A Curious Courting

by Laura Matthews

  “A regular martinet, your cousin,” Rushton suggested.

  Henry flushed. “No, no, she's a great gun. Just a little out of sorts these days, what with one thing and another."

  “Hmm, yes. Here, let me show you the proper stance. We won't put any strain on your arm. I'll just show you how to hold your hands and where to put your feet."

  Returning to continue her sorting of the papers, Selina found her cousin and Mr. Rushton posed as though in combat, and she stopped on the threshold, dumbfounded. Engrossed in their lesson, the two men did not notice her advent and were startled when she exclaimed, “For God's sake, Mr. Rushton, he's only a boy!"

  Henry immediately swung around to face her, his countenance comical in its anguish. “Good Lord, Selina, he isn't fighting with me! He's just showing me how to box."

  “Well, of course he is,” she retorted with heavy sarcasm. “Any sensible man would naturally teach a lad with a broken arm how to box. What better time could there possibly be for such instruction? Perhaps he also teaches his dogs tricks while they are suffering from some ailment. It is a novel prescription, I must admit, and I will certainly suggest it to Morris the very next time I am in the stables. Your tea is in the drawing room.”

  In the astonished silence which followed her outburst the slamming of the library door sounded infinitely louder than it might at any other time. At the end of her patience with everyone and everything, Selina fled to her room.

  Although his jaw tightened almost imperceptibly, Rushton gave no other sign of discomposure, while Henry struck his good fist on a table and muttered, “Damn! Now I've gone and upset her again."

  “Shall we have our tea? I don't think your cousin intends to join us."

  When there was a hesitant tap on her door an hour later, Selina did not respond. Henry called to her and she forced herself to tell him as calmly as she could that she was resting and would see him at dinner. Her throat ached as she heard his uneven footsteps retreat slowly down the hall. Analyzing her upset did nothing to relieve it. To be sure, she had been distressed to have a guest when she was so disheveled. And it had added to her turmoil that she had read the amusement in Rushton's eyes.

  Then to misinterpret the scene she had come on in the library was embarrassing, but she could think of no excuse for that gentleman's behavior. Was he so annoyed with her that he would purposely risk injuring Henry to get even with her? Selina had judged him a careless hedonist, perhaps, but not a deliberately cruel man. Where there were no illusions to shatter, he still managed to shake her to her very core. Exhausted by the continual emotional upheavals, she finally slept, to be awakened by her maid only in time to dress for dinner.

  Henry was pacing restlessly about the drawing room when she entered, but stopped abruptly and came over to take her hands. “Are you feeling all right, Selina? I have never known you to rest in the afternoon before."

  “I feel better now."

  “You mustn't be angry with Mr. Rushton, Selina,” he said urgently as he released her hands and watched her seat herself. “I was asking him about boxing and whether I could learn, and he offered to teach me. Of course I said that wouldn't do, but he said it would keep him in practice. We weren't really doing anything strenuous, I promise you. He was just showing me how to stand and what to do with my hands."

  “I cannot see why you shouldn't wait until your arm is healed."

  “Certainly I will, but he offered to start now. It didn't hurt my arm in the least."

  “Is boxing something you have taken an interest in, Henry?"

  “Oh, yes. All the sporting fellows have a hand at it these days, and Rushton said my limp needn't handicap me. He said if I could dance, I could box."

  “Did he? I fail to see the relationship between the two."

  “It's a matter of being agile enough on your feet, don't you see? You have always said that I dance well enough, and I have never doubted you. Between us, we have always been honest about my limp, and I trusted you spoke no more than the truth.” He regarded her anxiously.

  “You dance as well as anyone without a limp, Henry,” she replied firmly. “And better than most, I dare say, but surely there is a difference in the movement of a dance and the jumping about you must do in boxing."

  “Rushton thought not. And it's not jumping, Selina! If I find I can't do it, then I shall just forget the whole thing.” A frown creased his forehead. “You won't forbid me to learn, will you?"

  “No, of course not. You may do as you wish, but I cannot think Mr. Rushton will have the time to see to your instruction properly. Perhaps we could find someone else in the neighborhood."

