Free A Matter of Honor by Nina Coombs Pykare Page A

his lordship’s bare chest.
    Cecilie began to tease the monkey, tickling his nose with a feather from the pillow. “I know,” she cried. “I shall take Dillydumsalong. He can sit on my shoulder. That way I shan’t be lonely.”
    “Oh, Cecilie !” Aggie dropped into a chair. “You cannot take a monkey to a come out. Aside from the fact that his lordship might well have an attack of apoplexy -” The light in Cecilie’s eyes warned her that this was not the right approach. “But even disregarding that - think of your own future. A man cannot be expected to court a woman and a monkey. And you do want to f i nd a husband.”
    “Yes,” agreed Cecilie with another sigh. “And at a ball I can find the good dancers. I suppose we shall need to go to Hyde Park to discover who’s a good horseman.”
    Aggie nodded. “But now you must get dressed.” Hopefully Cecilie had forgotten her third requirement for a husband. It would certainly be impossible for her to discover what a man’s chest looked like before the wedding night unless ...
    The thought was so appalling that Aggie resisted it. But it would not be silenced. Suppose Cecilie found a man who was a good dancer and a crack horseman? Then suppose that she took matters into her own hands, as she was quite wont to do, and asked him outright about the hirsute quality of his chest! About to caution her charge against such a dangerous action - for surely such a request could be interpreted in many ways - Aggie shut her mouth sharply. It might be wiser not to mention the matter at all. Perhaps Cecilie had forgotten it. And even if she hadn’t, warning her would not at all guarantee her compliance. It might even induce her to go ahead! Cecilie, having so little experience of the ton, had no idea of the complicity and wickedness of some men. It was impossible for her to imagine anyone taking advantage of her, especially as she knew so little of the opposite sex.
    Aggie crossed to the wardrobe and withdrew the dress of ivory satin that Cecilie was to wear.
    “You must put your gown on, too,” said Cecilie. “I want Millie to do your hair right after mine.”
    Aggie nodded. It was easier just to go along with Cecilie’s wishes. After all, what did it matter? No one would be paying attention to her anyway.
    Cecilie looked quite ravishing in her gown. Its round neckline and little puffed sleeves accented the creaminess of her complexion. While Millie labored over the tousled curls, making sure each one looked adequately “natural,” Aggie took the gown of peach silk from its hanger. Her f i ngers trembled as they touched the f i ne soft material. It had been a long time since she’d had a gown for the evening. And this one was so beautiful. How had he known that she liked this material and that pale green lame? She had not thought her preference was so obvious. But somehow he had discovered it.
    She must be very careful now - for if he had discovered her preference for materials, and with so little to work on - might he not also discover her preference for him? Especially after that revealing kiss. Then he would have an additional weapon at his disposal, a weapon to use in persuading her to become his mis - Her mind balked at the offending word and she shoved the thought aside. Her only dealings with his lordship now were those relating to Cecilie . Between the two of them there was nothing - nothing at all.
    Another maid stepped forward and silently helped her off with her old gown. Her f i ngers felt all thumbs and she was aware of a growing nervousness. Of course, at any time she would be apprehensive about Cecilie’sbehavior and this was a most important occasion. But this nervousness was more than that. It was somehow related to the peach silk gown that was, in reality, a gift from Denby . No matter what she had said about reimbursing him , the truth was that he had paid for it. The gown, she decided, had become something more than a gown to her. She was being