Gayle Buck

by The Hidden Heart

  Thanking the butler with a smile, Lord Trilby crossed the entry hall and opened the drawing-room door. He stepped over the threshold, announcing himself cheerfully. “Good morning, Lady Caroline. I hope I am not again de trop?

  Lady Caroline, who had been staring pensively out of the window with her back to me door, turned swiftly. “My lord! Pray do not be idiotic. I am always happy to see you.”

  As Lord Trilby closed the door behind him, he took swift note of her heightened color and the glitter in her eyes. He knew the signs well enough, and despite his own preoccupations, he asked, “Now what has put you out, my dear?”

  Lady Caroline managed a short laugh. “Am I so transparent?”

  “Like glass, my dear Caro. I observed Lord Hathaway’s carriage leaving the drive as I rode up. What has his lordship done to have merited such a blaze in your eyes?” he said, going over to her and lifting her hand. He smiled down at her questioningly.

  Lady Caroline sighed. “It is my fault, I suppose. I have been very irritable these past several days. My patience has been rubbed thin, and what has just passed between myself and Lord Hathaway . . . well, I shan’t bore you with it. You have not come to listen to my complaints after all.” She smiled up at him and gestured to the settee. She very much wanted to confide in someone, but it would be humiliating in the extreme to disclose to the earl all that Lord Hathaway had said to her.

  Lord Trilby saw that she preferred not to go into the cause of her unusual discomposure, but he accepted her less-than-revealing explanation. “The Worthy sets up my back, as well. I don’t wonder at your annoyance.” He waited until she sat down before he did likewise. He regarded her expression thoughtfully. “Hathaway is still hanging on your sleeve, complacently expecting you to accept him, is he?”

  Lady Caroline cast the earl a startled look. It was on the point of her tongue to ask him how he had known, but she caught herself back in time and instead shook her head. She looked away, saying, “Really, my lord!”

  “If I were you, I’d be rid of his lordship. That insufferable conceit he has of his own worthiness makes one want to grind one’s teeth,” Lord Trilby said.

  Lady Caroline laughed at that, her eyes flashing toward his face. The tension in her eased, and her smile became one of real amusement. “Indeed, how true! However, you need not concern yourself over Lord Hathaway. I believe that I have at last convinced him of my own unworthiness to become his wife.”

  Lord Trilby slanted a brow at his hostess. “I am glad to hear you say so. I have privately thought that your kindness in that direction was wasted, for it would never have occurred to Lord Hathaway that it stemmed from patience and inherent cordiality rather than admiration.”

  “Whereas you would have instantly understood it for what it was,” Lady Caroline said, teasing him a little.

  “But I am, you see, too uncaring to press myself forward on anyone’s account.”

  “Oh, quite true,” Lady Caroline agreed affably. “That explains how you have gotten yourself tangled up in your own polite fabrications with the Grandduchess of Schaffenzeits.”

  Lord Trilby regarded her with appreciation in his eyes. “Touché! I yield the field, my lady.”

  “You have always been of faint heart, Miles,” Lady Caroline said, shaking her head.

  “On the contrary, I am merely able to recognize a lost cause quicker than most,” Lord Trilby said.

  “Oh, well, then! I suppose that I shall not hear another word concerning your preposterous proposition that I pose as your future bride,” said Lady Caroline with a wicked smile.

  “You are too knowing for your own good, my lady,’’ Lord Trilby said, narrowing his gaze on her face. “You have suspected, and quite rightly, that I have come to badger you once again.”

  Lady Caroline lifted her brows. “I admit to some surprise, my lord. I had not thought it, actually.” She regarded him, puzzled, for the shortest moment before enlightenment entered her fine eyes. “Oh, the Grandduchess of Schaffenzeits has arrived! And she is even more formidable than you had supposed, is that it?”

  Lord Trilby had watched the change in her expression, and a half-smile now touched his lips. “You have a marvelous capacity for understatement, my lady.”

  Lady Caroline laughed. “No, do I?” she asked in appreciation. “It must be very bad for you, indeed!”

  “Tell me in all truth, Caro, can you not give me some hope?”

  Lady Caroline shook her head and was about to reply to him when the door opened and her aunt entered the drawing room.

