The Gallant Guardian by Evelyn Richardson

that were at his disposal.
    Her fury was not lost on Lord Lydon. One glance at the Wadleighs was quite enough to assure him that his card-playing companion had known what he was about when he appointed him guardian to his children. There was no doubt that Sir Cecil Wadleigh was a grasping, obsequious little toad with a wife to match, and that Charlotte, despite her obvious spirit and intelligence, was no match for them. She was one person against two supremely selfish, ambitious individuals.
    Barely acknowledging the Wadleighs, he replied, “Yes, Harcourt appears to be a charming place and Lady Charlotte tells me that you have been availing yourselves of all the delights that it has to offer.”
    The tone of his voice was enough to freeze the blood in anyone’s veins, and the air of languid hauteur was calculated to depress the pretensions of the hardiest of toadies. Cecil flushed with anger and Almeria shut her mouth with a snap.
    Charlotte could barely refrain from hugging herself with glee as her guest turned back toward her. Gesturing toward Harcourt’s impressive facade, the marquess continued, “But pray, proceed, Lady Charlotte. I believe you were about to show me around.” Bestowing a dazzling smile on Lord Lydon, Charlotte took his proffered arm and led him up the front steps.
    When they were safely out of earshot, she chuckled. ‘Thank you, my lord. That was exceedingly well done of you. I do not know when I have seen Cecil and Almeria so thoroughly put down, and I must say that I found it quite delightful to see them so utterly confounded.”
    Max smiled down at her. “Come now, Lady Charlotte, I cannot think that you are one to sit tamely by, supporting your cousin’s sense of self-importance.”
    “No…” she admitted thoughtfully. “However, I should never dare to give him the cut direct as you did. I dare say that is what comes of being a man. A man is not so subject to the will of others and is therefore more likely to say and do precisely as he wishes without fear of giving offense.”
    The marquess was silent for a moment, struck by the truth of her statement From the moment his father had cut him off and he had been forced to earn his own livelihood he had felt free to speak his mind whenever and wherever he pleased—not that he had given much thought to the opinions of others even before parental support had been entirely withdrawn. Before that, however, there had been some constraint there, some consciousness of owing something to his father when he had been more dependent upon him. That sense had vanished completely upon his dismissal from the family. He heartily sympathized with the frustration Charlotte must feel at the necessity of being civil to her poisonous cousin. Of course she was not beholden to Sir Cecil for financial support, but setting herself up in defiance of the Wadleighs would only make her situation more difficult and could ruin her reputation. A young woman on the verge of her come-out could not risk the slightest blemish in that regard if she had any hopes of contracting an eligible alliance and establishing herself in a home of her own.
    “I am glad I was able to afford you some satisfaction. From now on I shall consider it my duty as guardian to administer at least one set-down a day while I am here. How is that?”
    “Excellent. But I fear that my cousin is so thick-skinned and so determined to manage our lives that it will take a good deal more than a few insults to dislodge him.”
    Lord Lydon’s glance swept the magnificent rose marble entrance hall with its imposing staircase and exquisitely painted ceiling. “I believe you are in the right of it. Harcourt is too rich a prize to pass up so easily. The park and surrounding lands are most impressive. With an estate such as this to enjoy I am astonished that your father did not spend more time at Harcourt.”
    “We were here.”
    The terse reply took Max by surprise and he stole a quick look at his companion. Her