Charity Girl

by Georgette Heyer

  Henrietta being very willing to encourage her parent in these charitable schemes, the Viscount took his leave of both ladies, and went away feeling that, at least for the present, her hostess would treat Cherry kindly.

  When he left the house Cherry was sunk in profound slumber, from which the noise of his chaise-wheels under her window, and the trampling of hooves on the gravel, did not even disturb her dreams. She was so tired after the exertions and the agitations of the day that she hardly stirred until one of the housemaids came in to draw back the curtains round her bed, expressing, as Cherry opened her drowsy eyes and stretched like a kitten, the hope that she had slept well, and informing her that it was a beautiful morning. In proof of this statement she drew back the window-blinds, making Cherry blink at the sudden blaze of sunlight that flooded the room. Cherry sat up with a jerk, remembering all the events of the previous day, and asked to be told what time it was. Upon hearing that it was eight o'clock, she gave a gasp of dismay, and exclaimed: 'Oh, goodness! Then I must have slept for twelve hours! However did I come to do such a thing?'

  The housemaid, perceiving that she was about to scramble out of bed, told her that there was no need for her to hurry herself, since my lady never came downstairs to breakfast, and Miss Hetta had given orders that she was not to be disturbed until eight o'clock. She then set a burnished brass can of hot water down beside the little corner washstand, begged Miss to ring the bell if there was anything else she required, and went away, pausing in the doorway to say that breakfast would be served in the parlour at ten o'clock.

  Cherry was left to take stock of her surroundings. She had been too much exhausted when Hetta had put her to bed to pay much heed to them, the only things which had impressed themselves on her having been very soft pillows, and the most comfortable bed in which it had ever been her lot to lie; but now, hugging her knees, she stared about her in awe and wonderment. She thought it the most elegant bedchamber imaginable, and would have been amazed had she known that Lady Silverdale was most dissatisfied with the hangings, which she said had faded so much that they now looked detestably shabby. Her ladyship had also detected a slight stain on the carpet, where some careless guest had spilt some lotion. But Cherry did not notice this, or that the hangings were faded. Miss Fletching's Seminary for Young Ladies had been furnished neatly but austerely; and at Maplewood Cherry had shared a room with Corinna and Dianeme, who were not considered by their mama to be old enough to justify the expenditure of any more money on them than was strictly necessary. Consequently, their room was furnished with a heterogeneous collection of chairs and cupboards which had either been judged too shabby for the rooms where they had originally stood, or bought dog-cheap in a saleroom. And even Aunt Bugle's bed was not hung with curtains of silk damask, thought Cherry, almost fearfully stroking them.

  She slid out of bed, and made a discovery: someone had not only unpacked her portmanteau, but had also ironed the creases out of the two dresses she had brought with her. This seemed to her such a dizzy height of luxury that she almost supposed her-self to be still asleep and dreaming.

  When she entered the breakfast-parlour, conducted to it by Grimshaw at his most stately, she found Henrietta making the tea, and was greeted by her in so kind and friendly a way that she lost the terror with which Grimshaw had inspired her, and said impulsively: 'I think I was so stupid last night that I didn't tell you how very, very grateful I am to you, and to Lady Silverdale, for being so excessively kind to me! Indeed, I don't know how to thank you enough!'

  'Nonsense!' said Henrietta, smiling at her. 'I lost count of the times you thanked me last night! I think it was the last thing you said, when I blew out the candle, but as you were three parts asleep I might be mistaken!'

  By the time they rose from the table Henrietta had succeeded in charming Cherry out of her nervous shyness, and had won enough of her confidence to make her feel sincerely sorry for her. It was plain that she had not been encouraged to confide in her aunt; and although she spoke affectionately of Miss Fletching Henrietta did not think that their relationship had been closer than that of kind and just mistress, and grateful pupil. Cherry answered her questions with a good deal of reserve, and seemed at first to expect to be snubbed; but when she realized that she stood in no such danger she became very much more natural, and chatted away as easily as she had done on her journey to London. But much persuasion was needed to prevail upon her to accept the length of green cambric, and when she did at last yield, it was on condition that she should be allowed to pay for it – not with money, but with service. 'I have been used to being em ployed,' she assured Henrietta. 'So pray, Miss Silverdale, tell me what you would wish me to do!'

