Steeling herself, Mary said, “It sounds lovely, Cousin Charlotte. But, well, I’m afraid that we—I don’t think we could—” A blush rose in her cheeks, and she lifted her chin a little. “The truth is, we haven’t enough money to buy anything.”
Charlotte stared at her blankly. Lily let out a long-suffering sigh and sagged back in her seat. Besides that, there was only silence. Mary felt sure that she had made another faux pas; no doubt these people did not discuss anything so crass as money. But Mary could not let Charlotte proceed merrily with her plans when there was no hope that Mary and her sisters could buy anything.
Finally, the earl spoke up. “I fear you have misunderstood, cousin. The bills will be sent to me.”
Mary turned to him, astonished. “But, no—I mean, I—you should not have to buy us clothes.”
The earl lifted one brow. “You are my charges now. Did you think I would not provide you with the necessities?”
“Well, yes, of course.” Mary had to force herself not to squirm under the man’s cool gray gaze. “But I didn’t think—I mean, it seems too much. You shouldn’t have to pay for our clothes as well.”
“I can hardly expect you to wear the same frocks for the remainder of your lives, now, can I?”
“No, of course not,” Mary agreed, feeling more foolish than ever.
The earl inclined his head. “Then it is agreed.” Amusement lit his eyes as he said, “Perhaps you shall provide a valuable restraint to our cousin’s spending habits.”
“Ludley never complains,” Charlotte told him haughtily.
Mary had to marvel at the other woman’s ease with the formidable earl. Mary felt she had to square her shoulders and screw up her courage whenever she faced him. But that ease, she supposed, was what came from belonging … as Mary and her sisters did not. As they never would.
It was not long before Charlotte took her leave, promising to see the girls in two days for their shopping expedition. Warmly Mary bade her good-bye, and since Sir Royce had risen and walked with them to the hall, Mary had no choice but to turn to him as well. Her smile, however, fell from her face, and the nod she gave him was decidedly frosty.
Charlotte moved toward the front door, the other girls trailing along and happily discussing the prospect of shoes and hats and dresses, but Sir Royce took Mary’s arm, holding her back.
“Do you plan on not speaking to me for the rest of our lives?” he asked in a low voice.
Mary made herself look at him. Royce was smiling at her, and she could not deny the sensation that twisted inside her at his smile. Why did he have to have that appealing cleft in his chin? And must his eyes be such a vivid green, like a leaf after the rain?#p#分页标题#e#
“Of course not,” she answered in a cool tone. “No doubt we will have occasion to speak now and then. But it seems unlikely that we shall spend much time around each other in the future.”
“Does it?” His eyebrows quirked up. “The Talbots are a close family.”
“As I recall, you have little interest in being tied to the Talbots. Besides, you will marry according to your station, and our paths are unlikely to cross.”
“Mary …” He sighed. “I understand your desire to punish me. I deserve it for my clumsy and unthinking remarks. But I did not mean to hurt you. I would not have done so for the world. Do at least give me some hope that eventually you will end my punishment.”
“I don’t know what you mean. I am not trying to punish you. I am merely speaking the truth, as you did. I have no liking for deception.”
“Deception!” He frowned. “I did not deceive you.”
“Of course. No doubt it was I who misunderstood. I am accustomed to simpler people. I took amusement and mockery for friendship.”
Royce looked startled. “Mockery—no, Mary, you must not think that I—”
Embarrassed that she had revealed too much of her own hurt, Mary shook her head, giving him a quick, tight smile. “Nay. ’Tis silly to belabor the point. Excuse me.”
She pulled her arm from his grasp and hurried to rejoin her sisters in the hallway. With a sigh, Royce followed her. He did not, as she had half feared, try to talk to her again. Merely bowing to her sisters, he gave Cousin Charlotte his arm, and they left.
Mary turned back to her sisters and was somewhat surprised to find all three watching her. She raised her brows questioningly. “Is something the matter?”
“I was about to ask you the same thing,” Rose replied. “Is something wrong between you and Sir Royce? Has he offended you?”