The Passionate Friends

by Meg Alexander

  “You might have sent their tutor, or a servant with them, if this…er…gentleman was unable to control them on his own.”

  “I might have done so, but I did not. Is your memory failing, Amelia? This is Dan, my adopted son. You cannot have forgotten him?”

  An ugly flush stained Amelia’s face. It went much against the grain, but she was forced to acknowledge Dan with a brief nod of her head. His own bow was perfection.

  Judith felt dismayed. She was in no doubt as to the reason for Amelia’s visit. Since it was clearly impossible for Mrs Aveton to invite herself to Mount Street, she must have begged her friend to pay this visit with the promise of a tasty piece of gossip.

  Prudence and Amelia were not favourites with each other. To Judith’s knowledge the Countess had not called before with enquiries as to the health of her sister-in-law. Amelia was here to spy, and to carry her tales back to Judith’s stepmother.

  How gratified she must have been when Judith arrived with Dan. It had been the most innocent of outings, but Judith felt consumed with guilt. The look of triumph in Amelia’s eyes did nothing to reassure her.

  She murmured some fictitious excuse, and was about to hurry away when the door to the salon opened.

  “Miss Grantham!” the footman announced.

  That lady swept towards Sebastian with all the dignity of her advancing years. Her authoritarian manner put the Countess of Brandon in the shade.

  “Well, my boy, how do you go on?” She gave him her hand to kiss.

  “I am well, ma’am, as you see.” Sebastian’s smile was dazzling as he led her to a chair. “As for you, I have no need to ask, I think. Your energy puts us all to shame.”

  “It ain’t what it was, but I’ll do for a year or two yet…” Miss Grantham settled herself more comfortably and looked about her.

  “At your age you should take more care, ma’am,” Amelia murmured spitefully. “I believe I have been misinformed. I heard some talk of your venturing abroad, to Turkey, of all places. Pray assure me that it isn’t true. It would be so unwise—”

  “Thank’ee for your advice, Amelia. When I want your opinion, I’ll ask for it! You ain’t been misinformed. I leave within the week.”

  “Oh, Miss Grantham, you are making game of us,” Amelia tittered. “To joke is all very well, but you must not tease your friends.”

  “I never joke, and I wasn’t aware that you were any friend of mine.” The old lady eyed the Countess coldly. “Wouldn’t do for you, of course. You’d never stand the journey. You’re getting fat, Amelia. Keep on eating as you do, and you’ll never get out of your chair.”

  Judith heard a choking sound behind her, and cast a reproachful look at Dan. She felt that it was time to intervene in what promised to become an ugly scene.

  “Won’t you tell Miss Grantham and your aunt about the waxworks?” she said to Thomas in desperation. She’d noticed that the boys had retreated behind their father’s chair. It was their usual manoeuvre when in the presence of their formidable aunt.

  Miss Grantham would have none of it. She beckoned to Thomas.

  “Come here, boy,” she ordered. “Waxworks, indeed! What have you learned today?” Her tone was sharp, but Thomas was encouraged by the twinkle in her eyes.

  “The figures looked like real people, ma’am. We saw the kings and queens of England, and of France.”

  “Recite them!”

  Thomas made a creditable effort and was rewarded with a nod of approval.

  “And what did you like best?”

  Thomas looked at Judith and was urged on by her smile.

  “We went into the Chamber of Horrors, ma’am. We saw Charlotte Corday murdering Marat in his bath.” His look of relish brought a sharp reproof from the Countess.

  “Disgusting!” she snapped. “Sebastian, I wonder that you allow your children to be exposed to such dreadful sights. It is enough to turn their brains.”

  “Crispin didn’t see them,” Judith said swiftly.

  “Miss Aveton, you too have surprised me, though your stepmama assures me that you puzzle her. What could you have been thinking of to behave in such an irresponsible way? I say nothing of your companion’s bahaviour. Some gentlemen have not the slightest notion of what is proper.”

  Judith saw Sebastian’s face grow dark. Under his own roof he would not insult a visitor, but she was in no doubt that he was very angry. He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could do so Miss Grantham intervened.

