VIII #3
She glanced up to find him grinning at her, his eyes atwinkle.
How could she have thought for a single moment, she wondered, that he’d lost his sense of humor and could only be cynical?
The grin was an infectious one, and she found herself returning it, her brief annoyance all but forgotten.
A heavy-set woman, hurrying to get in line for the roast ox, bumped into her, making her stumble slightly, and Huntley quickly placed a hand under her elbow to steady her.
He did not take it away again once she had recovered.
Nell looked up again. “Thank you, my lord, but I am perfectly steady again, you know.”
“This is a dangerous mob. I might not be so quick the next time,”
“Mob, my lord?”
“Dangerous mob,” he repeated firmly.
Nell said no more. His hand was actually very light, at times not even touching her.
But she knew it was there, and when it did touch her it seemed to send little sparks pulsing up her arm and all through the rest of her.
It was only that she was unaccustomed to such chivalry, of course, she told herself.
It was merely a case of nerves. That plus the fact that she was relieved to know she had not incurred his displeasure.
Neither Talcott nor Coltrain showed the slightest sign of discomfort at Huntley’s presence, and Rory seemed to be in her element, flirting indiscriminately with all three and with Sir Henry as well.
She helped Nell to set out the food for the picnic, while the gentlemen assisted Lady Agnes to a thick quilt that had been spread for her comfort in the shade beneath a group of poplar trees.
No sooner had the food been set out than Kit appeared with Harry Seton and another young man, who was tall and as thin as a bean pole, with narrow gray eyes and a long, thin nose.
His skin-tight green coat and yellow pantaloons gave him the appearance of a comic matchstick doll, and he wore a mauve-and-cream spotted Belcher kerchief tied around his neck, as well as a striped waistcoat of matching colors.
Kit introduced him as the Honorable Timothy Tree, but if his attire was odd enough to draw public attention, it was his hairstyle that caused Nell to forget her polished manners and to stare with the others.
His dark hair was arranged in tight little curls à la Caesar that fell in love-locks over his brow and around his ears.
Moreover, he carried himself with such pomp as to make her think him a veritable cockscomb.
And on the strut at that, she told herself wickedly. “
“Ain’t Timmy a pretty fellow?” Kit asked the group in general.
“Puts the rest of us chaps in the shade, don’t you know.
” The Honorable Timothy blushed to his love-locks, but other man that he seemed to take his friend’s roasting in good spirit.
Rory announced that the meal was quite ready, and everyone fell to.
There was plenty of food and wine, and even Lady Agnes declared the picnic a huge success. Dabbing daintily at her lips with her serviette, she declared her intention of staying right where she was to rest and let her lunch settle.
“Take a catnap, more like,” teased Kit, with a chuckle. “You’ll miss the sailing races, Mama.”
“Kit, for the love of goodness, I have only just finished a meal. Have pity,” his mama begged him. “You know perfectly well that sailing vessels or indeed any boats make me quite dizzy.”
“Not if you merely watch them from the cliffs, Mama.”
“Always,” she replied.
“Well, Harry and Tim and I mean to watch them. We know of an excellent place where one’s view of the entire race will be unobstructed.”
“Oh, do let’s go with them!” Rory exclaimed, looking excitedly at Talcott and Coltrain.
Major Talcott shook his head. “It would surely be our pleasure to escort you and Miss Lindale, my lady, but there is a grand review scheduled for later this afternoon, so although I regret the necessity, we must take our departure in just a few moments to join our regiment. I hope you will come to watch the review.”
“Oh, we will! I promise you we will. Won’t we, Aunt Nell?”
“We must wait to discover Mama’s wishes, Rory dear,” Nell said quietly. “You would not wish her to become overly tired.”
“Oh, no, of course not,” the younger girl replied, her disappointment clear. Then her expression lightened. “However, I daresay when I tell her how very much I am longing to watch a grand review, she will agree to stay. She will not wish to spoil my pleasure, you know.”
Huntley, who had been assisting the others in replacing the picnic supplies, approached the group in time to overhear Rory’s last remarks.
Nell noted with some misgiving that his brows had knitted together ominously.
“I am sure,” he said now, his tone rather sharp, “we must all see to it that Lady Agnes does not place more importance upon your pleasure than upon her own continued good health.”
Rory looked up at him in quick protest, her gaze clashing with his. But it was she who looked away first, muttering that she was certain no one meant to endanger Grandmama’s health.
