Cupid's Choice: She's a shy beauty in distress. He's a chivalric gentleman. (9 page)

Mr. Duckwood morosely shook his head. “Dangerous, Freddy, very dangerous. What’s to say that Miss Holland isn’t setting you up for a facer?”

Sir Frederick laughed. “If you knew her, Henry, you would recognize that Miss Holland hasn’t an ounce of coquetry in her. She’s a sweet innocent who doesn’t know the first thing about how to go on. On top of it all, I discovered this morning that she can translate Latin and Greek and speaks French and Italian.”

“A bluestocking, is she?” said Mr. Duckwood, pursing his lips as he turned it over in his mind. He shook his head. “She’ll never go off in style if that becomes known. A pity, but there it is.”

“You’re right,” said Sir Frederick thoughtfully. He glanced at his companion. “Miss Holland has more than enough to overcome as it is. I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t tout this about, Henry.”

“Oh, I’m not one to spread damaging tales. You may count on me to keep quiet Freddy,” said Mr. Duckwood amiably.

“I knew I could,” said Sir Frederick casually.

A good understanding being established, the two gentlemen dismissed the subject of Miss Holland from their minds and began discussing horseflesh.

Sir Frederick accepted the invitation to Mrs. Holland’s rout with mixed feelings. Though he had committed himself to lending a helping hand to Miss Holland socially, he had the feeling that he was letting himself in for just the sort of entertainment he most disliked. Within minutes of entering the town house, he realized that he was right.

Mrs. Holland had filled her guest list with as many notables as she could possibly lay claim. Since she was not acquainted with the sort of personages which made up diplomatic or government circles and was on terms with very few fashionables, the result was a majority of many of the same sort of pretentious personalities that she was herself.

Sir Frederick recognized most of the guests and exchanged polite nods or bows with several of them, though privately deploring the necessity. His dark brows rose when he saw two or three gentlemen present he would have hesitated to introduce to any of the ladies of his acquaintance. He particularly disliked the gushing familiarity of one lady whom he cataloged as an encroaching mushroom. He would probably hear it rumored before the week was out that she was quite one of his closest acquaintances, he reflected disparagingly.

“My, my, aren’t we vicious this evening,” murmured Sir Frederick to himself disgustedly. He regarded the assemblage through his quizzing glass in an aloof manner calculated to give pause to anyone else who did not know him well. Even altruism stopped short of encouraging the sort of toadeating he found singularly deplorable. Dropping the glass, he decided he would make the opportunity to leave early. Having already spoken to his hostess and to Colonel Caldar, it but remained to do his duty toward Lord Holybrooke and Miss Holland.

A drawling, cheerful voice broke into his thoughts. “Is that what happens to diplomats when they are kept dangling at the Foreign Office without assignment? Do they gibber madly to themselves?”

Sir Frederick turned swiftly. He threw out a hand. “Thank God! A friendly face.”

Sir Peregrine Ashford laughed and shook Sir Frederick’s outstretched hand. “Not your style of thing, is it?” He glanced around them and grimaced slightly. “Truth to tell, it isn’t mine, either. But when young Holybrooke invited me, I thought I should accept. I didn’t like to disappoint him, especially when he told me how devilish it would be and that it was some sort of coming-out party for his sister.”

“I didn’t know you and Lord Holybrooke were on such friendly terms, Peregrine,” said Sir Frederick, surprised.

“We had met before, of course, but I fell into conversation with him at a mill last week. I liked him. He is very unaffected, quite unlike what one might have expected,” said Sir Peregrine with a shrug.

“You mean, after one had the doubtful pleasure of a few moments spent in Mrs. Holland’s company,” said Sir Frederick suggestively.

Sir Peregrine laughed, his dark features lighting up. “Quite, though I wasn’t going to say so.” He eyed Sir Frederick curiously. “What brings you tonight?”

“I come at personal invitation, my dear fellow,” said Sir Frederick, assuming a lofty tone. “Mrs. Holland apparently approved of my tender care of her daughter when I invited Miss Holland out for a drive. I did not feel myself able to deny myself the pleasure of attending.”

Sir Peregrine gave a skeptical glance. “I shan’t bother pointing out that you have, without a doubt, larger experience than anyone else I know in sliding out of unwelcome invites!” He shook his head at Sir Frederick’s quick grin. “What I don’t understand is this sudden devotion to Miss Holland’s interests. Freddy, you haven’t gone nutty on her, have you?”

“Have you been talking to Henry?” demanded Sir Frederick suspiciously.

