“Pray don’t stand on ceremony, my dear Appoline. Not with me at least.” He smiled again and gestured widely. “But should we not sit down? Alex, my boy, set a chair for Appoline, if you will. Near the fire here. The poor child looks half frozen.”
Alex shifted a chair closer to the fire, lifting his brows at Apple and grinning as he invited her to take it. She cast him an anxious glance as she sat down. He could not resist a low murmur. “You’re doing very well. He likes you.”
She flushed and shook her head, but he saw with satisfaction how her gaze drifted to his father, who was seeing to Georgy’s comfort and finding himself a chair.
“He’s very kind,” she whispered, “but if he knew the truth…”
“Shush! He doesn’t and won’t.”
He could not withstand a faint rise of apprehension himself, however, when his father began upon an apparently casual questioning about Georgy and Apple’s friendship. Knowing his canny sire, Alex did not doubt he had an end in view.
Georgy, who had ever been their father’s pet, saw nothing amiss and embarked upon their agreed story with a glibness Alex hoped would pass muster. Apple, when appealed to, was quick to support Georgy, but Alex realised she was being as reticent as she could and dared not suppose his father would not notice it. The best he could hope for was that Lord Luthrie might take it for shyness, since it was obvious to the meanest intelligence that Apple was ill-at-ease.
She became less so under Lord Luthrie’s skilful handling, and Alex was just beginning to entertain the notion that she might cope when his mother’s voice sounded in the gallery.
“In the morning room, are they, Meech? Very well, I’ll go in. Pray instruct the chef to augment the meal, if Mrs Herbert has not already done so.”
Lord Luthrie, alerted to his wife’s imminent arrival, broke off what he was saying and turned to the door, rising as it opened and speaking at once as he moved towards his lady. “Ah, my dear, you’ve returned in good time to welcome our unexpected guest.”
Chapter Sixteen
Apple’s heart jumped with some violence as she surveyed the lady who had just walked in. This must be the formidable matron of whom it seemed both Alex and Georgy stood in awe. At first glance, this did not surprise her. Lady Luthrie was tall, rather gaunt, with a beak of a nose in an otherwise attractive countenance that strongly resembled Alex. She looked to be quite as autocratic as her son and a good deal less benevolent.
Quaking all over again, Apple could not believe she might find as kind a reception as she’d received from Lord Luthrie. She was proved right almost immediately.
“Good heavens, Luthrie, what in the world do you mean? Meech said Georgiana had arrived with Alexander, of all things.”
“Quite so, my dear. It appears young Robert has gone off to Pomerania to fight the French, and Alex engaged to bring his sister home.”
“He’s not fighting the French, Papa. He’s only gone to the coast.”
“However that may be, I dare say Robert wishes you to remain under my aegis.” Ignoring the rest of the party, Lady Luthrie then crossed to her daughter. “Georgiana, my dear child, what in the world are you doing sitting here? Surely you should be resting after the journey?”
“Oh, Mama, pray don’t start fussing. I’m perfectly all right, I promise you.”
Georgy got up and gave her mother a chaste salute on the cheek. Quite unlike the way she’d greeted her father. Apple’s apprehension increased.
“Nonsense, girl. If there’s one thing more certain than another, it’s that travelling is bound to tire you. Especially in the early months. It’s important to get your rest.”
“You sound just like Reddy.”
“Mrs Reddicliffe? Pray how should she come into the picture?”
“Oh, Alex brought her to look after me while…”
Apple’s heart was in her mouth, but Alex came to the rescue.
“Had to take a bolt to the capital before bringing her here, ma’am. Rob didn’t want the girls left on their own, so I fetched her old nurse.”
“Girls?” Lady Luthrie had turned to Alex, but at this her glance swept the room and found Apple. “Ah yes, your friend, is it, Georgiana?”
To Apple’s relief, Lord Luthrie took a hand, moving to her chair even as she rose from it, twisting her fingers in a nervous fashion.
“My dear, allow me to present Miss Appoline Greenaway. Her friends call her Apple, but you will not regard that.”
“Apple? I should think not indeed.”
Lady Luthrie’s beaky nose pointed itself at Apple in a fashion so like Alex sometimes that she was seized with a most unseemly amusement, and had all to do to prevent herself succumbing to a fit of the giggles.
