by Janet Grace
‘I trust everything is well at Alnstrop, my lord?’
His smile returned.
‘Why, yes. My mother wishes to be remembered to you. She has made rapid progress, and will soon be as well as we can ever expect now.’
‘Well,’ the needles clicked faster, ‘let us hope nothing has altered since the last time you saw her.’
‘I shouldn’t think so!’ He was watching her, surprised. ‘It has been barely two days.’
‘Really, my lord? You surprise me.’
She turned firmly away to speak to Lady Mondfort, but he spoke urgently.
‘Miss Stapely, did you receive my letter?’
She looked at him, eyebrows raised.
‘My letter. Did you receive it?’
‘I have received no letter, my lord.’
‘Nothing?’
‘Nothing.’
She did not see the expression on his face, for she had turned away, but John, glancing up and catching his eye, felt a dreadful apprehension.
‘John, I entrusted a letter to you before I left for Alnstrop. Perhaps you could have the goodness to let me know where it is?’
John remained at the window of Hetta’s comfortable little sitting-room, and surveyed the passers-by below him in the street. He had many years’ experience of judging the tones of his brother’s voice, and what he heard did not encourage him.
‘Well?’
It was irksome, but the truth was the only option for a gentleman.
‘You remember that waistcoat of mine, the one in dark green with a paler green stripe? Rather subtle? Well, it’s in the pocket. Right-hand side, probably.’
He was labouring hard to keep his voice light, and continued to look out of the window.
‘So, it would be true to say that you completely ignored my letter and any promise you made to deliver it?’
John had expected the artic tones, but not the depth of bitterness.
‘Oh, I think “ignored” is a bit strong, Robert. I just didn’t happen to go over to the Grange before the assembly. Had a lot I wanted to do before proposing to Georgiana—get the manor ready for her, you know. Just as well, seeing as I had to come rushing up here straight after. But I told you not to worry. I made your apologies for you.’
He had turned to face his brother now, but had not quite managed to meet his eye.
‘You made my apologies?’
‘Yes, I spoke to Miss Stapely at the assembly. I would have given her the letter then, but what to do? Wrong waistcoat! So I explained you couldn’t make it. Nothing serious, you just couldn’t make it. Gone to Alnstrop. She was very cool about it, didn’t seem perturbed. No reason she should be. Then, of course, there was all that business with Blane, and the matter was forgotten. But I did the correct thing for you, not to worry.’ Having unburdened himself, he ventured a smile at his brother. ‘I don’t know what all the fuss is about, really.’
‘No. You irresponsible, unimaginative, unobservant, utterly self-centered...’ Words failed Lord Alnstrop. ‘Dear God, what is the use of talking? The harm is done. When I think what she must have thought, must have suffered, I could murder you now with my own bare hands.’
His fists were white with tension, and John stepped back to a wary distance, but suddenly Alnstrop slumped into a chair, and sat, his head in his hands.
‘That letter was not just about the assembly, then.’ John remarked gloomily, with belated perspicacity.
‘No, John.’
‘You and Miss Stapely were, well...’
‘So I had hoped, John.’
‘And you were telling her that...’
‘Yes.’
‘Oh.’
There was a pause while John digested this novel piece of information, and mentally reviewed events.
‘I seem to have made rather a mess of things for you. God, I am sorry, Robert. I had no idea. However did you keep it all so quiet? And I would rather approve of her for a sister. I believe Hetta would too.’
Robert raised his eyes and looked at his brother. ‘Naturally, I find that a great comfort.’
John shifted awkwardly.
‘Perhaps you could see her at Dolly Morgan’s tonight, and explain?’
‘Perhaps.’
It would not be easy, judging by this morning’s response. Would she arrive at Dolly Morgan’s with her knitting to glare at? he managed a twisted smile.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
‘I wonder who will be there?’ Georgiana mused as the Mondfort family coach swayed and creaked away from the house under the steady hand of William Coachman. ‘John says everyone goes to Mrs. Morgan’s evenings. He will introduce me to his sister Hetta, for I missed her when she called. I’m sure Lord Alnstrop will be there. I wonder if that lady we saw with him yesterday will be there, too? I must remember to ask John who she is. What a funny thing that we saw him. He can’t have been pleased!’
