by Amanda Scott
XI
THE NEXT FEW DAYS the entire household was flung into a flurry of last-minute preparation for the countess’s ball, giving Catheryn little opportunity for private reflection. Dambroke, declaring the confusion a damned nuisance, removed himself promptly after breakfast each morning, returning only to change clothes for the evening. Catheryn scarcely noticed his absence except to be grateful for it on Teddy’s behalf. That young man, the picture of innocence at breakfast, would take himself off to the Elman schoolroom only to return later bursting with pent-up mischief. The telltale tray having been discovered the morning after the Heathcote ball, an approving staff quickly dubbed Catheryn Master Teddy’s champion and brought their complaints directly to her. By turn amused and exasperated, she did her best to cope.
Called to the kitchen by a tearful maidservant, she spent an uncomfortable half-hour trying to placate an irate Jean-Pierre. That was followed by an equally unsuccessful attempt to convince a twinklingly unrepentant Teddy that the exchange of salt for sugar was not a matter to be taken lightly by one so puffed up in his own esteem as her ladyship’s French chef. Next, she discovered, to her dismay, that the boy seemed to think that the proper way to dispose of dead rats was to put them in the beds of innocent maidservants. Mr. Ashley caught him red-handed at that revolting prank and promised to deal with the situation, but his methods must not have had much of an effect, for it was little more than an hour later that an agitated Paulson sent for Catheryn.
“I’m sure I didn’t know what to do, miss,” he said in an undertone as he guided her rapidly to the front saloon and pushed open the door. In front of the cold fireplace stood Captain Varling, his normally curly locks hanging straight and wet into his face and his blue superfine coat dripping water to the hearthstones. Catheryn stifled a grin and hurried forward.
“That wretched boy!” she exclaimed. “How did he manage this? For I’m sure that somehow he is responsible.”
“He’s responsible, all right,” growled the captain. “As to the how of it, it’s a simple child’s trick. He made a pouch of brown waxed paper, filled it with water, and launched it from an appropriately placed window.”
“Oh, just wait till I get my hands on him!”
“I’d enjoy a private moment or two with him myself.”
“I believe it, sir.” The clock on the mantlepiece caught her eye. “Good heavens! It’s after five. Dambroke will be home at any moment!”
“I look forward to seeing him,” Varling declared. “We were supposed to be dining together.”
“Oh, no! You mustn’t tell him. It will only widen the breach between them. Teddy is high-spirited and needs Dambroke’s attention, but not this way. This prank would earn him a thrashing for sure. Please, sir, you can’t really wish for that.”
“I suppose not,” he admitted with a rueful grin. “I’ve done it myself more than once and so perhaps have come by my just deserts. But I cannot dine with Dickon in this state.”
“My dear sir, you cannot even meet him in that state! We must contrive.” She rang for Morris, who suggested that the earl’s valet might help. “Of course,” she agreed. “Landon must bring him a change of clothes. He will know what is needed.” Morris nodded and would have gone, but the captain stopped him with a laugh.
“Here now, Miss Westering! You don’t seriously suggest that I dine with Dambroke wearing the man’s own coat!”
“Whyever not? You are of a size with him, are you not?”
“Aye, close enough. But he’ll know it’s his and want to know why the devil I’ve pinched it.”
“Begging your pardon, sir, but I don’t think he will.” Morris spoke in a properly deferential tone, but a gleam of pure devilment lurked in his eye. “Gentlemen dress much of a muchness to my way of thinking. Of course, my lord patronizes Weston, whilst you favor Scott, but I’ve heard him with my own ears tease you to try his tailor instead. Perhaps, if he asks, you could say you had taken his advice in that matter.”
Varling grinned. “We shall hope devoutly that he does not ask. We may be much the same size but I’ve not regained my full weight, so any coat of his will be a loose fit. He’d never believe it newly tailored, much less of Weston’s cut.”
Catheryn agreed but pointed out that it was their only chance, adding, “Teddy shall apologize for this, sir.”
