Page 19 of A Hint of Scandal

Chapter Ten

True to his promise to Lady Gilbert, Max had Serafina back at the house in Great Titchfield Street before evening fell. They’d spent a joyous two hours viewing the entire contents of the museum with particular attention to the Egyptian antiquities, and he’d been rewarded for his efforts by the enthusiasm with which she’d studied every object in great detail, uttering little cries of excitement at each new revelation. He’d decided to steer well clear of discussing her home situation, and had divulged nothing of his own, as she seemed intent on keeping their conversation confined to things historical.

And now, alas, they were back at her brother’s house. However, before they could reach the door, Serafina ground to a halt on the pavement. Not difficult to sense the apprehension coursing through her and guess the reason for the suddenly tightened grip on his arm. She looked up at him out of those beautiful gray eyes that now held a mixture of anguish and apprehension. He could have drowned in those eyes. How had he not noticed how thick and long the eyelashes that framed them were.

Good heavens, he must stop thinking like that immediately. But he couldn’t help it. Julian’s words, and those of his mother, echoed in his head. They wanted him to marry, in order to secure his inheritance, so what was holding him back? Marriage to a young woman like Miss Gilbert would surely not be difficult. She would be a most interesting companion—unlike those pretty, empty-headed debutantes whose mamas were so keen for them to secure advantageous marriages. And as for her, might she be grateful for being rescued from her present situation? Although… even if he cared for her, what sort of basis for marriage was mere gratefulness on one side? He brought himself up short. No, she could never care for a man who might just as well have only one arm, and not once had she bestowed anything but friendly interest on him. In short, she clearly did not find him an attractive proposition.

He had to clear his throat before he could speak. “Is there anything amiss?”

Her small white teeth drew her bottom lip in and a slight frown marred her pale brow. “I confess to being just a little uneasy about returning home after such a wonderful afternoon…” She gave an almost dismissive shrug, as though to belittle her feelings. “If I’m to be honest with you, I’d have to admit that I’m loathe to have this afternoon end, for it’s truly been one of the best I’ve ever spent.”

Discussing the possibility of someone one day using the Rosetta Stone to decipher hieroglyphics, smiling together at the sight of how the sarcophagus of the pharaoh Nectanebo had been turned into a bath, complete with drain holes, exclaiming over the mummies on display, wrapped in their bandage shrouds; those were the things which had held her rapt. Not his company, Max was even more certain now than he had been before.

He felt heat warm his cheeks. This admission, much as he’d like it to be for a quite different reason, must surely be due to where he’d taken her and what she’d seen. His acute awareness of his own disability resurfaced, as it was wont to do at inopportune moments. A woman as fiercely intelligent and sweet natured as Miss Gilbert wasn’t about to throw herself away on a man with only one good arm. But he could be of assistance to her. “You have no need to worry. I shall be coming in with you. Of course.”

She blinked. Were those tears forming on her lashes? “Thank you. That will make me feel more confident. You’re very kind.”

Kindness be damned. To his surprise he found he didn’t want the afternoon to end, nor to wish her goodbye. Coming inside would put off that moment a little longer. How had discussing long dead Egyptians made him feel so protective towards her? Was it perhaps because she was the first woman who’d shown him any interest, even though it had been entirely directed at where he’d taken her? Was he that needy?

He pushed his own feelings out of his head, albeit with some difficulty, and focused instead on hers.

Once more he found himself wondering what kind of a home her brother had given her that she should feel such apprehension after a perfectly acceptable outing with a gentleman who, did she but know it, found her a most interesting companion. He balked at using the word ‘attractive’ with all its connotations, even in his head, and even though, in his opinion, she undeniably was. Despite her having made it obvious she didn’t see herself in that way. That they could continue as friends was suddenly the most important thing in the world to him.

“Come. Let us brave your lion’s den.”

A small smile formed. “It would be best if you didn’t refer to my brother’s house in that way in front of him.”

He chuckled. “Have no fear. I shall be the soul of discretion.”

