Impetuous Innocent

by Stephanie Laurens

  Then, thankfully, Arthur moved forward to greet his guest.

  The worst was past. Georgiana’s natural poise reasserted itself and she could function again. Then Lord Alton turned to take her hand. His clasp was cool and gentle. He smiled and bowed elegantly.

  “Miss Hartley. So we meet again. I do hope Bella hasn’t been tiring you out with her gadding.”

  To Georgiana’s intense chagrin, her tongue promptly tied itself in knots and her voice deserted her. She managed to force out a weak, “Of course not, my lord,” around the constriction in her throat. What on earth was the matter with her?

  Luckily, Johnson entered to announce dinner. Inwardly, Georgiana heaved a sigh of relief. But relief died a sudden death when she discovered Lord Alton was dining at his sister’s board. Naturally, he sat opposite her. Throughout the meal, which could have been the meanest fare for all she noticed, Georgiana struggled to avoid looking directly at the gentleman opposite, with mixed success. Arthur unwittingly came to her rescue, turning the conversation into political waters. He engaged his brother-in-law in a detailed discussion of the Corn Laws, leaving the ladies to their own interests.

  As Bella seemed abstracted, Georgiana confined her gaze, if not her attention, to her plate. As course followed course, and the gentlemen’s discourse continued unabated, she was conscious of a growing irritation. Admittedly her awkwardness in the drawing-room had hardly been encouraging, but Lord Alton could at least make the effort to address some remark to her. Perhaps, in England, it was not done to talk across the table, even at family meals.

  When the sweets appeared before her, Bella shook herself and glanced about. Only then did she notice that her husband and brother had embarked on a most tedious discussion, leaving poor Georgie to herself. It was on the tip of her tongue to call attention to their lapse of manners, when she recalled that neither gentleman would feel the least inhibited about alluding to her own brown study of the past hour, nor in asking the subject of said study. As she had no intention of once again drawing her brother’s fire, she turned instead to Georgiana.

  “You see what it is to dine en famille in Winsmere House? Pearls before swine, my dear. Here we sit, only too willing to be enthralled, and all they can think of is their political problems.” Her eyes twinkled at her husband, sitting opposite her at the head of the table.

  Unperturbed by her attack, he smiled back. “In truth, I’m surprised to see you still here. I had thought you were off to Almack’s tonight.”

  Bella’s eyes swung to the clock, peacefully ticking away on the sideboard. “Heavens! I’d no idea. Georgie, we’ll have to bustle. Come. We’ll leave our two fine gentlemen to their port.”

  Both men stood as she rose.

  Georgiana perforce rose too. She could not resist throwing one last glance at the tall figure opposite her. To her confusion, she found he was watching her. But his face bore nothing more than a remotely polite expression. He returned her nod with genial but distant civility.

  As the ladies departed the room, Arthur turned to his brother-in-law. “If you have the time, I’d value your opinions on how best to go about this business.”

  Dominic started slightly, as if his mind had wandered from the matter they had been discussing for the past hour. “Yes. Of course.” His usual, sleepily bored smile appeared. “I’d be only too delighted, naturally.”

  Arthur, not deceived, laughed. “Which means you’d much rather be elsewhere, discussing more enthralling subjects, but you will, of course, humour your host. You, Dominic, are a complete hand. Why you must belittle your efforts in this I know not.”

  By unspoken agreement, they moved to the door. Dominic waved one languid hand, and a priceless sapphire caught the light. “Perhaps because my—er—efforts, as you term them, are so undemanding as to be positively valueless.”

  Arthur was surprised into a snort. “Valueless? Who else, pray tell, has succeeded in even introducing the subject in Prinny’s presence?”

  They entered the library and made for the two large armchairs by the hearth.

  “Introducing the subject’s hardly the same as gaining His Highness’s support.” Dominic sank into one chair, stretching his long legs before him and emitting a weary sigh.

  Arthur glanced sharply at him. “You know that’s not necessary. Just as long as His Highness is aware of how things stand. That’ll be more than enough.” He handed Dominic a cut-crystal glass filled with his oldest port, then settled comfortably in the chair opposite.