  Mrs. Burlington paused a moment, her expression reflecting her disapproval that she should find her niece in obvious tête-à-tête.

  “Well, I am astonished, my dear niece. Certainly Lord Trilby is an old and valued friend, but I think that it would have been courteous to send me word that you were entertaining. I would have joined you directly, of course.”

  “Of course you would have, Amaris. Your correspondence is not of such dire importance this morning as it was a few days past on a similar occasion,” Lady Caroline said quietly. She disliked her aunt’s tone, insinuating, as it did, that her behavior was more that of a recalcitrant schoolgirl sneaking a few moments with a lover rather than that of a mature woman visiting with an old and dear friend.

  It angered her that her aunt had maneuvered to leave her alone with Lord Hathaway for that disastrous interview, perhaps even guessing what tactics his lordship meant to employ, and so now, in her own way, she let Mrs. Burlington know it.

  Mrs. Burlington took Lady Caroline’s meaning well enough, as was evidenced by the sliding away of her gaze. She advanced into the room and seated herself in a wing chair. “Such a production over a simple error of judgment, my dear!” She laughed as she turned to the Earl of Walmesley. “You will scarcely credit it, my lord, but my niece was discomfited to have received Lord Hathaway alone—Lord Hathaway, who is to my experience the most courteous and worthy of young gentlemen.”

  “Perhaps Lady Caroline did not inform you of his lordship’s peculiar form of courtesy, Mrs. Burlington. I was witness to it and I do not think any lady of breeding should be mauled in her own drawing room,” Lord Trilby said coolly.

  Mrs. Burlington’s mouth dropped open. She turned her eyes to her niece. “Caroline! You never once hinted at such a thing, I am sure. Why, I have never been more astonished in my life. I would never have expected to hear of such want of conduct in you, certainly, and as for Lord Hathaway—”

  “I mink enough has been said, Amaris. The incident is done with, and I have dealt with Lord Hathaway as I judged best. His lordship will not again presume to take such liberties,” Lady Caroline said shortly.

  Mrs. Burlington’s eyes narrowed. She said sharply, “I suppose I must take it from that that you have been woolly-headed enough to bar his lordship from the house. That is very ill-thought-of, my dear niece. Forgive me, my lord. I would not speak so plainly in company except that I quite consider your lordship almost one of the family. My lady Caroline, excepting these all-too-rare visits by our dear Lord Trilby, Lord Hathaway is practically your only gentleman caller. Whom shall you call upon for diversion when Lord Trilby returns to town, I should like to know?”

  Lady Caroline had had quite enough. For several days she had endured slight and temper and malice and insensitivity from her aunt, from her brother, and from Lord Hathaway. Her eyes glittered with her renewed high temper. “Allow me to make you the first to know the news, Amaris. I shall not need to call upon Lord Hathaway or anyone else for diversion, as you put it! Lord Trilby has made an offer, which I am prepared to accept.’’

  Chapter Fifteen

  Lady Caroline felt a savage satisfaction when she saw the incredulity on her aunt’s face.

  Mrs. Burlington’s mouth opened and shut several times, but no sound issued forth.

  Lord Trilby, betraying by only the flicker of a brow his own surprise, took Lady Caroline’s hand and raised it to brush his lips lightly across her fingers. Low
ering her hand, he yet retained his clasp on it. “I am amazed, indeed, by my good fortune.”

  His lazy smile flickered over his face as he caught Lady Caroline’s gaze. “In faith, when I rode down to Berwicke this morning, I had few expectations of finding success in my mission.”

  Lady Caroline’s fingers turned in his and nipped smartly at his palm. She flashed a bright smile for her aunt’s benefit, but in the depths of her eyes there was gathering horror at what she had done. She spoke directly to Lord Trilby, hoping that he understood all that she wanted to convey. “I admit that I had reservations, and still do, but impetuosity has always been a disastrous fault of mine. I hope that I do not live to regret my sudden change of heart, my lord!”

  Lord Trilby laughed softly. He pressed her fingers once more and let go of her hand. “I hope not, indeed. But if you should do so, you may jilt me. I promise you that I shall harbor no ill feeling toward you for it.”

