absence. You know that he drove
his children to the city in his phaeton, took them to visit the Tower, bought them ices at Gunters,
and returned them radiant with happiness in time for evensong?"
"I know." Portia had made it her business to discover the girls' state of mind following
their father's visit, and she had heard their rapturous praise of their parent. "They were very
excited, were they not?" She did not wait for her friend's response, but continued tartly, "Perhaps
if he will call a little more frequently, Melicent will spend less time in the stable." She seated
herself again behind her desk, and toyed with the chains of the keys on her chatelaine .
"How does Penelope in her French exercises?"
" Tres bon . She is a very bright little girl."
"She has settled well since her adventure," Portia was thinking out loud. "And Sabina
seems to have adjusted..."
"To the school, yes. But I cannot call an infatuation with Mr. Dent proof of adolescent
balance." Madame was sardonic.
"Well, they all seem to have to fall in love with Caldwell, don't they? But he is so good,
never varies in his avuncular kindness. They seem eventually to realize that he is no more than
everyone's brother." Portia knew that her step-brother could be absolutely trusted to depress any
untoward fancies of the older girls. "You know he has eyes only for you. Even though you
constantly rebuff him. He will never think you too old for him, you know. Six years is not
enough to discourage him."
"And you will not be discouraged from being his champion, will you?" Heloise
countered.
"Not when I know how well suited you are." This was an old discussion, ground well
travelled in many conversations between the two of them.
"Did you know that Mr. Dent thinks little Penelope the most talented of all the girls in
her drawing?" Heloise stacked her papers once more, and prepared to depart. "And are you aware
she worships you?"
"Me?" Portia was truly astonished, silenced by the thought.
"Why are you always so surprised when I tell you of such devotion? The girls love you,
all of them. Why must you think that because you are no more than ordinary in appearance you
have no appeal at all?" Heloise shook her frivolously-capped head as she crossed to the door.
"You have good sense, Portia, you display it all the time on a wide variety of matters. You need
to use it to consider your own circumstances."
"Yes, yes, very well." Portia disliked her friend's reprimands. It was true that she
attached too much importance to the physical, she knew it. But it had always been her experience
that the pretty girls were also the fortunate girls in life. She shook her head. "But we are speaking
of the Perrington girls. I am pleased to hear of Penelope's talent. Her father cannot but be
impressed, if we can nurture it. And we must watch Melicent carefully. Perhaps we need to
organize a regular riding session for her; I wonder if we should offer a program of equestrian
exercise?"
"Very costly," Heloise commented on her way to the door.
"Hmmm."
A rap on the door panels startled both ladies. After a moment, Caldwell Dent entered.
He greeted them both with a smile, then said, "I've another commission, a referral from Lady
Jersey!"
Portia observed his quick, hopeful glance at Heloise. If he was disappointed by her
sedate but sincere congratulations, he did not show it.
Her own good wishes were more spontaneous. Portia was so pleased she crossed the
room to hug her brother.
He accepted her embrace with a modest grin. He suggested to Heloise, "You could do
the same, Madame...strictly in a laudatory spirit of course."
His teasing brought quick colour to Heloise's face. "You may only dream of it," she said
tartly, remaining where she was.
He turned back to Portia. "About that other matter... I have made a pledge to meet my
father on Saturday next after the noon. I shall let you know what comes of it."
"Your father?" Madame seized on the information. "But you have not seen him
his children to the city in his phaeton, took them to visit the Tower, bought them ices at Gunters,
and returned them radiant with happiness in time for evensong?"
"I know." Portia had made it her business to discover the girls' state of mind following
their father's visit, and she had heard their rapturous praise of their parent. "They were very
excited, were they not?" She did not wait for her friend's response, but continued tartly, "Perhaps
if he will call a little more frequently, Melicent will spend less time in the stable." She seated
herself again behind her desk, and toyed with the chains of the keys on her chatelaine .
"How does Penelope in her French exercises?"
" Tres bon . She is a very bright little girl."
"She has settled well since her adventure," Portia was thinking out loud. "And Sabina
seems to have adjusted..."
"To the school, yes. But I cannot call an infatuation with Mr. Dent proof of adolescent
balance." Madame was sardonic.
"Well, they all seem to have to fall in love with Caldwell, don't they? But he is so good,
never varies in his avuncular kindness. They seem eventually to realize that he is no more than
everyone's brother." Portia knew that her step-brother could be absolutely trusted to depress any
untoward fancies of the older girls. "You know he has eyes only for you. Even though you
constantly rebuff him. He will never think you too old for him, you know. Six years is not
enough to discourage him."
"And you will not be discouraged from being his champion, will you?" Heloise
countered.
"Not when I know how well suited you are." This was an old discussion, ground well
travelled in many conversations between the two of them.
"Did you know that Mr. Dent thinks little Penelope the most talented of all the girls in
her drawing?" Heloise stacked her papers once more, and prepared to depart. "And are you aware
she worships you?"
"Me?" Portia was truly astonished, silenced by the thought.
"Why are you always so surprised when I tell you of such devotion? The girls love you,
all of them. Why must you think that because you are no more than ordinary in appearance you
have no appeal at all?" Heloise shook her frivolously-capped head as she crossed to the door.
"You have good sense, Portia, you display it all the time on a wide variety of matters. You need
to use it to consider your own circumstances."
"Yes, yes, very well." Portia disliked her friend's reprimands. It was true that she
attached too much importance to the physical, she knew it. But it had always been her experience
that the pretty girls were also the fortunate girls in life. She shook her head. "But we are speaking
of the Perrington girls. I am pleased to hear of Penelope's talent. Her father cannot but be
impressed, if we can nurture it. And we must watch Melicent carefully. Perhaps we need to
organize a regular riding session for her; I wonder if we should offer a program of equestrian
exercise?"
"Very costly," Heloise commented on her way to the door.
"Hmmm."
A rap on the door panels startled both ladies. After a moment, Caldwell Dent entered.
He greeted them both with a smile, then said, "I've another commission, a referral from Lady
Jersey!"
Portia observed his quick, hopeful glance at Heloise. If he was disappointed by her
sedate but sincere congratulations, he did not show it.
Her own good wishes were more spontaneous. Portia was so pleased she crossed the
room to hug her brother.
He accepted her embrace with a modest grin. He suggested to Heloise, "You could do
the same, Madame...strictly in a laudatory spirit of course."
His teasing brought quick colour to Heloise's face. "You may only dream of it," she said
tartly, remaining where she was.
He turned back to Portia. "About that other matter... I have made a pledge to meet my
father on Saturday next after the noon. I shall let you know what comes of it."
"Your father?" Madame seized on the information. "But you have not seen him
Similar Books
