Embleboroughs, including Cissy's son and daughter. Natalie was here, too, and Harriette, of course. Maria was mostly able to let talk flow around her. She noted Vandeimen doing the same thing. Did he generally do so, or was this part of his dark mood? She suspected she had been very unperceptive these past weeks.
There was a knock on the door. Her footman opened it and turned to announce, "Major Hawkinville, ma'am."
Maria stared at the tall man in uniform, feeling as if she'd performed a conjuring trick. Then she thought to look at Vandeimen. He was already on his feet. "Hawk!" There was joy there, but a great many other things too.
Chapter Six
He was smiling, and it was a heartaching flash of boyishness she'd never seen before.
Now he was grasping his friend's hand, and she had the feeling that he'd like to embrace him. They weren't estranged, and whatever magic had brought the major here, it was good magic.
Everyone was watching them, doubtless sensing an important moment, then Vandeimen turned to her.
"Maria, I've spoken of Major Hawkinville, an old friend and neighbor. Hawk, my lovely bride to be, Mrs. Celestin."
She held out her hand. "I'm very pleased to meet you, Major." He was hawkish, though a second later she wasn't sure why. No hooked nose, no yellow eyes.
His face was lean, his hair a soft brown, and worn a little long with a wave in it. He was, above all, elegant, making even Van look a little rough around the edges.
He took her hand and actually raised it to his lips. She felt their pressure through her glove. "How unfair of Van to steal you before I had a chance, Mrs. Celestin." She started to smile, amused by his flirtation, but then she caught a hard glint in his deeply blue eyes.
Hawkish indeed. But why was he turning a predatory eye on her?
"You are still in the army, Major?" she asked, to fill the silence, though it was inane, given his scarlet and braid.
"Easing my way out, Mrs. Celestin."
"They'll be reluctant to let him go.” Vandeimen's smile said that if there'd been any ambivalence, it had gone. "We chargers and marchers are two-a-penny, but organizers like Hawk are treasured more than gold. Quartermaster Division,” he added in explanation to everyone. "Got the armies to the field, with weapons and supplies intact. To the right field at the right time, even, if they were really good.” The teasing look between the two men suggested it was an old joke.]]>
"And tidied up afterward," said the major, "which is why I get home a year late and find all the loveliest ladies taken."
He flashed Maria another look, but then turned to Natalie and to Cissy's blushing, seventeen-year-old daughter to express relief that some lovely ladies were still available.
Maria picked up conversation, but she was puzzling over the man's animosity. Was it Maurice?
He'd made a great deal of money supplying the army with clothes and equipment. Perhaps he'd clashed with Major Hawkinville at some point.
Was it the age difference? She wouldn't have expected another young man to be outraged.
Or perhaps she was misreading a dark mood that had nothing to do with her.
The bell rang to warn of the end of the intermission, so Maria invited the major to stay. He accepted, and she settled to the next act plotting how to keep him by Vandeimen's side as long as possible. She could bear his antagonism if she must.
At the next intermission, they all strolled in the corridor. Maria wasn't sure how, but she ended up partnered with the major, while Vandeimen escorted Louisa Embleborough, a young miss suitable for either of these handsome heroes.
"Jealousy? Already?"
She looked up into those very blue, very chilly eyes. There was no doubt. He was antagonistic toward her. She'd like to confront him directly about it, but that might drive him away. She made herself answer lightly.
"Not at all, Major. I know how devoted Lord Vandeimen is to me, and I trust his sense of honor."
His eyes narrowed, but then changed, so that
There was a knock on the door. Her footman opened it and turned to announce, "Major Hawkinville, ma'am."
Maria stared at the tall man in uniform, feeling as if she'd performed a conjuring trick. Then she thought to look at Vandeimen. He was already on his feet. "Hawk!" There was joy there, but a great many other things too.
Chapter Six
He was smiling, and it was a heartaching flash of boyishness she'd never seen before.
Now he was grasping his friend's hand, and she had the feeling that he'd like to embrace him. They weren't estranged, and whatever magic had brought the major here, it was good magic.
Everyone was watching them, doubtless sensing an important moment, then Vandeimen turned to her.
"Maria, I've spoken of Major Hawkinville, an old friend and neighbor. Hawk, my lovely bride to be, Mrs. Celestin."
She held out her hand. "I'm very pleased to meet you, Major." He was hawkish, though a second later she wasn't sure why. No hooked nose, no yellow eyes.
His face was lean, his hair a soft brown, and worn a little long with a wave in it. He was, above all, elegant, making even Van look a little rough around the edges.
He took her hand and actually raised it to his lips. She felt their pressure through her glove. "How unfair of Van to steal you before I had a chance, Mrs. Celestin." She started to smile, amused by his flirtation, but then she caught a hard glint in his deeply blue eyes.
Hawkish indeed. But why was he turning a predatory eye on her?
"You are still in the army, Major?" she asked, to fill the silence, though it was inane, given his scarlet and braid.
"Easing my way out, Mrs. Celestin."
"They'll be reluctant to let him go.” Vandeimen's smile said that if there'd been any ambivalence, it had gone. "We chargers and marchers are two-a-penny, but organizers like Hawk are treasured more than gold. Quartermaster Division,” he added in explanation to everyone. "Got the armies to the field, with weapons and supplies intact. To the right field at the right time, even, if they were really good.” The teasing look between the two men suggested it was an old joke.]]>
"And tidied up afterward," said the major, "which is why I get home a year late and find all the loveliest ladies taken."
He flashed Maria another look, but then turned to Natalie and to Cissy's blushing, seventeen-year-old daughter to express relief that some lovely ladies were still available.
Maria picked up conversation, but she was puzzling over the man's animosity. Was it Maurice?
He'd made a great deal of money supplying the army with clothes and equipment. Perhaps he'd clashed with Major Hawkinville at some point.
Was it the age difference? She wouldn't have expected another young man to be outraged.
Or perhaps she was misreading a dark mood that had nothing to do with her.
The bell rang to warn of the end of the intermission, so Maria invited the major to stay. He accepted, and she settled to the next act plotting how to keep him by Vandeimen's side as long as possible. She could bear his antagonism if she must.
At the next intermission, they all strolled in the corridor. Maria wasn't sure how, but she ended up partnered with the major, while Vandeimen escorted Louisa Embleborough, a young miss suitable for either of these handsome heroes.
"Jealousy? Already?"
She looked up into those very blue, very chilly eyes. There was no doubt. He was antagonistic toward her. She'd like to confront him directly about it, but that might drive him away. She made herself answer lightly.
"Not at all, Major. I know how devoted Lord Vandeimen is to me, and I trust his sense of honor."
His eyes narrowed, but then changed, so that
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