The Aim Of A Lady

Home > Other > The Aim Of A Lady > Page 10
The Aim Of A Lady Page 10

by Laura Matthews


  “I look forward to seeing it. That was very clever of you, my dear. I knew it would blue-devil Ellis to be kept away from horses. It seems he didn’t either, because he mentioned riding the black.”

  “Oh, that was awful. He had calmed the horse considerably and could not pass up the right moment to mount him, George, but his face absolutely drained of blood when he sat him. I had to bite my lip, but I did not say a word, either.”

  “Well, you have nothing with which to reproach yourself, love. Even dinner, given the circumstances. I will keep him out of your way until he leaves, but I want you to understand that he is not ordinarily like this. Usually he is very easygoing, personable and polite.”

  “If you say so, George,” she answered skeptically. “There were times when he was very nice indeed, I must admit.” She sighed, and then her face took on an anxious look. “Will you tell me about Miss Sanfield now?”

  “There is not much to tell, Diana. When I arrived in town I read of her engagement and went the next day to call on her, but she had left town. I foolishly assumed that she had gone to her home near Lymington and took myself off there, losing a day because of rain. There is something strange about the engagement, but I cannot put my finger on it. Alonna has gone to her sister near Colchester.”

  “And you did not go there?” she asked, puzzled.

  “Really, my dear, I have gone too far already. What good will it do if she is engaged? And if she is not, the announcement should be retracted. I do not want to harass the poor girl.”

  “But, George, you told me she doesn’t know of your intentions. If she is in difficulties, you should be the one to see she comes right.”

  “You forget that I do not know if she would welcome my assistance.”

  “You can only find out if you ask her,” his sister pointed out.

  “I think I will await events, Diana. When and if a retraction is published I will approach her. I do not think I should do more now.”

  “But...”

  “No, my dear. Let us leave it at that. She will be safe with her sister.”

  “Do I know her sister?”

  “I should think not. She is Lady Trafford. Cranmer said she is just delivered of twins.”

  “How nice.” Diana studied her brother’s face for a moment. “It must be very difficult for you to wait, George.”

  “Nonsense,” he replied bracingly, as he rose from his chair and placed a salute on her cheek. “Thank you for the care you have taken of Ellis, Diana. I am truly sorry he has been such a wretch.”

  “I was happy to do it for you, George.”

  Diana did not ordinarily interfere in her brother’s life, just as he did not interfere in hers. When he had left her for the night, though, she considered what he had told her and decided that perhaps she would do just a little something this time. Colchester could not be more than five and twenty miles distant, as the crow flew. She left word with her maid that she wished to be called at seven the next morning.

  Chapter Eleven

  For a moment Diana did not remember why she had asked to be awakened at such an hour. She raised sleepy eyes questioningly at her maid and then she recalled the previous night’s discussion. “Annie, I wish you to inform the stable that I want my phaeton ready in half an hour. Have some chocolate and toast sent up for me, please. I will dress myself.”

  When the maid left, Diana chose an attractive dress which fit her properly, and managed to arrange her hair in a less severe style than was her custom. It was a habit with George to bring her some fashionable frippery each time he returned, and the very fact that he had not done so on this occasion indicated to her the depth of his distraction. Not that she minded not receiving a present; far from it. It was his way of prodding her to modishness and part of the game they unspeakingly played about her determination not to draw attention to her beauty. For she was forced then to wear each of the items he brought at the appropriate time, and it was a nuisance for her. Not that she blamed him. Who would want a dowd for a sister? But she thought she knew herself well enough that her small deception was useful, if no longer necessary. And it was effective, yesterday was a good example. She had dressed to the nines for the Dodges’ entertainment, and look at all the young men who had come to call the day after! But they would not long pester her after she appeared looking very ordinary at their races. She sometimes wondered what her neighbors thought of her, but she seldom worried about it.

