Madcap Miss (14 page)

“
Somebody has to, as you appear to have lost the use of your reason.
”
He strode stiffly off for the wine and glasses.

“
We are not going to argue any more,
”
she told him when he returned.
“
This visit is the highlight of my day. I refuse to let you destroy it with your shockingly overbearing manner. You were more biddable with Grandma, I believe. She mentioned a renunciation of the Elton creature.
”

Whewett was happy to follow this topic.
“
It looms before me when I return home. I regret losing those gorgeous blond curls and blue eyes. I think Mrs. Elton and I might have gone on happily together, darting about the dens of London.
”

“
She had that charming sense of humor, too. I could have grown accustomed to her as a stepmother. You would not have permitted her to beat me?
”

“
No, I would have done it myself, if you spoke of acting.
”

“
There has been a moratorium declared on that subject. We are discussing Mrs. Elton, sir. She is only after your title, you know. You men in your forties turn very foolish. Grandma told me so,
”
she added swiftly, when he glared at her.

“
I do not happen to be in my forties.
”

“
Only thirty-nine? I have wounded your vanity again. You are as sensitive as an aging lady. How old are you?
”

“
Thirty-five, fast pushing thirty-six.
”
He looked closely to read her reaction, but saw only mild surprise.

“
You have less than five years to find Gussie a decent mama, before you turn foolish and are picked off by the first pretty baggage that comes along. Forty is the turning point. One may do anything with a gentleman in his forties. I wonder if I might not manage to throw myself in the way of some foolish fellow past his prime. I could take my hundred pounds and go to Tunbridge Wells, where the gouty widowers are nursing their joints. What a splendid idea! With luck, I might even be a widow before I completely lose my looks.
”

“
Grace,
”
he said ominously,
“
You will not get the hundred pounds if this is how you mean to carry on.
”

“
Welcher! Here you were offering me
more
a short while ago. What do I know about you after all? You might shab off and leave me stranded at the coaching house after I have served your purpose,
”
she said airily.

“
Very true, you know nothing about me,
including my age."

“
Did you shave off a few years, Whewett?
”
she teased.

“
Certainly not! But there are plenty out there who would do worse than lie about their age. You don
’
t use enough caution for one in your position. Look at you this minute
—
with me, here in a bedchamber, unchaperoned.
”

“
I never felt safer in a church. Besides, I put a chair under the knob after you leave,
”
she added blandly.

“
That strategy operates on the same principle as locking the barn door after the horse has bolted, I assume. Do you put a chair under the other knob as well, the door from the hall?
”

“
No, I doubt the groom who acts as butler is likely to come and ravage me. I
’
m sure he is well past such exhausting endeavors. And surely he would not be brass-faced enough to try it with my father right next door.
”

A reluctant smile alit on Whewett
’
s face.
“
What is to prevent
me
from entering via the hall?
”

“
Your good sense, if not your paternal instincts.
”

“
I do not feel any paternal instincts for you.
”

“
Say gentlemanly, then. Unless you plan to go whole hog and murder me after you have had your vile way with me, you would be putting yourself in a precarious position. You want to be careful about keeping me in good humor, or I shall reveal all. Grandma
’
s fortune would go whistling down the wind, to say nothing of your reputation if the story got wider circulation.
”

His amused smile showed no fear.
“
I didn
’
t realize I had a potential blackmailer on my hands.
”

“
You should be a little careful whom you take up with as well, milord,
”
she cautioned.

“
You are not quite so naive as I supposed,
”
he replied, and filled her glass. He looked at his own, but decided against it.
“
Time for me to leave. Don
’
t forget to put the chair under the knob, Grace,
”
he said as he went to the door.

“
You plan to sneak in by the hall, do you?
”

“
Is that an invitation?
”

Grace gave a disparaging look.
“
How many years did you shave off? Five, was it?
”

“
I am thirty-five years and nine months, since it seems of some interest to you. I ought to mention, however, that we Whewetts are precocious. I married young and might turn foolish young, too. Tunbridge Wells, wasn
’
t it, you mentioned as a good spot to pick up a flirt?
”

“
It was, but I should think a lightskirt would prefer a widower with no children, or the nursery already fledged. A half-grown daughter hanging on her arm when she goes up to London to make the next match might be enough to put her off.
”

“
I am just at that awkward age, it seems. Too old  for a love match and too young to appeal to the fortune hunters.
”

“
Five years will take care of your problem,
”
she said.

“
Good God,
my
fling is nearly flung, too. Ah, well,
”
he said, hefting the wine bottle,
“
at least I am old enough to drown my sorrows. Good night, Grace.
”

Only after Whewett left did she notice he had stopped calling her Miss Farnsworth. When had it happened? During his tirade against the stage, likely. Anger would often blow away the proprieties. She felt a stirring of pity for him. His life was not very full, either. She wondered why he had never remarried. He must have been very much in love with Irene. Lady Healy would be able to tell her more.

At
eight o
’
clock the next morning the family group met for breakfast. Grace took one look at her gruel and said,
“
I am not hungry today. Just tea for me, please.
”

She thought Lady Healy must be unwell. She did not protest or seem to notice when Whewett slipped an egg and toast on a plate and handed it to Grace.

