Marjorie Farrel (26 page)

Simon’s tone was cool, and at any other time Robin would have been offended, but he was relieved to have the reckoning postponed.

After all the guests were comfortable, the duchess turned to Barbara and asked if she would be willing to play for them. She decided that since it was a small and familiar group, she would play the second movement of the Beethoven sonata she had been practicing and then perhaps a few songs.

The rest of the company, with the exception of Judith, had never heard the music, and sat expectantly. Barbara loved the andante and had worked on it enough so that she lost her nervousness almost immediately.

The company was quiet and so was Barbara after she had finished. The music left them serene and aching for something, thought Judith, as Barbara explained that the last chord led directly into the third movement.

“Perhaps in a little while you will play something else for us, dear,” said the duchess. “Now, anything else would be anticlimactic.”

The conversation started slowly, as though all of them were reluctant to break the mood of the music, and when Diana approached Simon, he found it hard to recapture the intensity of his anger from dinner.

“Miss Ware is in conversation with Major Stanley, Simon. If we walk over now, perhaps I can distract him and leave you alone with her for a few minutes.”

“Thank you, Diana.”

Judith saw them approaching first and instinctively reached out for Robin’s arm.

“Simon, Judith and I were just discussing Barbara’s performance. She was marvelous, don’t you think?”

“I do indeed. And one does not hear Beethoven’s music that often in England. I prefer him to others who are ... How can I say it?”

“Thinner and less textured, your grace?” said Judith, deciding she need not give Simon all the initiative.

“Well said, Miss ... Ware, is it not?” Simon’s voice held all of the old sarcasm.

“Major Stanley, I would like some ratafia. Would you accompany me?” said Diana.

“Certainly,” replied Robin, and squeezed Judith’s hand before he moved off, having no choice but to follow Diana.

“I am quite surprised to find you here, Miss Ware. I had no idea a lowly ex-governess would move in such exalted circles.” Simon’s sarcasm affected Judith more than a direct accusation would have done.

“I am surprised to be here myself, your grace,” she answered quietly. “But the duchess kindly invited me for tea after her ball and then asked me to come tonight.”

“Yes, and Barbara is an old friend of yours. If I am not mistaken, we spent a holiday together at Ashurst.”

“Yes, your grace, we all enjoyed one another’s company that Christmas.”

“And yet you had forgotten, or never thought to remind me of it when I hired you? And what were you doing, letting yourself be paid for a position anyway?”

“I was doing exactly what I said I was: earning a little extra money to supplement our income.”

“For what? An extra pair of shoes? Oh, no, my dear, you were sent there by my good friends, out of pity for me.”

“I was not,” Judith responded warmly. “Or not precisely. I told you the truth except for the fact that I knew the Stanleys and had met you a few years ago. Robin helped me convince Mr. Whithedd to get me an interview so he would have a firsthand account of how you were getting on, but I had already seen the advertisement and decided to apply for the position.”

“Why, Miss Ware?”

“Because I needed the money and because I wanted to help you. I remembered you from that Christmas and did not like to think of someone I had liked and admired so shut off from everyone who cared for you.”

“And so I was in the nature of a crusade?”

Judith was by now near tears. Simon’s response was almost as bad as she had anticipated. But she felt a stirring of anger. She was being made out a criminal—and for a minor deception, which had, after all, worked out to Simon’s benefit.

“You are purposely putting things in the worst possible light, your grace. I was a satisfactory employee, was I not? If I did pretend to be a stranger, it was because of your good friends’ care for you, and my own.”

“And if your background is what you claimed, then why did you refuse my offer?” Simon’s anger was beginning to abate, and since it was, indeed, largely irrational, he was having a hard time finding a logical accusation to hurl at Judith. She was right, and as an objective observer, he would not have faulted her for a small deception that had wrought so much good. For some reason, he could not be objective.

“I refused for precisely the reasons I gave you. And I was right. You and Lady Diana make a striking couple, and I can see you have regained confidence in yourself. And now, your grace, I think we have said all that we have to say to each other. I wish to speak with the duchess a moment, so I will leave you.”

