Felicia

by Leonora Blythe

  “No, no, David. It is something you had best repeat. Excuse me, Mama, but my temper is on a very short rein at the moment. Pray disregard any oaths that you may hear me utter.” He lapsed into an unhappy silence as he stared into the dancing flames of the fire.

  He had paid scant attention to his mother’s words of caution not to rush into proposing to Felicia, but the last hour spent in Lord Davenport’s company had forced him to conclude that it would be most unfair of him to say aught until Felicia had had time to enjoy her new life. Now doubts were assailing him, for Lord Davenport had made it quite clear that he intended presenting Felicia to Society. How could he declare himself and deny her the opportunity of having what every young lady coveted—the romance of a Season in London. Yet, if he bided his time, it was always possible that she would form an attachment for some unworthy whelp. He let out an oath.

  Lady Louisa looked at him anxiously, wondering what it was that was still bothering him. “I trust you left Lady Ormstead in one piece, Ian?” she asked lightly. There was something in his brooding expression that made her feel uneasy.

  “I found him on the doorstep,” David answered. “He had been quite unsuccessful in his attempt to wake up anyone in that house, even though he caused the devil of a commotion and had most of the neighbors complaining of the noise.” He smiled reassuringly at Lady Louisa, trying to allay her fears. He, too, was concerned about Lord Umber, for the black mood of despair he was presently suffering had descended suddenly in the midst of their supper. It was difficult to console him, not knowing the cause.

  “And well might she hide,” Lord Umber said suddenly, “for this is the last night she will ever rest easy. I was correct in my assumption, Mama. She was indeed responsible for Lady Felicia’s disappearance….” He broke off, rage choking him into speechlessness.

  David quickly broke in, sensing that Lord Umber’s behavior was far more disturbing to Lady Louisa than the actual story of Felicia’s plight would be. “The ugly truth is that Lady Felicia has spent the better part of today in Newgate prison because Lady Ormstead accused her of purse-snatching.”

  Lady Louisa sank back into the cushions as all the color drained from her cheeks. She felt strangely lightheaded as she absorbed this information, unwilling to believe her ears.

  “The poor girl. The poor, dear, sweet girl. It is hardly any wonder she was so distraught tonight.” With an effort she struggled into an upright position and fumbled for her purse. The room spun in front of her and, as she tried to focus on a low coffee table in front of her, she was suddenly aware of a pair of strong arms forcing her back on the chaise. Somewhere in the distance she could hear a bottle being uncorked and a quiet voice whispering instructions. Then the familiar odor of her smelling salts steadied her vision and the faintness that had threatened to overwhelm her receded.

  “That’s better,” she heard her son say. “She will be all right in a moment.”

  “I am sorry, Ian. It never occurred to me that she would react so. Indeed, I would have held back if I had known.”

  “She had to know sometime, David, so don’t be worrying yourself needlessly. And, I am sure my behavior affected her adversely.” He smiled ruefully. “My indisposition must be due to the combined effect of knowing that I must wait to declare my ‘honorable’ intentions to Lady Felicia, and thinking of Lady Ormstead. Mama,” he said as he patted her wrists lightly. “Mama, are you feeling better?”

  Lady Louisa nodded. “Yes, thank heavens. I am sorry to be such a wet goose. I don’t know what came over me. Please, David, continue.”

  “There is little else to say, except that I will settle the score with Lady Ormstead tomorrow.”

  Lord Umber broke in quickly as he saw an apprehensive look enter his mother’s eye. “There is no need to worry that I shall interfere, Mama. I have already given my word to Lord Davenport and David that I will stay well away.”

  “That is a relief,” Lady Louisa murmured faintly.

  “And,” David continued with a smile, “I will insure that she never attempts to see Lady Felicia again.”

  “Do you think she will listen to you?” Lady Louisa asked. “She sounds to me like a person who will do exactly as she wants and bully anyone who stands in her way.”

