Miss Delacourt Speaks Her Mind (17 page)

To see her after four long days, merry and laughing, was like happening upon an oasis in the middle of the desert. He drank in her cool beauty, her shapely form gowned in lavender sprig, the ribbon threaded through her hair accentuating the gray-green of her eyes. Eyes one could drown in ….

“Sir Anthony, are you quite all right?” Ginny asked, her expression puzzled.

Realizing that he had been staring at her, he wondered what they had been discussing. “Yes! Oh, yes, of course. I was only thinking on how to avoid such a situation in the future. If I were caught outside, I daresay my only hope to escape Mrs. Barrington’s wrath would be nothing less than an actual outbreak of pox”

“I daresay you are right,” Ginny replied. “Well, I need to go see Nan. She is bored to Hinders, poor dear.” Then she disappeared into the servant’s quarters.

He thought the encounter went rather well, even if it was far too short. She had spoken to him and had shown concern for his welfare, both of which were promising. He wasn’t sure where he stood with her, but after four days without her, there was no doubt in his mind that he wanted to be standing right next to her for the rest of his life. Four nights ago, when she had so dashed his feelings, he had been humiliated, angry, and hugely infatuated. Today, as he watched her walk down the attic steps, he knew what he felt for her could only be love.

He had a ways to go if he was to win her love in return. He knew she would never marry for less than genuine affection. An image of Ginny, eyes flashing and pert little nose in the air, entered his mind. It would not do to push her. She would only rebel, passionate little shrew that she was. The steps he would take to aid in her full capitulation were clear enough, but unlike Petruchio, he would not try to change his beloved. Before he spoke any words of love or marriage, Sir Anthony knew he must mend his own ways.

Sir Anthony’s daydream was rudely interrupted by a tap on the shoulder. Reluctantly, he turned to find Lord Avery, his chin wobbling. “Come, now, Avery,” he said, putting his arm around his shoulder and steering him toward the stairs, “you really mustn’t. With those red, glassy eyes, Mrs. Barrington will have you in tea and poultices in a trice.”

When they reached the salon, Avery slumped into a chair and put his head in his hands.

“What is it? Miss Barrington hasn’t fallen into a decline or some such thing?”

Lord Avery rocked his head in his hands. “No, nothing like that. In fact, she seems quite gay”

Sir Anthony felt a stab of annoyance. “Well, what is it then? You’re not still pining over her, are you?”

Lord Avery raised his head. “And why should I not be? Wouldn’t you if your intended called you a buffoon and announced to the world her intention of never marrying you?”

“I hardly think the occupants of this house constitute the world!”

Lord Avery shot from his chair. “And then for her to be suddenly so gay and merry when I thought she was every bit as miserable as I. It is beyond bearing!”

Sir Anthony was confounded. “Have you seen her? She has been least-in-sight for days now.”

“I just ran into her in the dining room. She was eating! Eating, I say! When I commented on her restored health, she launched into a monologue about a ball she plans to give when the quarantine is over. All she could talk about was how lovely her gown will be and with whom she will dance and how many. She is in raptures, while my heart is in shreds and I despair of ever knowing happiness again!” Once more, his chin began to wobble and tears sprang to his eyes.

Sir Anthony felt something akin to panic. Anything but the tears! “Come now, Avery, it can’t be that bad. Surely the girl just needs a good talking to!”

The look of hope that sprung to Lord Avery’s eyes was too sudden, swift, and sure for comfort. “You would talk to her, for me?”

It wasn’t precisely what Sir Anthony had in mind. He proceeded with caution. “If there is something I can do or say that would ease your woes-within reason, that is-then I am happy to oblige.”

“Oh, bless you!” Lord Avery cried, his tears all but disappeared. “Talk to her! Find out what her game is. Does she still wish to marry me? What am I to do to win her heart? I must know!”

