The Singular Miss Carrington by Hazard Barbara

Author:Hazard, Barbara
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-07-17T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter nine

Now that the damage was done, the marquess lingered on the doorstep, insisting that they must both agree on the story they would tell. Again he stressed that Claire was not to say anything about his orphanages. When she asked how she was to explain her appearance in that case, he told her that he intended to say that during their drive they had seen a tenement on fire, and when they heard children calling, had both gone to help them. This explanation was so close to the truth it would be easy to remember. Although such behavior was sure to be considered extremely odd, if they both told the exact same story and did not deviate from it in any way, it would have to be accepted.

The marquess put from his mind the conjectures of the ton that already he could imagine so well. Why, for example, people would ask, had he not sent his groom to the rescue? Surely that would have been more seemly! And what on earth had he been thinking of to allow Miss Carrington to fall into such danger, all for the sake of a few brats who were sure to turn into London’s future criminals? He seemed to see Sir Reggie’s sneer, that he had bothered to soil his gloves and burn his coat in such an unworthy cause.

And then, as Claire nodded and agreed, the pale green veiling of her hat fell against her dirty cheek, and Andrew could not resist reaching out to smooth it back with one strong finger. As he did so, Claire’s eyes went quickly to his face, and she caught her breath at the dangerous light she saw in his eyes. In some confusion, she lowered her long black lashes to her cheeks, biting her lower lip.

The marquess was quick to take her hand in farewell, for he did not dare to stay longer. “I shall call on you tomorrow at three, Claire. By that time we should have some indication of what all London is saying about us,” he told her, trying for a light tone.

“I am so sorry, Andrew, but that will not be possible. I am engaged to drive with the duke then.” At the sudden coldness in his face at her pronouncement, she hastened to add, “Do you go to Mrs. Eberley’s soirée tomorrow evening? We can compare notes there.”

The marquess was forced to accept this alternative plan, and then he sounded the knocker for her and ran lightly down the steps to his phaeton.

He was so abstracted on the drive home that Michaels had to remind him of the turning into Upper Brooks Street. The old groom credited this heavy concentration to his concern for the children, and forbore to comment. Of all Lord Blagdon’s servants, he was the only one who knew of the homes, and although he had been strong in his objection to such charity at first, now he knew what a good work his master did. He

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