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‘Thank you very much,’ said the Earl gravely. ‘I shall be on the watch for you, I assure you.’
Miss Taverner turned away to hide a smile, and after a final promise to call at the Earl’s house later in the day Peregrine took himself off.
The Earl looked at Miss Taverner, his brows lifting a little. ‘I perceive that it is you and not Peregrine who must bear me a grudge for that kidnapping,’ he said. ‘Really, I had no idea it would produce such unnerving results. I am exceedingly sorry.’
She laughed. ‘I think it is Harriet who is to be pitied.’
‘I must remember to make her my apologies. May I felicitate you, Miss Taverner, on having attained your majority?’
‘Thank you,’ murmured Miss Taverner. ‘Perhaps it is I who should felicitate you on being rid of a charge which I believe has been very irksome.’
‘Yes,’ remarked the Earl thoughtfully. ‘I do not think you missed many opportunities to flout my authority.’
She bit her lip. ‘If you had used me with more courtesy, more – more consideration, I should not have done so. You missed no opportunity to vex me!’
‘But I should not have done so had not you made the temptation irresistible,’ he pointed out.
‘I believe,’ said Miss Taverner coldly, ‘that you have some papers you wish to hand over to me.’
‘I have,’ he replied. ‘But on second thoughts I have decided – with your permission, of course – to send them instead to your lawyer.’
‘I am sure I do not know who is to look after my affairs for me,’ said Miss Taverner.
‘That will be a task for your husband,’ he answered.
‘I have not got a husband,’ said Miss Taverner pettishly.
‘Very true, but that can soon be remedied. Now that you are free from my shackles your suitors will flock to the house.’
‘You are extremely good, but I have no wish to marry any of them. I confess I did not like it at the time, but lately I have been glad that you refused your consent to them all. Which puts me in mind, Lord Worth, of what I wish to say to you.’ She drew a deep breath, and embarked on the speech she had prepared. ‘I have not always appeared to be sensible of the care you have bestowed on me, but I know now that it has been unceasing. I am deeply grateful for your kindness during the past –’
‘My what?’ demanded the Earl.
She said stiffly: ‘Your many kindnesses.’
‘But I thought I was the most odious, provoking, detestable creature alive?’
She regarded him with a smouldering eye. ‘Yes, you are!’ she said. ‘Civility compelled me to try at least to thank you for the services you have rendered me, but if you will have none of it, I assure you I do not care! You put me in the horridest situation when you encouraged my cousin to make off with me; you had not the common courtesy to call to see how I did yesterday; you wrote me instead the most odious letter (and I daresay if he had not been away you would have told Mr Blackader to do it to save you the trouble!); and now you come to visit me in one of your disagreeable moods, and try to make me lose my temper! Well, I shall not do it, but I shall take leave to tell you, my lord, that however glad you may be to be rid of your ward you cannot be as glad as I am to be rid of my guardian!’
His eyes were alight with laughter. ‘I am very sorry to have put you in a horrid situation,’ he said. ‘I did not come to see you yesterday because you were still my ward then; I had no idea of writing you an odious letter (and Mr Blackader is not away); and I am not in one of my disagreeable moods. But I am very glad to be rid of my ward.’
‘I know that,’ said Miss Taverner crossly.
‘I imagine you might, but do you know why, Clorinda?’
‘I wish you will not call me by that name!’
He took her hands in his. She made a half-hearted attempt to pull them away, and averted her face. ‘I shall call you just what I choose,’ said the Earl, smiling. ‘Are the recollections that name conjures up still so painful?’
‘You used me abominably!’ said Miss Taverner in a very small voice.
‘It is very true,’ said the Earl. ‘I did use you abominably, and I have been waiting ever since to do it again. Now, Miss Taverner, you are not my ward, and I am going to do it again!’
Every feeling of propriety should have prompted Miss Taverner to resist. She did indeed blush rosily, but although her hands moved in the Earl’s it was only to return the clasp of his fingers. For a moment he held her so, looking down into her face; then he let go her hands and swept her into his arms.
Mrs Scattergood, quietly coming into the room just then, stood transfixed on the threshold, gazing in blank amazement at the spectacle of her charge locked in the Earl of Worth’s embrace. He was standing with his back to the door, and Mrs Scattergood, recovering from her astonishment just in time, whisked herself out of the room again before her presence had even been suspected.
‘Now do you know why I am glad to be rid of my ward?’ demanded the Earl.
