A Conformable Wife: A Regency Romance with a spirited heroine

by Alice Chetwynd Ley

  “With pleasure, ma’am,” he responded, a trifle stiffly.

  “But I won’t put you to the trouble of carrying it to me across the room,” went on Henrietta as he started to turn away. “I’ll come with you to the fountain.”

  Excusing herself to the others, she accompanied the captain to the place where tumblers of the healing beverage were dispensed to the public.

  “Obnoxious whipstraw!” growled the captain as they moved away.

  Henrietta regarded him with mockingly raised brows.

  “What, I, sir?”

  He gave her a startled glance before breaking into a reluctant laugh.

  “You know well enough I don’t mean you, Miss Melville.”

  “Yes, I did know,” she confessed, smiling at him. “I have a misguided sense of humour, I fear. I collect that Mr. Hinton-Wellow is not a favourite with you?”

  “Detest the fellow! What beats me is how his wife can stand smiling by while he ogles every pretty woman in the room.”

  “It would scarcely raise her consequence to show jealousy.”

  “Well, it’s a pretty sort of husband who puts his wife into that kind of fix. Fellow needs a taste of the rope’s end, if you ask me.”

  “Oh, dear, you are fierce, sir. I declare you quite frighten me.”

  “Take a deal to do that, ma’am,” he replied with a shrewd glance, “unless I’m much mistaken. I don’t set you down as one of these die-away young ladies who can’t say boo to a goose.”

  “Well, I suppose that must pass for a compliment,” said Henrietta judicially.

  “You are roasting me again.”

  “Well, yes, I was. Do you mind?”

  “Not a whit. No man should take himself too seriously. Mrs. Fordyce is always joking me, too. I can see why the two of you are good friends: you have a similar teasing humour.”

  “Perhaps, but I’ll vow Louisa has the livelier disposition, and more puckishness. My amusement comes all too often, I fear, from studying my fellow creatures and remarking their foibles and oddities. I have been doing it forever and can’t break myself of the habit, though I’m sure it’s a regrettable one.”

  “Well, it don’t seem to have done you any harm, Miss Melville. It’s plain enough you have a kind heart into the bargain, and wouldn’t make game of anyone’s suffering.”

  “Now you are paying me compliments!” she accused him.

  “No such thing; merely speaking as I find. But here we are. Will you have a large tumbler or a small one, ma’am?”

  “Oh, small, please. I’m not at all sure that I shall care for it, and I’ve been brought up to abominate waste of any kind.”

  He smiled and turned toward the attendant at the fountain, where a few people were awaiting service. As he did so, he inadvertently knocked the arm of a young gentleman who was carrying a full glass, causing some of its contents to be spilt.

  ‘I beg pardon. Devilish clumsy of me. Allow me to procure you another glass, sir,” apologized the captain. Then, recognising the young man belatedly, he went on, “What, you, Fortescue? I never thought to find you partaking of this brew! All the same, I’ll get you another.”

  “Good God, you don’t fancy I’d touch this devilish stuff?” asked the other indignantly. “It was intended for my Aunt Euphemia, who’s sitting over yonder.”

  “Allow me to present Mr. Fortescue to you,” said the captain, turning to Henrietta. “This lady is Miss Melville, Fortescue, at present staying with Mrs. Fordyce.”

  Mr. Fortescue was in his early twenties, a good-looking young man with fair hair and steel blue eyes, but a bored, restless expression that marred what might have been a lively countenance. He was dressed in the height of fashion, with shirt points that put the captain’s more modest efforts to shame. He and Henrietta exchanged bows and a few civil words before he strolled back with a refilled glass to join his relative at the other side of the room.

  “Evidently a devoted nephew,” remarked Henrietta approvingly, as she watched the young man for a moment.

  “Hm,” returned the captain, noncommittally, handing her the glass he had just procured.

  She took it. sipping cautiously at the contents.

  “How do you find it, ma’am?”

  She made a face. “Tepid. And so is my enthusiasm for it. Do you think I might tip it away? Or would that be a social solecism?”

