Amanda Scott - [Dangerous 04]

by Dangerous Lady

  They chatted a little longer, until they had arranged the many sheets of music in good order. Then, other duties parted them, and before the invited guests began to arrive, Letty noted that Raventhorpe was also in attendance. She saw him look her way once, speculatively, while she chatted with one of the guests, but he made no effort to seek her out, and she took care not to look toward him again.

  Before the queen’s grand entrance, Letty’s duties kept her occupied. She circulated among the guests to see that no one was ignored or neglected. She performed the same duties, in fact, that she had frequently performed in her parents’ home, and at the Paris embassy. The company included representatives of many factions, and as a result, she found old acquaintances and even some new ones who did not instantly stiffen when she approached them. Little by little she began to relax and enjoy herself.

  When the queen arrived, accompanied by her bedchamber ladies, her other ladies quickly gathered round her. Victoria liked to impress her company with the splendor of her entourage, and on this occasion, Letty thought they did her proud. Their gowns were lovely, well made, and colorful. Jewelry flashed on arms, around necks, and in their coiffures. The energy level in the room increased noticeably.

  The chamberlain soon announced dinner, and the guests followed Victoria two by two, strictly by rank and precedence, into the picture gallery. There, the long dining table awaited them, splendidly laid with the royal linen, plate, and sterling. When everyone had taken their places, and footmen had seen to their immediate needs, servants presented the first course for Her Majesty’s approval. Receiving it, they began to serve the company.

  Somewhat to Letty’s consternation, Raventhorpe had taken a chair nearly opposite her. She encountered another narrow-eyed look, and wondered what on earth he could be thinking. His presence stirred unfamiliar sensations throughout her body, and at first it was all she could do not to keep looking at him.

  No doubt, she thought with a sigh, he would soon offer his advice again, especially if he should discover his great-aunts’ little secret. The thought gave her sufficient strength to avoid looking at him, and she soon forgot his presence in the need to attend to her dinner partner. That gentleman, an elderly, somewhat deaf lord of the realm, clearly expected to impress her with his opinions on subjects ranging from Parliamentary politics to the world at large.

  Again her experience at diplomatic tables served her well, and she managed to keep the old gentleman talking without ignoring the man on her right when his partner temporarily deserted him. She paid little heed to her food, accepting and eating what her footman served her. Still, her partner caught her off guard when, after expounding at length on certain activities of the East India Company, he said abruptly, “What do you think, Lady Letitia? Will the directors sanction the introduction of paper money in Bombay? Will they authorize the Company to become shareholders in a joint-stock bank there or in Bengal?”

  About to assure him, demurely, that he must know more about such things than she did, Letty unexpectedly caught Raventhorpe’s eye. Noting a gleam of condescending amusement, she realized that he had been listening (most improperly, too, since he sat across the table from them and ought to have been attending to the fat countess on his right).

  Impulsively, she smiled at her partner and said clearly, “In my opinion, sir, the East India Company cannot legally become copartners or shareholders in any banks established in Bombay or Bengal. To do so would clearly be engaging in commercial business as much as if they were to buy and sell tea or indigo. As you surely know, the act of Parliament authorizing their new charter in 1833 requires them to discontinue and abstain from all commercial business, with but certain exceptions. Therefore, the only question is whether the business falls within any of those exceptions. In my opinion, it does not.”

  The elderly lord blinked.

  “Shall I explain my reasons, sir?”

  “Good God, no! I mean, I quite agree with you, my dear, but who on earth has been filling your pretty head with such stuff?”

  She smiled, taking care not to let her gaze drift across the table. “I’m afraid I read the newspapers, sir. Quite shocking behavior in a female, is it not?”

  “Good Gad.”

  Thus encouraged, she said, “Now, the business of bank notes, I find interesting and rather bewildering. Imagine a place where such paper promises-to-pay have hitherto been quite unknown, despite the fact that commerce has flourished there for ages. But is that an evil or a blessing, do you think?”

