Page 5 of Dangerous Illusions (Dangerous #1)

“I do not pretend to care which school any man attended, ma’am.

They all seem much of a muchness to me. I know Charles hated Harrow while he was there quite as much as any man I know who went to Eton hated it there.

All of them are harsh places, are they not?

I have observed that it is only after men leave their schools that they seem to acquire a love for them. ”

The morning-room door banged back against the wall just then, and a damsel who looked a good deal like Daintry, with the same rosy complexion, dark curls, and twinkling eyes, burst into the room, her white muslin dress rucked up under its blue satin sash, and her right stocking crumpled around her ankle.

A second child, ethereally fair and slender, followed gracefully and silently in her wake, her light gray eyes wide and watchful.

“Charlotte,” Lady Ophelia exclaimed, “what have you been about? Pull up your stocking at once, and try to remember that a lady enters a room with dignity, not like some whirling dervish.”

Seeing Charley bend swiftly to do as she was told, Daintry smiled at the second child, patted the place beside her on the sofa, and said, “Come, sit by me, Melissa, and tell us what you two have been doing to occupy yourselves this dreary morning.”

Melissa looked guiltily at Charley but moved obediently to sit beside Daintry, giving no response to her question.

Nor was it necessary for her to do so. Tugging at her second stocking, Charley looked up with a laughing face, her eyes twinkling mischievously as her gaze darted from her aunt to Lady Ophelia and back again.

She said, “We’ve done away with Cousin Ethelinda.

We decided to amuse ourselves without her today. ”

Stifling laughter, Daintry looked at Lady Ophelia, but although the old lady disliked untidiness, she was as immune to being shocked by Charley’s declarations as Daintry was. “And just how have you accomplished that feat,” she inquired placidly. “Did you murder the poor woman?”

Charley chuckled appreciatively and straightened up to deal with her sash, saying, “No, though it is frequently a temptation, ma’am. She is such a wet-goose, you know, and says such dreary things to us. She doesn’t know anything at all.”

Lady Ophelia said, “I cannot argue against that fact, but it is scarcely a proper sentiment to hear from the lips of a gel no more than ten years of age.”

“Really, Aunt Ophelia, it is the latter end of September, as you must know since we celebrated your birthday more than six weeks ago, so my eleventh birthday is less than half a year off, and Melissa will be ten, two whole months before that. We are growing quite old. Soon we shall be turning down our hems and putting up our hair, and we do not like stitching samplers, which is all that Cousin Ethelinda can think of for us to do.”

Daintry glanced at Melissa, sitting quietly with her hands folded in her lap.

“Surely, our cousin also teaches you to play the pianoforte, and to work with globes and read improving works. I know she possesses many worthwhile accomplishments, and my governesses taught all those things, as well as trying to teach me the sort of things Aunt Ophelia was determined I should know.”

“Well, at least the things Aunt Ophelia teaches one are interesting,” Charley said, giving a final twitch to her skirt before turning and flinging herself down upon a cushion near Lady Ophelia’s feet.

“I do not intend to become a weeping willow like Cousin Ethelinda. She is not a proper governess, in any case, but is merely attempting to oblige so as not to seem so much of a barnacle upon Grandmama as she otherwise must appear to be.”

“Charley, you simply must not speak in such an ill-bred manner,” Daintry said, exchanging another look with her great- aunt. “It does not become a little girl to speak disparagingly of her elders.”

“But it is true,” Charley protested. “Even Melissa knows the only reason we have got stuck with Cousin Ethelinda is that Grandpapa said it is not his business but Papa’s to choose a proper governess for me now that Miss Pettibone has gone.

Melissa has her own at home, of course, and has only been sharing Miss Pettibone, but since both our papas are still in Brighton, of course Cousin Ethelinda insisted upon looking after us, because she feels obliged to make her way here, and if she is not hovering over Grandmama, she is making us do stupid samplers.

We want to ride, Aunt Daintry, if you please.

” The last statement was made with a melting look cast at her aunt.

Daintry, trying to maintain a stern demeanor, could not do so in the face of that look, but she shook her head and said, “You cannot ride until the roads dry, darling. This drizzle is enough to soak you through in minutes. It is no use begging me, either. Indeed, it would be as well for you if your grandpapa does not discover that you have escaped from Cousin Ethelinda.”