  “He was quite sincere, Selina, and I never asked him if he would. He simply offered. I don't think there is anyone else in the neighborhood who could teach me.''

  “We'll ask around,” she suggested with an attempt at casualness. “It can't do any harm. Once Mr. Rushton is started on his hunting-box, his days will be heavily occupied, my dear."

  “If you wish, but I like him, Selina. He treats me as an equal, just as Sir Penrith does."

  “I should hope so,” she murmured as McDonough arrived to announce dinner.

  Chapter 12

  Selina gave specific instructions the next morning that if Mr. Rushton came to call, she was to be denied. “If he asks for Mr. Henry, then you will have to check with him, but I am not at home to Mr. Rushton.” The surprised look she received from McDonough she ignored and proceeded to the library to finish her task there. She was debating the importance of an old receipt when Henry entered, and she smiled up at him. “Do you suppose I will need to refer to this bill for the range? We have never had the least trouble with it and it is entered in the books, but I can never seem to remember the shopowner's name when I try."

  “Why did you have yourself denied to Mr. Rushton, Selina?"

  “I have no wish to see him, Henry, and I am very busy. Has he called?"

  “Yes, he wished to speak to you, but McDonough told him you were not receiving, so he asked for me. Rushton would be willing to wait if you have to change or anything, but he's anxious to see you."

  “I am not anxious to see him, Henry."

  “He said he wished to discuss a facet of Lord John's design with you."

  “Pooh. Mr. Rushton doesn't give a farthing for my opinion. He has seen the Sands’ house, and there is an end to it. I won't see him, Henry."

  “What the devil has gotten into you, Selina? I thought you were interested in promoting Lord John's career."

  “And I tell you I can do no more than I have. If you will excuse me, I really must finish with these papers."

  “I have never known you to be so stubborn. What harm can it do to see him?” Henry drew a hand distractedly through his hair, a pained expression on his face.

  “Have you perhaps told Mr. Rushton that you would get me to see him?"

  “Well, yes, I rather did."

  “You must stop putting me in these positions, Henry. It is all very well to be generous with your own time, but you have no right to dispense with mine as you see fit. I have a great deal to do, and am not willing to waste time on every Tom, Dick and Harry who comes along."

  “It's not as though you didn't know Mr. Rushton,” he grumbled. “I can see your denying yourself to Mr. Walters or Mr. Moreton, for you've only met them at Sir Penrith's. But you introduced Rushton to Lord John, and you sold him the land, and he has been very kind to me."

  “To you, Henry. Not to me. If you can think of a way which does not involve me, to repay him for his kindnesses, by all means indulge yourself in doing so. You may tell him I highly recommend that he incorporate the glassed-in room in his hunting-box. Unfortunately, that will only make him reject the idea, but it will be his loss.” Selina purposefully turned back to her papers. “I shall see you at luncheon, Henry."

  Defeated, her cousin turned on his heels and stalked out of the room. He had not previously been aware of the animosity between Selina and Rushton, but now that
he looked back he could see that they had not hit it off from the start. Reproaching himself for being thoughtless, Henry still felt a bit annoyed with Selina for her implacable stand. What difference would it make to her to answer a few questions from Rushton? Selina was, after all, very enthusiastic about Lord John's designs.

  On entering his study, where he found Rushton patiently waiting by the window, Henry moved awkwardly, as he always did when he was embarrassed.

  “I ... I'm afraid Selina is busy, Mr. Rushton, and cannot see you. She did tell me that she highly recommended the glassed-in room."

  His visitor's face remained expressionless. “I see. My thanks for approaching her for me, Forrester. I shall take my leave. No, no, there's no need to see me out. I know my way. When your arm is fully healed, we'll have another lesson."

  Henry nodded mutely and watched as the door closed behind his visitor. Now he would probably never learn to box, he thought mutinously, and all because of Selina. Rushton might pretend to overlook her rudeness, but Henry felt sure such a slight would weigh with a proud man. It was a very small thing he had asked of his cousin, and surely she knew that it was important to him if he had asked her. Perhaps he would not take luncheon with her, after all.