  Lady Caroline laughed in her turn, suddenly made giddy by the reckless danger she courted with what she had done. She knew that Lord Trilby understood why she had abruptly and publicly announced that she had engaged herself to him. It was a measure of their relationship that he should not hold it against her. Indeed, he had even magnanimously provided her with the excuse that she would later need to free herself of him after the blunder of springing their private agreement into the open, and to her aunt, of all people.

  “Jilt you, indeed! Why, whatever should put such a preposterous notion into your head, my lord! No, indeed, my niece has a finer sense of what is owed her family honor than to subject herself to such scandal,” Mrs. Burlington said.

  “I am glad you think so, Mrs. Burlington,” Lord Trilby said suavely. “I trust, then, that this announcement has your approval?”

  “Certainly it does, my lord! Why, I have been telling Lady Caroline for years that she should shake the dust of Berwicke Keep from her heels and set up her own establishment. I never expected that you . . . Well, that is neither here nor there.”

  Mrs. Burlington turned to Lady Caroline and reached out to grasp one of the younger lady’s hands between hers. An odd triumph lit her eyes as she said, “My dear niece, I could not be happier for you. We must send word of the glad tidings to Lord Eddington at once.”

  “Is Lord Eddington returned to England?” Lord Trilby asked sharply, glancing swiftly at Lady Caroline. But it was Mrs. Burlington who answered him.

  “Indeed he is, my lord, and great will be his astonished pleasure to learn that his dear sister is to be wedded at last. His lordship could not stay away from Berwicke then, and you, dear Caroline, will be finally relieved of the burden of carrying the estate business and the ordering of the household.’’

  Mrs. Burlington showed her teeth in what she considered a conciliatory smile as she turned her eyes on her niece. “I hold myself ready to take on the necessary responsibility for the household at once, of course, in order that you might be freed to formulate plans for the wedding.”

  Lady Caroline laughed, retrieving her hand from her aunt’s damp clasp. She well knew what primary emotion swayed her aunt, and she had no intention to play to Mrs. Burlington’s huge satisfaction that at last Berwicke Keep would be under her own management. “Oh, I do not think Lord Eddington will see it quite the same way. My brother will in all probability wish me to see to the books even as I am measured for my robe.”

  Even as she saw the slightest stiffening of Mrs. Burlington’s expression, Lady Caroline sensed Lord Trilby’s own reaction. His gaze had locked onto her face, at once startled and thoughtful. The slightest flush colored her cheekbones as she realized how easily had come the reference to a bridal gown. She glanced swiftly up at his lordship’s face. “Of course, it will be some time before such details must be seen to.”

  “Quite so, as the public announcement will not be made for some months. In view of that, it would be best to relay nothing of the matter even to Lord Eddington at this time,” Lord Trilby said.

  Mrs. Burlington looked from one to the other of them, her brows rising in polite displeasure. “I do not understand. Surely if it is to be a June wedding, then the planning must be put in motion at once. A notice must be sent in to the Gazette with the next post. Naturally you will want to attend the Season with the engagement well established so that you will be able to receive the well wishes of all of your friends and acquaintances. You will also want to supervise the redecorating of the town house and perhaps even Walmesley as well, dear Caroline.”

  Lady Caroline cast another glance up at the earl’s face. Though his expression was polite, she knew him too well to believe that he listened to the enumeration of these pleasures gladly. But how to put off her aunt in a plausible fashion was quite beyond her own skills, she thought. “Perhaps it would be best if you should explain the thing, my lord.”

  Lord Trilby’s stern expression relaxed into a half-smile as he glanced down into her anxious eyes. “I wonder how it is I anticipated that?” he asked softly.

  “I really could not say,” Lady Caroline said on a low laugh, her sense of the ridiculous affected.

  Lord Trilby shrugged as he turned again to Mrs. Burlington, whose expression was beginning to reflect suspicion and impatience. “I have a particular reason for not wishing the understanding between myself and Lady Caroline to be commonly known, Mrs. Burlington,” he said slowly, feeling his way. “I had the recent honor of receiving for a prolonged visit an elderly relation of mine whose notions of family descent are exceptionally demanding, and in particular the question of my own future heirs.”

