by Joan Smith
Myra had to straighten her out on that score.
“He was full of mischief. Did you not hear him baiting Dunny? He was very upset, but trying to hide it. His pride, you know. Griffin always had a deal of pride. He is trying to assuage his grief by filling his house with girls, to make me jealous. Alice will tell us how he behaves. He invited her so she would run home to me with all the details. As if I care a hoot."
Alice, listening, thought there might be a soupçon of truth in what her sister said. Griffin was not taking his rejection so well as he pretended. That angry slur about Myra's hypocrisy revealed a lingering rancor.
Alice went up to her room to plan how to outshine Lady Sara and Sukey Sutton. Griffin would have more than a dinner party to entertain them. There would be routs and riding and perhaps even a ball over the next few days. Lady Sara and Sukey would be at Mersham twenty-four hours a day, working their charms on Griffin, while she would only be there on those more formal occasions when she was invited. Tomorrow evening she would see how Griffin behaved with all his ladies.
The Newbolds had no invitation for the next evening, but they were, in fact, dining out that evening. Alice made her toilette and went with them. The evening seemed to last forever, and during the whole four hours, she scarcely thought of anything but Griffin's house party. She wondered when Lady Sara and Sukey were arriving. London was not far. They might be there for lunch, and have a whole afternoon's head start on winning Griffin.
She was put out of her misery the next morning. Mrs. Newbold received a note from Lady Griffin, asking if she could spare Alice to her for a few days, to help entertain Griffin's guests. Mrs. Newbold, she was sure, realized the delicacy of the situation. Griffin would feel uncomfortable calling at Newbold to pick Alice up for all the pending outings. And since Sukey Sutton was a special friend of Alice, she made sure the girls would like to be together. She mentioned what clothing would be useful, and suggested Alice have her mount sent to Mersham as well.
Mrs. Newbold read the letter to Alice, fully expecting the girl to set her jaw against the plan. “A nuisance for you, when we have the duke here, but I do wish you would go along with it, Sal. It will keep Griffin from pouncing in on us every time we turn around."
Alice could scarcely believe her luck. She hid her pleasure, for she did not want her mama to suspect her feelings for Griffin.
“If you think it will help, Mama, I have no objection. I should like to spend some time with Sukey."
“That is exactly who you will spend your time with. I wager Lady Griffin has already arranged a match between Griffin and Lady Sara. This is a pretext for them to get to know each other better. She would not want Lady Sara to come alone. It would look so very particular, especially if something comes up to scotch the match. There is no saying with Griffin. The lad has some odd kicks in his gallop. He will drag poor Lady Sara off to Africa to be eaten alive by cannonballs."
Alice agreed, yet it was those odd kicks that she particularly liked in him. He was a little different from other men—more adventurous, more dashing. She hurried off to begin choosing outfits to take to Mersham.
Chapter Fourteen
No specific hour had been set for Alice's arrival. She did not want to appear eager and arrive too early, yet she did not want to miss a minute of the fun. Myra took the visit in dislike, and was disgruntled all morning.
“He has a lot of gall, expecting Alice to entertain his guests for him. Dunny and I wanted her to drive out with us this afternoon."
'Yes, by Jove, if you are to entertain anyone, you ought to entertain us,” Dunsmore said supportively, then bit his lip when his beloved glared at him.
“We do not need entertaining, Dunny,” Myra told him. “We can entertain ourselves. We shall drive past Mersham and watch for Lady Sara's arrival."
“I would not give him the satisfaction,” Mrs. Newbold said.
She was beginning to get the awful idea that Myra regretted her choice. It was imperative to remove her from Griffin's ken at once. “What we ought to do is return to London. There are a hundred things I could be doing there, and you, too, Duke. I daresay you ought to be doing something about those Corn Laws you are always talking about."
“By Jove!” he exclaimed eagerly, though it was not the Corn Laws that urged him to London. He would have been as happy to go to Brighton, or Bath, or anywhere that Griffin was not.
“Oh, do let us go!” Myra exclaimed. “I cannot think why we ever came home in the first place."
“What about me?” Alice asked in alarm, seeing the visit to Mersham fade before her very eyes.
