes and their thanks. Papa said to tell you he prays for you at services every day.”

  “How good of him,” Mother said and her smile looked delighted to Dominic.

  Fleur Toogood’s rich, dark red hair waved beneath the brim of her bonnet. At last she raised her pointed chin and
looked up at him from beneath thick, sun-tipped lashes—and he contemplated protecting not one, but two beautiful females. Large and tilted up slightly at the corners, Miss Toogood’s eyes were the brightest of blues. She had the pale, clear skin of redheads, a generous mouth, fine but definite arched brows and a straight nose. Toothless and smelly? Damn Nathan’s hide. She was gorgeous, dammit.

  And what a melting smile she had. He smiled back—couldn’t help himself—and she immediately turned the corners of her mouth down and frowned, dash the girl’s temerity.

  “Where are you staying?” He winced a little. Since he already knew the answer, the question was the kind one asked when the brain had ceased to function.

  “Here with us,” Mother said, frowning at him. “In the main house, of course. It’s too quiet for a young thing here with me.”

  “I like being quiet,” Miss Toogood said quickly, surprising Dominic. “The room I was given last night is far too grand. I should be happy if there was a smaller space for me here with you.”

  “Rubbish,” Mother said, smiling again. “But you are a sweet, unassuming girl. I want you to have the best of everything while you’re in London and I intend to see to it that you are well set up for life by the end of the Season. Lord Dominic shares my determination, don’t you, Dominic?”

  He remembered to close his mouth again. “I hope you will enjoy being in Town,” he said carefully. She had lowered her lashes again and he glanced down her length.

  Fate could be evil. A lush little body if ever he saw one. Her proportions would make a less controlled man salivate. Dominic swallowed—several times. Usually he preferred taller women. This one wasn’t short but neither was she average. Ah, yes, but nothing else about her was average, either.

  “Dominic,” Mother said in a soft tone that spelled danger. “Would you show Miss Toogood the house? I know it’s confusing there at first and you’re so good at that sort of thing.”

  “I should love to, but—” he spread his hands and grimaced “—duty calls and I really must get on.” He really must not allow himself to respond to their visitor like a man returning from years alone on a desert island.

  “Nathan mentioned you had a lot on,” Mother said. “He told me he’d take care of things for you if you need a couple of hours.”

  “Nathan should mind his own—” Dominic remembered his manners just in time. He looked at Miss Toogood once more and saw how color stained her cheeks. He’d let her know he thought her a nuisance, damn his carelessness.

  “When did you say I should be ready to receive this person you think I should employ?” Mother said.

  Blackmailed by his own parent.

  “This afternoon,” he told her. “Come, Miss Toogood. I have a great deal to show you.”

  “Enjoy yourselves,” Mother said. “Lunch will be served for the two of you in the garden room. My modiste, Mrs. Neville, arrives this afternoon to start on Fleur’s wardrobe. Since I know little of modern styles, I know you will make sure only the most flattering are chosen.”

  “Mother.” This time Dominic didn’t attempt to disguise a warning in his voice.

  “Oh, you’ll do beautifully. Hattie will be here in a few days to deal with most of the clothing. But we must have a few items to get started with. The modiste will have a list. Pay particular attention to color and fit. There’s no truer saying than that a young lady in the market for a husband must make the best of her best assets. I’m sure you’ll decide what those are.”

  4

  He had smiled at her in his mother’s house, hadn’t he? Or had he? On the third floor of Heatherly House Fleur stopped on the threshold of the long room and turned to see why she couldn’t hear Lord Dominic’s footsteps anymore. She had tentatively mentioned that she liked paintings, to which he had said, “Long room,” and led her out of the most beautiful ballroom she’d ever seen. Well, it was the only ballroom she’d ever seen—the Sodbury Martyr village hall where dances were held didn’t count.

  Lord Dominic’s footsteps had ceased because he seemed to have forgotten to keep on walking. He stood a few yards away, looking at the floor, his expression distant and closed. What a shame for such a handsome man to appear so unhappy—not that it made him less good-looking. In fact, that remoteness might even make him more attractive, if that was possible.

  He ambled on, hands behind his back, studying his feet, and Fleur waited politely.

  But she didn’t feel polite. Wretched man! Did he think a title and too much money made him important?

  Yes, of course he did.

  “Ouch!” What a widgeon she was; she’d allowed him to bump into her. “I’m sorry, my lord.” And sorry you are rude.

  He gripped her elbows to steady her. “Why? Why are you sorry because I was careless enough to collide with you?”