  “Give it to me and I’ll dispose of it for you.”

  He suited the action to the word, then took her arm to guide her back to their friends, who were still engaged in animated conversation.

  “You sounded dubious about Mr. Fortescue’s devotion to his aunt,” she accused him.

  “He dances attendance on her for what he can get out of it,” replied the captain bluntly. “He don’t mind admitting it, either — to other men, at least. He’s one of these young bloods who’s always short of blunt; cards and the turf swallow up most of his allowance. Then there’s nothing for it but to turn old Lady Bellairs up sweet. The old lady’s taking the cure here, and she brought young Fortescue down as escort. Been here two months now. He’s not such a bad chap, but would be the better for having some occupation other than gambling.”

  “You think a few years at sea might help?” said Henrietta, greatly daring. “I am fast becoming persuaded that it’s your remedy for every ill!”

  “Ay, you may laugh, Miss Melville, but a full-grown man needs man’s work, in my view. It’s not as if he’ll ever have the management of an estate to occupy him, for he’s a younger son.”

  “Ah, well, marriage may settle him,” said Henrietta, laughing.

  “He’s not in the petticoat line. That may change, of course; he’s only two and twenty.”

  “You make yourself sound like a greybeard, sir!”

  He regarded her with a severe expression, belied by a twinkle in his grey eyes.

  “And you’re an incorrigible quiz, Miss Melville!” he retorted. “I can see that I shall need to adopt my quarterdeck manner with you. Well, there’s some excuse for me; I can give Fortescue twelve years.”

  “And you so well preserved!”

  He burst into laughter at this, just as they came up with Louisa and her party. Louisa gave them a quick, searching glance before continuing her conversation with the others. It did not escape Henrietta’s notice; she wondered whether it was prompted by curiosity alone or by some other emotion. An audacious notion came into her head. If only she could be sure; she must try to win her friend’s confidence on the subject. It seemed a pity that such an admirable gentleman as Captain Barclay should wear the willow unnecessarily.

  Chapter X

  They walked home with Captain Barclay, accompanied for part of the way by Mr. and Miss Dyrham, who lived in the same direction.

  “We shall all meet at the Assembly ball tomorrow evening, I suppose,” said Jane Dyrham, as they prepared to part. “Roderick and I should be happy to take you up in our carriage, Captain Barclay, should you not wish to take out your own. Such a pity to have the horses set to for just one passenger.”

  “Yes, indeed, Barclay, pray do join us,” seconded her brother.

  “Very civil of you both, but I’ve already offered Mrs. Fordyce and Miss Melville a seat in my own carriage. There seemed no point in taking out two vehicles from adjoining houses,” answered the captain promptly.

  “Oh, well, in that case, of course, five persons would be rather a crush, especially in ball gowns,” said Miss Dyrham with a chagrined expression. “Well, we shall see you all there, at all events.”

  Louisa had quickly checked the look of surprise that started to her countenance on hearing the captain’s words, while Henrietta darted the gentleman an amused, appreciative glance. Evidently she had judged his character aright, for he was indeed able to take prompt action when the occasion demanded. It took some time longer to achieve a parting from Miss Dyrham, who always had one more urgent remark to make, while her brother hovered uncertainly in the background, ready to be off at a
moment’s notice, and uneasily aware that the others must be wishing to be on their way as well. When at last the Dyrhams were out of earshot, Louisa turned a laughing, accusatory face on the captain.

  “You must correct me if I’m wrong, sir, but I never heard you ask me to make use of your carriage.”

  He looked a trifle shamefaced. “Well, no, ma’am. I intended all along to offer, but a suitable opportunity failed to come up. Too many people wishing to talk to you in the Pump Room. Trust you’ll pardon the liberty, Mrs. Fordyce, and I beg you will allow me to escort you to the ball in my chaise.”

  “You know what I think, Captain Barclay? That you’re the most complete hand!”

  He shook his head. “Wish I were. But may I have the honour? Unless, of course, you prefer to go alone.”

  “Oh, no, an escort will give us more consequence. Besides, your carriage is a trifle better sprung than mine. Miss Melville and I will be very grateful, sir.”