  'But I don't wish you to do anything!' objected Henrietta. 'You are our guest, Cherry, not a hired servant!'

  'No,' said Cherry, flushing, and lifting her determined chin. 'It is only your kindness which makes you say that, and – and it gives me such a warm feel in my heart that I couldn't be happy if you didn't permit me to make myself useful here. I can see, of course, that you have a great many servants, but there must be hundreds of things I could do for you, and for Lady Silverdale, that perhaps you would not ask the servants to do! Run ning errands – fetching things – searching for things you have mislaid – darning holes in your stockings – oh, all the things which I daresay you do for yourselves, and think a dead bore!'

  Since Henrietta had yet to discover anything her parent would hesitate to ask her servants to do for her she could not help laughing, but she naturally did not tell Cherry why she laughed. All she said was: 'Well, I'll do my best to oblige you, but I think it only right to warn you that if you encourage me to shuffle off every dull task it is my duty to perform you will rapidly turn me into the most indolent, selfish creature imagin able!'

  'No. That I know I couldn't do!' said Cherry, mistily smiling at her.

  She spent most of the morning happily engaged in cutting out the green cambric, and tacking the pieces together. In this she had the expert assistance of Miss Hephzibah Cardle, my lady's own dresser, whose spinsterish form and acidulated countenance could have led no one to suppose that she combined a rare talent for turning her mistress out complete to the last feather with a jealous adoration of that singularly unappreciative lady. Her services to Miss Steane were prof fered with extreme reluctance, and would not have been proffered at all if her ladyship had not commanded her to do what she could to give Miss Steane a new touch. Professional pride overcame less admirable feelings, and even led her (to save my lady the expense of sending for her own hairdresser, she said) to trim Miss Steane's unruly locks into a more manageable, and very much more becoming style, which won for her one of my lady's rare encomiums. But although nothing could have been more prettily expressed than Cherry's gratitude for her kind offices she could not like her. She found only one sympathizer in the household: Mrs Honeybourne, the stout and goodnatured housekeeper, might declare that Miss was a sweet young lady; the maids and the two footmen, and even the cross-grained head-gardener smiled indulgently upon her, but Grimshaw regarded her with dislike and suspicion. He and Miss Cardle were convinced that she was an artful humbugger, bent on insinuating herself into my lady's and Miss Hetta's good graces by palavering them, and playing off all manner of cajoleries. 'If you was to ask me for my opinion, Miss Cardle,' he said portentously, 'I should feel myself bound to say that I consider she is cutting a wheedle. And what I think of my Lord Desford's conduct in foisting her on to my lady is something I wouldn't demean myself by divulging.'

  Happily for Cherry's peace of mind the punctilious civility with which both these ill-wishers treated her precluded her from realizing how bitterly they resented her presence at Inglehurst. Within three days of her arrival she had lost her apprehensive look, and was unfolding shy petals in the warmth of a hitherto unknown approval. To be greeted with a smile, when she entered a room; to be addressed as 'dear child' by Lady Silverdale; to be fondly scolded by that lady for running an unnecessary errand
; to be encouraged by Miss Silverdale to roam about the grounds at will; and to be treated as though she had been an invited guest, and not the unwanted incubus she felt herself to be, were such hitherto unexperienced circumstances that she was pas sionately anxious to repay her kind hostesses by every means that lay within her power. It did not take her more than a day to realize that there was little she could do for Henrietta, but much she could do for Lady Silverdale; and since she had never previ ously encountered Lady Silverdale's like she did not for a moment suspect that that lady's plaintive voice and caressing manner concealed a selfishness and a determination to have her own way far more ruthless than the cruder methods employed by Aunt Bugle. Where Lady Bugle would have imperiously com manded her to go in search of something she had mislaid, and reward her, when she brought the object to her, by wondering what in the world had taken her so long to find it, Lady Silverdale would initiate the search by saying, at the outset: 'Oh dear, how stupid of me! I've lost my embroidery-scissors! Now, where can I have left them? No, no, dear child! Why should you suffer for my carelessness?' And when Cherry, after an exhaustive search, found the missing scissors, and presented them, Lady Silverdale would say: 'Oh, Cherry, you dear child! You shouldn't have troubled yourself!'