“That scamp! You’ll be lucky if you find him. I hid for hours once after I made a direct hit.”
He was right. The boy was nowhere to be found, so she soon gave up the search and went to look for the countess and Tiffany, finding them in the yellow drawing room.
“Catheryn!” exclaimed Lady Dambroke. “Where have you been, child? You’ve just missed Richard and Captain Varling.” Hiding her relief, Catheryn inquired whether there was anything she could do for the countess before dinner. “No, thank you, dear. That is,” she added anxiously, “did you remind Paulson to send someone to Gilmer’s tomorrow to check on the ices?”
“Yes, ma’am. Morris will go. But you need not fret Gunter’s reputation is excellent, and I’m certain the ices will be produced at exactly the right moment. Now, if you don’t want me, I shall change for dinner.”
“I’ll come too,” Tiffany said. As they went up the stairs together, she whispered, “Mama still has the fidgets because you badgered her into inviting James Lawrence. It wasn’t necessary, Catheryn. Richard will be furious.”
“Nonsense. Here, come into my room for a moment. I want to talk to you.” She drew Tiffany inside and shut the door. “Now, I’m going to be blunt, Tiff. Are you still at all interested in Mr. Lawrence?”
The younger girl began to draw herself to her full height, but the effect was spoiled by reddening cheeks, and Catheryn’s chuckle put an end to the attempted snub. “Oh, Catheryn, you know I don’t care a snap for James anymore. I still don’t know if you were right about him, but I’m not in love with him, so it doesn’t signify.”
“Have you told him?”
“Why, he’s never asked me!”
“Well, he acts like a jealous lover. Which is why,” she added hastily over Tiffany’s rising indignation, “I got your mother to invite him. To let him see for himself.”
“See what?”
“Why, that you love another man, you idiotish child!”
“But I don’t! I mean … Catheryn, how dare you!”
The irrepressible chuckle rippled out once more. “How dare I, indeed? Anyone with something other than solid bone above the eyebrows could see what I see, if they but looked for it. You are head over ears in love with the hope of Stanthorpe, my girl. And don’t try to cozen me. I’ve seen too much.”
“That you have! Catheryn, you mustn’t say a word! He hasn’t … I mean, well, he treats me more like a sister than like one he intends to … oh, you know!”
“Indeed, but we needn’t worry about it now. First things first, which means nudging Mr. Persistent Lawrence out of the picture. And even that can wait till after dinner. I’m hungry.”
“You always are,” Tiffany laughed with a quick hug. I’m glad you ran away to us, Catheryn.”
“So am I,” Miss Westering agreed. A vision of a stern face with piercing blue eyes that could light with sudden laughter flashed through her mind, sending a flush to her cheeks. But there was no one to see, for Tiffany had gone. Scolding herself for foolishness beyond any yet displayed by her cousin, Catheryn turned her thoughts toward dinner.
Teddy did not appear at the table, but this circumstance seemed to cause neither his mother nor his sister the slightest qualm. The countess noted placidly that he had no doubt neglected, boylike, to inform them of his intention to dine across the way, but Catheryn knew he was not a guest at Lord Elman’s table. After animadverting at length on the subject of being forced to spend his mornings with a prig, a sapskull, and a tyrant, he would not willingly dine with them.
She told herself that she would not worry unless the boy failed to show up for breakfast, but at midnight, when she checked hi
s empty bedchamber for the third time, it occurred to her that he might have been locked out. Taking her candle, she made her way downstairs, going first to the garden door. She slipped the latch and opened it to look out. Immediately, there came the sound of a hesitant step on the gravel path.
“Morris?” A mere whisper, but she recognized the source all the same and felt a surge of relief.
“Teddy! Come here this minute, you wretched boy!” There was dead silence, and her voice took on a note of dangerous calm. “Edward, come here where I can see you. I am already displeased with you, and this foolishness is not like to mend matters. Show yourself at once, sir!”
