herself behind the open door to the library, by which the other two were standing. She allowed herself - and Nicky - to endure only a brief portion of Oswald’s homily before revealing herself and putting an end to it.
‘My dear Oswald,’ she said, stepping out from her hiding-place and halting him in mid-bombast, ‘do be a little less censorious, I beg. My son has not coerced me into this against my will, I assure you.’
Rather put out by her sudden and unexpected appearance on the scene, Oswald nevertheless recovered quickly. ‘You indulge him far too much, my dear Elizabeth. It is not good for the child.’
She pursed her lips, but replied calmly, ‘I would appreciate it, sir, if you would allow me to be the judge of how my son shall or shall not be brought up.’
‘I beg your pardon if I have offended you, ma’am.’ He reddened noticeably. ‘Apparently you do not share my opinion in these matters.’
‘No doubt,’ she said, ‘we view the situation through very different spectacles.’
Oswald bowed stiffly. ‘I had hoped that you could spare a moment or two for some quiet conversation. But it seems that you are otherwise employed.’
It was plain that he was much chagrined at this course of events. She suspected that Oswald considered Nicky to be a rival for her affections - something which his vanity could not tolerate. In spite of his selfishness, she took pity on him. It must be sadly flat here with no company to speak of: Alastair run off, Dorinda attempting to amuse a querulous Selina, and herself hiding behind library doors.
‘Perhaps a little later, sir,’ she said, attempting to smooth his ruffled feathers.
The gentleman brightened at once and expressed his thanks so earnestly that she was hard pressed not to laugh. She pretended not to notice, either, when Nicky extended his tongue in the direction of Oswald’s retreating form as he marched down the hallway.
She did indeed gratify Oswald with a private chat about an hour later, having first persuaded her son to take an afternoon rest. Her would-be suitor found her almost dozing on an ornate sofa in the newly decorated salon. He quickly established himself in a matching chair, which he drew as near to her as was decently allowed, and began to discourse upon their various acquaintances in town. He had a certain viperish wit, and could be quite an amusing companion when he chose; but his bold looks, and the air of intimacy in his voice when he addressed her, put Elizabeth’s teeth on edge. He presumed far too much, acting as if they were a betrothed couple.
After less than an hour, she professed that the gloomy weather was making her feel very tired and that she really must lie own. Naturally, Oswald was less than pleased but was far too well bred to raise more than two or three objections before allowing her to retire to her room.
* * * *
All this time, Elizabeth had not forgotten her encounter with Dominick Markham. How could she? In fact, she was rather grateful for the inclement weather, as it meant that there was little likelihood of his calling on them. She even felt a certain degree of gratitude for Oswald’s presence. As long as he was nearby, there was little chance that Mr Markham would find her alone. Just what there was to fear in such a confrontation, she did not know; but she did fear it nevertheless.
As to what the gentleman’s feelings might be, she was still far from sure. They did not appear to be cordial, but perhaps he had merely been surprised or possibly even embarrassed by the situation in which he found himself. If so, it was no wonder. It was hardly the most comfortable position for either of them.
It was remarkable, really, how little his appearance had changed in these eight years. He had put on a few pounds, to be sure. But that was a natural result of his increased prosperity, and rather added to his attraction. He had been very thin before, and seemed only to have gained in muscle rather than flesh. He
‘My dear Oswald,’ she said, stepping out from her hiding-place and halting him in mid-bombast, ‘do be a little less censorious, I beg. My son has not coerced me into this against my will, I assure you.’
Rather put out by her sudden and unexpected appearance on the scene, Oswald nevertheless recovered quickly. ‘You indulge him far too much, my dear Elizabeth. It is not good for the child.’
She pursed her lips, but replied calmly, ‘I would appreciate it, sir, if you would allow me to be the judge of how my son shall or shall not be brought up.’
‘I beg your pardon if I have offended you, ma’am.’ He reddened noticeably. ‘Apparently you do not share my opinion in these matters.’
‘No doubt,’ she said, ‘we view the situation through very different spectacles.’
Oswald bowed stiffly. ‘I had hoped that you could spare a moment or two for some quiet conversation. But it seems that you are otherwise employed.’
It was plain that he was much chagrined at this course of events. She suspected that Oswald considered Nicky to be a rival for her affections - something which his vanity could not tolerate. In spite of his selfishness, she took pity on him. It must be sadly flat here with no company to speak of: Alastair run off, Dorinda attempting to amuse a querulous Selina, and herself hiding behind library doors.
‘Perhaps a little later, sir,’ she said, attempting to smooth his ruffled feathers.
The gentleman brightened at once and expressed his thanks so earnestly that she was hard pressed not to laugh. She pretended not to notice, either, when Nicky extended his tongue in the direction of Oswald’s retreating form as he marched down the hallway.
She did indeed gratify Oswald with a private chat about an hour later, having first persuaded her son to take an afternoon rest. Her would-be suitor found her almost dozing on an ornate sofa in the newly decorated salon. He quickly established himself in a matching chair, which he drew as near to her as was decently allowed, and began to discourse upon their various acquaintances in town. He had a certain viperish wit, and could be quite an amusing companion when he chose; but his bold looks, and the air of intimacy in his voice when he addressed her, put Elizabeth’s teeth on edge. He presumed far too much, acting as if they were a betrothed couple.
After less than an hour, she professed that the gloomy weather was making her feel very tired and that she really must lie own. Naturally, Oswald was less than pleased but was far too well bred to raise more than two or three objections before allowing her to retire to her room.
* * * *
All this time, Elizabeth had not forgotten her encounter with Dominick Markham. How could she? In fact, she was rather grateful for the inclement weather, as it meant that there was little likelihood of his calling on them. She even felt a certain degree of gratitude for Oswald’s presence. As long as he was nearby, there was little chance that Mr Markham would find her alone. Just what there was to fear in such a confrontation, she did not know; but she did fear it nevertheless.
As to what the gentleman’s feelings might be, she was still far from sure. They did not appear to be cordial, but perhaps he had merely been surprised or possibly even embarrassed by the situation in which he found himself. If so, it was no wonder. It was hardly the most comfortable position for either of them.
It was remarkable, really, how little his appearance had changed in these eight years. He had put on a few pounds, to be sure. But that was a natural result of his increased prosperity, and rather added to his attraction. He had been very thin before, and seemed only to have gained in muscle rather than flesh. He
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