  Silence fell, broken only by the ticking of the long case clock in the corner and a sudden crackle as a log settled in the grate. Arthur, who had had plenty of opportunity to observe his brother-in-law over dinner, and to note the arrested expression in those startlingly blue eyes whenever they rested on Georgiana Hartley, continued to watch the younger man, waiting patiently for whatever came next, confident that something, indeed, would be forthcoming.

  Finally, Dominic’s gaze sought his face. “This Miss Hartley I’ve foisted on you… I assume you approve?”

  Arthur nodded. “Georgiana is exactly the sort of company Bella needs. You have my heartfelt thanks for sending her to us.”

  The black brows rose. “Seemed the least I could do.” Dominic’s face showed evidence of distraction, as it frequently had that night. Arthur’s lips twitched. He sternly repressed the impulse to smile.

  Eventually Dominic shook off his abstraction sufficiently to comment, “Bella was saying she’s becoming rather stubbornly taken with this idea of hiring out as a companion. She seemed to think that she, Miss Hartley, might take things into her own hands. That, I need hardly say, will simply not do.”

  Arthur nodded gravely. “I entirely agree. Also, I have to concur with Bella on her reading of Georgiana’s character.” He paused to steeple his fingers, and stared into the fire over the top of the structure. “Georgiana is clearly unused to relying on the bounty of others. It irks her, I think, to be living, as it were, on our charity. She has some money of her own, but not, I suspect, the requisite fortune. She has spoken to me about the best way to go about hiring herself out. I returned an evasive and, I hope, restraining answer. Luckily, the fact that she has been out of England for so long makes it relatively easy to make excuses which on the face of it are reasonable, without going into over-many details. However—” he smiled at Dominic “—beneath that demure exterior lies a great deal of strength and not a little courage. From what I gather, she made her way to England virtually unaided—not an inconsiderable feat. I seriously doubt she’ll accept our vague answers for much longer.”

  A black frown of quite dramatic proportions dominated the Viscount’s face.

  Arthur suppressed a grin. Finally he asked, “Do you have any ideas?”

  Still frowning, Dominic slowly shook his head. Then he glanced at Arthur. “Do you?”

  “As a matter of fact, I do.” Arthur straightened his shoulders and prepared to explain. His grey gaze rested thoughtfully on Dominic’s face. “Bella, of course, needs distraction. Essentially, that means a companion. But can you imagine how she would feel if I insisted she hire one?”

  Dominic’s frown lightened.

  “Bella has been most assiduous in helping Georgiana and, from what I’ve seen, Georgiana is truly grateful. I plan to suggest to Georgiana, in confidence, that she become Bella’s companion in truth. However, in order to spare Bella’s quite natural feelings, the arrangement will be a secret between the two of us. To all outward appearances, which of course must include the servants, she will continue as a guest in this house.” Arthur’s brows rose interrogatively. “Do you think that’ll pass?”

  Dominic grinned. “I’m sure it will. How useful to be able to turn your talents to something other than politics.” His grin broadened into a smile. “And no wonder you’re so invaluable in your present capacity.”

  Arthur smiled and inclined his head. “As you say.” For a moment he regarded the younger man intently. Then, almost imperceptibly, he shru
gged. “I’ll speak to Georgiana in the morning. It would be wise, I suspect, to ensure she has no opportunity to take the bit between her teeth.”

  “THANK YOU, MY LORD.” Georgiana curtsied and watched young Lord Mortlake mince away across the floor. Still, at least he had danced well.

  She flicked open her fan and plied it ruthlessly. The large, sparsely furnished rooms which were Almack’s were crammed with bodies dressed in silks and satins of every conceivable hue. The day had been unseasonably warm, and the evening, initially balmy, had turned sultry. The air in the rooms hung oppressively. Ostrich feathers wilted. As a particularly limp pair, dyed puce, bobbed by, attached to the head-dress of an extremely conscious beauty, Georgiana hid her smirk behind her fan.

  Her eyes scanned the company. Other than Bella, standing by her side, engaged in a low-voiced conversation with an elderly matron, Georgiana knew only those few people Bella had thus far introduced her to. And, she reflected, none of them needed a companion.

