“Why?”
Tessa lifted her chin.“That’s my business.”
Lady Gosforth considered that for a moment then shook her head.“If I’m to house you and introduce you to my friends, I’d say that it’s my business too.I don’t know you, after all, and what I do know of you is far from—”
Lord Alverleigh rose to his feet.“Aunt Maude, that’s quite enough!I told Lady Hewitt that she would find safe haven here, not be obliged to endure impertinent questions.”
His aunt bristled.“Impertinent?”
“Grossly.”
Tessa also had had enough.She rose and walked to the door.
“Where do you think you’re going, missy?”Lady Gosforth snapped.
Tessa turned to face her.“It’s no concern of yours.I did not ask to come here, and I will not stay to sow discord between you and your nephew.”
To her amazement, the old lady stared at her a moment then laughed.“Sow discord?What nonsense!There’s no discord here, gel, just a ...a robust family discussion.Nothing to get upset about.Now sit down.”
Tessa didn’t move.Her hand was still on the door handle.
The old woman stamped her foot.“Are you deaf, gel?I said, Sit.Down.”
Tessa glanced at Lord Alverleigh.To her surprise, he looked amused.“That, Lady Hewitt, is what my brothers Gabe and Harry call the voice of General Gosforth.A great loss to Wellington it was, not admitting ladies to the army.But please, do sit down.I know it doesn’t seem like the welcome I hoped you would have, but let us see where a civilized”—he gave his aunt a stern look—“discussion might lead.”
Tessa hesitated.“I don’t want charity.”Ironic, because that’s exactly what she was existing on at the moment.
“And you won’t get it here,” the old lady snapped.
Tessa glared back at her.Lord Alverleigh who had followed her to the door, cupped her elbow with his palm and said softly, “I never offered you charity and I’m not offering it now.But can’t one old friend help another without being accused of charity?”She sighed, and let him lead her back to her seat.It was all quite confusing.
He turned to his aunt.“Now, Aunt Maude, behave yourself.”
His aunt sniffed.“She’s got a backbone, I’ll say that for her.And too much pride for her own good.”
Tessa stiffened.“Too much pride?How?I am looking for a position as a paid companion.”
“Why a companion?Why not something else?No don’t look at me like that, gel—I’m curious, that’s all.”
Tessa said wearily.“I have little education and few accomplishments, so I could never be a governess.And I was rejected by no fewer than forty-seven shop owners when I applied for a position as a shop girl.”
The finely plucked eyebrows rose.“You applied to become a shop gel?At forty-seven shops?”
“Unsuccessfully.And it appears that you also consider me unsuitable as a lady’s companion.”
“Quite right.You do not have the temperament for it.”
“With the right employer—”
“Pish tush!Enough of this nonsense.”Lady Gosforth rose to her feet, leaning heavily on her cane.“It’s late and I’m expected elsewhere for dinner.You can dine here alone—my nephew is leaving for his club, or I’ll want to know the reason why—so you may eat yours on a tray in your room if you prefer.Anything else you require, ask Sutton or ring for Peverill.”
Confused by the old lady’s abrupt change in attitude, Tessa glanced at Lord Alverleigh.He winked.
“I told you,” he murmured.“Intimidating on the outside, but underneath ...”
“You mean it was a test?”she said in a low voice.
“Stop whispering!”The old lady held out an imperious hand to her nephew.“Take yourself off now, Marcus.You cannot stay to compromise the gel.I’ll see you again in the morning.”
