“That place in the Strand?”
“The very spot! I see you’ve heard of it.”
“The boys mentioned some kind of a waxworks. It has just been opened, hasn’t it? It sounds dull to me.”
“Madame Tussaud had a great success in Paris with her exhibition at the Palais Royal. I believe it was started by her uncle, who taught her the skills of modelling. She is Swiss, you know.”
“So now she has moved to London. Well, I suppose that travelling must be easier since the peace with France, but a waxworks? Shall you care to see it?”
Judith laughed. “I am not invited. This, I feel, is to be an expedition for gentlemen only.”
She left him then. They had spent a pleasant hour together, and Dan had been friendly, but no more.
With burning cheeks, she went up to her room. What was she expecting? That by some miracle his old love for her had been revived? He’d given her no sign of it. Even if it were so, would he approach her now, when she was betrothed to another man? His own sense of honour would prevent it.
And he hadn’t mentioned Charles Truscott. Knowing his feelings on the subject of her marriage to the preacher, she had half expected yet another attempt to persuade her to break off her engagement, but Dan had said nothing more.
At their last meeting she must have convinced him finally of her determination to wed Charles. The knowledge should have pleased her, but it didn’t.
What a fool she was. She’d been clutching at straws, hoping that Dan would return from Merton basking in the approval of Admiral Nelson, and with the prospect of a promising career ahead of him. In her heart she’d wondered if it was her fortune which had changed his feelings. With his own future assured that barrier would have been removed, but he’d met with no success at Merton.
She must be wrong. He’d taken the reverse with the greatest of good spirits, and was fully prepared to wait until the Great Man should agree to see him.
It wasn’t the bahaviour of a man whose only love was to wed another in ten short days. She must accept the fact that Dan no longer cared for her in the old way. It was a bitter pill to swallow. She tried to put him from her mind, but it was impossible. The face she loved so much would not be banished from her thoughts.
She climbed into bed and closed her eyes. Then she fell to dreaming. Things might have been so different, but she was drifting into a world of fantasy. Just for a second she allowed herself to wonder what she would do if Dan should offer for her now.
She knew the answer, and honesty compelled her to admit it. She held Charles in high regard, but Dan was the man she loved. She would fall into his arms in the wildest of raptures, forgetting her betrothal, the coming wedding, Charles Truscott’s disappointment, and Mrs Aveton’s undoubted fury. It was a small price to pay for a life of happiness.
Knowing that it could never be, it was long before she slept, but in the Wentworth household it was impossible to be miserable for long.
Judith wakened to find the sunlight streaming into her room as Bessie drew back her curtains. Then she was given the unexpected treat of breakfast in bed.
“Miss Judith, what will you wear today?” Bessie held up a gown in either hand. “I packed some others if these don’t please you.”
“Great heavens, Bessie, what were you thinking of? I am to stay for only a day or two. You seem to have brought a large part of my trousseau…”
“I thought you’d like to look your best,” Bessie said slyly. “There’s no telling what you’ll be needing…”
Judith gave her a sharp look, but Bessie’s face was the picture of innocence.
“You know quite well that I am here to bear Lady Wentworth company. Her ladyship does not go abroad at present.”
“No, miss, but you might do so…”
“Don’t be foolish, Bessie.” Judith glanced briefly at the garments. “I’ll wear the blue today.”
Bessie beamed at her.
“And you may take that expression off your face,” Judith scolded. “Why you wish to turn me out as fine as fivepence I really can’t imagine.”
This wasn’t strictly true. Bessie’s intentions were transparent. Dan was to be so overcome by the charming appearance of her young mistress that he would offer for her without delay.
Her maid could have no idea of the true state of affairs, Judith thought sadly. Even so, when she was dressed she could only be pleased with her new gown.
It became her well. The soft blue was a perfect background for her delicate colouring, and the cut of the garment was excellent. It was of exquisite simplicity, the fine cambric caught with a matching ribbon from immediately below her splendid bosom, and falling in folds to a gathered flounce at the hem.
Judith glanced at her reflection in the pier-glass, pleased that she’d rejected the modiste’s attempt to persuade her into buying extreme puffed sleeves. These were much more modest in design, swelling only slightly at the shoulder above the tight fabric which covered her arms as far as the wrist.
She smiled a little. For once she looked positively modish, though the morning-dress was quite suitable for a day at home. She left her room and made her way to the head of the staircase, but before she reached it a small hand slid into her own.
Judith gave a pretended jump of terror. “Why, Crispin, how you startled me! I thought I had been seized by some terrible monster…”
This brought a peal of laughter from Sebastian’s youngest son.
“You didn’t!” he accused. “You knew that it was me.”
“How could I? I didn’t see you. You crept up behind me like a redskin, and I didn’t hear a thing.”
“Truly?” His face grew serious. “I have been practicing, you know.”
Judith nodded. “I can tell.”
“I’d have come to see you earlier,” the little boy continued. “But Mama said that you were not to be disturbed. We were very quiet this morning. You didn’t hear us, did you?”
“Not a sound!” she assured him.
