Page 9 of The Society Catch
‘Giles!’ She was lying propped up against a pile of cushions on a chaise longue, a wide smile of welcome on her face.
He strode across to her side, warmed by her delight. There were times when he wondered if he would ever find someone like his friend’s wife, someone whom he could love as Alex loved Hebe, someone who would love him back with such passionate devotion.
‘Good grief, Lady Tasborough.’ He stopped in front of her, his mouth curving into a teasing, smile. ‘Just when is this child due? I give you fair warning, I have delivered one baby in my time, and it is not an experience I am willing to repeat.’
Hebe held out her arms to him, giggling as he attempted to kiss her across the bump. Sheets of notepaper scattered to the carpet. ‘It isn’t due for six weeks, Giles, so you need not be alarmed. Have you truly delivered a baby? Whose was it?’
‘The wife of one of the men. The father fainted, the doctor was away cutting some poor man’s leg off, there was not another woman in sight, so it was down to me.’ He grinned at her affectionately.Thisfelt like coming home. ‘Six weeks? Are you sure it isn’t twins?’
Hebe stared at him wide-eyed. ‘Surely not? There are none in either family as far as I know, and it does follow, doesn’t it?’
‘I think so. I was only teasing. How are you, Hebe? I am surprised to find you in Town just now.’
‘I am well, only so tired of feeling like a whale. I cannot recall when I last saw my feet. But never mind me, what are you doing here? Can you stay until we go back to Tasborough? Please do, we would love that so much.’
‘Are you sure? It won’t be difficult at the moment?’
‘Not at all, and you will distract Alex and stop him fretting about me. I am in disgrace because I will not see any of the fashionableaccoucheurswhich is the excuse I gave for coming up the other day. Alex says if all I want to do is shop, then I must go straight back to the country and rest. But we are here for another two days at any rate.’ She settled herself against her cushions and watched him with her wide grey eyes steady on his face. ‘The decanters are over there. Pour yourself a drink then come and sit down beside me.’
Giles did as he was bid, dropping onto a footstool beside the chaise and settling himself comfortably. ‘Now, tell me what is wrong, Giles,’ she commanded.
‘Wrong?’ He shifted so that he was sitting with his back against the side of the chaise, his face turned from her.
‘Yes, wrong.’ Hebe rested her hand lightly on his shoulder. ‘You look as though someone has been kicking you – spiritually, I mean.’
Giles put up his own hand and covered hers. ‘Clever Hebe. That is exactly how I feel. I went home to Buckinghamshire two days ago because Mother has been writing to say that she is worried about Father. The doctor thinks he had some kind of seizure last month and now one side of his face is stiff and he is limping. Denies there is anything wrong of course.’
‘How old is the General?’
‘Only sixty five, but he’s had a tough life. Wounded at least six times, broken bones, yellow fever. He was never the kind of officer who stayed back at headquarters in comfort. Now he’s getting tired but he will not admit it, and that’s a big estate for one man to manage. If I had a younger brother…’
‘So you came home to see him?’ Hebe curled her fingers within his and gave an encouraging squeeze.
‘Yes. I did not want to rush straight there as soon as I arrived in the country or he would suspect why I came home. My ideawas to see for myself how he did, and if he really looked bad, to sell out. I thought I’d try horse breeding and at the same time take over some of the estate management. Nothing too much at first, just the bits that really bore and tire him.’
‘And gradually he would let you do more and more and he would never have to admit he couldn’t cope?’
‘Yes. At least, that was my plan.’ He fell silent. The pain of his father’s reaction was almost too raw to speak about yet. ‘Where’s Alex?’
Hebe laughed, ‘At his club, taking refuge because I will not let him fuss over me, and if he stays at home he fidgets himself to death.’ Hebe paused, then, ‘How did your father react?’
‘Badly.’
‘Tell me,’ she persisted gently.
‘He demanded to know what had happened to make me lose my nerve and want to sell out, like some coward of a Hyde Park soldier,’ Giles said harshly. Hebe gasped.
‘He doesn’t mean it,’ Giles continued more easily now the shaming words had been said. ‘He expects me to be a general too – and even younger than he had been. I think in his heart he knows why I am talking of selling out and he is railing against his own weakness, not mine.’
‘I shouldn’t think that makes it hurt any less,’ Hebe said, lifting her hand to touch it softly to his face. Giles turned his cheek against her knuckles, comforted. Lucky, lucky Alex.
‘No. And, of course, he knows he has been unjust and doesn’t know how to put it right. So he managed to find yet another sin to throw at my head to justify his anger.’
‘What else?’
‘He wants to know what I think I’m about flirting with Lady Suzanne Hall and not making her an offer.Damn good catch, the old boy says with considerable understatement, and he isn’t going to stand by hearing stories about me trifling with heraffections.’
‘Are you?’ Hebe asked.
