For the first time since her arrival Joanne was thankful that eating was done mainly with the right hand, for the fingers of the left were painfully p.r.i.c.ked and reddened from her lesson in needlework. Their condition was far worse than necessary, for Mrs. Caern had cautioned her to stop, but Joanne had proven as dogged in mending as she had been unrelenting in her hostility.

Her worst fear now was that Lord Jason would laugh if he saw her hand or the mending she had done.

Although wretched by Mrs. Caern's standard, it was a source of great pride to Joanne.

"I am happy to see that you are beginning to enjoy your visit here," Kenton said smiling. "Let us see if you recall the proper forms of address. Begin with that of squire."

The meal pa.s.sed quickly. Lord Jason and Lady Joanne came to words only once this eve.

"I see little difference in a marquess and a duke, especially if he is not a royal duke," she snapped after being corrected upon their address. "Why should one be merely 'my lord' and the other 'your grace?' It is ridiculous." She threw her fork down onto the table.

"A lady never drops her silver," Kenton admonished. "And the Duke of Newcastle would certainly wish to be addressed as 'your grace.'"

"I'll drop what I wish." Her temper flared at this further correction. "And since it is highly unlikely I shall ever meet the duke, he may keep his grace and your grace, my lord." She waved her left hand angrily, dismissing the subject.

Kenton saw the reddened, sore fingers at once. "Your hand," he demanded. Concern darkened his brow. "What has happened to it?"

Blinking back angry tears at being discovered, Joanne said, "Learning needlework, d.a.m.n you." Pushing back her chair, she ran from the room.

Staring after her, Kenton frowned. His plans had progressed far better than he could have hoped. The So why did she not tell me about this? he wondered. Refusing to admit that it bothered him, he turned his thoughts to Mrs. Caern.

I must give her a scold. There is no reason Lady Joanne must scar fingers in this pursuit.

September brought the last of summer heat and hints of autumn coolness abounded.

"Today a young girl, hardly more than a babe she seems, was brought to Irwin," Lady Joanne told Lord Jason as they walked toward the large parlour in Kentoncombe one evening. "Dr. Ames said she had been at Children's Hospital for over eight months."

"Is she another orphan?"

Lady Joanne shook her head. "He said they believe she is not, but that it cannot be proven. She was found in a basket on the hospital's steps one night. A common occurrence, Dr. Ames says. Unwanted."

The last word came without thought. Hearing it aloud, Joanne realized she had been drawn to Ellen as much by her own rejection as by pity for the child. For the first time a glimmer of understanding of her own behaviour dawned.

"Is that all they know of her?" Lord Jason asked a second time, his gaze locked on Joanne's face, which

was wreathed in a gentleness he had not before seen upon it.

"What? Oh, yes, I believe so. Dr. Ames says there is little hope of learning more. She's just a tiny thing with the largest blue eyes I have ever seen and the palest blond hair. When you look at her, she is so thin it seems she must disappear.

"I held her and rocked her for some time this afternoon. She seemed so fearful that I had to do something to comfort her. All she did was stare at me."

"She didn't speak? Not even to ask for a sweet?" He thought of his visits to Irwin with a smile.

"The papers that came with her state that she has never spoken. Not since she was found on the hospital's steps. Dr. Ames said he hopes it is merely caused by her poor health and her fear, but that she may be dumb."

"Is she deaf also?" Kenton asked, opening the parlour doors.

"No." A huge smile came to Joanne. "I sang her a song Mrs. Caern had taught me and she went right to sleep."

"She may have just been exhausted from the journey," Lord Jason said gently.

"No, I am certain she heard me. Dr. Ames agreed," Joanne insisted. "But why have we come to this parlour?" She looked about the s.p.a.cious chamber. The furniture had been moved to one side and the carpet rolled up. Ignoring the irritation caused by the oft-repeated "Dr. Ames" Kenton smiled and made a leg. "This eve, my lady, you shall learn the minuet. Though to be honest," his smile twisted, "my prowess as dance master will leave much to be desired. It has been years-"

"Dancing? I have no need of it," Joanne objected.

