by Gayle Buck
“Thank you, Miss Stallcroft,” said Megan with a friendly smile. “That is very kind of you. But are you certain that you would not prefer—”
“Oh, no, no! I am perfectly comfortable, I assure you,” said Miss Stallcroft hastily. “I am used to it, you see. Mama always sits with her friends on the forward-looking seat.”
Megan met Mrs. O’Connell’s eyes before turning back to the younger woman. “If that is indeed the case, I yield the point to you, Miss Stallcroft.”
The ladies entered the carriage and the door was closed by the driver. Megan smiled at Miss Stallcroft. “It seems so silly to stand on formal terms. May I call you Annabelle?” she asked.
Miss Stallcroft pinkened. “Pray do,” she said quickly.
“And I urge you to call me Megan. I hope that we will become good friends,” said Megan.
The carriage started out. The three ladies called on several personages known to Mrs. O’Connell, many of whom already knew Miss Stallcroft or her mother and had met Megan the previous night. There were also a few that Megan had not yet had the opportunity to meet, but they greeted her cordially and with curiosity.
At Lady Bancroft’s, Megan was surprised to run into her brother Colin. Captain O’Connell was sitting with her ladyship and the daughter of the house, Miss Bancroft, when Mrs. O’Connell and her party were announced. He rose to his feet to greet the newcomers. After Lady Bancroft had welcomed the three ladies to her drawing room and had introduced her daughter to Megan, she said, “And I fancy that you know this gentleman, Miss O’Connell!”
“Indeed I do. How are you, Colin?” said Megan, smiling up at her brother’s astounded expression.
“Megan, I can scarce believe my eyes. I thought you still in St. Petersburg,” he said, taking her hand for a brief moment. He searched her face as though he had difficulty absorbing the evidence of his own eyes.
Lady Bancroft and Mrs. O’Connell laughed. “Megan surprised us all, Colin. And I suspect that she will continue to do so,” said Mrs. O’Connell. She turned to Lady Bancroft. “I am sorry to have missed you at the soiree last night, Maria. You and Priscilla would have enjoyed it very much, for it was a very decent squeeze. I trust that your son Edgar is feeling more the thing this morning?”
“Yes, he is on the mend at last. The physician was in earlier this morning, in fact, and said that the fever has been completely broken. I appreciate your friendly inquiry on his behalf. But now, you must tell me all about the soiree, Sophronia,” said Lady Bancroft, patting the sofa beside her.
Miss Bancroft, who had greeted Miss Stallcroft with every appearance of pleasure, at once commanded her friend to join her. “So stuffy to be obliged to stay at home and miss the soiree,” she said. “It is a pity that Mama decided that I could not go without her.”
“But you would not have enjoyed yourself knowing that your brother was still ill,” said Miss Stallcroft.
Miss Bancroft flashed a saucy grin. “I would have tried to, however!” Miss Stallcroft gave a small laugh and sat down. The two girls immediately put their heads together to exchange confidences.
Captain O’Connell seized the moment to take Megan aside. He took her over to the window, saying, “Your appearance this morning shocked me, Megan. How does it come about that you are in London?”
“I came back to England to enjoy the Season,” said Megan. “I have already made a number of acquaintances, thanks in large part to Sophronia, and accepted several invitations. I have letters of introduction to others, as well. In short, I am in a fair way to committing myself for weeks to come.”
“Hasn’t our mother had anything to say against this little scheme of yours?” asked Captain O’Connell.
“We have not had the opportunity to discuss the matter,” said Megan. Her eyes glinted with mischief. “And I trust that I shall be able to avoid it until some future time.”
Captain O’Connell laughed. “I wish you good fortune, dear sister. I at least do not begrudge you a few parties. I see that Sophronia has taken Miss Stallcroft under her wing. That is a task worthy of Hercules. The lady almost disappears in company.”
“I think that the result of her mother’s brutal handling. With the proper encouragement, Annabelle could blossom into an accredited beauty,” said Megan.
