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“Yes, he did,” Maidie agreed dully, for she was sick at heart. “I had no idea of it myself, for my mother died long before I was old enough to be told.”
Lady Hester gave a tiny smile. “You are hurt, and I don’t wonder at it. But bear with me a little, child. Of course I thought of you for Laurie. I am but human, and a little of the matchmaker is in all of us females.” The mischief leapt into her eyes. “But I would have to be a great fool to continue to entertain such hopes in the face of your antipathy to Delagarde, would I not?”
“Yes.” A small voice, for a faint hope was lifting a little of the cloud.
The mischief deepened. “Surely, dear child, you cannot truly believe my adoption of you has remained of a mercenary nature? I cannot answer for Laurie, but you won my heart in the shortest possible order, Maidie.”
Maidie stared at her, a glow spreading through her bosom. After a moment, she became aware the Worm was weeping softly, and her own eyes brimmed again.
“Oh, ma’am, forgive me! Pray forgive me!”
Lady Hester brushed the apology aside. “Nonsense, there is nothing to forgive. I am only sorry you should have been troubled by such uncomfortable thoughts.”
Maidie smiled rather mistily. “You are very good. I am so thankful to have been wrong.”
A thought occurred to her. She had been wrong about Lady Hester. But what of her other suspicion? All desire to weep receded, and she became aware of a heightened beating in her pulse. Should she ask? She must. She had to know.
“Then it was not Lord Delagarde himself who wished to—I mean, I had a notion that—”
“Gracious, my dear, banish it!” exclaimed Lady Hester, laughing. “Laurie never thought of such a thing. He may have guessed what was in my mind, but it must be obvious to all of us he would be frankly appalled at the suggestion.”
Maidie, her breast swelling now with quite a different emotion, was about to announce, in no uncertain terms, that such sentiments were entirely reciprocated. She was forestalled by the entrance of Lowick, who ushered in some morning visitors: Adela, Lady Shurland, and her brother.
Jumping up, Maidie went quickly to the window, sure the traces of her recent distress must still be visible. She heard Lady Hester exchanging greetings behind her, and trusted she would keep these unwelcome callers occupied for a moment or two to give her time to compose herself.
When at last she turned around, she saw Adela had seated herself and was engaged in animated conversation with Lady Hester, in which the Worm bore no part, but sat silent beside her newly discovered kinswoman as if she depended upon her for protection. Eustace had remained standing, at a little distance from the ladies, and he was surveying Maidie with a look of pained disapproval.
She put up her chin, and stared back at him. She knew an impartial observer might suppose her to be inordinately nice in her notions to be turning down such a promising-looking suitor. For Eustace Silsoe was a personable young man, fairer than his sister, the distinct angularity of his features lending him much more countenance than was apportioned to Adela. He was above average height, slender of body, and neat in his dress. Only his eyes, which were slate blue, detracted from these attributes. They were cold, and held, for the most part, a calculating look which could not but repel a female of Maidie’s openness.
He crossed over to the window. “I am sorry to see you flinch from my presence, Maidie.”
This was so far from the truth Maidie relaxed. A convenient supposition, were she inclined to allow him to believe it. But her innate honesty revolted.
“If you must know, I turned away upon your entrance because I had just been in an upset, and I did not wish you or Adela to notice it.”
He looked discomfited. “I am sorry to hear it. No doubt your sojourn in this house is not proving as agreeable to you as you had expected?”
“Not at all. I was merely labouring under a little misunderstanding.”
Recalling how Adela’s spiteful words last night had caused her to take the notion in the first place, Maidie cast a glance across at her cousin. What she saw caused her to turn back to Eustace, suspicion rife in her bosom.
“What does Adela mean by putting on these airs of friendship with Lady Hester?”
“It would scarcely serve our cause not to remain upon good terms with this household.” Eustace smiled, but it did not reach his eyes. “You will forgive my plain speaking, I know, being so much an advocate for it yourself.”
“So much, Eustace, that I have no hesitation in stating you are both wasting your time. I shall not change my mind.”
“From what my sister has been saying, it seems as though you may well find it in you to be glad of my continuing interest.” He threw up a hand as she opened her mouth to retort. “No, don’t rip up at me, I beg. Content yourself with your quarrels with my sister. Now I, my dear Maidie, am not at all quarrelsome. I am also perfectly ready to permit you every sort of licence. I do most sincerely advise you to think well on it.”
“I have already thought, and I repeat. I shall not change my mind.”
The blue eyes held hers, a glint in them which sent an involuntary shiver up Maidie’s spine. She wanted to recoil, but she would not let him see it. She stood her ground, a slight lift to her brows pointing a question.
“Your ambition is most praiseworthy, Maidie.”
The purr in his tone made Maidie stiffen. “I do not take your meaning, Eustace.”
“Oh, I think you do.” Again the surface smile. “Pray do not imagine I blame you. I am, after all, as ambitious as you. But you would do well to consider. Such a prize might seem tempting. Should you succeed, it would be a triumph.”
