Chapter 12
CHAPTER TWELVE
IT WAS ELEANOR WHO began to laugh. Everyone else seemed very surprised. “How can you guard the virtue of any woman?” she said. “I saw you in her room yesterday afternoon. Does she still have her virtue?”
“Eleanor!” the countess protested.
Cliff stood up, his chair scraping back.
“We had some matters to discuss, Eleanor, not that it is your concern. And I suggest you think twice about accusing me of stealing Amanda’s virtue.
” But last night, he had almost done just that—and not for the first time.
His sister was infamous for her snooping ways.
It was fortunate she had not walked in on them last night.
Eleanor was wide-eyed and taken aback. “You must be smitten! You are so touchy! The brother I know is absolutely indifferent to such accusations. Besides, you have never tried to hide an affair.”
“We are not having an affair. She is seventeen years old—she is my ward!” he cried.
He felt himself flush as he turned his back to her, facing the countess.
“I had hoped that her mother would have the honor of a guardianship, but as it turns out, she wants nothing to do with her own daughter. Do you know Lady Belford?”
“I do. That is terrible,” Mary cried. “But I understand her predicament. She must be afraid of ruin. Still, to reject one’s own daughter is inexcusable! Cliff, have you told Miss Carre?”
He hesitated, exchanging a glance with Rex, the entire terrible evening flashing through his mind. “Yes. She did not take it well.” He added, “She is distraught. I am asking all of you to go out of your way to be kind to her. She just lost her father and now there is this.”
The countess, Eleanor and Rex exchanged glances. “Of course we will be kind,” the countess said softly. “Rex said her background was somewhat dubious, Cliff?”
He sighed. “Her father was hanged for piracy.”
Mary started.
“She has had a difficult life. I was hoping to secure a far brighter future for her. If you knew the details of how she was raised, your blood would curdle. No woman should have had to live as she had. Her father was a harsh man.”
Eleanor stood and walked over to him. “I had no idea. Cliff, I am sorry for being so insensitive. But when I saw you two together, I assumed you were lovers, even if she is too young for your taste and not the type of woman you prefer.”
He smiled at her, relieved. “You assumed wrongly. The two of you have a bit in common,” he said.
“Even though you are an earl’s daughter, you were raised with five boys.
She grew up on the deck of a ship amongst sailors.
The both of you ran wild. I would especially like your help in this endeavor, Eleanor, if you will give it. ”
She kissed his cheek. “Of course I shall. I am fascinated now. Have you undertaken to acquire a wardrobe for her? She cannot run about town in her breeches.”
“I have and Madame Didier will be here at noon. Eleanor, she has never worn a dress.”
Eleanor stared, as did the countess. Then the two women looked at each other. “We will help her make what must be a huge adjustment,” the countess said with a smile. “But I must ask, what will you say about her family?”
“Fortunately, her father was a naval officer before he took up piracy. I will twist the truth slightly and maintain that he left the service to become a planter in the islands, as many officers really did. I’ll maintain her mother died when she was a small child, and in the hopes of sticking closely to the truth, her mother’s family comes from Cornwall, but Amanda is the last of the line. ”
“That will do, I think, at least for now. And may I assume you are launching her into society in the hopes of procuring a husband for her?” the countess asked.
He tensed. “That is putting the cart before the horse. Amanda is not ready for suitors. She needs six months before she is launched.” He looked at everyone.
“On the voyage here, she began instruction in decorum and etiquette. She did not know how to read, but she is already reading as well as Alexi. She is very clever and I know she can excel at anything she chooses to do. But I must tell you this—she is terrified of being mocked and ridiculed by the ton. She has suffered such humiliation from the ladies on the island. I will take any and all advice.”
“The poor child,” the countess said softly. “We will all help, of course we will.”
“Cliff, why don’t we make certain she is a success from the start?” Eleanor said brightly.
Cliff faced her. “What do you mean?”
“We must begin by calling on our dearest friends, those who will receive Amanda graciously no matter any misstep on her part.”
His brows raised; he liked the idea. “And her confidence will begin to grow.”
Eleanor grinned at him.
“I have a suggestion,” Rex said. “There is no one as gracious as Lady Harrington.”
“And I remain good friends with her,” Mary added. “I’ll speak to her at once. Blanche would be perfect for Amanda’s first call.”