“Her?” asked Captain O’Connell in open astonishment. “Why, she shrinks whenever one even addresses a polite pleasantry to her and tosses a scared look at her mother. For my part, I prefer a miss who is able to hold her own whatever the circumstance.”
“Yes, I have met Phoebe,” said Megan dryly.
Captain O’Connell looked down at her, his eyes narrowed. “Have you, indeed.”
“I liked her very much,” said Megan, glancing up at her brother. In light of what she knew, she was curious to see whether he would volunteer anything to her about Miss Phoebe Stallcroft.
Captain O’Connell appeared about to say something more, but at that moment Mrs. O’Connell rose to take her leave. Miss Stallcroft and Megan added their assurances of pleasure to their hostess and Miss Bancroft. Captain O’Connell said that he had to be going also and offered to walk out with the departing ladies.
When they had emerged from the Bancroft town house, Captain O’Connell said, “Well, Sophronia, I never thought to see you looking so well. Congratulations are in order.”
“Thank you, Colin,” said Mrs. O’Connell with a cool smile. She allowed him to hand her up into the carriage.
Captain O’Connell offered his hand to Miss Stallcroft. She blushed, murmured something unintelligible to his polite good-bye, and hastily entered the confines of the carriage.
Captain O’Connell grimaced and turned to Megan. He lingered for a moment, looking down at her with a frowning expression. “I wish I knew what was in your head, Megan.”
“Why, I have told you, Colin. I am going to enjoy the Season,” said Megan.
He shook his head. “No, I suspect that there is more to it than that. You came back from Russia without notice to anyone, apparently. There is something here that I don’t yet understand.”
“I told you not long ago that I am as selfish as anyone else, Colin,” said Megan quietly. “Is it so strange that I should at last be looking out for my own interests?”
Captain O’Connell grinned suddenly. “Lord, I should like to see our gracious mother’s face when you inform her that you are staying the Season!”
“You are not very chivalrous, Colin,” chided Megan, but with a smile of her own. “Pray call on me one day. I should like to see you again. Now I must go, for I have been keeping Sophronia’s horses standing about for too long already.” Her brother saw the sense in that and handed her inside, shutting the door after her and giving the signal to the driver.
When the carriage had rolled away from the curb, leaving Captain O’Connell behind, Megan requested that they stop briefly at Countess Lieven’s residence. Her sister-in-law and Miss Stallcroft regarded her as though she was mad. She gave a laugh at their expressions. “I merely wish to leave my card and a note. I have a letter of introduction to Countess Lieven from a mutual acquaintance in St. Petersburg. I hope to meet the countess one day,” said Megan.
“Countess Lieven is very haughty and exclusive. Do not be surprised if even your friend’s letter does not open her door to you,” said Mrs. O’Connell, nevertheless giving her driver the address.
However, it was Mrs. O’Connell who was surprised. When Megan sent in her card and the note, the butler returned with word that the countess was in and would see her. Megan thanked him and stepped inside, accompanied by Mrs. O’Connell and Miss Stallcroft.
Countess Lieven greeted her unexpected visitors, if not with warmth, at least with distant cordiality. She dismissed Mrs. O’Connell and Miss Stallcroft with a few short words before turning to Megan. “You will join me at the window, Miss O’Connell,” she said, drawing her arm through the younger woman’s.
Megan cast a glance back at her sister-in-law and M
iss Stallcroft, who had been left standing beside the settee. Mrs. O’Connell gave a small nod of encouragement.
Countess Lieven drew back the heavy velvet drape and looked down onto the busy thoroughfare. The sunlight was a watery hue due to the light rain. “London is nothing like Russia,” she remarked distantly.
“No, my lady,” agreed Megan. “I very much enjoyed my stay in St. Petersburg.”
Countess Lieven turned a considering gaze on her. “It is remarkable that you procured such a letter, my dear Miss O’Connell. My friend speaks most highly of you. I value her opinion, and so I have decided to do something on your behalf. I am a patroness of Almack’s. I shall sponsor you. I will send you vouchers this same afternoon.”
