A Matter of Honor by Nina Coombs Pykare Page A

she found herself wishing that some misfortune might befall the golden Lady Alicia. If only someone would step on that too-tight gown , causing the seams to part and leaving the lady exposed in her petticoat -if she were wearing one.
    Aggie stopped her wandering imagination in dismay. It was surely not the lady’s fault the way Denby chose to behave. To be thinking such evil thoughts was very unlike her; Aggie felt a trifle ashamed.
    She turned her attention determinedlyfrom the Earl and sought among the throng for Cecilie’s small form. Finally she found her, pacing off the measures of the quadrille with a sober-faced gentleman of middle age. He seemed quite attentive, but even at this distance Aggie could tell that Cecilie was bored. Unfortunately, the girl was not trying very hard to hide it from her partner. She returned little perfunctory nods to his remarks , remarks which from the earnest expression on his face might well have been compliments. Cecilie’s behavior, however, did not seem to daunt her admirer, who amiably escorted her back to Aggie’s side, paid her another compliment, and departed, still smiling.
    “Who is that gentleman?” inquired Aggie casually.
    Cecilie frowned. “He’s the Marquess Connors. Quite fatiguing.”
    “He seemed to dance well,” commented Aggie half aloud, as though to herself.
    Cecilie shrugged. “Yes, he does. But when I asked about his cattle - ” She sent Aggie a sidelong glance. “To find, you know, if he is a good rider.”
    Aggie nodded.
    “Well, he isn’t.” Cecilie’s small mouth formed a moue of disgust. “And then he read me the most dreadful lecture on the folly of keeping a big stable. All about the horrible expense of so many cattle, with figures and all. And then he went off scolding me about racing. He’s quite a disagreeable creature. I hope he keeps his distance.” Her eyes began to search out over the throng, but the expression on her face was not hopeful. “There’s not a real out and outer in the whole room,” she complained. “Lady Bakiston’s guest list stinks. “
    This last was far too loud for Aggie’s peace of mind. “Please, Cecilie . You must not carry on so. Someone may hear you.”
    “I don’t care,” said Cecilie stubbornly, but she lowered her tone and cast a furtive glance around to see where the Earl might be. Thus it was that she discovered him dancing. “Aggie, who is that woman?” she asked curiously. “She simply hangs on his lordship.”
    “That,” said Aggie in a voice she tried to strip of emotion, “is Lady Alicia Temple. She is a friend of the Earl’s.”
    “An old, old friend from the looks of things,” said Cecilie bluntly.
    Aggie was about to reprimand her and then thought better of it. Sometimes the information learned from servants was very useful.
    “I don’t like her,” said Cecilie definitely. “She’s far too obvious about it. A woman should wait to be chased. Or,” she added with a mischievous smile, “at least let the man think so.”
    “Cecil -” Aggie began, but her charge was already gone in a swirl of satin skirts. Aggie sighed. Life was not getting any easier. Not at all. And getting Cecilie safely married was not going to be a simple matter.
    She sank down on a nearby chair. Thankfully there were no more dragonishdowagers nearby to tell her that they remembered her come out. Several had already done so, to her great embarrassment. And then there were the several older ladies, not yet dowagers but obviously obsessed with the fading of their charms, who had congratulated her on her entry into Denby’sestablishment. It was not until after the third of these creatures had dropped something about “so many advantages and the Earl such a prime article,” that her dazed mind accepted the facts. These women clearly believed that she meant to parlay her position as Cecilie’s companion into some kind of alliance with Denby . And from their sly looks and the way they rolled their eyes it