  As her eyes feasted on the spectrum of colours mingling before her, she spared a smile for her sartorial elegance. By comparison with many about her, she was underdressed. The pattern of Fancon’s amethyst silk robe was simple and plain, with long, clean lines uncluttered by frills and furbelows. Her single strand of pearls, inherited from her mother, shone warmly about her neck. Originally uncertain, she now felt smugly satisfied with her appearance.

  Thoughts of dresses brought her earlier discovery to mind, together with the subsequent argument with Bella. How on earth could she accept the sea-green gauze and topaz silk dresses from Bella, to whom she was already so deeply indebted? Yet it was undeniable that Bella could not wear them. Both dresses were presently hanging in the wardrobe in her chamber. She had been quite unable to persuade Bella to repack and return them. What was she to do about them?

  The idea that, if she had been wearing the topaz silk gown that evening, Lord Alton would have paid more attention to her flitted through her mind. Ruthlessly, she stamped on the errant thought. She was here to find employment, not ogle lords. And what possible interest could Lord Alton have in her—an unremarkable country lass, not even at home in England?

  Depressed, by that thought and the lowering fact she had not yet made any headway in finding a position, Georgiana determinedly looked over the sea of heads, pausing on the occasional powdered wig that belonged to a previous generation. Maybe, beneath one, she would find someone to hire her?

  “Here, girl! Georgiana, ain’t it? Come and help me to that chair.”

  Georgiana whirled to find Lady Winterspoon beside her. The old lady was leaning on a cane.

  Seeing her glance, Amelia Winterspoon chuckled. “I only use it at night. Helps me get the best seats.”

  Georgiana smiled and obediently took her ladyship’s arm. Once settled in a gilt chair by the wall, Lady Winterspoon waved Georgiana to its partner beside her.

  “I can only take so much of this place. Too much mindless talk addles the brain.”

  Georgiana felt the sharp grey eyes assessing her. She wondered whether she would pass muster.

  A wry smile twisted Amelia Winterspoon’s thin lips. “Just as I thought. Not in the common style.”

  The old lady paused. Georgiana had the impression she was reliving long-ago evenings spent under the candlelight of ballroom chandeliers. Then, abruptly, the grey gaze sharpened and swung to her face.

  “If you’re old enough to heed advice, here’s one piece you should take to heart. You ain’t a beauty, but you’re no antidote either. You’re different—and not just because you’re fair when the current craze is for dark. The most successful women who’ve ever trod these boards were those who were brave enough to be themselves.”

  “Themselves?”

  “Themselves,” came the forceful answer. “Don’t put on airs, nor pretend to be what you ain’t. Thankfully, you seem in no danger of doing that. Don’t try to ape the English misses. Don’t try to lose your foreignness—use it instead. All you need to make a go of it is to smile and enjoy yourself. The rest’ll come easy.”

  “But—” Georgiana wondered whether she should explain her situation to Arthur’s sister. Maybe she could help her find a position?

  “No buts, girl! Just do it! There’s no point in wasting your life away being a wallflower. Get out and enjoy yourself.” Lady Winterspoon used her cane to gesture at the dance-floor. “Now go on—off you go!”

  Despite the conviction that she should feel piqued at such forthright meddling, Georgiana found herself grinning, then laughing as Lady Winterspoon nodded encouragingly. Rising, Georgiana swept a curtsy to her ladyship, now comfortably ensconced, and, a smile lingering on her lips, returned to the throng. She made her way to where she had left Bella.

  But Bella was no longer in sight.

  Perturbed, Georgiana stood still and wondered what to do. She could go back and sit with Lady Winterspoon, only she would probably drive her off again. English social strictures were not Georgiana’s strong suit. Still, she rather suspected she should not wander about the rooms alone. Suddenly she realised she was frowning.

  Lady Winterspoon’s strong voice still echoed in her mind. “Enjoy yourself!”