Megan blinked in astonishment. It had never crossed her mind that such an advantage could possibly come to her. She had merely been intent on establishing herself with another prominent personage in society. The more she was known to be in town, the less likely it was that Lady O’Connell could comfortably insist that she return to Ireland before the Season was finished. “My lady, you are too good. It never occurred to me that you might do this for me. I thank you very much.”
Countess Lieven smiled. “Miss O’Connell, I am granting you my favor. We shall pretend that I am naive enough to believe in your polite protestation. Shall we return to your friends?”
Megan found herself with nothing left to say. The countess obviously had the fixed notion that she had come to call for the express purpose of gaining this particular objective. Megan did not believe that she could disabuse the countess of her cynical mistake, so she did not make the attempt. Doing so would merely have made her look ridiculous.
The countess said good-bye to her callers. Megan thanked Countess Lieven again and the three ladies were ushered out of the town house.
After they had been handed back up into the carriage, Mrs. O’Connell asked with lively curiosity, “What did the countess wish to say to you, Megan?”
“Countess Lieven is sponsoring me to Almack’s. She is sending round the vouchers this afternoon,” said Megan, still disbelieving of her good fortune.
Miss Stallcroft uttered in awe, “Oh!”
“My word!” Mrs. O’Connell stared at Megan. “You do run in exalted circles, do you not?”
“I merely handed her a letter of introduction from a well-known St. Petersburg hostess. Countess Lieven took it upon herself to do the rest,” said Megan.
“I begin to wish that I had accompanied you to St. Petersburg,” said Mrs. O’Connell. “Whom else are you planning to become acquainted with? Any of the royals, perhaps?”
Megan laughed and shook her head. “What nonsense, Sophronia! I know no one at court. At least—no, I am persuaded that I do not. But you look. I have all of my letters here.” She undid her reticule and brought out the packet of letters.
Mrs. O’Connell quickly flipped through them, occasionally making an approving comment. When she was done, she handed the packet back to Megan. “It is utterly amazing what you have accomplished, Megan,” she said.
“Do you truly think so? I so wish to remain for the Season and I thought that if I could make myself known a little—”
Mrs. O’Connell chuckled. “Oh, Megan, it is better than you could ever wish! Once you have contacted these, my dear, you will be extremely well-entrenched. There is nothing that Lady O’Connell will be able to do except to allow you to remain. Make the most of it, Megan, for her ladyship will be fit to be tied by the end.”
“I fully intend to do just that, Sophronia, for I’ve no wish to sink back into oblivion,” said Megan, tucking away the letters. “I hope to have contracted an eligible match before the Season ends.”
She realized that Miss Stallcroft was listening to their conversation in wide-eyed amazement. Megan smiled at the other girl. “Do forgive us, Annabelle. We are airing some private linen without giving a thought to your sensibilities.”
“Oh, no! It is quite all right,” said Miss Stallcroft quickly. “I understand perfectly. And you may rest assured that I shall not breathe a syllable to anyone.”
Mrs. O’Connell laughed and reached out to pat her cousin’s knee. “It is not an evil conspiracy, Annabelle, you may be assured of that much! Megan has been kept so close for many years without even a hope of a come-out. Now she has the opportunity to make something grand happen in her life. And all through an exile to St. Petersburg! That is what is so marvelous to me, Megan.”
“Yes, and to me, too,” admitted Megan. “Princess Kirov opened the world to me. I could never express all of my gratitude to her highness.”
“Well! I suggest that we make a few more such worthwhile calls,” said Mrs. O’Connell. “Let me see the directions again, Megan.”
“But do you not wish to make your own calls first?” asked Megan.
Mrs. O’Connell laughed. “My dear Megan! I may call on my own friends any day of the week. It is not often that I have the entree to such as Countess Lieven. Besides, I shall enjoy helping you.”
“I know that Mama will be very impressed that I have met Countess Lieven,” said Miss Stallcroft. “Perhaps some of your other contacts will be just as notable.”
“There! Annabelle has hit on the very best argument. Megan, you simply cannot be so selfishly shabby as to deny us this treat. Why, who knows to what new heights Annabelle and I might not soar on your credit?” said Mrs. O’Connell teasingly.
