he's quite right about my being a dull stick, but at the risk of sounding insufferably self-defensive, I will say that I don't believe I am mean-spirited, nor was I ever jealous of Chris's position in the world. I have never aspired to be anything more than I am, a bookish, reclusive sort of chap. I must admit that on occasion I envied my cousin's charm of manner, for it surely won him a great many friends."
"Well, it didn't win me,” Helen snapped without thinking. She immediately regretted her outburst, for Mr. Beresford's brows rose sharply.
"You were not among his feminine admirers, Miss Prestwick?” When she did not reply, he continued. “Just what did you think of Chris? I would be most interested."
Helen bit her lip and silently cursed her too-ready tongue. She felt at a complete loss. She had apparently escaped antagonizing Mr. Beresford with her recital of Chris's maledictions, but what would be his view if she presented him with her opinion of Chris? She straightened her shoulders. She had not been completely open with Mr. Beresford so far, but surely she owed it to him to be as factual as she could when she could. She drew a deep breath.
"Frankly, sir—no, I was not among his admirers. When I first met him, I thought him one of the handsomest men I'd ever met. His wit, his elegance and, as you say, his charm of manner could not help but please. It was only later—after he began courting Trixie in earnest—that I began to have my doubts. His habits seemed markedly spendthrift to me, and I noticed that he seemed extremely ambitious—not a bad trait in a gentleman, surely—but most of that ambition seemed to center on a need to be thought well of. He told many tales in which he was always the pivotal character, noble and brave. I—well, I sometimes suspected he varnished the truth."
Helen glanced at Mr. Beresford, trying to gauge his reaction. He said nothing, merely nodding, his expression inscrutable.
"In addition,” she continued, “he appeared to me to be more than a little obsequious to his superior officers and, although he was very hail-fellow-well-met to his equals, he was harsh with those of lower rank than himself—and downright bullying and uncaring to those in his command. To tell you the truth, I was more than a bit apprehensive when he began trailing after Trixie. As I told you, she fell under his spell at once and would never hear a word against him. I was quite fearful when they married, but, to my surprise, Chris—in the short time they were together— proved an excellent husband, doting and faithful and a good provider. I was still uneasy, for I felt he was still in the first blush of his infatuation with her. I must say that I could never come to truly like him."
Mr. Beresford's expression was still unreadable, but he spoke quietly. “And yet, Miss Prestwick, you accepted his assessment of my character without question."
Helen flushed. He had certainly made a valid point. Somehow, her dislike of Chris had not prevented her from wholeheartedly accepting his vilification of his cousin's character.
"Yes, I did.” Her voice sounded only a little above a whisper. “I suppose it never occurred to me that he might have a reason to lie about such a thing. You were related, for heaven's sake. And then, too . ..” She halted, not sure how to continue. “My experience with men of his class has not been pleasant. Almost to a man, I found upper class British military men to be not only overbearingly proud of their position but shallow, vain, ignorant and venal."
Mr. Beresford burst into laughter. “Whew! A blanket indictment if ever I heard one. In truth, I suppose, your reading is just—in the main. But I must assure you that officers who are peers are not all blackguards. I number some of them among my good friends."
"I am willing to admit I made a sweeping judgment. However, I was led only by my own experience. I was perfectly able to believe all Chris's calumnies."
"Ah.” Mr.
"Well, it didn't win me,” Helen snapped without thinking. She immediately regretted her outburst, for Mr. Beresford's brows rose sharply.
"You were not among his feminine admirers, Miss Prestwick?” When she did not reply, he continued. “Just what did you think of Chris? I would be most interested."
Helen bit her lip and silently cursed her too-ready tongue. She felt at a complete loss. She had apparently escaped antagonizing Mr. Beresford with her recital of Chris's maledictions, but what would be his view if she presented him with her opinion of Chris? She straightened her shoulders. She had not been completely open with Mr. Beresford so far, but surely she owed it to him to be as factual as she could when she could. She drew a deep breath.
"Frankly, sir—no, I was not among his admirers. When I first met him, I thought him one of the handsomest men I'd ever met. His wit, his elegance and, as you say, his charm of manner could not help but please. It was only later—after he began courting Trixie in earnest—that I began to have my doubts. His habits seemed markedly spendthrift to me, and I noticed that he seemed extremely ambitious—not a bad trait in a gentleman, surely—but most of that ambition seemed to center on a need to be thought well of. He told many tales in which he was always the pivotal character, noble and brave. I—well, I sometimes suspected he varnished the truth."
Helen glanced at Mr. Beresford, trying to gauge his reaction. He said nothing, merely nodding, his expression inscrutable.
"In addition,” she continued, “he appeared to me to be more than a little obsequious to his superior officers and, although he was very hail-fellow-well-met to his equals, he was harsh with those of lower rank than himself—and downright bullying and uncaring to those in his command. To tell you the truth, I was more than a bit apprehensive when he began trailing after Trixie. As I told you, she fell under his spell at once and would never hear a word against him. I was quite fearful when they married, but, to my surprise, Chris—in the short time they were together— proved an excellent husband, doting and faithful and a good provider. I was still uneasy, for I felt he was still in the first blush of his infatuation with her. I must say that I could never come to truly like him."
Mr. Beresford's expression was still unreadable, but he spoke quietly. “And yet, Miss Prestwick, you accepted his assessment of my character without question."
Helen flushed. He had certainly made a valid point. Somehow, her dislike of Chris had not prevented her from wholeheartedly accepting his vilification of his cousin's character.
"Yes, I did.” Her voice sounded only a little above a whisper. “I suppose it never occurred to me that he might have a reason to lie about such a thing. You were related, for heaven's sake. And then, too . ..” She halted, not sure how to continue. “My experience with men of his class has not been pleasant. Almost to a man, I found upper class British military men to be not only overbearingly proud of their position but shallow, vain, ignorant and venal."
Mr. Beresford burst into laughter. “Whew! A blanket indictment if ever I heard one. In truth, I suppose, your reading is just—in the main. But I must assure you that officers who are peers are not all blackguards. I number some of them among my good friends."
"I am willing to admit I made a sweeping judgment. However, I was led only by my own experience. I was perfectly able to believe all Chris's calumnies."
"Ah.” Mr.
Similar Books
