Cupid's Choice: She's a shy beauty in distress. He's a chivalric gentleman. (13 page)

As always, Guin was crushed by her mother’s denigration. Whatever else she might have voiced shriveled inside her, left unsaid. She made a small, hopeless gesture. “I wished you understood, Mama.”

“Understand what, Guin? I find you incomprehensible,” said Mrs. Holland with frowning impatience.

At that moment Colonel Caldar walked into the room. He nodded civilly to his sister, but directed a fond smile at his niece. “Here you are! I was on the point of going out to exercise my team. I thought you might like to drive with me, Guin. You need not tell me that you don’t wish to go, Aurelia, for I know it already. You’ve told me any number of times that you can’t abide my driving.”

Mrs. Holland paid not the least heed to her brother’s statement. Instead she hurried forward to take her brother’s arm with both hands in an urgent grasp. “Arnold! You will scarcely believe what has just happened. My breath is taken away by sheer surprise, I assure you!”

“Indeed?” Colonel Caldar noticed that his niece did not appear to be as excited as her mother. Guin had turned away and walked toward the window overlooking the street. There seemed to be some tension in the way she held herself.

Colonel Caldar was all at once concerned. He patted Mrs. Holland’s hands and gently pried himself loose from her clutching fingers. “There, now! Pray do not keep me in suspense, Aurelia.”

“Lady Smythe came to call, which in itself was quite unusual, for we do not know her at all well. And the purpose of her call! Her ladyship wishes to help me bring Guin out!” said Mrs. Holland in a dramatic rush. She regarded her brother with an expectant air. “What have you to say to that, Arnold! Is it not marvelous?”

Colonel Caldar was as incredulous as his sister could have wished. “Why, what has brought this about?”

Mrs. Holland gave a delighted laugh. She made a dismissive gesture to show she thought the question unimportant. Nevertheless she answered, “Guin would have it that Lady Smythe has some hidden motive, but as you might imagine, I quickly corrected her. It is all because of Percy, of course. Everyone is anxious to become acquainted with the new Earl of Holybrooke, and naturally they will be very obliging toward us all.”

Mrs. Holland spoke in self-congratulatory accents that earned her a swift, backward glance from her daughter. If she had seen Guin’s doubtful expression, she would have taken instant umbrage. However, Mrs. Holland’s attention was all on her brother as she eagerly awaited his comment.

“Naturally,” repeated Colonel Caldar , though with a dubious intonation. A crease formed between his sandy brows. “I still do not understand how Percy’s good fortune has influenced Lady Smythe to such a high degree, Aurelia.”

Guin had turned around to listen. Her uncle’s observation made her pluck up her courage. “Nor do I, Uncle. Surely it—it is nonsensical to suppose that Lady Smythe has taken me in such liking on a mere handshake and short introduction at her ladyship’s ball?”

“Nothing could be more unlikely, as I have told you,” said Mrs. Holland waspishly. “Pray do not pretend, Guin, that out of silly vanity you do not secretly hope it is yourself who has captivated her ladyship’s interest!”

“No, Mama, I—”

“Let me reassure you that nothing could be further from the truth,” interrupted Mrs. Holland. “Her ladyship is being very obliging so that I might concentrate on Percy’s social progress. Lady Smythe has no particular interest in you!”

As Colonel Caldar had seen so many times in the past, his niece did not argue with her mother but merely bowed her head. He spoke more sharply than he intended. “Is that what Lady Smythe told you, Aurelia?”

Mrs. Holland jumped. “Well, not in so many words, of course! But certainly her ladyship implied it. Really, Arnold, I must take exception to your tone of voice. It is very displeasing to me.”

Colonel Caldar ignored his sister’s offended expression. His mind turned over the meager information he had been given. He wondered if this was not just what would most benefit his niece. After all, Lady Smythe was a famous hostess and possessed élan to the nth degree. There could not be a better example for Guin to emulate. “What precisely has Lady Smythe offered?” he asked slowly.

“Oh, I don’t know! What does it matter, really? Lady Smythe has pledged herself to see Guin through the Season,” said Mrs. Holland dismissively. “Isn’t that enough?”

“Mama says that I am to go live with Lady Smythe if her ladyship wishes it!” said Guin, a quiver in her voice.

