Free Gayle Buck by The Hidden Heart

she would turn down such an acceptable offer as Lord Hathaway has repeatedly made to you,” Mrs. Burlington said.
    From the corner of her eye Lady Caroline was painfully aware of Lord Trilby’s interested expression. The half-open door still hid his presence from her aunt, and she could not imagine why he had not already made himself known, unless he was quite simply struck immobile by the ghastly faux pas.
    Lady Caroline saw that her aunt was drawing breath to deliver another denunciation and she hurried to deter Mrs. Burlington’s embarrassing diatribe. Not for worlds would she have wanted the Earl of Walmesley to know what wretched dealings she endured from her aunt. “Amaris, please. This is neither the time nor the place. Lord-”
    Mrs. Burlington pounced. “Lord Hathaway! Yes, he is whistled down the lane for the last time, I’ll warrant, which you will doubtless regret—and much sooner than you could ever anticipate.”
    Lord Trilby thought he had heard enough. He had already crossed the room in response to Lady Caroline’s rather wild glance in his direction, and now he stepped around the edge of the door into sight.
    Mrs. Burlington gasped and fell back in astonishment. “My lord! I had no idea! I had no notion whatsoever that you were present.”
    “So I gathered. It is perhaps unfortunate that I was unable to bring myself immediately to your attention.” Lord Trilby’s voice was austere. His gray eyes rested thoughtfully on Mrs. Burlington’s face. She flushed under his cool assessment.
    Lady Caroline trembled with anger and mortification. She held her hands clasped tightly together, fearing that in her vexation she might slap her aunt. She maintained, however, a carefully neutral voice. “Lord Trilby arrived just as Lord Hathaway was taking his leave.”
    “As I fear that I now must,’’ Lord Trilby said. He caught Lady Caroline’s fleeting glance before her eyes fell from his. He knew her character well enough to ascertain that the flush of color blooming in her face owed more to the seething fury that he had glimpsed in her eyes than to the embarrassment she must have felt that he had been made witness of her aunt’s abominable treatment of her.
    Lady Caroline offered her hand to the earl. “I am glad that you came, my lord.”
    Lord Trilby carried her fingers to his lips. “As am I. I shall be fixed at Walmesley for an indefinite time, as I told you. I will call on you again, Lady Caroline.”
    She understood then that he would not be remaining for the weekend at Berwicke. It was an example of his exquisite discretion, and the anger burned brighter in her eyes for the humiliating moments just past. “I will be most happy to receive you, my lord,” she said formally.
    Lord Trilby slanted a smile down at her. Then, with a nod and a long cool look for Mrs. Burlington, he sauntered past the ladies. He was met in the entry hall by Simpson, who stood ready with his greatcoat, beaver, and gloves. “Thank you, Simpson.”
    He left by the front door, and it was as though the sound of the closing door set free the two immobilized and silent ladies.
    Mrs. Burlington at once stepped fully into the drawing room and sharply shut the door. “I was never more mortified in my life! How dared you let me go on when all the time his lordship was behind the door!”
    “It is quite your own fault, Amaris. As I recall, I did make some attempt to warn you, but you were absolutely bent on speaking your mind,” Lady Caroline said coolly. She brushed past her aunt without another word or glance, not trusting herself to retain her civility.
    Mrs. Burlington’s strident voice followed her. “Pray do not think that you may so easily push me aside, niece! I have had a letter from Lady Eddington, advising me of her and Lord Eddington’s own early return.”
    Lady Caroline paused in the act of opening the door. Making an immense effort to ignore her aunt’s spiteful tone, she said, “Their return? But I have