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Maidie said nothing. She waited a moment, but he did not speak. There seemed nothing more to say. As Maidie passed through the door, she thought she heard him call her name. If he had, she ignored it. She could bear no more.
By the time she next emerged from the seclusion of her bedchamber, an hour or so later, the elder ladies had returned and Delagarde had evidently gone out. She invited Lady Hester and Miss Wormley to congratulate her on having won the withdrawal of Delagarde’s opposition.
“I beg your pardon?” said Lady Hester blankly.
“Delagarde has said I may marry whomever I please,” Maidie repeated stonily, moving to stand before the fireplace.
Her duenna, seated as usual next to Lady Hester on the little sofa from where Delagarde had announced his change of mind, looked at that lady, and then back at Maidie, clearly unable to decide whether this was to be regarded as good news.
“Well, that is—that is very well done of him,” she twittered. “I think. Do you agree, Lady Hester?”
“My dear Ida, it entirely depends upon his motive.” Her brows rose at Maidie. “Did he give one?”
“He says my elopement made him realise he was wrong, and he hopes my fancy has alighted upon someone worthy.”
“Ah, I see,” said the elder lady, and Maidie stiffened as she saw the twinkle. Lady Hester put up a restraining hand. “Don’t poker up! You did not, I do sincerely trust, give him to understand your affections are engaged.”
Maidie whisked restlessly away. “He guessed it—I think. I denied it—or I think I did.” She turned to look back at them. “He said he did not believe me.” She frowned direfully at Lady Hester. “Is that funny?”
“It is delightful!” But the elder lady muffled her amusement and rose to come and put an arm about her young friend’s shoulders. “Come, dear child, don’t look daggers at me. Save them for Laurie. I declare, I have a very good mind to box his ears for him!”
Mystified, Maidie opened her eyes at Lady Hester. “I cannot think what you would be at.”
“I know, but never mind. When you are my age, you will have the same privilege of laughing at the blind folly of your fellows.” She kissed Maidie’s cheek. “Would you care for some advice?”
“Very much indeed,” said Maidie, sighing.
Lady Hester gave her a hug and let her go. “Abandon these die-away airs, my dear, and bury yourself in the hobby you love so much. Leave your future to take care of itself, and the right man will very soon find you out.”
Sound sense, and Maidie resolved to do her best to carry out the first part of this programme at least. For Lady Hester’s sake, if nothing else. She had not thought how poor a companion she must be, wearing her heart on her sleeve in this melancholy fashion. Besides, it was a foolish waste of time and energy, moping about after a man who plainly did not return her affection. Great-uncle would have heartily disapproved.
Of more importance not to appear in the least conscious tonight, for their engagement was at the Shurland house in Hanover Square. One of the reasons Maidie had chosen to elope the previous day was in the hopes of avoiding the necessity of attending this event. But this was now inevitable, and she could only hope Eustace and Adela would have too much to do to trouble her.
So it proved, although she was frequently aware of Eustace watching her. But Maidie was hard put to carry out the rest of Lady Hester’s advice, for her suitors were as assiduous as ever. Even Sholto Lugton came up to her, with a sheepish grimace.
Under cover of some idle chatter, he whispered, “Lord Delagarde has just told me I should appear to favour you still, so no one may suspect anything.”
She thanked him, casting an involuntary glance about for the Viscount. She could not see him, and suppressed a sense of disappointment at his failing to intervene in her affairs. He had promised he would not, and she had besides refrained from going apart with any of her attendant suitors. She had no desire to be tête-à-tête with any of them, and was unable now to imagine how she had ever contemplated matrimony even with the amusing Wiveliscombe. As well, perhaps. There were new faces, but although Hampford, Bulkeley and the Rankmiston son had not given up, Wiveliscombe was conspicuously absent from her circle.
A fact which Delagarde had noted with scarcely veiled satisfaction. “Better a wounded heart, than a lifetime of slights and betrayal.”
“What was that, old fellow?” asked Corringham.
Lord Riseley snorted. “Muttering again, is he?” He moved to stand by Delagarde, laying a hand on his shoulder. “No use glowering at them, dear boy. Either you forbid the banns, or you leave her be.”
Delagarde turned his head. “I have given my word, Peter.”
“I know you have,” said his friend, shaking his head. “Stupid thing to do, if you ask me. Only look at the collection of riff-raff she has about her!”
“Thank you, I have seen them. And you are adding nothing to my comfort.”
“Well, what possessed you to back down, old fellow?” asked Corringham.
Delagarde had no reply to make to this, but Riseley answered for him.
“Taken leave of his senses!” He laughed. “Mind you, I’ve a notion he did that a few weeks back.”
“What the deuce do you mean, Peter?”
