His Lordship's Chaperone (19 page)

Haverton had the devil of a time waiting until the
hour of nine that evening. His toilette, his dressing, the very time it took to
travel here seemed twice as long—no, three times long, as it usually had.

He plucked at his cravat. The blessed thing wasn’t
standing up right and he wanted to look his best. It wasn’t every day that a
man announced his engagement. Haverton tugged at his cuffs that he felt were
creeping up his arm into his sleeves. Would this night ever begin?

The drive to the Lonsdale residence felt
excruciatingly long. Once the Marquess had arrived, he had to endure the usual
greetings and salutations from the guests. He had not wished to appear rude but
his thoughts were primarily on this evening’s performance.

“Robert, Robert,” Simon approached. Finally his
brother had arrived, sounding nearly as anxious as the Marquess felt himself.
“Is it time? Is it time yet?”

Simon was more of a wreck than he was. “Come, come,
Simon. Honoria’s not arrived yet. You do want her to be present when I announce
her betrothal, don’t you?”

“What?” Simon glanced around, looking for Honoria.
“The angel’s not arrived you say?”

“Yes, I do say.” As nervous as the Marquess felt,
he wasn’t acting as birdwitted as his brother.

“Oh,” Simon muttered, calming down a bit. “Then I
say we should wait until she can join us, don’t you think?”

“Yes, Simon.” Haverton removed some lint from his
brother’s sleeve. “I think that’s a splendid idea. Let’s stand out of the way,
over by those potted palms.”

“Palms?” Simon followed Haverton to one side of the
room. “Whatever for?”

“To keep you out of sight. One look at you and
everyone will be able to guess something is amiss.” He stepped closer and
whispered, “You’re all in a pucker! Come now, you must compose yourself.”

Simon glanced about and gave an exasperated sigh. A
few moments later he had settled down considerably.

“Good man,” Haverton praised. “Now sit down,” he
pushed Simon down upon a chair, “and do try to enjoy yourself.” With those encouraging
words he left.

If he would only stay calm, Simon would make it
through the next few hours just fine. Haverton knew tonight would be perfect, a
complete success. By this evening’s end he, Catherine, Simon, and Honoria would
be blissfully happy beyond belief. Nothing, no one, could spoil this night.

Catherine followed the Duchess into the Lonsdale’s
ballroom only to discover the guests who were talking with such enthusiasm and
animation hushed when they entered.

“Oh, dear,” Her Grace uttered softly and turned in
Catherine’s direction. “I believe a word of warning might be in order.”

“Warning? Whatever for?” Catherine could not
imagine what had made the Duchess, who was only moments ago very pleased to
attend tonight’s party, turn all at once grim.

“Did you not notice the room quiet as we entered?
No, do not answer.”

Catherine gave a slight nod.

“Can you not see how everyone observes us? No, do
not look!” The Duchess opened her fan and with careful placement, held it in
such a way that it hid their conversation. “It seems that we are in some way
connected to the latest on
dit
.” Her slow turn
allowed her to scan the guests on the opposite side of the room. “If I am not
mistaken, we may be rest assured that Robert is the true victim and we are
targets by association.”

Catherine couldn’t help but glimpse at those around
her. Could the Duchess be correct? “What do you think they are saying?”

“I cannot know but I do caution you to not believe
everything you may hear.” The Duchess closed her fan and raised an eyebrow to
Catherine in a subtle but clear warning then she strolled away. “I fear this
evening is going to be a very long one.”

Catherine had paced the Lonsdale’s hallway twice
after leaving the Duchess’ company and contemplated a third length. What was
she to do until the announcement? Catherine smoothed her hair in nervousness.
She caught the intense tone of the conversation when nearing the end of the
hallway and paused, stepping closer to catch every word.

The mention of Haverton’s name caught her attention
again, whereupon she once again found herself prey to Miss Price’s, Miss
Trueblood’s
, and Mrs. Baldwin’s gossip mill. Catherine
inched toward the trio. She ought
not
listen. Every
instance she had done so, she had regretted the action. Another step closer
still and Catherine turned her unobserved ear toward them.