“Now you are being absurd!” said Megan.
“Oh, no, no,” said Miss Stallcroft, quite seriously. “My cousin is perfectly correct. I do not run in such circles, but it would be such fun to pretend just this once.”
Megan looked at Miss Stallcroft, then at her sister-in-law.
Mrs. O’Connell was smiling at her. “You see, Megan.”
“You persuade me, Annabelle,” said Megan. “Very well, let it be as you wish, Sophronia! But do not eat me if we are treated with chilly reserve or denied the door!”
“Oh, I do not mind a snub or two!” said Mrs. O’Connell. She got her driver’s attention and let him know the next address. When she settled back into her seat, she said, “This will be a truly edifying experience. Let it be a lesson to us, Annabelle. One must never look askance at opportunities to travel. One’s horizons are certain to be broadened, don’t you think?”
“Oh, quite. I have always longed to travel, but I daresay this will be almost as good!” said Miss Stallcroft happily.
The remainder of the day was spent in visiting with various personages. Contrary to Megan’s warning, not once were the three ladies denied the door. Nor were they snubbed. They were received everywhere with cordiality and several magnificent invitations were issued to them.
It was a heady and dizzying experience for Miss Stallcroft. She ended by falling into a blissful state, only breaking her silence once with an uncharacteristically gleeful comment. “Mama will be unable to scold me for days, I daresay!”
Mrs. O’Connell let Megan off at Lady O’Connell’s town house. “I shall not come in. I have no desire to incite a scold down on my head by my very presence. There is Annabelle to consider, too. I do not wish her bubble to be burst so rudely.”
Megan laughed. “No, indeed! Take her home and give her into the offices of her maid, for I doubt that anyone else will know what to do with her for a while. I suppose that you will talk with Lady Stallcroft?”
“I shall give her every detail of our triumphant progress,” said Mrs. O’Connell. “Annabelle is quite right. Her ladyship will be hard put to find anything to scold her about once she is informed of all of the exalted invitations that are shortly going to rain down on their heads.”
“I am glad!” Megan said good-bye and lightly trod up the steps to the town house. The porter opened the door at her knock. She entered, a smile still on her face.
“Oh, miss, it is good to have you returned!” blurted the porter.
Megan regarded the man with surprise. “What is it, Geoffrey?
What is wrong?”
“Such a rumpus we have had, miss! But I should be letting Mr. Digby tell you,” said the porter, shutting the door. “If ye’ll wait a moment, miss, I’ll be getting Mr. Digby directly, miss.”
Megan walked into the drawing room, her brows contracted. She had scarcely had time to put off her bonnet and gloves when the butler entered. As he closed the door, she inquired, “Digby, whatever has happened? I have never seen Geoffrey thrown into such a fluster.”
“It is her ladyship, miss. She has discovered that Miss Simpkins is in the house and is in your employ,” said the butler.
“I see.” Megan drew a breath. She looked at the butler and put a blunt question. “Is her ladyship greatly agitated, Digby?”
“For the last hour and a half, miss,” said the butler. He covered a discreet cough. “I may add that Miss Simpkins is at present closeted with the housekeeper, having suffered mild hysterics.”
“Oh, dear! Poor Simpkins. I must do something at once,” said Megan. She stood for a moment, thinking. Then she started moving toward the door. “Thank you, Digby. I shall go up to her ladyship. Is she in her own apartments?”
“Yes, miss,” said the butler, bowing and opening the door for her.
Megan passed through the doorway, then paused. “Digby, pray be kind enough to convey a message to Simpkins from me. Tell her that I shall require her services as usual this evening.”
“Yes, miss,” said the butler, his wooden expression easing just a fraction. “I will be happy to do so, miss.”
Megan crossed the marble-tiled hall and started up the stairs, catching up the hem of her pelisse in one hand. She did not pause at her own bedroom, but passed on down the hall. Before she ever reached her mother’s door, she could hear Lady O’Connell’s shrill voice. Megan lifted her hand and knocked firmly on the door, before turning the knob and going inside.
* * *
Chapter 12