Page 57 of An Affair at Stonecliffe

“Don’t look so suspicious. I shan’t bite her.” Lady Halder linked her arm through Noelle’s and started toward the front door, giving her son little choice but to do as she bid. She sighed, glancing back at Carlisle as he strode away. “I fear he will never forgive me for remarrying.”

“I’m sure he understands,” Noelle replied soothingly.

The other woman shot her a sardonic look. “Please... I do hope we aren’t going to start out lying to one another. I know Carlisle has been angry at me. He thinks I’m disloyal to his father’s memory and callous because I let Drewsbury and the countess raise him. I won’t pretend that I didn’t want my own life, my own enjoyment, but I also knew that Carlisle would be happy with them and miserable with me and the life I chose. Indeed, I think that he was happier, but...” She gave a little shrug. “Still he resents me.”

“I...um, Carli—Mr. Thorne hasn’t discussed it with me.” Noelle fumbled for something to say. She could not imagine turning over her son to another to raise, no matter what, but she couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for the woman.

“Of course not. He’s tight as a clam about things. Just like his father, who—while I loved him dearly, you understand—was rather rigid. Loyal to a fault, a man of honor and courage, Horace was—” She cut off her words, her eyes glimmering with moisture. Then, swallowing, she continued, “He was a wonderful man. But he saw everything in absolutes—up and down, black and white, right and wrong. There was no room for mistakes, for actions or feelings that were not clear-cut. Carlisle worshipped him. Horace and Drewsbury were cut from the same cloth. I did my best in raising Carlisle to leaven that with tolerance. I’m unsure how well I succeeded.”

“Mr. Thorne has been most considerate with me.”

“No doubt that is why you remained abroad all these years.” Lady Halder cut her a teasing glance. “No need to tell me; it’s clear there must have been an estrangement between you and the family. It couldn’t have been on the countess’s part; Adeline is the easiest woman to get along with. I know my son, and my guess is that Carlisle was sharp, absolutely certain of his beliefs, and probably a bit arrogant.”

Noelle had to smile. “A rather accurate guess.”

“I was pleased you and he reached a rapprochement. If for no other reason, I am fond of Adeline. And now, making your acquaintance, I feel quite hopeful. You’ve been a good influence on my son.”

“Me? Oh, I don’t—I fear I have no influence on Mr. Thorne.”

“I suspect you have more than you think. Carlisle seems different, and I can attribute it to nothing else. Why, he came to this party tonight, and that is most unlike him. He has always preferred a quiet—dare I say boring—life. Reading or totting up numbers or puttering around in the garden, tending to those fish of his father’s. I’ll warrant you were the one who persuaded him to come to the party tonight.”

What was she getting at? The longer they talked, the more Noelle feared that Carlisle’s mother had guessed the relationship between Noelle and Carlisle. But Lady Halder appeared pleased at the idea, which was such an out-of-the-ordinary notion that it made Noelle vaguely uneasy.

“Don’t worry.” Lady Halder patted her arm. “I have no expectations that you two will be attending my parties. I just wanted to ask you to...be patient with Carlisle. He can be blunt and stubborn and dictatorial, but he is a good man at heart. And though he will hide it, he can be badly hurt.” She sighed. “I know.”

They had reached the entryway, and Noelle was relieved to see Carlisle striding toward them, effectively putting an end to their conversation. As Carlisle draped Noelle’s sheer wrap of silver voile around her shoulders, Noelle turned to make her polite farewell to Lady Halder.

“Goodbye, my dear.” Carlisle’s mother reached out and took her hand, giving it a little squeeze. “Do call on me when you are in the city again. And, please...think about what I said.”

Noelle was not surprised when Carlisle’s first words after they settled into the carriage were, “What does she want you to think about? There is no necessity to do anything she asked. I won’t let her bully you into furthering her schemes.”

“She wasn’t trying to lure me into any scheme. No, really,” she added when he looked skeptical. “She was perfectly pleasant, and I am grateful for her help tonight. The presence of the French ambassador was a stroke of luck. I think she made my entry into society as easy as it could possibly have been.”

He gave a noncommittal grunt. “She is good at that. But she’ll want something in return, I have no doubt.”

“Carlisle...aren’t you being a trifle harsh? I think she loves you and wanted to help you by doing this.”

He cocked an eyebrow. “Was that her reason for that little tête-à-tête? She was enlisting your aid and sympathy? Explaining that I am not a dutiful son?”

“No. She said nothing about that.” Noelle wasn’t about to tell him his mother’s comments on Noelle’s relationship with Carlisle.

“Then what?”

She lifted her brows. “Do you mean to interrogate me all the way home? It was a private conversation.”

Carlisle scowled. “Why are you being so secretive? Whatever she said, I can assure you that it was carefully sculpted to help her somehow.”

“Oh, for goodness’ sake, you are a most exasperating man. Very well. She wanted to assure me that you were a good man underneath your rigidity and pride. That you were loyal, honest, and kind, just like your father, despite your tendency to see everything as good or bad, with no allowance for the in-between. There.” She crossed her arms. “Does that satisfy you?”

He gaped at her. “That is what she wants you to remember? That I’m not quite as bad as I seem?” Carlisle laughed.

“Yes. And doubtless I will have ample opportunity to remind myself of that.” Noelle grinned.

“I think it’s rather too late to inform you of my flaws,” he said, taking her hand, his thumb tracing caressing circles on her palm. “I think you’ve seen the worst side of me already.”

“If that is your worst, then I’m not worried.”

“I shall endeavor to make sure you see nothing but the better part of me from now on.”