The Toast of the Town

by Alice Chetwynd Ley

  ‘Dr. Graham?’ Georgy flung up her head defiantly. ‘Well, you may as well know, Sue, that I did encourage Jock Graham.’ She laughed mirthlessly as she saw the shocked look on her sister-in-law’s gentle face. ‘And you may as well know, too — for there’ll be others to tell you, if I don’t — that I did it solely for a wager I entered into with Freddy!’

  Susan could make no answer to this for a time, but sat staring at Georgy as though she doubted the evidence of her ears.

  ‘You needn’t look so shocked — it only seemed a bit of harmless sport at the time. And, anyway,’ went on Georgy defensively, ‘he deserved taking down a peg! You surely can’t have forgotten the abominable way he treated me over that collision — I swore then I would get even with him, and now I have!’

  ‘But surely the punishment is out of all proportion to the offence,’ said Susan, slowly, a troubled expression in her eyes. ‘You know, Georgy, I have been thinking for some time that — that he was falling in love with you: and I felt sorry for him, because I know from experience that it’s a very melancholy thing to be in love with someone who doesn’t care for you.’

  ‘Well, you need feel no more pity for him,’ replied Georgy, with set lips. ‘He has quite recovered now from any tenderness he may have formerly felt towards me — he knows about the wager, and holds me in the utmost contempt. I assure you.’

  ‘Did you tell him about the wager yourself?’ asked Susan, trying to fathom Georgy’s manner.

  ‘No. Henry Curshawe did, in a fit of spite. Freddy was fool enough to let him and Pam into the secret some days since — if you recall, I told you that I was mad with Freddy for betraying a confidence of mine, though I wouldn’t tell you precisely what it was.’

  Susan nodded. ‘Yes, I do remember about that, because it worried me at the time.’

  ‘Well, after all that happened last night, I think Mr. Curshawe feels he owes me a grudge — though heaven knows, I swear to you, Sue, I never once encouraged that man! — anyway, when I was out walking this morning, we all chanced to come together — that’s to say, Dr. Graham ‘ She stumbled a little over the name, and Susan eyed her sharply. ‘Freddy and Henry Curshawe’ She broke off, shrugging her shoulders and Susan could see how close the tears were.

  ‘That was when Curshawe told — told about the wager,’ she concluded, shakily. ‘Anyway, talking pays no toll! I dare say George won’t wish to remain here, if Curshawe leaves for Town this afternoon. Perhaps he will drive me back tomorrow.’

  She bent over and kissed Susan warmly on the cheek. ‘I’m sorry, Sue — I must go away. I can’t stay here — now. But I’ll be back again before your confinement, trust me.’

  Susan realized that Georgy’s mind was quite made up, and there was no hope of changing it. As Georgy had expected, her brother was eager to return to Town on the heels of his affianced, and so it was settled that he should take Georgy back with him on the following day.

  A pile of invitations to balls, routs, masquerades and evening parties of every description awaited Georgiana on her return. She proceeded to accept them all, plunging headlong into a fever of social activity which left her no time for thought. She made the usual discovery that she had nothing to wear to these occasions, in spite of the contrary evidence of several overflowing wardrobes standing against the walls of her bedchamber.

  Pulling out gown after gown, and flinging each one pettishly down, she overwhelmed her maid Stevens by presenting the girl with most of the tumbled finery before setting out for Bond St., with the intention of starting afresh.

  ‘Lord love us!’ exclaimed Stevens, her bright eyes almost popping out of her head as she picked up her haul after her mistress had gone. ‘If Miss Georgy in’t in a powerful paddy, indeed to goodness! But there, it’s an ill wind blows no good to nobody, yes, it is indeed!’

  Frequent forays in Bond St. over the next few days did a great deal to repair Georgy’s humour. No woman can entirely resist the restoring influence of something new to wear. Moreover, she was not the only one whose spirits benefited from her shopping spree. Madame Picot, proprietress of the exclusive dress shop which Georgy patronized, came very near to dancing a jig as order succeeded order; and her habitual expression of having a rather bad smell under her nose gave way to something almost approaching enthusiasm.