  It was small wonder that she should blossom under such treatment, and think no task too laborious or too irksome to be performed for so amiable a benefactress. She had never been so happy in her life; and Henrietta, realizing this, forbore to inter vene. She did, however, drop a gentle hint in Cherry's ear that Lady Silverdale's disposition was a trifle uncertain, and depended largely on how she happened to be feeling, the state of the weather, or the shortcomings of her domestic staff. It was by no means unknown for her to take sudden dislikes to persons whom she had previously, and just as suddenly, taken into the warmest favour; and while such capricious fits seldom lasted for very long they made life extremely uncomfortable for their victim.

  Cherry listened to this, and nodded wisely, saying that old Lady Bugle had been subject to just such distempered freaks. 'Only her crotchets were worse, because she wasn't at all kind, or amiable, even at her best, which dear Lady Silverdale is ! Indeed, I think she and you are the kindest people I have ever met!'

  This was said with a glowing look. Henrietta could only hope that her parent's sunny mood would outlast Cherry's visit.

  It was three days before Sir Charles Silverdale was allowed to leave his bedchamber, and it was plain to his mother and his sister that he was much more shaken by his accident than he would admit. He insisted on coming downstairs but when, leaning heavily on his valet, he reached the library he was only too glad to stretch himself out on the sofa, and even to drink the cordial his mama pressed upon him. He was a handsome youth, but his features were too often marred by his expression, which was inclined to be petulant, and even, when he could not have his own way, or anything went amiss, sullen. In temperament, as in looks, he was very like his mother; but owing to the circum stance of his having been bereft of a father at an early age, and grossly indulged by his doting mama, all the faults which he had inherited from her were exaggerated. He had a good deal of charm; an ease of manner which made him generally an ac ceptable guest; and a reckless daring which won him the admira tion of a number of like-minded young gentlemen. His servants liked him, for although he was quite as exacting as his mother, and very much more selfish, he had inherited her genius for making his most outrageous demands appear to be the merest requests; and because he always thanked them, with the sweetest of smiles, expressed contrition for any outburst of temper, and gave them leave of absence whenever he foresaw no need of their services, he was thought to be very goodnatured. His hare-brained exploits were regarded by them with indulgence, as being the natural conduct to be expected of any high-spirited young gentleman; and his carelessness was excused on the score of his youth. Only his sister, whose natural fondness for him did not prevent her from recognizing his faults, had said once, when exasperated by some example of churlishness, that since he seemed to have a number of friends it was to be supposed that he reserved his bad temper for his family, conducting himself with propriety everywhere that lay beyond the bounds of his home; and since this caustic comment had drawn down upon her the instant wrath and longlasting reproaches of her mother, she had never repeated the offence.

  She had looked forward to her brother's emergence from his sickroom with misgiving, knowing his susceptibility, and wellaware that the smallest tendency on his part to flirt with Cherry would transform Lady Silverdale, in the twinkling of a bedpost, from a benevolent protectress into an inveterate enemy. But she discovered that Desford had been right: the dashing Mrs Cumbertrees might be a thing of the past, but Sir Charles's taste still ran to ladies of opulent charms and vast experience. He had no interest in ingénues, and his only comment, on meeting Cherry, must have allayed any alarm felt by his anxious parent. In fact, she felt none, and quite agreed with him when he said: 'What a snippety thing she is, Mama! A regular go-by-the- ground! I wonder Des should have troubled himself with her.'

