"I wish it had!" she retorted. "I have nothing to say to you, sir, not now or ever. I wish to go home."
"Nell…"he said.
She turned on him, angry again. "And I have told you before," she said, "that that is not my name. I wish you to stop this curricle immediately, sir, and set me down. I find that I would prefer to walk home than have to remain in your company a moment longer."
"That will not be necessary," he said. "I shall take you home."
"Set me down," she commanded. "I wish to walk."
"No, I cannot do that," he replied. "I have brought you out with your parents' knowledge, and it is my responsibility to see you safely home again."
"Yes," she said, "and I am so safe with you, am I not, William? You will protect me from all the horrors that might face me if I were on foot and alone. Who knows? Some unprincipled man might even consider abducting me."
"That is unfair," he said, his face still pale and set into stern lines. "You know that what happened between us, Nell, was no abduction. You were as willing and as eager as I."
"Yes," she agreed, "to my everlasting shame. Take me home, sir, at once, and I charge you as a gentleman to leave me alone in the future. I might have to see you again in the coming weeks, but I have no wish to talk to you again. Or to your friends," she added.
They drove back to Charles Street in silence. Mainwaring did not enter the house, but lifted Helen to the ground, bowed, and turned back to his curricle as soon as a footman opened the door.
Chapter 12
Elizabeth Denning was in the nursery, bouncing her son on her knee. Most of the time he watched her solemnly, drooling wetly from an open mouth. Occasionally he would delight her with a wide smile. It was definitely a smile, she had decided. It was no longer just wind. Somehow he had got into his fist the ribbon that tied her dress below her breasts and was trying to direct it into his mouth.
"No, no, lambkin," she said, gently wresting the ribbon from his fingers. "I cannot walk around for the rest of the morning with a damp and bedraggled ribbon hanging down my front, you know. Shall we find a toy for you?"
She lifted him high in the air as she stood up, and he smiled his toothless smile again. "Just like Papa, lambkin," she said, laughing up at him, "except that you do not yet have his lovely white teeth."
"And a good thing too," a cheerful voice said from the doorway. "Even a toothless son is giving me quite enough competition for my wife's affections. I gather that you have finally admitted, my love, that John really can smile. Quite an accomplished little mite, is he not? But then, how could he avoid being so when he has two such parents?" He bent and kissed the baby on top of his blond curls and his wife on the lips.
"It is your modesty, you know, Robert, that has always attracted me to you," Elizabeth said, lifting her head and kissing him in return.
He grinned. "Here is a strange invitation," he said, raising a card that he held in one hand. "I thought I had better find you out and see what you think before replying."
"Oh?" she prompted.
"Harding is organizing a party to take out to his Richmond home for a couple of days," he said. "He feels that the distance is far enough that his guests should stay overnight. He wants us to make two of the group."
"Really?" Elizabeth said. "We hardly know him, do we? To what do we owe the honor? It really is an honor, you know, Robert. Lord Harding hardly ever entertains. I do not believe many people have seen his home."
"I have been thinking about it," Hetherington said. "Harding has been paying court to that eldest daughter of Claymore's. I imagine the matter must be serious. His name has not been linked with that of any woman since the death of his wife years ago. The outing is probably for her benefit."
"And you think our connection with the earl and his family is the reason why we have been invited?" Elizabeth asked.
"Well," he replied, "William was almost the only person they knew when they arrived here, and we must have been among their earliest acquaintances. If Harding wishes to please the girl, he has probably been careful to invite people she knows."
"Then William will also have been invited?" she said.
"Probably," he replied. "Do you think we should accept, Elizabeth?"
"I hate to think of leaving John for a whole day and a night," Elizabeth said hesitantly. "But it is tempting, Robert. I must confess a curiosity to see Lord Harding's home. And it would be ill-mannered to refuse, would it not?"
"I shall return an acceptance then," he said. "Perhaps we will be needed to rescue William from the lions' den."
"Oh, Robert," she said, "you do not think that perfectly horrid sister will be there, do you? But of course, it is highly probable. I had not thought of that. She will be bound to ruin the whole outing and I shall be very hard put to it to be civil to her."
He laughed. "My love," he said, "I do not believe you could be rude to anyone if you tried. Although, when I think about the matter, I can remember some pretty blistering insults you once let fry in my direction."
"Why did William take her driving yesterday?" Elizabeth asked. "I still cannot understand it, although we talked and talked about it yesterday."
"I believe it is as I said then," Hetherington replied. "William feels sorry for her and is trying to coax her out of the dismals. He has a kind heart, you know."
"Yes," she agreed, "but there should be limits to the amount of sacrifice one is prepared to make for an ungrateful person. Oh, I hope she does not come, Robert. We shall have to protect William from her if she does."
Hetherington grinned broadly. "You are quite irresistible, you know, Elizabeth, when you are angry," he said. He swept the baby into his arms and placed him down on the floor, where a blanket was spread with toys. "I am sorry, John, my boy, but I have a pressing need to hug your mama."
"Robert!" she scolded as he took her into his arms. "Do have a care. Nurse may be back at any moment."
"And would have an immediate heart seizure to find me holding and kissing my own wife," he said, smothering any further protests with his mouth.
All three of the Earl of Claymore's daughters had been invited to accompany Lord Harding to his home and to stay there for one night. Emily was clearly gratified. She had already confided to her mama that if he were to offer for her, she would accept. He was considerably older than she, of course, but he had all the dignity, position, and consequence that she looked for in a husband. And there was no denying that he was a handsome man despite the fact that he was more than forty years old. His invitation suggested that he was seriously considering making her an offer. One did not invite a casual acquaintance to one's home.
Melissa too looked forward to the visit. She had not taken very well with the ton thus far. She had had her fair share of partners at the two balls they had attended, and she had even been sent a few bouquets after those entertainments. But no gentleman had yet singled her out for marked attention. She was somewhat disappointed that Mr. Mainwaring had shown no inclination to renew the attachment that had seemed to be budding between them during the summer. Not that she had intended being friendly with him, but it was provoking to be denied the opportunity to set him down. If Emmy could only become betrothed to Lord Harding, she felt, her own position could only be enhanced. It was likely too that he had invited guests other than themselves to his home. Perhaps some of them would be interesting people.
Helen accepted the invitation and even showed mild enthusiasm about it in the presence of her family. But she did not want to go. She did not want to go anywhere, in fact. The depression that had been heavy on her since their arrival in London and, indeed, before that had not lifted at all. It was impossible for it to be lifted, in fact, but she supposed she had been looking for some miracle to happen. Her gloom had only deepened. How much longer would she be able to go on like this, in a state of indecision and inaction?