“You go to Griffin's party, and hitch a drive back to London with Miss Sutton when the party is over,” Mrs. Newbold said. “You will know by then if Griffin offered for Lady Sara.” A quick peep told her Myra's cheeks did not blanch at the idea of some other lady nabbing Griffin. It was just pique and boredom that ailed her.
It was finally settled that Alice would go to Mersham at five o'clock, arriving in time to make her toilette for the evening. As Newbold was all abustle with packing and canceling social engagements, she could not get away earlier.
Her mama said, “Be sure you say we are leaving tomorrow morning, Sal, for I told Lady Griffin we are dining out this evening. If she asks, but she won't, tell her we are dining with our cousins at Headcorn. She does not visit them; she will never know the difference."
It chanced that Alice arrived at the same hour as her friend, Miss Sutton, and her mama, who was chaperoning her. The girls greeted each other enthusiastically at the doorway before entering. Sukey had taken terrific pains with her toilette. Rice powder bleached the smattering of freckles across her nose. She had had her red curls cut à la victime, and looked quite ravishing in a new pomona green traveling suit.
“I could not believe my eyes when Mama received the note, for we scarcely know the Griffins,” she said to Alice. “I know this was your doing. Thank you ever so much. London was all abuzz when Myra's engagement to the duke was announced. Everyone hoped Griffin would return to town, but this is much better. Is Lady Sara here yet?"
“I have no idea. I just arrived myself. The greatest luck, Sukey. Lady Griffin has invited me to stay here for the whole party."
Mrs. Sutton, a handsome lady who gave some idea how her daughter would look in twenty years, called the girls to order and took them inside, where Griffin and Lady Sara awaited them. The cunning Lady Sara had arrived before luncheon, and was already familiar with the running of the household. At five and twenty, she did not feel the necessity of a chaperone for a visit to her godmother's house.
She was a tall brunet, rather in Lady Griffin's own style, but cleverer, and with considerably more town bronze. She fancied herself a trifle “blue,” which, perhaps, accounted for her still being on the shelf at a quarter of a century.
She greeted the new arrivals graciously. “Lady Griffin has just gone abovestairs to begin her toilette. I shall play hostess for Griffin. Allow me to welcome you to Mersham, ladies,” she said, with a proprietary gleam in her handsome green eyes. “You will want to freshen up before having a glass of sherry. You are in the blue suite, Mrs. Sutton. A delightful room, with Chinese wallpaper. And you, Sukey, are next door. We have put you in the same wing, Alice, for I know you two giddy girls will want to be close to each other. You are just across the hall from Sukey. I shall give you the grand tour tomorrow morning."
“I have known Mersham Abbey forever,” Alice replied in confusion.
“Welcome to Mersham,” Griffin said, shaking the ladies’ hands. He even shook Alice's, which she found rather odd. She sensed that he was ill at ease in his role as host. Having left England at a young age, he was not completely familiar with his duties.
The new guests went upstairs, where they made short shrift of washing up. “Has she had an offer from him already?” Mrs. Sutton snorted. “One would think so, to judge by her forthcoming manner."
“She always pushes too hard,” Sukey explained. “That is th
e only reason she has not nabbed a fellow yet, for she is very pretty and has a huge fortune."
“Griffin is not interested in the blunt, or he would not have offered for Myra Newbold,” Mrs. Sutton said. “No offense, Alice. I consider you quite as another daughter."
“No, Griffin is not a fortune hunter,” Alice assured them.
The ladies were back downstairs before the cat could shake its tail. Lady Sara, sitting beside Griffin on the sofa and admiring his South American trophies to the top of her bent, expressed astonishment at the speed of their return.
“Did the servants not put water in your rooms? Fie, Griffin,” she said with a playful tap on his wrist, “your servants are falling into bad habits."
“There was plenty of water,” Mrs. Sutton said. “As we will be changing for dinner so soon, we did not see the need of a bath."
“Would you like tea or wine, ma'am?” Griffin asked.
“The Madeira is excellent,” Lady Sara said, lifting a glass and sipping. “It is a wonderfully passionate wine. Papa has some of this same vintage put down. It will last a hundred and fifty years. Imagine!"
