Cupid's Choice: She's a shy beauty in distress. He's a chivalric gentleman. (12 page)

“It won’t do to cut Lady Beasely and her daughter from our acquaintance, however. They are very well connected, and I would hesitate to offend them. After all, there must be any number of scheming females wishing to throw their daughters at your head, Percy, and we cannot avoid them all,” said Mrs. Holland reflectively.

“That’s not a comforting thought, Mama,” said Lord Holybrooke with a quick grin.

“However, I feel that you need not dance attendance on Miss Beasely,” said Mrs. Holland decisively. “Or any other young lady, if it comes to that. I shouldn’t like to see you leap into any entanglement which you might later regret!”

“I heartily agree with you, Mama,” said Lord Holybrooke. The earl glanced swiftly at his sister’s downcast face. “And don’t you think that we should go slowly with Guin, as well? After all, we wouldn’t wish her to make a mistake in her choice, either.”

Guin looked up quickly, hopefully, glancing from her brother to her mother. She waited with fast-beating heart for her mother’s reply. The vivid memory of the unpleasant interlude earlier in the week still had the power to make her shudder. She had not dared to proffer an opinion on any of her mother’s subsequent decisions concerning her wardrobe. She had agreed with everything, even the cutting of her hair in a smart crop. She was vaguely aware that she had never appeared more attractive, but her overwhelming anxiety to please her mother overrode all other considerations. She felt like a tricked-out doll, nodding and smiling and silent, even though her heart quailed inside her breast at her mother’s continued allusions to eligible suitors.

Now Lord Holybrooke had seized the opening offered, just as he had promised he would, and spoke up in her defense. Guin thought Percy had been very clever. She waited with baited breath for what her mother might say to her brother’s carefully constructed question.

Mrs. Holland smiled and shook her head in a tolerant fashion. Without even glancing at her daughter, she said, “Well, it is a bit different for Guin, dear Percy. Young females should be wed as soon as possible. That is really why we have come to town for the Season. I wish to see your sister suitably established.”

“I shouldn’t want Guin to accept the first offer made to her, Mama. I wouldn’t be easy in my mind,” said Lord Holybrooke firmly. “I should like to get to know some of these gentlemen before we begin encouraging any of them.”

“Well, of course!” Mrs. Holland laughed. “How nonsensical you are, to be sure, Percy! And that is a very good notion of yours. I would be very interested to hear whatever you may tell me about the gentlemen which might be considered eligible for your sister’s hand.”

“Rest assured that I shall do my best to further Guin’s interests,” said Lord Holybrooke earnestly.

Mrs. Holland bestowed a fond smile on her son. “You have always been my greatest consolation, Percy.”

Guin stole her hand into her brother’s and squeezed his long fingers gratefully. With Percy on her side, she knew that everything would work out as well as could be expected, for their mother never denied Percy anything he wanted. And if he objected to her marrying someone on the score that he didn’t like the gentleman, Guin rather thought their mother might listen.

“I think you are the best of brothers, Percy,” she said, conveying her feelings as best she could without betraying the trend of her thoughts.

“I am glad to see that you are properly grateful, Guin,” said Mrs. Holland.

“On the contrary, I am grateful to Guin. Her company has always been good for me; you know it has, Mama,” said Lord Holybrooke casually, but returning the pressure of his sister’s hand to show he understood.

“Yes, I am fully persuaded of Guin’s loyalty to you. She has always been willing to fetch and carry and bear you company whenever you have been bored,” said Mrs. Holland. She gave a rare smile to her daughter. “It is the best thing I know of you, Guin.”

“Thank you, Mama,” said Guin, quick tears starting to her eyes. She was overwhelmed by her mother’s generous comment.

“Then, you must see, Mama, that I do not wish Guin married off entirely at once,” said Lord Holybrooke in a persuasive tone. “I should miss her company.”

There was a short silence, while Mrs. Holland began to frown. Of a sudden she tossed her head. Somewhat pettishly, she said, “Weil, we shall see what comes of the Season. I anticipate a positive whirl of engagements once it is more widely known the Earl of Holybrooke is in residence. And I have every intention of making the most of our opportunities! So pray put your best foot forward, Guin!”