Cliff knew Lady Harrington very vaguely. Once, his brother Tyrell had been betrothed to her. She was one of the most pleasant and unassuming ladies he knew, as well as one of the greatest heiresses in the realm. “I approve.”
“The Carrington ball might be the perfect time for a formal coming-out,” the countess said.
He hesitated. “I prefer an informal launch, Mother. But isn’t that in a month?”
“It is a wonderful affair,” Eleanor said eagerly. “I have always enjoyed their balls! They never have more than a hundred and fifty guests, so for a ball it is rather small. If she is ready, Cliff, it would be the perfect opportunity for her.”
Before he could respond, the countess spoke, “You must not wait six months to begin a search for suitors, Cliff. It isn’t easy to find an impoverished gentlewoman a good match, much less a gentlewoman with a dubious family background.
You must start assessing suitors right away.
Unless you are very fortunate, this will take some time. Does she have a dowry?”
He knew Mary was right. It wasn’t going to be easy to find Amanda the kind of husband she deserved.
He folded his arms across his chest, disturbed.
It was as if a snowball had been set in motion, and was about to become an avalanche.
But Amanda needed a husband; that was obvious.
It was just as obvious that she wasn’t polished enough to be courted, despite the progress she’d made.
He sighed. “I’ll provide the dowry. I’ll have my agents find a small but successful estate and we’ll put it in Carre’s name in trust for her.
In fact, I’ll get on that right away. We should all begin thinking of possible suitors for her, as you are right. Finding a good match won’t be easy.”
Mary took his arm. “Darling, Rex said she is a beauty, and that will certainly help. We will all compile a list of suitors. Let me know the moment you have secured her dowry.” The countess glanced past him, her smile vanishing.
Everyone turned to face the doorway. Amanda stood there in his shirt, her breeches and boots. She was white with shock.
Cliff hurried to her, noting that her eyes were red from weeping. “Good morning,” he said, smiling too brightly. “Would you like to meet my stepmother? We are all having breakfast.”
Amanda gave him a hurt, incredulous look. She had clearly heard them discussing her prospects and he winced, wishing he had modified their discussion. He took her arm. “Come, meet my stepmother.”
Mary swept forward, smiling warmly. “Welcome to the family, my dear,” she cried, taking both of Amanda’s hands in hers. “If you are Cliff’s ward, we are all entrusted with your care, and delighted at the prospect.”
Amanda seemed stunned. She mumbled, “My lady.”
“I do not stand on formalities, my dear, not when we are among family.” Mary kissed her cheek and released her. “I am so sorry about the losses you have recently suffered. Is there anything I can do?”
Amanda was blushing now. Incapable of speech, she shook her head. “No,” she finally whispered. “Thank you.”
He was relieved she had shown some polish. He touched her. “Can we have a word after you eat?”
She tore her gaze away from the countess, her eyes huge. “I need to speak to you now,” she said hoarsely.
Instantly he recalled kissing her, holding her, his passion beyond control. His heart picked up a far different beat, and he knew she was thinking of that moment of madness, too. He nodded slowly. “Excuse us,” he said, guiding her from the room.
In the library, he closed both doors behind them. “How are you feeling, Amanda?” he began. He did not want to discuss last night. He did not know what he could possibly say to justify his reprehensible actions.
“I heard you!” she cried in disbelief. “You were talking about suitors and a dowry!”
“That is what a guardian does for his ward, Amanda. How else could I secure your future?”
She was impossibly pale. “You are not my guardian,” she began.
“I have officially declared it. To make certain there is no doubt, I will have some papers drawn up, making it appear that Carre granted your care to me.”
It was a moment before she spoke. “If being your ward means I am to be rushed into marriage by you, then I do not want to be your ward!”
“I know you are frightened,” he began.
“Last night I was in your bed!” she accused, her eyes wide with hurt. “Last night you kissed me many times. I thought we were lovers!”
He turned white, shocked. It was hard to speak. “We are not lovers. Last night was a mistake. It will never happen again. You are still a virgin!”
“Barely!” She approached, shaking her head wildly. “You held me and kissed me. Your tongue was in my throat, your hand between my legs! How can you say we are not lovers?”
He knew he was red. “I lost control,” he tried.
“And it wasn’t the first time!” she exclaimed, trembling. “On the ship, after the storm. I thought I was dreaming, but I wasn’t, was I? You made love to me on the Fair Lady!”