"It is essential for a lady." His look brooked no argument.

After an hour of awkward attempts and at times farcical rehearsal Kenton called for Mrs. Caern to bring refreshments. "Let us sit," he told Joanne. "You have earned a rest."

"When shall you see that this is impossible?" Joanne shook her head as she sat beside him on the overstuffed sofa, an acquisition of Kenton's last visit to London from Chippendale's shop in St. Martin's Lane.

"Do not be discouraged. You have a fair degree of natural grace," he returned without the usual bantering tone.

"Thank you, Mrs. Caern," he told the housekeeper as she set the tray of wine upon the slab table near them. "Will you fetch the magazine that arrived in today's post? It is in my study."

Turning to Joanne, he said, "I have decided that it is essential you see how ladies of fashion dress and deport themselves, so I have subscribed to The Ladies Magazine. He rose and served Joanne then took his seat as Mrs. Caern returned.

"Ah, yes. Now let me see." He paged slowly. "Here it is. This is how the fashionable young lady is gowned. By comparison your hair is abominably dressed and your gown sadly lacking in hoops, hip pads, and furbelows."

"What is wrong with my hair?" Joanne demanded, still overly sensitive of her shorn locks, even though her hair had finally grown out enough to be pinned.

"The proper toilet for a ridotto demands your hair be dressed to at least fifteen inches in height-see our young lady here. Hair pads aid this I am told or more simply, a periwig is used. Some, I read, reach immense proportions.

"Naturally this 'masterpiece' is powdered and bedecked with all manner of fustian. The young lady here seems to fancy feathers and jewels for hers."

Joanne eyed the sketch dubiously.

"Even the men," Kenton continued, "do not remain unaffected. When I was last in London I was given an advertis.e.m.e.nt which recommended tye wigs, long bobs, cleric bobs, and even spensers. A true gentleman of fashion has his head shorn for the wearing of these majestic creations," he laughed.

She shook her head in disbelief. His hair was dark, attractive, neatly dressed in a queue held by a black ribbon.

"It is only because I am not fashionable and because country life allows informality that I have spurned the peruke. Once you go to London you will be dressed as this magazine indicates the majority of the "But enough of this." He closed the magazine and rose. Offering his hand to Joanne, Lord Jason gazed at her features as if seeing them for the first time. She is comely, he realized.

"Is my hair truly displeasing?" Joanne asked as they a.s.sumed the opening stance of the minuet.

"No, my lady," he a.s.sured her, making a leg as she curtsied. "It is-suitable." He took her hand. Their arms brushed as they turned into the first movement.

Kenton was mesmerized as they moved through the dance. At the end he stood holding her hand. A sudden realization dawned.

Joanne became puzzled by the strange look that came to Lord Jason's features as he gazed at her. "Have I done it wrong?" she asked.

"No." Kenton dropped her hand. "There will be no more lessons this eve," he said gruffly. "Good eve." Turning on his heel he strode from the chamber.

Chapter Eleven.

"'Tis a great change," Nell commented to Ann as the two worked diligently at polishing the dark oak panelling and the ma.s.sive furniture of the dining hall at Kentoncombe.

"Aye, one'd never know her ladyship for the same person. 'Hags the cooler weather of October has done it?" Ann speculated as she paused in her efforts on the planked table. "Or that young Dr. Ames. He could be the cause."

"'That's a far more likely reason," laughed Nell. "If he's not here, it seems she's fetchin' things to Irwin for the foundlings."

"An' ignorin' his lordship all the while. He's just as much the gentleman as can be no matter what she does or says."

"Me mum says it's just his lordship's way-to help those who need it."