“Yes, Mama,” said Guin,
breathing a small sigh of relief. She glanced at her brother and caught his conspiratorial wink. Her heart was warmed, just by knowing her brother was willing to help her.

However, Mrs. Holland had the last word. “In any event, I should think with an earl for a brother that you won’t lack for opportunity.”

Guin counted heavily on her brother’s continued support. When he had spoken up for her after their morning call to Lady Beasely, she had felt quite hopeful. However, Lord Holybrooke’s social engagements commanded more and more of his time. He tried to cry off from various invitations, but it was difficult to extricate himself when his friends urged him to reconsider.

Guin quite understood the dilemma that her brother found himself in even before Lord Holybrooke took her aside to explain it to her, but it was difficult to assure him that she did not mind. She watched, her hope dwindling, as her brother seemed once again to forget her.

Once more, Guin was at the mercy of her mother’s overweening ambition. Mrs. Holland was cultivating Lord Holloway with such blatant encouragement that Guin did not believe his lordship could possibly misunderstand that an offer from him would be accepted.

Guin thought the Season could hold no greater apprehension for her until a fresh alarm raised up suddenly in her face.

Lady Smythe finally made good on her pledged word to Sir Frederick Hawkesworth by paying a morning call on the Holland ladies.

When her ladyship’s card was taken up, Mrs. Holland exclaimed with pleasure. She at once directed the butler to show Lady Smythe up to the front parlor. “Depend upon it, Guin, her ladyship has come to pay her respects because Percy has stepped into the title,” said Mrs. Holland complacently.

Since Guin could think of no other reason for someone of Lady Smythe’s social standing to recognize them with a visit, she accepted her mother’s explanation without question.

As Lady Smythe entered, Mrs. Holland bustled forward to receive her. “My lady! Such a treat for us that you have chosen to call!” She at once offered refreshment, which her ladyship declined in a civil manner on the grounds that she had just breakfasted.

Lady Smythe shook hands with her hostess and nodded casually to Guin, who had also risen to murmur a polite welcome. “I am glad to have found you both at home, Mrs. Holland. I trust that I am not keeping you from an engagement?”

Mrs. Holland laughed to scorn the very suggestion. She urged the exalted visitor to a comfortable chair in front of the fire before seating herself opposite and waving her daughter to the settee. “Of course not, Lady Smythe. We could have nothing more important to do when you have come to call!”

Lady Smythe smiled politely but she appeared a trifle bored. She turned to Guin. “I trust you enjoyed yourself at my ball, Miss Holland?”

Guin opened her mouth to reply, but her mother forestalled her.

“Of course we did, my lady! How could it be otherwise?” exclaimed Mrs. Holland with a small laugh. “You must forgive my daughter, Lady Smythe. She is sometimes behind in expressing her gratitude for the many kindnesses that have been showered upon her since we have come to town.”

Guin sighed. She summoned up a properly grateful smile for Lady Smythe’s benefit. In a somewhat wooden voice, she said, “Indeed, I enjoyed myself prodigiously, my lady.”

“There! Did I not say so? I am quite sorry that my son, Lord Holybrooke, is not at home, for I am certain that he, also, would like to express his appreciation of your hospitality, my lady,” said Mrs. Holland with her lovely smile in place.

Lady Smythe’s shrewd eyes held a disconcerting gleam. “I have not a doubt of it being just as you say, Mrs. Holland,” she said dryly.

Mrs. Holland, quite unconscious of the gentle sarcasm in her ladyship’s tone, again laughed. “Oh, Percy is quite the accomplished gentleman, I do assure you!”

Guin glanced, startled, at Lady Smythe. Her ear was more discerning than her mother’s. She realized at once that mockery tinged her ladyship’s agreement with her mother, and the knowledge brought a flush to her cheeks. As always, her loyalties emboldened her. “It was a very fine evening, indeed, my lady. We are beginning to receive many invitations, but I trust we shall not have a prior engagement when next you entertain, Lady Smythe!”

It was the longest speech Guin had ever made in company. She was amazed at her own temerity. She sank back against the settee cushions, doubts assailing her as to the wisdom of her contribution.

Guin was not the only one surprised. Mrs. Holland regarded her daughter with open astonishment mixed with dismay. “Why, Guin! Whatever will her ladyship think of you?”