  “Paper money would make things much easier for everyone in both states, I should think,” her companion said warily.

  “Ah, but Calcutta, sir, like the United States, Great Britain, and France, is overrun with banking establishments and deluged with paper money. And Calcutta has suffered all the evil money panics that those countries have suffered, whilst Bombay and Bengal have endured none of them. Introducing paper money sounds a most risky business to me, but perhaps you see the benefits more clearly than I do and would be kind enough to explain them.”

  He was happy to do so, and long before he had tired of the subject and exchanged it for a new one, Letty had recovered from the brief, uncharacteristic impulse that had driven her to puff off her knowledge of world affairs.

  With the savory before them at last, her partner nodded toward the head of the table, where Victoria was deep in conversation with the prime minister, who sat at her left, and said, “Quite a fetching young thing, ain’t she? But she oughtn’t to cast such sheep’s eyes at Melbourne. It don’t look at all proper.”

  Knowing better than to comment on either the queen’s appearance or her conduct, Letty said with a smile, “Her Majesty is most considerate, sir.”

  “Aye, she’s a sweet lass,” he said. “Quite a contrast to what her murderous uncle Cumberland would have been if he’d got his claws on our throne as well as Hanover’s when the old king snuffed out. Of course, Cumberland could still inherit the crown if he outlives Victoria and she don’t marry and have children first, but I daresay we’re safe enough for now. Mind now,” he added earnestly, “I don’t know but what England might be better off under a law like the one those Germans have, which prevents females from inheriting their throne. Still, they’re welcome to keep Cumberland in Hanover, and that’s my opinion on the subject.”

  Well aware that she had no more business discussing Her Majesty’s uncle, the King of Hanover, than discussing the queen, and aware, too, that her companion was feeling the effects of numerous glasses of wine, Letty said, “I find our laws quite as fascinating as you do, sir. I only wish females were allowed to study them.”

  The diversion worked, as she had been sure it would, and the old gentleman spent the remainder of the time before the queen’s departure from the table explaining kindly why it was quite impossible to allow women to study law.

  When Her Majesty had departed, the rest of the ladies retired to the green drawing room again to await her return and that of the gentlemen. The men had an exact quarter hour to enjoy a glass of port, two if they were swift about it.

  Lady Portman, again overseeing the behavior of the lesser ladies, asked one of them to take a seat at the pianoforte and to play until the others joined them.

  “Something quiet,” she said. Then, catching Letty’s eye, she moved toward her, but before she spoke, Catherine approached, looking anxious.

  “Forgive me, Lady Portman, but may I be excused for a few minutes? My dinner partner stepped on my lace and tore it. I’ve got pins, of course, and although it’s at the back, I think I can mend it quickly.” She said the last bit doubtfully.

  Lady Portman said, “How very careless, but you must not look untidy. You may have five minutes, Lady Witherspoon, but do not dawdle. Use the ladies’ withdrawing room beyond the throne room. Perhaps if Lady Letitia were to assist you, you could manage the task in less time.”

  “Thank you, ma’am,” Catherine said. “Do you mind, Letitia?”

  “Not at all,” Letty
said.

  “I hoped she would suggest that,” Catherine said with satisfaction as they passed through the empty throne room to the corridor beyond. “I’ve been talking with the most tedious man, and I simply must get away for a moment to breathe.”

  “Is your lace really torn?”

  “Oh, yes, but it’s the merest trifle. I daresay if I tie my petticoat strings tighter it won’t show, for it’s my petticoat lace that tore. Look here, can I call upon you at Jervaulx House, or will that cause a fuss?”

  “Of course, you may; I’d be delighted,” Letty said with perfect sincerity. “I am to ride with Her Majesty in the morning at the riding school, but perhaps you can call tomorrow afternoon, or the next day, if we need not be here.”

  “The Jamaican affair appears to be reaching a boiling point, so I daresay Her Majesty will be conferring long hours with her ministers,” Catherine said. “Witherspoon said Melbourne is having difficulty holding his majority together. I am not sure what difference it makes, but one knows that if the prime minister is feeling pinched, Her Majesty will want to do all she can to help.”