  Georgy left Madame Picot’s shop one day and turned to walk towards her carriage, which had been obliged by a press of traffic to wait for her lower down the street. She had taken only a few steps when she almost bumped into three ladies who were coming towards her. She halted momentarily to apologize, and then recognized two of them with surprise.

  It was Mrs. Hume and her daughter Anne. They seemed equally surprised to Georgiana. They presented her to the third lady, who turned out to be Mrs. Hume’s sister.

  ‘We have been staying with my sister for the last few days,’ explained Mrs. Hume. ‘She lives in the village of Islington, and she is for ever asking me to visit her, but when my husband is at home, I can’t spare the time, you know. However, Anne wanted a change, so I thought I would bring her.’

  ‘I dare say your nephew will miss you both,’ said Georgy, overcoming a reluctance to refer to Dr. Graham.

  ‘As to that, I am returning this afternoon, for my husband will be home in a few days. But it was John’s doing that we came at all, wasn’t it Anne?’ She looked at her daughter for confirmation, and Anne gave a little nod. ‘He insisted that he’d be quite all right with Mrs. Chiltem to look after him — she helps me with the housekeeping, you know.’

  ‘Can I take you anywhere?’ asked Georgy. ‘My carriage is waiting lower down the street.’

  ‘Oh, no, thank you, Miss Eversley. You are very good, but we are just amusing ourselves, strolling round the Town. We’ve been in the linen drapers’ in the City, and now my sister wanted to show me the fashionable quarter. But we will walk with you to your carriage — that is, if you’ve nothing else you wish to do.’

  Georgy accepted their escort, but the pavement was fairly crowded, so they were obliged to walk in pairs, Anne went ahead with her aunt, and Georgy followed with Mrs. Hume.

  ‘Have you been long in London, Miss Eversley? I had no notion you had left Fulmer Towers, for John did not mention it, though he goes there most days now, because Mrs. Eversley’s confinement is so close.’

  ‘I left over a week since,’ replied Georgy. ‘Tell me, how is my sister-in-law? She was very well when last I heard from her.’

  ‘She continues so, my dear ma’am — John says that she is a natural mother, and should have no difficulty at all in presenting your brother with a large, healthy family. You can be quite easy about her, I assure you. And my husband will be home in a few days in good time for the confinement, so then you’ll know she is in the best possible hands,’ concluded Mrs. Hume, proudly. ‘He has brought nearly a hundred babies into the world, ma’am! I always tell John he has a long way to go, yet, to keep pace with his uncle; but my husband thinks very well of John, very well indeed.’

  Georgy did not know quite what to say to this, but she tried to look her approval. Mrs. Hume’s glance travelled ahead to Anne, and a worried frown showed between her eyes.

  ‘It’s a pity,’ she said, with a sigh. ‘My husband and I would give anything if John and our little Anne were to make a match of it. He’s such a fine young man — we’ve known him since babyhood, and we understand the best and the worst of him, which is more than most parents can possibly hope for in a prospective son-in-law. But I don’t know how it is’ — she sighed again — ‘he doesn’t seem to regard her as anything but a sister. I fancied he was beginning to, when he had been with us a little time, but lately he scarcely seems to notice her existence. My poor little girl! I fear she’s allowed herself to hope — but I mustn’t burden you with my troubles, Miss Eversley. Only that was why I thought it might be no bad thing to fetch Anne away for a bit — she is to stay on for a while with my sister, after I return home. And my nephew will most likely be g
one before she comes home again, for he won’t stay long once my husband is back. Best for Anne, perhaps, if they are parted until he knows his mind in the business. This visit will give her thoughts a new direction, too. Indeed, it is doing so already, for my sister’s children are very much of Anne’s age, and they are constantly planning some new diversion for her. Tonight they are all to go to the play, and tomorrow there’s to be a visit to Ranelagh Gardens. I must own, she seems much more cheerful now than when we arrived, so perhaps it will all blow over. I dare say it is a great mistake for parents to make up their minds whom children will marry, for such things very rarely turn out as one expects.’

  Georgy would scarcely have known what kind of reply to make, but she was spared the necessity because they had now reached the carriage and caught up with Anne and her aunt. Good-byes were spoken, and Georgy issued a warm invitation to the Humes to visit her at any time in Clarges St. She did not think it would be taken up, however, because Anne Hume, although quite friendly in her manner, was not cordial. Even if her cousin’s lack of interest in her had not quite broken her heart, thought Georgy, evidently she could not entirely forgive the woman she knew to be responsible for it.

