“Felicity!” Angelica threw Raoul an anguished glance. “I told her in confidence, Raoul. I never thought…”
He waved her down, crossing to where the girl stood. She met his eyes boldly.
“Defiant and proud to the last, Miss Temple?”
She did not flinch. “Yes, when the alternative is abject humiliation.”
A shaft of sheer admiration ran through Raoul and he could not help the smile. He gentled his tone. “That you will never be. Sheathe your sword, if you please. We have both been duped. Let us not allow Maskery’s sordid scheme to win the day.”
For a moment the glare held. Then a long sigh escaped her and she dropped her gaze from his. “You are right, sir. It is unfair to lay the fault at your door. Especially after your chivalry last night. I beg your pardon.”
He put out a finger and raised her chin, forcing her to look at him. “Don’t. It’s not your fault either.” Releasing her, he indicated the chair to one side of the fireplace. “Let us all sit down and consider this affair calmly.”
She nodded, moving to drop into the chair indicated. Angelica hurried up, taking her place on the sofa opposite. “Yes, indeed. There is nothing to be gained by falling into a distempered freak, my dear Felicity. Not that I blame you for that. I should be in hysterics myself in a like case.”
Raoul laughed as he took his seat beside her. “No, you wouldn’t, Angie. You’re not one of these pathetic swooning females, I’ll give you that.”
“I never was. Though I must say, poor Felicity is perfectly entitled to a good swoon if she feels like it.”
For the first time since his entrance into the room, Miss Temple’s lips curved a little and she seemed to relax slightly. “I never had time to swoon. When one is forever handling the stresses and strains of youthful maidens, one learns to be robust.”
Angelica laughed. “I can well imagine it. My Sarah is but five, yet she promises to cause no end of trouble to us all, imperious little madam. Unlike your dutiful Lucille, Raoul. Mind you, the poor child likely does not dare to cross you, so strict as you are.”
Raoul threw up his eyes. “I am not nearly strict enough, as it happens, and if you were better informed of Lucille’s character, you would know she is a minx who has long since learned how to twist me around her little finger.”
A tiny smile curved Miss Temple’s lips. “Your sister, sir? Silvestre mentioned you were her guardian.”
“An unenviable role, I promise you.”
“I can imagine.”
He was both touched and gratified. Most women, like Angelica, assumed he paid only lip service to his guardianship of his little sister, taking no hand in her upbringing. It was true he left her largely in the care of Miss Wimbush, but he had made a point of spending time with the chit ever since their father’s demise despite the greater calls on his time for having come into the responsibilities of the title.
“Never mind that now,” said Angelica, calling the meeting to order. “What do you propose to do about Maskery?”
The shadows returned to Miss Temple’s eyes and Raoul was conscious of annoyance. Was the girl to be allowed no respite? She spoke before he could answer.
“How much does he owe you, my lord?”
Taken aback, he sought refuge in prevarication. “Why do you ask? It is a matter between him and me.”
A spasm crossed her face. “No longer, sir, when he has clearly thrown me at your head as payment in kind. I should like to know what I am considered to be worth, if you please.”
“Felicity, for heaven’s sake!”
He ignored his cousin’s interjection. “As far as I am concerned, Miss Temple, you are worth twenty guineas, remember? Maskery’s dealings with me have nothing to do with you.”
She struck her hands together. “How can you say that? Do you expect me to disdain the insult of it?”
“I do, yes. You may choose to take it so, or you may, like the sensible woman I believe you to be, refuse to allow a selfish man’s desperate throw to wound you unnecessarily.”
“Unnecessarily? Good heavens, Lord Lynchmere, but you are a cold fish indeed!”
Raoul flinched inwardly, though he gave no sign. Why the accusation should feel like a slap in the face he could not imagine. It had been said of him often enough.
To his chagrin, Angelica chose to add her mite, leaning towards the girl in a confidential fashion. “My dear, you have gauged him exactly. It is useless to expect Raoul to enter into your sentiments. He has no proper feeling at all.”
“I thank you, Angelica. Don’t hesitate to vilify my character any time it suits you to do so.”
