The Headstrong Ward Read Online Free PDF Page B

returned, followed by one of the tiniest women Anne had ever seen. Mariah Postlewaite-Debenham could not have been even five feet in height, and her other dimensions were correspondingly slight. Rising and holding out her hand, Anne felt a giant. Her new chaperone had the Debenham coloring, a bit faded now, but not the nose. She wore a very plain gown of buff kerseymere, and in general looked like the sort of self-effacing, quiet person who is never remembered from one meeting to the next. Her manner as she looked about the room, a combination of vague surprise and disinterest, merely added to this impression.
    â€œGood day,” said Anne. “I am Anne Tremayne. Welcome to Wrenley.”
    Miss Postlewaite-Debenham raised pale gray eyes to hers. “Thank you, dear,” she replied in an unexpectedly collected tone. “I am earlier than I said I would be, but the blight killed my pansies, and I saw no reason to linger.”
    â€œOh. Ah…of course. Sit down, please.”
    â€œWell, for a moment, perhaps. But I want to walk around the park before teatime. Lord Wrenley said there were some remarkable perennial beds. Indeed, he assured me one was at least fifty years old.” She drifted over to the front windows and looked earnestly out, as if in search of this fabulous bed.
    â€œD-did he? I take it you are interested in gardening, ma’am?”
    Miss Postlewaite-Debenham waved this aside as if unanswerable. “Call me Mariah, dear. You will have to. Postlewaite-Debenham is such a ridiculous mouthful. I always thought poor Mama misguided when she insisted upon it. And now I think I will go out, if you will excuse me.”
    â€œBut…that is…wouldn’t you like to see your room, or…or anything?”
    The older woman seemed to really look at Anne for the first time. “What is the matter, dear?” she asked kindly. “You seem uneasy.”
    Anne, utterly disconcerted by this time, merely stared at her.
    â€œDidn’t Lord Wrenley speak to you about me?” continued the other.
    â€œOh, yes. He told me you would be my chaperone for the season, and that you were his cousin.”
    â€œTch. He promised me that he would explain my position before I arrived. It was clearly agreed upon.”
    Fascinated, Anne could not stop staring at her diminutive companion. “Perhaps he meant to do so. We did not expect you until…”
    â€œYes, I see how it was. Well, it is vexing to have to repeat it all again, but I suppose it can’t be helped.” With a regretful glance out the window, Mariah walked over to the sofa and sat down. “Now, you mustn’t be offended by what I am about to tell you, dear, because it has nothing to do with you, but as I told Lord Wrenley, I was very reluctant to leave my own house and come to stay with you in town. Indeed, I refused, until he insisted he could find no one else. I do understand that you must have a chaperone, and I am prepared to do my best for one season—no more. I am not fond of company; my garden is enough to content me, as I think it might anyone. And I came only on the understanding that I should be free to bring some of my plants and things along and tend them for part of each day.”
    â€œIn…in London?” managed Anne.
    â€œLord Wrenley promised to set aside a room for my plants in his town house. It is very awkward, of course, but I must do my duty to the family. I have made arrangements for some of my things to be taken there after we arrive.”
    â€œI…I see. I apologize for being the unconscious cause of…”
    â€œNo, no. You mustn’t feel that way. But it is best to have everything clear, is it not?”
    Anne nodded. “Do you mean to accompany me to parties and…and that sort of thing?”
    â€œI shall do whatever is necessary,” replied Mariah Postlewaite-Debenham in the voice of a much-tried martyr.
    â€œTh-thank you.” Anne