‘You are probably right,’ agreed Georgina. ‘Not having travelled very far myself, I suppose I have never really had the opportunity to compare my home environment with many other places—only those which are in the immediate vicinity, to be truthful.’
‘You have never been to London?’ he asked, in some surprise. ‘I thought it was the custom for all young ladies to have a coming-out Season in the capital?’
Georgina raised her eyebrows at this. ‘Hardly, Mr Latimer,’ she replied, with a slight laugh. ‘In fact, very few, I should imagine. I’m told that it is a very costly business, with very little chance of any success. For it must be patently clear to anyone with even half a brain,’ she continued, her voice suddenly full of indignation, ‘that the real purpose behind such heavy investment is simply to capture a rich husband!’
With that a small frown wrinkled her brow as she paused for a moment to reflect on her words then, almost as an afterthought, she added, ‘Of course, I do appreciate that London is not the only place where such scheming occurs. I suppose that much the same customs prevail wherever one happens to reside.’
Again Latimer was somewhat taken aback at her forthrightness but, at the same time, was rather fascinated to hear what he had always considered to be very masculine views expressed by a female.
‘But if a young lady does not attend the London assemblies, where might she achieve this singular aim?’ he asked, his eyes bright with amusement
At this she grinned, almost conspiratorially. ‘Most of us—we provincials, that is—are happy to make do with the occasional humble assembly in the nearest town—Dunchurch in our case—or local house parties where, of course, we are expected to congratulate ourselves if we are fortunate enough to attract the attention of some scion of the local squirearchy!’
‘And if they should then choose to bombard you with doggerel,’ laughed Latimer, ‘I’m hardly surprised that you view them with such contempt, Miss Cunningham.’
‘Oh, dear!’ Mortified, Georgina clapped a hand to her lips. ‘How very unbecoming of me! What a shrew I must sound!’
‘Not at all,’ he said, shaking his head and smiling at her. ‘I find your attitude most refreshing, although it is abundantly clear that you are out of patience with the whole sorry system,’ he added, eager to hear more of these views which coincided so well with his own.
‘Perfectly true, sir!’ she replied, returning his smile. ‘I detest that it should be a woman’s lot to be bartered like some sort of livestock or—even worse—to be required to behave in a dreadfully simpering and sickly manner with the sole object of attracting some gentleman’s attention. It is so demeaning.’
Latimer chuckled. ‘I can see that it would be. Although I have to say that I would be most surprised if any gentleman of my own acquaintance would find ladies who simpered in a sickly manner particularly attractive,’ he pointed out, his eyes crinkling. ‘But tell me, if the whole thing is so distasteful, how is it that you ladies always seem so keen to participate?’
Georgina hesitated, suddenly aware that this type of conversation was not at all proper between two people who were practically strangers but, since she found to her surprise that she was enjoying the interchange, added to the fact that it covered a subject very close to her heart, she gave a mental shrug and, warming to her theme, continued earnestly, ‘No doubt a good many of my sex probably do, Mr Latimer, but, unfortunately for those of us who would choose to have our lives ordered differently, we women do not have the same luxury of choice as our male siblings. If we were able to make our own way in the world, we would not have to depend on fathers or husbands for our daily bread.’ She flashed him a sudden smile. ‘Maybe some of us would quite like to fight our own dragons, you know, or, given the chance, we might choose to be doctors or politicians or even—dare I say it—travelling artists like yourself!’
At this he threw back his head and laughed outright and the deep and resonant sound filled the small room. Georgina, confronted with this startling reminder of his vibrant masculinity, began to regret the reckless impropriety of her words. Her face began to flame as, once again, she found herself totally discomposed in his presence. Latimer’s laughing eyes gradually became more serious and, as he observed the rosy flush covering her cheeks, his throat tightened. Although he too was well aware of the fact that it was time to shelve this somewhat indelicate topic of conversation, such was his desire to learn all he could about Georgina and her totally refreshing outlook on life that he was unable to forbear from interposing a question which, in the ordinary way, he could never have envisaged himself putting to a female.