“Yes, and why not? It is more than I ever hoped for you,” said Mrs. Holland, rounding on her daughter. “Your opportunities will be greatly enhanced by Lady Smythe’s generosity, so do not become missish on me, Guin!”

Colonel Caldar had given thought to what he had been told and, with his soldier’s training, quickly made up his mind. Now he said, “Guin, much as you might dislike it, it might be the very thing for you.”

Guin reacted as though she had been struck, swaying back on her feet. “Uncle! How can you say so?” She took several rapid steps toward Colonel Caldar, her wide eyes riveted on his square face. Her own face was white. “I should have to leave Percy!”

“My dear, I rather think that Percy has already left you,” said Colonel Caldar with brusque gentleness. He watched, not without sympathy, as his niece’s eyes grew wider and more apprehensive. He closed the distance between them and lifted one of her unresisting hands, folding it between his own square ones in a comforting hold. “Did you not realize it would come to this, sooner or later, Guin? Why, Percy has been jauntering about town for weeks now. We all see less and less of him. Perhaps your mother is right. Perhaps this is a happy solution to an unhappy circumstance. I doubt that Lady Smythe will actually require you to take up residence with her, but even if it is so, I urge you to consider it carefully.”

Mrs. Holland nodded agreement. “You see, even your uncle, who is not at all beforehand with the fashionable world, is able to see all the advantages.”

“No, no! I will not go! I will not!” exclaimed Guin, wresting her hand from her uncle’s clasp. She covered her cheeks with her hands, half turning away. Unshed tears shimmered on her lashes. Her mind was in a whirl. She didn’t blame her uncle, but how she wished he had upheld her! More than anything, however, she was unutterably hurt by her mother’s easy relinquishment of her to a virtual stranger.

“Guin, you will stop this nonsense at once! I vow I could shake you!” exclaimed Mrs. Holland, extremely displeased by her daughter’s unreasonable attitude.

“Be kinder, Aurelia,” said Colonel Caldar in a warning voice.

Mrs. Holland shot an angered glance at her brother. “Guin is my daughter, Arnold. I shall speak to her just as I ought.”

Colonel Caldar’s face hardened, but he bit back what he dearly wished to say.

Mrs. Holland advanced on her shrinking daughter and grabbed her arm. She pulled Guin around. Her expression was furious. “I have already pledged my word to Lady Smythe and, indeed, I think it high time that you were weaned a little from your brother! Such freakish airs are highly unbecoming, let me tell you!”

“Why not go out driving with me, Guin. The fresh air will cool your head,” said Colonel Caldar quickly. He had taken a hasty step forward, but caught himself back from actual physical interference.

“Yes, brother! Take her with you, for I am out of all patience,” said Mrs. Holland, flinging away her daughter’s arm. “Pray do not keep your uncle waiting! Go fetch your hat, Guin!”

Guin fled from the parlor, the tears running down her cheeks.

It was nearly a quarter hour later when Guin returned downstairs. She had changed into a becoming carriage dress with mother-of-pearl buttons and put on a bonnet. Her eyes were dry, but she wore a woebegone expression. Her mother was nowhere in evidence, for which Guin was grateful.

Colonel Caldar was waiting in the deserted entry hall. He glanced at his niece quickly as he offered his elbow. Guin said not a word as her uncle escorted her out of the town house, down the front steps to the carriage, not even to thank him when he helped her up onto the seat.

Colonel Caldar climbed up on the other side, the seat shifting on the springs with his weight. He said a quiet word to the groom, who was set to jump up onto the back of the equipage, and the servant stepped back up onto the walkway. Colonel Caldar took up his whip and started the team. Once the horses were moving, he glanced over again at his niece.

Guin was gazing straight ahead. Her bonnet was a delightful poke with a broad brim, so Colonel Caldar could not see all of her face as she looked forward. He uncomfortably cleared his throat. “Guin, I know how you must feel.”

At that, she turned her head. The anguish was plain in her darkened eyes. “No, how could you? Mama is tossing me aside as though—as though—” Her voice became wholly suspended. She searched frantically in her reticule for her handkerchief.

Colonel Caldar very kindly pulled a large linen square from out of his coat pocket and proffered it.

