Chapter 17 #4
He grinned. “Of course I do! My wife would throttle me if I did not care for you.” His smile faded. “Lady Marsden’s bark is far worse than her bite and she is very fond of my mother. Hold your head high and be true to yourself. You will win her over in no time, just as you have won over my family.”
Amanda decided to do as he said. “If I were to be absolutely myself, my lord, I might hold my head high while stepping on Jane Cochran’s skirts, as she is moving across a very slippery floor.”
He laughed. “You remind me exactly of my sister,” he said. “Shall we?” He took her arm.
Amanda realized just how symbolic the gesture was, for she was on the arm of the future Earl of Adare. “Thank you for such chivalry,” she murmured.
He sent her a smile.
Lady Marsden approached in a terribly regal manner. Amanda was aware that the rest of her company all gazed fixedly at her as Tyrell escorted her inside. She felt her cheeks heat, but she did not lower her chin or her eyes. Clearly everyone in the room except for Garret knew about her dubious past.
“My dear, dear Countess Adare,” Lady Marsden cried, embracing her with a smile. “My dear Mary!”
“It is good to see you, too, Dot,” Mary said, smiling as they clasped hands.
Across the room, the three women were whispering to one another while glancing over at her repeatedly. Amanda stiffened her spine and smiled at them all.
Lady Marsden now turned her attention to Eleanor, clearly ignoring Amanda. “You, I know, and well,” she said darkly to Eleanor. “So you married a commoner—your stepbrother, no less! Why have you not called on me, Eleanor?” she demanded.
Eleanor curtsied. “Because I knew you would not approve of my having made a love match,” she said boldly.
Lady Marsden laughed. “But I do approve. You hardly needed a fortune. Besides, he is a handsome rake, is he not? I expect you to bring your husband with you the next time you call—the end of the week will do.”
Eleanor nodded, her eyes dancing, but otherwise, her expression was shockingly demure.
Lady Marsden then went over to Tyrell, still refusing to acknowledge Amanda. He bowed and kissed her hand. “I see you remain as well as ever, Lady Marsden,” he said. “As gracious, as hospitable. What a splendid gathering.”
“Oh, do cease your flattery. You have changed!” she exclaimed. “You are more handsome than ever, if that is possible. Come here, Lizzie. She is with child again? Tyrell! Have you no shame?”
He just laughed.
“It is my fault, my lady,” Lizzie said with a grin, curtsying. “I am the one who insists on having a very large family.”
Lady Marsden shook her head. “I never thought to see you two again, as you both seem to wish to hibernate in that heathen land you insist on calling home.”
Tyrell and Lizzie chatted briefly with the forbidding dowager, inviting her to Adare. Neither Lizzie nor Tyrell seemed at all intimidated by her harsh and outspoken manner. Awaiting her introduction, Amanda glanced across the salon.
Garret smiled at her immediately and approached. There was no avoiding him now.
“Miss Carre, ’tis a happy surprise to see ye here.”
She dared to meet his regard. “My lord, it is a lovely day.”
His green gaze was searching. “’Tis a fine day…but I see a shadow in those beautiful eyes.”
She flushed. He was shameless when flirting. “I am fine.”
He seemed doubtful. “I admire yer courage, Miss Carre,” he said softly. “Lass, ye have enough fer a dozen men.”
She gaped. Had he heard the gossip after all?
Some sympathy filled his eyes. He pulled her away from the others. “I ha’ heard the accusations Jane Cochran has made. The shrew needs a lesson in manners, I think.”
Amanda tensed. “It’s true.”
He stared, their gazes holding, and when he smiled at her, it was the soft, heartbreaking smile Cliff had so often sent her. “I think I knew. A wild rose canna be mistaken fer its hothouse cousin. Lass, it only speaks to yer exceptional character that ye be here now.”
Amanda was too stunned to reply.
“Lady Marsden, you have not met my brother’s ward, Miss Amanda Carre,” Tyrell was saying firmly, causing Amanda to stiffen. But she was ready for the dowager, and she was never going to take Garret MacLachlan for granted again.
Lady Marsden’s face hardened as she approached. “I know who she is,” she said coldly. She turned to the countess. “Really, Mary, is this your doing?”
Amanda did not flinch, not now.
Tyrell flushed with anger and started to speak.
Mary took his arm, forestalling him. She smiled.
“Miss Carre has become another daughter to me,” Mary said with a soft smile.
“Her father, a retired naval officer, drowned on Jamaica Island, where he was a planter. He was a friend of Cliff’s, and his dying wish was for Cliff to look after her.
We have been slowly introducing her to society, and as she is an exemplary and unusual young woman, I had to bring her to you. ”
Lady Marsden now faced Amanda fully, her eyes suspicious. “Is it true? Did your father drown? For that is not what I have heard!”
Amanda hesitated. The truth was on the tip of her tongue, but then she saw Mary staring at her, begging her not to reveal herself. She owed the countess so much, and she managed a nod. “Yes, my lady, it is true. My father drowned very recently.”
Mary sighed. “Dot, Jane Cochran is enraged because she is enamored of my son and Cliff will not give her any attention. And why should he? She is quite homely, with no gracious manners, and he doesn’t need her fortune.
It is a true indication of her base character that she would spread such very vicious lies about my new daughter. ”
Lady Marsden seemed taken aback. “I have never liked that Cochran girl,” she said after a pause, “and you are right, she has always lacked the proper airs for her superior breeding. Well, if Miss Carre is a new daughter….” She turned to Amanda. “Come here, Miss Carre,” the dowager commanded.
Amanda instantly obeyed, curtsying yet again.
“You have suffered terribly,” Lady Marsden said. “I realize that now. You are very bold, however, to dare to put a single foot among the ton again.”
Amanda smiled. The old lady really wasn’t frightening at all. “The countess wished for me to make your acquaintance and I have no reason to hide.” That was the truth. “It is a great honor meeting you, my lady.”
“So you were raised in Jamaica?” Lady Marsden asked. “Is that not the West Indies?”
Amanda nodded. “Yes it is.”
“Hmm. I am very fond of travel. I wish for you to tell me what the island is like and advise me if I should make a voyage there in my advanced age.”