“No, should I be?” asked Sir Peregrine mildly.

“Henry would have it that I am dancing to a tune of Caroline Richardson’s making,” said Sir Frederick with a negligent shrug.

Sir Peregrine’s brows rose. “And are you?” he asked with every expression of interest.

“Damn your eyes,” said Sir Frederick without heat. “If you must know, it is Lady Smythe’s coil more than anyone else’s.” He saw that Sir Peregrine was looking at him with polite astonishment, and he sighed. “I suppose I shall have to explain it to you, now that I have said this much.”

“Quite, dear fellow. Er-would it be tactless to suggest you have been deuced indiscreet?” said Sir Peregrine.

Sir Frederick recommended that Sir Peregrine could keep his unsolicited opinion to himself, and in a few sentences outlined his conversation with Lady Smythe and the astonishing upshot. “And I have pledged myself to do whatever I can to help Miss Holland along.”

Sir Peregrine heard him out in silence, then shrugged. “Well, you know your own business best, Freddy. However, if you find yourself at point-non-plus, I hope you know that you may count on me.”

Sir Frederick begged him not to be melodramatic and to come meet Miss Holland. “Since you are so eager to sport your canvas on my behalf, you might as well make yourself useful and help me bring her into notice.”

“You’ve got windmills in your head, Freddy,” said Sir Peregrine calmly. He allowed himself to be led over to where Lord Holybrooke and Miss Holland were standing. He greeted Lord Holybrooke, before turning to the earl’s sister while Sir Frederick performed the introductions.

“Sir Peregrine is a particular friend of mine,” said Sir Frederick.

“Oh, then I am persuaded we shall be friends, Sir Peregrine,” said Guin with a shy smile, extending her hand to him.

Sir Peregrine was taken aback. As he bowed over the lady’s hand, he glanced swiftly upward at Sir Frederick. However, there was nothing on that gentleman’s face to hint that he had found Miss Holland’s avowal at all discomposing. Sir Peregrine smiled at Miss Holland and returned a civil reply, before turning again to the earl.

Lord Holybrooke quickly bore Sir Peregrine off with him toward the refreshment room, saying, “I warned you that it would be devilish. It is the fault of that screeching violin. Why my mother must hire an orchestra at all is beyond my comprehension, for there will not be anything but country-dances, since my sister hasn’t been presented at Almack’s yet.”

Sir Frederick and Guin laughed as the two gentlemen left them. “Percy does not care for musical evenings,” observed Guin.

“No, I can see that he doesn’t. For myself, I look forward to the dancing. I asked you before if you would stand up with me, Miss Holland,” said Sir Frederick.

“That was for quite a different function, sir,” said Guin, scrupulously fair.

“I know it, but will you stand up with me this evening also, Miss Holland?” said Sir Frederick.

“Of course I shall. However, I should like it if you would stand up with someone else first, if you please,” said Guin.

“But I don’t please,” said Sir Frederick gently. “There is not another lady in the room whom I wish to dance with more.”

“Oh!” Guin dropped her fan. She smiled up at him. “That—that is quite the nicest compliment anyone has ever paid me!”

Sir Frederick obligingly picked the fan up for her and handed it back. “Have I put you out of countenance again, Miss Holland?” he asked with amusement, taking note of her blush.

“Yes—no! Yes! Oh, you mustn’t say such things where someone might overhear you,” said Guin, glancing uneasily around. “Someone might think I was fl-flirting with you and Mama might hear of it.”

“Then I shall flirt with you in Greek, and no one will know,” said Sir Frederick, and promptly said something both outrageous and provocative. He watched with interest as her cheeks brightened even more. “Did you understand that, Miss Holland?”

“Fairly well, I believe,” said Guin breathlessly. She had cast down her eyes, but now she looked up at him with a trembling smile. “I think you are very ungallant, sir. But—but I like you to tease me, I think!”

Sir Frederick laughed. He was about to reply when Mrs. Holland rustled up with a gentleman in tow. Sir Frederick bowed to his hostess, “Mrs. Holland, your servant.” He glanced toward her cavalier, keeping his face impassive.

“Sir Frederick, how good it was of you to come. You must know Lord Holloway, of course,” said Mrs. Holland, indicating her companion with a swift lovely smile. Her hand was laid proprietarily on the gentleman’s bent arm.

Sir Frederick acknowledged that he did, suppressing all sign of his scorn for one whom he knew for a fop and profligate. The two gentlemen exchanged polite civilities. It was evident to anyone interested in such nuances that no spark of friendship lay between them.

