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out with him tomorrow morning, two acquaintances visiting a gallery together, a perfectly respectable
thing to do, and she would allow herself to be browbeaten.
Never!
She would fight Edgar Downes to the death if necessary. The melodramatic thought had her lip curling in
scorn again.
She mentioned to her aunt at the breakfast table that Mr. Downes would be calling later to escort her to
theRoyalAcademy. He had mentioned wanting to go there while they had danced the evening before and
she had commented that it was one of her favorite places. And so he had asked to escort her there this
morning.
"I have promised to show him all the best paintings," she said.
Mrs. Cross looked closely at her. "Are you feeling well enough,Helena?" she asked. "I have become so
accustomed to your staying at home in the mornings that I have arranged to go out myself."
"Splendid,"Helenasaid. "You are going shopping?"
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"With a few other ladies," Mrs. Cross said. "Will you mind?"
"I hardly need a chaperone at my age, Letty,"Helenasaid. "I believe Mr. Downes is a trustworthy escort."
"Absolutely," her aunt agreed. "He is an exceedingly pleasant man. I was quite sharp with Mrs. Parmeter
last evening when she remarked on his background as if she expected all of us to begin to tear him apart.
Mr. Downes is more the gentleman than many born to the rank, I told her. I believe he has a soft spot for
you, Helena. It is a shame that as his father's only son he feels duty bound to marry a young lady so that
he may set up his nursery and get an heir for that estate nearBristol. The Grainger girl will not suit him,
though she is pretty and has a sweet enough nature. She has not had the time or opportunity to develop
enough character."
"And I have?"Helenasmiled. "You think he would be better off with me, Letty? Poor Mr. Downes."
"You would lead him a merry dance, I daresay," Mrs. Cross said. "But I believe he would be equal to the
task. However, he must choose a young lady."
"How lowering,"Helenasaid with a laugh. "But I would not be young again for a million pounds, Letty. I
shudder to remember the girl I was."
She would gain one advantage over Mr. Edgar Downes this morning at least, she thought while she
began to talk about other things with her aunt. She would confront him on home ground. Her aunt was
going out for the morning. That would mean that she and Mr. Downes need not leave the house. She
would not have to be smilingly polite lest other people in the streets or at the gallery take note. She could
shout and scream and throw things to her heart's content. She could use whatever language suited her
mood.
Only one thing she seemed incapable of doing  at least she had been last night. She could not seem to lie
to Edgar Downes. She could get rid of him in a moment if only she could do that. But she scorned to lie.
She would withhold the truth if she could, but she would not lie.
She went upstairs after breakfast to change her dress and have her hair restyled. She wanted to look and
feel her very best before it came time to cope with her visitor.
She waited for an hour in the drawing room before he came. She had instructed Hobbes to show him up
when he arrived.
Chapter 9
«^»
Edgar was rather surprised to be admitted to her house without question. The manservant, his face quite
impassive, led the way upstairs, knocked on the drawing room door, opened it, and announced him.
She was there alone, standing by the fireplace, looking remarkably handsome in a dark green morning
gown of simple, classic design. Her chin was lifted proudly. She was unsmiling, the customary mocking
expression absent from her face. She was not ready for the outdoors.
"Thank you, Hobbes," she said. "Good morning, Mr. Downes."
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Her face was pale. There were shadows beneath her eyes. Perhaps, he thought, she had slept as little as
he. The thought that this proud, elegant woman was pregnant with his child was still dizzying. It still
threatened to rob him of breath.
"I suppose it was too much to expect," he said, "that you would not somehow twist the situation to
impose some sort of command over it. We are not to view portraits and landscapes?"
"Not today or any other day, Mr. Downes," she said. "Not together at least. My aunt is from home. I
would have had Hobbes deny you admittance but you would have made a scene. You are so ungenteel.
If you have something to say that is more sensible than what you were saying last evening, please say it
and then leave. I have other plans."
He could not help but admire her coolness even while he was irritated by it. Most women in her situation
would be distraught and clinging and demanding to know his intentions.
"Thank you for offering," he said, walking farther into the room after removing his greatcoat  the servant
had not offered to take it downstairs  and tossing it onto a chair. "I believe I will sit down. But do have a
seat yourself, ma'am. I am gentleman enough to know that I may not sit until you do."
"You are impertinent, Mr. Downes," she said. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]