you?”
“It is my hobby, avocation, if you like. It is enjoyable to have friends in various careers, doing all manner of different and interesting jobs. I keep in touch with my fledglings after they have flown the nest. Why you sound as though I were...”
He looked at her narrowly; then a reluctant smile peeped out. “You must think me a dashed conceited fellow. I certainly did not mean to imply you were dangling after me. I know well enough Lord Fordwich’s daughter with a dowry of a hundred or so thousand pounds would not be casting her cap at a mere nobody like myself.”
“You overestimate both my dowry and your own worthlessness, Henry. I have only thirty thousand to call my own, and you are an intelligent, educated young man, in whose career I take a cousinly interest.”
He lowered his head and looked chastened. “I’m sorry. I spoke out of line. Can you forgive me?” She hunched her shoulders and dismissed it with a smile.
He arose and moved to a chair closer to her. “What really bothers me, you know, is that I...” She gazed at him with curious fascination, noting the shy shadow that was in his eyes. “Oh, damme, Madeline, it is no secret that every man you take an interest in falls in love with you on the spot. You are so beautiful, so charming, so self-assured, so far above us earthbound mortals, like a star shining in the sky. I don’t want to have my heart smashed and tossed over your shoulder, like all the others. If I have been a little reluctant to be led by you... well, that is the reason.” He looked at her, uncertain.
“That is a very good reason. I promise I shan’t smash your heart, Cousin,” she said with a teasing smile.
“I’m sure you never do it on purpose,” he answered gallantly.
“Perhaps I have a solution to the problem. I shall invite some eligible young ladies to our Christmas party. Miss Gresham, I believe would make an excellent heart-smasher for you.”
“No, no. If it is to be smashed at all, I would like to have it done by the best. You.”
“Miss Scott has a dot of—”
“Please!” he said, raising a hand to ward off her suggestion. “I have no intention of marrying a fortune for the sake of a fortune. Should I find myself in love with a lady of means who was inclined to have me, that would be a different matter. I suppose it would be foolish to let that stand in the way of making an offer, but I refuse to become a gazetted fortune hunter. I despise the breed.”
“Then I shall just invite a few pretty girls to brighten up the party. Tell me who would please you—just someone to flirt with.”
“Aren’t you coming? Who else should be required to brighten any party you are attending, Maddie?” he asked, in a playful spirit.
She approved of his reply, as she approved of his scruples in dangling after herself, particularly when those scruples were possible of being overcome. She also approved of his next suggestion of going to the visitors’ gallery at Westminster to listen in on a session of Parliament. When he was agreeable to accompany her to a rout party that same evening, she approved again.
“Come to dinner first,” she invited. “There will be only Papa and myself and a few of his crones. I shan’t invite Tilsit. It would look too contrived.”
“No, don’t invite him. I don’t want to appear too anxious, or he won’t offer me a good salary.”
“Conniver!” she charged, but in a smiling way, still with approval.
She was perfectly happy with the world when her next caller was announced. It was Lord Eskott, who had not lessened his visits when he discovered it was four pence to a groat he would find Aldred with her, but did take less pleasure in them. Aldred took none at all.
“Is the boy not here holding your hand?” he asked in a sardonic voice.
“The boy has just left to audit a meeting at Westminster. I see he will not have the pleasure of hearing you speak. Why are you shirking your duty at this perilous
“It is my hobby, avocation, if you like. It is enjoyable to have friends in various careers, doing all manner of different and interesting jobs. I keep in touch with my fledglings after they have flown the nest. Why you sound as though I were...”
He looked at her narrowly; then a reluctant smile peeped out. “You must think me a dashed conceited fellow. I certainly did not mean to imply you were dangling after me. I know well enough Lord Fordwich’s daughter with a dowry of a hundred or so thousand pounds would not be casting her cap at a mere nobody like myself.”
“You overestimate both my dowry and your own worthlessness, Henry. I have only thirty thousand to call my own, and you are an intelligent, educated young man, in whose career I take a cousinly interest.”
He lowered his head and looked chastened. “I’m sorry. I spoke out of line. Can you forgive me?” She hunched her shoulders and dismissed it with a smile.
He arose and moved to a chair closer to her. “What really bothers me, you know, is that I...” She gazed at him with curious fascination, noting the shy shadow that was in his eyes. “Oh, damme, Madeline, it is no secret that every man you take an interest in falls in love with you on the spot. You are so beautiful, so charming, so self-assured, so far above us earthbound mortals, like a star shining in the sky. I don’t want to have my heart smashed and tossed over your shoulder, like all the others. If I have been a little reluctant to be led by you... well, that is the reason.” He looked at her, uncertain.
“That is a very good reason. I promise I shan’t smash your heart, Cousin,” she said with a teasing smile.
“I’m sure you never do it on purpose,” he answered gallantly.
“Perhaps I have a solution to the problem. I shall invite some eligible young ladies to our Christmas party. Miss Gresham, I believe would make an excellent heart-smasher for you.”
“No, no. If it is to be smashed at all, I would like to have it done by the best. You.”
“Miss Scott has a dot of—”
“Please!” he said, raising a hand to ward off her suggestion. “I have no intention of marrying a fortune for the sake of a fortune. Should I find myself in love with a lady of means who was inclined to have me, that would be a different matter. I suppose it would be foolish to let that stand in the way of making an offer, but I refuse to become a gazetted fortune hunter. I despise the breed.”
“Then I shall just invite a few pretty girls to brighten up the party. Tell me who would please you—just someone to flirt with.”
“Aren’t you coming? Who else should be required to brighten any party you are attending, Maddie?” he asked, in a playful spirit.
She approved of his reply, as she approved of his scruples in dangling after herself, particularly when those scruples were possible of being overcome. She also approved of his next suggestion of going to the visitors’ gallery at Westminster to listen in on a session of Parliament. When he was agreeable to accompany her to a rout party that same evening, she approved again.
“Come to dinner first,” she invited. “There will be only Papa and myself and a few of his crones. I shan’t invite Tilsit. It would look too contrived.”
“No, don’t invite him. I don’t want to appear too anxious, or he won’t offer me a good salary.”
“Conniver!” she charged, but in a smiling way, still with approval.
She was perfectly happy with the world when her next caller was announced. It was Lord Eskott, who had not lessened his visits when he discovered it was four pence to a groat he would find Aldred with her, but did take less pleasure in them. Aldred took none at all.
“Is the boy not here holding your hand?” he asked in a sardonic voice.
“The boy has just left to audit a meeting at Westminster. I see he will not have the pleasure of hearing you speak. Why are you shirking your duty at this perilous
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