reaction was not quite what he had anticipated.
After an astonished second, Lady Caroline threw back her head and pealed with laughter. She whooped so hardily that the tears began to roll down her cheeks. Still caught in the throes of her amusement, she made a helpless gesture that his lordship understood.
Lord Trilby obligingly offered his linen handkerchief to her.
Lady Caroline snatched it. She mopped her eyes, but they were still brimful with laughter when she looked over at him. At his pained expression, she bit her lip, suppressing a fresh outburst. She cleared her throat experimentally before she dared speak. “That is better. I can see your dear foolish face again,” she said. There was an unmistakable wobbling in her voice. “You have done it, haven’t you, Miles?”
“And for no better purpose than to provide you with such unholy amusement,” Lord Trilby said gravely.
That nearly set her off again. Lady Caroline gurgled protest, throwing up her hand in appeal. “Do not tease me, pray! I will be good, I promise.” She straightened her shoulders and clasped her hands in her lap in an attitude of grave attention. “There, you see? I have put on my most sober frown. I am ready to make all sorts of sympathetic noises and to offer well-meaning advice.’’ Despite her declaration to the contrary, an irreverent chuckle escaped her.
“I appreciate the massive effort, my lady,” Lord Trilby said, his eyes reflecting his own pronounced amusement.
Lady Caroline’s eyes danced irrepressibly. “My poor witless friend. What will you do?”
“I still harbor hopes that you will step into the breach, my dear,” Lord Trilby said lazily.
At once her high appreciation of his imbroglio was at an end. Lady Caroline shook her head quickly. “Not I! I value your friendship, my lord, but not to the point of ruining my reputation and yours. The risk of taking part in such a grand deception makes my faint heart flutter with fear. Lord, but think of the gossip and the scandal.”
“You said but a moment ago that most of the neighborhood has taken up residence in London for the Little Season. As there is no reason why any of our neighbors should ever hear of the arrangement, I begin to think that the possibility of a scandal is very nearly nonexistent,” Lord Trilby said.
Lady Caroline was taken aback by his calm assertion. “You cannot possibly be serious, my lord!’’ She saw by his thoughtful expression that he was indeed quite earnest. She raised a further objection, one which she was certain must weigh heavily. “You have forgotten my aunt. Amaris would of a certainly tumble to something being in the air if you were suddenly to pay assiduous court to me in the company of the grandduchess.”
Lord Trilby nodded, but slowly. His brows were slightly knit while he reflected. “Mrs. Burlington is a formidable hurdle, I agree, but I think not unapproachable. She need never hear of the arrangement. I shall not call upon you here with the Grandduchess Wilhelmina Hildebrande. Instead, you may ride over to visit with my great-aunt over tea. Mrs. Burlington will not cavil at your paying a neighborly visit or two while I am known to be at Walmesley, and I do not anticipate that it will take more than a few appearances on your part before her grace is fully convinced of our ‘understanding.’ As soon as the grand old lady comes to accept it, I shall pack her off as speedily as possible, and then we may be comfortable again.”
Lady Caroline felt as though she was caught up in the unreal plot of the most lurid popular romance. “My aunt would never countenance my going to Walmesley without her chaperonage. Oh, I know that I have ridden over countless times in the past with only my groom in attendance, but I certainly cannot be expected to greet the Grandduchess of Schaffenzeits in my riding dress. Really, Miles! I should have to come in the carriage, which would be certain to arouse my aunt’s suspicions. And if
After an astonished second, Lady Caroline threw back her head and pealed with laughter. She whooped so hardily that the tears began to roll down her cheeks. Still caught in the throes of her amusement, she made a helpless gesture that his lordship understood.
Lord Trilby obligingly offered his linen handkerchief to her.
Lady Caroline snatched it. She mopped her eyes, but they were still brimful with laughter when she looked over at him. At his pained expression, she bit her lip, suppressing a fresh outburst. She cleared her throat experimentally before she dared speak. “That is better. I can see your dear foolish face again,” she said. There was an unmistakable wobbling in her voice. “You have done it, haven’t you, Miles?”
“And for no better purpose than to provide you with such unholy amusement,” Lord Trilby said gravely.
That nearly set her off again. Lady Caroline gurgled protest, throwing up her hand in appeal. “Do not tease me, pray! I will be good, I promise.” She straightened her shoulders and clasped her hands in her lap in an attitude of grave attention. “There, you see? I have put on my most sober frown. I am ready to make all sorts of sympathetic noises and to offer well-meaning advice.’’ Despite her declaration to the contrary, an irreverent chuckle escaped her.
“I appreciate the massive effort, my lady,” Lord Trilby said, his eyes reflecting his own pronounced amusement.
Lady Caroline’s eyes danced irrepressibly. “My poor witless friend. What will you do?”
“I still harbor hopes that you will step into the breach, my dear,” Lord Trilby said lazily.
At once her high appreciation of his imbroglio was at an end. Lady Caroline shook her head quickly. “Not I! I value your friendship, my lord, but not to the point of ruining my reputation and yours. The risk of taking part in such a grand deception makes my faint heart flutter with fear. Lord, but think of the gossip and the scandal.”
“You said but a moment ago that most of the neighborhood has taken up residence in London for the Little Season. As there is no reason why any of our neighbors should ever hear of the arrangement, I begin to think that the possibility of a scandal is very nearly nonexistent,” Lord Trilby said.
Lady Caroline was taken aback by his calm assertion. “You cannot possibly be serious, my lord!’’ She saw by his thoughtful expression that he was indeed quite earnest. She raised a further objection, one which she was certain must weigh heavily. “You have forgotten my aunt. Amaris would of a certainly tumble to something being in the air if you were suddenly to pay assiduous court to me in the company of the grandduchess.”
Lord Trilby nodded, but slowly. His brows were slightly knit while he reflected. “Mrs. Burlington is a formidable hurdle, I agree, but I think not unapproachable. She need never hear of the arrangement. I shall not call upon you here with the Grandduchess Wilhelmina Hildebrande. Instead, you may ride over to visit with my great-aunt over tea. Mrs. Burlington will not cavil at your paying a neighborly visit or two while I am known to be at Walmesley, and I do not anticipate that it will take more than a few appearances on your part before her grace is fully convinced of our ‘understanding.’ As soon as the grand old lady comes to accept it, I shall pack her off as speedily as possible, and then we may be comfortable again.”
Lady Caroline felt as though she was caught up in the unreal plot of the most lurid popular romance. “My aunt would never countenance my going to Walmesley without her chaperonage. Oh, I know that I have ridden over countless times in the past with only my groom in attendance, but I certainly cannot be expected to greet the Grandduchess of Schaffenzeits in my riding dress. Really, Miles! I should have to come in the carriage, which would be certain to arouse my aunt’s suspicions. And if
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