“Calm down, there is plenty of time left,” Sir Anthony soothed, leading Avery back to his chair. “We have nearly three or four more days of this quarantine still to get through. Perhaps if you brightened up a bit, a moratorium of sorts on the tears, et cetera. In fact, you haven’t seemed any happier about the engagement than she”

“I was unhappy about it but only because of the way it came about” Dejected once more, Lord Avery hid his face in a handkerchief. “I came to this house with the intention of asking her to be my wife. I could wait no longer!” he cried. “But if she doesn’t make it clear that I am her choice, then I will look elsewhere. There are other fish in the pond!” His head jerked up. “Ones perhaps not so very golden but beautiful nonetheless.”

The panic was back. “You don’t mean Miss Delacourt?”

“Certainly I do. Why not? She has given me no reason to think she feels adversely toward me. Besides, I am a lord. She would be a fool not to want me. In return, I think she would make a very comfortable wife.”

“If you think that, then you have never kissed her,” Sir Anthony mumbled, feeling savage.

Lord Avery drew himself up in a posture of hauteur. “Naturally, I have not. And I have not been alone with Lucinda in her bedchamber as everyone seems to believe.”

“I think perhaps you should concentrate on one thing at a time,” Sir Anthony replied with as much calm as he could muster. He doubted Ginny cared for a title or the men who bore them, but Avery wasn’t exactly the sort of noble she despised either. Perhaps Avery’s habit of saying everything he felt was exactly what Ginny wished for in a mate.

The sooner Avery had Lucinda safely hooked, the safer Sir Anthony would feel. He mustered up some enthusiasm. “Why, you and Lucinda were made for each other! In fact, Ginny said Lucinda has been bluedeviled over being robbed of her coming-out. She certainly enjoys being courted. It stands to reason that the way this engagement came about is causing all the trouble!”

“I suppose you’re right,” Lord Avery agreed, pacing the room. “Yes, yes, of course! It’s not me at all! Oh, why didn’t I think of it before!” he cried, his eyes growing wide and his face pink with excitement. “It’s perfect!” He turned glowing eyes on Sir Anthony. “So, you’ll do it then?”

“Do what?” Sir Anthony didn’t like the direction this conversation was taking.

“Court Lucinda, of course!”

“What?!” It was Sir Anthony’s turn to shoot out of his chair.

“Not for keeps, of course! If what you say is true, and I daresay it is veritable fact, Lucinda wants romantic drama and plenty of it!”

“Yes, but shouldn’t it be you who supplies the drama, not I?” Besides which, how was he to further his romance with Ginny while courting Lucinda? It defied all reason.

“Oh, I will, never fear! It is simple; tonight at dinner, flatter her until she is putty in your hands. My Lucinda has but one flaw, she becomes putty far too easily,” Avery mused.

“Er, yes, I see. Putty,” Sir Anthony murmured, amazed by this new side of Lord Avery.

“Second, insist that she meet you in your room after everyone else has retired.”

“Oh, no, I don’t think that would be at all..:

Lord Avery seemed not to hear. “That is when I arrive on the scene!” he said with growing excitement, one finger in the air, the other hand clenched in a fist. “I rescue Lucinda from your clutches and bear her away to the safety of her parents. Suddenly, I am a hero, our engagement will no longer be under a cloud of suspicion, and Lucinda will happily settle down in her new role as my intended bride.”

Sir Anthony was impressed. The plan in its entirety made some sense. In fact, it could actually work. Of course, if the intended target were anyone else, it was an utter piece of folly, but one could not deny the phenomenon that was Lucinda. Sir Anthony began to pace.

“You must promise to rescue me, er, her right away,” Sir Anthony asked with a firm shake of his finger in Lord Avery’s direction.

“Yes, oh yes!” Lord Avery agreed, his head bobbing up and down.

“You must promise that no word of this gets out to anyone whatsoever!” If Ginny stayed in her room for dinner just has she had for the past three nights, she need never know about it until it was all done. Surely by then he would have had a chance to explain the ruse.

“Yes, yes indeed, anything you say,” Avery promised, head continuing to bob.