“My Henrietta told me the last time he danced with
her he gave her hand the most roguish squeeze just before casting off,” Miss
Price informed the other two women.

“Lady Joanna told me he had shamelessly flirted
with her while he had partnered your Henrietta at the Stoddard’s just two
nights ago.”

“No,” Miss Price remarked in a condescending
manner. “The libertine!”

“Yes,” Miss Trueblood confirmed. “It’s as if he
hadn’t a morsel of decency in him.”

“He’s always got his eye on the pretty ones,” Miss
Price countered. “I’ll have that to say for him.”

“Always,” Miss Trueblood seconded. “I dare say he’s
become quite daring this Season. I wonder if he’s—”

“I’m afraid none of it matters in the least,” Mrs.
Baldwin finally spoke, ending her silence. “He may stare, wink, and leer all he
likes at your charges, it is my Honoria who has brought him up to scratch.”

“Honoria?” the two chaperones cried in unison.

“Oh, yes, this very evening he is to announce their
engagement.”

“No,” Miss Price gushed.

“Yes,” Mrs. Baldwin assured her.

“No,” Miss Trueblood repeated in disbelief.

“Yes,” Mrs. Baldwin intoned most knowingly.

Catherine stepped away, covering her mouth, doing
her best to hide her laughter.

The Duchess of Waverly stilled when she heard her
son’s name spoken. She stood motionless and did her best not to be noticed

“Haverton is to wed,” Lady Andrew announced without
preamble when she approached Mrs. Cummings-Albright in the ballroom.

“Haverton? You cannot mean—to whom?”

“It’s true.” Lady Andrew clasped her friend’s
hands, giving them a little shake. “I am so sorry but it is true, so very true.”

“How do you know this?” Mrs. Cummings-Albright
narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing the messenger.

“I overheard him saying as much myself at the
Markham’s water party just this morning. I saw them together, planning to make
their announcement this very night.”

“Who is she? Who is he to wed?” the Cummings-Albright
woman demanded.

“Honoria Darlington.”

On
dit
about the Darlington
chit again! The Duchess knew that to be false. If these two ladies wished to
believe that
taradiddle
all the better. The Cummings-Albright
woman could well cause problems.

“I won’t allow it!” she cried, trying to keep her
voice low, and pushed at Lady Andrew who grasped her arms to keep them still.

The Duchess had never cared for Mrs. Cummings-Albright
and was quite relieved when she and Robert parted company at the end of last
Season.

“Celeste, my dear,” Lady Andrew pleaded, trying to
calm her, “people will hear you—remember where you are.”

“He can’t marry her! He is mine, do you understand?
Mine!”

“Please, restrain yourself,” Lady Andrew implored,
reaching out her hand to cease the outburst. “If he’s already made up his mind,
I’m not so sure what you can do about it.”

“I’ll stop him! I won’t let him get away with this.”
She appeared to the Duchess to be very desperate or on the edge of madness.
“I’ll think of a way to—”

“Look there, Celeste.” Lady Andrew pointed to the
entrance with the tip of her closed fan. The two women watched Robert and Simon
enter the ballroom.

“Take note of Lord Simon,” Mrs. Cummings-Albright
replied with a tone altogether different from her ranting of moments ago. “See
how unsettled he appears.”

Simon appeared very agitated. The Duchess wished he
had a portion of his elder brother’s ability to display a granite facade.
Apparently he had none of that talent. Not more than a minute later, Lady
Darlington and Honoria entered. Haverton’s smile appeared to be more paternal
than
swainlike
.

“Do you notice how Haverton shows so little
interest in Honoria Darlington?” Mrs. Cummings-Albright pointed out to Lady
Andrew. “If he is to marry the Darlington chit … unless … unless he is not to
marry her after all.”

