Regency Belles & Beaux

by Michele McGrath

  “Servants have long memories, don’t forget. Several of them would have accompanied her when she visited us at Kirkmore.”

  “You worry too much, little sister. I’ve faced far worse dangers in the last four years than a mere morning visit to a respectable house, even this one. Trust me.”

  Chapter Two

  Alice found it very hard to concentrate on her embroidery as she sat with her aunt and cousins in the salon awaiting their morning callers. No one could have told that she was anxious, though, unless they knew her very well. Her cheeks were pale and a slight darkness under her eyes hinted at a restless night, but that was all. She had tried to present a demure and unexceptional figure. She dressed carefully in a morning dress of light blue figured muslin, which brought out the colour of her eyes. Her dark curls were piled on top of her head with a silver ribbon threaded through them. She looked, as she had intended, every inch the poised debutante. She wanted to prove to Philip that she was no longer a schoolgirl. She had grown up and was able to be his confidante once again. Concentrating on her main purpose, it had not occurred to her that the pretty picture she presented would also appeal to other visitors.

  The other member of the party in the salon was Miss Elizabeth Maitland, Kitty’s next oldest sister. Lizzie would make her own debut the following year and needed a little polish beforehand. Her Mama included her in social calls from time to time, so that she might become used to being in company. She was under strict orders to speak only when she was spoken to and to say as little as possible. This was a difficult task for a young lady as lively as Kitty, but Lizzie obeyed, realising she would be excluded in future if she did not.

  Alice kept pricking her finger as her heart beat faster every time the butler opened the door to announce another visitor. She tried hard not to jump when several false alarms occurred. Mr. Hardwick arrived. So did Lady Salmesbury, a friend of Lady Mary’s, who came to invite them to a small supper party one evening the following week. She stayed only for a few minutes once her mission had been accomplished, but Mr. Hardwick was not so obliging. Alice spent over half an hour listening to his earnest conversation and pretending that she was interested. He called early and droned on about indifferent subjects. Seething inside, while trying to maintain a calm expression, she thought that he had been amply revenged for her escape from his company last night. It was almost a relief when her brother entered the room with Captain Roper and made his bow to their aunt.

  Captain Roper introduced his friend and Alice was relieved when Lady Mary did not show the slightest sign of recognition. Seeing him for the first time in the daylight, Alice realised he had done something to his hair. His natural dark curls were now fair and straight. The colour did not suit him, Alice decided, but it made a definite difference to his appearance. She might not have recognised him herself if she had not seen him in the shadows and noticed the way he walked. As Lady Mary turned to introduce him to the others in the party, Kitty said,

  “Alice and I met the Baron at the ball last night, Mama. Didn’t we Alice?”

  “Indeed we did. How nice to see you again, Monsieur, and you too, Captain.” Alice rose and gave them both her hand. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Mr. Hardwick frowning.

  “This is my younger daughter, Elizabeth,” Lady Mary said, “and our friend, Mr. Hardwick.”

  “How do you do?” Captain Roper shook hands with Lizzie and his fellow guest.

  “Charmed to make your acquaintance, mademoiselle, monsieur,” Philip murmured.

  It seemed to Alice that Mr. Hardwick took the Baron’s hand reluctantly. He held his nose a little higher and looked as if he had just detected a bad smell in the room. Her lips twitched and she wanted to giggle. Didn’t Mr. Hardwick like foreigners? She could readily believe it.

  “Are you making a long stay in this country, monsieur?” Lady Mary asked as gestured to the others to be seated.

  “I am not certain, madame. I always wanted to come to England and to London in particular, but the late unpleasantness made it impossible until now.”

  “How glad I am that all that nastiness is over,” Lady Mary said. “For someone who has never been here before, you speak our language very well.”

  “There are English people living in Paris with whom I studied. I enjoy learning new languages and about the customs of other countries.”

  “I am happy with one language and one set of customs,” Mr. Hardwick said heavily into the slight pause that followed, “They are good enough for me.”