Talcott chuckled, bringing the golden gaze to bear accusingly upon himself. “You behave yourself, lass,” he ordered, unimpressed. “When you frown like that, it makes you look more like the witch of Endor than your Grandmama’s golden angel.”
Rory’s lips twitched. Then laughter bubbled up again. “You do say the most outrageous things, sir.” She turned back to Huntley. “I beg your pardon, my lord. I behaved childishly. Aunt Nell,” she went on, holding out her hand, “do say you will forgive my thoughtlessness once more.”
Nell had been thinking that the major’s manners were quite as deplorable as her niece’s, but at this turn of affairs she found herself regarding him with dawning respect.
How easily he had banished the sulks. Here again was the endearing and disarming golden girl.
Nell gave the hand that had been pressed into her own a firm squeeze and assured her niece that there was nothing to forgive.
The two officers took their leave only a few moments later.
Rory looked at Nell. “I do want to see the sailing races, ma’am. Shall we accompany Kit and the others?”
“Oh, Rory, really,” Nell protested. “There will be such a crush along the cliffside. I am sure we shall see enough of it if we but drive home with Mama along the esplanade and the Marine Parade.”
Rory’s face fell immediately, and a diffident voice sounded behind Nell. “There will be no crush where we’ll be, ma’am.” Seton’s words banished the woebegone look as though by magic.
“Oh, Mr. Seton, do say we may come with you!”
“Don’t be daft, Harry,” Kit said. “There won’t be room for all of us.”
“Fact is, Miss Lindale,” Harry said politely, ignoring him, “that my sister and her husband have taken a sitting room on the top floor of the Belle Vue Hotel for the day. We shall be able to view the entire race from there and in deuced elegant comfort, at that.”
“But surely, Mr. Seton, your sister and her husband, obliging though I know them to be, cannot have expected you to bring such a large party as this. Why, you would be adding at least three persons, you know.”
“Three!” He glanced at Nell and at Huntley, then recollected himself. “To be sure, ma’am. Just go. All welcome.
M’ sister won’t mind a bit. Assure you!” He doffed his curly-brimmed hat to emphasize his point.
“Well, I am persuaded you mean it for the best …” Nell began doubtfully.
“Let her go.”
She looked up at Huntley, her eyes wide. “Sir?”
“I said, let her go.”
“But—”
“Don’t argue, Nell. See here, Lindale,” he went on, raising his voice to reach Kit’s ears, “you’ll look after Aurora, won’t you?”
“I …” Kit looked dubious. “I expect so, sir. Don’t you mean to come along, Nell?”
“Well, of course.”
“No, she doesn’t,” Huntley interrupted. “Your sister is suffering from the headache, as you could see for yourself if you would but take the trouble, so you may attend to your niece for a spell. We will meet you on the esplanade after the races, so that you will not need to see Aurora home again. I quite realize such a necessity might well interfere with your plans for the evening.”
“Well, that would make a difference, sir, but I’m not much of a dab—”
“Stubble it, Kit,” Harry Seton interrupted quickly. “Lady Aurora wants to see the races. We’ll help you look after her. M’ sister will help you. Her husband—you know Tom, a fine fellow—daresay he’ll help you, too.”
“Lord, Harry, don’t run on like a fiddlestick!” Kit snapped. “We’ll take the chit if you’re so dashed set on it.”
“Does that mean I may go with them, Aunt Nell?” Rory demanded.
Nell looked doubtfully at Huntley. He nodded, a little smile playing upon his lips. “I suppose you may, dear. Kit,” she added quietly, “I must place my dependence upon you.”
“I didn’t ask for the charge,” he grumbled.
“Nevertheless, Kit. …”
He gazed at her. “Oh, very well. Come along, then, my girl, and mind you don’t land us all in the basket.”
Filled with misgivings, Nell watched them go, then turned to Huntley.
“I hope we may not both be sorry for this, my lord. I must tell you—though, of course, I could say nothing before—that Mr. Seton’s sister Mary is as young and flighty as Rory herself and not at all to be trusted.
I have met her husband only once, and he is much like Harry, I fear.
Can we truly place any dependence upon them to make sure Rory does nothing foolish? ”
“We shall rely upon Lindale,” his lordship said, smiling at her.
“You said last night that you desired an opportunity for private speech with me. The crowds have thinned out now, and a quiet walk will no doubt do much to ease your headache. Shall we leave your mother and Sir Henry to enjoy a bit of solitude?”
Sir Henry snored just then, and a gurgle of laughter escaped Nell’s lips. “I only hope he does not wake Mama,” she said, still chuckling.