Old Acquaintances: Christmas Regency Tale (Regency Tales Book 2) (9 page)

There were several indrawn breaths among the fascinated audience and all eyes flew to Judith’s face. She stood quite still, her face white and expressionless. Only her glittering eyes, which had paled almost to silver, gave away her cold rage. “Mr. Nickleby, your wife has worn out my hospitality. I shall appreciate your departure within a quarter hour. A carriage will be readied immediately to carry you to the posting house.”

Mr. Nickleby found himself making a bow and he straightened up hastily, annoyed with himself that he had been intimidated by Miss Grantham’s lofty air. “There is still the question of my good wife’s jewels, Miss Grantham.”

Judith looked at the gentleman for such a long moment that he became restive. She said thinly, “I am so anxious to have you out of my home that I shall happily pay whatever the wretched stones are worth.”

“There! If that is not an admission of guilt I have never heard one,” said Mrs. Nickleby. “Tell her that I shall have my rubies, Mr. Nickleby.”

Mr. Nickleby paid his spouse no attention. A shrewd look had entered his eyes. “The stones came dear enough, but I shall be satisfied with five hundred pounds for the set.”

Sir Peregrine gave a short, sharp laugh. “My dear sir, you shall catch cold at this game. I shall not stand by tamely and allow Miss Grantham to be shamelessly fleeced. You’ll take a hundred pounds and count yourself fortunate that I do not throw you and your wife out on your collective ears.”

Mr. Nickleby nodded. “Done, sir.” Mrs. Nickleby was outraged, and made her feelings known in no uncertain terms.

Judith thought she must get away from the awful woman or she would not be able to retain control over her temper. She turned on her heel and walked swiftly toward the stairs.

“But what of my rubies?” shrilled Mrs. Nickleby, surging after her.

Judith paused, her hand on the balustrade, and looked down at her from the advantage of the first step. “My dear madam, you are fortunate that one of my extremely larcenous nature does not strip you of the petticoats that you stand in!” she uttered. Without a backward glance she went swiftly up the stairs.

Chapter Eight

              Judith took refuge in her private sitting room, done in pale lime silk and cherry wood that gave it a warm effect. She paced about the pretty room, giving full rein to her fury for several minutes.

A servant timidly knocked to inquire if she would be joining the gentlemen downstairs for dinner or if she wished to be served dinner in her room, to both of which she gave an emphatic negative but added that she would like tea. By the time that the servant brought in the tea and a selection of biscuits, she had calmed considerably and she was even able to swallow a few bits of biscuit.

When her maid quietly entered to relay a request from Sir Peregrine that he be allowed to wait on her, Judith was able to view the prospect of once more playing hostess with equanimity. Judith indicated that she would see him and seated herself in front of the fire.

              When Sir Peregrine strolled into the sitting room, he was struck immediately by her air of unruffled composure. He said humorously, “My word, I thought to find you rending the draperies at least.”

              Judith laughed at such a fitting description of her recent state. “I hope that I am too old for such dramatics, though I will admit to a strong desire to strangle a certain vulgar female.”

              “If I had known, I most certainly would have delayed the Nicklebys’ departure for such an admirable inclination. But unfortunately, I myself saw them off more than an hour past,” said Sir Peregrine. He suddenly grinned at her. “You were magnificent, Judith.”

              Judith flushed and pressed her palms against the heat of her cheeks. “Oh dear! My wretched temper. I so very nearly disgraced myself.”

              “True, but in such a noble cause. However, Mr. Smith was apparently so overawed that he preferred to share a carriage with a hysterical Mrs. Nickleby and her increasingly short-tempered spouse rather than outstay his own welcome,” said Sir Peregrine.

              Judith felt thoroughly ashamed of herself. “That poor unassuming little man. I grew rather fond of him.” She gestured at the small table beside her chair, upon which sat the teapot. “I usually have tea at this hour, as you see. Pray won’t you join me, Sir Peregrine?”

              “Thank you, I should like that, I think,” said Sir Peregrine. He seated himself opposite and idly watched as she poured. He declined sugar or milk and took the cup from her hand. “By the by, I have visited Cecily. I do not think that I shall tear her from Elmswood just yet. She appears on the mend, but I shall not risk bringing on a relapse of her fever by traveling in this weather.”

              “I am happy to hear that your good sense prevails,” said Judith with a touch of soft irony.

              Sir Peregrine’s eyes lighted with laughter even as he acknowledged her thrust. “I am not so lost to a proper sense of my responsibilities as to risk my ward’s health, whatever thoughts you may have had on the matter.”

              “Why, sir, I would not dream of interfering,” said Judith with bland innocence.

              “Quite,” said Sir Peregrine dryly. “I noticed, however, that Cecily is becoming restless at her enforced inactivity and I have given permission for Lord Baltor to visit with her. He seems willing enough to wait on her, while I harbor no such inclinations. You will say next that I am shirking my duty not to dance to whatever tune Cecily wishes to pipe.”

              “Not that, no,” said Judith instantly. “But do you think it wise to throw Cecily and Lord Baltor together in such a fashion? They were so taken with one another, after all.”

              Sir Peregrine brushed such considerations aside. “Cecily will be madly in love with the fellow for six weeks and then she will quite literally forget his lordship’s name. Believe me, I have seen the pattern before. She’ll take no hurt from proximity with Lord Baltor. As for his lordship, one always makes a recovery from one’s first calf love.”

              “You are cynical, sir,” said Judith, smiling at him over the rim of her cup. Sir Peregrine returned her smile and bowed from the waist in acknowledgement of her observation. She was aware that several seconds had ticked by and she marveled at the usual ease of their companionship. She spoke her thoughts. “Do you know, I believe this is the first time that we have managed a civil conversation of any length between us?  It is…pleasant.”

