Old Acquaintances: Christmas Regency Tale (Regency Tales Book 2) (6 page)

              She had come to rely on that distance to preserve herself from pain, Judith realized. When she had come so unexpectedly upon Sir Peregrine at her own breakfast table, she had come close to fainting away from the shock. Their relationship had undeniably not improved through that distancing. They had immediately cut up at one another in such a horrid manner that Judith could only wonder what had become of their social breeding.

              But the worst moments had been those in the library. When Sir Peregrine had taken hold of her, time was flung aside as though it did not exist, and she had felt everything for him that she had felt for him before. He infuriated her, teased her, made her love him. And that was the crux of the matter, thought Judith bleakly. She had been fooling herself for a very long time. She did still love him. In those moments when her gaze was locked with his, she had seen something stir in his piercing eyes. She had sensed the precipice yawning before them, and had welcomed it. Then Withers’s knock had come and the moment had been lost.

              Judith sighed. She was not certain whether she ought to be glad for it or regret that Sir Peregrine had not kissed her. However, at this point it was all rather academic. The snow would let up and Sir Peregrine would bundle Cecily into his carriage and be off with never a backward look.

              It was a thoroughly depressing thought.

Judith decided that she had wallowed long enough, both in her unproductive thoughts and in her bath. She toweled dry and pulled the bell rope to summon her maid. It was time to dress for luncheon. Actually, it might be a welcome diversion to sit down with her disparate guests.

An hour later, Judith wondered how she could have harbored such a hopeful thought. Before she had even entered the dining room, Mrs. Nickleby had latched onto her sleeve and proceeded to bend her ear regarding her cook’s attitude.

“Insufferable, Miss Grantham, I assure you! The woman positively
threatened
to throw me out of the kitchen on my ear. Why, I was never more surprised in my life, when all I had done was to offer a bit of well-meant advice,” said Mrs. Nickleby.

“That you have a talent for, pet,” said Mr. Nickleby.

Judith glanced at the man, wondering if he was deliberately stoking the fire of his wife’s wrath, but Mr. Nickleby’s expression was as pleasant and complacent as usual. She returned her attention to Mrs. Nickleby and once more attempted to bring reason into play. “Mrs. Nickleby, surely you must understand that the kitchen is Cook’s domain. I am certain that there is an area in your life you must care greatly for and that it would give you pain to have someone, perhaps less knowledgeable than-“

“Less knowledgeable! Begging your pardon, Miss Grantham, but I am a superb cook,” uttered Mrs. Nickleby. She looked to her husband for confirmation and he willingly gave it, patting his ample waistline in testimony. “That you are, pet,” he said.

Judith glanced about helplessly. At this rate, none of them would ever get to the table, she thought. And she could not simply withdraw from Mrs. Nickleby. The outrageous woman actually had hold of a bit of her sleeve, thought Judith in annoyance.

Judith’s glance met that of Lord Baltor, and he comprehended the situation. He promptly stepped forward and his action edged Mrs. Nickleby back a half-step so that she was forced to drop her hand from Judith’s sleeve. “Miss Grantham, allow me the privilege of escorting you into luncheon,” he said, offering his arm to Judith.

She placed her fingers on his elbow and thanked him with a dazzling smile. Over her shoulder, she said composedly, “Do join Lord Baltor and me, Mrs. Nickleby. We are to have a delightful current pudding for dessert.”

“Well!” exclaimed Mrs. Nickleby. “And here I have just been saying that the pudding is not fit to be spooned up.”

Her spouse patted her reassuringly on the shoulder. “Never mind, pet. The Quality abide by their own rules,” he said.

Mrs. Nickleby took his arm and lowered her voice to an octave that she mistakenly thought private. “I shall never be more glad of anything than to shake the dust of this house from my feet, Mr. Nickleby. I have never been subjected to ruder treatment. And as for the help! Why, what do you think? I discovered one of the maids going through the pockets of my best cloak. She excused herself by saying that she was looking for an extra button to sew on in place of one that has fallen off. I hope that I know better than to believe that tale! No one looks for work, now do they, Mr. Nickleby?”