Endeavouring to maintain an airy tone, he ventured, ‘I take it, then, that as far as you yourself are concerned, the plumpness of a fellow’s purse would not be a major factor in his eligibility or otherwise?’
The question certainly caught her unawares. ‘It would not be any sort of factor at all, Mr Latimer, major or minor!’ she flashed back, raising her eyebrows in surprise. ‘And, were I to ask you the same question what, I wonder, would be your reply? You have to admit that a good many of your own sex also set out to capture an heiress when they are contemplating wedlock!’
‘Very true,’ he said, his lips curved in an appreciative smile and his eyes full of amusement at her spirited response. ‘Although, in a man’s case, his personal preferences may well be hamstrung due to his having to fulfil certain ancestral obligations—such as the ensuring of successors to continue the line. That lack of choice might also, perhaps, be regarded as equally reprehensible but, if a man is to do his duty by his family, it is one which he can hardly avoid.’
Georgina was silent for a moment, considering his words. ‘You certainly make the point very well, Mr Latimer,’ she said cautiously. ‘I must admit that I hadn’t really given that aspect very much thought.’
He grinned. ‘Then we have both been given something new to think about. Perhaps it’s merely the case that both sexes are, in their own way, tied by the constraints of society and that, unless we’re prepared to break the rules, we must simply learn to abide by them.’ He looked at her thoughtfully. ‘I wouldn’t have taken you for a rule-breaker, Miss Cunningham.’
‘Not in the general way of things, perhaps,’ replied Georgina, with a laugh. ‘Although I have been known to stamp my foot occasionally!’
Latimer’s lips twitched. ‘Now that I would like to see,’ he averred.
‘Oh, I don’t send out invitations, I assure you!’
Latimer was entranced. ‘A great pity, Miss Cunningham,’ he said. ‘For I’m certain that, were you to do so, the spectacle would command a full audience.’
Casting a swift look in his direction, Georgina wondered if he was, by any chance, making fun of her. ‘I hardly think so, Mr Latimer,’ she said primly and rose quickly to her feet, uncomfortably aware that the conversation was in danger of becoming far too personal. In addition, she felt her former self-confidence beginning to ebb away, having found herself once again about to be completely unnerved by the man’s disarming smile. ‘And I believe that it is time we left you in peace. We must have long outstayed our welcome.’
Dismayed at the sudden abruptness of her action, Latimer assumed that she had taken offence at his presumptuousness and a feeling of gloom began to descend on him as he watched her turn away and motion to her brother to collect the dogs, which were snoozing peacefully beneath his chair.
‘You should have had your London Season,’ he said abruptly, his manner suddenly brusque. ‘I can see you now. You would have outshone them all.’
She looked at him in some surprise. ‘You speak as though you have personal experience of such high-flown society, Mr Latimer.’
‘Well, no—that is…’ Latimer stammered, mentally kicking himself for such a careless slip. ‘I merely meant…’
He was endeavouring to find the words to extricate himself from this entanglement when Sophie let out a loud squeal of excitement.
‘Oh, Mr Latimer, the Great P
yramid!’
At this sudden intervention both Georgina and Latimer wheeled round in consternation.
The little girl was on her hands and knees under the table, examining a sketch that had been missed in the hurried clear up. Scrambling to her feet, waving the drawing exultantly, she demanded of the startled Latimer, ‘You have seen them, Mr Latimer? You have actually been there?’
‘Well, yes, my dear, I have,’ Latimer admitted, somewhat confused at the child’s excitement. ‘I had the opportunity to visit Egypt several years ago and managed to arrange a trip to the desert.’
Seeing Sophie’s gasp of awe, he continued. ‘A strange subject for a young lady to be interested in, surely?’
Sophie shook her head. ‘Oh, no, sir,’ she said breathlessly. ‘It is my most favourite book of Papa’s and I do so love looking at the pictures. How lucky you are to have actually seen them!’