  Georgy took some melancholy thoughts into the carriage with her. There was no end to the mischief that had been done by her ill-chosen wager with Freddy, and it was no use blaming anyone but herself for it. She had been too concerned with her own amusement, too careless of the feelings of everyone else. What had Jock Graham said? ‘A heartless flirt, without conscience or scruple.’ Part of it was true.

  She entered the house in a sombre mood. A footman approached her as she was starting to climb the stairs to her own room.

  ‘Lord Pamyngton is waiting for you in the small parlour, madam.’

  Georgiana stared. Pam here? She had not expected to see him in Town just yet. When she had left Fulmer Towers, he had said that he meant to stay on and try to sustain Hugh over the time of Susan’s confinement. She shrugged; oh, well, everyone had the liberty to change a plan. But she hoped that he had not come away on her account. At the moment, the last thing she wanted was to have a lovesick suitor hanging about her. She smiled ruefully, realizing that this was scarcely fair to Pam. He had always wooed her in the most lighthearted fashion, almost as if it were simply a game to him. That was why she had found his attentions less irksome than those of others — well, of most others. There were some men, of course, whose notion of wooing a girl was to hurl insults at her. She smiled reminiscently. then sighed as she turned in the direction of the parlour.

  Pamyngton came to his feet as she entered. He was wearing a dark coat which suited his fair skin and hair, and deepened the blue of his eyes. There was elegance here, she thought suddenly, and it was matched by an equal elegance of mind. She greeted him, and expressed her surprise at seeing him in London. ‘I thought you meant to stay and cheer Hugh,’ she said.

  ‘Radley is there, and your younger brother,’ he replied. ‘Not to mention your Aunt Lavinia.’

  Georgy grimaced. ‘Oh, Aunt Lavinia! I dare say she will drive him mad! I know she affects me in that way.’

  ‘I think he will do well enough. Anyway, Buckinghamshire lost all charm for me when you decided to leave it.’

  She did not want any remarks of this kind, and hastened to change the subject, saying the first thing that came into her head.

  ‘Who do you think I met just now, in Bond St.? Dr. Hume’s wife and daughter — they are staying with a relative in Islington.’

  He raised his brows in polite interest. ‘Miss Hume is a pretty little creature,’ he said. ‘I fancy she’s sweet on that cousin of hers. It would be a suitable match.’

  ‘I suppose so.’ Georgy’s tone was flat. ‘How long have you been in Town, Pam?’

  ‘I arrived today, and lost no time in presenting myself at your door, as you see,’ he answered lightly. ‘I was hoping that perhaps you might care to drive out somewhere with me this afternoon, as the weather is fine.’

  ‘Oh, no, I’m sorry, I can’t — I have an appointment with my hairdresser.’

  He surveyed the glowing glory of her hair.

  ‘Does he hope to improve it?’ he asked, with a quizzical smile. ‘Unhappy man! He has an impossible task!’

  ‘You are a shameless flatterer!’ said Georgy severely.

  ‘No. I only speak the truth.’ He gave her a serious look. ‘You have beautiful hair, my dear Georgy.’

  ‘Oh, stuff! It’s of no account in my family, you know — we all have it.’

  ‘But it is only in the females that it is so devastating,’ he said, significantly.

  She was a shade embarrassed by his manner. He often paid her compliments, but not usually in so serious a vein. He sensed her uneasiness, and changed the subject.

  ‘By the way, there’s an invitation to Lady Routledge’s soirée among my correspondence,’ he said, easily. ‘I notice it is for this evening. Will you by any chance be going? If so, perhaps you will allow me to escort you?’

  ‘Oh, yes, I can scarcely refuse Lady Routledge. She was such a close friend of Mama’s, you know. There’s to be some new Italian singer — but I fear it will be a tedious affair, when all is said! You will hardly wish to go’

  ‘On the contrary,’ he replied, quietly. ‘I wish to go very much. It will not be tedious to me, I assure you.’