"Why are you two chattering?" Mrs. Caern asked, annoyed. She came back into the seconds later to find both girls vigorously rubbing beeswax and oil into a luxurious shine. "See to it you finish in an hour. There's much more to be done this day." The elderly housekeeper stayed a few moments to ensure continued zeal and considered scolding the girls for what she had overheard. Both were young and had been at the manor less than a year, however. During that time they had shown good natures and worked hard. Mrs. Caern decided the gossip was harmless. As she herself stood in wonder of the change in Lady Joanne in the months since her coming to Kentoncombe, she decided to forgo the reprimand.

Anyone seeing Lady Joanne now would marvel. No longer ponderously heavy but with only a healthy excess, her nature had changed as drastically as her frame. Just as the chopped hair now fell in shimmering brown waves about the thinning oval face with its high cheekbones and aristocratic nose, the eyes laughed and the lips smiled. Pleasantries came forth more often than insults and commands.

In fact, the young woman was a caring person when it came to her efforts with the foundlings, thought This point only increased the bewilderment of her behaviour toward Lord Jason. While Lady Joanne's manner toward all in the combo had gradually evolved into the well-behaved and genteel, she reverted when it came to his lordship. It almost appeared that the two enjoyed their encounters, but Mrs. Caern knew all was not well. In her position as housekeeper for over one and forty years she had known Lord Jason from birth. Coming across him after pa.s.sing Lady Joanne outside the library doors some two weeks ago, she was taken aback by the deep sorrow that furrowed his brow. Such a look she had not seen upon him since the early mourning days after Lady Kenton's death.

"Milord, is there something I can do?" she asked.

Slowly he focused upon her and a sad smile struggled for a hold upon his lips. "No, Mrs. Caern. There is nothing." He started to turn away, then swung back.

"Yes, there is something I would like you to do. Summon the best seamstress to be found in Ilfracombe. Lady Joanne's wardrobe must be improved. Instruct the woman to bring only bright colours and patterns suitable to a young lady and have her make some new day dresses and some gowns for evening wear.

"If Lady Joanne objects, tell her that her father left instructions to have her clothing added to periodically as was needed and that you see the need. When the new garments are finished, give the old ones to the seamstress to give to some poor deserving woman in Ilfracombe. Under no circ.u.mstances am I to be mentioned-do you understand?"

"Wouldn't it be best for her ladyship to know-"

"Deny any involvement on my part," Lord Jason adamantly interrupted. "I must see to some business. Have the seamstress send her bills to me. Tell her they will be taken care of upon completion of the gowns."

"Aye, milord," Mrs. Caern answered with a frown. "But there will be more than outer garments needed."

Lord Jason stared momentarily, then broke into a smile at Mrs. Caern's discomfiture. "See to whatever is needed."

"Aye, milord." Setting about the task, Mrs. Caern puzzled. First Lord Jason is in the depths of sadness, then bright as a schoolboy as he orders gowns and yet refuses to take credit for the deed-what was in his mind? She was uncertain, but her motherly instinct gave her an idea she did not like.

The new dresses and gowns had come as a spirit brightening surprise for Joanne.

"My father left directions I was to have them?" she asked the housekeeper repeatedly.

Gritting her teeth, Mrs. Caern a.s.sured the girl over and over that this was so. She marvelled bitterly as Lady Joanne became even colder toward Lord Jason.

The white-haired housekeeper heaved a heavy sigh as she watched the young girls polishing so steadily under her gaze. "Hurry now," she told them. "There is much to be done before the supper party tonight." She headed back to the kitchen to check with the cook once more.

Humphing she thought, probably just so she can be a fancy lady in London. She halted abruptly."Why, aye," she said aloud, "the girl has to be leaving. In less than six months is the new season theyspeak about in London." She trod more slowly in the cook's direction. It had seemed that Lady Joannewould always be at Kentoncombe. * * * *

A late-morning fall shower left puddles strewn across the road. Lady Joanne gingerly stepped over them.

At the sound of a carriage she glanced back.

Dr. Ames smiled broadly as he drew the gig to a halt at her side. "Would you honour me with your presence, Lady Knoll?" he asked. "I believe I know your direction."