Cupid's Choice: She's a shy beauty in distress. He's a chivalric gentleman. (21 page)

Guin scarcely dared to hope that he meant what she thought he did. Her fingers tightened on the rail. “Oh, I would have not the least objection, Sir Frederick.”

Sir Frederick sought her hand and carried it to his lips. His salute was pressed lightly on her tingling fingers. “I am honored, Miss Holland.”

Guin blushed and was glad for the darkness. She was anxious that he knew what was happening in her life. “I—I shall not be at home for the corning fortnight, Sir Frederick.” In a particularly bright explosion, she saw that his brows had quirked upward. She rushed into explanation. “I am to go to Lady Smythe’s this evening. Her ladyship is giving a ball in my honor, and she wishes me to be involved in the planning of it.”

“I see,” said Sir Frederick, a slight frown coming into his face. He glanced down at her, a rueful smile touching his mouth. “My timing is obviously off by a fraction. Perhaps it will be best to wait on what I wished to say to you until you have returned home.”

“If—if you think it best, Sir Frederick,” said Guin civilly, even as she felt her heart plunge into acute disappointment.

He covered her hand, just for a moment, where it lay again on the rail. “Believe me, I would not for worlds interfere with Lady Smythe’s plans for you. Her ladyship is a great lady, and a good friend to those whom she likes.”

“Then you do not think that her ladyship is being kind to me because Percy became an earl?” asked Guin.

His astonishment was plain, even in the half-light. “My dear! Of course not. Lady Smythe has chosen to befriend you because it pleases her to do so. That is the full sum of it.”

“I had wondered, you see,” said Guin.

There was no further opportunity for private conversation, since Sir Frederick’s attention was claimed by one of his other guests. He moved away and Guin felt his absence. Yet, as she drew her fingers along the edges of her shawl, she was happy. She tipped back her head and lost herself again in the wonder of the magnificent fireworks.

When Lady Smythe disembarked from her carriage, followed by Guin, her ladyship did not linger in the spacious entry hall of her large town house, but ordered her guest to follow her into the sitting room. Refreshments were brought while the ladies made themselves comfortable. Lady Smythe told her servants to go away. They did so, noiselessly closing the ornately carved door.

Lady Smythe did not allow Guin to reflect on the awkwardness of her situation. Quite dispassionately, her ladyship said, “You are probably a sensible girl, so I shall not waste time in pretty phrases. I have persuaded your mother to allow you to come stay with me for precisely three reasons. When I decided to see whether or not I could bring you into fashion, it was an object with me to separate you from your mother. You do not shine in Mrs. Holland’s presence. In addition, while it is quite true that I shall instruct you in how to put together a successful ball, I am also determined to see that you acquire a bit of town bronze before you stand at the top of my stairs and greet my guests. You have very little countenance. I will not have my ball pronounced a failure because you shrink into the woodwork.”

Guin scarcely knew whether she should be crushed or indignant at her ladyship’s plain speaking. She decided that indignation gave her the greater dignity. “All of what you say about me may be true, my lady. However, I never asked you to sponsor me, and so I fail to understand why you should put yourself to such trouble at all!”

“No, quite true,” said Lady Smythe unperturbedly, “I am glad that I was not mistaken when I thought I detected a bit of spirit in you on a couple of occasions. It will make things all the easier. You would be a beauty if you showed your teeth more often, my dear.”

“Thank you, I am sure, ma’am,” said Guin, obeying this injunctive in a literal spirit by lifting her lips in what looked suspiciously like a ladylike snarl.

Lady Smythe chuckled. “No, no, my dear! Such ferocity won’t do. You must be more subtle and allow the flash in your eyes to convey your displeasure. The barest smile will suffice for those who are to be accorded cold civility. As for those you wish to encourage, lower your lashes and glance upward through them. Any man worth his salt will respond to such an invitation!”

Guin spluttered on a laugh. “Ma’am, you are absurd!”

“That’s good,” said Lady Smythe approvingly. “You must cultivate that delicious chortle.”

Guin shook her head, smiling at her hostess. “I understand at least that you mean me no harm.”

“Of course I don’t! Oh, you are still puzzling over my motives, are you? Well, they are not at all pure, for I am no philanthropist! Simply put, my dear, you are in the way of being an experiment and a challenge,” said Lady Smythe.

Guin blinked. “I don’t follow you, my lady.”

Lady Smythe sighed. “Really, it is so fatiguing to be forced to explain oneself. I am bored, Miss Holland. You can have no notion how boring society can be when one sees the same faces and goes to the same sort of functions Season after Season. The only relief is to be found in scandal, but I am far too old to become the center of one. Failing that diversion, I decided that taking a nonentity, yourself in fact, and turning her into the toast of the Season could afford me several weeks of amusement.”