Certainly Ginny would understand, even approve. Hadn’t she come up with her own plan to bring Avery and Lucinda together? Then why did he feel a growing presentiment of disaster? “I suppose it could be worth the risk..” Sir Anthony began but was struck speechless by Lord Avery’s hurling himself at his feet in an attitude of supplication.

“Please, oh, please, I beg of you. It is my only hope!”

Sir Anthony sensed tears in Avery’s future. “All right, all right, if you insist, yes, I will do it.”

Avery jumped to his feet. “Perfect! Time to start dressing for dinner! No, never mind, it’s early days yet, but you, you should get started. You will need all the time there is left if you hope to outshine me tonight!”

Avery left the room a changed man. Hope had sprung eternal in his heart. Sir Anthony couldn’t help but feel more hopeful toward his own romance as a result, but first he would have to get Avery and Lucinda smelling thoroughly of April and May.

Ginny was beginning to suspect Sir Anthony to be a man in love. He appeared in the drawing room before dinner in a state of agitation heretofore unknown to her. His eyes were a bit too bright, and his usual fluid grace was replaced by sharp and hurried movements. The dinner bell was rung before she had a chance to reflect long on the change in him.

The meal, consisting of mutton, partridge pie, braised ham, and various vegetables, was nothing out of the common way, but Sir Anthony’s actions were. When he leaned over the table to whisper a few words to Lucinda, Ginny told herself he was merely being polite. When he gazed at Lucinda steadily throughout the main course, Ginny decided he must have a pressing reason to do so. It wasn’t until the fruit and cheese were placed on the table and Sir Anthony likened Lucinda’s lips to the plums on her plate that Ginny began to grow concerned.

It would seem Lord Avery agreed. “You go too far,” he hissed, punctuating his remark with a kick to Sir Anthony’s leg under the table. Ginny could only speculate as to Sir Anthony’s reply as it was inaudible. The fact that it so effectively placated Lord Avery aroused her curiosity further.

Sir Anthony then turned once again to Lucinda and said, “It would seem your fiance takes exception to my admiration of you. But when one is promised to such a beautiful girl as yourself one must become accustomed to the efforts of other men to win your heart, isn’t that right, Avery?”

To Ginny’s surprise Lord Avery’s only response was to glower into his plate. Lucinda, for once speechless, gauged her betrothed’s reaction from beneath a sweep of lashes. Squire Barrington and his wife exchanged looks of astonishment. Ginny’s fork clattered to the floor. A footman attempted to restore it to her, but she was incapable of any action except that of staring in horror at the scene before her.

Mrs. Barrington rose to her feet. “I think it is time the ladies withdrew.” Lucinda wasted no time in following her mama out the door, indulging her curiosity only once to confirm that Sir Anthony’s gaze did indeed trail her progress from the room.

When she had gone, his gaze swung back to Ginny, guilt written all over his face. His admission of guilt only strengthened her sense of betrayal. Quickly, she hurried away before she was blinded by the tears she knew were coming.

The faces that greeted Sir Anthony when he entered the drawing room were all curiously blank of expression. As no one spoke, it would seem their brains were equally devoid of thought, but he didn’t fool himself on that score. Everyone that mattered must think him a thorough cad. He hated what he had to do, but he could hardly pull out now.

Avery came in right behind him and, without even a glance at his betrothed, took up a seat next to Ginny, a clever ploy that would leave Sir Anthony a clear path to Lucinda. Hurrying across the room to where she sat by the fire, he lowered himself into a position beside her where his words would go unheard by the others. “Miss Barrington. Allow me to apologize for that uncomfortable scene earlier.”

Lucinda frowned. “You said those pretty things to make me uncomfortable?”

“No,” though he had certainly been uncomfortable saying them. “It’s only that I should not have been so bold with so many others about. We wouldn’t want to upset Lord Avery, would we?”

Lucinda made a moue. “We wouldn’t? I had rather thought it to be a very good idea.”

“Why is that?” It was not the reply he was expecting. Maybe this would be easier than he feared. “You must tell me, Miss Barrington.”

“If I were to tell you, would you promise not to tell Eustace?”

“You have my word of honor. My only wish is to stand your true friend.”