The Virtuous Ward - By Karla Darcy Page 0,52

your situation, Honoria. Please continue."

"It was several weeks ago when I chanced to see your ward. I was driving with Percy to see our man of business. The street was crowded and our carriage had come to a stop when I looked up and saw Amity, all alone, in conversation with a man."

"She was alone?" Max asked in surprise.

Honoria swallowed as if hesitant to answer. "Well, yes, except for her abigail. I assumed Lady Grassmere would be nearby but though I searched the street I could find no evidence of her presence."

"I see. So Amity and this young man were in conversation." At Honoria's nod, he asked, "Who was the gentleman?"

"It was no one of my acquaintance." She hesitated for a moment and then blurted out, "In fact, the man was no gentleman at all. He was a soldier."

"A soldier!" Max snapped out the words, his mind recalling the references of the servants to a soldier.

"Oh, Max, I would have spoken sooner if I had thought there was anything unusual going on. Amity is forever speaking to people, persons quite beneath notice in most cases. But of course it is her habit and although I have spoken to her many times, she has refused to change her ways. But in any case I assumed it was a chance meeting between the handsome young man and your ward."

"He was young?" Max asked, his brow furrowed in mounting anger.

"Yes. About the same age as Amity. A very muscular sort of man with a dark tanned face. I can well imagine how a young girl might be caught under the spell of a man in uniform. It would seem most romantic to an untutored girl such as Amity."

"A chance meeting does not a romance make," Max cautioned. "I shall speak to her on this point of etiquette. I am well aware of her penchant for talking to everyone. She is so very trusting, you know and has little knowledge of the evils of the city."

"That is why I have been so concerned," Honoria said, her voice unctuous. "I was intending to speak to her again on that very subject but I quite forgot. I would have thought no more about the incident except on Tuesday last I was astonished to discover Amity in the park with the very same young man."

"What?" Max shouted, leaping to his feet in his astonishment.

"La, my dear. I am sure you would not want this contretemps common knowledge." she patted the bench and he reseated himself, holding his temper under tight rein.

"Honoria, I do not mean to sound censorious but I feel you should have spoken to me earlier about this matter."

"Please don't be angry with me, Max." She fumbled in her reticule for a lacy handkerchief and raised it to her eyes in her distress. "I was torn between my duty to you and my friendship with your little ward."

"I beg of you, my dear, not to become distressed. I should never have spoken so to you. You are in no way at fault. Just tell me what you saw." In truth, Max wanted to shake the information out of his companion and was appalled that he should be so little caring of her sensibilities. Fury at Amity's behavior and concern for her welfare vied for precedence in his mind. He waited with little patience for Honoria to continue.

"I was walking in the park near your townhouse with Roger Danforth when I looked up and to my astonishment your ward was sitting on a bench talking to her soldier. He was no longer in uniform but I recognized him immediately. Amity was so deep in conversation that she did not see me but I almost wish she had. Then I might have had an opportunity to warn her concerning such behavior." She reached out and patted Max on the arm. "I know what hopes you have for the girl in regard to Bancroft Paige. Both he and his sister are high sticklers for all the niceties of etiquette. If word came to their ears concerning Amity's indiscreet meeting with a young man in a public park, I cannot imagine what might happen."

"I can. It would put paid to her chances," Max answered. "Entre nous, my dear, Amity and Bancroft have reached an understanding. Not an official betrothal mind. They feel they must wait for Ophelia's approval."

"Oh, Max, that is splendid news!" Honoria cried. Her face wore a smile of unusual warmth and she reached for his hand,