Mrs. Sutton asked for sherry. Sherry was poured, and the group settled in for some chat. Lady Sara had ascertained the schedule of pending events, and enumerated them for the guests. “A quiet evening tonight, as you will all be tired from travel. We thought some riding tomorrow morning, and perhaps a trip into Headcorn in the afternoon for the girls to see the shops. Griffin has arranged a rout for the evening."
“I did not bring my mount!” Sukey exclaimed.
Lady Sara laughed gaily. “I fear you are out of luck if you expect to borrow one from Griffin. His stalls are to let."
“Perhaps the Newbolds could oblige you,” Griffin suggested, looking at Alice.
'Yes, Mama's mount is standing idle. Why do you not ask the groom to have it sent over for Sukey's use, Griffin?"
“I hope it is a gentle goer,” Lady Sara said, feigning concern. “As I recall, Sukey, you are not exactly a bruising rider. Did you hurt yourself badly in that tumble the other day in Rotten Row?"
“I did not tumble,” Sukey said. “I just slipped a little. The saddle was put on loosely."
“You should always check that before mounting,” Lady Sara told her.
“It is a lady's mount. Sukey will have no trouble,” Alice said.
They were the last words she spoke for several minutes. She had only known Lady Sara for a month. She had always taken her for an obliging sort of lady. She sensed the change in her now, and soon realized that it was a determination to win Griffin that accounted for it. Little slurs on Sukey and herself were introduced needlessly into the conversation, and much was made of the long friendship between the Calmets and the Griffins. It was all done with a grace and seeming concern that might fool the unwary, but it did not fool Alice or the Suttons.
Lady Griffin appeared. Lady Sara rose and embraced her. “Dear Godmama. What a lovely visit this is. I wish I saw more of you, but you never come to London."
“It was kind of your mama to spare you to me.”
After a short visit, the guests went abovestairs to change for dinner. “I expect Sara will be dripping in diamonds when she dresses for evening,” Sukey said angrily, as she left Alice at her door.
Lady Griffin supplied maids to assist the girls in their toilettes. White was not necessary at a country party, and Alice wore a simple jonquil gown, whose main adornment was a ruched hem held up with green ribbons. She wore her pearls and meant to carry a fan, but she forgot it in her room. Sukey, feeling a visit at a noble house was as formal as London, wore white, which was not her most flattering color. They were surprised to see they had beat Lady Sara to the saloon. Lady Griffin and her son were there, however, and paid them some pretty compliments on their looks.
It was ten minutes before Lady Sara made her grand entrance. Both girls knew at a glance that they were outshone by her diamonds and even more by her low-cut dark green gown. She held her dark head high, and looked as regal as a queen. It did not take a genius to see Griffin was bowled over by her. A spontaneous smile grew on his lips as he studied her.
Lady Sara paused at the doorway and made a moue in Griffin's direction. “Silly me!” she exclaimed. “I am overdressed. So vulgar of me. Pay me no heed.” She swayed in, with every eye glued on her white bosoms and shapely form. “I meant my toilette as a compliment to Mersham. One does feel, when she visits one of the finest historical homes in England, that she owes it her best effort."
Griffin rose and bowed. “On behalf of Mersham, may I express my appreciation, Sara."
As their eyes met, the very air seemed to crackle with excitement. Alice and Sukey exchanged a defeated look.
Lady Griffin had been a beauty herself in her day, and recognized all the tricks. She had been annoyed with her son for falling in love with that dull clod of a Myra Newbold. She now realized that she did not want him offering for this show-off either.
She said, “Mersham is most famous for its gardens, Sara. Perhaps you should go out and make your curtsy to the flowers.” Her voice was polite, even merry. Only her son recognized her feelings, and gave her a quizzing look.
Lady Sara took this up immediately. “And what divine flowers they are, Lady Griffin. You must let me take some cuttings home. I have never seen anything as beautiful as that Griffin Rose. Our gardener would be green with envy."
Lady Griffin was mollified by this blatant flattery, and condescended to discuss the roses until dinner was called. The table was lopsided with five ladies and only one gentleman, but the conversation never flagged. Lady Sara encouraged Griffin to horrify them with Brazilian tales, and kept up her end by relaying the latest gossip from London.
