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

light. What color do you suppose
that is, dear?”
    “That would make it somewhere in between.” His
reply sounded weak, even to him.
    “How clever of you.” She raised her hands to the
sky. “I’ve raised a blessed genius.”
    He’d botched that one. Her immediate praise
obviously meant he had been completely off.
    “Since she has this in-between hair color how would
you decide her age?”
    Mother was going back there, was she? “Well, if I
were to hazard a guess.”
    “Yes?”
    “I would have to say that she’s not exactly old.”
What was he going to say? What would appease his mother? If he knew, he’d say
almost anything to make her happy. “Nor would I venture to say she was exactly
young.”
    “Not old and not young,” the Duchess repeated
unamused. “At least you’re consistent in your obscure description of your
chaperone. One hopes she doesn’t get lost because you could never pick her out
of a crowd.”
    “Why on earth would Mrs. Hayes get lost? I assure
you I intend to provide transportation—”
    The Duchess’ blistering glare stopped him in
midsentence.
    Haverton would not be intimidated, not even by his
own mother. “I must object at your treatment, Mother. Mrs. Hayes—”
    “Her name is Miss Hayward!”
    “—is little better than a servant. I do not know
how old she is, nor do I care, really.” He flopped into a chair and sat with
both his arms and legs crossed.
    “Perhaps you should.”
    There were certain times such as this when he felt
as if he were still ten years old and had never grown up. He stood when his
mother rose to greet Mrs. Hayes. The chaperone curtsied and, if Haverton wasn’t
mistaken, moved not so much toward his mother but more away from him.
    “And how are you this morning, Miss Hayward?” The
Duchess gave a respectful, wide smile, the impressive one she reserved for
those of her rank and above.
    “I find that I am more fatigued than usual, Your
Grace.”
    “London parties will do that to you. Are you ready
to leave?”
    “Yes, Your Grace.”
    “Let us be on our way then, shall we? You will
excuse us, won’t you, Robert?” Her Grace gestured Catherine out of the room,
and turned back to her son. “Do give serious thought about what we’ve been
discussing, dear.”
    Sinking into his chair, Robert answered with a
groan.
    It had been a good ten minutes since the Waverly
carriage pulled away from Moreland Manor. The Duchess shifted in her seat and
smiled at Catherine, with her usual warmth. “Why is it you allow my son to call
you Mrs. Hayes?”
    “I’m afraid that correcting him is an endless task.”
    “He is so stubborn.” By Her Grace’s expression,
Catherine guessed it was a difficulty she had to deal with over the years. “He
gets these things into his head.” She tapped her own with two fingers. “Where
he gets that from, I cannot imagine.”
    “I don’t mind, really. Mrs. Hayes sounds more
respectable, don’t you think? Especially for a chaperone.”
    The Duchess smiled. “I am glad you are not bothered
by his disregard of your proper name.” She glanced away for a moment, and
whispered, “Perhaps it will all work out better in the end …”
    “Excuse me?” Catherine hadn’t quite caught
everything Her Grace had said.
    “It’s nothing. Tell me how you enjoyed your evening.”
    In her embarrassment, Catherine studied the twisted
strings of her reticule.
    “Come now, do not be shy. Remember, you must answer
me honestly. There are no set rules for your position therefore we must always
be truthful with one another.”
    Her Grace had the right of it. There was no one in
all of England who chaperoned a man. As little as he cared to guide and discuss
what should be proper conduct, he had not. Catherine was given simple
instructions. She actually welcomed the Duchess’ intervention in this matter.
    “You’ll think me quite foolish, Your Grace, but I
have never seen such splendor in all my life.”
    Her Grace lifted her chin, and