  Nonetheless, if she was going to meet George’s young woman, Diana had no intention of shaming him. She chose a coat with a triple collar and wide cuffs with lace ruffles, and a high crowned hat with a small brim, both in emerald green. She ate the toast and drank the chocolate which had arrived by this time, and then presented herself at the stables.

  Jenkins had her phaeton ready but looked intent on discovering her destination. She climbed up onto the seat with his help, Josh jumped on behind, and she airily told Jenkins that she would be gone for the better part of the day to visit friends, and please to advise her brother of the fact. Before he could make any demur she flicked her whip and drove off. She knew the road to Haverhill well and kept her matched grays at an easy pace as she did not wish to make any change of team unless it was strictly necessary. The weather was fine and she could see bright spring flowers in bloom about the cottages and farms she passed. Once through Haverhill she followed the road to Halstead, where she paused to rest the horses and refresh herself and Josh at the inn. She enquired of the landlord if he knew where Lady Trafford lived and he proved all helpfulness. Yes, he knew Trafford Hall and he could direct her there if she needed his assistance. She was more than happy to accept his offer and set off confident of her destination. The maze of lanes he had directed her through, however, soon had her confused, and Josh had not overheard the landlord’s directions, but she eventually asked information of a field hand and found that she had not far to go.

  When she arrived at the Hall, a groom came running to assist Josh with her carriage and she proceeded to the door which the groom indicated in the side of one of its two main projections. She handed a card to the butler and asked if she might see Miss Alonna Sanfield. The hour was still early, and for a while she had considered delaying her arrival, but her curiosity and the desire to return to the Park at a reasonable hour had prompted her to proceed. “If the family is still at breakfast, please do not disturb them,” she urged the butler. She was shown into the Red Parlor and seated herself comfortably on an upholstered settee in expectation of a considerable wait.

  Within minutes, however, a blond young lady appeared at the door and smiled shyly at her. “Miss Savile?” she asked quietly.

  “Yes, I am Diana, George Savile’s sister. I had hoped I might have a word with you.”

  Alonna came into the room and shook hands with her visitor. “I have wanted to meet you. Mr. Savile speaks highly of you, but he says you rarely come to town.”

  “George is prejudiced in my favor,” Diana replied, “and he is very indulgent. You must not put too much reliance on what he says about me.”

  “I should think not!” Alonna replied indignantly. “He never even mentioned how lovely you were.”

  “I should not think he notices my looks much. Miss Sanfield, I noticed in the paper the other day that you are engaged to Lord Vallert.”

  Alonna sighed. “Lord Vallert put the notice in the paper without my consent, Miss Savile. I have informed him that he is to have it removed.”

  “Then you are not to marry him? You do not wish to marry him?”

  “No, nor ever have. It was very wrong of him and he did it in a fit of pique. My father should have removed it immediately, but he did not. If Lord Vallert does not do so within the next few days, I shall have to handle the matter myself,” she said sadly.

  “How very cruel of him to put you through such a thing!”

  “He had always seemed nice enough until I refused his offer.” Alonna chucked in remembrance of the scene. “He could not belie
ve that I would turn him down.”

  “I have a suitor like that,” Diana laughed, “full of so much self-consequence that he continues to believe that I have heard him wrong or simply cannot believe my good fortune.” The two women shared an amused glance.

  “Is your brother well, Miss Savile?”

  “Yes, he arrived at the Park last evening. He...” Diana stopped abruptly. It would not be fair to George to say anything further to the young woman at this point. “I understand your sister has recently been safely delivered of twins.”

  Alonna’s eyes shone with excitement. “Oh, Miss Savile, I was there during the confinement and it was the most miraculous event. I must show you the babies, and introduce you to my sister.” She rose and extended her hand to Diana, who took it and tucked it through her arm as they climbed the grand staircase. “I have a nephew Mark, as well, who is two. Later I will take you to the nursery to meet him.” She tapped on her sister’s door and was invited to enter.

  “Margaret, I have someone with me,” she said, as she peeped around the door.

