Page 9 of Lady Controversial
His response appeared to take the wind out of her sails and her eyes widened in astonishment. ‘If it is not Jane you wish to become acquainted with,’ she waved one hand airily, ‘then what…’
Ellery chuckled. ‘Chits on the eve of presentation generally have little conversation and even less sense, and do not generally hold my interest.’You, on the other hand…
‘Then what possible reason…’ Her words trailed off and she continued to stare at him, clearly perplexed. ‘I suppose you want to make sure that we are respectable, and you already know from what you have seen that we are not exactly flush.’ A mischievous smile highlighted her features. ‘Tell me, my lord, have you ever set foot in a kitchen before?’
‘A kitchen, Miss Crawley?’ Ellery replied, enjoying the exchange enormously. ‘Is that not where cooks and servants live?’ He raised an eyebrow. ‘What do kitchens have to do with the matter in hand?’
‘I ask since it is the only room in our cottage that is currently habitable, and if you choose to call, that is where you will be received.’
He sent her an arch smile. ‘Are you challenging me?’
‘I am merely warning you, sir. In our house we all live in the kitchen.’ She touched her temple and winced, which is when Ellery noticed a lump forming. Her hair had concealed it up until that point.
‘What in the name of heaven have you done to yourself?’ Ellery tutted and insisted that she seat herself once more.
‘Are you always this assertive?’ she asked, sitting with a flounce.
‘I really couldn’t say, since I have never before had to deal with a lady quite as stubbornly inclined as you appear to be. At least, not as far as I can recall. And I am sure I would remember had that been the case.’
‘Because everyone is terrified of you and meekly does as they are told?’ She nodded, as though answering her own question. ‘Yes, I can quite see how exasperating that must become after a while, but really there is absolutely no need for you to concern yourself about me.’
He ignored her feeble protests, pushed her hair aside and gently probed the lump. She winced.
‘Sorry,’ he said. ‘I shall escort you home and then send for an apothecary. There is every possibility that you are concussed.’
‘Nonsense! I don’t need a doctor. Mrs Compton will look after me.’
‘Who is Mrs Compton? Your chaperone?’
‘Heavens, no! She is our cook and my friend. Perhaps more of a mother in a lot of respects. She is inordinately fond of Jane and me, which I have often thought is the only reason why she has remained in my employ. She is a first rate cook and could certainly do a great deal better for herself.’
‘I am glad that someone is looking out for your wellbeing.’
She looked up at him and blinked. ‘Why?’ she asked.
‘Why what, Miss Crawley?’
‘Why do you care about my wellbeing? You have only just made my acquaintance.’
Ellery laughed at her reaction to a statement that addressed to any other single lady would have likely landed him in a compromising position. ‘My, but you are outspoken,’ he said.
She chuckled. ‘Be careful. If you had told Jane that you cared about her wellbeing, she would have immediately sent out for a wedding dress.’ Ellery thought it odd that her thoughts so closely mirrored his own. ‘Fortunately, I am more level-headed, as well as being beyond marriageable age.’
Ellery threw back his head and laughed. ‘Rubbish!’
‘I beg your pardon?’
‘You heard me plain and well, unless of course you are so old that your hearing is failing you. I’m sure my apothecary could provide you with an ear trumpet.’
‘Wretch!’ Isolda laughed in spite of herself. ‘I may not be in my dotage but I have no interest in matrimony.’
‘Did you not have a season yourself?’
‘I was supposed to, and frankly I was dreading it. Then my mother died. Papa lost all sense of restraint after that, his gambling got out of hand, he fell into financial trouble and…well, that was that.’
‘Your aunt did not step in on your behalf, as she has with your sister?’
‘No, but then she knew I had no taste for it. Let’s leave it at that. I am not the raving beauty that Jane is either, and now and then I think about other things beside balls and parties and routs.’ She spread her hands. ‘And therein lies the difference between us. Well, one of them.’