The family were still assembled in the drawing room, although this time accompanied by the patriarch, Sir Ogden, whom so far Max had only observed from afar. They presented a no doubt contrived tableau when the footman opened the door to usher Max and Serafina inside.

Sir Ogden was seated closest to the fire, the newspaper he’d been reading lowered to his lap, and an expression of stern disapproval on his flushed and fleshy face. Lady Gilbert sat opposite him, her upright chair drawn back from the heat as though she abhorred it, a piece of embroidery lying unheeded in her lap. Her cold eyes fixed with accusation on Serafina just for an instant as though she were something she’d trodden in by mistake and needed to wipe off the sole of her shoe. And, by contrast, there was the pretty niece, Letty, who’d stopped her piano playing in the middle of a piece to fix Max and her youthful aunt with a decidedly resentful stare. Altogether a rather forbidding reception party. Perhaps no one else had come to call that afternoon and Miss Letitia was seething with jealousy. Max found himself hoping so.

He made a careful bow, encompassing the room. “Good evening, once again. I hope I haven’t incommoded you by keeping Miss Gilbert out too long. I believe the clock in the hall was just striking five as we entered the house.”

Sir Ogden rose to his feet, puffing out his chest like a turkeycock, and returned Max’s bow. “Not at all, not at all. Five is a most reasonable hour to return. Most reasonable. So kind of you to have offered to escort my sister to…”

“The British Museum,” Max said.

“Quite so, quite so.” Sir Ogden rumbled. “Somewhere I myself should visit, I’m sure. Very enlightening, so I hear.” He gave a short guffaw at laughter, but whether it was at the idea of going somewhere like that himself, or for some other reason, was not evident.

His gaze slid past Max and flicked sharply over Serafina for a moment before returning to study Max a little further. “Delighted to make your acquaintance, Captain Aubrey.” He held out his hand. His right hand.

Whether it was deliberate or not, Max couldn’t be sure. He took it in his left hand, as he’d been having to do for some time now, and they shook, a little awkwardly. “Sir Ogden.” The color darkening on Sir Ogden’s cheeks implied he’d suddenly realized the error of his actions.

He cleared his throat. “Won’t you take a seat, Captain? My wife and I would very much like to further our acquaintance with you. You are the brother of the Earl of Westbury, I gather. My wife is like an encyclopedia of knowledge regarding the ton. She knows who absolutely everyone is related to.”

Lady Gilbert, having shot her husband a quelling glare, bestowed her most ingratiating smile upon Max. “Indeed, it would please me to invite you to take some tea with us. Serafina can go and organize that. Do, pray, sit down near the fire.” Without waiting for a reply, she waved a hand at Letty. “Whatever have you stopped playing for, child? Continue. I’m sure Captain Aubrey would be charmed to hear such a skillful rendition.”

Max turned to Serafina. “Please don’t organize tea on my account, Miss Gilbert. I’m afraid I’m unable to stay, as my sister-in-law will be expecting me for dinner in Cavendish Square.” He turned back to Lady Gilbert. “I just wanted to make sure Miss Gilbert arrived home safely, and that you were in no way put out by the length of time I’ve kept her out.” He beamed around at them, keeping his expression guileless and friendly, which took a Herculean effort. “I would very much like to return, if that is convenient, and take her out again. She is a most rewarding companion with all her knowledge of historical facts.”

There, get out of that if you can.

Oh, how hard Lady Gilbert was struggling to keep her expression affable. Sir Ogden, his face even redder than before, seemed at a loss what to say. Only young Letty, who had played just a few jumbled notes on her piano, seemed at ease. She swung around on her piano stool, her wide blue eyes, which anyone could have taken as guileless and sweet, instead diamond hard. “How lovely for you, Fina. Someone who shares your passion for history.” The spite behind those words almost made him take a step backwards.

Her mother shot her a look that would have quelled someone with more sensitivity, something young Letty seemed devoid of.

Bypassing Lady Gilbert, who would be trawling for any excuse to say no, Max directed his most commanding stare at Sir Ogden. “I was thinking perhaps in two days’ time—this Thursday, if you have no engagements that day which involve Miss Gilbert?”