The duchess meanwhile smiled sympathetically at Lord Beasley and Mr. Menteith, who for lack of other entertainment had been thrown into each other's company, and offered them more tea. It was extremely gratifying to know that her charge was too busy to do more than pass the time of day with two such eligible bachelors. Beasley was somewhat too fond of his victuals and the wine bottle, it was true, and consequently was bound together into one large, creaking bundle by heavy stays; it was true too that Menteith was without title, and most of his fabulous wealth had been amassed by his father through trade. But it was a splendid triumph to see them in her drawing room when dear Jessica had so far made only one public appearance.
Jessica had Sir Godfrey Hall sitting on one side of her, engaging her in spirited conversation, and Hope on the other. Miss Menteith was sitting shyly on a stool at her feet, gazing up at the three conversationalists with an almost worshipful attitude. There were some who would have frowned at the girl's visiting with her brother when she would not be brought out until the following spring. But what could one expect of the off-spring of a gentleman unconventional enough to go into trade and galling enough to repair the family fortunes thereby?
'The Earl of Rutherford, your grace,' the butler announced in tones that clearly but silently added, 'and don't blame me for the consequences neither.'
'Ah, Charles,' the dowager said, advancing on him with one hand extended, her expression all gracious innocence. 'I have been expecting you, m'boy.'
It said something for the boy's experience with life, she thought approvingly, that he stopped abruptly on the threshold of the room for only a moment before recovering himself and advancing into the room to make his bows to all its occupants. He was unable to summon a smile, but then modern manners were not what they had been in her day.
She forced him to accept a cup of tea and limp his way through a stilted conversation with Beasley and Menteith for all of five minutes before taking pity on him finally and laying a hand on his arm.
'Charles and I have some private business to discuss for a few minutes,' she said graciously to the room at large. 'Do, pray, excuse us.'
'Certainly, Grandmama,' Lady Hope said, while several of the others gave low assenting murmurs. 'Do come back before leaving, though, Charles. I rely on you to escort me home as I dismissed my maid when I arrived. And Mama will certainly be happy to see you. You have called at the house only twice since returning from the country, you know.'
Lord Rutherford bowed in the direction of his sister, carefully avoiding the eyes of Jessica, the dowager noticed with certain amusement, and followed his grandmother from the room and into a small study.
'Grandmama!' he said, clearly rattled. 'You did not misunderstand my message, I take it?'
'That you wished to see me privately?' she asked. 'I assumed you did not realize there were visitors and would not wish to appear rude, m'boy.'
'You know very well why I asked to see you alone,' he said. 'It will not do, Grandmama. She has no business in this house. Certainly not as a guest. And certainly not socializing with the likes of Hope and Beasley and Menteith. Your joke is quite distasteful.'
'Sit down, m'boy,' she said, motioning to a brocaded chair on one side of the desk while she took one on the other side. 'You are far too tall to argue with. Puts me at a disadvantage. I assume you refer to Jessica?'
'You know I refer to her, Grandmama,' he said. 'She is a governess, a servant. And one not even in good standing at present. To my knowledge she has no money, no prospects. Without your mad intervention she would now be walking the streets. And I begin to think that that is where she belongs.'
'Oh, I think not,' the dowager said with maddening calm. 'I do not for a moment believe that you think that, Charles. You think that she belongs in your bed. Can't say I altogether blame you. A pretty and quite delightful little thing.'
'If it is in my bed she belongs,' Rutherford said, 'it is as my whore, Grandmama, paid for the services she renders there and forever kept apart from the sort of company with whom she now mingles in the drawing room. She is there now, for goodness' sake. With Hope. My sister.'
'If Hope has not already been contaminated by contact with you,' the duchess said soothingly, 'I doubt she will be by Jessica, Charles. After all, you have been whoring for ten years and more.'
He got abruptly to his feet. 'That is an entirely different matter,' he said. 'I am a gentleman.'
'Utter poppycock!' his grandmother said coolly. 'Sit down, Charles, and lower your voice, m'boy. Nothing is ever gained by losing one's temper. I thought the gel did very nicely last night, didn't you? She would have been a great success even without your gracious assistance.'
'It was a damned trick, Grandmama!' he said, putting his clenched fists down on the desk and leaning across it toward her. He had not obeyed the order to sit down. 'You deliberately lured me there last night to witness what dupes the two of you could make of Lord Chalmers and all his guests. All right, you succeeded. But the matter must be left there. Find the woman employment. Let her go. This way, someone is going to get hurt. Probably even her. You are giving her ideas beyond her station.'
'Calm yourself, Charles,' the dowager said, leaning back in her chair and spreading her hands, palm up. 'Actually, we have no quarrel with each other. I happen to agree that Jessica belongs in your bed. But not as your fancy piece. Far too vulgar. As your wife, m'boy. As your countess.'
7
Lord Rutherford rested his fists on the desk and stared for a moment into his grandmother's eyes. Then he gave vent to an incredulous bark of laughter.
'You want me to marry Jess Moore?' he said. 'The woman who was governess to your last choice of bride for me?'
'I imagine her education and talents were very much wasted in the post,' the dowager said. 'I think she would make you an eminently suitable bride, Charles. The gel has beauty and breeding. She has character. More important, she has spirit. She will be able to keep you in line after your marrige. And you really must settle down, m'boy. Middleburgh-your grandpapa-had his sidelines, you know, but he was ever discreet. I grant him that. And you are the future Middleburgh, though I wish long life to your father. Won't do for you to settle a mousy wife in the country breeding while you continue to sow your oats in town.'
'I agree with you on essential points, Grandmama,' Rutherford said. 'But how can you possibly suggest that woman as my future duchess? My wife must at least be of the same social class as I.'
'Jessica is a lady,' his grandmother pointed out.
'Oh, yes,' he agreed, 'she is somewhat above the rank of scullery maid, I grant you. Her father was a country parson, Grandmama. She admitted as much to me last night. She even added that he was impoverished and unable to afford to send her to school.'
'Gels also have mothers,' the dowager said.
He made an impatient gesture. 'Her mother was probably one of the royal princesses, of course,' he said. 'I will not do it, Grandmama. I will not even consider the matter. And I will not see the woman again. You may stop trying to throw us into company together. You will be wasting your efforts.'
'Your mama will disapprove of your not spending Christmas with the family,' the dowager said innocently.
'At Hendon Park?' he asked with a frown. 'Of course I shall be going there. I always do.'
'Then you will be seeing Jessica again,' she said.
A dull flush colored Rutherford's cheeks. 'You are never taking her there,' he said. 'To our private family Christmas, Grandmama?'
'She is my guest for the winter,' the dowager said. 'Where else would she go, Charles? And how would I look back with clear conscience on the memories of my dear friend, her grandmama, if I left her here?'
'Which fictitious character doubtless has a name, a home, a history, and a genealogy reaching back at least five centuries,' her grandson said.
'Don't sneer, Charles,' she said. 'It spoils your looks. You are quite right, of course.' She paused, looking sharply at him, waiting for the question that did not come. She nodded briskly. 'Now, dear boy.' She rose to her feet and reached for his arm. 'We will return to the drawing room where Hope will be waiting for you. And you will