  CHAPTER 17

  Lady Routledge’s Soirée

  Whatever Pamyngton may have felt about Lady Routledge’s soiree, Georgiana found it every bit as boring as she had expected. The Italian singer had a good voice, but she accompanied her songs by a series of affected gestures which went very ill with her gross figure. Georgy was hard put to it not to laugh. Indeed at one point, happening to catch the eye of a sixteen-year old boy who had not yet returned to school because he had just recovered from chicken-pox, she did dissolve into helpless giggles. This drew down a severe reprimand on the unlucky schoolboy; but paradoxically, the incident made him Georgy’s slave for the rest of the evening.

  Pamyngton was at her side whenever he could manoeuvre it, but as both of them had so many acquaintances there, this was not as often as he could have wished. On one occasion when they were separated, Georgy slipped into a vacant chair among a group towards the back of the room. The Italian singer had just embarked on yet another song and Georgy felt there was a distinct advantage in not being too near the front to watch the performance. Evidently there were others in the room who were also able to resist the delights of the entertainment offered them, for Georgy observed several people in the chairs in front of her who had their heads together in animated conversation.

  Her attention was suddenly caught by the sound of her own name coming from two ladies who were sitting directly before her. She had not paid them any particular attention before, but now she studied their profiles and made the discovery that one of them was Mrs. Curshawe. As they made very little attempt to moderate their voices, she could not avoid hearing most of what they were saying. As she listened, her indignation rose.

  ‘ … not at all a proper way for an unmarried girl to behave, whatever privileges she may fancy birth and fortune allow her. Truth to tell, my dear Mrs. Holder, I was vastly relieved when I could bring my Caroline away from what I can only consider an undesirable influence; though naturally I’m sorry to say such a thing of Caroline’s prospective sister-in-law.’

  ‘Young people today though, ma’am, have not the strict sense of decorum which you and I were taught when we were young. There is a wildness — most deplorable! I’m sure for my part I cannot understand what they would be at!’ A certain relish entered the speaker’s tone. ‘You say she was flirting abominably with every man in sight? Well, that is nothing new for that young lady, Mrs. Curshawe, as anyone knows who has been about a little in the world of fashion.’

  ‘No, but it was the particular manner of it, ma’am. My poor Henry — I wouldn’t say this to anyone else, but I know I can rely on your discretion — he was quit
e bewitched, and I doubt if he’ll recover for a long time. You know what a steady, serious-minded young man he is.’ Her companion nodded. ‘Well, she led him on to make her an offer of marriage, which, of course, she had not the slightest intention of accepting; and then she so taunted him that afterwards he almost challenged my Lord Pamyngton to a duel — though I did not know of this until after we had left Buckinghamshire.’

  Mrs. Folder’s nose twitched with interest, but she gave a shocked exclamation.

  ‘I rely on you, of course, dear ma’am, not to say anything of this to anyone else,’ went on Mrs. Curshawe.

  ‘Oh my dear Mrs. Curshawe, I shall not breathe a syllable, you may depend! But I suppose your son would have fought Lord Pamyngton because he is the favoured suitor? The whole town predicts that he will win Georgiana Eversley in the end.’

  ‘There was more to it than that,’ said Mrs. Curshawe, darkly, ‘though I do not know the whole. You can well imagine that my Henry would not wish to talk of the affair. But that is only a part of what went on. There was some young doctor down there, who was attending Hugh Eversley’s wife — she is soon to be confined you know ‘

  ‘Ah, Beau Eversley!’ sighed Mrs. Holder. ‘Now there’s a handsome man if you like! But before his marriage his amours were the talk of the town, you know, so evidently it runs in the family! But don’t let me interrupt you, ma’am — you were telling me about some young man — a doctor, I think you said?’

  ‘Yes, a doctor,’ repeated Mrs. Curshawe. ‘And you would have thought that someone like that, in a totally different walk of life, might have been safe from the lady’s attentions. But no, such is evidently her vanity, that she must be trying to enslave every man! It seems she laid a wager with her younger brother — as wild as the rest of them I can assure you — that she would bring this poor young man to her feet before she left the country for Town.’

  ‘And did she succeed?’ asked her neighbour in the tone of one who was getting rather better entertainment than she had hoped for at a mere musical evening.