Georgiana sighed happily. She looked, she knew, quite charming in a dress of the palest blue silk and a shawl of silver-threaded gauze. It was her first evening out in London, she was no longer a schoolroom miss, and she was in love with the handsomest and most charming man in town. It was a pity Louisa was a little under the weather.
Mrs. Morgan was a widow of large income who enjoyed a vast circle of fashionable friends, and a reputation as an excellent, informal hostess. People went to her house to relax, to see and be seen, to chat comfortably over the best wines, and dishes discreetly served. Her evenings at home were immensely popular, and invitations keenly sought.
Georgiana and Louisa were met at the door in the warm summer dusk by an elegant butler who, having discreetly enquired their names, led them up the stairs and swung open the sitting-room door.
‘Miss Stapely and Miss Lyntrell,’ he announced.
The room before them was unfashionably furnished in warm, strong colours, with much rounded comfortable furniture, generously supplied with cushions and drapes. All the soft shapes looked homely and welcoming, despite the fact that the room was full of strangers, people sprawled in armchairs, perched on stools, lounging by the piano, snugly ensconced in the padded window-seats commanding a view of the road below, even sitting on the hearthrug. A small fire was burning, despite the warmth of the evening, and two small spaniels and a giant tabby cat monopolised the hearthrug nearest to the blaze.
Their hostess separated herself from a knot of people chatting on a vast sofa, and bustled over to greet them.
‘My dears!’ She spread her arms wide and beamed at them both, a plump, jolly lady as comfortable as her home. ‘I am so glad you have come. Why, I have known your grandfather forever,’ she nodded to Louisa, ‘and Alvira has been a good friend for I don’t care to think how long! Now, I won’t shout names all round, for I think there is nothing more daunting then having all those names to forget. Everyone here will make you welcome and introduce themselves—though I know there are a couple over there who will need no introduction!’
She gestured towards a small sofa across the room, where Louisa suddenly realised she recognised both John and Hetta. John was watching Georgiana, waiting only for Mrs. Morgan to cease talking before he waved them over and made room for both of them on the settee with Hetta, sprawling himself on the floor beside them.
Hetta and Georgiana seemed instantly to like each other, which, in view of John’s introduction, was just as well.
‘This, Georgiana, is my most esteemed and entirely respectable sister Hetta, and as I have every intention she shall shortly become your sister, too, you had better learn to make the best of it! Hetta, you will not be able to find a single thing to complain of in Georgiana, for there is nothing, except that she has far too many opinions and needs frequent reprimanding for being a baggage of the worst sort! But I keep her in order admirably.’
Georgiana’s outraged response to this blatant provocation kept the two of them engrossed in a happy verbal tussle for some time.
Louisa and Hetta chatted amiably, Hetta pointing ou
t acquaintances with her usual quirky comments. As a group of people moved to greet a newcomer, Louisa caught sight of an interested little face across the room eyeing Georgiana and herself from beneath an artistic tumble of red-gold curls.
‘And who,’ she asked Henrietta, ‘is that?’
‘Who? Ah, the self-styled, delectable Annabelle Whitley. She has been hunting a husband for many a long year, and has made several most determined attempts to become my sister. Not a prospect I relish. I would have thought you might remember her. She certainly knows those cousins of yours. When Robert arrives he will be kept busy escaping her clutches.’
Always supposing he wants to, Louisa thought darkly.
‘And here he is!’
Henrietta was waving and beckoning across the room.
Despite herself, for she had vowed she would pay him no attention whatever, Louisa could not help one quick glance at the door.
He made every other man in the room seem insignificant as he stood so tall, his coat of blue superfine hugging his body, echoing and deepening the blue of his eyes. Louisa looked away, begrudging her awareness of him, bitterly resenting her reaction to the blazing smile with which he noticed them, the quick wave of the long brown fingers.
He began to make his way across the room towards them. Louisa, panicking, looked round desperately for some escape. It was at just this moment that a group of new arrivals surged in and she caught the name of Stapely.
‘Really? How extraordinary! Where?’