  In the hall Rushton did not turn toward the entry as might have been expected. Instead he walked toward the rear of the house where the library was located, and tapped on the door. There was the possibility that Miss Easterly-Cummings was elsewhere in the house, but he thought not. Those stacks of paper yesterday would likely require a great deal of time to sort. Her impatient voice called, “Yes?"

  Since he had no intention of waiting to be bid to enter, sure that he would receive no such invitation, he opened the door, stepped into the room and closed the door behind himself. She glanced up, an annoyed frown on her brow, and stared at him speechlessly.

  “I realize you are busy, Miss Easterly-Cummings, but I really feel that I must have a word with you.” He strolled over to where she sat on the floor and offered her his hand to draw her to her feet.

  “I will not see you, Mr. Rushton. Kindly leave my house immediately.” As her hands gripped firmly in her lap, she fixed him with a cold glare.

  “There are several things which need to be said, and I will not let your stubbornness deter me from saying them.” Since she apparently had no intention of rising, he carelessly seated himself on the floor across from her. “If you are angry that I was showing Henry the proper boxing stance yesterday, let me assure you that I was not taxing his broken arm. Surely he told you so himself."

  Selina continued to ignore him, ostentatiously lifting another paper from the box to peruse its contents.

  “Do you object to your cousin learning to box, Miss Easterly-Cummings?"

  There was no reply as Selina discarded the paper and withdrew another.

  “There is nothing more reprehensible than watching a woman crush the spirit out of a lad Henry's age,” Rushton said provocatively.

  Startled eyes met his for a moment and the color rose in Selina's face, but she made no reply.

  “It is obvious that your cousin spends most of his time studying. At his age he should be exploring more than just books, Miss Easterly-Cummings. He has never played cricket, or seen a prizefight, or been to the races. I dare say you would faint if you found he had visited a cockpit. He is mad for hunting, and yet his recent experience was the first time he had ever joined the field. And I have no doubt you will point to his broken arm the next time he indicates a desire to go again, and beg him to remember how dangerous a sport it is."

  Goaded at last, Selina said coldly, “You know nothing of the matter, Mr. Rushton. I find it absurd that you should take such an interest in Henry when you have just met him. He has lived here for five years and has had the run of Shalbrook. He shoots and rides, takes an interest in the farming, drives a phaeton, any number of things. To be sure it is a pity there are no young men of his age in the neighborhood, but we make an annual visit to one of the watering places where he quickly forms friendships with his contemporaries. I do not unduly restrict his movements, and in fact did not protest his decision to go hunting. He's only sixteen, for God's sake. There is plenty of time for him to do the exploring of which you speak. Just leave us in peace.”

  “You would like that, wouldn't you? To continue to hold sway over him? To keep him like a lapdog for your entertainment? I have seen it happen before, Miss Easterly-Cummings. I watched powerlessly as my aunt stifled all the spirit in my cousin. As a boy he was full of life, forever up to a lark, but after his father died she tied him to her apron-strings and never let him go. Even now she is dead, he does not break loose. The habits of a lifetime are too well ingrained. He is a pathetic case, and I should not like to see your cousin follow in his footsteps."

  “Your reasoning is ludicrous, Mr. Rushton,” she snapped. “I have no intention of stifling Henry's exuberance, nor keeping him around to amuse myself. He has been preparing for university, where he will no doubt learn all the wonderful masculine sports—drinking, gambling, women. His life will be so truly enriched,” she said scornfully. “Do you know what Henry wants to do? He wants to learn about farming. We have just reached an agreement where he will drop his studies for a time to learn something of a practical nature. It is not I who chain him to a desk, but the wishes of his guardian that he be prepared for Oxford or Cambridge."

  Rushton narrowed his eyes and said coldly, “I imagine you believe that, Miss Easterly-Cummings. You are deluding yourself. If you did not want to keep him here with you, he would probably be at school this very minute, as he should be."

  “Yes, he should be!” she stormed. “He should have gone to school five years ago. Do you know why he didn't? No, of course you don't. And I dare say you don't care, either, so long as you can point a self-righteous finger at me. I am doing the best I can. There's no one else to do it for him."

  “There should be a male hand guiding his upbringing,” Rushton said more evenly. “You spoke of a guardian. Who is that?"