‘Would you like to have the sketch, my dear?’ he said, with an encouraging smile. ‘I’m afraid it is not quite finished but, if you would care to wait a day or two, I’m sure I can remedy that.’
‘Oh, Georgina, could I?’ Sophie appealed fervently to her sister who, once again, found herself filled with a series of conflicting emotions regarding Latimer’s ever-changing personality.
‘It is very good of Mr Latimer,’ she managed to reply. ‘But you must not press him. He will have other more important work to attend to—which reminds me that we must not interrupt him any longer and need to give Mama his answer. Come along, children.’
Calling the retrievers to heel and hurrying the two youngsters to the door, she left the room, saying, ‘We may expect you with Radley then, sir? Please do not trouble to get up. We can easily see ourselves out.’ And they were gone before Latimer could stumble to his feet.
Grimacing in frustration, he stared down at the unfinished sketch in his hands. Well, that hardly went in my favour, he thought gloomily and was, once again, on the point of abandoning this foolhardy scheme when the recurring image of a pair of dark blue eyes stopped him in his tracks. With a groan of despair, he shook his head and, picking up a pencil, began to fill in the missing details of the desert scene. Somehow, it had become very important to him to win Georgina’s approval and in this he was quite determined to succeed.
The impromptu little supper party proved to be a great success. Becky Harper had cooked the huge joint of ham to perfection, along with a selection of tasty vegetables and sauces, followed by a delicious dessert recipe of her own. Mrs Cunningham discovered that there were still a few bottles of her husband’s wine left in the cellar and had instructed Daniel to bring up some port for the gentlemen, both of whom, however, indicated that they would prefer to join the ladies in the sitting room, where the two sweethearts, as usual, immediately became totally immersed in one another’s company.
Latimer had been so careful to avoid showing any partiality to Georgina that she began to feel that he was deliberately ignoring her and wondered if he had taken exception to the rather frank observations she had made earlier. He had engaged himself in a light-hearted conversation with her mother, smilingly dismissing her concerns about his injury, and had charmingly but vaguely answered questions about himself from both Katharine and Radley, allowing neither of them to acquire any real information about him. Having admitted that he had served in Wellington’s army, he had had to parry any direct questions about his actual role in the recent conflict, always changing the subject very adroitly, either by expressing his pleasure in the meal or by complimenting Katharine on her “most becoming” hairstyle. Questions about his home and family had been fielded just as efficiently as, without hesitation, he had diverted their interest to more general topics. Then, after they had all adjourned to the sitting room, he had held Rupert in thrall for quite some time by displaying an ability to construct ships and flying darts out of squares of paper and, at Sophie’s request, was now attempting to fashion a pyramid by a similar method.
Georgina, absently strumming on the pianoforte, looked on in wistful admiration as his strong, shapely fingers deftly folded and twisted the paper until the little model was complete. Sophie was utterly entranced and, holding the tiny representation reverentially in her cupped hands, she shyly asked Latimer if he would care to see her father’s pyramid book.
Conscious that Georgina’s eyes were on him, Latimer replied that he would be delighted, and allowed the little girl to help him into Mr Cunningham’s study where, although Radley had mentioned the late Reverend’s collection and its probable fate, he was astonished to see the actual quantity of books on display.
Sophie went to one of the many cases and took down a large volume, which she brought to him. Rapidly turning the pages she found the sketch she was seeking and pointed to it.
‘See,’ she said, in awe. ‘Almost the same as yours.’
As Latimer examined the drawing, the seeds of an extraordinary idea began to germinate.
‘I wonder if your mother would consent to my borrowing this book,’ he asked casually. ‘It would be an enormous help to me in completing that little sketch for you.’
Sophie was dubious. ‘You wouldn’t damage it, would you?’ she asked anxiously. ‘I believe it cost a lot of money.’
‘Absolutely not,’ replied Latimer firmly. ‘I’ll take the greatest care of it, cross my heart.’
The girl was still undecided. ‘But I shan’t be able to look at it if you have it.’
‘You may come and look at it whenever you choose,’ was Latimer’s swift reply. ‘I’m sure your sister would be willing to bring you, if you asked.’