“Well, that’s all right then.” Crispin heaved an open sigh of relief. “I wanted to ask you…shall you come with us to the waxworks?”
“Not today, my dear one. Dan and your papa will go with you, and I shall stay with your mama…”
Crispin sat down on the top stair. “I hoped you’d come,” he told her wistfully. “You always know the best stories.”
“Well, suppose you try to remember all the things you see. You might even write them down if you think you will forget. Then you may tell me all about them…”
He brightened at that, and hand in hand they walked down the staircase as Dan came out of the library.
The sight of Judith with the child struck him like a knife thrust into his breast. If they had married all those years ago she would now have sons and daughters of her own. Children adored her, and she was at her best with them, entering into their world without the slightest difficulty.
He was careful not to betray his feelings. He greeted her with a polite enquiry as to whether she was well rested.
“Very well rested, Dan, I thank you!” Her radiant smile brought little response from him. “Are you ready for your outing?”
“There has been a change of plan,” he told her shortly. “Prudence is not too well today. Sebastian has sent for the doctor. Naturally, he will wait for the man’s opinion…”
“Then we are not to go to the waxworks?” Crispin’s lip began to tremble.
“Of course you are, my lad!” Sebastian strode towards them, lifting up his son, and throwing the boy high into the air. “I’m going to tease Judith into going with you. How shall you like that?”
Crispin squealed with delight. “Better than anything!” he yelled. Then he scurried off as fast as his fat little legs would carry him to impart the good news to his brothers.
“Spurned by my own flesh and blood!” Sebastian mourned. “Judith, you have much to answer for!”
As she began to smile he grew more serious. “Shall you mind accompan
ying them?” he asked. “I could send their tutor, or one of the servants to go with Dan, but it would not be the same…more of a lesson than a holiday, I believe.”
“You think it will not be the same with me?” she teased. “My dear Sebastian, I intend to return one gentleman and three small boys to you with their minds quite over-burdened with useless information.”
“What a dear you are!” Sebastian pressed her hand.
“Tell me about Prudence,” she replied. “Sebastian, what is wrong?”
“Possibly just exhaustion. As you know, she insisted on waiting up for Dan. I sent for the doctor just as a precaution.” He frowned. “She feels that this pregnancy is unlike any of the others…Believe me, it will be the last! I couldn’t go through all this again, and nor could she.” With that he walked away.
Judith was aware of Dan standing stiff and silent beside her. She could guess at his agony of mind. Prudence had been his first and only friend.
“Don’t worry!” she said softly. “We must make allowances for Sebastian’s natural concern. Prudence is strong, both in body and in mind. This may be nothing more than the weariness common in the last few weeks before a birth.”
“You may be right.” It was only with an effort that he forced a smile. “Forgive me, but I can’t help feeling anxious about her.”
“Of course you do!” She was searching her mind for further words of comfort when the boys came hurrying towards them, eager with anticipation.
“Are you ready, ma’am?” Thomas asked politely.
“Give me two minutes. I shan’t keep you waiting.
She was as good as her word, and the little party was soon ensconced in the family carriage, and bowling over the cobblestones towards the Strand.
It was Madam Tussaud herself who greeted all visitors to her exhibition. Judith looked at her with interest.
It was difficult to believe that this dowdy-looking person in her old-fashioned high-crowned bonnet with a snowy pleated frill framing her face was in reality an astute business woman.
In prettily accented English she handed them a programme and left them to wander at will through the rows of models on display.
Judith was impressed. The wax figures were so life-like that it was easy to mistake them for living people, were it not for their splendid costumes of an earlier period. These were correct to the last detail, and Judith could only marvel at the amount of research which must have been involved. Madame must be something of a historian.
The kings and queens of both England and France were well represented, together with heroic figures from both countries, and the boys were soon attracted by the military men.
“See! Here is General Wolfe!” Thomas stood before his hero with shining eyes. “Papa told me all about him. He defeated the French in Canada, you know, at the Plains of Abraham—”
“But he was killed there,” Henry murmured.
“It was still a famous victory,” his brother insisted. “Don’t be such a milksop! I bet you don’t even want to see the Chamber of Horrors…”
This statement could not be allowed to go unchallenged and it was swiftly refuted. “Oh, yes I do! And Crispin will come too!”
“Well, I most certainly do not!” Judith told them firmly. “I was hoping that Crispin would stay with me. I’ve been saving one of my best stories for him.”
She feared that scenes of executions would give the little boy nightmares and was tempted to suggest that Henry too should stay with her, but she was too wise to insist. She was well aware of the natural rivalry between Henry and his elder brother.
“We could hear it first and then go in,” Thomas said hopefully.
“No, this one is especially for Crispin.” She took the little boy’s hand in hers and gave it a friendly squeeze. “It shall be our secret.”
The promise quelled his likely objections to being left out by the others.
“It may be best,” Thomas told her kindly. “Ladies don’t care for things like death-masks and murderers being hanged.”
“Ghoul!” Dan aimed a playful blow at him. “I wonder if you’ll feel so brave when you get inside.” Without more ado he led the boys towards the dreadful Chamber.