  There was a twinkle in the Baron’s eye as he replied, “I felicitate you, monsieur, on being so contented with your lot. Sadly, not everyone is the same. What do you say, Lady Alice? You told me last night that you longed to travel.”

  Taken slightly aback at being addressed in this a fashion and experiencing a strong desire to rap her brother’s knuckles, Alice sought wildly for an answer. She murmured as colourlessly as possible, “Perhaps I may be able to go abroad, now that the world is at peace.”

  “You cannot have thought, Lady Alice. Foreign travel is positively injurious to health. It would never do for me,” Mr. Hardwick said. “People gabbling nonsense at you, strange food and water you cannot drink.”

  The Baron’s eyebrows shot up and he was about to retort when Lady Mary intervened, saying,

  “You should try it for yourself, Mr. Hardwick. For myself, I had a wonderful time in Paris when I was first married. I went there with my husband for our honeymoon. I remember it well. The balls, the Opéra and the Comédie, so ornate, so many charming people. We made many friends there, all scattered now, unfortunately. I know little about their fate. It was also in Paris that your Papa met your dear Mama, Alice my dear, as I am sure she told you.”

  “Many times, Aunt. She always says that she was fortunate to be there, at the same time as Papa was making his Grand Tour.”

  “You may not know, Mr. Hardwick, but the Countess of Kirkmore is French. So it is no wonder that Lady Alice has been taught her mother’s language and hopes to visit her relatives one day.”

  “Really? No one told me.” Mr. Hardwick looked hard at Alice as if he had just seen something strange in her. She had a fleeting notion that she had gone down a little in his estimation for which, if it was true and not just wishful thinking, she was heartily thankful. She dreaded the prospect of receiving an offer from him, which her mama and papa might expect her to accept, since his fortune was handsome. For her own sake, she would unhesitatingly refuse. I could not imagine facing him at the breakfast table every morning for the rest of my life. I would sooner dwindle into an old maid, she thought defiantly.

  “But how charming,” the Baron said. “I claim you as a fellow countrywoman, Lady Alice, or half a one at least.” He smiled at Alice and she made herself smile back, reflecting how she would scold him for his effrontery the next time they were alone together.

  “Mama!” Kitty interrupted, claiming her mother’s attention. She had been sitting beside Captain Roper, talking quietly with him while her mother was engaged with her other guests.

  “Yes, my love?”

  “Captain Roper has hit on a famous scheme for our entertainment. He is proposing to invite a party to drive out to Richmond Park with him this Saturday. He would like to include Alice and me if you will be so kind to come with us as chaperone. Do say we can go, please Mama?”

  “The weather has been so fine, Lady Mary, and the park is looking its best at this time of year. I intend to arrange a luncheon at one of the nearby inns, which has a reputation for good food. Would you honour me by being my guest?” Captain Roper smiled at his hostess.

  Kitty’s eyes were sparkling at the prospect of such a treat. She looked longingly at her mother. Alice thought of her own mother, who would not hesitate for a moment to decline any invitation which did not please her. Fortunately for Kitty, Lady Mary was an indulgent mother, fond of her children and pleased to see them happy.

  “What a delightful idea. I haven’t been to Richmond for
an age,” Lady Mary replied. “Thank you, Captain Roper. We shall certainly accept.”

  At that moment a commotion occurred in the passageway outside the salon. Doors opened and shut and several hurrying footsteps were heard.

  “Something is happening, Mama,” Kitty exclaimed. “It’s not like the servants to make so much noise. I wonder what it is.”

  “Elizabeth, my dear, please go and see. The gentlemen will excuse you.”

  Lizzie rose, put down her sewing, bobbed a small curtsey to the guests and walked towards the door. She had only just stretched out her hand for the knob when it opened. Reynolds, the butler, stood on the threshold.

  “Pardon me for interrupting you, my lady, but Sir Edward has sent me to inform you that he has this minute arrived from France.”

  “Good heavens.” Lady Mary jumped to her feet. “How unexpected. Where is he? Why does he not come in to greet us?”