  “She will listen. Lord Davenport calls it blackmail, I merely regard it as tightening the purse-strings. You see, I control her late husband’s estate, and consequently have to approve all her major expenses….”

  “Call it what you will,” Lady Louisa laughed. “I approve of your plan entirely.”

  Seventeen

  Felicia woke the next morning feeling refreshed. The horror of the previous day was still with her, but the security of being in familiar surroundings was reassuring. She refused to think of her aunt—indeed she couldn’t do so without shaking—and David had been most insistent that she concentrate on the more positive happenings of the previous day. Especially on the fact that her grandfather wanted her to live with him.

  She tried to imagine what he would be like, but it was difficult as the face of Lord Umber kept intruding. If the truth were known, she would be far happier away from London, away from anything that would remind her of him. However, David had made it quite clear that her grandfather wanted to present her at Court and let the world know that he had found a part of his family he had given up for lost years ago.

  Well, she would do her best to please the old man, but she knew it would not be easy. Her heart was not ready for enjoyment of that kind.

  Yesterday, to keep her mind from the terrors of Newgate, she had spent hours imagining what life with Lord Umber would be like. She had fantasized at great length about the richness of their life together and how, between them, they would expand his charity program to all parts of England.

  This morning she could laugh at those dreams, but she did not discount them, for one day she might well find herself in a position to give help on her own.

  The usual morning sounds of the giggling housemaids and whistling footmen all busying themselves about their chores seemed immensely satisfying today, and she lay back in her bed and listened to them with pleasure. How much we all take for granted, she mused, when in reality everything we do or see should be treated as something special.

  The door opened quietly, and Lady Louisa’s maid peeked in. “Good morning, miss, Madam was wondering if you felt well enough to join her for some hot chocolate. She is in her bedroom.”

  “Of course I do, Lucy. Tell her I will be right in.” Quickly she swung her legs onto the floor and wriggled her toes into a pair of fur-lined slippers. Reaching over, she picked up her robe, which was on a near-by chair, slipped it on, tying the belt neatly around her waist. She hurried along the cold corridor and tapped lightly on Lady Louisa’s door before entering. “Good morning, Lady Louisa,” she said smiling. “I cannot tell you how good it is to see you.”

  “My dear Felicia,” Lady Louisa fluttered. “The very sight of you looking so well makes me feel immeasurably happier. I swear, if I had not known that you had been through a terrible ordeal, I would never have guessed.”

  Felicia laughed. “I am just following David’s orders. He instructed me to think of all the nice things that have happened to me. And…and . . .” she paused before continuing diffidently, “you certainly have been the nicest.”

  “You flatter me, child. You have been far more beneficial for me than I for you. But, I am determined not to argue today. There is much to be done.”

  “I…I know, but I am finding it difficult to realize that I do indeed have a home and a grandfather. Actually, I am quite terrified at the prospect.”

  “As I suspected you might be, Felicia, and so, if you agree, I thought to invite Lord Davenport to have luncheon with us so that you may meet him without too much strain. And, if you like, you can stay here for a while longer and visit with your grandfather as much as you want, until you feel ready to move in with him.”

  Felicia sat down thoughtfully. The temptati
on to stay was enormous, for she would certainly see Lord Umber. But as she doubted the suitability of that idea, she decided regretfully that it would be best to make a clean and swift break. “I…I…think, I would prefer to…I mean…maybe it would be best for me to send word to grandfather to expect me this afternoon. It is not that I don’t want to stay here, Lady Louisa…”

  “Say no more, Felicia. I do understand. And it is not as though you are moving to the other end of England. I shall make it my business to see as much of you as possible. I am sure Lord Davenport will not object.”

  “Thank you,” Felicia said gratefully. “I know it is silly to feel apprehensive, for David assures me that he is quite a mellow person now and is most anxious for me to live with him.”

  “I shall order the carriage for you at three then. That should give you plenty of time to ready yourself. I will ask Lucy to supervise the packing of your trunks.”