  “Come in, Alonna. I should like to meet your friend,” Margaret assured her as she noticed Diana behind her sister. It crossed her mind that the young woman was somehow familiar.

  “This is Diana Savile, Margaret, Mr. George Savile’s sister.”

  “I have met your brother in London, Miss Savile, and am pleased to meet you. There is some resemblance between you.”

  “I thought so, too,” Alonna admitted, “when I came into the Red Parlor.”

  Margaret turned to her sister in confusion. “You have only just met Miss Savile?”

  “Yes, Margaret, she has come...” Alonna herself was not quite sure why Diana had come and her voice died.

  “I have come to invite Miss Sanfield to spend a few days with me at the Park,” Diana suggested, surprising herself.

  “You have?” Alonna asked incredulously.

  Margaret regarded the two of them indulgently. “Why, I think that’s a perfectly lovely idea. We’ve been working Alonna far too hard these last few days, and to tell the truth, my mother-in-law wishes to take over her activities. She feels left out since she missed the actual birth,” Margaret explained.

  Alonna was still staring at Diana in amazement, but Diana smiled and said, “Yes, for George has the most obstreperous guest and I wish to stay out of his way until he leaves. Perhaps you know him, Miss Sanfield? Lord Alma?”

  “Lord Alma? Obstreperous? Why, I have never known him to be anything but truly gallant and cheerful.”

  “So George tells me, too, but it has been otherwise during his stay. You see, I accidentally shot him with an arrow, and then George had to go off to London to ... Well, he had to leave, and so I was left to entertain Lord Alma. Only he has been unable to sit and it seems to irritate him unreasonably. So when George mentioned that you were so close by, and he had told me about you, I thought that I should like to meet you. You would be doing me a great favor to come, you know,” Diana said beseechingly. “Perhaps Lord Alma would even improve if you were there.”

  “You shot him with an arrow?” Margaret broke into delighted laughter. “How marvelous!”

  “I am beginning to think so, too, Lady Trafford,” Diana retorted with acerbity.

  Margaret turned to her sister and said gently, “I think you should go, love.”

  “But ... When should I come?” Alonna asked.

  “I would like to take you with me when I leave,” Diana urged her.

  The two sisters shared a glance and Margaret nodded. “Go and pack a portmanteau, my dear. Miss Savile and I will enjoy a chat.”

  Bemused, Alonna left the room. Margaret turned to Diana and smiled. “Why did you really come, Miss Savile?”

  “Well, George has been dashing all over the countryside to learn what he could of Miss Sanfield’s engagement. A friend of his in London thought it very strange, since your father would not acknowledge it, and I came to learn the truth of it.”

  “Why did your brother not come?”

  “He thought at first Miss Sanfield had gone to Lymington and he went there. I believe he feels rather foolish for being so impulsive; he is not usually. And then he did not wish to approach her if she was engaged. He told me that he would wait to see what happened.”

  “So he does not know you are here?”

  “No, and I should not be. George has always allowed me to run my own life and I owe him the same courtesy, but he has determined on a course of being gentlemanly and heaven knows where that will lead. I have no intention of saying a word of this to Miss Sanfield, of course. She will be my guest, and I shall take good care of her. I have Mrs. Lewis from the village staying with me, too, because Lord Alma could not stay there without her. I cannot think she will have gone back to her home yet.”

  Margaret accepted this flow of information calmly and said, “I like your brother, Miss Savile.” She would have said more, but a tap at the door brought in the nursery maid with a baby in each arm. Diana rose to look at the infants and congratulate their mother. A small boy burst through the door and stopped abruptly when he saw the visitor. Margaret called him over to her and hugged him before saying, “Mark, this is Miss Savile, a friend of your Aunt Alonna’s. Your aunt is going to stay with her for a few days.”

  Mark gravely shook hands with Diana and asked where she lived. “Not so very far away, about five miles from Haverhill, Mark.”