Guin turned red. She could not recall ever being so angry in her life. “I am not at all enamored of your scheme, ma’am!”

“Who asked you to be?” asked Lady Smythe with a wicked smile playing about her thin lips. There was an understanding gleam in her eyes. “Oh, I’ve insulted you finely, haven’t I? But perhaps you should look at it in a different way. I am making use of you for my own ends, of course, but I offer you the chance to learn to shine when otherwise you would go your insignificant way. You would undoubtedly end the Season the despair of your mother without a single suitor to your credit.”

Her ladyship’s neat summation gave Guin pause for reflection. She was forced to acknowledge the legitimacy of Lady Smythe’s supposition. It had been abundantly demonstrated that she lacked the background to handle herself well in the social milieu into which she had been thrust. By herself, she did not have the confidence to overcome this crippling drawback. When she thought about Miss Beasely and Lady Beasely, Mrs. Richardson and Lady Smythe, as well as others she had met, Guin knew quite suddenly that she wanted to become just as assured and poised. She didn’t care very much about acquiring a number of suitors, of course, but it would be nice to see a flicker of admiration in a gentleman’s eyes, such as Sir Frederick’s.

“Very well, my lady. I accept the situation as you have outlined it,” said Guin quietly. “What must I do?”

Lady Smythe regarded her for a long moment. “So you have made up your mind?”

“Oh, yes. My uncle told me that your interest in me would prove to be to my advantage, and I quite see that he is right,” said Guin in an even voice.

“The devil he did! I must further my acquaintance with Colonel Caldar. He is obviously a gentleman of perception,” said Lady Smythe. The glimmer of a smile lit her rather cold blue eyes as she looked at her houseguest. “I intend for you to work very hard, Miss Holland. You will not find me an easy taskmistress this fortnight.”

“I am ready, Lady Smythe,” said Guin, drawing in a determined breath.

Guin was to wonder in the next several days if she would have made such a declaration if she had known what she would be subjected to. Morning to evening, there were lessons. Lady Smythe engaged the services of experts she thought essential. A dancing master honed Guin’s twirls and lightness of foot on the dance floor; a refined lady of uncertain origin drilled Guin in all the social graces at table and in the drawing room until she could pour tea or faultlessly place personages in the proper order at a dinner party; a teacher in elocution taught her to project her voice and enunciate clearly so that her naturally soft tones would not be drowned out or sound incoherent. She tumbled into bed every night exhausted by her exertions.

In addition, Lady Smythe directed her personal secretary to guide Miss Holland in the work of addressing invitations and making up lists for decorations and wine and refreshments and engaging an orchestra. In short, Guin found herself taking a pivotal role in organizing the ball that Lady Smythe was sponsoring. It frightened her, but it was all very exciting at the same time.

Lady Smythe was given reports of Miss Holland’s progress by all of the personages who were working so diligently to transform her. Her ladyship was pleased and even a little surprised, for Miss Holland seemed to be driving herself as hard as did any of her teachers.

Colonel Caldar and Lord Holybrooke frequently came to call at Lady Smythe’s town house. Her ladyship said that she knew that they did not come to see her, and after several visits she declared herself on too familiar terms with the two gentlemen to stand on ceremony with them any longer. As often as not Lady Smythe simply began sending down her compliments and allowed her protégée to meet with her family in private. Guin was grateful. There was always news to be exchanged of one another’s doings, and she thought it awkward to do so when Lady Smythe was present, for her ladyship surely could have little interest in what most nearly concerned Guin’s relations.

However, during one visit, Colonel Caldar particularly requested her ladyship’s presence and his news aroused even Lady Smythe’s jaded palate when her ladyship heard it.

Colonel Caldar announced that he was wedding Mrs. Roman by special license. “It is to be a small wedding with just family and a few friends. I wish you to come, Guin. It would make me very happy.”

“Of course I shall come!” exclaimed Guin, leaping up to hug her uncle. “I am not at all surprised, for you and Mrs. Roman have been smelling of nosegays for weeks.”

Colonel Caldar flushed and laughed. He diffidently extended the invitation to Lady Smythe, who promptly declared her intention of being the first to congratulate Mrs. Roman on her good fortune.

“You are a sensible man, Colonel Caldar. There are not many such around,” said Lady Smythe astringently.

Colonel Caldar was made speechless. With great presence of mind, he made a formal bow in acknowledgment. This further endeared him to Lady Smythe, who observed after the colonel had left that she never had liked men who talked in flowing periods.

Since Guin knew that this was a direct reference to Mr. Lloyd, who had also called several times, she giggled. “Yes, dear ma’am! You prefer someone like Sir Frederick, who flirts with you so outrageously!”

