Page 32 of The Chaperone
‘No, my lord, in truth she does not. Her mama spoilt her completely, and rarely left Tyneham Court after she was born. I believe, from what little Mama told me, that Lord Tyneham, the previous viscount, treated his wife unkindly, and as good as abandoned her, left her to rot upon the family estate. I think Susan was all she had and … My cousin has never mixed with people, had to consider anyone but herself. Her behaviour tonight is part of that.’ She sounded resigned.
‘It is still unsupportable, and has placed you in a very awkward position. As you say, if a different patroness had overheard her … My God, you would all be in the suds.’ He paused. ‘Let me fetch you a glass of ratafia, and you can regain your colour, and stop trembling.’ He squeezed her hand, and got up to secure her refreshment. She resisted the feeling that his absence left her abandoned and, even as she told herself that she should mistrust all he said, she was sure that just now he was not trying to gain her trust for nefarious reasons. He could not be.
When he returned she had at least managed to control the tremor in her hands, and took the glass with murmured thanks.
‘I should find my cousin.’
‘She was but a moment ago in the company of Lady Orpington, where she is quite safe. You must sit quietly a little longer and then I shall endeavour to bring her to you.’ He watched her face. ‘This has been most unpleasant but not the catastrophe it might have been. It will not become known.’
‘Oh, if only I could believe that! And it shows how pathetic I am as a guide, a chaperone. I have failed Mama, Harriet …’
‘I think you blame yourself unnecessarily, ma’am. You cannot undo a lifetime of poor upbringing in a few weeks. Has Tyneham no control … No, do not answer that. Of course he does not.’ He wanted so much to tell her he would do whatever he could to ease her situation. ‘Look at me.’
She obeyed.
‘Your cousin would be a trial to any woman in this room, however experienced, however grand, or resolute. Have faith in yourself, my dear … Lady Sophy,’ he added, hastily. ‘Now, I am going to get your cousin for you. I may do so via the dance floor so as not to raise suspicions. What would be more natural than to bring a debutante back to her chaperone, yes?’
Sophy just nodded. He smiled at her, rose and disappeared, leaving her mind in a whirl and the pressure of his sustaining hand a memory that warmed her within.
Lord Rothley espied Miss Tyneham, head held high, proud as a duchess. Part of him was so angry he wished he could wipe that supreme self-confidence from her in an instant, and yet there was a part also that admired her self-reliance, the raw courage of her that faced, as she saw it, a world that would crush her, if it could, into being a nonentity. He approached, said a few words to Lady Orpington, made her a polite bow, and requested the pleasure of the next dance in an urbane tone. She regarded him thoughtfully, and assented.
As they took their places, Susan eyed him boldly. Now he was accounted ‘dangerous’ he was far more interesting to her. Not one to beat about the bush, she did not couch her question in obtuse terms.
‘Are you a rake, sir?’ She was buoyed up and in an adventurous mood.
‘Not particularly.’ He leant closer. ‘Are you a minx?’
‘Oh yes,’ she giggled, ‘absolutely.’
‘It is very dangerous,’ he murmured.
‘Dangerous talking to a minx?’ She gave him a long look from under her lashes.
‘No, being one. You see, life is very unfair.’ His voice was very calm, very smooth, but there was steel beneath the velvet. ‘A man may be a rake and still get invitations to all the best places – well, nearly all. However, if a young lady is a minx, her reputation is liable to … slip. Thereafter she is a social outcast. You have come within a hair’s breadth of that tonight. You do not complain about the ladies who are the queens of Society.’
‘I do not care for what stuffy old people say.’ Susan disliked his tone. She lifted her head, challenging the world to condemn her.
‘You should when the “stuffy old people” are the Patronesses of Almack’s, child, and Lady Jersey is by no stretch of the imagination “old”.’
‘I am not a child.’ Susan pouted, thereby giving the lie to her statement.
‘You are from where I am standing, Miss Tyneham.’
‘Then, sir, I suggest you stand further away. Derbyshire might be far enough.’ Susan was annoyed, and was incapable of pretending otherwise.
Lord Rothley smiled, which infuriated her the more.
‘I fear I shall disappoint you, for the furthest I shall remove myself is the width of the set, and leaving the dance floor would get you noticed, yet again, for the wrong reasons.’ He paused. ‘My advice was genuine, Miss Tyneham.’
‘I never take advice.’
He raised an eyebrow but said nothing, and drew back as he had said. She eyed him doubtfully. When they were once again in proximity he continued.
‘There is always a first time, Miss Tyneham. We all learn by mistakes. It is far less painful learning by the mistakes of others, but you seem set upon a course which relies entirely upon you making them all yourself.’ He was smiling at her, but his eyes were hard. ‘You think you are so clever, child, but you show yourself up at every opportunity as a spoilt brat with no more understanding of how to behave in the adult world than a ten-year-old. You think you are admired? Well, yes, you are, until people find out that your looks are of a woman, but your outlook is still in the schoolroom. You very nearly lost everything tonight. Think how many invitations would not come to a girl who was cast out of Almack’s. Think also how you would have dragged down your cousin Lady Harriet, and Lady Sophy, who has been exposed to the not unjustified wrath of one of the most powerful ladies in London because of you. If you do possess a heart beneath that pretty gown, miss, think on those things, and when I take you to your cousin, beg her forgiveness.’
Susan had gone pink, and now went pale.
‘You cannot talk to me like this, my lord.’