“It is unfortunately true, pet,” said Mr. Nickleby with a sigh. “Haven’t I pointed out for years that very same thing in the clothier business?”

The Nicklebys’ conversation carried them all into the dining room. Judith pretended not to hear. She was determined that the luncheon was to be a pleasant interlude. She quietly thanked Lord Baltor when he seated her and she was not unpleased that he took the chair beside her. She noticed when the slight gentleman slipped into place on her other side and she nodded pleasantly to him, not in any anxiety that she would offend if she did not verbally greet him. She had become used to Mr. Smith’s quietude and she knew that her task of conversing with her table partners would be greatly reduced since Mr. Smith never put himself forward into any conversation.

While the Nicklebys seated themselves opposite, she leaned over toward Lord Baltor and said in a low voice, “I am unutterably relieved to have you for my partner at table, my lord. You have no notion how I shook at the thought of Mr. Nickleby, and just beyond him his good wife.”

For the first time since Judith had met Lord Baltor, she saw an uninhibited smile on his face. “I consider it an equal protection, ma’am,” he said.

Judith laughed, almost surprised by the dry witticism. She had gathered that, sober, Lord Baltor was much too serious for his years. It pleased her that his lordship was capable of charm without first imbibing from a bottle. “I hope that I am to hear a rendition of a carol from you during your stay here at Elmswood. I, too, enjoy singing,” said Judith, smiling.

Even as Lord Baltor flushed at her gentle teasing, his grin widened. All at once he looked his young years. “If you will but join me, Miss Grantham, I will endeavor to lift the ceiling.”

“I shall hold you to that, my lord,” said Judith. She had wondered at Sir Peregrine’s absence and now she sensed rather than saw him enter the dining room. She turned her head.

He had paused in the doorway, sweeping the table with a glance and taking note that the only available place was beside Mrs. Nickleby. When his eyes met Judith’s, her own sparked to amusement at his thinly veiled dismay. “Do pray join us, Sir Peregrine,” she said, at her politest.

“Aye, do so,” said Mrs. Nickleby, diverted from a running commentary on the centerpiece and those dishes that she could see on the sideboard by craning her neck. She smiled amiably and gestured at the place beside her. “There is ample elbow room, as you can see, Sir Peregrine.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Nickleby. You are most kind,” said Sir Peregrine hollowly.

With Sir Peregrine’s sacrifice on the altar of good manners, Judith’s spirits took an upturn for the better. The butler bent down to whisper in her ear that Miss Brown would not be joining the company for luncheon, preferring a tray in her bedroom. “Why does that not surprise me?” murmured Judith, not allowing herself to be in the least upset. She did, however, make a mental note to visit Cecily later in the afternoon.

The girl simply had to be brought to an understanding of her responsibilities, for nothing in the world would persuade Judith to go through another private interview with Sir Peregrine. She glanced down the table as the soup was served. Predictably, Mrs. Nickleby was addressing herself to anyone who was unfortunate to be within range. Judith smiled at Sir Peregrine’s pained expression. She much preferred seeing that gentleman in public. It was so much kinder to her spirits, especially if he was to act as a buffer against Mrs. Nickleby’s volubleness.

After luncheon, the company dispersed with various announced plans for passing the afternoon. Sir Peregrine and Lord Baltor discovered a mutual interest in billiards and went off to take a crack at the balls. Mr. Nickleby voiced a half-wish to join them, an aspiration quashed by his wife who scolded him for succumbing to what would surely become a gambling match. “For we all have heard what goes on in those clubs of the Quality,” she said. He apologized for even thinking of indulging himself in such an evil and instead joined Mr. Smith in the library, each lying in an easy chair with a newspaper spread over his face that soon rose with rhythmic regularity. Mrs. Nickleby looked to Miss Grantham for what she termed a comfortable coze, but that lady firmly excused herself and took herself upstairs to visit with her recalcitrant guest.

In the hall Judith met the maid who was looking after Cecily. Noticing the still-laden luncheon tray in the woman’s hands, Judith stopped her. “Hasn’t Miss Brown any appetite?”