Presently, a rather sheepish Teddy emerged from the darkness. His hands and face were grimy, and there was a rent in his coat. His blue eyes pleaded with her. “Are you really very angry, Cathy?”
“I am indeed. My palms are just itching to box your ears, young man. Come here to me.”
Reluctantly, he moved closer, eyeing her warily. “Please don’t. Is Richard angry, too?”
“He doesn’t know about it. We got Captain Varling all rigged out in one of his coats before he returned. You owe the captain an apology, Teddy. It was a wicked thing to do.”
An appreciative grin lit his face. “One of Richard’s own coats, eh? But that means Landon knows.”
“He won’t say anything.”
“Maybe.” Teddy clearly wasn’t convinced. “I’ll apologize to Tony all right, and thank him, too. I never meant it to be him, you know. He was just the first one by.”
“Never mind that,” she scolded. “You are supposed to be a gentleman, and gentlemen do not behave in such a reprehensible manner. In only a few days you’ve made Jean-Pierre threaten to give notice, put the maids in an uproar, and doused Captain Varling. What will you do next!”
He traced a pattern with his shoe. “I dunno. I’m sorry, Cathy. It’s just that there ain’t much to do.”
“Well, we must think of something. I simply won’t have time tomorrow or Friday to rescue you from any more scrapes.” He grinned at her but gave his fervent promise that he would try to behave. Shaking her head, Catheryn followed him upstairs. She didn’t doubt his good intentions, but with two full afternoons ahead of him…. She decided, at last, to enlist Dambroke’s aid.
Accordingly, she descended to the breakfast parlor at an early hour next morning, hoping to speak privately with him before Teddy came down to breakfast. She was not disappointed. The earl entered some moments later, attired in riding dress. He laid hat, whip, and gloves on a small table and sat opposite her. Since he looked to be in a pleasant frame of mind, she waited only until breakfast had been served and they were alone before plunging to the heart of the matter.
“I’ve a small favor to ask, sir, concerning Teddy.”
“I thought things had been ominously quiet on that front,” he smiled. “What’s he done now?”
“It’s not that,” she said hastily. “It’s only that his afternoons are free, and he is bored.”
“I’ll speak to Appleby. He can set the lad enough schoolwork to keep him occupied.”
“That’s not at all what I had in mind!” she exclaimed indignantly. “I thought it would be a good time for you to get to know him better. He’s seen very little of London, you know.”
“He is not meant to be on holiday.”
“But it would be educational!” She peeped through her lashes at him. “It’s a very historical city, my lord.”
He sighed. “You are determined upon this course?”
“Yes, sir,” she replied at her most demure.
“Baggage. Very well.”
“Thank you, sir. Today?” Her eyes danced.
He shrugged. “If you insist. It will be educational for both of us, I daresay.” He was as good as his word and, after a morning filled with errands for the countess, Catheryn was on hand to see Teddy climb proudly into the curricle. Her own afternoon was taken up by a steady stream of callers, including Ladies Prudence and Chastity, followed five minutes later by Mr. Caston.
Edmund smiled as he made his bow to the countess, but Catheryn thought the smile was more for Prudence, who stared with great concentration at the slim hands folded neatly in her lap. By the time the visitors rose to take their leave, Catheryn was certain Edmund was in love with Prudence and fairly certain the lady felt a tenderness for him. The discovery came as a bit of a shock, but the more she thought about it, the more she came to believe they might suit each other. Certainly, Aunt Agatha would be exhilarated by the idea of a duke’s daughter joining the family.
Dambroke and Teddy returned a little after five o’clock, both grinning. Catheryn thought privately that his lordship looked a little worn around the edges, but it was evident that they had enjoyed their afternoon.
“We saw the Tower, Cathy! I mean Cousin Cathy,” Teddy corrected with a flashing sidelong grin for Dambroke’s benefit. “And we saw the riders at Astley’s Amphitheater, and Richard took me to Manton’s Shooting Gallery! He even let me shoot a pistol. And I hit the wafer twice!”