  “And that will give you plenty of time to tally up how much I must owe you for all the lovely gowns you have bought me,” Felicia teased. “I suspect that once I tell grandfather about them he will insist on paying you back every farthing.”

  “Away with you, you nonsensical child, I would not dream of appearing to be a penny-pinching person. And, if you don’t mention it, he will never think to ask. Men are all the same.”

  Except your son, Felicia thought as she returned to her room. She dressed quickly in front of the fire, determinedly pushing away thoughts of Lord Umber. Instead, she started to make a mental list of those she should bid farewell. Her toilette complete, she hurried downstairs to start this task.

  The first person she encountered was Sims and, having thanked him prettily for the many kindnesses he had shown her, she turned to go downstairs to the kitchen. As she did so, the sound of Lord Umber’s voice reached her. She stood still, unable to stop the sudden tremble in her knees, and watched him descend into the hallway. He looked tired and irritable, and she wondered if he had had a late night. She had been secretly disappointed by his absence last night when David had restored her to Lady Louisa, for she had taken it as an indication that he had not been worried over her disappearance. So, feigning a casualness she did not feel, she stepped forward to greet him.

  “Ah! Lord Umber. The very person I was looking for. I want to bid you farewell, for as you may know I go to my grandfather’s today.”

  Lord Umber stared down at her, unable to believe that she was actually standing in front of him with an attitude of total unconcern and looking none the worse for her adventure. All night he had been haunted by dreams of the terrible things that could have happened to her had David not rescued her. Something in him snapped and all the pent-up frustration of the last twenty-four hours burst out of him like water gushing from a burst dam.

  Ignoring her outstretched hand he said in clipped, angry tones, “Do you realize the anxiety Mama suffered? Have you any conception of the havoc you wrought here yesterday by your thoughtlessness?”

  “But…but you don’t understand,” Felicia started to say.

  “No, I don’t, Lady Felicia,” Lord Umber interrupted. “All I can hope is that your grandfather will drum some sense into you. And may the first lesson he teaches you be that you never, never walk abroad alone. Of all the empty-headed actions I have ever heard of…why…why that has to rank as one of the more inane. Whatever were you doing in Blackfriars would be a question I would ask you if I were your grandfather.” He bowed perfunctorily. “As you say, Lady Felicia, good-bye.” He turned and stalked out of the front door, unaware of the gaping countenance of the footman who had witnessed his outburst.

  Hurt and bewildered by his attitude, Felicia ran upstairs and sought the sanctuary of her own room. Dismissing a chambermaid who was putting the final pieces of tissue paper in her trunk, she threw herself on the bed and gave way to the tears Lord Umber’s words had induced. Finally, exhausted, she rose and studied her face in the mirror. Fortunately, apart from the reddened eyes, there was no other visible sign of how she spent the last ten minutes. Moving over to the washstand, she quickly splashed some cold water into the basin and dabbed her eyes carefully.

  She felt a strange calm, almost a relief. In many ways it would be easier to leave Lady Louisa’s now, knowing that Lord Umber thought so little of her. If she tried hard, maybe she could put her feelings for him to one side and possibly, one day, she would find that she neither ached to be near him, nor remembered the way one side of his mouth always crinkled when he smiled at one of her sallies. It was foolish to be so dramatic as to suppose one’s heart broke, hers was merely cracked. She would come about, she had no choice.

  She took her leave of Lady Louisa quickly, neither of them wanting to prolong the unhappy moment. Dr. Ross, who had visited them earlier that morning, had left some medicine for Lady Louisa in case she needed something to steady her nerves. He had also spent a long time with Felicia, drawing out of her every single detail of her ordeal. It had not been pleasant for her, but as he had said, it was far better to talk about something that unpleasant than to try and blank it from the mind.

  She smiled appreciatively to herself at his philosophy. He was an eccentric young doctor, but, at least for her, effective.

