Chapter 32：IDLE PLEASANTRIES [I]

"And so, I had hoped to be allowed to call on Miss Darlington, with your kind permission, of course." Doyle Travener let the sentence trail, and his blue eyes were waiting anxiously.

Ian had been unable to think of a single reason to refuse this request, although he had spent most of a relatively sleepless night trying to come up with one. As far as he could ascertain, other than the fact that Travener was both handsome and charming, there was no legitimate reason not to give him permission to court Annie.

As much as he might like to turn down the

ex-lieutenant's request on the ground of his personal jealousy, he could not in all honour do so, especially since Annie seemed to enjoy Travener's company.

Ian would have to investigate his background and financial status, of course, especially if Annie seemed to be developing a tender for him. The fact that his god-mother had included him on her guest list, however, even if it had been done on the recommendation of a friend, went a long was establishing Travener's credentials.

No one within the ton would think of making such an endorsement to lady Laud if he were not acceptable. It simply wasn't done.

"I shall speak to my ward," Ian said finally. "If she's agreeable—" There was a flash of relief in the blue eyes.

"As I see you believe she will be," he continued, forcing his lips into a smile that felt stiff and unnatural.

"I'm immensely flattered that Miss Darlington has already indicated she would not be averse to my company."

"I'm sure she won't be then," Ian said.

After his and Annie's discussion on the way home from the dinner party, he was sure of that, damn it. *The first of many* This, then, was the kind of purgatory he had opened himself up to by falling in love with his ward.

"I understand from Lady Laud that she will be Miss Darlington's chaperon during the season. I should be delighted to offer my escort to the ladies on any occasion on which you find yourself unable to accompany them," Travener said gallantly. And then he spoiled it by adding, "Considering the sacrifices you have made on behalf of this nation, Major Sinclair, I feel that is the least I can do."

"You would consider your escort a form of duty, I take it," Ian said, his smile genuine this time.

He couldn't decide if what the young ex-lieutenant had just said was the most blatant flattery or sincere expression of his patriotism. Perhaps the fact that Travener's own service had been cut short by family crisis had produced a sense of guilt.

Ian could understand if it had, considering his own guilt-ridden response when he had realized he'd survived that ghastly fiasco of Darlington's making, while so many of his friends had not. In his experience, survivors' guilt was a common phenomenon among soldiers.

"If so, sir, a very pleasant duty, I confess," Travener said, his mouth relaxing into an answering grin. "Actually, your ward confided that you had recently been quite unwell, so I thought you might welcome—"

Travener paused uncertainly. Unsure what his eyes had revealed, Ian fought to control the surge of rage that much more personal offer had engendered.

"I quite understand what you meant to say, Lieutenant," Ian interrupted. Both the tone and the form of address were those he might have used to a subordinate who had crossed one of the invisible lines of military protocol.

"I meant no offence, sir," Travener said.

"And I took none," Ian lied. He knew that his reaction had far more to do with what he felt for Annie than it did with the awkwardly phrased words Doyle had just stammered.

"Then...I wonder if Miss Darlington at home, and if I might see her," Travener said, wisely moving away from a topic that seemed fraught with danger. "I had hoped to secure your permission to take her for a ride. I have my carriage outside."

With, no doubt, his 'prime goers' hitched to it and ready for a run, Ian thought, remembering Annie's mocking description of Doyle's conversation last night. She hadn't sounded as if she had found either it or the man to be fascinating. And Ian felt an unbecoming, if welcome, satisfaction.

"Even if she isn't free for a drive, I'm sure she would enjoy seeing you again," Ian said. "I'll send for her. She told me that you were very kind to her."