Lady Smythe merely inclined her head. With a definite smile for Guin, she said that she hoped not indeed. “Which brings me in a roundabout way to my business to you today, Mrs. Holland,” said Lady Smythe, turning her gaze back to her hostess. “I hope to be of some small service to you,”

“Why, of course, my lady!” said Mrs. Holland, the puzzled expression in her eyes at complete variance with her gratified air. “But I really cannot imagine what—”

Lady Smythe smoothly interrupted her. “I chanced to observe Miss Holland’s company manners the other evening, which I can no doubt ascribe to your training, Mrs. Holland, and I was impressed by the thought that I should like to take Miss Holland a little under my wing. As she is just coining out, I am certain you could not object if I were to give her a few hints on how to go on.”

“Of course I would not object! It is certainly a kindness which I never looked for, my lady!” exclaimed Mrs. Holland. The throb of excitement in her voice was audible.

Lady Smythe nodded as though she’d had every expectation of acceptance. “I have often observed how backward many young misses are upon their come-out. I am certain you know precisely what I refer to, Mrs. Holland.”

Mrs. Holland glanced at her daughter, and her lips thinned a little. There was little of maternal pride in her eyes. “Oh, yes, I do know, ma’am.” She looked back at her guest, her smile sliding firmly back into place. She said in an earnest voice, “Believe me, I wish every possible advantage for my daughter. Alas, she is naught but a country miss, and I quite despair at times of bringing her into fashion!”

Guin bit her lip and lowered her eyes, feeling the heat of humiliation rise up in her face. She wished she was everything her mother wanted her to be. It was an old yearning, one that she had had from childhood and one that brought with it a depressed feeling of hopelessness. It was made all the worse in this instance because her mother held up her shortcomings to this elegant lady. Guin felt ready to sink into the floor.

“It must be a severe trial, situated as you are with a daughter to be credibly gotten off your hands and a son who is just beginning to appreciate the responsibilities of his new station,” said Lady Smythe conversationally.

“Indeed, my lady! It is just as you say,” agreed Mrs. Holland. Seemingly overcome, she searched for her handkerchief. When she had found it, she dabbed carefully at the corners of her eyes. “Forgive me! I have always been of a delicate nature, and the circumstances quite overpower me if I allow myself to dwell on them. However, I do not begrudge any effort that will advance the cause of my children!”

“I have always been of a disgustingly strong constitution, nor do I possess any children, and so I have not myself experienced such exquisite sensibility as you seem to possess in such full measure, Mrs. Holland,” said Lady Smythe astringently.

Guin gasped, completely shaken out of her self-pity. It had actually sounded as though Lady Smythe had delivered a crushing set-down.

Mrs. Holland apparently thought the same. She stared at her ladyship, the handkerchief suspended in midair.

Lady Smythe seemed to realize that she had lapsed in her manners. She summoned up a polite smile. “Pray do not take me amiss. Many of my friends have lamented to me, Mrs. Holland, of the time and expense involved in bringing out their daughters. It appears at best a tiresome necessity and at worst a plaguey nuisance.”

“It is unfortunately too true,” sighed Mrs. Holland, drooping gracefully in an affected attitude. She waved her handkerchief. “Why, I have had to completely outfit Guin with a new wardrobe since coming to town. What was proper when we lived secluded simply would not do in London! As for the time I have already invested, I assure you that it exhausts me simply to contemplate it.”

“Perhaps I may be of even greater service to you, then. I find myself unutterably bored by the prospect of yet another stale Season. If you felt able to relinquish the responsibility, it would amuse me to bring Miss Holland out under my aegis,” said Lady Smythe with a casual air.

“What?”
exclaimed Guin. She regarded Lady Smythe incredulously. Her ladyship had dropped the stunning announcement as though it was the merest commonplace.

Lady Smythe appeared totally unaware of Guin’s shock. Her ladyship had the slightest smile touching her thin lips, while her rather cold blue gaze was fixed on her hostess. “Well, Mrs. Holland?”

Mrs. Holland had sat bolt upright, her eyes widened to a stare. Her mouth had dropped half open from astonishment. She appeared unable to draw a proper breath, and her reply was faint. “My lady!”