Lady Smythe darted a shrewd look at her. “And do you not also prefer Sir Frederick, my dear?”

Guin blushed furiously and replied, with dignity, that she thought there must be some further help she could give to her ladyship’s overworked secretary. Lady Smythe chuckled as her protégée left the room.

It was not Lady Smythe’s intention to keep Guin locked away from society while she was being groomed. Naturally Guin joined her mother’s party whenever that lady wished for her company.

However, since Mrs. Holland’s desire for her daughter’s presence was at most lukewarm, that lady was content enough with the arrangement as it was. Mrs. Holland was enjoying the Season far more than she had coming out as a young miss. Old scandals had in a fair way been forgotten, and the gentlemen were pleasantly inclined to flirtation. Mr. Lloyd, apparently feeling that it was advantageous to his cause, called as often on his prospective mother-in-law as on the lady he had solemnly decided to make his wife.

It was gradually borne in on Guin that she felt happier and more content than she had ever been in her life. Lady Smythe and those her ladyship had under her were exacting, but Guin was never made to feel stupid. She began to gain more confidence, and it showed in her manner and in the way she carried herself.

In fact, on one of his visits to her, Lord Holybrooke said, “I don’t know what it is, Guin, but you’re changing. And I like what I see.” He swooped over and kissed her on the forehead.

Guin laughed and pushed him away. She was actually very pleased by her twin’s observation. “Thank you, dear brother! Now, unless you wish to drive out with Lady Smythe and me, you must go away so that I can go upstairs and put on my hat.”

“I’m away, then,” said Lord Holybrooke promptly. “Give my regards to her ladyship and tell her that I approve.”

Lady Smythe often drove out in her carriage, with Guin accompanying her, to call on friends. Guin’s manners grew to be very pretty as she spent time with Lady Smythe and her particular cronies. On several occasions Lady Smythe was gratified to be told that her protégée behaved just as she ought. It was not long before vouchers for Almack’s were extended to Miss Holland, and she had made her debut at that august club. In short order, Miss Holland was granted permission by the patronesses to participate in the waltz.

Lady Smythe was too shrewd to neglect Guin’s interaction with the younger set. She was allowed to go for frequent walks with her bosom-bow Miss Beasely or riding with her brother and whatever others could be made up into a party.

Sir Frederick was a frequent caller at Lady Smythe’s town house. At first Guin was somewhat surprised but hesitantly pleased that Sir Frederick was apparently such a close friend of her new mentor. Lady Smythe commented acidly that he was constantly underfoot. However, Guin could not but be glad for it. She could be assured of practicing her latest dance step with Sir Frederick or play off the company manners that Lady Smythe was instilling in her and not feel the least discomfiture. Sir Frederick had always a ready word of encouragement or humorous quip for her. Guin was becoming more and more convinced that she would never meet another gentleman quite like him.

On the eve of the ball, Guin received not one but several posies with silver-gilt cards tucked into them. All were from gentlemen whom she had met since coming to London. She was astonished. “Why, my lady, whatever am I to do?”

“Do? Listen to yourself, child! You must choose one of these pretty offerings and pin it to your gown,” said Lady Smythe, rather amused by her young companion’s amazed consternation.

“But which one?” said Guin helplessly, surveying the row of beautiful tiny bouquets tied with ribbons.

Lady Smythe rose with a rustle of silk. “I shall wash my hands of you in a moment, Guineveve! Which one, indeed! Why, the one from the gentleman who most nearly possesses your heart, of course. It is a subtle way to encourage the male of the species in his pursuit.” Her ladyship’s brows rose in pointed query.

Guin’s color rose, yet she laughed across at her ladyship. “I see! Very well, ma’am! I shall do just as you say.”

“And I suppose you will not reveal to me the gentleman’s name?” asked Lady Smythe.

Guin shook her head, still smiling. “He—he has not declared himself, you see.”

“Then most assuredly you must encourage him, whomever he is,” said Lady Smythe with a wicked, knowing glance. She exited the bedroom well satisfied. The girl was coming along nicely, better than she had ever expected when she had first discussed Miss Holland with Sir Frederick. Lady Smythe’s smile widened as her thoughts dwelled a little longer on Sir Frederick Hawkesworth. “I really ought to speak again to Mrs. Richardson,” she murmured to herself.

When Guin went downstairs to join Lady Smythe in greeting the guests, and later, when she had been released to mingle with the company, she felt herself to be moving on a gilded cloud. For the first time in her life, she knew herself to be beautiful. It had taken long, unhappy weeks and the inexplicable kindness of several individuals to bring Guin to the realization, but she was at last convinced of her own worth. All that she had endured, and had learned, became supremely worthwhile when Sir Frederick’s gaze fell on the posy pinned at her breast.