Lord Exmouth's Intentions. ANNE ASHLEY
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lordship regarded her in silence for a moment, his expression inscrutable, then he swiftly rose to his feet and went across to stand before the window, his body straight, but not noticeably tense.
‘I realise that,’ he said at length, his voice level and, like his expression, giving absolutely nothing away. ‘Clarissa was undoubtedly a rare creature. I have yet to meet her equal in beauty…And I doubt I ever shall.’
Her ladyship, masterfully suppressing the threat of tears, looked across the room at him, at a loss to know quite how to respond. Not once since the tragedy occurred had he attempted to talk about the accident, at least not to her, and on the few occasions Clarissa’s name had been mentioned she had watched him withdraw within himself, shrouding himself in his own private gloom.
‘Do not look so stricken, my dear,’ he advised gently, turning in time to catch that unmistakable expression, that look he had seen flit over scores of faces during these past months. ‘I didn’t come to London with the intention of searching for a mirror image of my dead wife. I came for the sole purpose of finding someone who would happily take care of my daughters, be kind to them and yes, I suppose, take the place of their dead mama.’
If this admission was supposed to relieve the Dowager’s mind, it fell far short of the mark. ‘I had hoped, Daniel, that you might have taken account of your own feelings in the matter, and not just your daughters’ needs. Do you feel nothing for Miss Perceval at all?’
He was silent for so long that she thought he would refuse to satisfy her curiosity, but then he said, ‘I think Robina Perceval is one of the most charming, good-natured and innately honest people I have ever met. I would feel a great deal easier in my mind, however, if I thought she really did wish to spend the summer with us in Brighton?’
‘Daniel, whatever do you mean?’
She looked so utterly bewildered that it was as much as he could do not to laugh outright. ‘Mama, I have always had the utmost respect for your acute understanding, but I must confess there have been occasions when you have allowed preconceived notions to cloud your judgement.’
‘But—but…’ The Dowager was momentarily lost for words. ‘I’m sure you are wrong, Daniel. The dear child simply jumped at the opportunity to bear me company when I first asked her.’
‘I do not doubt for a moment that she did, ma’am,’ he concurred. ‘It took me a short time only to discover that, although Miss Perceval possesses an innately charming reserve, she is by no means averse to socialising and has attained a great deal of pleasure during her time in London. Therefore it is quite natural that she would wish to continue the period of frivolous enjoyment if the opportunity arose. What appears to have escaped you completely, however, is the slight constraint in her which has been quite apparent to me since her return from Hampshire.’
The Dowager had not observed this. Which was extremely remiss of her, she decided, for she didn’t doubt for a moment that her son, discerning demon that he was, had spoken no less than the truth. ‘I wonder what could have occurred to make her have second thoughts about accompanying us?’
The look he cast her was more than faintly sardonic. ‘Come, come, ma’am, isn’t it obvious? Something or someone has made her realise what your real motive was for asking her in the first place.’
‘How thoughtless some people are! And just when things were progressing so nicely too!’ She looked as annoyed as it was possible for someone with her naturally amicable disposition to appear. ‘Why must people interfere, Daniel?’
‘Strangely enough, Mama, I have been asking myself that selfsame question during these past weeks,’ he murmured, casting her a smile which managed to convey both loving affection and exasperation in equal measures. ‘The damage has been done, however. She now knows what fate both you and her own mother have in store for her.’
‘Daniel, that simply is not true!’ She managed to hold his openly sardonic gaze for all of ten seconds before she made a great play of rearranging her shawl. ‘I admit I may possibly have mentioned in passing that, now your official period of mourning had come to an end, you might be considering a second marriage.’
He raised his eyes heavenwards. ‘You do surprise me!’
‘And Lady Elizabeth may possibly have remarked on the fact that her eldest daughter, clearly betraying all the signs of truly motherly instincts, was unfailingly patient with her younger sisters,’ she continued, just as though he had not spoken. ‘But I assure you, Daniel, that I never suggested for a moment that I thought she would make an ideal wife for you. I would never dream of doing such a thing! You are far too much like your dear father. You are always willing to listen to someone else’s viewpoint, but will make your own decision in the end.’
‘I’m pleased you appreciate that at last, Mama, because it makes what I have to say to you now a great deal easier.’ Although he was still faintly smiling, there was no mistaking the note of hard determination edging his deep, attractive voice. ‘I was quite willing for you to cajole me into accompanying you to Brighton, even though I knew from the first your real motive for doing so…No, kindly allow me to finish,’ he continued, holding up a restraining hand when she was about to interrupt. ‘I wish to further my acquaintance with Miss Perceval, as I’ve already mentioned. She intrigues me. I believe there is much more to that young lady than either you or I realise. One thing I’m firmly convinced of, however, is that she had no thought of becoming the future Lady Exmouth until some well-meaning individual pointed out to her that that might well be the fate which awaits her. She may yet come to welcome that eventuality with open arms, but I am resolved that it shall be her decision, and not yours or her mother’s…Now, do I make myself clear, my dear?’
‘Perfectly, Daniel. You wish me to sit back, and allow nature to take its course.’
‘Precisely!’ The Dowager once again turned her attention to the tempting delicacies in the pretty box at her elbow. ‘Very well, Daniel. You may woo Miss Robina Perceval in your own way, and without any interference from me.’
Narrow-eyed, Daniel watched a gooey confection disappear between smugly smiling pink lips. For some obscure reason he was not totally convinced that she would be able to keep that promise.
Chapter Two
Leaning back against the comfort of the velvet squabs, Lady Exmouth stared through the carriage window at the passing countryside, recalling quite clearly a time in the not too distant past when the road to Brighton had been little more than an uncertain track, frequently impassable. All that had changed, of course, once the Regent had discovered that the air at the small, insignificant resort tended to benefit his health. Now Brighton was a centre of fashion, and could be reached by many different routes, one of which was considered by many to be the finest posting road in England.
Her ladyship had happily left all the travel arrangements, and choice of route, in the hands of her very capable son. Since the age of one-and-twenty, when he had come into the title, Daniel had displayed a natural aptitude for organisation, and a keen sense of responsibility far beyond his years. Little wonder, the Dowager reflected, that only a very small number of people had voiced certain doubts when, just two years after his father’s demise, he had calmly announced his intention of marrying his childhood sweetheart.
What a beautiful creature dear Clarissa had been! her ladyship mused, her mind’s eye having little difficulty in conjuring up a clear image of limpid blue eyes set to perfection in that lovely heart-shaped face, the whole framed in a riot of the prettiest guinea-gold curls.
The only child of an impoverished country squire, Clarissa would undoubtedly have become the toast of any Season had her father ever been in a position to finance such a venture. From the age of sixteen she had had most every eligible young bachelor in the county dangling after her at one time or another. Yet she had remained touchingly devoted to the only son of her nearest neighbours. They had seemed such an ideal couple, perfectly suited in every way. When little Hannah had been born, within a year of their marriage, their