  “That must have succeeded in depressing the poor man’s pretensions!” remarked Henrietta once they were indoors. “You are very hard on him.”

  “He deserved punishing a little for easing himself out of an awkward situation by telling an untruth like that,” chuckled Louisa. “The effrontery of it!”

  “I do believe he was being truthful when he said he’d intended to suggest it. Probably he was trying to summon up his courage, and the prospect of being shut up in a carriage with Miss Dyrham provided the stimulus.”

  “No wonder. She hangs on the arm of every eligible male in sight, but Captain Barclay’s a particular objective. And you’re quite right, Hetty: he’s uncommonly diffident for a man who’s distinguished himself in naval actions. He was at Trafalgar, you know; he was quite young then, of course, for that’s eleven years since, and he’s only five and thirty now.”

  “In spite of my having met him for the first time today, I like him extremely,” said Henrietta. “And I fancy he’s only diffident with females — perhaps more so with you than most.”

  Louisa laughed. “Why me? Am I so very unapproachable?”

  “No such thing, as well you know. But — again, I’m speaking on very short acquaintance — it does seem to me that he is vastly taken with you.”

  Louisa’s mirth vanished. “Oh,” she said in a flat tone. “Yet you and he appeared to be dealing extremely well together this morning. He offered to procure you a taste of the waters, which is comparatively dashing for the captain.”

  “I dragooned him into that. I feared if he remained longer to watch Mr. Hinton-Wellow attempting to flirt with you, he might burst a blood vessel! I tell you, he was downright jealous, Louisa!”

  “He has no call to be! Everyone knows George Hinton-Wellow is the most shocking flirt, and no one takes him seriously. It’s not even worth troubling to snub him, for he means nothing at all by it. Besides, what right has the captain to be jealous?” Louisa said indignantly. “I have never given him the smallest encouragement.”

  “That’s true, my love, and I may be wrong, of course, in thinking him attracted to you.” She hesitated, then went on. “You yourself have no warmer feelings towards him than friendship, I collect?”

  Louisa coloured. “I like him better than any gentleman of my acquaintance,” she admitted guardedly. “But I must tell you, Hetty, I have positively no intention of marrying again. Nothing can alter my resolution, so it would be monstrous folly in me to allow myself to become attached to anyone.” Her tone changed to her usual light-hearted one. “But that’s not to say that I may not enjoy the company of gentlemen and flirt a little — quite harmlessly, I vow! — with any who are so disposed. Being a widow, my love, is so much pleasanter than being a Bath miss, for one is not expected to maintain such a high degree of propriety! Of course I do not positively flout the conventions, merely bend them a little.”

  “What an abandoned female you are become!” laughed Henrietta. “Truth to tell, I’m glad myself for the greater freedom of mature years. So many tiresome rules apply to the young.”

  “Have a care, though, Hetty,” Louisa warned her half seriously. “Your mature years, as you call them, are not so evident since you changed your style. Why, even Jane Dyrham said you could not be more than three and twenty — which most likely means that she secretly puts your age at a few years younger than that.”

  “Oh, dear! No doubt it’s vastly flattering, but it may prove tiresome too. You see, I had some notion of setting up my own establishment here in Bath, just as you have done. I thought perhaps a female who’s almost six and twenty might be supposed to have the same freedom as a widow. But if everyone thinks me younger, what’s to be done? I would need to have a respectable older female living with me. How provoking! Do you think I ought to publish my true age in the Bath Chronicle?”

  “Can you be serious? Not about your silly last remark, I mean, but about the rest?”

  “Never more so, I assure you. There’s no place for me now at Westhyde Manor; my sister-in-law has made that plain enough. And I don’t choose to make a home with either of my sisters. No, there seems nothing else to do but to settle myself in a home of my own and maintain my independence. I had the intention of looking for a suitable house while staying with you. What do you think? Could I live alone without setting Bath society in a bustle? I must admit I should be at a stand if I had to find an older female to bear my company.” Her forehead creased with a thoughtful frown. “I have no unattached relatives, and I wouldn’t care for a hired companion. I should always be afraid of putting upon the poor creature.”