Melissa got up at once, but Charley waved her back to her seat. “Grandpapa never comes back to this room once he has gone down to his library, and it’s warmer here than in the schoolroom. Tell us a story about when you were young, Aunt Ophelia.”

“Oh, yes, please,” Melissa said softly, breaking her customary silence at last.

Lady Ophelia was no more resistant than Daintry was to such pleading, and if the story she told was not quite one about her own youth, it was nonetheless interesting, for she told them about Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Jacobite rebellion, and if the tale was not precisely the version that would find greatest favor with the little girls’ parents, it was no doubt closer to the truth of the matter than was the generally accepted English version, or the accepted Scottish version for that matter, since she did not glorify the prince but described his many faults.

Daintry had heard the tale many times and sat back to watch the little girls, seeing in their eyes the same fascination she remembered feeling the first time she had heard it.

Lady Ophelia had a knack for making history sound like a fairy tale, and it was only years afterward that one realized how much one had learned from her.

Daintry found herself listening again and was as annoyed as the two children were when they were interrupted.

“Oh, here you are, you naughty girls,” Lady Susan Seacourt exclaimed, hurrying into the room, her pale-blue muslin skirts swirling around her slim ankles.

She was taller than Daintry, fair and slender like her daughter, and her general demeanor was gentle, but at the moment she was clearly displeased.

“Cousin Ethelinda has been searching the entire house for you,” she said, “and we were just about to send a footman to the stables to look for you there. Here they are, Mama,” she called over her shoulder, “safe and sound with Daintry and Aunt Ophelia.”

“Oh, thank heaven,” Lady St. Merryn said weakly, entering in Susan’s wake, clasping her many shawls closer about her thin body as though she felt a chill. Leaning on the arm of a harried-looking plump woman with faded blond hair, she tottered toward the sofa nearest the hearth.

Charley got to her feet at once, saying, “Goodness, Grandmama and Aunt Susan, did you think we’d got lost? I always take very good care of Melissa, you know. I’d never lose her.”

“No, darling,” Lady Susan said, “I know you would not lose her, but you must know that proper young ladies do not run off and do as they please, especially since Cousin Ethelinda has so kindly undertaken to look after you both until we return to Seacourt Head. Of course, if your papa and mama were at home, Charley, they would see at once to hiring a new governess for you, but until they can do so, you must obey Cousin Ethelinda.” She turned to her daughter, adding gently, “I am surprised that you would allow your cousin to lead you to be naughty, dear.”

Melissa, who had also stood up politely when the others entered, said nothing, but her eyes filled with tears at the mild reproof, and Susan fell silent, looking helplessly at Daintry.

Miss Ethelinda Davies, who was helping Lady St. Merryn arrange herself on the sofa, glanced up and said quickly, “Oh, pray do not scold her, Cousin, for I am certain it was no doing of hers, and indeed, one cannot wonder at it if the children do not heed me.” She laughed behind her hand, adding, “I fear I am not the sort of tyrant who knows how to enforce obedience. ’Tis a grave fault in me, as I know you would say, were you not too kind to do so.

Now, Cousin Letitia, let me find you a cushion, for I know that the stairs must have tired you.

Oh, thank you,” she said when Charley offered the cushion she had been sitting on.

Stuffing it behind Lady St. Merryn, Miss Davies added kindly, “There now. Your salts bottle is ready to hand, and I shall ring for a footman to fetch your very own fire screen from the drawing room, for I know you do not like the one in here. We do not like to see your cheeks grow too red, do we?”

Lady St. Merryn fluttered a limp hand in response, and Lady Ophelia, who had been watching the whole procedure with patent displeasure, said tartly, “Cease your prattling, Ethelinda, for goodness’ sake.

Letty cannot have been worn out by climbing one flight of stairs, nor will she or her precious rouge melt from this paltry fire.

Moreover, a good brisk walk in the fresh air would do her a great deal more good than those nasty salts, but if you are going to ring for a footman, pray tell him to bring more logs.

I cannot think why no one has filled the basket.

In another quarter hour there will be only ashes on that hearth. ”

Lady Susan said, “You girls, go with Cousin Ethelinda now, and do your lessons. Perhaps if you are very good, Aunt Daintry will take you riding when the weather clears.”