  Aware that their conversation was straying into dangerous territory again, Letty smiled and said, “Do come to call at the first opportunity.”

  “Well, I will, because you cannot come to my house. Witherspoon would have an apoplectic fit. I don’t know when I shall manage, though, because there is always—” Breaking off with a rueful grimace, she fell silent.

  “We had better go back before Lady Portman sends someone to find us,” Letty said. “Her Majesty will be returning this way soon.”

  The sound of masculine voices warned her that the gentlemen had returned to the drawing room, and she found herself hoping that her dinner partner had found someone else to whom he could expound his views. As she and Catherine entered, she glanced swiftly around, hoping to spot the elderly gentleman before he saw her, but she found her view suddenly blocked by Raventhorpe’s large figure.

  “Good evening, Lady Letitia,” he said.

  Something in his tone warned her to tread lightly, so returning his greeting, she added simply, “You know Lady Witherspoon, I trust.” As she said the words, she had a mental vision of him walking in on Catherine the way she had, and a bubble of laughter rose in her throat. Ruthlessly suppressing it in the time it took him to assure her that he knew Catherine, she missed what he said next. “Forgive me, sir, what did you say?”

  “You should attend when someone speaks to you,” he said sternly. “I merely said I hoped you had not been sharing your political views with Lady Witherspoon.”

  Unable to resist, she said, “Are you afraid I might convert her to a Tory, sir?”

  Sounding shocked, Catherine said, “Pray, don’t even suggest such a thing!”

  Raventhorpe’s eyes gleamed with sudden humor. “Take care, Lady Witherspoon. I have heard her discuss Bombay banking matters with an expert. If you don’t take care, she will doubtless try to persuade you that the Tory position on Jamaica is the correct one. Witherspoon would not approve.”

  With an answering gleam, Catherine said saucily, “You are impudent, my lord. We did speak briefly of Jamaica, but if you mean to scold her for such things, you should know first that I have decided to count her as my friend.”

  “Have you indeed?”

  A little smile played on Catherine’s lips. “I believe I have. I can see that you wish to have a private word with her, however, so I will leave you, but beware, sir.” With another smile at him, she drifted away.

  “She was flirting with you,” Letty said in surprise.

  “She flirts with every man she meets. Haven’t you noticed?”

  Much as she would have liked to contradict him, she could not. Catherine did flirt. She said instead, “I would never try to influence her politics, you know.”

  He said, “I hope not. Do you even know the Tory position on Jamaica?”

  “Of course I do, and in my opinion, it is the correct one. The British government has no business sending arbitrary orders to the Jamaican assembly, ignoring the fact that the island has enjoyed self-rule for centuries.”

  “Indeed, Lady Letitia,” the queen said grimly from the nearby doorway, where she stood with several of her bedchamber ladies. “Do you deny the transcendental power of our Parliament over colonial legislation?”

  “No, ma’am,” Letty said, sinking hastily to a deep curtsy. “Forgive me if I failed to make my point clear. It is not Parliament’s power that I question, merely its wisdom in this particular instance.”

  “Indeed,” said the queen haughtily.

  Letty distinctly heard Raventhorpe groan.

  NINE

  RAVENTHORPE WAITED FOR THE royal ax to fall. He could scarcely believe his ears when, instead of remaining sensibly silent, Lady Letitia said, “Your Majesty, again I failed to make myself clear. I do apologize.”

  To his further amazement, Victoria said, “Do you honestly think you can make yourself clear on such an important government question?”

  Raventhorpe stifled another groan. He would have given much for the power to tell the queen not to be such a fool as to bait the chit. However, not only did protocol strictly forbid him to address Her Majesty before she had spoken to him, but the impertinent chit was already off and running.

  “As you are doubtless aware, ma’am,” Letitia said earnestly, “no one in Parliament has condemned outright the bill to supersede the Jamaican assembly’s powers. It arose, after all, from a simple misunderstanding over an earlier act.”

