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"Excuse me if I've offended you!" He grinned again and sighed lustily. "But I fear you are correct. I expect it stems from too many years in the army."
"You served with Darnell, Aunt Lillian told me. Where were you posted?"
"We saw action through most of the Peninsular war, then at Waterloo." He paused, a shadow passing over his face. "'Twas often a bloody business, which I'm sure Miss Standish would
pronounce not a proper topic for a lady's drawing room. But at times I still miss the camaraderie of the unit and the sense that one was engaged in a business more important than oneself. And the uniform, of course, which the ladies found very dashing."
She laughed, as she was sure he meant her to. "You were in the hussars, were you not? You must know horses, then. Now that my aant will be perrnitting me to go about, I wish to purchase horses and perhaps a carriage."
"Do you drive?"
"Nothing but a pony trap, and not for many years. I may have to learn all over again. But I can begin riding again as soon as I can obtain a suitable mount."
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"Tattersalls would be the best place here in the city to look for one. Should you like me to make inquiries?"
"I should be much obliged! Or...is that something I shouldn't ask you to do, even though you are a very old friend of the family?" She smiled ruefully. "I expect Darnell has warned you I grew up with little supervi sion. Lady Darnell has been doing her best to rectify my faults, but there are so many rules! I could ask Darnell to assist me, but I imagine he shall be fully occupied dancing attendance on his fiancée and her family."
"Poor Adam," Mr. Dixon murmured.
Helena was surprised into a chuckle. "How very unchivalrous, Mr. Dixon!"
Coloring a bit, he returned, "You must allow her mama to be a bit...overwhelming. I much prefer present company."
"You are quite the gallant, sir! But—would it be ac ceptable for you to look into acquiring horses for me?"
"Quite acceptable," he confirmed.
"And you would not consider it an imposition? Please do tell me if it is, for I've procured an excellent map of London and am sure I could find the place myself."
"No imposition at all. I go to most of the auctions anyway, which, I'm afraid, are not attended by ladies."
"Then however is one to—" Stopping herself before she voiced her opinion of the idiocy of that stricture, Helena continued, "Thank you for the warning. I shall need all I can get, if I am to avoid falling into behavior that might reflect badly upon poor Aunt Lillian." She cast a bitter gl ance across the room at Miss Standish.
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Following the direction of her look, Mr. Dixon squeezed the hand that rested on his arm. "I hope to become your good friend, as I am Adam's."
"I should like that," Helena replied, smiling. Mr. Dixon was a man, of course, and therefore suspect, but it appeared he might make an amusing companion. His engaging manners and easy friendliness were particularly appealing after Miss Standish's enmity.
"With Darnell occupied elsewhere, it would be most helpful to have a trusted gentleman's advice on matters of propriety and fashion." Since it would be better not to approach Darnell himself, she thought, recalling the peculiar sensations they seemed to evoke in each other.
Mr. Dixon bowed. "I would be delighted to offer you a masculine perspective on whatever matter you wish to discuss.
Shall we begin immediately? Drive with me in the park tomorrow and I can show you the types of vehicles available while you point out the horses you prefer."
"If Aunt Lillian agrees, I would be delighted."
At that moment, smiling in approbation, Aunt Lillian called to them. "Helena, dear, Miss Standish and her family are departing.
Come help me bid them goodbye."
As a member of the family. Helena understood at once the significance of the gesture and a pang of bittersweet affection pierced her chest. Aunt Lillian might not have the biting wit to engage Miss Standish in verbal combat, but she intended by her actions to show Adam's betrothed that she fully embraced her unortho dox niece.
"Shall we set a time for the drive?" Mr. Dixon asked, interrupting her reflections. After settling the matter, he bowed.
'"Twas my very great pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Lambarth. Until tomorrow."
He bent over her hand. Beyond his lowered head Helena saw Darnell, fiancée on his arm, staring as Mr. Dixon saluted her fingers. A disapproving frown creased his brow.