The group was small and informal enough that Griffin did not bother with the farce of staying behind for a glass of port all by himself at dinner's end.
“Bring the bottle in with you, Griffin,” Lady Sara suggested. “I don't see why the gentlemen should keep the good things to themselves. We ladies might like a glass of port, too. What do you say, ladies?"
“Port gives me the megrims,” Lady Griffin said, “but by all means have a glass, if you are particularly fond of wine, Lady Sara."
Lady Sara recognized the need of more garden talk, and gave Griffin over to the younger ladies, as soon as she had complimented him on his port. “Excellent! This is obviously from Douro. It is so strong and red and sweet."
In the saloon, Mrs. Sutton joined Lady Sara and her hostess, to give the young girls a chance with Griffin. She was unsure at first whether Lady Sara was discussing history or flowers. The names of monarchs—Tudors and Bonnie Prince Charlie and Queen Anne flew about her head like bats at twilight. As Queen Anne had obviously not been prone to black spot, she soon realized they were talking about roses.
“I have no opinion of copper sulfate as a spray for black mold,” Lady Sara proclaimed.
“That surprises me. You usually have an opinion about everything,” Mrs. Sutton said demurely.
Lady Griffin flashed an appreciative glance at her. “What does your mama use, Sara?” she asked.
Across the room, Griffin tried gamely to entertain the youngsters, but he found his attention kept traveling to Sara. He recognized her for a dasher, and the change from Myra was exactly what he wanted at that time.
When the tea tray was brought in, Lady Griffin had been buttered up to the point of asking Lady Sara to take charge of the pot. There was no denying Sara had countenance. She would do any husband proud, and likely she would quit trying so hard to impress after she had landed her mate. She was intelligent, lively, certainly quite beautiful, and very keen on the gardens. That was important in the mistress of Mersham.
A short while later, Mr. Montgomery was added to the party. His punishment was nearing its end. Lady Griffin had invited him to several of the little dos she and James had arranged for the girls’ visit.
Lady Sara soon had him pigeonholed. He was of no importance, unless
Griffin should die on one of his foreign expeditions before producing an heir. Bearing this in mind, she was polite to Monty. Everyone else ignored him. His presence was not of sufficient interest to lend light to an evening that was rapidly sliding into tedium. Alice felt sorry for him, and after a while, she joined him in his corner.
During a lull, Lady Sara said, “May I be very bold, Lady Griffin, and suggest that we have some music? I wager these young ladies are bursting with talent. Sukey, I have heard you play before, have I not?"
“I do not play well enough to perform in public,” Sukey said. “Alice can chord."
Lady Sara allowed a little laugh to escape. She feared none of these people realized she was an accomplished pianist. She disliked to put herself forward, but was eager to display her skills.
“Sukey is a fair to middling singer,” her mother said. “Why do you not play for us, Lady Sara, and perhaps the girls will sing along with you?"
“I am afraid I am useless as an accompanist, Mrs. Sutton. I play mostly Schubert, and, of course, the lyrics are all in German. Unless Miss Sutton and Miss Newbold know German? No? Pity. Schubert quite dotes on Goethe, you must know. His best songs were inspired by Goethe's poems. Rastlose Liebe, Erikönig, Meerestille," she said, giving them the full German pronunciation. “Would you like to tackle it, girls? The words are written down—in German."
The girls wisely declined.
“I shall certainly translate them as soon as I find a moment free,” Lady Sara promised. “So many girls nowadays do not bother learning German. Odd, when our royal house is German. Indeed, old King George II hardly spoke a word of English."
“I should like to hear Schubert,” Griffin said, right on cue. “I have fallen behind the times while I was away."
“So have I, and I was right here,” his mama added in confusion.
“Sounds deuced interesting,” Monty declared, and the matter was settled.
Griffin led Lady Sara to the music room, with the others following behind. Alice watched with a worm of discontent curling inside her, noticing how Griffin put his arm around Sara's waist Sara smiled up at him, and he smiled back in an intimate way. They really looked remarkably handsome together. Sara suited him much better than Myra did. But, of course, she must not tell Myra that.