“Come back here,” Mr. Mornay murmured. He had been planting little kisses on her neck and shoulder.
She smiled but replied, “The first and last time I was here, I had been thoroughly versed in why I should avoid the frightful Mr. Mornay at all costs. And now look at us! Can you conceive of it? That we are the same two people?”
“We are assuredly not the same.”
She waited for him to explain.
“For my part, I pray I may never revert to being the frightful Mr. Mornay, and for your part, you are no longer Miss Forsythe. We are both of us thoroughly changed.”
“You must call me Mrs. Mornay, now.”
“I will call you Ariana, for it is a beautiful name for my beautiful wife.”
“My parents use their names with each other. But I can promise you that Mr. and Mrs. Pellham shall always be ‘Mr. Pellham’ and ‘Mrs. P.’ to one another!”
“That is their prerogative.” He wanted to pull her back against him, but they were coming up to the house, the door opened, and the servants were already filing out to greet them. He took his hand from about her waist reluctantly, straightened her gown and replaced her cape about her shoulders. She allowed him to fuss over her for a moment, and then she smoothed down his coat.
“Is your arm hurting much?”
“I am too happy to pay it any heed.”
“Nevertheless,” she said with resolve, “I am happy I insisted upon Mr. Wickford following us here tomorrow. I will not begin my marriage, sir, by putting your health at risk.”
“You are no threat to my health. Quite the contrary.”
The couple stepped out of the coach and was met by the servants, who had formed a semi-circle in front of the house. Fotch and Freddy scurried to get in line, as did the other footmen from the coach.
“Here is your new mistress, Mrs. Mornay,” Phillip said, smiling proudly.
The servants greeted the pair with smiles, clapping effusively for the new mistress, and for their master’s happiness. Mrs. Hamilton was at the end of the semicircle. After confessing all to Freddy, she had gone on to tearfully repent her actions, vowing her eternal gratitude and faithfulness to both the master and new mistress. The butler had decided to keep her on for the time being, at least until a suitable applicant was found for her position. In the meantime, Mrs. Hamilton was to train Molly to read and give her speech lessons, so that the girl could aspire to a higher situation in the future.
“Supper is waiting, sir.”
“Are you hungry?” the groom asked his bride, as they moved toward the door.
“I can rarely eat but little when I am aflutter, and I assure you, being married has caused quite a stir.” She patted her stomach. “Here.”
Mornay eyed the servants. He knew there would be talk—albeit harmless—if they were to forgo the meal in favor of exploring the bedchamber. While he was thinking thus, she added, “If there is soup, I think I can manage a little of that.”
Freddy hurried to receive his new mistress’s cape. His master’s impatience was barely disguised to his affectionate eyes. He would be sure to see that the servants moved smartly.
Ariana had never been inside Aspindon. The dining room was splendid and the house elegantly sumptuous, even to Ariana’s tenured eyes. But as the darkness settled and the rooms grew cosier by candlelight, she had eyes only for her splendid groom. Her husband.
Her place was set at the far end of the table from his, and she looked imploringly at him.
“Freddy—Mrs. Mornay will sit at my right.” Their eyes remained upon each other.
“Very good, sir.”
The meal was fashioned to be formal, with many courses, but Phillip watched her carefully and as soon as she began to refuse further servings, he looked at his footman and said, “That will be all, Charles. Clear everything.”
He leaned towards her. “Is there anything else you would like?” Ariana’s heart fluttered. All she wanted was him. She shook her head.
He stood and took her hand to help her from the chair. More servants came in, already busily clearing the remnants from the meal.
“Take this,” he said, giving her his candle sconce. He wanted his good arm available to put around her waist, which he did with pleasure.
Ariana looked quickly at him and blushed lightly. “Your servants will talk,” she chided, trying to move out of his reach, but he tightened his hold about her.
“Nonsense. We are man and wife now.” But he cleared his throat. “Speaking of talk,” he said, looking at her wryly, “there are rumours abounding that you will soon bankrupt me.”
This stopped her in her tracks. Her eyes widened. “What?”
“My man of business tells me that every charity in London has discovered my direction and sends letters or messengers daily. Freddy tells me he sent ahead a full sack of ‘em for me to go through.”
Ariana’s face coloured, and she averted her gaze. “Certainly I do wish to support particular charities, but of course they are subject to your consent or approval.”
“Is that so?” he asked.
“Of course!”
Freddy caught up to the couple, who were now moving up the grand staircase.
“Well, Mr. Frederick? Is everything tight? Anything I need to know right away?” Freddy grew thoughtful a moment and said, “Only that there is a great deal of correspondence for you, but none, I believe, that cannot await your pleasure.”
“Correspondence?” He acted as though he was surprised. “What sort?” He gave a knowing look to his wife, who blushed afresh and listened with a look of concern.
“I believe they are entirely from charitable organizations, sir.”
At this, Ariana’s eyes widened perceptibly and she turned her head away, rather mortified. Mr. Mornay stifled a smile.
