she jerked even further upright. “Very well.” He led her to the door and out into the corridor. “First of all, there is my Aunt Emily, Chris's mother, the dowager Countess of Camberwell. Then there will be his sister, Artemis—she is eighteen and looking forward to another London Season. Last is Aunt Emily's brother, Stamford Welladay, who has lived with us for some years."
There was a slight pause before Miss Prestwick replied in a strangled voice. “How delightful."
In a few moments, Edward halted before the door to the Blue Salon, where luncheon would be served. He touched Miss Prestwick's hand lightly and was appalled at the surge of warmth that streaked up from his fingers.
"Here we are,” he murmured, wondering if the sharply indrawn breath of his companion sprang from that same touch or merely from the thought of meeting the family en masse.
He swung the door open wide and ushered Miss Prestwick inside.
[Back to Table of Contents]
Chapter Six
It seemed to Helen that the room was inordinately full of staring eyes and the sibilant whisper of silken skirts. She was not reassured when these features separated into two perfectly ordinary females and one male. She did, however, feel oddly encouraged when Mr. Beresford placed a gentle hand on her back. Lifting her head, she moved into the room with a wholly spurious air of confidence.
She heard little of Mr. Beresford's introductions, her attention being focused on the faces of William's new family. She saw little sign of friendship there. The dowager's expression was downright hostile. That of her daughter—Artemis, was it?—displayed a disbelieving curiosity. The gentleman seemed suffused with a contemptuous arrogance.
"Well, then,” said Edward in conclusion. “Shall we dine?"
"Of course not!” exclaimed the dowager. “I shan't be able to eat a morsel until I have seen Chris's son. Alleged son, that is,” she amended carefully.
"Ooh, yes!” cried Artemis, once again in squeal register. “Do have someone bring him down, Edward."
"I think it would be better,” interposed Helen, anxious to establish her authority in matters concerning the heir, “if we were to go up to the nursery. I can understand your eagerness to meet William, but he was considerably fatigued from his journey and is, I'm sure, sound asleep at the moment."
The dowager simply stared at Helen for several seconds before replying stiffly, “I'm sure I know enough not to disturb a sleeping child. Miss Prescott.” She turned to the others. “Come along, Artemis, and you as well, Stamford. I wish to have your opinion on the child."
Without waiting for a response. Aunt Emily swept past Mr. Beresford and Helen as though they did not exist. To Helen's surprise, Mr. Beresford grinned at her ruefully, and she was astonished at the warmth that spread through her. She almost reached out a hand to him but was saved from doing so by the entrance of Barney, ushered into the chamber by a housemaid.
Introductions flew round the group once more and Barney murmured appropriate replies, scarcely lifting her eyes above waistcoat level. The dowager merely sniffed, as though acknowledging Barney's presence as no more than a disagreeable and ideally temporary presence in her home. Turning, she resumed her majestic progress from the Blue Salon, her entourage trailing behind, leaving Mr. Beresford, Barney and Helen to bring up the rear.
"Well, then,” murmured Mr. Beresford. “I surmise you are firmly put in your place."
His words, humorously spoken, did much to take away the sting of Lady Camberwell's rudeness, and to Helen's surprise, a chuckle escaped her. How very odd, she thought distractedly, to find herself in such cheerful harmony with a man she must consider her enemy. She shook herself. Not only odd, but dangerous as well, and she'd better remember that. Rearranging her features to an expression of cool acquiescence, she swept past him to follow Lady Camberwell and the rest of
There was a slight pause before Miss Prestwick replied in a strangled voice. “How delightful."
In a few moments, Edward halted before the door to the Blue Salon, where luncheon would be served. He touched Miss Prestwick's hand lightly and was appalled at the surge of warmth that streaked up from his fingers.
"Here we are,” he murmured, wondering if the sharply indrawn breath of his companion sprang from that same touch or merely from the thought of meeting the family en masse.
He swung the door open wide and ushered Miss Prestwick inside.
[Back to Table of Contents]
Chapter Six
It seemed to Helen that the room was inordinately full of staring eyes and the sibilant whisper of silken skirts. She was not reassured when these features separated into two perfectly ordinary females and one male. She did, however, feel oddly encouraged when Mr. Beresford placed a gentle hand on her back. Lifting her head, she moved into the room with a wholly spurious air of confidence.
She heard little of Mr. Beresford's introductions, her attention being focused on the faces of William's new family. She saw little sign of friendship there. The dowager's expression was downright hostile. That of her daughter—Artemis, was it?—displayed a disbelieving curiosity. The gentleman seemed suffused with a contemptuous arrogance.
"Well, then,” said Edward in conclusion. “Shall we dine?"
"Of course not!” exclaimed the dowager. “I shan't be able to eat a morsel until I have seen Chris's son. Alleged son, that is,” she amended carefully.
"Ooh, yes!” cried Artemis, once again in squeal register. “Do have someone bring him down, Edward."
"I think it would be better,” interposed Helen, anxious to establish her authority in matters concerning the heir, “if we were to go up to the nursery. I can understand your eagerness to meet William, but he was considerably fatigued from his journey and is, I'm sure, sound asleep at the moment."
The dowager simply stared at Helen for several seconds before replying stiffly, “I'm sure I know enough not to disturb a sleeping child. Miss Prescott.” She turned to the others. “Come along, Artemis, and you as well, Stamford. I wish to have your opinion on the child."
Without waiting for a response. Aunt Emily swept past Mr. Beresford and Helen as though they did not exist. To Helen's surprise, Mr. Beresford grinned at her ruefully, and she was astonished at the warmth that spread through her. She almost reached out a hand to him but was saved from doing so by the entrance of Barney, ushered into the chamber by a housemaid.
Introductions flew round the group once more and Barney murmured appropriate replies, scarcely lifting her eyes above waistcoat level. The dowager merely sniffed, as though acknowledging Barney's presence as no more than a disagreeable and ideally temporary presence in her home. Turning, she resumed her majestic progress from the Blue Salon, her entourage trailing behind, leaving Mr. Beresford, Barney and Helen to bring up the rear.
"Well, then,” murmured Mr. Beresford. “I surmise you are firmly put in your place."
His words, humorously spoken, did much to take away the sting of Lady Camberwell's rudeness, and to Helen's surprise, a chuckle escaped her. How very odd, she thought distractedly, to find herself in such cheerful harmony with a man she must consider her enemy. She shook herself. Not only odd, but dangerous as well, and she'd better remember that. Rearranging her features to an expression of cool acquiescence, she swept past him to follow Lady Camberwell and the rest of
Similar Books