  “He begs you to forgive him, my lady. He says he is not fit to join you in the drawing room in all his dirt. He has gone to change his travelling clothes and will be with you directly.”

  “Thank you, Reynolds.” Lady Mary sank back into her seat. “What a surprise. You won’t have met my step-son, gentlemen. He has been abroad for several years, serving with his regiment. We have been awaiting his return ever since the peace was signed, but this is the first news we have heard from him.”

  “Then we must leave you, Ma’am.” Captain Roper stood up. “We would be de trop in the middle of a family reunion after such a long time apart. Come, Louis. We will look forward to the pleasure of meeting you and the young ladies on Saturday. Sir Edward, too, if he has recovered from his travels by then. Mr. Hardwick, would you also honour us with your company?”

  “Sadly no, though I thank you for your offer. I am too poor a traveller to enjoy such entertainment,” Mr. Hardwick said, much to Alice’s relief. “By your leave, ma’am, I will go too. Captain Roper is right; no one should intrude at this moment, although I hope to make Sir Edward’s acquaintance at a later date. There is something particular I want to say to him. I wish you a very good day.”

  Amid the bustle of the party leaving, the Baron said quietly to his sister, as he shook her hand,

  “Hookham’s Library. Tomorrow at three.”

  After they had left, Alice sank back into her chair and relaxed for the first time that morning. The dreaded visit had passed off without incident. She sat silently as her aunt and cousins talked excitedly about Edward’s sudden arrival. She was intently conjuring up excuses in her mind for going to the Hookham’s tomorrow when the door opened and a stranger stood on the threshold. Since the butler had not announced him, she realised that this could only be Sir Edward himself.

  She blinked, wondering for a moment if she was dreaming. Her cousin by marriage, whom she had never met before, was the embodiment of her childhood dreams. She had been told that he was approaching twenty-eight, eleven years older than Kitty, but he looked more. Perhaps it was the tan of his skin or the faint lines of strain on his forehead. She had a sudden irrational thought that she would like very much to smooth those tiny wrinkles away. He had dark eyes, very like Kitty’s, a straight nose and firm lips below a small cavalryman’s moustache. His glossy brown locks were tied back with a small black ribbon. He was tall, several inches above her own height, so she would be forced to look up at him. She received the impression of great elegance. She was later informed, though, that he patronised Scott, the military men’s choice rather than Weston, who everyone said was a genius and the foremost tailor in London. Despite that disadvantage, Edward’s tailcoat of grey superfine wool fitted his broad shoulders like a glove. Beige pantaloons, highly polished short boots and a small necktie completed an outfit which was complete to a shade, although not quite in the forefront of fashion. He advanced into the room to greet his stepmother.

  “I give you good day, ma’am,” he said as he kissed her hand.

  “I’m delighted you are home at last, Edward. If we had had some warning of your arrival, you would have found us better prepared to welcome you properly.”

  “I didn’t expect to get leave at this time or I would have written to you. When my furlough was granted, I left before the colonel could change his mind.”

  “You have not sold out?”

  “Not yet but I must do so, of course, now that the war is over. The estates need attention or so Eastham writes. I imagine there will be quite enough for me to do since Papa is no longer here to manage affairs. But who are all these grown up young ladies? Surely not little Lizzie and Kitty, without her pigtails and torn dress.”

  “I’ll have you know I have become positively prim and proper now that I am making my come out.” Kitty informed him, pursing her lips. “I am turned seventeen and no longer a child.”

  “Is that so?” He stood back from her and examined her quizzically. “Well, you certainly look as fine as five pence.”

  “Thank you, kind sir.” Kitty dropped him a small curtsey, then laughed and came forward to kiss his cheek. Lizzie, with far less elegance, ran to give him a hug.

  “You will remember your cousin, Alice, from the time we visited my brother at Kirkmore?” Lady Mary asked.

  “You forget, ma’am. I did not accompany you on that visit. I was at Eton, covered in measles and not allowed to travel.”

  “You are right, I had forgotten. It was William who came with us, not you.”

