The Village Spinster by Laura Matthews Page A

fondness for them, and am perfectly prepared to champion their cause whether or not it drives you to remove them from my tutelage. Though, to be honest, I should very much dislike running a dame school.”
    Startled, he asked, “A dame school? What has that to say to anything?”
    “Nothing, I dare say. It was merely an aside, Lord Kinsford. Just now you dealt with Aria fairly well, so perhaps you could clarify something for me. Is it ordinarily your intention to upset her, or do you merely feel it is your duty?”
    “Miss Driscoll, I do not have to answer to you for my behavior toward my siblings. Your own behavior, it seems to me, is not above reproach.” He regarded her closely, leaning slightly forward in his chair.
    Clarissa refused to honor this remark with an acknowledgment or a defense. She regarded him with mild interest, and said nothing. There was a long, pregnant silence between them before he finally said, “I am, of course, referring to your entertaining a gentleman without proper chaperonage."
    Still Clarissa said nothing. Her cheeks did not color up, and her hands did not twitch with agitation. She sipped from the teacup and awaited further developments.
    “My younger brother noted that he himself had provided chaperonage this morning.”
    Clarissa’s eyes sparkled and a trill of laughter escaped her. “I did wonder why he hung about us and talked so astonishingly of going into a profession.”
    Kinsford was surprised into saying, “Going into a profession? Will?”
    “Yes, that’s what I thought. The military, he decided, as none of the others were particularly eligible. Mr. Traling did mention that they might not be in need of officers at just this moment.”
    The mention of Mr. Traling’s name brought Kinsford back to his grievance. “It is no good saying you have chaperonage from your companion, since by all accounts she is rarely with you. I can’t think what you’re about, entertaining a man in your home under those circumstances.”
    “Oh, yes, you can.” Clarissa made a wide gesture with her hands. “You can well imagine the unseemly things that occur when Mr. Traling comes to see me at ten o’clock in the morning.”
    “The hour has very little to do with it,” Kinsford insisted. “That sort of thing can go on at any time of day."
    “By ‘that sort of thing,’ are we referring to an illicit liaison, Lord Kinsford?” Clarissa asked, grinning at him.
    He seemed suddenly to realize the ludicrousness of such a suggestion. Gruffly, because he was not at all satisfied with the direction of the conversation, he said, “I’m not suggesting there is anything of that nature happening here, Miss Driscoll. It’s the appearance of impropriety which must be attended to. You know what a small village is.”
    “Yes, I do, and that is why I have Lorelia Snolgrass. If she’s very seldom here, I can hardly curtail my cousin’s visits until she returns, can I?”
    “Your cousin? Mr. Traling is your cousin?”
    “Of a sort. He is not a first cousin, if that is all that will satisfy you.”
    “Where does he live, Mr. Traling? How often does he come here?”
    “You cannot seriously expect me to satisfy your curiosity on such matters, Lord Kinsford. Perhaps one day you will encounter Mr. Traling, and you can discuss them with him. He’s a very open, straightforward young man. I dare say he would be pleased to fill you in on all the relevant information.”
    “It’s not a matter of idle curiosity, Miss Driscoll.” The earl took another bite of the molasses biscuit before continuing with great earnestness. “My sister’s upbringing is of major concern to me. It would not do at all to have her stigmatized by her attendance in your house.”
    “I’m not aware of any stigma attached to visiting me. In fact, you seem to be the only person in the whole county who has ever thought to question my virtue.” Clarissa managed a plaintive sigh. “I suppose right now they are saying, ‘Well,