Patricia Veryan - [Sanguinet Saga 07] - Married Past Redemption by Patricia Veryan Page A

Lisette was commanded to
give her arm. She obeyed at once and, with the frail hand leaning on
her quite heavily, led her ladyship to the side. No sooner had they
found an empty sofa and sat down, than Camille Damon was before them,
professing himself quite overwhelmed by the honour done them. "What may
I bring you, ma'am?" he asked with a smile in his turquoise eyes. "A
glass of ratafia… or negus… or…?"
    "Rum, you wicked devil!" said my lady. "Nor tease an old woman
when you've so lovely a girl of your own."
    Damon bent over her. "God grant, ma'am, both I and my lady
carry our years as well as do you!" And again, her hand was kissed.
    "How many times tonight, Grandmama?" enquired Lisette, as he
limped away.
    "Well now, let me see… There was Vaille—lud, but you should
have seen
him
in his youth! What a wild, wicked,
handsome fellow! Camille has much of him, but not all—not all. And
Ridgely, such a sweet, good soul. And Bolster, who has left, looking so
sad, poor boy. And St. Clair, and Strand, and Vaughan, and—and what
a'God's name is your sister about?"
    "Judith?" asked Lisette, startled for more reasons than one.
    "Beatrice. Has she run mad, the minx? I came upon her in an
alcove with James Garvey! A good tongue-lashing I gave 'em both, I can
tell you! I'm told you came with him. Why?"
    Garvey and Beatrice? Taken aback, Lisette stammered, "Why—he
asked me, ma'am. And why not? He is good
ton
, and
from a fine old house."
    "In my day, girl," her ladyship snarled, rapping her cane on
the polished floor, "in my day, a woman could smell out a rake were he
dustman or duke! Faith—
now
why must you blush and
simper and peer around as though I'd filched the crown jewels? Because
I said 'rake'? It's a prudish lot ye are these days and no denying!
Now, what's to do with Beatrice and that milquetoast she's wed? Do they
not deal well?"
    "I think-—that is to say… well, Beatrice is—is of a certain
temperament, and William is—''
    "Is a sorry fool. But a better man than she warrants, withal!
'Twould be like Madame Airy Contrary to cast aside the gold for the
dross! And are you over your Leith megrims? It's time and past that you
were looking elsewhere. Now why is your mouth at half-cock, miss? D'ye
all think me blind?" She gave a cackle of mirth. "Will ye look at the
scarlet cheeks! You shall raise the temperature in this room, I don't
doubt!" She accepted the glass the Marquis returned to proffer, and
bestowed a smile on that young man that gave one an inkling of what she
must have been in her youth. "Thankee, Damon. And glad I am to see you
limping so noticeably. You're not wearing that ridiculous boot you was
used to fool us all with, eh?"
    Damon had concealed his infirmity for years, and the colour of
his own lean cheeks was somewhat heightened. He did not avoid those
keen old eyes, however, and answered gravely, "No, ma'am. I am lame.
There is a time for pride, and—"
    "And a time for love?" She cackled again. "Be off with you,
then, back to your lady. And—no less than three, nor more than six,
Camille! Hear me now!"
    He threw a grin over his shoulder and was gone, leaving
Lisette to gasp a shocked, "Grandmama!"
    "Tush and a fiddlestick! He's more wits than you, child! Did
you hear what he said? 'A time for pride…' " She saw her
granddaughter's pretty chin toss upward and sighed as though suddenly
wearied. " 'Tis little I can set at your door, Lord knows. Your mama
fairly bristles with the ugly vice, and that fool of a hus—er—ahem!
Sufficient. Has Garvey offered?"
    "Good gracious, no, ma'am! I have only known him a few days."
Lisette's dark eyes grew troubled. "Mama and Papa think him very fine."
    "They would!" The cane rapped angrily, causing the old lady to
right her small but beautiful tiara which had become dislodged by the
force of that movement. "It escapes me why I bother with the lot of
you. What with your sister and her haughty ways, yet not above cuddling
in alcoves! To say naught of that