  *

  “I have been here four days, Rufus, four whole days, and I feel as though I am in another world,” Felicia whispered forlornly to the Irish wolfhound at her feet. The steady thumping of his tail on the soil indicated the intense pleasure he was experiencing as she stroked his neck. She stopped fondling him for a moment, but resumed when he whined and rested his head appealingly in her lap. “One more time, Rufus, and then I must go inside for Lady Louisa will be here shortly.”

  She was sitting in the small garden at the back of her grandfather’s impressive house in Eaton Square. The warm, morning sunlight filtered through the trees, casting prancing shadows on the new grass. It was an idyllic spot for daydreaming, yet Felicia’s sad expression was a sharp contrast to the brightness of the day.

  Her grandfather was a dear old man, and she found it difficult to believe that he had been capable of turning his youngest son out for marrying beneath him. She had not thought that she would like him for that very reason, but she had been wrong.

  He was anxious to insure she enjoyed herself, but as yet had been unable to adjust his lifestyle to incorporate one as young as she. He had been a widower too long to be entirely at ease in a woman’s company, preferring to spend his leisure hours with his cronies at one of his clubs.

  Felicia understood this, but after the activity of Lady Louisa’s household, she still felt lost and lonely. Her main companion was Rufus who had adopted her the moment she had arrived. Even her grandfather had been amazed by the dog’s attitude. In four days the dog had become her devoted slave and closest confidant.

  There had been no word from Lord Umber, and she had not really expected any. She had refrained from asking David for news when he had visited her, and he had not offered any. In fact, the reason for his visit had been to dissipate any fears she might still harbor about her aunt. He had come to report the outcome of his interview with her.

  “She has already left for Graystones and will not return to London ever again.”

  “However did you persuade her to go?” Felicia asked. “She was quite adamant about spending the Season here, and even more determined to see Wendy safely settled.”

  “She succeeded in the latter. I believe an elderly gentleman took a fancy to your cousin, and the wedding is set for July. Someone by the name of Brown.”

  “A Mr. Brown?” Felicia queried. “Whoever is that? He does not sound as though his consequence is very large.”

  David laughed. “No, but in the circumstances I am certain that Lady Ormstead was happy enough to accept his offer, as I do not think that her daughter will receive another.”

  “And…and you are quite sure that I will never have to see her again?”

  “Absolutely,” David assured her. “You see, my law firm contr
ols her late husband’s estate. It’s a small account and one that I have never bothered with before; Adams has always approved every expense in the past. As of today, however, I have put myself in charge, and she will have to seek my approval for any monies she may find herself in need of.”

  Felicia clapped her hands in delight. “So you would know immediately if she asks for a large sum of money, or if she planned to come to London?”

  “Exactly. I think you can safely assume, Lady Felicia, that unless you want to visit her at Graystones, you need never see her again. And Wendy’s marriage to Mr. Brown will insure that she never mingles in the society that you will be in….”

  “I am tempted to feel sorry for her, David, for it sounds as though she will lead a very dull life. Not a bit as she imagined it would be—full of parties and fun.”

  “Life seldom works out as we hope,” David replied, “but sooner or later we seem to adjust to what we have.”

  “You are right, of course,” Felicia said quickly. “And I suppose I am the best example.”

  He had taken his leave shortly after, and Felicia had spent a miserable hour wondering if David’s last remark had been a veiled hint about Lord Umber.

  She felt Rufus stiffen and looked up quickly to see who was approaching. It was Lady Louisa. Commanding Rufus to be still, she rose from her seat and warmly embraced her former employer.

  Lady Louisa looked at Felicia sharply. There were dark rings under her eyes, and her cheeks had lost their rosy glow. “What ails you, child?” she chided gently. “You do not seem up to par.”

  “I am well enough,” Felicia replied ruefully. “Although I do miss living at Berkeley Square. Grandfather tries to make me feel at home, but this really is such a masculine house.”

  “You must visit me often then, Felicia,” Lady Louisa replied gently. “And see if you cannot persuade Lord Davenport to let you redecorate some of the rooms here. That should help a lot.”