The Virtuous Ward - By Karla Darcy Page 0,12
over tables flashed before his eyes. Her come out would be a debacle. He was much too old for such humiliation. He glowered down at the girl and watched the expressions flit across the too-open countenance: horror, embarrassment and then, of all things, amusement. When she started to laugh he was surprised at the soft lilting quality of her laughter.
"Only a harum-scarum girl would find amusement in such a social disaster." Max tried to keep his lips from twitching but could not control the twinkle in his eyes.
"I am most sorry, your lordship." Despite the sincerity of her words, Max noted the laughter in the crystal blue eyes. "Perhaps we might start over. Although I fear I must warn you I am not very expert." To her credit, she controlled her expression and dipped into a slightly more graceful curtsy, peeking up at him through a fringe of lashes.
In the woman grown, Maxwell remembered the steady blue eyes of the child. Now there was a sheen of laugh-tears that gave them an uncanny brilliance and he found himself disappointed when she lowered her lids, hiding them from him. He shook his head, narrowing his eyes at the taking child.
"Welcome to Edgeworth, Endurance."
"Thank you, my lord," Amity replied. She liked his deep voice that was rich and melodious for all that his words were stilted. She willed herself to say something else but no words appeared in her mind so for once she remained silent. A snore interrupted her and she fought down another bout of giggles as she looked down at Muffin.
When Amity dipped into her curtsy, the traitorous dog took it as a sign that he could relax. He had flopped down in front of Max who was now trapped against the fireplace. Amity nudged the dog with the toe of her slipper knowing from experience that it was a useless gesture but hopeful nonetheless. As expected, Muffin merely snuffled in his sleep.
"I'm sorry about Muffin, my lord. He's getting old and the journey tired him out. He's not much used to travel," Amity defended.
"Where did you get such a mangy beast?" Max asked, curious despite himself.
"He was abandoned on the roadside and near to death. He needed a home," she finished as if it were the most natural of occurrences.
"It is of no consequence," Max said waving his hand. With caution, he stepped over the recumbent figure and grasped Amity's elbow. He turned her toward the other occupant in the room and his ward made another shaky curtsy. "Cousin Hester, this irrepressible child is my ward, Endurance Fraser. Lady Grassmere will be your chaperone during your stay here and during your come out. With any luck the three of us will survive the enterprise," he amended drily.
Grey dress, grey face and grey hair. So self-effacing was Lady Grassmere that Amity thought it would be difficult to remember she was there. She noted the gentle kindness in the woman's brown eyes and resolved to treat the older woman with great respect. She suspected Lady Grassmere would find the experience of chaperoning her a rather wearing affair.
"And I also bid you welcome to Edgeworth, my dear," Hester said. Her soft voice was just above a whisper and had the insubstantial quality of a summer breeze. "I met your mother many years ago. A beautiful woman. I must admit, Endurance, that you are nothing like I had pictured."
"I'm sorry, milady." Amity hung her head in embarrassment. "I am overused to my looks so that I forget what a disappointment I am to those who knew my mother."
"Disappointment, child?" Hester stared at the burnished head, wondering if she had heard correctly.
"I am nothing like my mother," Amity admitted.
"No, my dear, you are not," the old woman agreed. She had thought the girl's mother lovely but shallow in the extreme. By the look of intelligent curiosity she had seen in the girl's eyes, Hester suspected the child had far greater depth. "You are, I would guess, quite unique."
Max was much struck by the interchange and it took him several minutes to take in the import of his ward's remarks. He opened his mouth to comment but, before he could speak, dinner was announced. Giving an arm to each of the ladies he led them into the dining room.
The dinner progressed well and Max led the conversation to discover the extent of Amity's education and deportment. It appeared as though the governesses he had provided had done well by the girl. She was well