The maid shook her head. “The miss nibbled on naught but a cracker or two, Miss Grantham. And she took nothing but tea and dry toast for breakfast,” she said.

Judith quietly thanked the maidservant and walked on. Her brows had become knit by a small frown. Cecily had not had anything substantial to eat since before she had met her. Judith thought that was something else that must be addressed. She simply could not have the girl becoming ill, not with Sir Peregrine convinced that she was capable of contriving any sort of ruse to keep his ward from him.

Cecily granted Judith’s entrance to the bedroom with a show of reluctance. “For I know why you have come, Miss Grantham. And I have not changed my mind by so much as a hair,” she said. There was a spot of color high on her cheekbones as though she was flustered, but her eyes appeared bright with obstinacy.

It was not a promising beginning, but Judith was highly motivated to persuade the girl to at least a compromise. She seated herself in a wing chair in front of the grate, glancing up at the young girl as she did so. “Pray sit down, Cecily,” she said quietly.

After a moment’s hesitation, Cecily did as she was bid and perched on the edge of an accompanying chair. She folded her hands in her lap and her lashes dropped over the expression in her eyes.

Judith was not fooled into thinking that the girl was in any fashion cowed. She was beginning to see what Sir Peregrine had referred to when he had said the he had had difficulty in reaching Cecily.

Judith did not speak immediately, allowing her silence to work on the girl while she ordered her thoughts. Cecily was beginning to cast up quick curious glances when Judith at last addressed her. “Cecily, I perfectly understand the reasons behind your reluctance in meeting with Sir Peregrine. He has undoubtedly treated you with a great deal of unfairness.”

Cecily looked full at her, surprise mirrored in her extraordinarily fringed, china-blue eyes. “I-I do not know what to say, Miss Grantham.”

Judith held up her hand. “Pray allow me to finish. I have had occasion to converse with Sir Peregrine and certainly he is not the…easiest personage to deal with. However, I do believe that you must think of your best interests.”

“My best interests?” faltered Cecily.

Judith nodded. “Quite so. Sir Peregrine is not likely to change his mind without good reason. I think that you have gained his attention by running away, but now you must capitalize on your position.”

“Whatever are you talking about, Miss Grantham?” asked Cecily, bewildered. Her eyes suddenly widened. “Oh! Do you mean that I should threaten him?”

Judith shook her head, allowing a smile to flit over her face. “Not precisely that, no. But certainly you must make it plain that the same determination that led you to run off will also lead you to cause him distress whenever a decision regarding your future is made without first consulting your opinion of the matter. And you must persuade Sir Peregrine of this without showing your fear of him.”

“I am not precisely
frightened
of Perry,” said Cecily haltingly.

“Then you do agree to meet with him while at Elmswood,” said Judith. She watched as first astonishment, then comprehension flooded Cecily’s expression.

“Oh! Of all the infamous tricks!” exclaimed Cecily.

“I am sorry to have had to trick you, Cecily, but I really felt that you gave me little choice in the matter,” said Judith gently. “You see, if I allowed you to remain closeted away, then Sir Peregrine would almost certainly decide to come up himself and drag you from the bedroom. I do not think in that instance that he would be open to anything that you might have to say.”

Cecily stared at her thoughtfully. “You speak as though you know Sir Peregrine very well.”

Judith stood up. “I shall expect you to come down and join us all for dinner this evening, Cecily. And in the meantime I shall have a cup of broth sent up to you, for you are looking too pale.” She turned to leave the bedroom, but she paused with her hand on the doorknob to glance back with the faintest lifting of her winged brows. “You know, I am so glad that my first impression of you was correct. I had thought you a determined and bright young woman. You have quite restored my faith in you.”

Once more Cecily was left to stare after her, this time with much more food for thought, not the least of which was her hostess’s declining to reply to her observation pertaining to Sir Peregrine.

Once downstairs, Judith busied herself in preparation for the traditional observance of Boxing Day. When her household had assembled, she handed out the gift boxes, taking a moment to address a personal word to each servant. It was a ceremony much enjoyed by all, including Judith. As always, she was glad that she had made the effort to return to Elmswood in time to uphold this particular tradition.