"That I might be able to influence her behavior?" Eleanor said, a little smile twisting her lips. "Are you sure you want to ask me for such a thing?"
She wondered, again, how much of her transgressions her husband had shared with his friends. Surely if Wesley knew how unbecoming some of her conduct had been then he couldn't think her a proper role model for his wild ward... on the other hand, she knew that he must know some of it.
"Oh, you're slowly turning into quite a presentable young lady," he teased, dark eyes glinting with appreciation for her trepidation, as if he could read her thoughts.
Eleanor stuck her tongue out at him and then immediately pulled it back in as she felt her husband step up behind her. Fortunately he hadn't been able to see her face, and she knew that Wesley wouldn't tell on her. The pinched look had disappeared from his eyes, which were full of amusement as they flicked back and forth between husband and wife. One of Edwin's hands came down on her shoulder, like a gentle caress.
"She's more than presentable," Edwin said warmly. “I’m sure that Nell will be happy to help with Cynthia.” Eleanor twisted her neck back to look up at him, surprised by the obvious and genuine affection in his voice, but even more so by the sound of approval in his tone. Considering the reasons for why they were both in Bath, and how infuriated he'd been by some of her recent antics over the past months, she was rather shocked to hear that he thought she would be a suitable influence on a wild and misbehaving young woman.
She always thought that he still saw her as a wild and misbehaving young woman. And, admittedly, she had certainly acted in ways that would support that belief.
******
The beautiful blonde woman was staring up at the very handsome man behind her. Cynthia couldn't quite see his expression, unfortunately they keyhole she was peering through didn't allow that. Or see her guardian's expression.
But she rather liked the look of the woman. She was very beautiful, for one, and the way that she'd stuck her tongue out at Lord Spencer said that she wasn't stuffy. Actually, she was quite surprised that Lord Spencer hadn't reacted with anger at such impertinence, but he hadn't. That was one moment when she truly wished she could have seen his face.
With his friends he didn't seem to be nearly as stuffy as he'd appeared to her yesterday. He was much more relaxed, even teasing and amiable as he explained that he'd like Eleanor take Cynthia under her wing and befriend her. Something which Cynthia certainly had no objection to. It would be nice to have a female friend around her age.
Especially a married one, as she surmised the beautiful blonde was. Cynthia had a multitude of questions that she'd like to ask her, if she was truly someone who could become a bosom bow.
"Cynthia!" The Countess' aghast voice had Cynthia bolting upright, her lips forming the word 'damn' although she didn’t voice the vulgarity aloud. It wasn't worth the lecture and fainting looks that followed. Turning, she tried to look properly chastened by the time she faced the Countess.
Looking as intimidatingly regal and elegant as ever, the Countess was dressed in a gown of dark blue cambric with burgundy trimmings that accentuated her statuesque bearing and excellent style. One day Cynthia hoped to be as forbidding as the Countess, she thought it would be quite a bit of fun. But she didn't wilt under the woman's hawk-like glare, her own mother had perfected that look as well, and Cynthia had become quite immune to it in her younger years. It seemed to be a side effect of indulging in "don'ts." If she'd been affected by the condemning looks and punishments that she received, Cynthia wouldn't have had half as much fun as she normally did.
Behind her the door was yanked open and Cynthia could feel the dark, brooding stare of her guardian on the back of her neck and she shivered, wondering if eavesdropping would garner her another spanking.
While that had been one of her goals, because she wanted to explore the new sensations it had aroused in her, she didn't want one yet. Her skin was still tender after the punishment she'd received the day before.
"Mother," he said in acknowledgment, stepping past Cynthia as if she wasn't there at all. She bristled at his indifference. Wesley offered the Countess his arm before turning back, his disapproving gaze landing on Cynthia. Her bottom tingled, as if in response. "Come in with us and behave."