  Louisa stared at her for a moment without replying, then her eyes lit with sudden inspiration.

  “Why do you not share this house with me? There is plenty of room; at present, I rattle about in it like a single pea in a pod! I’d willingly relinquish the household management to you, for I don’t like it above half and leave most things to my housekeeper. Neither of us would be mistress; we’d share everything equally and could even keep quite separate apartments, should you wish it. You could make any changes you chose, even to tearing down all the hangings and starting afresh! Now pray do say you will, dearest Hetty. I should like it of all things!”

  By way of reply, Henrietta gave her friend a quick hug. She was laughing, but there were tears in her eyes.

  “My dear, you are too generous. Who but you would make such an offer without a moment’s reflection? I thank you from the bottom of my heart! But don’t you think we should wait awhile and see how we go on together first? For all you know, I may have become old Cattish with advancing years. I must have some tiresome ways, I own, for I never failed to irritate my brother’s wife, do what I would.”

  “By all that Almeria told me, the shoe is on the other foot, and it is Lady Melville at fault,” retorted Louisa.

  “Let us say that our situation was at fault. You and I would start with the advantage of an old and tried friendship, it is true, whereas Selina and I scarcely knew each other when my brother brought her home to the manor.”

  “Exactly so!” exclaimed Louisa triumphantly. “Oh, I am certain it would answer splendidly!”

  “And I’m just as certain that you wouldn’t be to blame if it did not, my dear. But all the same, I shall not take advantage of your impulsive good nature. Let us speak of this again after a few weeks.”

  Louisa agreed, though she would have preferred to settle the matter there and then; to think of an idea, as far as she was concerned, was to put it into execution at once.

  Bath’s foremost Assembly Rooms had been constructed in 1771 when the city was rapidly developing to the northward and it was felt that the existing public rooms situated near to the river were no longer adequate. The elegant design of the New or Upper Rooms soon gained them the reputation of being among the finest in Europe, and few visitors seeing the interior for the first time could fail to be impressed. Henrietta gazed appreciatively about her as she entered the vast ballroom, which was tastefully decorated in duck-egg blue with handsome plasterwo
rk embellishments and lit by five magnificent crystal chandeliers.

  “Oh, dear,” she murmured to Louisa, “I’m not at all certain that my dancing is worthy of such splendid surroundings.”

  Before Louisa could reply, the Master of Ceremonies had come up to welcome them and to offer to make them known to any of those present with whom they were not already acquainted.

  “But of course you are no strangers to our gatherings, Mrs. Fordyce, Captain Barclay —” with a bow to each — “and we are prodigiously happy to welcome your friend Miss Melville. I promise you that you’ll not lack for partners, ma’am.”

  This proved to be true, though without the need for much effort from the Master of Ceremonies. Almost all the many gentlemen of Louisa’s acquaintance anxiously hastened to partner her attractive friend, who looked very fetching in her gown of pale pink muslin embroidered with gold thread. Henrietta had never before attended a formal ball, and now she felt very much like a young girl on her first night out. Her eyes deepened to blue with exhilaration, and her cheeks were becomingly touched with colour.

  One gentleman was introduced to her by Almeria, who, with her husband, was also present. Mr. Thomas Burke, a neighbour of the Barringtons, was a sober man in his late thirties with a kind, sensible face. He was not, he admitted to Henrietta, much in the habit of attending Assemblies, and he apologised for any lack of skill in his dancing.

  “Why, sir, I am vastly glad of it, for you won’t notice my own faults,” she returned with a smile. “I, too, am little enough accustomed to dancing.”

  “One can scarce credit that, ma’am. You move so gracefully. But ’tis most kind in you to put me at my ease.”

  “No such thing, I spoke the simple truth. Nevertheless, I am sure we can both contrive to acquit ourselves tolerably well — at least, well enough to escape notice.”

  As it happened, this was a country dance and both knew the steps. But Henrietta found that not only was Mr. Burke’s dancing stiff, but his conversation too.