A Matter of Honor Read Online Free Page B

whispered those words of promise again, she would have fallen into his arms. It was a rather disconcerting thought and one she did not care to pursue any further.
    Cecilie preceded her into the breakfast room and Aggie could tell from the set of her back that this was not going to be a pleasant meal. The Earl was seated at the head of the table. A shirt, cravat, striped waistcoat, and coat of blue superfine had been added to his costume. He was still a fine figure of a man, thought Aggie, and then reminded herself of his nature. Good looks were one thing, character another. And a man who trifled with the heart of an innocent young woman ...
    “Good morning . Miss Winthrop , Miss Trimble .” He rose and bowed gracefully, his expression gravely formal.
    “Good morning, milord,” Cecilie’s reply was a trifle sullen, but Aggie’s was quite even.
    “If you will be seated , Bates will serve you.”
    “Yes, milord.” Aggie led Cecilie to a chair and then seated herself. She did not trust herself to look at Denby and so gazed down at her plate.
    “I trust that Dillydums is a prisoner in your room,” said his lordship to Cecilie in what was obviously an attempt to regard the morning’s outbreak with humor.
    Cecilie did not , however, respond in kind. “Yes, the poor thing is tied up like some terrible felon. It’s absolutely heartless.” And her eyes widened in innocent reproach.
    The Earl seemed somewhat discomf i ted by this rather dramatic reply and his eyes sought Aggie. She, however, was steadily regarding her charge and did not meet his gaze.
    “I hardly think it is that terrible,” said his lordship. “Surely he did not run free at the house in Dover.”
    Aggie suppressed a smile. The Earl obviously knew very little about monkeys - or girls like Cecilie. But he would learn. Normally Aggie was of a very kindheartednature, but it would have taken a veritable saint not to enjoy Denby’s present discomfort as Cecilie fastened him with another wide-eyed gaze and declared, “Of course he did. We never tied the poor thing up.”
    The Earl did not have to reply to this immediately, having taken a bite of muff i n. When his mouth was again empty, he said in a tone that did not quite achieve evenness, “This is London. Here we do not have animals running about loose.”
    “That’s quite silly,” said Cecilie , tossing her golden curls. “Animals are nice to have around. Better than people a lot of the time.” And she gave the Earl a look which clearly indicated that in his case the truth was obvious.
    “In London we have many callers,” said his lordship, striving for a calmness he did not quite achieve. “We cannot have animals all over the house.”
    “Can’t see why not,” replied Cecilie through a mouthful of muff i n. “The Duchess of York has animals everywhere at Oatlands. No one complains. Except of course the Duke, when he can’t find a place to sit.”
    If Denby was surprised by his ward’s familiarity with the royal family, he did not indicate so. “I’m afraid you are not yet a Duchess,” he said in a f i rm tone. “Therefore the monkey must not be let to run about loose.” He fastened a stern eye on Cecilie. “If he gets out again, I shall have to find him another home. Do you understand?”
    For a long moment Cecilie stared at him in surprise. Then two big tears appeared in her eyes and rolled slowly and pathetically down her cheeks, to be followed by a steady stream of the same. The picture she presented was truly pitiful; and Aggie, if she had not experienced the same scene times innumerable, might well have been affected by it.
    Denby was not. “I believe you should know that female tears will fail with me,” he said. “They may have gained you your point in the past,” he continued with a swift look at Aggie that seemed to hold her to blame, “but they will no longer serve for anything.”
    “You - you -” sputtered Cecilie . “You are a terrible, terrible man. I cannot