  He ignored a peculiar choking sound from Lady Caroline, but he thought he could cheerfully have throttled her for her ill-timed irreverence. He scarcely controlled the quiver of his lips. “I have deemed it the wiser course to introduce Lady Caroline as my intended in a private way, so that her grace has time to adjust to the notion and grant her approval of the match.”

  “Her grace?” Mrs. Burlington searched her mind for some exalted connection of the Earl of Walmesley’s that she had unaccountably missed in her avid reading of Burke’s Peerage. “I do not seem to recall—”

  “The Grandduchess of Schaffenzeits,” Lady Caroline supplied.

  Mrs. Burlington’s eyes widened. “Oh, indeed! I had quite forgotten the continental connection. Why, this is exciting news indeed, my lord! You say that her grace is visiting you at this moment?”

  “At Walmesley, yes,” Lord Trilby said.

  The earl exchanged a glance with Lady Caroline, which Mrs. Burlington instantly understood. She stared accusingly at her niece. “My lady, this obviously is not news to yourself. I wish to know what possible reason you have had in hiding the Grandduchess of Schaffenzeits’ presence in the neighborhood from everyone? It is the height of rude manners for us not to have paid a courtesy call on her grace directly upon her arrival, as anyone could tell you.”

  “That was my doing, Mrs. Burlington. The journey from St. Petersburg is a lengthy and difficult one for any personage, and doubly so for a lady of such venerable age. I thought to shield her grace from any further fatigue,” Lord Trilby said, dissembling swiftly.

  “Oh, quite so! Of course, I understand perfectly. You must let us know when her grace is sufficiently recovered to receive callers, my lord, for I assure you that I, for one, will not be behind in paying my respects,” Mrs. Burlington said.

  “I did not really think that you would be, Amaris,” Lady Caroline said.

  Mrs. Burlington stared at her niece, suspecting the implication. With a glance at the earl, she decided that it would be politic to let pass Lady Caroline’s disrespect. “Indeed, and as you well know, I pride myself on my correct manners. My lord, pray convey my regards to the Grandduchess of Schaffenzeits and assure her that I shall call on her in the next few days.”

  The Earl of Walmesley bowed. “Of course, Mrs. Burlington. Now, if it should not greatly outrage your sense of propriety, I would like to speak privately with Lady Caroline for a few moment
s.”

  It was on the point of Mrs. Burlington’s tongue to utter an objection, but after taking note of the earl’s expression, she summoned up a tight smile. “I shall just go inquire what is planned for luncheon. You will stay, will you not, my lord?”

  “No, I think not today. My great-aunt will doubtless wonder where I have got off to, so I will not tarry long,” Lord Trilby said.

  Mrs. Burlington went to the door. “Very well, my lord. I shall bid you good day, then. Lady Caroline, I shall be in my sitting room if you should need me.”

  The earl bowed to Mrs. Burlington and she left the room, closing the door with obvious reluctance behind her.

  Lady Caroline turned from the earl, clasping her hands before her with belated agitation. “It is a pretty mess I have created.”

  “Not at all. I am eminently content, my dear lady. After all, I have gained precisely what I hoped to from my audience with you. Though, in all honesty, I did not expect your surrender to come about through a flash of pique.”

  Lady Caroline turned around at that, a rueful laugh leaving her lips. “I do apologize. Miles. It was truly very bad of me.”

  “Yes, it was,” he agreed. “My innate confidence in my powers of persuasion has been thoroughly trounced. I am a woeful creature indeed.”

  “On the contrary. Even provoked as I was, I would never have succumbed to the trap if it had not been presented to me before in such a reasonable fashion.”

  “Trap, Caroline?” he asked softly. “I was not aware that an engagement to me was to be considered in the nature of a trap.”

  The blood rushed to her face. “I am sorry, my lord. I put it very badly.”

  The earl took her hand and smiled down at her. “I understand perfectly, my lady, believe me. I knew that I could rely upon you not to allow me to get into this thing over my head.”

  “I think that I have already failed you in that, my lord,” Lady Caroline said on a sigh. She was thinking of her own very good reasons not to enter into the false engagement, and now they had all been knocked into a cocked hat.