beneath
you."
"And so they always have been, Robert. I find no joy
in interfering in other people's lives. But I tell you, this girl
is special. It honestly pains me to see her reduced to such a life.
I want to help her."
A rustle beneath the table made Robert aware of
Charlemagne's presence. He reached down for the pug, placed him on
his lap, and began to scratch him behind the ears. The pug panted
with pleasure. Robert returned his attention to his grandmother.
"Is Miss Townsend aware of your true purpose?" he asked.
"I believe she suspected at first," she replied.
"She knew that I was aware of her background and made me promise to
keep it to myself, as you must do, Robert. She also made it plain
that she was content to be an employee and did not seek to improve
her station in life. She is a very proud young woman and fully
believes that a female of her circumstances cannot afford to
cherish dreams of Society. That is why, if I ever find the right
candidate, I must be as circumspect as possible and orchestrate
matters so that they appear the most natural of situations."
"And how is the campaign progressing?" Robert asked.
"Sir Percy certainly seemed smitten, although it would be highly
uncharacteristic for him to pursue an impoverished companion with
any sort of honorable intentions. A squint-eyed heiress, perhaps.
The man's always been under the hatches. He's not truly a serious
candidate, is he?"
"Good heavens, no," the dowager snapped. "At least,
I hope not. Emily would be better off alone than with that old
bird." She caught Robert's eye, and they, both chuckled. "Besides,
Percy has apparently experienced a reversal of fortune. He came
into unexpected funds about a year ago. Can't recall the
circumstances precisely. An inheritance or something, I
suspect."
"Indeed?"
"But as to your question regarding the 'campaign,' "
continued the dowager, "although I have little experience in these
matters, I believe she is a truly difficult subject. I have tried
to introduce one or two eligible gentlemen to her acquaintance, but
she shows no interest. Oh, I realize she is all wrapped up in her
station as an employee, but she is making it deuced difficult for
me to help elevate that station. She seldom looks up from her
needlework when we have callers and barely speaks when she joins a
dinner party."
"And yet she was quite lively last evening," Robert
said.
"She is more comfortable with a small, intimate
group, which, as you know, is not my usual style. And she
knew all the guests quite well, which put her naturally at her
ease. Not to mention that you were at the top of your game
last night, Robert. No female can be expected to resist such charm!
And that is just the problem. There is no one in Bath with half
your address. Bath is full of dullards and dotards, mediocre males,
the lot of them. I declare, I don't know why I stay in this town,
since it's been taken over by retired civil servants and middle
class merchants. I cannot bring myself to foist one of them off on
poor Emily. Yet that's all we seem to have here in Bath. There are
few eligible men of our own class, to be sure, and certainly no
young, handsome fellows in the entire town." She grinned with a
coquettishness quite astonishing for a woman of her years. "Believe
me, I would be the first to know it if there were."
"Ah, but you will soon take her to London, where the
field is much wider," Robert replied, adding a conspiratorial
wink.
"Ha! You're on to me. Robert, my dear boy, you are
as intelligent as you are handsome. What a pity that you are now to
be leg-shackled. I declare, you would have been a perfect match for
my Emily."
Robert raised a quizzical brow. "Indeed. A
pity."
The dowager waved away the thought with her
long-fingered hand. "It is of no consequence. We will find a more
eligible parti for Emily, never you fear. Despite her
circumstances and her age, I believe she could still take. I will
keep my eyes open for those elusive eligible bachelors
you."
"And so they always have been, Robert. I find no joy
in interfering in other people's lives. But I tell you, this girl
is special. It honestly pains me to see her reduced to such a life.
I want to help her."
A rustle beneath the table made Robert aware of
Charlemagne's presence. He reached down for the pug, placed him on
his lap, and began to scratch him behind the ears. The pug panted
with pleasure. Robert returned his attention to his grandmother.
"Is Miss Townsend aware of your true purpose?" he asked.
"I believe she suspected at first," she replied.
"She knew that I was aware of her background and made me promise to
keep it to myself, as you must do, Robert. She also made it plain
that she was content to be an employee and did not seek to improve
her station in life. She is a very proud young woman and fully
believes that a female of her circumstances cannot afford to
cherish dreams of Society. That is why, if I ever find the right
candidate, I must be as circumspect as possible and orchestrate
matters so that they appear the most natural of situations."
"And how is the campaign progressing?" Robert asked.
"Sir Percy certainly seemed smitten, although it would be highly
uncharacteristic for him to pursue an impoverished companion with
any sort of honorable intentions. A squint-eyed heiress, perhaps.
The man's always been under the hatches. He's not truly a serious
candidate, is he?"
"Good heavens, no," the dowager snapped. "At least,
I hope not. Emily would be better off alone than with that old
bird." She caught Robert's eye, and they, both chuckled. "Besides,
Percy has apparently experienced a reversal of fortune. He came
into unexpected funds about a year ago. Can't recall the
circumstances precisely. An inheritance or something, I
suspect."
"Indeed?"
"But as to your question regarding the 'campaign,' "
continued the dowager, "although I have little experience in these
matters, I believe she is a truly difficult subject. I have tried
to introduce one or two eligible gentlemen to her acquaintance, but
she shows no interest. Oh, I realize she is all wrapped up in her
station as an employee, but she is making it deuced difficult for
me to help elevate that station. She seldom looks up from her
needlework when we have callers and barely speaks when she joins a
dinner party."
"And yet she was quite lively last evening," Robert
said.
"She is more comfortable with a small, intimate
group, which, as you know, is not my usual style. And she
knew all the guests quite well, which put her naturally at her
ease. Not to mention that you were at the top of your game
last night, Robert. No female can be expected to resist such charm!
And that is just the problem. There is no one in Bath with half
your address. Bath is full of dullards and dotards, mediocre males,
the lot of them. I declare, I don't know why I stay in this town,
since it's been taken over by retired civil servants and middle
class merchants. I cannot bring myself to foist one of them off on
poor Emily. Yet that's all we seem to have here in Bath. There are
few eligible men of our own class, to be sure, and certainly no
young, handsome fellows in the entire town." She grinned with a
coquettishness quite astonishing for a woman of her years. "Believe
me, I would be the first to know it if there were."
"Ah, but you will soon take her to London, where the
field is much wider," Robert replied, adding a conspiratorial
wink.
"Ha! You're on to me. Robert, my dear boy, you are
as intelligent as you are handsome. What a pity that you are now to
be leg-shackled. I declare, you would have been a perfect match for
my Emily."
Robert raised a quizzical brow. "Indeed. A
pity."
The dowager waved away the thought with her
long-fingered hand. "It is of no consequence. We will find a more
eligible parti for Emily, never you fear. Despite her
circumstances and her age, I believe she could still take. I will
keep my eyes open for those elusive eligible bachelors
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