And Judith walked away, not caring that she had left Simon stranded in the corner until someone noticed him and came to get him. He heard conversation around him, but did not want to make a fool of himself by attempting to make his way toward someone and perhaps falling over a chair on the way. And so he stood there, with the growing realization that despite Judith’s statement, they had not said all they had to say to each other; in fact, he reflected, they would probably need a whole lifetime to do so.

Why, I love her, thought Simon. It is as simple as that. And she was right. I never would have known it had she not turned me down. We would have had a calm, companionable marriage and I would have held myself back from her out of insecurity. I would have done my duty as a husband, but never would have believed that I could awaken a passionate response.

Something dammed up inside him since returning to England was moving again. But did she feel the same? he wondered. He had no doubt she cared for him, but was she attracted to him? She clearly wanted a marriage of mind and body, but with him? She thought, as everyone must, that Diana had captured his heart. Well, he thought, I think after tonight that misconception will be cleared up. Robin and Diana should be able to reach some understanding. And then I will have to convince Judith of my feelings for her.

When Judith walked away from Simon, she blindly joined the marquess and his wife. The marchioness looked up and smiled, and her husband remarked politely, “I saw you conversing with the duke, Miss Ware. Are you acquainted?”

“I met him through the Stanleys, my lord.” Judith looked back to where she had left Simon stranded. It serves him right to stand there waiting, she thought angrily, and then immediately was struck with remorse. “I am afraid I left him rather suddenly. Perhaps you could bring him over to Robin, my lord?”

“Of course,” replied the marquess, and he joined Simon, who was beginning to wonder if he would spend the rest of the evening in the corner.

Judith was relieved when the party drew to a close. She thanked her hostess and, when the duchess looked at her questioningly, gave a small shrug of her shoulders.

I will have to invite her shopping with me, thought the duchess, and find out what transpired between them.

When Simon bade her good night, he said with a trace of irony, “I hope the evening went as you planned, my dear godmama.”

“Why, yes,” the duchess said shamelessly. “Better than I had planned.”

Simon smiled a rather tight little smile. On his way home, he wondered what Robin and Diana had said to each other, and if his godmother’s matchmaking scheme had succeeded.

The next day, after Wiggins had read and left, Simon was finishing a light luncheon when he heard footsteps in the front hall. A moment later, Major Stanley was announced, and Robin walked in. Simon could immediately feel the difference in him. For days he had been removed and even slow in his walk, but today his stride was energetic and the hand he placed on Simon’s shoulder was as warm and affectionate as it had ever been.

“Join me, Robin? I’ll have Cranston bring in more tea.”

“All right. I am hungry. I ate very little before my ride.”

“You and Barbara?”

“No. I rode with Diana.”

“Unaccompanied?” queried Simon, raising his eyebrows.

“Unaccompanied.” Robin laughed. “We finished the conversation we began last night and ... Well, wish me happy, Simon.”

“I do wish you happy,” Simon said, a big smile on his face. “How did you manage to make this come about so soon?”

“I told you we had almost reached an agreement last spring, but she refused to marry me before I left. I was insulted and hurt—sure she didn’t really love me enough to risk being married to whatever came home to her. She was more frightened of marriage itself, had I but known. She tried to get in touch with me. I sent back her notes and refused to see her, and of course, when I returned, there she was, leading Dev a merry chase.”

“Whereas the truth was, he was in way over his head and she was using him to show you she didn’t care.”

“Yes. And then you. I was angry about Dev, but could not see him as a real threat. But you ... How could any woman not prefer you?”

Simon was surprised. “Whatever do you mean, Robin? Diana cares nothing for rank.”

“I am not speaking of rank, Simon. I am only a man of action. You are far more intelligent. No, let me finish,” said Robin as Simon began to protest. “I am not saying that I am stupid, just that you are far more serious a person.”

“I’ll not have my friend insulted, even by himself,” replied Simon.

“I am only saying we are different. And that I would think Diana would have found you hard to resist.”

“But indeed she did, you great fool,” said Simon. “Not that she had anything to resist, since I was not courting her. But she loves you precisely because you are a man of action, precisely because you are most happy in the country. She has no interest in politics and would be quite bored with my serious side.”

