Carrying the Gentleman's Secret by Helen Dickson

Author:Helen Dickson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2017-10-13T18:00:49+00:00

Chapter Seven

At the warmth and sincerity of Miranda’s greeting, despite Lydia’s history with Henry, she felt at ease. This good feeling lasted only a moment. One look at the beautiful young woman Miranda introduced her to—whose nose was long and straight and perfect for looking down—made Lydia’s heart sink. It only took her moment to realise that Irene Hilton, who was perhaps two or three years older than herself, was unlike Miranda in every aspect. Lydia did not care for her. There was something malicious about her.

It was plain to Lydia that Miss Hilton was confident and assured of her place in the grand sphere of things. With her attractive looks, an abundance of shining fair hair, the dark-lashed deep blue eyes and skin like clotted cream, she had been blessed with every physical advantage a woman could wish for. And just a few minutes in her company were enough to tell Lydia that she knew it.

As Lydia settled herself opposite this aloof woman, Miss Hilton’s austere gaze settled on her in a cool and exacting way. Impersonally, her eyes raked her with a single withering glance as if she were some beggar who had the temerity to come calling on those who were better off, deciding then that she was of the lower class and had no social credentials to recommend her. Immediately a wall of antipathy sprang up between them and Irene seemed bent on putting her at a disadvantage from the start.

‘So you are the woman Alex has taken under his wing,’ she remarked, her tone lightly contemptuous. Her lips stretched tightly in a practised smile, giving Lydia a flash of sharp white teeth from between her parted red lips.

There were hidden connotations behind the smile and Lydia was not quite sure how to read them, but whatever the meaning behind it, Lydia knew it would not do to get off on a bad footing with this woman. Puzzled, she looked at Miranda, a look that said how does she know?

‘I’m sorry, Lydia. A few weeks ago Irene saw you in Alex’s carriage driving away from the bank. Irene mentioned it to me and I told her I had no idea who you were. When we met in the park that day, being the busybody that I am, I asked Alex a few impertinent questions. He told me what had transpired between you and the bank manager and how he had stepped in to help you.’ She had the grace to look contrite. ‘I did tell Irene about it. I’m sorry. I should not have been so indiscreet.’

‘Please—don’t worry about it,’ Lydia said tersely, having credited Alex with more discretion. Looking at Miss Hilton, though, she gritted her teeth, longing to slap this woman’s impertinent face, but common sense prevailed. There was nothing she could do about the knowledge Alex had imparted to his sister, but there was nothing like a smile and politeness to confuse a foe or charm a friend, and Lydia’s lips curved graciously.

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