  Lord Trafford entered then to retrieve his son and was introduced to Diana. He also knew her brother and sent his regards. His surprise on hearing that Alonna was intending to spend some time at the Park was quickly hidden when his wife threw him a warning glance. He did not stay long, but swung his son on his shoulder and said they must not keep the horses waiting.

  When Alonna returned, she quietly announced that her portmanteau was packed. She clung to her sister for a moment, and Margaret smiled encouragingly before the two young women ordered the phaeton brought round and set out for the Park.

  * * * *

  George took an early ride before entering the breakfast parlor where he found Mrs. Lewis and Alma already partaking of their meal. “I have seen your chariot, Ellis, and hear that it beats a phaeton every time.”

  “Yes, your sister suggested that it might be a more even race if the chariot were pulled by a single horse.” Alma glanced at Diana’s empty seat and raised a brow in query to his host.

  “Jenkins tells me that Diana has left for the day to visit friends. She has been rather housebound of late and could stand the diversion, I dare say.”

  Alma flushed and Mrs. Lewis said timidly, “Do you think I should go home now, Mr. Savile?”

  “No, I hope you will stay on a while. I cannot be sure if I will have to leave again, and Diana will be grateful for your company. I am glad you could come on such short notice.”

  “It has been a pleasure, sir,” Mrs. Lewis assured him. “I was included in the invitation to the Dodges’ party and it was a rare treat for me.” She proceeded to tell him of how elegant his sister had looked and what the entertainment had consisted of, and when she had finished her meal (and her monologue) she left the two men in the breakfast parlor to make her way to her embroidery.

  Alma and George had been friends for some ten years, but when they were left alone silence reigned in the room. In general, George was very tolerant of the behavior of his friends, but he was surprised and exasperated by the accounts he had heard of the relations between his sister and his guest. Alma was at a loss to explain his irascibility; he did not understand it himself. The injury had seemed a gruesome joke at first, but he had been completely thrown out of stride when Diana had been exposed to his nakedness while she removed the arrow. Heaven knew he had been naked with enough women, but never in such a situation and never with an imperious young woman of quality.

  And then the enforced standing had proved more burdensome than he could have imagined at the start. If she had not been so patient with him it might not have been s
o difficult, but in the face of all his petty bitterness she had provided him with the chariot, which indicated that she understood how he chafed at being unable to ride and drive.

  They had reached some accord then, but it was shattered by her appearance for the Dodges’ party. Again he had felt put-upon, deceived, a fool. For a week be had been consorting with the “younger brother” George had offered him, and suddenly he found that she was a goddess in disguise. A goddess who had taken an arrow from his bottom. He could not forgive her that.

  George and Alma sat in the breakfast parlor for some time after they had finished eating. Finally Alma spoke almost diffidently. “I will leave today if you want me to, George. There is no excuse I can give you for my behavior. I wish to God I had never come!”

  “No, I don’t want you to leave until you will be comfortable sitting in a carriage. I can see that you are in some pain right now. Come, we’ll talk while we walk to the stables.”

  Alma felt better once he was on his feet and he remembered why George had left the Park in the first place. “I was sorry to read of Miss Sanfield’s engagement, George.”

  “There is some mystery about it, Ellis. Her father does not acknowledge it.”

  “Really? Perhaps Vallert is toying with the settlement.”

  “I have no idea.” In his present mood George had no intention of telling Alma any more about the situation. There was little more to tell in any case.

  “Did you try the chariot?”

  “No, but I should like to.”

  The two men spent the morning around the stables and the afternoon at the stud farm. They only returned to the house in time for tea late in the afternoon, and found Diana, changed back to her usual attire, seated with Mrs. Lewis in the small parlor.

  George greeted her fondly, asking, “Did you have a good day away from home, love?”

  “Perfect, George. But I must speak with you alone for a moment for I have brought a visitor.”

  With slightly raised brows, he gave in to the urgency her eyes spoke. “If you will excuse us a moment, Mrs. Lewis, Ellis.”

 

‹ Prev