“Charitable organizations, you say?” he asked the butler, keeping his eyes steadily on his new wife, who was valiantly trying to behave as though she was blithely unaware of the exchange. She looked about at the huge stairwell, the casements, the portraits on the walls.
“Yes, sir; an extraordinary number, I might add, sir.”
“Astounding! How can they ever have found me out? And what would you say the cost is, in postage alone, Freddy, to receive all these letters?”
“I hesitate to guess, sir. Four shillings apiece, at least, and there’ve been well nigh a dozen or more a day. I brought them to your attention for precisely that reason, sir.”
“And I appreciate that you did, Mr. Frederick.” He eyed his young bride who was staring at a portrait on the wall with eyes filled with alarm. She held the candle weakly in one hand, not even bothering to hold it up to the artwork. He wondered if she was actually seeing the picture at all.
“For the time being, Freddy, you will refuse any further letters if they should happen to find us here in Middlesex, unless they are of a personal nature.”
“Very good, sir. And if they are addressed to Mrs. Mornay, sir?”
Ariana’s head came up with a start. She was still blushing, much to her distress, but she said quickly, “You must treat my mail no differently than your master’s.”
Mr. Mornay wore that near smile. It grew wider when she added, with a troubled countenance, “Unless it is from the London Orphan Society.” She turned to her husband. “We promised to support them, you recall!”
“Unless it is from the London Orphan Society,” he repeated with a smirk to Freddy.
“And I must receive mail from the Lying-in Asylum!”
“The Lying-in Asylum,” Phillip repeated, with a nod at his butler, who was himself smiling.
They both waited, feeling sure that more was to come, and Ariana did not disappoint them.
“I nearly forgot,” she breathed, turning to peek nervously at her husband, “I did give my word to a nice woman from the Institution for Decayed Housekeepers—”
This made Mr. Mornay stop on the stair well. “The what?”
“The Institution for …Decayed
Housekeepers,” she repeated, her voice growing weaker. She could hardly stand to meet his eyes. Why had she agreed to support that place? It didn’t feed orphans, or help the homeless. What had she been thinking?
He turned to the butler. “Leave them all on my desk. Goodnight, Freddy.”
“Very good, sir. Goodnight, Mr. Mornay. Mrs. Mornay.” He bowed and turned back down the steps, having left Ariana gazing after him for using her new surname.
She met the eyes of her beloved. “I am sorry for it all. I suppose I did get carried away.”
“I suppose you did,” he agreed, but he was smiling.
They reached the next floor. He moved her towards a corridor that branched off to the left. Ariana felt that familiar nervous fluttering inside, and said whatever came to her mind to dispel the sensation. “To think, you are so familiar with this place and have walked here a thousand times, when it is all completely new to me! I want to know every inch of it, because then I shall feel that I know you better.”
“You’re about to know me much better,” he replied.
She swallowed.
“Will you take me back to the tree?” she asked, brightly. “Where you first rescued me? What a fright you gave me that day, showing up there. The last person I wanted to see!”
He continued to move them along, listening to her comments with a little smile. Finally, he stopped before a door, opened it, and put his arm around her waist, gently ushering her into the room. He locked the door behind them, turned, and beheld his bride.
“Come here, my little adorable minx.”
A Short Glossary for, The House in Grosvenor Square
A
abbess—A bawd; the mistress of a brothel.(cant)
ague- (Rhymes with “achoo!” Pronounced ah-gyoo) Originally, malaria and the chills that went with it. Later, any respiratory infection such as a cold, fever or chills.
annus mirabilis—A miraculous year; a year of miraculous events; A singularly satisfying year.
apoplexy—a stroke; a cerebral hemorrhage
assembly, assemblies --Large gatherings held in the evening for the gentry or the aristocracy, usually including a ball and a supper. Almack’s in London was the ultimate Assembly in the early part of the (19th) century. A number of high-standing society hostesses had autocratic power of attendance as they alone could issue the highly prized vouchers (tickets)--or not, as they chose. Competition to get in was fierce. The Duke of Wellington was once famously turned away--for being late.
B
ball- A large dance requiring full dress. Refreshments were available, and sometimes a supper. Public balls required tickets; private ones, an invitation.
banns--The banns of marriage were a public announcement in a parish church that two people intended to get married. They had to be read three consecutive weeks in a row, and in the home church of both parties. After each reading, (and this was their purpose) the audience was asked to give knowledge of any legal impediment to the marriage. If there was none, after three weeks, the couple were legally able to marry within the next three months, in a church. To bypass the banns, a couple could try to get a marriage license instead. Without banns or a license, the marriage would be illegal. (null)
beadle—a parish constable
beak – a magistrate.
bishop-- A mixture of wine and water, into which is put a roasted orange.
“blocked at both ends”—Finished; ended.
blunt--Cash; ready money
bon ton—[bawn-tawn]—fashionable society
bone box— mouth
brown study, in a—said of one in a reverie, deep in thought; absent
buck of the first head, a—One who surpasses his companions in vice or debauchery
C
canezou-A certain style of spencer for a woman
cant—Slang; The characteristic or secret language of a group.
