it was due to indignation. Head high, she swept down the hall.
His instruction to his butler to wait had recalled what their sparring had driven from her mind. As they neared the morning-room door, it occurred to Honoria that she might have been arguing for no real reason. Devil reached for the doorknob, his fingers closing about hersâshe tugged. He looked up, incipient impatience in his eyes.
She smiled understandingly. âIâm sorryâIâd forgotten. You must be quite distracted by your cousinâs death.â She spoke softly, soothingly. âWe can discuss all this later, but thereâs really no reason for us to wed. I daresay, once the trauma has passed, youâll see things as I do.â
He held her gaze, his eyes as blank as his expression. Then his features hardened. âDonât count on it.â With that, he set the door wide and handed her through. He followed, closing the door behind him.
A petite woman, black hair streaked with grey, was seated in a chair before the hearth, a hoop filled with embroidery on her lap. She looked up, then smiledâthe most gloriously welcoming smile Honoria had ever seenâand held out her hand. âThere you are, Sylvester. Iâd wondered where youâd got to. And who is this?â
His motherâs French background rang clearly in her accent; it also showed in her coloring, in the hair that had once been as black as her sonâs combined with an alabaster complexion, in the quick, graceful movements of her hands, her animated features and the candid, appraising glance that swept Honoria.
Inwardly ruing her hideously creased skirts, Honoria kept her head high as she was towed across the room. The Dowager hadnât so much as blinked at her sonâs bare chest.
â Maman .â To her surprise, her devilish captor bent and kissed his motherâs cheek. She accepted the tribute as her due; as he straightened, she fixed him with a questioning glance every bit as imperious as he was arrogant. He met it blandly. âYou told me to bring you your successor the instant I found her. Allow me to present Miss Honoria Prudence Anstruther-Wetherby.â Briefly, he glanced at Honoria. âThe Dowager Duchess of St. Ives.â Turning back to his mother, he added: âMiss Anstruther-Wetherby was residing with the Claypolesâher boxes will arrive shortly. Iâll leave you to get acquainted.â
With the briefest of nods, he proceeded to do just that, closing the door firmly behind him. Stunned, Honoria glanced at the Dowager, and was pleased to see she wasnât the only one left staring.
Then the Dowager looked up and smiledâwarmly, wel-comingly, much as she had smiled at her son. Honoria felt the glow touch her heart. The Dowagerâs expression was understanding, encouraging. âCome, my dear. Sit down.â The Dowager waved to the chaise beside her chair. âIf you have been dealing with Sylvester, you will need the rest. He is often very trying.â
Resisting the temptation to agree emphatically, Honoria sank onto the chintz.
âYou must excuse my son. He is somewhat . . .â The Dowager paused, clearly searching for the right word. She grimaced. â Detresse´ .â
âI believe he has a number of matters on his mind.â
The Dowagerâs fine brows rose. âHis mind?â Then she smiled, eyes twinkling as they rested once more on Honoriaâs face. âBut now, my dear, as my so- detresse´ son has decreed, we will get acquainted. And as you are to be my daughter-in-law, I will call you Honoria.â Again, her brows rose. âIs that not right?â
Her name became â âOnoriaââthe Dowager couldnât manage the âH.â Honoria returned her smile, and sidestepped the leading question. âIf you wish it, maâam.â
The Dowagerâs smile grew radiant. âMy dear, I wish it with all my