“Rather tolerable shooting, I thought,” said the earl, responding to Catheryn’s mocking grin with his guilty smile.
“Certainly, sir. And prodigiously educational.”
The teasing note in her voice caused the boy to look doubtfully from one to the other. “But I learned a lot!”
Dambroke laughed and tweaked one of the brown curls. “To be sure you did, brat. Now, run along and get ready for your dinner. Not that he should be hungry,” he added as they watched the boy run upstairs. “I believe he’s been munching something or other since we left the house.”
“Did you truly enjoy your afternoon, sir?”
His eyes twinkled. “I did. Teddy’s a scamp, but he’s not unintelligent. Knows more than I do about the history of the Tower.”
“Ah, that explains Astley’s Amphitheater and Manton’s.”
He grinned at her air of vast wisdom, acknowledging a hit. “You are impertinent, Miss Westering.”
“Am I, sir?” But he would not be drawn again. He merely smiled and excused himself to change for dinner at Stanthorpe House, leaving her to a dreary meal with the others.
The day of the ball dawned bright and clear. Mary washed Catheryn’s hair and helped to put the finishing touches to her dress, an exquisite confection of sea-green silk fashioned with a flared skirt, tiny puff sleeves, and a square-cut neck. It was trimmed with old lace, a band of which encircled the high waist and fell in a paneled demitrain down the back. For accessories, she would wear white gloves, sea-green slippers, and her grandmother’s emerald necklace.
After a trying luncheon, during which the countess worried over one last-minute detail after another, Catheryn returned to her bedchamber to relax. Sunlight spilled across the carpet in much the same way it had done the day she arrived, but, as she leaned back against the door, she realized the room was no longer a guest chamber. It was hers. She had come to love it and to feel at home in it as she had never done in the bleak little room allotted to her at Caston Manor. For the first time since leaving Westering, she had a sense of belonging, for she loved the Dambroke family, from the countess to young Teddy.
Then, as she thought of another member, she tried to tell herself that love was certainly too strong a word, that perhaps fondness expressed it adequately, or affection. She straightened purposefully and, taking Mrs. Radcliffe’s novel from the nightstand where Tiffany had left it, curled up in the chair near the window and soon lost herself in Gothic complexities. Sometime later, her stomach gently suggested that it might be time for tea; so, laying the book aside, she splashed cold water on her face, smoothed her hair, and set out in search of sustenance, only to meet Teddy on the stair.
Rapidly taking in the tear-stained face, barely stifled sobs, and the fact that he was rubbing his backside, Catheryn came to the only possible conclusion. “Teddy!” At the sound of her voice, the boy cast aside any thought of his advanced years and dignity and flung himse
lf into her arms.
“He says I’m to leave for the Park in the morning!” he sobbed. “And it wasn’t my fault, Cathy, it wasn’t!”
“There, there, love,” she soothed. “What happened?”
He sniffed, his sobs diminishing. “He gave me the lie!”
“Not Dambroke!”
“No, that prune-faced prig, Elman!” He sniffed again and, recalling his dignity, pulled a little away from her. “He said nobody could culp ten wafers in a row from twenty paces, so I planted him a facer. Drew his cork, too,” he added, not without a touch of pride.
“But you said you only hit two wafers, Teddy.”
“Not me. Richard.”
“Oh.” She digested the implications of this simple statement. “Did you explain it to his lordship?”
“Well, only the bit about being called liar.” There was mute appeal in his eyes, and she realized he had taken the beating rather than confess that Dambroke’s skill with a pistol had been doubted.
“You should have told him, Teddy, but I understand why you didn’t. I’ll speak with him if you like.”
“You mustn’t tell him, Cathy! It wouldn’t make any difference anyway. He said I was not to fight, and I did. But, I don’t want to leave London!”
“I’ll do what I can, but I make no promises. Are you banished to your room without supper again?”