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“You quite mistake the matter, my dear Shurland. Delagarde is acting, I assure you, from motives of the purest chivalry.” She laid a hand upon Adela’s arm. “I fear you are very much put out, my dear. Never fear. We shall say the child has come expressly to stay with me, because Delagarde’s mama wished for the connection, and because Reginald Hope was my own dear friend.”
“You may say so. I will not. No one will think it an adequate reason for Mary to come out under your aegis instead of mine. I shall be made to seem the greatest beast in nature, and I think it is quite heartless of Mary to subject me to such a horrid slander!”
Upon which, Lady Shurland burst into sobs, and rushed out of the room. Her harassed spouse turned on Maidie.
“I hope you are satisfied!” He swung round on Delagarde. “As for you, sir, concoct what story you wish, but don’t expect me to corroborate it!”
“The only thing I require is that you will keep quiet about Lady Mary’s fortune. Neither you nor I can wish for the sort of speculation which must arise if society should hear of it.”
“I shall say nothing, but I must point out to you that you, far more than I, are likely to be hurt by its becoming known.”
“Well, if you spread the news about, you will discover your mistake,” Delagarde said trenchantly. “Because I will set it about that you tried to marry Lady Mary off to your brother-in-law.”
“If you imagine Eustace wishes to marry her, you are mightily mistaken. The truth is he desires nothing less—as who shall blame him?”
On this parting shot, he stalked out of the room, leaving Maidie a prey to conflicting emotions.
Chapter Five
On the one hand, Maidie was relieved Delagarde had perversely chosen to champion her; on the other, she was disturbed by Firmin’s veiled hints. What had he meant? Her thoughts dissipated as Lady Hester gave way to laughter.
“What a dreadful liar you are, Laurie! I don’t know how I kept my countenance.”
Delagarde grinned. “You can talk, Aunt Hes!” He saw Maidie staring at him in frowning silence, and raised an eyebrow. “Well? You have got what you wanted, have you not?”
“Yes, but I can’t think why, when you know very well you heartily dislike the notion.”
“True. But not as much as I disliked Lady Shurland. Come to that, I am not overfond of Shurland either.”
“They are both hateful! Firmin was lying, too. It is quite possible Eustace does not wish to marry me—for he doesn’t like me any more than I like him—but he will overcome his reluctance in order to get his hands on my money.”
“So will a great many others,” Delagarde said. “Which is why we are going to say nothing about it.”
“Then how am I to get a husband?”
“You will have to rely on your looks and natural charm of manner.”
“Oh,” Maidie said doubtfully. Then Lady Hester began to laugh again, and a slight flush crept into her cheeks. “You mean to be sarcastic, I suppose, but I do not care.”
“You need not tell me that.”
“Well, but you completely agreed with Adela. You said exactly the same as she did about this gown.”
“Did I?” Delagarde looked her up and down. Then, so suddenly she had no time to protest, he stepped up to her and, in one swift movement, ripped the bandeau from her head. Maidie uttered a stifled cry and put her hands up to her hair. She hardly heard the shocked reactions of the other ladies, for Delagarde had taken hold of her wrists, and was pulling down her struggling hands.
“Stand still! Do you think I am going to hurt you? Just be quiet a moment!”
Maidie stared up at him, lost in amazement, unable either to speak or move as she felt his fingers moving deftly in her hair, running through her curls, and prinking them. She followed the motion of his eyes as they flicked about together with the action of his fingers. As he finished, the dark eyes came to rest on hers. They smiled.
“There, that is better.” He stepped back. “You look much younger, and the gown is now unexceptionable.”
Lady Hester clapped her hands. “Well done, Laurie!” She came up to Maidie. “Don’t look so bemused. He is quite right. The bandeau and feathers were a mistake.”
“But he hates my hair! I know he said something silly to Adela, but—”
“Whatever I may have said, it is quite untrue that I hate it. Besides, since you are desirous of catching a husband, it will usefully attract attention. There is bound to be some deluded fool who falls in love with it. And the sooner the better.”
“At last we are of one mind!” retorted Maidie, reviving from her bemused state. She drew a breath, and smiled at Delagarde.