  Breathless, Fleur felt her tummy flip unpleasantly. “I should have moved on, not stood in the doorway.”

  Lord Dominic’s chest expanded, then he let out a long sigh. “You do have a great deal to learn about dealing with men, Miss Toogood. Never, never apologize if you can help it and absolutely not if there is the slightest chance that you have suffered even the most minute inconvenience.”

  “In other words, my lord, I am to turn into the kind of person I cannot abide—just to get a husband. That will not be possible. I have been brought up much differently from that.”

  He continued to hold her arms and he seemed awfully close. Fleur had to raise her chin to see his face. She had always wished to be taller but some things could not be changed.

  “Principles are admirable,” he said. “However, I gather finding a wealthy husband and bettering yourself and your family is the reason you’re in London for the Season.”

  Fleur watched shadows gather in his startlingly blue eyes. “That was not my idea,” she couldn’t help saying. She continued hastily, “But I am grateful to the Dowager Marchioness for her kindness and I intend to do what I can for my family.”

  The way he looked into her eyes while she spoke, then dropped his gaze to her mouth completely unnerved Fleur. When her tummy reacted this time, the sensation wasn’t unpleasant.

  “If you were my daughter, I wouldn’t let you loose on your own.”

  “I’m not on my own,” she protested. “You make…That was a horrid thing to say. What can you mean by it? And what would you know of having a daughter my age when I’m an adult just as you are?”

  He smiled slightly and released her. “Forgive me if I offended you. I meant that if you were important to me I would be afraid to have such a beautiful woman exposed to the type of rogue you are likely to meet while you’re here.”

  His lordship said she was beautiful but still she felt a little sting. If you were important to me. Of course she wasn’t, but why would he be so cutting? “With your protection, my lord, surely I have nothing to fear from rogues.” He would think her saucy but that was better than having him consider her a vapid nothing.

  “How old did you say you were, Miss Toogood?”

  “I didn’t. I am twenty.”

  He breathed in through his nose and frowned. “Mmm, I vaguely remember being twenty.”

  She laughed, put a hand over her mouth and laughed even louder. Ladies, she’d been told, chose when to laugh and did so charmingly but she had no idea how to plan such things. When something was funny, it was funny.

  “Good,” he said, smiling at her and taking her arm. “I’ve made you relax with me. Not that I intended any such thing, miss.”

  With no choice but to walk where he propelled her, Fleur giggled even though she struggled to be serious. He did have a smile worth remembering after all.

  “There is no reason for me to tell you, but it’s been ten years since I was twenty.”

  “Thirty?” she said. “So old? Women mature more quickly than men. Are you aware of that?”

  “I’m aware that you like to spar. Indeed, I think you revel in trying to annoy me. What do you think of our paintings?”
<
br />   Fleur barely glanced at a picture of fruit spilling from a bowl and moved on to study the faces of two women, one tall, one much smaller, both dark-haired. They smiled at each other, their arms threaded together.

  “The Worth aunts,” Lord Dominic said. “A very long time ago. My mother’s older sisters. They live in Bath, near my brother John and his wife. The ladies are ancient but they keep us all on our toes.”

  “I should like them, then,” Fleur said. “Spirited people change those around them for the better.”

  “So you say.” He didn’t sound convinced.

  They walked, side by side, on wooden floors that creaked with each step. The room stretched the width of the house with large windows at either end. Dominic waved her to sit on a window seat. “I mustn’t forget your long journey. Have you traveled a good deal?”

  “No.” She had scarcely been out of the village.

  He raised his brows. Light caught glints of red in his hair. He appeared to be a strong, a really strong and lithe man. A sensation that he could move very fast and at any moment disturbed her.

  “Look—” he paced in front of Fleur “—I think you have been given a heavy burden. You are charged with saving your family and that is absolutely too much.”

  She pleated the skirt of her dress between her fingers. Of course he didn’t know she had heard him refer to her as mousey, or declare that he had no time to spare for her. Well, she didn’t like the unkind words, but neither did she blame him for objecting to his mother’s plan.

  “How did the Dowager Marchioness manage to change your mind about me—about taking me about?” she blurted out, and shut her eyes tightly. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”

  “No, you shouldn’t. Why did you? No, no, don’t answer that.”

  She opened her eyes to find him shaking his head.

  “You must have overheard something,” he said.

  Fleur nodded. “I only heard that you didn’t have time for me. And you are perfectly right to be annoyed at the prospect of trailing me with you. I cannot let you do it.”