Babe Read Free Page B

but the softly drawling voice used by the duchess and copied by the rest. The duchess’s lisp and habit of using many French phrases had not survived a month.
    Barbara turned mentally from the past to the present. She must improve, live up to the higher standards of Clivedon’s set. It would be good for her, this change. Really, she had been slipping into questionable company lately. All a result of Bagstorff’s influence.
    She was smiling as she entered the door of the residence, preparing her prettiest speech of thanks. The smile faded as she was led into an empty chamber to await his lordship. The room’s elegance was her only welcome; there was no party. What could it mean? Did he think to have her live here, with himself? He had some maiden aunt keeping house for him, she knew, but still, it seemed a little smokey. She hunched her shoulders, dismissing it. If Clivedon thought it suitable, then it must be acceptable. Odd Fannie had said it would not do; Fannie was not overly nice in her notions of propriety.
    After five minutes, a servant brought her wine and biscuits, which she ignored. “Please tell Lord Clivedon I am waiting,” she said.
    “His lordship knows, milady. He will be here presently,” she was told.
    She waited another ten minutes before his unhurried steps approached the doorway. “Ah, Lady Barbara, sorry to keep you waiting,” he said, in a voice that did not sound sorry, or try to. “I had the devil of a time with my cravate this morning. I am trying the Olbadeston,” he added, patting his cravate. “I see you have been entertained during my absence.” His eyes glanced off the untouched glass of wine, the biscuits, their careful pattern not disturbed on the plate.
    “Good morning, Clivedon. Kind of you to worry about me, but in future, when you wish to entertain me, I will just drop the hint that an empty room and stale biscuit is not the way to set about it,” she answered sharply.
    “Stale?” he asked, lifting his brows. “Shocking! Do permit me to apologize.” He picked one up and tried it. Though he made no comment, there was a crisp sound indicating freshness as he bit in. “Try your luck again,” he said, passing the plate.
    “I did not come here for a biscuit!” she answered, feeling control was slipping from her fingers. “Furthermore, I don’t think I should be here at all, taking up residence in a bachelor’s establishment.”
    “Do you object? Do you know, it occurred to me you might, so I have arranged with a female relative of mine to house you. Lady Withers would have been here to guard your reputation this morning as well, but unfortunately one of her children has got a swelling or spot, or some dreadful malady.”
    She was relieved to hear the name of Lady Withers arise, slightly mollified as well to learn there was a reason why the lady had not called on her.
    “I am sorry to hear it. I wondered at her not having called.”
    “She wondered the same thing, that you did not see fit to pay her a duty call. I trust you are enjoying your customary high good health?”
    This was the first time it occurred to Barbara that a call from her might have been expected. Fannie had not mentioned it, but she was sorry she had been lax in the first obligation to arise with her new set of guardians. Before she could make any reply, he spoke on.
    “I have been meaning to compliment you on the good sense you have shown in this affair, Lady Barbara. We had some fears, Agnes and myself, that you would not agree to the change of custodians. I conceived the notion—I can’t imagine where the idea came from—that you would dislike to have me exercising control over you.” This speech was not delivered in any accents of a compliment, but, on the contrary, there was a mocking note to it, nor was the choice of words at all diplomatic.
    She regarded him with keen distaste. “It is a matter of very little interest to me who is nominally in control of my welfare. At my age, you know,