“Perhaps he is only pretending disinterest to avoid
suspicion,” Lady Andrew suggested.

“I do not know.” Mrs. Cummings-Albright began to
scan the room. “But I am going to find out. And then I will stop them.”

The Duchess realized that Haverton must act
quickly. The sooner Robert’s and Catherine’s announcement was made the better.

Mrs. Cummings-Albright watched Haverton from the
other side of the ballroom. There was no mistaking the pure delight shining in
his eyes as he took uninhibited pleasure in laying eyes upon Miss Hayward, and
Mrs. Cummings-Albright would have to be blind not to notice.

“Look how Haverton stares but not at Lady Honoria.
And see how she looks in his direction, however not at the Marquess. It seems
to me that it is Lord Simon who returns her adoration. I believe Lord Haverton’s
attention is quite fixed on his mother’s ward Miss Hayward.”

The Duchess sighed. This could well be a problem.

It was very strange how neither Catherine nor
Honoria were dancing. At every other party they’d attended, both were engaged
for every dance. There was certainly something peculiar in the atmosphere
tonight.

“What are you doing?” Honoria Darlington asked
Catherine with a quizzical expression. “Are you eavesdropping?”

Catherine jumped. “Oh!” She wouldn’t have admitted
it but she’d been caught. “I am so ashamed. I simply could not help herself.”

“Well?” Honoria moved closer. “Who were you
listening to? What were they saying?”

It seemed Lady Honoria had the same bad habit of
eavesdropping as Catherine. “I’m afraid I heard your chaperone giving her contemporaries
an update.”

Honoria peered around Catherine, observing the
gossiping trio in action. Their furtive head gestures and weighted glances had
continued when Catherine had long stopped listening.

“Those old women are no better than they should be.”
Honoria bristled, turning the other way in disapproval.

“But they are such fun,” Catherine enlightened her.
“Mrs. Baldwin is so proud that you’ve managed to catch Lord Haverton’s fancy.
I’ve heard her say you are betrothed and he is to make the announcement this
very night.” She widened her eyes in astonishment.

A small crease appeared on Honoria’s forehead. “I
do hope she won’t be too disappointed when it comes out that it’s not exactly
true.”

Catherine leaned forward and whispered, holding
back her laughter. “I think they’ll be too shocked to be disappointed.”

“They all will be so surprised. Look, there is
Simon—” Honoria grasped Catherine’s arm and led her toward the potted palms in
the corner. “You must come with me.”

“What?”

Honoria brought Catherine along before she could
utter a single word of protest. “I cannot stand here alone, for it would look
quite odd, do you not think?”

“But why on Earth should we stand here?” Catherine
thought it odd.

“Simon is seated just on the other side of this
palm.”

Catherine could see the potted palm but did not see
a single sign of Lord Simon.

“No, don’t look!” Honoria scolded.

“I’m sorry.” Catherine pulled back, returning to
her side of the potted plant.

“Just stand there and pretend we are having a
conversation,” Honoria instructed, trying her best to ignore the palm.

Catherine kept careful watch and tried not to
appear out of the ordinary, while having her imaginary conversation with
Honoria.

“Simon?” Honoria whispered between the palm fronds.
“Simon? Can you hear me?”

“Is that you, my pet?” a man’s voice returned.

“Goose!” Honoria giggled. “I don’t think I can
manage another moment without seeing you.” She reached around the palm,
grasping for his hand.

“Honoria, please! Someone will see you,” Catherine
warned.

“Just a moment more,” she begged. “When is Lord
Haverton going to get on with it?”

“Soon, dearest, soon,” Simon swore. “I think I
shall urge him to do so this minute.”

“Yes, yes. I don’t want to wait a moment longer.”
After Simon had gone off, Honoria pressed her hand to her cheek. She glanced up
expectantly at Catherine. “I’m going to find Mama. Will you come with me,
Catherine?”

“I think if Lord Haverton’s going to make his
announcement, I’d best find the Duchess.”