Carlton House--Given to the Prince of Wales by George III upon reaching his majority, Carlton House was in a state of disrepair (for a royal, at any rate). The house consequently underwent enormous alterations and changes, and was the London palace for the Regent. He spent a great deal of time there but eventually came to favour the palace at Brighton--an even larger extravagance. The Brighton “Pavilion” is today a museum, but Carlton House, unfortunately, no longer exists.
cat’s foot, under—to be under the dominion of a wife; hen-pecked.
cat’s paw, a—to be made a cat’s paw is to be made a tool for the purposes of another; to be used for another’s gain.
charley (noun)—A word used for a local night watchman or law officer on duty.
chamber--A private room in a house, such as a bedroom, as opposed to the parlour or dining room.
chaperon--The servant, mother, or married female relative or family friend who supervised eligible young girls in public.
chemise --A woman’s long undergarment which served as a slip beneath her gown. Also, a nightdress. (Previously, the chemise was called a ‘shift’.)
chit—An infant or baby; used to describe a young girl derisively.
clubs-- The great refuge of the middle and upper-class man in 18th and 19th century London. Originating as coffeehouses in the 17th century, clubs became more exclusive, acquiring prime real estate on Pall Mall and St. James’s Street. Membership was often by invitation only. Among the more prominent were Boodle’s, White’s and Brooke’s. Crockford’s began to dominate in the very late Regency.
corset -- A precursor of the modern bra, usually meant to constrict the waist to a fashionable measurement, as well as support the high bust required for a Regency gown. It consisted of two parts, and often was reinforced with whalebone that got hooked together in front and then laced up in the back. The garment was commonly referred to as ‘the stays’ during the regency.
Corinthian—(slang) Term for a male frequenter of brothels; or brazen, impudent young men.
countess--The wife of an earl in England. When ‘shires’ were changed to ‘counties,’ an earl retained the Norman title of earl; his wife, however, became a countess.
comb, combing—to give a combing is to scold; give a set-down.
cove—A man, a fellow, most often a rogue.
cravat--(pronounced as Kruh-vaht, with the accent on the second syllable) A loose cloth that was tied around the neck in a bow. Throughout the Regency, a fashion-conscious gentleman might labour much over this one detail of his appearance, hoping to achieve a number of different, much-coveted effects.
cull —A man, a fellow; the victim of a cove.
curricle-- A two-wheeled carriage that was popular in the early 1800s. It was pulled by two horses, and deemed rather sporty by the younger set.
curtsey--The acceptable mode of greeting or showing respect by a female. By mid-century the curtsey was less in evidence except for social inferiors like maids to their betters, or by any woman presented at court.
D
demireps--Impures; Women of questionable morals.
dowager--The name given to a widow of rank. Ie., if you were a duchess and your husband died, and your oldest son was married, his wife would become the duchess, and you would be dowager duchess.
doxie, -s, --She beggar; A lady of questionable morals; an impure.
drawing room--A formal parlour used in polite society to receive visitors who came to pay calls during the afternoon.
E
ewe—a white ewe—a beautiful woman
eye, “that’s my eye”—An expression of derision, or irony, as “sure!” or “right!” used facetiously.
F
first floor-- The ‘second floor’ in the US. The English called the floor level on which one entered from the street the “ground floor.” Entertaining was never done on the ground floor.
flash house—A house that harbours thieves; a certain style of which was common in criminal “nurseries” in London in the early 19th century.
flummery—In actuality, flummery was oatmeal and water boiled to
a jelly; in speech, it meant compliments “neither of which is over-nourishing”; that is to say, flattery.
Footman---A liveried male servant beneath the butler but above the boy or page. He had many duties ranging from errands to lamp-trimming to waiting table, or accompanying the lady of the house to carry packages when she shopped, or to deliver calling cards when making calls.
footpad—A thief on foot; a mugger.
fortnight--Two weeks.
G
gaming--Gambling. Nothing to do with ‘game’ in the sense of hunting, or innocent playing of games.
glim—A candle or dark lantern, used in housebreaking.
gospel shop—(slang) a church
groom--The servant who looked after the horses.
Grosvenor Square--(pronounced “Grove-nuh”) Located in Mayfair, and considered the most fashionable square in London. Mr. Mornay’s town house is in the Square.
gudgeon – One easily imposed on; easily taken in a trick.
H
hack--A hack was a general purpose riding horse, but the term might also refer to a “Hackney Coach” which was a coach-for-hire like a taxicab today.
“high in the instep”—proud, haughty
hocused—drunk
“holy ground”— Facetious term for flash house territory, or criminal nurseries. Also, brothels.
J
jarvis—A hackney coachman; a stand-in.
K
ken—(colloquialism) Know (For ex., “How do you ken?” How do you know?)
L
lady’s maid-- The servant who cared for her mistress’s wardrobe and grooming. A French lady’s maid was preferred, and she was particularly valued if she could do hair in all the fashionable styles. A lady’s maid was an “upper servant,” and could not be fired by the housekeeper; she might also be better educated than the lower servants.
The House in Grosvenor Square Page 38