A look sizzled between them. Turning away, Helena shrugged
off the sensation. Darnell could hardly object to the attentions paid her by his good friend. And despite the intensity of their reaction to each other, his breeding impulses must now be focused on Miss Standish.
Somehow Helena could not help feeling that would be a very great waste.
CHAPTER 13
The following day at nuncheon Aunt Lillian announced they would begin the round of social calls necessary for Helena's introduction to Society. First on the list was Aunt Lillian's old friend and Society leader, Lady Jersey.
While Lady Darnell retired to ready herself for the excursion, Charis asked Helena to stay with her for a few minutes in her sitting room.
"We've not had a chance to chat since dinner last night. What did you think of Miss Standish?" Charis asked after they'd seated themselves before the hearth.
Not knowing how Charis felt about her brother's fiancée, Helena answered carefully, "I found her attrac tive and very.. .self-assured."
Charis sniffed. "Indeed! Adam said Miss Standish used to be a lively child If she was, I can't help thinking she has grown rather stodgy. And she seems always so...measuring, as if she is constantly assessing my actions and finding them wanting. And I thought it most unkind of her to call attention to the fact that you do not wear mourning, which anyone who knows what transpired with your father would perfectly understand,
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but which might well be thought improper by those who do not."
Helena smiled wryly. "I don't think Miss Standish likes me very much."
Charis tossed her head. "I expect not. You are just as rich as she is, and much more beautiful."
"Me?" Helena shook her head dismissively. "With her blond hair and light eyes, I thought Miss Standish very lovely. And dear as you are to claim so, no disinterested observer would ever call me beautiful."
"Perhaps not in the conventional sense," Charis admitted.
"You possess something more—a sort of intensity that makes you seem so.. .alive, it is almost as if you are in motion even when you are sitting still."
Helena laughed out loud. "What a fanciful notion!"
Charis chuckled. "Fanciful perhaps, but 'tis true. Gentlemen certainly notice it! Last night they could scarcely take their eyes from you." She paused, gazing into the fire for a moment. "No wonder that man on the mail coach stared at you. He must have sensed that.. .passion in you, even before you looked as lovely as you do now."
"And you are a great goose!" Helena said roundly. "If the gentlemen stared last night, I expect, as Miss Standish was at pains to point out, 'twas because of my oddly styled gown of inappropriate color. And if the company had not already been
well acquainted, you would have been the center of attention, for you were by far the prettiest lady present. I believe Aunt Lillian was correct in predicting your Season shall be a huge success!"
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"Though I fear I cannot like Miss Standish very much, I expect I should be grateful that Adam fixed his interest with her, for with the promise of her wealth to help restore Claygate, he will now be able to provide me a dowry. Not enough to make me acceptable to the highest sticklers, but I don't seek a grand match.
I would rather wed the choice of my heart, or not marry at all."
"If no man claims your heart, you must come live with me after Darnell installs Miss Standish here. But I suspect such a dreary single fate will not be yours."
"Oh, I am certain your life shall always be exciting, whether or not you marry! But I'm not so brave. I should prefer marriage to remaining unwed, if I can find a kind, sensible man who cares for me and wishes to retire to a pleasant country estate like Claygate— where we shall raise a bevy of children to idolize their daring Aunt Helena."
Warmed once again by Charis's affection, Helena replied,
"Then let's hope daring Aunt Helena doesn't spoil their future mother's chances of wedding the man she chooses by creating some awful scandal! Now, we must go change our gowns if we are to be ready to leave." With a hug, Helena left Charis and proceeded to her chamber.
An hour later they entered Lady Jersey's crowded drawing room. While they waited to speak with their hostess, Helena noticed their small party was drawing the attention of a number of the guests, who, while trying not to appear to be doing so, were
definitely scrutinizing her.
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Recalling Miss Standish's hostility last night, Helena wondered if Darnell's fiancée had begun circulating stories about his odd houseguest. Before she could decide how she should deal with that possibility, her aunt secured their hostess's attention.
After introductions and an exchange of greetings, Lady Jersey frankly inspected Helena's gown. "Unusual, Miss Lambarth, but quite becoming."