  “Stuff!” she said rudely. “Amelia, you put me out of patience with your nonsense. The child has had a history lesson. Would you have him learn anything other than the truth? The past was not all sweetness and light, however much you care to stick your own head in the sand…”

  This was too much for her adversary. Amelia rose to her feet and, bidding the company farewell in icy tones, she took her leave of them. Sebastian accompanied her to her carriage.

  “I have never been so insulted in my life,” she said in awful tones. “Brandon shall hear of this. Why you tolerate that rude old woman I can’t imagine! Her age leads her to believe that she may go beyond the bounds of what is permissible.”

  Sebastian smiled down at her. “You shouldn’t have offered your advice,” he said gently.

  Amelia tossed her head. “It was merely out of some small regard for Miss Grantham’s safety,” she replied. “Believe me, I shall not make the same mistake again. The woman should be in Bedlam.”

  With that, she stepped into her carriage and was borne away.

  When he returned to his elderly guest, Sebastian found her unrepentant.

  “Seen her off?” she cried cheerfully. “Thank the Lord for that! Her face is enough to turn milk sour.” Miss Grantham glanced slyly at her host. “I hope you ain’t expecting me to apologise?”

  “Ma’am, I know you better! The thought never crossed my mind.” With all the ease of an old acquaintance Sebastian took a seat beside her and tapped her wrist. “I should scold you, you wicked creature. You don’t change in the least. I believe you take a positive delight in making mischief.”

  Miss Grantham beamed at him. “I do indeed! It is one of the pleasures of old age.” Her impish grin was that of a five-year-old.

  “One day you will meet your match,” he warned.

  “My dear boy, whoever it is had best be quick about it. I ain’t immortal.”

  “Does that mean that you are going to die quite soon?”

  Judith was amused to see that all three boys had gravitated towards their visitor, recognising a fellow rebel, however unlikely in appearance. It was Henry who had asked the question, and his elder brother nudged him.

  “You shouldn’t ask that,” he whispered. “It isn’t polite.”

  “Nonsense! It’s a perfectly sensible question.” The old face, which resembled nothing so much as an ancient walnut, cracked into a smile. “I meant only that I can’t hope to live forever. A great pity! Life is so interesting. Don’t you think so?”

  “Yes, I do.” Henry thought for a moment. “The waxworks were interesting, but I didn’t like the blood in Marat’s bath.”

  “It wasn’t blood…it was dye,” his brother told him in disgust. I know…I tasted it!”

  This brought a ripple of amusement from his listeners, and Miss Grantham was moved to congratulate Sebastian.

  “You have bred a scientist, I see. Well done, Thomas! Never accept the obvious without question. Always test if you wish to know the truth.”

  A lively discussion seemed likely to ensue until Sebastian intervened. “I think I must send my scientists off to find their supper, ma’am.” Smiling, he dismissed the boys, and with a murmured promise to return, Judith followed them from the room.

  Dan too begged to be excused, and Sebastian was left alone with his visitor. He looked at her and raised an eyebrow in amused enquiry.

  “Aye, you may well wonder, sir! I’ve come to get to the bottom of this mystery, which you are all keeping to yourselves.”

&
nbsp; Chapter Eleven

  Sebastian stared at her. “You know?”

  “I know nothing, but I suspect that something is afoot. To me, your brother’s face is like an open book. Dissimulation was never a strong point with Perry, as you well know.”

  Sebastian smiled as he was forced to acknowledge the truth of this pithy statement.

  “As for Elizabeth…she, too, has looked preoccupied. My dear boy, what is wrong? Is it Prudence? Are you keeping something from us?”

  “Prudence is well, ma’am, though she has been trying to do too much. At present she must rest, but the doctor is satisfied with her progress.”

  “A sensible fellow! I’m glad you took my advice when you engaged him. At least he doesn’t believe in this fashionable notion of starving pregnant women and robbing them of their strength.” She was about to assure him that her protegée also washed his hands before examining a patient, and engaged also in the eccentric habit of boiling his instruments before use, but she thought better of it. This was no time to remind Sebastian of those hideous implements.