  “Did it indeed?” Victoria’s tone was icy.

  “Yes, ma’am, the bill that puts control of all colonial prisons into the hands of a council of three salaried Whig commissioners. The assembly has freely legislated all regulations in Jamaica since the reign of Charles II, as you know, and there can be no doubt that management of their prisons falls under their general powers. Surely a wise government would make some effort toward conciliation before superseding any, let alone all, of those powers.”

  “’Tis fortunate that our government is wiser than you, Lady Letitia,” Victoria said with an austerity worthy of a matron at least twenty years her senior.

  “Forgive me, ma’am; it was never my intention to displease you,” the chit said hastily, giving Raventhorpe hope that she had come to her senses. That hope died, however, when she added, “It does seem unfair that some members of Parliament have insisted upon making this a party issue when—”

  “If that is so,” Victoria interjected tartly, “it is Tories who are to blame.”

  “But Sir Robert Peel speaks for the Tory party, ma’am, and his position all along has been that the government should grant the Jamaican assembly time to deliberate. If they do, one of two things must happen. Either they will submit to the wishes of Parliament and pass a prison law of their own, conforming with the one passed here, or else they will remain obstinate. In the first case—”

  “In any case,” Victoria interjected grimly, “it is no concern of yours.”

  Apparently regaining her wits at last, Letitia made another deep curtsy, saying, “As you wish, ma’am. I did think, when you asked if—”

  Unable to stop himself, Raventhorpe snapped, “Lady Letitia, Her Majesty has guests awaiting her, and you have duties to attend.”

  Turning scarlet, she held her tongue.

  Victoria waited a beat, as if to be sure the chit would say no more. Then, with the austere tone she had employed earlier, she said, “If you cannot recall your duties, Lady Letitia, you must ask Lady Tavistock to explain them to you.”

  “Yes, Your Majesty.” Letitia remained in her curtsy until the queen had swept past her into the green drawing room, where conversation still hummed but the music of the pianoforte had given way to the soft thrumming of a harp. Rising at last, she looked around as if hoping to find a supporter, but Catherine Witherspoon had vanished moments after the queen had spoken. Only Raventhorpe remained.

  Fighting to control his anger, he s
aid grimly, “You deserve—”

  “Don’t say it. I know what I deserve. Looking at her, I somehow quite forgot she is the queen and saw only another person my age who had asked me a question. I was already annoyed with you, and not thinking straight, but—”

  “So it is my fault, is it?”

  “No, of course not, but how she can support one of the most arbitrary measures ever presented to a British House of Commons, I do not know. They want to suspend the Jamaican assembly for years, saying they need the time to prepare the former slaves to vote properly for new members. Those are the same men who, on all former occasions, represented the freed slaves as already ripe for every enjoyment of civil liberty. If I could have made her understand that—”

  “You couldn’t do it,” he said harshly. “Moreover, you have oversimplified the situation beyond all reason.”

  “Well, I know that varying opinions exist within the Whig party on this issue, and I’ll do you the honor to think yours must be one of the more sensible ones. But the liberal wing of your party, sir, see themselves as the exclusive lovers of freedom. Yet they are now up in arms to suspend a free constitution, and to do so on utterly false pretenses.”

  “That’s enough!” He caught her by one arm and pulled her well away from the entrance to the drawing room. With the queen’s return, the noise of conversation had grown louder, and the throne room was empty but for the two of them. Since no one else could hear what he said to her, he decided to give his temper full rein. “You listen to me now, my girl.”

  “How dare you!” She wrenched her arm from his grip, but although her quickness surprised him, he caught her easily again, grabbing her by both shoulders and giving her a shake.

  “Someone has to dare,” he snapped, “before you find yourself banished from court and shunned in society. Can you honestly tell me that your father would approve of what you’ve done here tonight?” When she remained silent, he gave her another shake. “Would he? Look at me, if you can, and say that he would.”