  Mr Cary Nethercott wondered too, but, being a simple, straightforward man, he accepted what was indeed the true explanation without question, and without difficulty. 'One can only honour his lordship for his conduct in such a difficult situation,' he said, adding with a faint smile: 'And hope that one would have had the strength of mind to have behaved in the same way, had one been in his place!'

  'I expect you would have!' Henrietta returned, smiling. 'It was a very sad case, you know – sadder than the poor child revealed to Desford, I am afraid. Only a monster could have left her to her fate!'

  He agreed, but said gravely: 'But what is to become of her? So young, and so friendless – for you cannot continue to be responsible for her – or, I don't doubt, Lord Desford expect it of you.'

  'No, of course he doesn't. He has merely left her at Inglehurst while he discovers her grandfather's whereabouts. Though whether Lord Nettlecombe will be willing to receive her into his household I can't but think extremely doubtful.'

  'I am not acquainted with his lordship – except by reputation.'

  'Nor am I, but if only half the tales told of him are true he must be the most disagreeable, clutchfisted old man imaginable! I can but hope that he may be moved by Cherry's plight – even take a fancy to her, which wouldn't be wonderful, for there is something very attaching about her, and she has the sweetest of dispositions.'

  'She is certainly a very taking little thing,' he concurred. 'One doesn't like to think of her becoming a slave to such a purse-leech as Lord Nettlecombe is said to be.' He paused, frowning, and tapping his finger on the table. 'What does she mean to do if Nettlecombe doesn't acknowledge her?' he asked abruptly. 'Has she considered that possibility?'

  'Oh, yes! She has the intention – the very firm intention! – of seeking a post in some genteel household.'

  His frown deepened. 'What kind of a post? As governess? She must be too young to fill such a position!'

  'Not only too young, but quite unqualified for it,' said Henrietta. 'She thinks she could instruct children just out of the nursery, but I hope I may have convinced her that such a situation would be no improvement on the conditions she endured in her aunt's establishment. The other notion she has is to seek em ployment with an elderly invalid. She says – and I believe her! – that although she is not bookish she does know how to deal with what she calls cantankersome old ladies. Well, my own mama may not be old, and God forbid I should call her can tankersome, but it must be owned that – that she has odd humours! I daresay you know what I mean?' He bowed, look ing gravely at her. 'Yes. Well, I can only say that I have never known anyone who knew better how to keep her pleased and happy!'

  'Other than yourself !' he suggested.

  'Oh, good God, no!' she said, laughing. 'I'm no hand at it, I promise you! I haven't enough patience! But Cherry has. And she has more sympathy than I fear I shall ever have with hypo chondriacs! Does that shock you? Forget I said
it!'

  He shook his head. 'Nothing you did me the honour to confide to me could shock me,' he said simply. 'What shocks me is knowing that you are aware of the imaginary nature of Lady Silverdale's aches and ills. Forgive me if I am expressing myself badly! I'm not ready of tongue, and find it hard to put my thoughts into words! But it has always seemed to me that you believed her to be in failing health, in which case your de votion to her was a natural thing, making it an impertinence for anyone to pity you, or – or to presume to think of rescuing you!'

  He stopped, reddening, as he perceived in her expressive eyes as much amusement as surprise. When she spoke, her words acted on him like a douche of cold water, for she said, on a quiver of laughter: 'Well, so I would suppose, sir! Good God, is it possible that you think me an object for pity, or that I need to be rescued? What a very odd notion you must have of me – and, indeed, of my poor mama! She may sometimes be tiresome, but I assure you she is as much attached to me as I am to her. I am perfectly happy, you know!'

  'Forgive me!' he muttered. 'I said too much!'

  'Why, of course!' she said, smiling at him. 'The truth is that you are too romantical, my friend, and should have lived when gentlemen of your cut used to ride out to rescue some damsel in distress. What a vast number of them there seem to have been, by the way! While as for the dragons and giants and ogres who held the damsels in thrall, when you consider how many of them were slain by the rescuing knights, you must be forced to the conclusion that the country was positively infested with them!'