  “Yes, ma’am. I believe him to be the best in London, and I thank you for bringing him to our attention.” Sebastian began to chuckle. “What does he say to your plan to travel to Turkey?”

  “He don’t know of it,” Miss Grantham replied in triumph. “I ain’t consulted a member of the medical profession in years, and I don’t plan to do so now.”

  Sebastian shook his head in mock reproof. Then he began to laugh. “In spite of what you told my boys, I believe you are an immortal.”

  “Don’t change the subject, sir. You haven’t answered my question.”

  “There is something…” he admitted. “Both Prudence and Elizabeth are worried about Judith.”

  “The girl is to wed quite soon, I’m told, to some fashionable preacher?”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Sebastian was reluctant to go further.

  “Well, marriage ain’t a hanging matter, though some would disagree with me. I shouldn’t choose a preacher for myself, of course. They are a sanctimonious lot, always happy to get their feet beneath someone else’s table…Is that the trouble? Don’t they like the fellow? I ain’t seen him myself, or heard his rantings.”

  Sebastian hid a smile. Miss Grantham’s humanist views were well known to him. It was highly unlikely that she would ever listen to a preacher, however fashionable.

  “Something like that,” he agreed.

  The old eyes rested on his face. “You ain’t the man to be swayed by female fancies. There’s more to this than you will tell.”

  “Yes, ma’am. I wish I could be more open with you, but it would not be wise. I have so little information…”

  “Is there anything I can do?”

  Sebastian shook his head. “All we can do is to wait.”

  “I don’t like it,” she said decisively. “But I shall not trouble you further by poking my nose into matters which you prefer to keep to yourself.”

  He looked up then and saw the anxiety in her face. On an impulse he took her hands in his.

  “Don’t worry!” he said gently. “All will be well. You need have no fears about Elizabeth, or any of us.”

  He could see that her lips were trembling. Then she straightened her back.

  “I should hope not!” she announced with some asperity. “Now, sir, I must go. Perry and Elizabeth brought me to you, and now they shall take me home. You will give my love to Prudence?”

  “Won’t you go up to her?” he suggested. “She is so fond of you, and will be sorry not to see you.”

  “Flatterer!” Miss Grantham hesitated. “It will not tire her if I stay for just a moment?”

  “Of course not!” He led her through the hall and up the staircase, a hand outstretched to help her if she found the climb too much.

  She had no need of it. Miss Grantham ate sparingly and was a firm believer in the value of walking as an exercise. There was surprising strength in the thin, wiry figure and she marched along beside him without a pause to catch her breath.

  She was greeted by a cry of pleasure from Prudence, and was persuaded to sit down for a brief five minutes.

  Then Miss Grantham reappeared and joined Sebastian in the hall.

  “Nothing to worry about there!” she said with satisfaction. “Only your precious mystery need concern you now.” She began to draw on her gloves. “Sebastian, you will take care?”

  “Certainly, ma’am.”

  “And you might look to Dan. He’s changed in these past years.”

  Sebastian could only marvel at her shrewdness. Dan had been in her company for so short a time, and they had barely exchanged a word.

  “You ain’t thinking of playing Cupid, are you?”

  Sebastian laughed. “I’m not the build to be a cherub, ma’am. Look about you! Do you see a bow and arrow?” He bent and kissed the withered cheek.

  She pushed him away, but he could see that she was pleased. Then Perry and Elizabeth came towards them.

  “There you are, my dears! Come, we must make haste! I have still to pack my books and papers…”

  Perry began to tease her. “And don’t forget a sharp knife, Aunt. In a month or two you will be dining on camel and yaks’ tails.”

  “Yaks? In Turkey? Bless me, the man is totally uneducated. Yaks, my dear Perry, are found only in Tibet.” With this quelling statement Miss Grantham allowed herself to be led away.

  Sebastian returned upstairs to find his wife convulsed with laughter.

  “Oh, my dear!” she gasped. “I have been missing all the fun. Judith tells me that Amelia was well and truly routed.”

