Page 2 of A Much Maligned Miss

Teddy eyed her askance. “You’re not falling for Pomfrey’s charms, are you, Miss Halperston?” he asked with misgiving. “Only Papa says Pomfrey has a winning way with the ladies and even Mama is not immune to them.”

“Your mama is a defender of young Pomfrey?” Caroline asked with interest. “I am glad to hear he has at least one who will stand his friend.”

Teddy snorted. “Ladies always think they can lead Pomfrey to the path of virtue but they never can,” he concluded with satisfaction.

“Which ladies?” Caroline asked curiously.

“Mama, Pinky,” he said, referring to his governess, Miss Pinson, “and now you. He has a sister too. She’s over there.” He nodded toward the bookcase he had been standing next to earlier. “She’s working her wild woman ways on Captain Gerrard.”

“Her what?” Caroline repeated faintly.

“Her wild woman ways,” he repeated, shuffling closer. “You know,” he said, lowering his voice. “They’re what ladies use on gentlemen, and it makes them powerless to tell them no. Didn’t anyone ever tell you about them?”

Comprehension dawned. He meant womanly wiles. “I don’t think anyone ever taught me the trick of those,” she said regretfully. “They sound very powerful. Like a sort of magic, I suppose?”

Teddy nodded. “Papa said that is how Mama bends him to her will.”

Caroline coughed to stifle her laughter. “And who pray is Captain Gerrard?” she asked once her voice was steady again.

“He is the captain of my fort,” Teddy explained. “But by a stroke of rotten bad luck he’s fallen head over heels in love with Pomfrey’s sister. Shall I fetch them? I think she’s had enough time to work her magic on him.”

Caroline nodded. “Please do, for I am most anxious to make Miss Pomfrey’s acquaintance.” Teddy hurried off to fetch them and Caroline cast her eyes over the other soldiers, who were a neat and uniform bunch. At least Pomfrey had a little individuality.

Miss Pomfrey turned out to be a little peg doll with brown woolen hair and a purple crocheted gown and matching bonnet. “Yes,” Caroline murmured after inspecting her. “I can see how she has quite ensorcelled poor Captain Gerrard. He never stood a chance against such rosy cheeks and curling eyelashes.”

“Rather good, isn’t she?” Teddy said offhandedly. “Pinky made her for me. She never made any dolls for her other boys and girls. Only me.” Clearly this was a point of great pride despite his manner, which was one of studied casualness.

“She is a vision of feminine loveliness,” Caroline agreed.

“A vision of feminine loveliness,” repeated a drawling voice near at hand, making Caroline jump almost out of her skin. “What a ringing endorsement, Miss Halperston. I never dreamed you contained so much enthusiasm in your very proper person.”

Startled, she turned to look over her shoulder and found a tall dark man stood behind them. He quirked a cynical brow at her, and she recognized him as Viscount Faris’s current houseguest, Lord Atherton.

Caroline’s heart sank. She felt at a distinct disadvantage sat as she was on the floor, skirts disordered, her ankles peeping out. Struggling into a more dignified position, she said, “Good morning, Lord Atherton,” in her most colorless voice.

“Yes, that’s more in your usual manner,” he observed sagely.

“She’s different if you get her away from her mama,” Teddy observed, surprising Caroline greatly.

Lord Atherton eyed her with some interest. “Is that so?” he murmured.

Coloring hotly, Caroline strove to modestly rearrange her skirts. “We—er”—she cleared her throat—“have been playing with Teddy’s toy soldiers this morning,” she said, striving to regain her composure.

“And which one were you describing so fulsomely?” Atherton asked, crouching down and casting a sweeping eye over the council of officers. “I can see none present who would inspire such rhapsodies.”

“Not one of my soldiers,” Teddy hastened to explain. “None of them are pretty!” He did not seem inclined to hand Miss Pomfrey over to Lord Atherton. Instead, he lifted her so Lord Atherton could see the little doll. “Pinky made her for me.”

“Ah, the excellent Miss Pinson,” Atherton said, holding out his hand expectantly. Rather grudgingly, Teddy handed the doll over. Atherton inspected her. “I see,” he commented. “Quite the little coquette, isn’t she?” He passed her back. “I expect the whole regiment is panting after her.”

His eyes met Caroline’s, and for some reason, she felt hot and prickly all over. Silly really. It was not as though she was the one who decided Miss Pomfrey should be irresistible to men, she thought indignantly.

“No,” Teddy asserted firmly. “I would not stand for that. It would lead to insub—to insip—to a lack of discipline in the ranks,” he concluded grandly.

“It is only Captain Gerrard who has fallen victim to Miss Pomfrey’s charms,” Caroline explained, then wished she had held her tongue, for Lord Atherton turned back to her again.

“Dear me, poor Gerrard,” he tutted dryly. “And has she led him very badly astray?” he enquired.

“Yes,” Teddy answered promptly. “Just now the panel found her brother not guilty of deri—deri—” He flung a look of appeal Caroline’s way.