Mrs. Holland waited with a touch of impatience for the gentlemen to be through with their pleasantries, then at once introduced Lord Holloway to her daughter. His lordship bowed low over Miss Holland’s hand, kissing her gloved fingers with a flourish and perhaps holding her hand an instant too long.

“Guin, Lord Holloway tells me that he has estates in the north,” said Mrs. Holland, with another smile for his lordship.

Lord Holloway nodded and in a mincing voice said, “I am fortunate to have inherited vast responsibilities.” He waved a laced handkerchief in a negligent fashion and scent bathed the air.

Sir Frederick discreetly coughed.

“How—how nice, to be sure,” said Guin colorlessly. She had dropped her eyes and was staring at the floor.

A small silence ensued. Sir Frederick made no attempt to fill it and waited to see how his hostess would manage to overcome Miss Holland’s patent withdrawal.

“And Lord Holloway is very fond of horses. You must know, my lord, that Guin is quite a notable horsewoman,” said Mrs. Holland, plowing on determinedly. Her smile had tightened, and a rather hard look had come into her eyes as she narrowed her gaze on her recalcitrant daughter.

Lord Holloway bowed, a smile of acknowledgment on his thin lips. His heavy-lidded gaze ran boldly, thoughtfully, over Miss Holland. “Indeed? Perhaps we shall try our mounts against one another in a race, Miss Holland.”

Sir Frederick felt himself stiffen at the undercurrent in his lordship’s tone.

Guin looked up swiftly to meet the gentleman’s lazy gaze. Color flew into her face. “Oh, I don’t think—” she began, before catching her mother’s eyes. After a pause and in a much more subdued tone, she said, “I have heard that racing in the park is considered very fast, my lord.”

Sir Frederick silently applauded. Miss Holland had caught herself up very well and come up with a completely neutral and unoffensive objection to Lord Holloway’s swift bid for familiarity.

Mrs. Holland might be all eagerness to marry off her daughter, but she was not willing to sacrifice her daughter’s reputation in pursuit of her goal. She knew what was due the sister of an earl. “Indeed it is, my lord! Fie on you for putting such improper notions in my poor daughter’s head. Why, I daresay nothing could suit her better than to go riding with a notable horseman such as yourself, but it must be with a respectable party,” she said with just the right touch of amusement.

Lord Holloway returned a graceful, if rather languid, reply. Mrs. Holland once more made a mention of his lordship’s northern assets and begged Lord Holloway to describe the country in which his estates were located. “We have never traveled so far north, my lord. I am certain my daughter will be quite interested,” said Mrs. Holland enthusiastically.

Sir Frederick could see which way the wind was blowing and adroitly excused himself from the group. He caught the forlorn expression in Guin’s eyes when he stepped away, but assuaged his conscience by reminding himself that he was pledged to stand up with her in a country-dance. In the meantime, he thought grimly, his time would be well spent in dropping a bug in young Percy’s ear.

With that thought in mind, Sir Frederick wandered with seeming lack of purpose through the ballroom to the refreshment room. As he had hoped, Lord Holybrooke was still standing near the well-appointed tables, a glass in one hand and deep in laughing conversation with a young sprig Sir Frederick recognized to be Lord Tucker. Sir Peregrine Ashford was nowhere in sight.

With very little difficulty, Sir Frederick disengaged Lord Holybrooke from Lord Tucker without either young gentleman realizing that they had been dealt with by the hand of a master. He drew the earl a little apart so that they would be free of being overheard.

“Lord Holybrooke, I wished to put a question to you concerning Lord Holloway’s depth of acquaintance with your sister,” he said gravely and without preamble.

“I believe they have not met before tonight,” said Lord Holybrooke. He eyed Sir Frederick curiously. “Why do you ask, sir?”

“I hesitate to trod where I have no business, but I felt that I should say something to you as head of your family, as it were. You have but recently come to London, and your acquaintance may not yet be so wide as to have brought certain things to your attention,” said Sir Frederick, idly twirling his quizzing glass by its black riband. He was speaking carefully so that he did not offend.

Lord Holybrooke looked at him with slightly narrowed eyes, alertness in his gaze. “I beg you to bare your thoughts, Sir Frederick. I count you among our friends. I take it that there is something of ill repute connected to Lord Holloway?”

“Not precisely that, no. However, I would suggest that you inquire around about his lordship’s habits and his fortune,” said Sir Frederick with quiet authority. “Unless I miss my guess, you will not deem him an eligible
parti
for Miss Holland.”