Judith moved away to seat Crispin beside the figure of King Canute.
“Now you shall tell me what you think,” she said. “This king was very wise, but his courtiers thought he could do anything. He took them to the seashore to prove that they were wrong.”
“How?”
“He made them bring his throne right down to the water. Then he sat down by the waves.”
“What did he do then?”
“Can’t you guess?” Judith sprang to her feet and stretched out an imperious arm. “He told the sea to go back…”
“But that was silly!” Crispin objected. “If the tide was coming in he’d get his feet wet.”
“He did, but he knew that it would happen. It showed his courtiers that he had no power over it.”
“Did…did he cut their heads off?”
“Oh, no! He was a kindly man, and he ruled England well. He became known as Canute the Great.
“I’ll tell Papa about him. Do you know any more stories?”
“I know one which will make you laugh.” Judith looked about her until she spied the figure which she sought. “Do you see this man sitting by a fire? What is he doing, do you suppose?”
“Cooking?”
“Not exactly. He was a king, you see, but at one time he was asked to watch some cakes upon the fire.”
“Kings don’t do that!”
“This one was in disguise. King Alfred was hiding from his enemies. He started to think how he might outwit them, and he forgot the cakes. When they burned the old lady in the hut was furious.”
“What did she do?” Crispin was chuckling.
“I believe she beat him soundly.”
“Well, he must have cut off her head, Judith.”
“Good gracious, my love! I believe you to be every bit as bloodthirsty as your brothers. If you were king, would you wish to reign over a race of headless people?”
This nonsensical notion made him shout with glee, and he was still laughing when his brothers returned.
They were strangely silent, and Judith raised an enquiring eyebrow as she looked at Dan. He twinkled back at her.
“I think we’ve had our fill of horrors,” he announced. “It’s time for a treat. What do you boys say to ices at Gunter’s?”
This suggestion met with cries of delight, and together he and Judith shepherded their charges towards the exit. As they gained the street again she saw an elderly couple smiling at the little group.
“What a charming couple!” the woman said audibly. “And so young to be the parents of those three stout boys.”
Judith coloured, but Dan smiled at her.
“Don’t take it so hard!” he whispered. “She did say that you were rather young to be a staid mama.”
“Yes, I know. It is just that…well, I must suppose that it was easy to make the mistake. I am not in my first youth—”
“Nor in your dotage, Judith. Prudence isn’t much older than you are yourself. Would you describe her as being at her last prayers?”
“Of course not!” she told him roundly, thankful that he had imagined that her evident confusion arose from the fact that the woman had supposed her to be older than she was. It had not. She’d been startled because she and Dan had been taken for husband and wife.
She peeped up at him, but there was nothing in his expression to indicate that he felt the same. Smiling blandly, he was handing the boys up into the carriage.
At Gunter’s, the ices disappeared with lightning speed, but as Dan was about to order more, Judith nudged him.
“No more!” she pleaded in a whisper. “The boys have had enough excitement for one day. We shall be in trouble if we take them home with upset stomachs.”
He laughed at that. “In my experience small boys don’t suffer in that way.”<
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“Don’t be too sure! You won’t be too pleased if Crispin casts up his accounts over your fine breeches.”
Dan shuddered. “You are right, as always. Let us return our monsters to their loving parents without delay.”
It was a tired but happy party which turned the corner into Mount Street. Then Dan frowned as he saw the carriage standing at the door.
“Brandon?” he murmured in surprise. “What in the world brings him to Mount Street at this time of day?” He was out of the carriage in a flash.
Judith realised that his anxiety was for Prudence. Was she worse? If the family had been summoned there must be something wrong. It was with a sinking heart that she allowed him to lead her into the salon.
A glance at Sebastian’s face told her that her fears were unfounded. His visitor was not the Earl of Brandon, but Amelia, his brother’s wife.
With his customary good manners, Sebastian was engaging her in polite conversation, but as she and Dan entered the room, followed by the boys, she saw the look of relief in his eyes.
“Amelia, I think you know Miss Judith Aveton? And Dan, of course? Boys?”
At a nod from their father, his sons advanced towards their aunt and bowed.
“Growing fast, I see. What great creatures they are! Sebastian, you will soon have a full quiver.”
Sebastian chose to ignore her last remark.
“Amelia is come to enquire about Prudence. I was happy to be able to tell her that the doctor is quite satisfied with her progress.”
“I shall go up to her.” The Countess gathered up her shawl and her reticule. “Such a mistake for a woman in her condition to be giving way to fads and fancies and to be keeping to her bed. I hope to advise her to think better of it.”
“No, ma’am!” Sebastian’s tone held a hint of steel. “Prudence is forbidden all visitors for the moment. I will give her your regards.”
“Good of you!” The Countess glared at him. “Then I must wonder what this lady is doing here. I understand from her stepmama that Miss Aveton was invited for the purpose of keeping Lady Wentworth company.”
“That is correct.” Sebastian was unfazed by her angry look. “Judith did so yesterday, and will do so again tomorrow. On this occasion she has been kind enough to accompany the boys upon their outing. Such a relief to me!”
The Passionate Friends Page 15