The man speaking in a high, affected drawl was standing in the doorway, an eyeglass held arrogantly up before his craning scrutiny of the room. He was effectively blinkered like a horse, for his shirt-collar stood so high he was quite unable to turn his head. His cravat fell in monstrously prinked waves upon a chest distorted by an absurdly high waist. His jacket was padded across both chest and shoulders to ludicrous proportions. His valet had failed, however, to signally alter the shape of his legs, and those spindly limbs in their tight breeches, vanishing into top boots so high that he was forced to strut, gave him the appearance of a fairground stiltwalker.
With a sinking heart Louisa recognised her cousin Cedric. With him, also peering about the room, were his sister Maria and youngest sister Augusta, who clutched the arm of a man Louisa presumed to be her husband, George. She had heard of his existence only in a letter from Aunt Honoria.
‘Good Lord! Look there. That must be her. How amusing! Shall we go and acknowledge her, and say hello?’ Maria’s voice was as shrill and grating as Louisa remembered it, and several people turned to look.
Louisa surprised herself by standing up. She felt a strange, reckless indifference. Avoiding Lord Alnstrop, she walked firmly over to the door, head held high, and with her most charming smile dropped a welcoming curtsy to her cousins, embraced Maria and kissed her cheek, then likewise for Augusta.
‘What a perfectly charming surprise!’ she said gaily. ‘I had no idea you would be here tonight. Do you know my friends?’ She gestured towards John, Hetta and Georgiana. ‘Do come over and be introduced.’
‘Oh, well done, little Miss Louisa!’ she heard Dolly Morgan chuckle beside her. ‘Very nicely said!’
She did not notice Alnstrop watching her appreciatively. Her startled cousins followed her across the room, and Louisa felt a sudden exhilaration that she had taken the initiative, outmanoevred their spiteful approaches and, most important of all, no longer cared what they thought of her anyway. One look at Cedric’s pretentious costume and she was honoured to have him despise her! To think she should have spent so many years caring about their opinions! She chuckled. And they should certainly serve to drive away Lord Alnstrop. He would no doubt retreat straight across the room to Miss Annabelle Whitley.
‘Hetta, I don’t know whether you know my cousins, but may I present Cedric Stapely, Maria Stapely, their sister Augusta, and her husband George? I am afraid you never let me know your new name,’ she added apologetically to Augusta. ‘Cousins, this is my good friend Lady Henrietta Cairshaw, her brother Mr. John Ferdinand, and Miss Georgiana Lyntrell, whose companion I am, and,’ the hesitation was momentary, ‘I am sure you know Lord Alnstrop.’
She said this with a defiantly airy smile, knowing they would be impressed by her friendship with the Alnstrop family, but quite horrified by her admission that she was a paid employee.
‘And a very good friend too,’ Georgiana was quick to add, squeezing Louisa’s arm. ‘Sit down with us, all of you.’
Henrietta, greatly amused by the absurd appearance of these cousins, and with a clear memory of Louisa’s confidences of the pain they had caused her, enjoyed herself by talking to them at length of Louisa’s stay at Alnstrop, for all the world as if she regularly visited there for months at a time, while Georgiana’s chatter made it plain that she was held in great affection by Lady Mondfort.
But Louisa was most chagrined to find that Lord Alnstrop did not make a hasty escape. He made valiant efforts at civil conversation with the preposterous Cedric, nodding solemn agreement to his pronouncements and showing no awareness of the curious creaks and groans emitted by Cedric’s overstrained corsets to punctuate each sentence. He only betrayed his amusement when he turned politely aside to cough, caught Louisa’s reluctant eye, and winked.
Louisa turned firmly to talk with Augusta and George. She found them to be tediously silly, she would have been immensely gratified and amused, had she not been aware of Lord Alnstrop overhearing every word, sharing the humour.
‘Robert, darling!’
Louisa stiffened. Annabelle Whitley had tripped across to join them, and possessed herself of Robert’s arm.
‘Dearest Robert, don’t talk to Cedric, he is so dreadfully pompous, and his corsets creak!’
‘I say, Annabelle, really...’ But Cedric’s outrage was impossible against the comments of his corset, and he took the laughter with a good grace.