The old lady sipped her drink, thinking. Later she said,
“
You must go into Wickfield for me, Alfred, and see Bronfman about a mortgage. Daugherty has only three thousand dollars in cash, but that need not beat down my price. Tell Bronfman I will take a mortgage for two thousand. A mortgage is a safe investment. I will let him have it at five percent. He would pay more at a broker.
”

“
It will be a good selling point.
”

“
I need that, for I am anxious to get home. I feel little shooting pains in my chest. I thought it was the flu coming on, but no cough developed. My physician at home, Dr. MacTavish, is excellent. He will have me feeling better in jig time.
”

“
Very well, I
’
ll see Bronfman,
”
Whewett agreed.

“
I shall stay quiet, write some letters. What will you do, Augusta? Will you go with your papa?
”
the dame asked.

“
Yes,
”
Grace answered promptly.

“
No, you stay with Grandma,
”
he said. Grace looked at him, surprised and offended.

“
Take her along, Alfred. I shall be busy.
”

Grace looked at Whewett with renewed hope. He replied,
“
It is a nuisance having a child dragging along on business errands. Gussie will stay.
”

“
Papa, please take me with you,
”
Grace entreated, not believing he would consign her to such a tedious morning for no apparent reason.

“
Not his time, dear. Perhaps tomorrow we can go out.
”

“
Daugherty don
’
t come till Friday,
”
Lady Healy mentioned.
“
Tomorrow you and your papa can have a long drive. Don
’
t pout and sulk, child. It makes you look like an ugly pug dog. Do you have a dog at home?
”

The remainder of breakfast passed in harmless discussion. When it was over, Whewett took his leave. He directed a long look at Grace, which conveyed nothing to her, though she thought it was intended to.

“
I
’
ll set up my desk by the window so I can watch you skip,
”
Grandma decided.

There was to be no escape. Lady Healy did as threatened. The rope was brought out, and the exercise began in a desultory way. When Lady Healy looked out, Grace speeded up, and when she was writing, Grace slowed the pace. At one point Lady Healy set her letter aside and waved.

Not thinking what she was about, Grace lifted a hand to wave back. The rope tangled in her legs and she pitched forward. It was not a hard fall, but Lady Healy became alarmed. It was very clear the old lady loved her, for she came pelting out the French doors at a gallop.

“
Goodness, I hope you have not sprained your ankle!
”
Grace felt a perfect wretch to have caused such agitation.
“
Mercy, and it is all my fault, distracting you so foolishly. Can you hobble in and let us have a look at it? Lean on me, Augusta. Oh, dear, and Whewett not here. I
’
ll send a boy for a doctor.
”

“
I don
’
t need a doctor,
”
Grace said hastily. She could have walked unaided, but with the sun rising higher, she was relieved to have done with skipping. Were it not for the promised outing with Whewett, she might have taken to the sofa for a few days. She hopped in on one foot. Mulkins was called to fetch a stool. The ankle was examined with the stocking off. There was no swelling, but a red welt had burned a layer of skin away. The treatment was to send Mulkins off to make lemonade.

When the invalid had been made comfortable, Grandma handed her the Bible, while she resumed her writing. Grace leafed through the heavy tome, reading with very little interest of Abraham begetting Ishmael. When Lady Healy went to speak to Mulkins, Grace slipped quickly upstairs and brought down
Pamela.
With this tucked inside the Bible, she passed the morning more pleasantly than foreseen. At eleven-thirty Whewett returned, to be regaled with what Lady Healy called
“
Gussie
’
s awful accident.
”

His head jerked toward Grace, revealing his alarm.
“
Are you all right?
”
He strode quickly to her and seized her hands, as though to satisfy himself that she was in one piece. When he noticed what he had done, he quickly dropped them.

“
Yes, but I could only skip for ten minutes,
”
she said in a doleful voice, while her eyes laughed over the top of the Bible.

“
A pity. I see you are suitably occupied all the same.
”

“
I
’
m reading Deuteronomy, Papa. Very uplifting.
”

Whewett suspected that pious smile and glanced down to see
Pamela
concealed behind its bulk.
“
You can certainly do with heavy doses of the Bible,
”
he said dampingly.

“
This terrible accident would not have happened if you
’
d taken the child with you,
”
Lady Healy grouched, making clear he was the villain of the piece. After more regrets, she asked,
“
Did you speak to Bronfman?
”

“
He thinks the mortgage is a good idea, and of course he likes the five percent.
”

The sale was discussed till luncheon. Whewett offered his arm to Augusta to reach the table. With careful winces, she lagged along.
“
Don
’
t overdo it, or she
’
ll call in a sawbones. Did you hurt yourself at all?
”

“
It pains dreadfully,
”
she told him, with such an innocent expression, he could not judge whether she meant it or not.

“
Perhaps we should call a doctor,
”
he said uncertainly.

Her smile twinkled mischievously.
“
Perhaps I should be an actress.
”

“
On the other hand perhaps you should be thrashed. Allow me to get your chair, Grandma.
”
He abandoned the invalid to shift for herself, which she did very well.

“
May I have a wee glass of wine, Grandma, as I am feeling dizzy from my accident?
”
Grace asked in a wheedling tone.