Free Madcap Miss by Joan Smith Page B

eagerly.
    “ Her neighbor said she had let her house. The new occupants might know her address. Will you take me to them? ”
    “ Gladly. Shall I make inquiries for you? They might think it odd, your going alone. ”
    “ Everyone always thinks it odd, but I ’ m pretty good at making excuses. ”
    Whewett ’ s relief at her capitulation was tinged with guilt. He was treating Miss Farnsworth abominably and decided to assuage his grief by buying her a grand present. It was only fair. Her gift from Grandma was going to Gussie. He owed her for that as well as the rest. One hundred pounds didn ’ t begin to cover it. He would make her take the five hundred.
    They set about the business of buying the doll first. Grace began looking at simple rag dolls, of the sort she had had as a child. Whewett said, “ Grandma gave me a whole guinea to spend. We can get one with a dish head, if you like. ”
    “ Good gracious! We ’ re rich. We can buy a whole family. Would Gussie like one with a dish head? ”
    “ She has all kinds. I believe Grandma ’ s plan is to outdo the others. ”
    “ That sounds like her. Oh, look, Whew — Papa, ” she said, as the clerk came up to them. “ See the pretty one with blond curls. I always wanted blond curls and blue eyes myself. Let us get that one. ”
    “ The little lady has excellent taste, ” the clerk said, and handed it down to her.
    Grace admired the fine workmanship; the doll ’ s eyelids were hinged to open and shut mechanically, and even had eyelashes stuck into them. The gown was an elegant silk, with pink ribbons. It was a real work of art. “ Isn ’ t it beautiful! ” she exclaimed.
    “ Is that the one you want? ” Whewett asked.
    “ Yes, please. ”
    It was purchased, using up Lady Healy ’ s whole guinea. “ Sure you ’ re really over twenty? ” he asked quietly as they walked out, “ You looked very pleased with your toy. ”
    “ Some toys are works of art. I hope Doll appreciates it. ”
    “ Gussie, you mean. ”
    “ You call her Doll sometimes, don ’ t you? ”
    Whewett wondered why a simple lie to confirm this should stick in his throat, when his whole life had become a lie. Perhaps it was because it involved his daughter, whom he had never in his life called Doll.
    “ Don ’ t you? ” Grace repeated, wondering at his uneasy manner.
    “ I call her lots of things. Now that we have her present, I want to buy something for my other daughter. ”
    “ This daughter doesn ’ t take presents from gentlemen, thank you all the same. ”
    “ Oh, come now, surely I may replace Grandma ’ s gift, which Gussie has stolen from you, without infringing on the proprieties. I think a piece of jewelry would be suitable, ” he said tentatively.
    It was, of all gifts, the most inappropriate. Gentlemen gave jewelry to their mistresses. Did he think that because she had agreed to this charade, she was no better than she should be? “ Think again, ” she said firmly.
    “ I didn ’ t mean a diamond necklace or tiara, so you need not fly into a pelter. Some token of my gratitude for your excellent performance. A watch —”
    “ I prefer cash. The sum has been agreed upon, ” she said coolly.
    “ Even the pious Pamela let her virtue be rewarded, ” he mentioned. When she looked away, he realized it was time to change the subject. “ Did you finish the book? ”
    “ No, it is in three volumes. At the rate our performance is dragging on, I shall finish all three before we leave. Actually Pamela hasn ’ t got much reward yet for her travails. But I believe she is talking Mr. B. into marrying her. ”
    “ He does. ”
    “ Whewett! How dare you spoil the ending for me! What a cruel stunt. Now I shan ’ t have any interest to read the rest. ”
    “ That ’ s just the beginning. Things don ’ t heat up till she makes the mistake of marrying the bounder. You servant girls must be very careful whom you take up with, or even marry. ”
    “ I ’ ll worry about that