Lady Smythe threw up a bejeweled hand. “Oh, I know what you will say! You are devoted to your children, and it will be difficult to part with your daughter!”

“Oh, no, no. At least, of course it will be difficult but—”

“And no doubt you find it strange that I should offer to take such a personal hand in what are your affairs!” said Lady Smythe.

“I would never say that it was
strange.
After all, my son is the Earl of Holybrooke, and his rank must certainly excite some interest. Indeed, I would have thought that he— certainly, I never expected that you would take an interest in Gum!” exclaimed Mrs. Holland.

Guin glanced at her mother, a familiar hurt plunging into her heart. Momentarily Lady Smythe’s stated purpose was overridden by her oft repeated, despair-tinged thoughts. She could never measure up. She would never be found worthy in her mother’s estimation of the least consideration.

“Well, I do know something about young ladies and how they should go on, whereas I would not dream of squiring a young gentleman through his first Season,” said Lady Smythe smoothly, obviously amused by Mrs. Holland’s patent assumption. “I would far rather leave that to your discretion, ma’am!”

“Of course! Indeed, I am more nearly concerned with furthering Percy’s interests than anyone else could be!” said Mrs. Holland. Speculation gleamed in her eyes as she thoughtfully regarded Lady Smythe.

“Then, have we a bargain? For I am persuaded that one of your . . . delicate nature would find it far less fatiguing if I took a hand with your daughter,” said Lady Smythe, showing her teeth in a somewhat satirical smile.

Guin turned her astonished gaze from Lady Smythe to glance at her mother. What she saw in Mrs. Holland’s expression sent a frisson of alarm through her. “Mama! Pray do not—”

“Hush, Guin!” said Mrs. Holland with a minatory frown. Quickly, she said, “Though it pains me to give her up, my lady, I am also cognizant of the kindness of your offer. I do not begrudge the sacrifice of my own sentiments, however, when it is a question of my children’s welfare.”

“Mama!” exclaimed Guin again, though with little hope that her mother would attend. Indeed, Mrs. Holland did not even glance her way, all of her attention being focused on Lady Smythe and her extraordinary offer.

“Very well!” Lady Smythe rose to her feet, obviously ready to take her leave. “I shall certainly see what I can do on your daughter’s behalf. Miss Holland, I can see very well that you are completely taken aback, so I shall not press you for an exchange of civilities over this business. There will be time enough to become better acquainted, I assure you! Good-bye, Mrs. Holland! No, there is no need to show me to the door, for I know my way well enough.”

Mrs. Holland nevertheless solicitously accompanied Lady Smythe downstairs. When that lady had departed, Mrs. Holland came back upstairs to the parlor where her daughter was awaiting her. Mrs. Holland was in an expansive mood. Her eyes were alight and a smile hovered over her mouth. For once, she looked at her daughter with unqualified approval. “Well! What have you to say to this day’s events, my dear Guin? I never looked for anything so fortunate!”

Guin found her voice. Suppositions and conjectures had seethed through her brain during her mother’s absence. “But, Mama, what does it mean? Surely I am not to go live with Lady Smythe!”

“If that is what her ladyship wishes, you certainly shall. I am utterly astonished at your good fortune, that someone as well connected as Lady Smythe should have taken a liking to you! Of course, if Percy had not become Lord Holybrooke, the case would undoubtedly have been quite different!’ said Mrs. Holland.

“Mama, I know you have placed much emphasis on the title having come to Percy, but surely there must be more than that to explain Lady Smythe’s incredible offer,” said Guin, stammering a little in her haste to get out everything that was in her tumbling thoughts. It was not possible that someone as exalted as Lady Smythe should care as much as Mrs. Holland seemed to think her ladyship did who had ascended to the earldom. Yet it seemed equally impossible to Guin that Lady Smythe, on the basis of a few moments’ exchange of civilities during a ball, should have decided to lend her aegis for Guin’s come-out.

“Why, are you thinking that Lady Smythe is taking you up on your own account? What absurd vanity is this?” said Mrs. Holland brutally. She shook her head with a pitying look of contempt for her daughter. “I can assure you that it has nothing at all to do with you, Guin!”