At that, Sophie made up her mind and, with Latimer at her side, returned at once to the sitting room to confer with Mrs Cunningham, who expressed total confidence in Mr Latimer’s promise to treat the book with the utmost care.
‘For we are hoping to hear from Mr Pickens, our solicitor, shortly,’ she told him. ‘He is endeavouring to secure some sort of purchase for us.’ Holding her daughter’s hand, she continued sadly, ‘It is unfortunate, I know, but Sophie has accepted that we must sell.’
Latimer gave the little girl a sympathetic smile. ‘You are being very brave and sensible about relinquishing your treasures,’ he said gently. ‘I hope that my little picture will bring you some small recompense for your loss.’
Then, promising to make every effort to complete the sketch as soon as possible, he excused himself and made his way slowly across the room to where Georgina was seated at the pianoforte. Katharine and Radley, on a nearby sofa, were, once more, engrossed in their usual conversation.
It had cost him a tremendous effort to appear casual with her at the dinner table, but he had needed all his concentration to deal with some of the rather pointed questions he had been asked and, throughout the meal, he had been very aware of Georgina’s puzzled eyes upon him. He had come to the conclusion that she would prove to be a difficult person to hoodwink and he was deucedly uncomfortable at having elected to do so for, in spite of the charade he had undertaken, he had not bargained on giving anyone cause to doubt his integrity.
Keenly aware of his approach, for her heart had begun to behave in a most unruly manner, Georgina warily raised her head, fiercely resolved to maintain her composure. As their eyes locked, a thrill of excitement ran through her. Her fingers, still on the keys, faltered momentarily but, with dogged determination, she forced herself to finish the phrase before withdrawing her hands and clasping them loosely in her lap.
Silently, he watched her, drinking in the soft curve of her cheeks, the straight little nose and the desirable fullness of her lips and, all at once, he knew that he was lost and that this was never going to be a careless summer dalliance. He realised that his foolish masquerade had landed him in the most damnable coil and he could see no clear way of extricating himself. Unwittingly, he heaved a sigh.
Immediately, Georgina’s eyes flew once more to his, her face full of concern. ‘You should not be standing about for so long,’ she admonished him, g
esturing towards his slippered foot, still heavily bandaged. ‘You have borne your injury most admirably, but you really must sit down now.’
He shook his head. ‘Thank you, but I assure you that I’m perfectly comfortable.’
‘You must be in pain.’
‘Not at all,’ he demurred. ‘It is really of no consequence. The swelling has almost subsided.’
‘I’m glad of that,’ said Georgina as, with a smile, she returned her attentions to the pianoforte. ‘Certainly your limp is barely discernible.’
Latimer’s lips curved in response. ‘Although I shall be relieved when I am properly shod,’ he admitted. ‘I did make the attempt, but when it became a choice between no boot or no supper, I’m afraid the “inner man” won hands down. Radley was sure that your mother would excuse my mode of footwear.’
She laughed. ‘Given the circumstances, we are very happy that you were able to come at all. I trust the children’s attentions were not too wearisome?’
‘Not at all,’ he protested. ‘I was enjoying myself.’
‘You were very good with them, Mr Latimer. You have young brothers and sisters yourself?’ she asked casually, as she ran her fingers over the keyboard.
He shook his head. ‘Sadly, no—but I have friends with youngsters of similar age.’
Georgina appeared to be absorbed in her playing. ‘Where did you say you are from? I didn’t quite catch your words at dinner.’
‘I was brought up in Ruscombe, a small village to the south of London,’ he replied, repeating the answer he had given Radley and instantly on the alert. ‘I haven’t lived there for some years, however, as I told you, I tend to move about rather a lot.’
‘The proverbial rolling stone, it seems.’
‘A little, perhaps,’ was his uncertain response. It was not altogether clear where this conversation was leading.
‘You have no home of your own?’
A flicker of alarm ran through him as he strove to find a way to answer her question without having to resort to a downright lie.
Dorothy Elbury Page 5
