Misfit Maid. Elizabeth Bailey

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      At the back of her mind, as she came rapidly towards the group, she took in the startled glance of Lady Hester, and the odd expression that leapt into Delagarde’s features. But the spurt of anger would not be contained.

      ‘You are not half the man he was, Firmin,’ she told her cousin in a voice that shook. ‘Great-uncle Reginald was the best of men, and the kindest of guardians, and as much a father to me as Worm was a mother. I will not have either of them abused. As for his preoccupation, it was a great deal more than a hobby, and of far greater worth than anything you might waste your thoughts upon.’

      ‘Of importance to others of equal eccentricity, no doubt,’ retorted Lord Shurland.

      Delagarde saw Maidie’s eyes flash, and was not much surprised to find that the Earl backed down. He was rather amused than otherwise by the discovery that the unshakable Lady Mary had a temper.

      Shurland shifted a little, avoiding his cousin’s eye, and adopted a blustering tone. ‘Very well, very well. Enough said. In any event, this is no time to be arguing over what is past and cannot be mended. Go and pack your things, Maidie, for you are coming home with us.’

      Maidie moved away from him, saying in a calmer tone, ‘I thank you, no, Firmin. If Lord Delagarde is indeed willing to sponsor me—’

      ‘Certainly,’ broke in Delagarde. ‘Not only that. I am going to figure as her trustee.’

      Shurland’s chest swelled alarmingly, and his cheeks reddened. ‘You will figure as nothing of the kind, sir! I am perfectly aware of all the circumstances of her fortune. You have no rights in the matter at all.’

      ‘Neither have you,’ Delagarde pointed out. ‘Lady Mary is of age and may do as she pleases, and I do not believe that either myself or you, Shurland, have the means to prevent her. If she chooses to come and live with my aunt and myself, there is no barrier that I can see.’

      ‘Except,’ put in Adela bitterly, ‘that it makes us look like fools.’

      ‘That cannot be helped,’ said Delagarde.

      ‘Oh! I did not look for such usage from you, my lord! It is plain that Mary has blinded you with some horrid tale against me.’ She glared at Maidie, and seemed for the first time to notice her appearance, for she added in a waspish tone, ‘How you suppose you might catch a husband in a get-up like that, I am at a loss to understand. You look thirty if you look a day! And if you have not sense enough to conceal that perfectly appalling hair—’

      ‘Appalling?’ echoed Delagarde, interrupting her without ceremony. ‘My dear ma’am, I cannot agree with you. Lady Mary’s hair is her most attractive attribute, and the gown is excessively becoming. Indeed, I was just expressing my admiration when you were announced.’

      Maidie gasped at this blatant untruth, and noted that Lady Hester was struggling against a fit of laughter.

      ‘However that may be, my lord,’ said Adela sulkily, ‘you will at least admit that it is hardly raiment suitable to a debutante.’

      ‘Well, if you dislike it so much, Adela,’ Maidie said before Delagarde could answer this, ‘you should be happy that it is not you who will have to appear in society with me.’

      ‘This is absurd!’ Lord Shurland burst out angrily. ‘I am far from accepting this faradiddle about your mother, Delagarde, but I take leave to inform you that there will be but one construction to be put upon the matter, if you take it upon yourself to interfere in this way.’

      Maidie felt a sudden shift in the atmosphere, as though a chill entered the room. Glancing at Lady Hester, she was startled to find the elder lady’s eyes sparkling with something other than humour. Her attention was drawn to Delagarde, who had stiffened, she thought. His narrowed eyes were turned upon the Earl, and there was a hint of ice in his voice.

      ‘Indeed? Perhaps you would care to elaborate.’

      Shurland glared at him, but blustered it through. ‘Poker up, if you will, sir! You know very well what I mean. I shall not demean myself by explaining it further.’

      ‘Very prudent,’ returned Delagarde sardonically.

      The Earl coloured. ‘If we are to talk of prudence, let me advise you to inquire into the way things are left before you do what you may come to regret. You do not know her, Delagarde. I do!’

      Maidie could make nothing of this. She saw that the Viscount’s brows had snapped together, and he was now looking more puzzled than angry. Before she could request an explanation, Lady Hester had moved forward again, her calm tones dispelling the discomfort in the air.

      ‘You quite mistake the matter, my dear Shurland. Delagarde is acting, I assure you, from motives of the purest chivalry.’ She laid a hand upon Adela’s arm. ‘I fear you are very much put out, my dear. Never fear. We shall say that the child has come expressly to stay with me, because Delagarde’s mama wished for the connection, and because Reginald Hope was my own dear friend.’

      ‘You may say so,’ answered Adela shrilly. ‘I will not. No one will think that an adequate reason for Mary to come out under your aegis instead of mine. I shall be made to seem the greatest beast in nature, and I think it is quite heartless of Mary to subject me to such a horrid slander!’

      Upon which, Lady Shurland burst into sobs, and rushed out of the room. Her harassed spouse turned on Maidie.

      ‘I hope you are satisfied!’ He swung round on Delagarde. ‘As for you, sir, concoct what story you wish, but don’t expect me to corroborate it!’

      ‘The only thing I require,’ responded Delagarde calmly, ‘is that you will keep quiet about Lady Mary’s fortune. Neither you nor I can wish for the sort of speculation that must arise if society should hear of it.’

      ‘I shall say nothing, but I must point out to you that you, far more than I, are likely to be hurt by its becoming known.’

      ‘Well, if you spread the news about, you will discover your mistake,’ Delagarde said trenchantly. ‘Because I will set it about that you tried to marry Lady Mary off to your brother-in-law.’

      ‘If you imagine that Eustace wishes to marry her, you are mightily mistaken,’ objected Shurland, incensed. ‘The truth is that he desires nothing less—as who shall blame him?’

      On this parting shot, he stalked out of the room, leaving Maidie a prey to conflicting emotions. On the one hand, she was relieved that Delagarde had perversely chosen to champion her; on the other, she was disturbed by Firmin’s veiled hints. What had he meant? Her thoughts dissipated as Lady Hester gave way to laughter.

      ‘What a dreadful liar you are, Laurie! I don’t know how I kept my countenance.’

      Delagarde grinned. ‘You can talk, Aunt Hes!’ He saw that Maidie was staring at him in frowning silence, and raised an eyebrow. ‘Well? You have got what you wanted, have you not?’

      ‘Yes, but I can’t think why, when you know very well that you heartily dislike the notion,’ she said frankly.

      ‘True,’ he agreed. ‘But not as much as I disliked Lady Shurland. Come to that, I am not overfond of Shurland either.’

      ‘They are both hateful! СКАЧАТЬ