A Change of Fortune by Sandra Heath

Conyngham.
    Dorothea smiled at Harry. “You were quite right to come to me, Sir Henry, and I will of course do as you request. We leave for Streatham Park tomorrow for Christmas, but I shall make it my business to call at the seminary first.”
    “You are very kind, madam.”
    She nodded and extended her hand once more. He kissed it, bowed to them all, and then withdrew.
    Imogen exhaled very slowly. “Well, who would have believed it? So Miss High-and-Mighty Conyngham isn’t so high and mighty after all.”
    Dorothea shrugged. “They were hardly a family of breeding anyway.”
    Nadia could barely contain her delight. “Well, to be sure, it is as well that Miss Conyngham has reasonable looks, for she will need them if she’s to find a protector.”
    Guy watched them. Dear God, how society adored a scandal, and how little sympathy it showed for innocent victims. Imogen’s attitude angered him, but Nadia’s stirred his complete and utter loathing. He was filled with a desire to wipe that feline smile from her lips. He toyed with his cuff. “Oh, I don’t think the lady will need to resort to that sort of protection, Miss Benckendorff,” he said smoothly.
    “No? What else do you suggest for someone without anywhere to go, and without a penny to her name? And what a name!” She laughed, contemplating the forthcoming stir the whole affair would cause.
    “What do I suggest?” he replied lightly. “Oh, I was thinking more along the lines of a post as companion.”
    Nadia sat up a little. “Oh. Well, I suppose there are such positions.”
    As you know well enough, he thought, since that is exactly what you were in St. Petersburg. He smiled. “Yes, there are indeed such situations, and it so happens that I know of the perfect one for Miss Conyngham.”
    “You do?” Nadia was wary now, having caught the steely glint in his dark eyes.
    “Yes. The Duchess of Thornbury is seeking a companion.”
    Nadia froze. “Oh, no, I think you are wrong, Sir Guy.”
    “So do I!” snapped Imogen angrily.
    Guy was angry himself, and for once completely immune to Imogen. He pursued his course. “I’m not wrong,” he said quietly, “for I spoke to her only this morning.”
    Nadia’s green eyes flashed and she looked away from him. The thought of Leonie being the duchess’s companion was simply not to be tolerated, for Rupert lived in his mother’s town house.
    Guy was taking great delight in ruffling her spiteful feathers. “The duchess was bemoaning her loneliness,” he went on, “and as you well know, she is a very kindly lady, so she would most certainly show compassion to one as unfortunate as Miss Conyngham. Yes, the more I think of it, the more I’m convinced that it is the perfect solution. I must make a point of calling on the duchess.”
    Nadia loathed him suddenly, knowing that he would do just that. He was right about the duchess: she was indeed too soft and kindhearted, and she was quite likely to take Leonie under her motherly wing. That was something which must at all costs be avoided.
    Imogen looked crossly at him, rightly suspecting him of deliberately trying to upset Nadia.
    He felt the moment had come to withdraw. He glanced at Imogen. “Would you care to dance?” he asked.
    “No,” she replied, “I would not.”
    He said nothing, but turned on his heel and walked from the orangery.
     

Chapter 11
     
    The ball was over and the guests had all departed. Dorothea was in her boudoir reclining on a chaise longue. She was sipping hot chocolate from a silver cup, and she was offering tasty tidbits to her pug. She glanced up as Nadia entered. “I wondered how long it would be before you came. I suppose you want to talk about this wretched Conyngham business.”
    “You know that I do.”
    “I can’t do anything about it. If Sir Guy calls upon the duchess as he threatened, then that is the end of it.”
    “I don’t want Leonie Conyngham anywhere near Rupert.”
    “I’m sure you don’t, she’s far