Read Online His Lordship's Chaperone by Shirley Marks - Free Book Online

the
bills. When they arrived, he’d remember well enough.
    Robert squeezed his eyes closed, adding to his
expression of disapproval.
    “Don’t be so clutch-fisted.” She slapped him on the
shoulder. “You can well afford it.”
    “It’s not the blunt, mother. It’s—”
    “If you hire a lady, you must expect to assume all
expenses of employing that lady. I should think you more than anyone would know
that. I know what goes on in Town, you know. I don’t bury my head in the
country like your father.” She pointed in the general direction of Suffolk.
“Now tell me, how was the Trowbridge soiree last night? And what of Miss
Hayward, dear?”
    “Couldn’t have gone better. I should have done this
years ago. Employing a chaperone has proven to be a complete success.
Unfortunately, I seem to have drawn much more interest with her than I would
have expected.”
    The Duchess returned a look of disapproval. “I am
not asking about the performance of her duties. I am speaking about Miss
Hayward, herself.”
    Clearly she had surprised Robert. He was, if she
were to believe what she saw, speechless.
    “Honestly, you have more hair than wit,” she
announced in no uncertain terms.
    Robert’s eyes widened and his jaw dropped open.
    She cut off any protest by immediately continuing.
“Just like your father. I gave birth to you. I should know if you’re a ninny.”
    “I am not accustomed to being spoken to in that
manner, not even by my mother,” he managed after her stupefying words.
    “Get used to it! If you’re going to act as if you
haven’t a brain in your head, you might as well be treated as such.”
    Robert stood and rubbed his forehead. “Mother …
what are you going on about?”
    “Your chaperone, of course. Have you not paid her
any attention?”
    “Of course I’ve noticed her. I breakfasted with her
just this morning. She accompanied me last evening to the Trowbridge do. How
could I not have noticed her?”
    The Duchess pursed her lips in concentration. She
hated to be the one who caused the smooth, handsome forehead of his to wrinkle.
But he simply had to learn to pay attention.
    “I doubt you would notice your own nose except it
is stuck between your eyes. Only the good Lord knows what would have happened
if he saw fit to place it on the back of your head.”
    Robert’s puzzled expression deepened. “Why would my
nose be on the back of my head?”
    “That is not the point!”
    “Mother, you are making it quite difficult to
follow this conversation.”
    Trying to keep her patience, the Duchess leaned
back, closed her eyes and regained her composure. “All right, then, tell me
exactly how old do you think Miss Hayward is?”
    “How old? Do you mean her age?”
    “Yes, dear, her age.” The Duchess gazed at him with
great concern. Perhaps placing Catherine under foot was not close enough for
him to take notice.
    Robert rubbed his chin. One would think he was
puzzling strategy for the war instead of stating his opinion. “I haven’t given
it a thought, really.”
    “Humor this old woman and do so now.”
    “Mother, I really don’t know,” Robert replied with
equal impatience. “I never thought to inquire.”
    “Inquire? How impertinent! You do not ask a lady
her age. Have you no sense at all?”
    Although weak, he attempted a reply.
    Again the Duchess cut him off. “To notice would
mean you would have to see her, look at her.” She could have well imagined he
had spent all that time in Catherine’s company and not taken any notice of her.
    “Certainly I’ve looked at her, Mother.”
    “Really …” She bobbed her head, waiting for him to
elaborate. He didn’t and she asked, “What color is her hair would you say?”
    “Her hair? Well … let me see …” If he did not
answer these questions correctly, Haverton knew serious trouble loomed ahead.
“Let me see …” He tried to think of something to say. “It’s not dark, but it’s
not light, either.”
    “Not dark, but not