“I know that now.”

“Oh? That I am quite boring?” Simon teased.

“No, you clunch, that she loves me. I feel wonderful. I can’t describe it.”

“You sound like an exultant cock, crowing over his supposed rival.”

“You have no regrets?” asked Robin anxiously.

“None, my friend. I am only funning you. And I wish to discuss with you another young woman,” Simon said in a more serious tone.

“Judith?”

“Yes. Miss Ware. I forgive you all your small deception, for I know why you did it. But last night I lost my temper—she does have a way of provoking me to do that!—and accused Judith of full-scale deception.”

“But her only lie was not revealing her friendship with us.”

“I found that out, but not before I’d insulted her and made her furious.” Simon leaned forward. “And now I discover I am in love with her. Have you any helpful suggestions for me?” he asked wryly.

“I would suggest that the first thing you must do is call upon her and apologize for your anger last night. Perhaps you might ask her to go for a drive with you? It would seem you both need some time to become at ease with each other again.”

Robin decided not to tell Simon that Judith loved him. It was not his secret to tell. And a little of the normal insecurity of the lover would be good for Simon, he thought, in contrast to the morbid sense of inferiority he had come home with.

“You give good advice, Robin, I’ll call upon Judith this afternoon.”

“Do you want me to take you?”

“No, I will have my groom drive me.”

“Good luck, then, Simon.”

“Thank you, Robin. I believe I’ll need it.”

* * * *

A few hours later, Simon’s coach drew up in front of the house on Gower Street. “Take me to the door, James.”

James led Simon up the steps and rapped sharply at the front door. Hannah muttered to herself as she walked down the hall. Some boy playing tricks again, no doubt, and she pulled the door open suddenly, ready to pick up her skirts and take after the imagined urchin. She was completely taken by surprise to see a gentleman dressed in the highest fashion standing on their doorstep.

“Is this the Ware residence?” James asked solemnly. He had grown tremendously in solemnity and dignity, thought Simon with amusement, since being designated Simon’s guide.

“Why, yes,” Hannah said. She was taking in Simon’s gleaming boots and tightly fitting trousers and perfectly fitted bottle-green coat, and thinking Stephen would give his eyeteeth to look like that, when she finally looked at Simon’s face and realized, from the way he was staring straight ahead, that this was the Duke of Sutton.

“Oh, my word,” she exclaimed without thinking.

“I beg your pardon?” Simon said politely.

“Nothing. What can I do for your grace?”

It did not surprise Simon that he had been recognized. This must be the Hannah Judith had told him about, and she, of course, knew about him.

“I am looking to speak with Miss Ware. Is she at home?”

“No, she went out a while ago, to the circulating library.”

Simon’s face reflected his disappointment, and Hannah said quickly, “But she should be back any minute, your grace. Won’t you come in and have a cup of tea? I am sure she will be back in time to join you.”

“Thank you, um, Hannah, is it not? I am afraid I don’t know you by your surname.”

“Hannah is fine, your grace. Come in. Do you need my arm?”

“No, no, James has got me. Just lead the way.”

Hannah led them to the small room on the right side of the house. It was hardly ever used, since they didn’t entertain much, aside from Stephen’s friends. There was dust on the mantel clock, Hannah noticed in embarrassment, but then realized that the duke could not see it anyway.

“Now you just sit yourself down and I’ll be back in a moment.”

James stood awkwardly by the fireplace. Simon had never required invisibility from his servants, like some of the nobility, but James sometimes found it difficult, as the duke’s guide, to be present for Simon’s needs, and not present, at the same time, for the conversation around him. This small house was less intimidating, but he, James, could not sit and have tea with the duke, and so he stood until Hannah returned with the tray. James was hungry immediately upon seeing the fresh scones, and shifted his feet. The sound reminded Simon of his presence, and he felt guilty about his thoughtlessness. He usually tried to be aware of James and let him join the servants whenever possible. Here, of course, there was no belowstairs, so he wasn’t sure what to do when Hannah stepped in.