Guin snatched the handkerchief from him and defiantly mopped her streaming eyes. “I was so determined not to cry!”

“You certainly have every reason to cry, my dear,” said Colonel Caldar sympathetically. He shook his head. “I don’t know how you’ve withstood it this long. Aurelia is a wretch to treat you so.”

“No, no! It is not Mama’s fault. It is just that I am so stupid and awkward and have no conversation,” said Guin tightly, twisting the dampened handkerchief between her slim gloved fingers. “I don’t blame Mama for having so little patience with me. Or—or for wanting to be rid of—of me!”

Colonel Caldar growled something beneath his breath. He turned to her and said earnestly, “Guin, you must listen to me! You are none of those things. You are a lovely girl with many fine qualities, but you haven’t been allowed to discover that.”

Almost unheeding, Guin whispered, “I wish Percy was here!”

“Percy be hanged! This is about you, Guin!” said Colonel Caldar explosively.

She stared at him, almost frightened by his vehemence. Guin had scarcely ever heard her uncle raise his voice. “I—I am sorry, uncle! I did not mean to anger you.”

“You haven’t angered me!” Colonel Caldar made an effort to control his emotions. “Guin, I must tell you something, and you must believe me. One day Percy will marry, and his wife will then more than likely become his closest companion. He will eventually have a family and an intimate circle of friends. It won’t be just you and Percy anymore, ever again, no matter how much you wish it.”

He saw that she was looking stunned. He gentled his voice even more. “You’ve grown up, Guin, and so has Percy. You can’t expect things to remain the same. I don’t know when it will happen. But you can’t continue to rely on Percy to protect you or enter into your confidences.”

There was a flash of comprehension in her eyes. Still she said nothing, however, and he added urgently, “You must think, Guin! What will you do?”

Guin stared at her uncle for several more long moments. Her dazed look dissipated and various emotions flitted across her face, denial and fear predominating. But eventually she sighed and nodded her head. Her shoulders slumped in defeat. There was a wealth of sadness in her voice when she spoke. “I know you have but spoken the truth, Uncle. Percy and I were always together. I even shared his lessons with him, because Percy told Mama he needed me to hold his books for him and wipe clean the slate when he copied his letters. But ever since he became Earl of Holybrooke, we—we have become forced apart! Percy had so much to learn about his duties and responsibilities, you see, and—and I could not help him anymore. Then we came up to London, and it is much, much worse!”

“I know it. My conscience has troubled me, for I must bear some responsibility for Percy’s defection,” said Colonel Caldar heavily.

“Oh, no, no! You must not blame yourself, Uncle,” said Guin quickly. She laid her gloved hand on his arm, saying earnestly, “It is not your fault, sir, that Percy became an earl.”

Colonel Caldar burst out laughing. “No, indeed! You make me feel much better, Guin!”

She smiled at her uncle. “I am glad, sir!”

His amusement faded as he looked down into her brave face. Colonel Caldar shook his head. “It won’t do, Guin. We must still talk about what is best for you.”

Guin managed another, smaller smile. “I shall do very well, I expect! Mama intends to find me an eligible husband, and I have decided just now that is the very thing for me. I quite see that Percy will someday wed, and I should not wonder at it if he did
not
wish to be forever providing for my support!”

“That’s all very well, my dear,” said Colonel Caldar, somewhat dryly. “However, I should wish you to make a match with a gentleman with whom you shared a mutual attraction. I do not think it wise to accept the very first offer made to you.”

“Oh, no, I shouldn’t do that,” said Guin. She continued almost wistfully, “For it would be ever so much more agreeable to like one another.”

Colonel Caldar looked out over his horses’ flickering ears. “What if your mother insisted upon your accepting an offer from a gentleman whom you disliked?”

There was a short silence. He glanced down again and saw a meditative expression on his niece’s face. She seemed to feel his regard, for she looked up to meet his eyes, and sighed. “Perhaps it would be better if I were to seek some eligible post, Uncle, for I suspect that I should do exactly what Mama thought best.”

Colonel Caldar nodded, somewhat grimly. “Aye, you would indeed, for you are a biddable girl. As for seeking a post, I don’t think it would suit you, Guin. I have a better thought than that.”