Free The Heiress Companion by Madeleine E. Robins Page B

with Greavesey’s presence undiluted, made her put away the block
of paper and wipe briskly at her brushes with an old rag.
    “You are all goodness, Miss Cherwood.”
    “Nothing of the sort. The light is failing,” Rowena lied
ungraciously. “I had as lief go inside now as later.” It was a particularly
graceless speech, which she regretted the moment she made it. Greavesey
appeared quite unaware of her hostility, and chattered on impressively about
his great responsibility to Dr. Cribbatt, and his hopes for his future in the
profession.
    “In a short while I must begin to think about marriage, my
dear Miss Cherwood. After all, for what does a man rise in the world if not in
order to enable himself to pursue the absolute bliss of domestic happiness?”
    Good God! Rowena
thought. “I have often wondered myself, Mr. Greavesey,” she said drily. “No
thank you.” He had reached out to take her paints and paper from her. “I prefer
to carry them myself. I am perfectly able to do, you know.”
    “Of course you are,” Greavesey agreed. “It is only one of
the courtesies which any gentleman feels due to a woman of charm and breeding,
no matter what her station.” He gazed upon her with a particularly fatuous
expression, and Rowena strongly repressed the urge to hit him. Something of her
feelings must have been expressed in her eyes or mien, for he abruptly stepped
back.
    “Miss Ambercot does very well. I expect by the end of this
week we shall see her leaving Broak. As for my cousin, I think she gains
strength each day. Do you think that Dr. Cribbatt will be able to come out to
Broak some time in the next week to see her progress?”
    “I am certain he will do so,” Greavesey assured her rapidly.
“Of course, if his other duties prevent him, then it will fall to my happy lot
to come to Broak. Happy Broak, where I am always afforded the chance for some
delightful conversation! So condescending, so gracious! And of course, the
opportunity to pursue these delightful chats with you, my dear Miss Cherwood.”
    Happily for Rowena, they were rapidly drawing up on the
garden. She once again resisted the temptation to box the man’s ears. “Well,
sir, I am going to go and put my paints away. I will join you in the sickroom.
Yes, I believe that Drummey can show you the way.”
    By the time Rowena made her way to the sickroom, Greavesey,
rather chastened, was already half way through his interrogation of Jane
Ambercot, and his amour-propre did not
sufficiently reassert itself for him to do more than wish Miss Ambercot and the
Misses Cherwood a very good afternoon.

Chapter Six
    Two weeks after the disastrous affair of the ginger nuts,
Jane Ambercot was informed that she could prepare to return to her mother’s
house. Strangely, this idea was strongly resisted by Margaret Cherwood, Ulysses
Ambercot, Lord Bradwell, and even Miss Eliza Ambercot; after some consultation
Jane began to feel that in truth it might be for the best were she to stay
awhile longer — if only to amuse Margaret, with whom she was becoming quite
close. Rowena on her part smiled obscurely when informed by Lord Bradwell that
despite the advice of that damned nuisancy doctor, he felt Miss Ambercot still too frail to
withstand the drive of three miles. She smiled, said nothing, and reported to
Lady Bradwell that Miss Jane would be a guest with them yet another while.
    “At Jack’s expressed command? Rowena, you witch, I begin to
think you might just pull it off!” Lady Bradwell crowed with delight.
    “My dear Lady B...” Miss Cherwood defended herself
laughingly. “What on earth can you imagine?”
    “I imagine nothing, my dear,” the older woman said flatly. “You
have set yourself the task of reuniting Jack with Jane, and I swear that if I
see them happily wed I will consider you a wonder-worker of great dimension.”
    “You flatter me, ma’am.”
    “And you take me for a numbskull, girl. Now, how does your
cousin go on today?”
    “The