Page 29 of Charity

CHAPTER TWELVE

The floorboards creaked behind Agatha’s back, and she turned to find her grandfather hovering at the door. Garbed in expensive superfine and crisp, white linen, he intimidated her without even trying. Immediately, she closed her book and stood. “Can I help you, sir?”

“No, no.” He moved into the room, peering around him, frowning at her scattered possessions. “I just thought I’d enquire how your visit with Lady Daventry went. I imagine her drawing room was quite full.”

Agatha smoothed her slightly wrinkled skirts. “Lady Daventry chose to entertain in a limited fashion yesterday.”

His dark eyes narrowed. “How limited?”

She took a cautious pace to the side, under the pretext of more fussing, but she was afraid he would be very unhappy after she spoke. “I only saw Lord and Lady Daventry, sir.”

Her grandfather’s jaw clenched over the news. As she had feared, he had expected the drawing room to be filled with the cream of London society, all clamoring for a glimpse of the new bride. And filled with potential candidates for her to marry, no doubt. Agatha braced herself for the lecture to come, but instead of puffing out his chest and blustering, he sank into a deep chair.

“I had expected Lord Daventry to show off his wife, now that he’s stirred himself to marry and work on getting his heir. Is she an embarrassment to him?”

Agatha gasped, affronted on Lilly’s behalf. “Of course not. He was very attentive to his wife.” Almost too much so, Agatha thought. Daventry was besotted.

“Hmm, well give the man a wide berth anyway, child. He’ll soon go back to his scandalous ways, once the shine of his marriage dims. Most men are the same.”

While Agatha struggled to hide her surprise at his candid confession, her mind shrieked. How could he sit there condemning—no, not even condemning—explaining his own sex and expect her to marry one of them?

His fingers tapped his knee. “When I come back from my business trip, we shall have to widen our circle of acquaintances. I had hoped that my extended dealings with the Marquess of Ettington and his circle would prove beneficial to you. Never mind. I think a few new dresses and an increase in your social engagements should do the trick.”

Agatha nodded, keeping her face clear of expression. A dozen new gowns would hardly matter to the gentlemen he introduced her to if she never gave them the slightest encouragement, a habit she’d managed to hide from her grandfather for the last season. “How long will you be gone this time, sir?”

A brief smile flickered across his face then just as quickly disappeared. “I will return on Wednesday, late in the day perhaps. The negotiations should be easily dealt with.”

Agatha sank into a chair, relieved that he’d dropped the discussion of their association with Lord and Lady Daventry. “Well, that is all to the good. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if a simple letter could deal with the situation instead of dragging you from London so frequently? You must become quite vexed with Mr. Carney’s incompetence.”

“’Tis not incompetence, but my affairs do require a firm hand and the personal touch to keep them running smoothly.” Her grandfather chuckled. “You will remember that George is to accompany you and the maid when you leave the townhouse in my absence. I could not bear it if something was to happen to you while I was away.”

Agatha forced her lips to curl into a smile. “Of course I will take a maid and George too. I agreed, didn’t I?”

Grandfather clambered to his feet, crossed the room, and cupped his hand around her jaw. “Always the dutiful granddaughter. But I see resentment bubbling in your eyes. What troubles you?”

Agatha shrugged, attempting to dislodge his fingers. “I do not like to be followed about.”

His fingers slipped from her skin. “It is for your own protection. A woman’s virtue, once lost, is irreplaceable. I am only thinking of your future. The man who marries you expects a certain kind of female. One untouched by the sordid traps women often fall prey to by the rogues of society. Suffer George’s company so that I may be at peace.”

Agatha lowered her head. Again, despair trickled through her over how he would react to the news she had no virtue left to protect. “Yes, Grandfather.”

His large palm pressed upon her head briefly then his heavy footsteps crossed to the window. She lifted her head and watched him warily. His presence in the chamber made her feel decidedly untidy.

After a moment, he turned to face her again. “I will be leaving in a moment. So you are not unduly surprised should anyone relate the news, I am escorting Lady Carrington part of the way, to Chertsey for her protection. She’s visiting with a friend there. Given the demands of her son’s engagement, he isn’t free to accompany her. I thought it prudent to offer given the news of brigands on the road. There has been much made of their activities in the press.”

“Yes, I had read something of that. How terrifying it must have been. Are you expecting trouble?”

Grandfather tugged on his waistcoat, smoothing the already precise material. For all of his advancing years, he still kept a trim figure, still retained a vital physique that was much admired by the ladies. Agatha had heard more than one salacious whisper about him, and from surprising directions.

“I am always prepared, but I have made arrangements to stop overnight along the road so as not to travel through that troubled part of the countryside late at night. I’ll keep the good lady safe.”

Agatha smiled. “I’m sure she appreciates your efforts.”

Another fleeting smile crossed his lips as he bent to kiss the top of her head. “Be a good girl, Agatha. I will see you on Wednesday.”

With a spring to his step, her grandfather hurried from the room and began shouting orders to George. Within a quarter hour, his carriage had drawn up to the door and he was on his way after briefly returning Agatha’s happy wave.

No lectures, no precise routines to follow.