Page 63 of His Lordship's True Lady
“As I am lonely for you. Let’s move along, before the groom is upon us. My motivation to speak to your uncle has become pressing.”
The morning’s possibilities and hopes dimmed. “You’re returning to the north?”
“No, love. I’m losing my wits. I hope you aren’t inclined toward a long engagement.”
“My uncle might try to put you off.” Had promised to not only put Grampion off, but dissuade him entirely. “He’s fond of managing my fortune.”
The rest of the tale begged to tumble out:It’s not my fortune, you see. It belonged to my mama, then to my half-sister, then probably to King George or my sister’s Irish relations, but not to me. Never to the unacknowledged bastard.
“I have the impression Walter Leggett is more fond of managing you.”
In that quiet observation, Lily realized why Hessian Kettering’s kiss could wake a slumbering princess.
Heloved.
His life was not a series of entertainments, as Oscar’s was.
He did not spend his energies in bitterness and vengeance, as Mrs. Braithwaite did.
He was not obsessed with getting, spending, and scheming, as Uncle was.
Hessian Ketteringcaredfor those around him. He was devoted to his younger brother, to Daisy, to responsible stewardship of his resources, to even his horse. He paid attention, he wasawake, and his sense of focus and investment in those around him was contagious.
“Uncle did not ask to be burdened with a young niece who dealt badly with being orphaned.” Walter had spent two years’ worth of correspondence reminding Lily of the nobility of his sacrifice. Only after hearing a few muttered asides from Tippy had a more mature Lily suspected Walter’s motivation was pure greed without a scintilla of avuncular affection.
“That reminds me,” Grampion said. “A rumor regarding your past has come to my attention.”
And there went the rest of Lily’s hope. Her mare hesitated, as if a sense of doom had penetrated even the limitations of an equine brain.
“Rumors and fortune hunters follow heiresses in equal measure.”
They emerged from the trees into a clearing of dew-sparkled grass and sharp morning sun.
“The rumor comes from a reliable, disinterested source who claims that you eloped with your uncle’s house steward. You are lovely, intelligent, well-dowered, and of age. I ask myself: Have you remained immune to the addresses of London’s most eligible bachelors because you are already married?”
A salvo such as that had been commonplace when Lily had first returned from Switzerland. Somebody would remark a piece of music she had supposedly played exquisitely at some tea dance, and panic would follow, lest Lily be publicly caught out as only half the musician her sister had been.
She’d learned to duck, dodge, prevaricate, dissuade, and otherwise deflect incoming fire, until fewer and fewer cannonballs were lobbed at her decks.
She laughed at Grampion’s theory, for laughter was as effective at diffusing such moments as any retort she could manufacture, but her laughter had come one heartbeat late.
“You flatter me, my lord.”
Again, he brought his horse to a smooth halt. “I accuse you of living a lie, of deceiving all of polite society, and you laugh.”
In other words, he wouldn’t desist until he had an answer.
“You accuse me of being nigh irresistible, when in fact, I’m impossible to please—or I was.”
“And the house steward?”
This much, Lily could answer honestly. “I know not what became of him, but he and I are not married. His interest was inappropriate, and I was packed off to Switzerland for two years lest he persuade me otherwise.”
Uncle had strongly implied that both Annie and her swain had come to bad ends in the same coaching accident, but as in so many other particulars, Lily had dared not ask for details.
“Did this scoundrel break your heart, Lily?”
“No.” The truth had never been such a relief. Lily recited a litany Tippy had fashioned for her. “I was young, I was bored, I was not yet old enough to make my come out, and had no mama or auntie to keep me from foolishness. I strongly suspect the gentleman’s sole motivation was to get his hands on my settlements.”