The Countess looked a bit startled, possibly at his invitation or possibly at his manner towards Cynthia, but she didn't gainsay her son. For once, Cynthia felt like being obedient, mostly because she needed at least another good night's sleep before she was going to risk getting another spanking. Preferably more. And also because she wanted to meet the pretty blonde woman and see her guardian acting like a something other than a stuffed shirt.
Cynthia could behave when she felt she had good reason to.
When they entered the room, both the man and the woman came forward to greet the Countess. Cynthia hung back, studying them more closely now that her vision wasn't partially blocked by the keyhole. Up close the man, Lord Hyde, was even more impressive looking, with handsome chiseled features and arresting dark eyes. His own coloring was darker than Lord Spencer's, except for his skin which was much lighter, but that just made his hair and eyes even blacker by contrast.
The woman had a warm smile, sparkling blue eyes and the most amazing porcelain complexion. For once Cynthia was a bit jealous, and more than a little aware of the golden tint to her own skin which came from spending quite a bit of time outside without the protection of a bonnet or parasol. Eleanor, as the Countess called her, must be what people called a Diamond of the First Water. Something Cynthia had never aspired to be, but then she'd never felt so awkward in another woman's presence before. Normally she felt quite assured that she was the most attractive woman in the room, but next to Eleanor's angelic hues, her own coloring seemed dark and earthy by contrast.
Once they'd greeted the Countess, Eleanor turned to Cynthia, glancing at Wesley in an obvious demand to be introduced. He sighed as if it pained him and Cynthia bit her tongue to keep from saying something tart.
"Edwin, Nell, this is my ward Miss Cynthia Bryant. Cynthia, this is Lord and Lady Hyde."
"But you must call me Eleanor," said the blonde woman, stepping forward to take both of Cynthia's hands to greet her. "There's no need to be so stuffy, Wesley, I'm sure we're all going to be good friends." Those sparkling blue eyes tipped with amusement towards Lord Spencer, before settling back on Cynthia, inviting her to share in Eleanor's amusement.
Despite the insecurities that this beautiful woman had roused in Cynthia, she couldn't help but respond to that open, friendly gaze. It had been a long time since any of the women she'd met had looked at her with anything other than disapproval or jealousy, she realized. Not that Eleanor needed to feel threatened by her; so perhaps there was a benefit to having such a beautiful friend.
"And you must call me Cynthia. I'm delighted to meet you. My Lord," she said, directing her gaze at Lord Hyde as she bobbed a quick curtsy. He studied her, looking at her so intently with those dark, brooding eyes that she reddened. The man had the kind of look that made a woman squirm, as if he could see every naughty thing she'd done and might do in the future. How did the bright and cheerful Eleanor deal with such a man?
Then again, he seemed the perfect friend for Lord Stuffy.
Cynthia's mouth almost gaped open when Eleanor turned back towards her husband and his gaze immediately softened, making him look far more approachable and almost gentle. The last time she'd seen a man look at a woman like that... it had been her father with her mother. Certainly none of the men she ever teased or flirted with looked at her quite like that. It caused a very curious ache in her chest.
"Let's sit down and I'll ring for some tea," said the Countess, smiling broadly. "Cynthia come sit by me. And you two must tell me everything about the wedding and the honeymoon, you did honeymoon didn't you?"
"Oh yes, we spent a wonderful month in Paris," Eleanor said as she settled her skirts around her, glancing up at Lord Hyde. The little smile that he gave her, along with the look of almost adoration, made that little ache that Cynthia was feeling give another twinge. Although as soon as his eyes turned away from his wife, his expression hardened again.
Then she was distracted as the Earl settled himself down on her other side, rather than on the chair where she'd expected him to sit. She was now firmly wedged between the two Spencers. While she knew that the Countess wanted Cynthia there so that she could keep an eye on her, she didn't know why the Earl sat so close to her as well. She was hardly going to misbehave right now - she had no desire to make a complete ninny of herself in front of either Lord or Lady Hyde. For one, Cynthia rather liked Eleanor already. For two, Lord Hyde didn't look the type to allow his wife to spend time with the likes of Cynthia if she was blatantly improper in front of him.