              “We did not often use our times together to such advantage,” said Sir Peregrine in agreement.

              “No. We were engaged more in seeking out one another’s weaknesses. Those are not particularly good memories,” said Judith quietly, her eyes contemplating the fire.

              “It is odd, but I do recall a few good memories,” said Sir Peregrine softly.

              Judith’s eyes flew to his and what she saw in his expression made the color rise in her face. “Perhaps there were some,” she acknowledged. “But the quarrels between us overwhelmed any sort of lasting affection.” She was silent a moment before she summoned up a smile. “Actually, I am surprised to feel so much in charity with you. I do not know what has come over us. We have not ripped up one another for the better part of two days.”

              Sir Peregrine studied her face. “I suppose that we have become infected by the yuletide season.”

              “Yes, I suppose that must be it,” said Judith. She felt distinct dissatisfaction that he offered such a simple explanation. It had not been the Christmas spirit that had set her pulses racing when he kissed her. But certainly she could not have expected an acknowledgement of anything more from him.

              A knock at the sitting room door heralded the entrance of Withers. Judith looked inquiringly at the butler. “Yes, Withers, what is it?”

              Withers’ usual expressionless countenance appeared troubled. “Miss, I have come with rather singular tidings,” he said. He advanced toward her and held out his hand. In his palm was a gold band set with a large ruby.

              Judith instantly recognized Mrs. Nickleby’s lost ruby ring. “My word! Wherever was it found?” she asked, taking it between her fingers. The ruby flashed in the light.

              “It was found in Mr. Smith’s room, together with this note,” said Withers. He handed a twist of paper to her.

              Judith smoothed open the note. It took but a moment to scan it. Then she went into a peal of laughter. Sir Peregrine instantly demanded to be let in on the joke and she thrust the note at him. “Here, sir! Read it for yourself! I was never more amused in my life,” she gasped.

              Reading the note, Sir Peregrine started to laugh as well. “Our John Smith seems to have been a cunning devil. Who could have guessed that he was a thief? And an honorable one at that.”

              “Indeed, and I had thought that he was reading on those occasions that I found him in the library. I never dreamed that he was squirreling away odd bits of silver and Mrs. Nickleby’s jewelry!” said Judith, still chuckling. She looked up at the faintly disapproving expression on Withers’ face. “Come, Withers, surely you must see the humor. It is not every day that a thief leaves a token of his appreciation for the hospitality of Elmswood!” As she spoke, she held up the ruby ring.
              “The hospitality was not all that John Smith admired, Miss Grantham. He appeared quite impressed when you dealt so summarily with Mrs. Nickleby. I suspect that was what persuaded him to leave your silver spoons in the library,” said Sir Peregrine.

              “I suppose that I must be flattered,” said Judith, laughing again.

              “A most singular gentleman, indeed. I shall go at once to the library and retrieve the silver,” said Withers repressively. He nodded at the ring. “Shall I take custody of that object, ma’am?”

              “Pray do so,” said Judith promptly. She handed over the ring. She shook her head as the butler left the sitting room. “I fear that it will be some time before Withers can look on this with any degree of humor. He has taken it as a personal failing that he was not able to see through Mr. Smith’s mild demeanor.”

              Her quiet words seemed to trigger a parallel of recognition in her companion. “We all fail to correctly divine an individual’s character on occasion,” said Sir Peregrine, all levity gone from his expression.

              Judith stared at him, her heart beginning to sink. The truce between them was obviously over. “Quite true. I think we may agree on that point, Perry,” she said coolly.

              He smiled, though no amusement appeared in his eyes. “We seem to have come to another Rubicon, Judith. Being in your company these past days has forced me to acknowledge a desire to understand what happened between us. I do not think that I shall let you go until we have hammered it out.”

              Judith gave the faintest of laughs. The ironic expression in her eyes was reflected in her voice. “It does seem the perfect opportunity, does it not? Perhaps this time we may even manage to preserve a semblance of civility.”

              “The rules are established, then. Civility and frankness are the only limits. And as a gentleman, I must bow to your prerogative to begin,” said Sir Peregrine with a wolfish grin.

              Judith stopped herself from delivering a withering setdown. It would hardly forward relations if she were to immediately set up his back, and quite suddenly she wished very much to be able to hold this frightening conversation.

              Quite frightening, she thought, aware of her dry throat and the tenseness of her shoulders. But she would not give way to it, as she had before. There was deeply buried pain within her that had never quite healed. She knew now it never would unless she went through this confrontation.

              A long silence fell while Judith thought over and rejected a dozen questions. There was one that had always stayed at the forefront of her mind, but she did not have quite the courage to ask it. Despising herself for a coward, she said, “I have found certain contentment in my life. I have always wondered whether you did as well.”

              Sir Peregrine gave a short laugh. His piercing eyes derided her timid start. “I suppose one may say so. I do not lack for friends, if that is what you mean.”

              Judith bit her lip. She felt ready to sink, but from somewhere she found the courage to continue the dangerous game. “Have you – have you a female companion?” she asked hesitantly.

              He was silent a moment. “No. I am not entangled in any sort of relationship. But surely you know that?”

              She shook her head. “No one ever speaks of you to me, you see.” She gestured helplessly. “It was as though there was always a determination to shelter me from anything that might cause me unpleasantness. Or more likely, to ward off any possibility of my making an uncomfortable scene if I were to learn anything I did not quite like.”

              Sir Peregrine regarded her steadily. “Would you have? Made a scene, I mean.”

              Judith laughed, though a bit shakily. “Oh, I don’t know. Perhaps early on, but at this point it hardly matters, does it? We have grown inured to one another’s existence and in the last few days we have proven that we are even able to be civil toward one another. That in itself is rather refreshing, do you not think?”