  “How do you do, cousin?” Alice gave him her hand. “I’m glad to meet you now. Welcome back to your home.” She found herself staring, fascinated, into his eyes. A spark of some emotion flared in them but it was gone so quickly, she was never sure she had seen it at all.

  “Alice is also making her come out this season. You have arrived at a very busy time.”

  He smiled. “So I perceive.”

  “Mama’s ball is to be held two weeks on Thursday,” Kitty said excitedly, clapping her hands. “How fortunate you have come home Edward so you can act as the host.”

  He looked quizzical “Can I indeed?” He glanced at Lady Mary. “You know dancing is not my forte, ma’am.”

  “How can you say such a thing?” Lady Mary exclaimed. “You are a most graceful dancer and you must have danced when you were in the Peninsular. We hear stories of all the balls and jollifications Lord Wellington and his officers enjoyed.”

  “I understand that the headquarters staff were well entertained, but I was on garrison duty at Toulouse. The people there were tired of war so there was little gaiety in the town. I have not been to a ball since we left Spain for France.”

  “Never tell us that you have forgotten how?” Lizzie gasped. “Why, as the host, you must open the dancing with the most important lady present, while Alice and Kitty partner the most important gentlemen.”

  “Must I, Miss Mischief?” Edward smiled again. Alice thought it changed his face, making it appear much younger. “Well, I will if you engage to teach me all the latest steps, I will make the attempt.”

  “Who are we to partner, Mama?” Kitty asked. “Is it decided yet?”

  “Certainly both you and Alice must open the ball, but not everyone has replied to their invitations. We will have to wait for now. Remember, it is only for one or two dances and then you may join your friends and enjoy yourselves.”

  “Would you honour me with a dance later on, Cousin?” Edward asked Alice, rather formally. “I undertake to be careful and not to step on your toes.”

  “It will be my pleasure.” Alice smiled up at him, realising how very true the words were even as she uttered them. She thought she saw, for a fraction of a second, an answering gleam in his eye.

  “Good,” said Lady Mary. “I must tell you, Edward, that we are rarely at home these days, we have so many invitations. The knocker is seldom still; we are engaged for most nights in the week. Just this morning, before you arrived, Captain Roper called to ask us to drive out with him to Richmond Park on Saturday. He extended his invitation to you if you should have
recovered from your journey by then and wish to accompany us.”

  “This journey from Dover was as nothing compared to the difficulties of travelling in Spain, but I don’t know this Captain Roper. Who is he?”

  “The son of Admiral Roper. His family lives in Dorset or some such outlandish place. They have been in the Navy forever. Captain Roper commanded the sloop, Black Swan, in the late war, so he was not in England until recently. It’s not surprising that you never met.”

  “Do come to Richmond, Edward. It will be such fun,” Kitty said.

  “Perhaps I shall. I look forward to making Captain Roper’s acquaintance on Saturday. I also intend to visit several of my old friends, now that I have returned, and talk with Eastham, of course. It was his letter that brought me home.”

  “Oh? Not bad news, I trust?”

  “No, but there are decisions which should be made and documents only I can sign. Nothing for you to bother your head with, ma’am, but tell me, is William still up at Oxford?”

  “He comes down in June. He is hoping you will buy him a pair of colours, now that his education is finished and he has attained his majority.”

  “He wants to become a cavalryman, just like you, Edward,” Lizzie said. “He is full of admiration.”

  “Better if he chooses another profession now that the war is over. Promotion is far less likely with all the officers kicking their heels on half pay in peacetime. There will be little left for him to do, but I will speak with him and see if we can settle the issue.”

  The door opened and Reynolds appeared.

  “Luncheon has been set out for you in the blue saloon, my lady,” he said.

  “Goodness, how the morning has flown!” Lady Mary stood up and Edward offered her his arm. “Come, let us go in. Edward must tell about his adventures while we dine.”

  “I like your brother,” Alice remarked to Kitty later. “He is very nice.”

  “When he is in a good mood he is wonderful but you don’t want to see him in a temper, believe me. The scoldings I had from him when I was little! I’m so glad to be grown up now!”