  “An acquaintance of Henry's late father, chosen more for his proximity to the Forrester estate than for his wisdom, I fear."

  “What is his name?” When she did not answer, he said, “Come, ma'am, I can easily find out. Penrith probably knows, or the boy himself would not hesitate to inform me."

  Selina moistened her lips and asked, “Why do you want to know? What are you going to do?"

  “If he is someone I know, I might have some influence in getting him to take more interest in the boy's welfare. You are not in a position to introduce your cousin to the masculine world of sports he longs to partake of. You are crippling him, Miss Easterly-Cummings, and I do not mean that slight limp he has. That will not interfere with his enjoyment, but your smothering him in cotton wool will."

  Unhappily, Selina rose and walked to the window where she stood looking out. “Tell me, Mr. Rushton, is your interest in doing Henry good, or me harm? If it is the latter, you could certainly have chosen no better weapon than Henry. But do not think that I will allow you to ruin his life without a fight. I freely acknowledge that I am not always capable of providing him with all the guidance he should have, and that I am more protective of him than I should be. I continually struggle to overcome that failing. On the other hand, I cannot believe that his guardian would provide him with a more appropriate home. Here Henry has affection, a family connection, a home. His guardian is a cold man, with quite a large family, who has visited Henry only three times since he has been here. At first he intended to take Henry with him...” Unable to continue, Selina leaned her head against the window-pane and fought to control the tears which threatened. Her distress was evident to Rushton, who had risen to his feet when she did, and now pulled a chair over to where she stood and gently pushed her into it. Not capable of facing him, Selina turned her head away and covered her face with her hands.

  “Miss Easterly-Cummings, I assure you I have no wish to harm you. And I am not suggesting that Henr
y be taken away from you as though you were some unfit mother. But the boy needs a masculine influence in his life.” He would not ask her again who Henry's guardian was; she was too precariously maintaining her composure as it was. “Why didn't he go to school?"

  For a moment Selina did not answer, and then she began to speak in a low voice that Rushton had to come closer to hear. “When my father died, Henry's family journeyed here to attend the funeral. They were all in a coaching accident. His mother and father and sister were killed, and Henry was brought to Shalbrook more dead than alive. Dr. Turner didn't think he would live, and for some weeks ... But he did live, the poor frightened little thing. He was only eleven then, and lost without his family. Lord Leyburn came then and tried to take him away, but Dr. Turner said the journey would surely kill him. So he stayed here with me, and I nursed him and cried with him and came to love him as my brother.” Selina rubbed fiercely at her eyes. “He couldn't walk for two years."

  “Two years!"

  “Yes, but I worked with him every day, and we went to places with hot springs which sometimes seemed to help, and sometimes didn't. Even when he could walk, he had a great deal of trouble at first; the limp was almost grotesque then. We worked and worked together, and now it is hardly noticeable. That is why he didn't go to school, Mr. Rushton. And all those years of enforced inactivity ... well, we studied together, then, and he is a very promising student. He has not chafed under his studies until recently. But now ... He is growing up, and I don't quite know what to do with him. Please don't misunderstand me! I adore Henry and want only what is best for him, and am only too aware that I shouldn't hover about him like a mother hen. But all those years of broken bones! To watch him ride off to the hunt ... He thinks nothing of it, of course, and I should be happy that he can forget all his past experiences so readily. It is not as simple for me."

  Rushton said softly, “Penrith told me none of this."

  “I don't think he knew, really. None of them did outside Shalbrook. Oh, they heard that the boy was unwell, but you don't expect to see an eleven-year-old out in Society, so they didn't think much of it. I was far too busy to continue in Society myself, so we became rather isolated here.” Selina looked at him and spoke hesitantly. “I should not have bored you with all this, Mr. Rushton, but I want you to understand that you are only partially right. My fondest wish is not to keep Henry with me, but for him to grow into a gentleman of honesty, courage and kindness who will enjoy the world about him, and benefit it as well for his presence. Right now he is confused. He feels restricted, and yet he is not sure exactly what he wants to do. Perhaps after all it would have been best to send him to school this last year, but his tutor advised Lord Leyburn against it."