particularly Lord Randol. How did you find his lordship, Lydia?” he asked.
Lydia threw a speaking look at Michele before she answered her father. “He is the same, Papa, quite unapproachable and perfectly terrifying.”
“I hope that you made an effort to conquer your nervousness, Lydia,” Mr. Davenport said, perturbed.
“I was more comfortable during this last visit,” said Lydia with perfect truth, thinking of Captain Hughes’s welcome appearance. She smiled at her cousin. “Of course, Michele has been of encouragement to me.”
Mr. Davenport beamed. “Good, good! I am happy to hear it. Michele, I am glad I have found you. I have been wanting to discuss a financial matter with you. Pray, won’t you join me in my study?”
“Of course, uncle.” Michele accompanied Mr. Davenport to the study, and after he ushered her inside, he closed the door. He gestured for her to take a seat beside his desk, and himself dropped into the well-worn chair behind the massive mahogany piece. “Is there some problem that I should be aware of?” Michele asked.
“Not at all. I simply wished to be certain that you are aware of your father’s arrangements for you while you are in England,” Mr. Davenport said. “He has written to me that he has caused to be deposited in the Bank of England an account for which you are to have complete access. It is irregular that Francois did not designate someone to be your banker, as it were, but I am certain that you are completely deserving of his trust.” There was a faintly quizzical note in his voice and he stared at Michele with a contemplative expression in his eyes.
She smiled at his obvious uncertainty at the wisdom of the arrangement. “I am quite used to managing my own allowance, uncle. You need not be concerned that I shall suddenly pauper myself in a whirl of expenditures.”
Mr. Davenport coughed. “Of course not. I never thought it for a moment. But I did wish you to be informed that any funds that you might need are readily available to you.”
“I appreciate your meticulous attention to duty, sir,” Michele stood up. “If that is all—”
Mr. Davenport held up his hand. “Actually, it is not. Something has been tickling at my mind these several days, and I have reread some of your mother’s old letters. Michele, I have learned that you were once engaged to Lord Randol. It is with some degree of dismay that I broach this matter to you, but in the interests of our family, I feel that I must. You see, the viscount has requested permission to press his suit with Lydia, and I fear that your presence here will—”
“My former association with Lord Randol need not concern you, uncle. It was long ago dissolved through circumstances that I shall not go into. His lordship is completely free to bestow his suit where he pleases.” Michele felt the stiffness of her own smile and she hoped that her uncle would not perceive it.
Mr. Davenport preferred not to look beyond the surface of what he was offered, and his expression showed immense relief. “Thank you, my dear. I am greatly eased by your reassurance, and in light of it, I can think of nothing better than to have you staying with us. I only regret that you find yourself in the awkward position of consorting with his lordship, as assuredly you must in the circumstances.”
“Pray do not trouble yourself, uncle. I am quite capable of handling any awkwardness that might possibly arise. Do, pray, excuse me. I wish to pen a letter before dressing for dinner,’’ Michele said, hiding her anger.
“Of course, of course!” Mr. Davenport opened the door for her. He stayed her for a moment longer. “Your graciousness is most appreciated, for I doubt that I need tell you that I have high hopes for Lydia’s finally coming around to his lordship’s suit.”
Michele inclined her head in a gesture of understanding, but she left the study with oddly turbulent emotions. Prominent among them was her conviction that she
Lydia threw a speaking look at Michele before she answered her father. “He is the same, Papa, quite unapproachable and perfectly terrifying.”
“I hope that you made an effort to conquer your nervousness, Lydia,” Mr. Davenport said, perturbed.
“I was more comfortable during this last visit,” said Lydia with perfect truth, thinking of Captain Hughes’s welcome appearance. She smiled at her cousin. “Of course, Michele has been of encouragement to me.”
Mr. Davenport beamed. “Good, good! I am happy to hear it. Michele, I am glad I have found you. I have been wanting to discuss a financial matter with you. Pray, won’t you join me in my study?”
“Of course, uncle.” Michele accompanied Mr. Davenport to the study, and after he ushered her inside, he closed the door. He gestured for her to take a seat beside his desk, and himself dropped into the well-worn chair behind the massive mahogany piece. “Is there some problem that I should be aware of?” Michele asked.
“Not at all. I simply wished to be certain that you are aware of your father’s arrangements for you while you are in England,” Mr. Davenport said. “He has written to me that he has caused to be deposited in the Bank of England an account for which you are to have complete access. It is irregular that Francois did not designate someone to be your banker, as it were, but I am certain that you are completely deserving of his trust.” There was a faintly quizzical note in his voice and he stared at Michele with a contemplative expression in his eyes.
She smiled at his obvious uncertainty at the wisdom of the arrangement. “I am quite used to managing my own allowance, uncle. You need not be concerned that I shall suddenly pauper myself in a whirl of expenditures.”
Mr. Davenport coughed. “Of course not. I never thought it for a moment. But I did wish you to be informed that any funds that you might need are readily available to you.”
“I appreciate your meticulous attention to duty, sir,” Michele stood up. “If that is all—”
Mr. Davenport held up his hand. “Actually, it is not. Something has been tickling at my mind these several days, and I have reread some of your mother’s old letters. Michele, I have learned that you were once engaged to Lord Randol. It is with some degree of dismay that I broach this matter to you, but in the interests of our family, I feel that I must. You see, the viscount has requested permission to press his suit with Lydia, and I fear that your presence here will—”
“My former association with Lord Randol need not concern you, uncle. It was long ago dissolved through circumstances that I shall not go into. His lordship is completely free to bestow his suit where he pleases.” Michele felt the stiffness of her own smile and she hoped that her uncle would not perceive it.
Mr. Davenport preferred not to look beyond the surface of what he was offered, and his expression showed immense relief. “Thank you, my dear. I am greatly eased by your reassurance, and in light of it, I can think of nothing better than to have you staying with us. I only regret that you find yourself in the awkward position of consorting with his lordship, as assuredly you must in the circumstances.”
“Pray do not trouble yourself, uncle. I am quite capable of handling any awkwardness that might possibly arise. Do, pray, excuse me. I wish to pen a letter before dressing for dinner,’’ Michele said, hiding her anger.
“Of course, of course!” Mr. Davenport opened the door for her. He stayed her for a moment longer. “Your graciousness is most appreciated, for I doubt that I need tell you that I have high hopes for Lydia’s finally coming around to his lordship’s suit.”
Michele inclined her head in a gesture of understanding, but she left the study with oddly turbulent emotions. Prominent among them was her conviction that she
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