Gayle Buck by The Hidden Heart Read Free Book Online

afternoon, my lady. I believe—no, I am certain—that I have hit upon a new approach that must persuade you to the validity of my arguments.”
    Lady Caroline set aside her unfinished tea and composed herself with resignation. She clasped her hands in her lap in an attentive attitude. “Then I am ready, my lord. But I must warn you that it will be a wasted effort on your part.”
    She noticed that Lord Hathaway was steadily tucking away the biscuits in a concentrated manner, and a glimmer of hope entered her eyes. “Perhaps you would like a nice slice of sweet cake to accompany your tea, my lord? It is really quite good today. A rum poppyseed, which as I recall you commented favorably upon on the occasion of your last visit.’’
    Lord Hathaway hesitated, torn by his weakness for such a fine treat. He could always be assured of the most superlative concoctions at Berwicke Keep, which was in direct contrast to his own cook’s glaring deficiency in that area. But staunchly he decided not to give way to temptation. “I most reluctantly shall pass on the cake this afternoon, Lady Caroline. One must discipline oneself, you know.” He complacently patted the rounded expanse of his waistcoat.
    “Yes, indeed,” Lady Caroline agreed, pronounced amusement in her eyes. “Perhaps, then, a bit more tea. Simpson, pray see to his lordship. We must not neglect our guest.”
    Lord Hathaway covered his cup with his hand to discourage the butler’s attempt to serve him. “No, no. I am well-satisfied.” He smiled, saying with ponderous playfulness, “If I did not know your gracious ways so well, my lady, I might suspect you of attempting to put me off.”
    “I am not one to fly in the face of the inevitable,” Lady Caroline said with fine irony, well aware that it would go completely over his lordship’s head.
    True to form, Lord Hathaway bowed from the waist, acknowledging what he took to be a vast compliment to his determined character. “I am happy that you understand me so well, Lady Caroline.”
    Lady Caroline sighed, knowing from old that there was little point in delaying Lord Hathaway from his purpose. His lordship would but stay longer so that he could fully expound his arguments. “That will be all for the moment, Simpson. I shall ring when I require you again. Pray remind my aunt that Lord Hathaway has called upon us. I am certain that she will not want to miss his lordship’s visit.”
    “Very good, my lady,” the butler said, his voice faintly threaded with the ghost of sympathy. He crossed to the drawing-room door and went out.
    The door was not yet completely closed before Lord Hathaway launched the newest salvo of his campaign. “As I have informed you many times in the past, Lady Caroline, I have found you completely acceptable to me for a wife. Your illustrious birth, your beauteous countenance, your gracious—’’
    Lady Caroline threw up her hand. “Pray spare my blushes, sir!” She had no wish to hear herself or her virtues cataloged in the ponderous fashion that Lord Hathaway inevitably employed. More gently she said, “I shall accept your compliments better if left unsaid, my lord.”
    Lord Hathaway inclined himself in another short bow. “Your modesty does you credit, my lady. It is but another of those numerous virtues that I so esteem in you.’’ He began an oft-repeated discourse upon how well-matched he and Lady Caroline were.
    Lady Caroline gave the tiniest sigh. She glanced at the clock on the mantel above the fireplace. She wondered where her aunt could possibly have got to. Even though she did not often see eye to eye with Mrs. Burlington, she could at least rely upon her aunt to appropriate a measure of Lord Hathaway’s gallantries. His lordship was too well-bred not to direct a few of his compliments to Mrs. Burlington, and, too, when her aunt was present, Lord Hathaway felt compelled to restrain some of his dry ardor.
    It occurred to Lady Caroline suddenly that perhaps her aunt