Page 14 of Redemption of a Marquess

Miss Stone curtsied.

He nodded toward Jeanine. “This is your charge, Miss Matheson.”

“I am not her charge,” Miss Matheson said. “We agreed that I am not a child.”

“I believe I agreed not to call you a child,” Valan said.

Miss Matheson cast him a sideways glance, then said to Miss Stone, “You are very tall.”

“That is not polite,” Valan said. “I wager Miss Peddington taught you better manners.”

“I did not say being tall was a bad thing. So, I wasn’t being rude.”

“Perhaps we do not understand one another,” he said. “If you want to be my ward, you will not contradict me.”

“I—”

“Do you wish to be my ward?” he cut in.

She clamped her mouth shut and nodded.

“Then we are agreed,” he said.

She nodded again and looked at Miss Stone. “Truly, I meant no offense.”

The young woman smiled. “It is true, I am unusually tall, but I’m certain I surprised you. His lordship is correct, however. A lady never points out another’s shortcomings, no matter how obvious they are.”

Miss Matheson’s eyes darkened. “Being tall is not a shortcoming. Anyone who says otherwise is cruel.”

“You are right, of course,” Miss Stone said.

Miss Matheson’s expression cleared. “We shall get along famously.” She looked up at Valan and smiled. “You have chosen well, sir.

He lifted a brow. “Have I, indeed?”

“You have, and are quite pleased with yourself.”

“A man takes pleasure where he can. Shall we go?”

“May I have a word with you before you leave?” Stirling said.

Valan angled his head in agreement, then said to Miss Matheson, “Will you and Miss Stone wait in the carriage, please?”

“Come along, ladies,” Lady Chastity said. “We will make certain Miss Matheson’s boxes are collected.”

“Boxes?” Valan repeated.

“Chastity purchased a few essentials for Miss Matheson,” Sir Stirling said.

“How kind of you,” Valan said.

The ladies left, and Valan said, “Thank you for keeping her. Please forward me the bills for her things.”

Stirling shook his head. “Chastity wanted to give her a few items. I promise you, the real expense for her wardrobe still lays with you. She’s a very vivacious young lady.”

Valan met his gaze squarely. “I have no designs on her, if that is your concern.”

“I’m not the least bit concerned. I thought you might like to know that Lord Gordon has petitioned Chastity’s father to intercede for the girl.”