  Georgiana lifted her head. She had been introduced to Italian society at the age of sixteen. Surely, at the ripe old age of eighteen, she could manage such a simple social occasion as this? Consciously drawing about herself the cloak of social calm her father’s female patrons had impressed on her was the hallmark of a lady, she stepped out more confidently to search for Bella—not hurriedly, in a frenzy, but in a calm and dignified way, smiling as she went.

  As she moved slowly down the room, truly looking about her for the first time that evening, she heard snatches of conversation wafting from the groups she passed.

  “Did you see that Emma Michinford? Making such sheep’s eyes at…”

  “Well, we all know what he’s after!”

  “She’s really rather pathetic, don’t you agree?”

  “Not that it’ll come to anything, mark my words. The likes of him…”

  Waspish, biting, cutting gibes… The comments blurred into a melody typical, Georgiana suspected, of the place. Her smile grew.

  “Oh!” Her elbow jogged that of another stroller. “I’m so sorry. Pray excuse me.”

  “Gladly, my dear, if you’ll tell me what could possibly be so amusing in Almack’s.”

  The languid tones of the gentleman bowing before her were, Georgiana judged, devoid of menace. He was very neatly and correctly attired, soberly so. His blue coat was well cut, his satin breeches without a crease. Brown hair, stylishly but not rakishly cut, framed a pleasant face. There was nothing one could put a finger on to account for the air of elegance which clung to him.

  As he continued to look at her with mild curiosity, Georgiana, Lady Winterspoon’s dictum still fresh in her mind, answered him truthfully. “It was merely the conversation, caught in snippets as I walked about. It’s—” she put her head on one side as she considered her words “—rather single-minded, if you know what I mean.”

  A quirky grin twisted the gentleman’s lips. “I do indeed know what you mean, Miss…?”

  Having embarked on her course, Georgiana dispensed with caution, “Hartley. Georgiana Hartley. I’m staying with Lady Winsmere. I seem to have lost her in the crush.”

  “Ah, the lovely Bella. I think I saw her over by the door, in earnest conversation with Lady Duckworth. Permit me to escort you to her.”

  With only a single blink, Georgiana laid her gloved hand on the proffered sleeve. If she was going to be escorted by any gentleman tonight, she was quite content that it should be this one. He hadn’t told her his name, but he seemed thoroughly at home.

  “From your comment, you seem almost to laugh at the purpose of this great institution. Yet surely you propose to avail yourself of its services?”

  This was the sort of conversation Georgiana had cut her social eye-teeth on. “I most certainly intend to avail
myself of its services, but not, I think, as you might assume.”

  Her companion digested this riposte, before countering, “If that means you are not here to snare a title, or a fortune, what possible other use for this place can you have found?”

  “Why, that to which I was putting it when you met me.”

  A pause developed, followed by a great sigh. “Very well. I confess myself stumped. What is it you’ve discovered within these faded grey walls?”

  Georgiana smiled, eyes dancing. “Why, enjoyment, of course. I was enjoying myself.” To her surprise, she realised this was true. She turned to glance into her companion’s grey eyes. In them, she saw thunderstruck amazement. “Enjoyment? In Almack’s?”

  Georgiana laughed. “Of course. I’m enjoying myself now. Aren’t you?”

  Her gentleman stopped stock-still, a ludicrous mixture of horror and humour in his face. “Dreadful! I’ll never live this down.” Then his face cleared and he smiled, quite genuinely, at Georgiana. “Come, Miss Hartley. Let me restore you to Lady Winsmere. You’re clearly too potent a force to be let loose for long.”

  Perfectly content, Georgiana strolled by his side through the crowd, who, she now noticed, seemed to part before them. Even before she caught sight of Bella’s surprised face, she had started to question the identity of her escort. But she was determined not to worry. And, thankfully, whoever he was, her escort seemed to find nothing amiss.

  Bella curtsied and chatted animatedly, but Georgiana still heard no name. With a final, sotto voce, “Enjoying oneself in Almack’s. Whatever next?” the very correct gentleman withdrew.

  Georgiana turned to Bella, but, before she could utter her question, Bella was exclaiming, albeit in delighted whispers, “Georgie! However did you do it?”

  “Do what? Who is he?” Instinctively, Georgiana whispered too.