Free Two Corinthians by Carola Dunn

ninnyhammer I am! Just because she thinks herself on the shelf and with Mama always calling her an ape leader, I never considered it. Only, she really is shy,” she added anxiously, “and she says herself that her Season was disastrous. Do you think she can overcome that?”
    “She will need help and encouragement.”
    “I shall help and encourage her! And you will too, will you not? You do like her, don’t you?” Lizzie awaited his answer with bated breath. If he did not like Claire, she could not be friends with him, and he was a most comfortable person to talk to. She had never met anyone she liked better. Perhaps Mama was right for once and he would make her a good husband. He was not so very much older.
    “I am beginning to conceive a great admiration for Miss Sutton,” he said thoughtfully. “Yes, I will help you. How expert you are at drawing me into your schemes! You know, I believe this one also is best kept secret, if you can keep a secret from your sister.”
    “If it is to her benefit.” Lizzie fell silent, pondering his advice.
    They were strolling along a path bounded on one side by a hedge. Now they heard voices on the other side of the hedge, and as they drew closer to the speakers they recognised Mr Harrison’s.
    “The young ‘un’s a pretty chit,” he said, “but Cousin Caroline mentioned it’s the old maid has the rhino.”
    Lord Pomeroy’s voice followed, in a tone of icy contempt. “If I find you have made improper advances to either young lady...”
    “No, no, assure you, coz. I know it don’t do to treat respectable young women like serving wenches.”
    “Your manners towards serving wenches leave a great deal to be desired.”
    “There’s no need to comb my hair with a joint stool.” Mr Harrison sounded injured. “It’s marriage I mean by Miss Sutton. She may be an antidote, but the dibs are in tune and I can tell you, coz, I’m deep in Dun Territory.”
    Bursting with indignation, Lizzie did not hear Lord Pomeroy’s response to this confession. George managed to hush her so that her outrage emerged as a hiss instead of the screech she had intended.
    “What an odious, odious man!”
    “Deplorable,” agreed George.
    “I must warn Claire to beware of him for I expect he is quite unscrupulous, whatever he claims. The trouble is, I daresay if I do she will think everyone who courts her is only after her money. I think I will not tell her. I shall just have to keep an eye on him myself. I don’t suppose you...?”
    “I am yours to command, ma’am,” he sighed. “I shall endeavour to put a spoke in Horrid Horace’s wheel.”
    “Splendid! I know she will be quite safe with you to look after her. You are prodigious obliging, my lord.”
    “George, remember?” He looked down at her, smiling, but with a disturbing glint in his eye.
    “You are prodigious obliging, George,” she said obediently, as they rounded the end of the hedge.
    Lord Pomeroy and Mr Harrison were moving towards Claire and Miss Harrison, who stood looking at a flowerbed.
    “Whatever happened to the crocuses?” Lizzie enquired. “They were so pretty and now they are crushed into the ground.”
    “I was just telling Miss Harrison,” said Claire. She repeated the tale of the escaped stallion and Lord Pomeroy’s swift, courageous actions.
    His lordship came up in time to hear her last few words. Lizzie turned to him, reached up on tiptoe and planted a hearty kiss on his cheek.
    “Thank you, my lord,” she breathed, blue eyes shining.
    Lord Pomeroy crimsoned, losing his usual air of imperturbability. “It was nothing,” he said gruffly, looking more embarrassed than gratified. “What an impulsive child you are!”
    “No more impulsive in expressing my gratitude than you were in saving Claire, for you cannot have had time to think with Papa’s stallion bearing down upon you. And I am not a child.”
    “Which makes your behaviour the less excusable,” pointed out Lord Pomeroy.
    Lizzie saw that