  “Wicked creature!” he said fondly. “Where is your spirit of Christian charity?”

  “I haven’t one where Amelia is concerned. Dear Miss Grantham! Is she not a treasure?”

  “She is a wise old woman. What’s more, my love, she found you looking well. You must not spoil it. Will you dine up here this evening?”

  “Only if you will join me.” Prudence looked up at him, her eyes aglow with love.

  “Would you have me ignore my duties as a host?”

  “Judith will not mind. She and Dan have always so much to say to one another. They are fast friends, just as we are ourselves.”

  Sebastian dropped a kiss upon her hair. Then he looked at Judith. “Shall you mind, my dear?”

  “Not at all!” It wasn’t strictly true. Judith had sensed a growing estrangement between herself and Dan. Was it her imagination, or did he seem to be growing ever more distant? She racked her mind to find an answer.

  Their outing with the boys had been enjoyable. She could think of nothing that she might have done or said which might account for his strange reserve.

  It didn’t matter now, she thought sadly. The Countess would lose no time in carrying her tale to Mrs Aveton, and then she would be summoned home.

  Whilst she dressed for dinner, she tried to fight off a growing feeling of depression.

  In an effort to raise her spirits Bessie had laid out a gown in the softest shade of rose-pink muslin, with appliqué at the hem.

  “Bessie, I am not attending a ball,” she protested.

  “I should think not, miss. Otherwise, you might have worn the yellow brocade.”

  “Great heavens, you did not pack that too?”

  “No, I didn’t!” her maid said firmly. “I packed only those which were suitable for wear at home. Now, miss, do give over with your arguments, or you’ll be late for dinner.”

  Judith submitted to the ministrations of her maid without further protest, though she refused the offer of an attempt to train her fine soft hair into a high knot, with ringlets arranged to frame her face.

  “Bessie, you know it is a waste of time,” she laughed. “My hair will be down about my ears before I reach the dining-room.”

  “Very well, miss. At least the bandeau matches your gown, and you do look a picture, if I do say so myself.”

  “You’ll turn my head with your nonsense
,” Judith predicted darkly. “I shan’t be late abed tonight, but you need not wait up for me.”

  “As if I wouldn’t, Miss Judith.” Bessie hid a secret smile. Nothing would have persuaded her to retire before her young mistress. Besides, she had great hopes of the coming dinner à deux. A look at Judith’s face would tell her how it had gone.

  Judith found Dan waiting for her in the salon. The door was slightly ajar, and her ribbon-tied silk sandals made no sound upon the carpet.

  “Dan?”

  He turned, caught off guard, and his eyes glowed as he looked at her. That look was quickly banished, but it was enough to make her heart beat faster. Had she imagined it?

  He gave her a smile which held no more than a friendly welcome.

  “Judith, you are in famous looks tonight. I had thought that our outing might have tired you.”

  “No, no!” she protested. “It was the greatest fun. How much the boys enjoyed it!”

  “Perhaps we should do it again. Have you any ideas? There are military reviews in the Park, balloon ascents, firework displays and Astley’s Royal Amphitheatre, all guaranteed to delight the heart of any boy…”

  “And mine, too, I make no doubt.”

  “I was sure of it,” he grinned. “At Astley’s you may see a spectacular piece called The Flight of the Saracens, unless you prefer Make Way for Liberty. Confess it, they sound irresistible…”

  Judith returned his smile. “The boys are keen to go there. I have had a full description of the sawdust ring in which John Astley and his wife show off their equestrian skills.”

  “It could be a mistake,” he teased. “I foresee broken bones when Thomas and Henry return to Cheshire. Thank heavens they have no ponies here, or we should be treated to similar attempts at acrobatics.”

  At the sound of the gong he took her arm and led her into the dining-room. Two of the leaves had been removed from the table to provide a more intimate setting, and the light from a single candelabra shone softly upon fine silver and antique glass.

  Judith gave a sigh of pleasure as she looked about her. Tonight this lovely room, with its panelled walls, seemed like a haven of peace. Just for once she would be self-indulgent, revelling in the prospect of a precious evening alone with the man she loved.