‘Talk to me instead, and, if you must, introduce me to your mystery ladies from across the street.’ She was clinging on his arm, fluttering her eyelashes up at him as she spoke.
A fleeting look of distaste crossed Lord Alnstrop’s face, and he gently removed her hand.
‘Your remarks are hardly polite, Miss Whitley; you will offend poor Cedric. Worse, you will certainly offend my valet if you crease the sleeve of my coat.’
He brushed the sleeve down lightly, giving her a repressive look. She pouted and shrugged.
‘I am sure you weren’t always so unkind, Lord Alnstrop.’ John, observing his brother’s predicament and Louisa’s stony face, leapt willingly, if not tactfully, into this exchange.
‘Nonsense, Annabelle. Why, you have had your sights on Alnstrop since I was in short coats, and never come anywhere near target. I should know that. I should set your sights elsewhere if I were you. How about Cedric here?’ Annabelle’s look of anger and disgust was only exceeded by the horror on Cedric’s own face at this suggestion.
‘Hardly Cedric,’ she said with a brittle laugh. ‘But how about you, John Ferdinand?’ She moved to stand close to him, tilting her head to speak to him. ‘You have matured very nicely since the last time we met.’
John backed away hastily, and put his arm round Georgiana.
‘Not me, Annabelle. You are too late. My affections are already engaged. My I present Miss Georgiana Lyntrell?’ While Miss Whitley’s attention was engaged, Alnstrop abruptly took Louisa’s arm and turned her aside from the group. He ignored her sharp pull to resist him, and led her to a quieter spot by the window.
‘She is a wretched woman,’ he was saying, ‘though I suppose I should admire her persistence. It is necessary to remember on no account to take her seriously.’
‘My lord.’
Louisa forced her voice to be firm as they stood together looking down into the dark street. A sudden summer storm had passed over since their arrival at Mrs. Morgan’s, and light from the house windows glistened on the damp pavements. Raindrops dribbled tardily down the glass.
> ‘I see no benefit in our talking together, and would prefer to return to my cousins. I am unaware of your intentions in our relationship, but I have found our acquaintance has brought me only unhappiness, and I would prefer it to cease.’
His shirt-collar was covered, of course, by his immaculate white cravat, so she spoke to a fold of snowy linen instead. She could not miss, though, the stirring of anger that her words produced.
‘My intentions, my dear girl, are entirely, if impatiently, honourable. I am deeply sorry for the unhappiness you have suffered. I have my brother’s abject permission to inform you that the fault is all his, for my letter to you has remained, since I wrote it at Stoneham, until this afternoon, in the pocket of his green waistcoat—the one with the lighter green stripes which are, he informs me, subtle.
‘I have retrieved it, and I would be overwhelmingly grateful if you could overcome your justifiable anger and read it. If you then wish to repeat what you have just told me, I shall, naturally...’ He paused, and she watched the impulsive movement of his fingers clenching. He reached and took her hand in his. ‘No, damn it, I will not honour what you say. I will shift heaven and earth to change your mind, and outdo even the wretched Annabelle in persistence. Do you understand?’
The urgency of his tones forced her to look up and meet his gaze. He stared at her intently for some moments, then abruptly raised her hand to his lips. He took the letter from his pocket, pressed it into her clasp with the order, ‘Read it!’ and led her back into the room. She just had time to push it into her reticule before he led her over to a humorous-looking gentleman talking to a lady with a lively, intelligent face.
‘Miss Stapely, I would like you to meet Colonel and Mrs. Grey. They are very good friends of mine.’
Louisa met many people that evening, and discovered to her amazement that not only did she enjoy their company, but they appeared to enjoy hers. She could both interest and amuse them. Many of the most pleasant confessed to being good friends of Lord Alnstrop and of Henrietta. Her cousins continued to be surprisingly good-natured, and Louisa could not help but notice that Lord Alnstrop made time to talk with them all. He frequently appeared beside her, too, drifting up to join her conversation and laugh with her, then introduce her to other people he thought she might enjoy. He was not once, however, to be seen in conversation with Miss Annabelle Whitley, who had attached herself to a rakish-looking gentleman on the far side of the room.