Last Gentleman Standing

by Jane Ashford

  Elisabeth flushed. “No, you are not.”

  “Alas.”

  “Well, if that is the sort of talk you wish to hear,” began Elisabeth indignantly.

  But he stopped her. “It is not,” he said positively, “not at all.” He looked directly into her eyes, a distinct message in his own.

  Elisabeth’s flush deepened.

  At that moment, Lavinia came up to them. “I am sorry to interlope, Elisabeth,” she said, “but I need to speak to you.”

  Elisabeth could not decide whether she was irritated or relieved as she excused herself to go with Lavinia. But Derek was very satisfied with their conversation. As he watched her walk away, a smile played about his lips. He’d learned what he wished to know, he thought.

  When the two cousins were alone, Lavinia said. “It’s Judith. She is just not herself. I don’t understand it at all. I wish you will come and speak to her.”

  Frowning a little, Elisabeth complied. She found the duchess sitting on a sofa on the other side of the room; she was alone.

  Sitting beside her, Elisabeth said, “Are you having a pleasant evening, ma’am? I’ve scarcely seen you.”

  For a moment, it seemed the duchess hadn’t heard her, but then she looked up and favored Elisabeth with an exceedingly sharp glance. “You don’t fool me, young woman,” she said. “Lavinia sent you to me to discover whether I’m all right.” She sniffed. “As if one cannot sit alone for a moment.”

  Much heartened by this characteristic response, Elisabeth smiled. “Perhaps she did. She cares very much about you, you see.”

  The duchess’s expression softened. “I know. And an evening party is not the place to sit and think. You’re right. But I have a deal to think about; I’ve had a most unusual evening.”

  “Seeing an old friend again,” prompted Elisabeth.

  “Indeed.” The older woman’s eyes twinkled wickedly. “Don’t think I don’t know that you’re consumed with curiosity about me and Lucius Aldgate. Nor are you the only one, of course. But I shan’t tell you—not now, at any rate.”

  “I don’t mean to pry into your private affairs,” answered Elisabeth.

  “Oh, no, no one ever means to pry, or to be caught spying about, I should say not.” Seeing Elisabeth’s expression, she said, “Oh, I don’t refer to you, girl. Don’t draw yourself up so.” She smiled a little. “If I tell anyone besides my son, it shall be you, Elisabeth. You are the closest thing to Belinda’s guardian, after all.”

  Puzzled, Elisabeth said nothing.

  The duchess rose. “But not now. I have not got it all straight in my mind. I must speak to some of your guests.” And with these cryptic remarks, she was gone.

  During the rest of the evening Elisabeth had no further chance for private conversation with the duchess, or indeed with any of her friends. She sat for a few moments with Lady Darnell, who had settled herself gracefully on a sofa in the corner. Her youngest daughter she kept beside her, but Aurelia and Portia were sent ranging through the crowd. Elisabeth watched with nettled amusement a scene Lady Darnell enacted several times. One of her older daughters returned to her escorted by a young man. The careful mother evaluated him with one glance and with a flick of her eyelid let the girl know whether he was suitable or out of the question. Elisabeth saw three young men expertly disconnected from the Darnell girls after their test; they were gentlemen of moderate means. However, Portia finally captured a very wealthy man, and though he was five and forty and quite fat, he received every attention from the three women. Augusta, in her first venture out of the schoolroom, found little to do but stare.

  As Elisabeth got up to see to some of her other guests, Lady Darnell seemed to recall something. “By the by, my dear,” she said in her usual languishing accents, “wherever has James gone? You were speaking to him, weren’t you? I haven’t seen him for nearly an hour.”

  “He said something about taking his leave, I think,” answered Elisabeth carefully. She had no wish to expose herself or Lord Darnell to his mother’s penetrating questions. “Perhaps he had another engagement. There are so many evening parties these days; it wouldn’t be wonderful if he had gone on to another.”

  “Nonsense,” replied Lady Darnell very positively. “He would do no such thing. Have the two of you quarreled? James did not seem himself tonight. And last week, when I wished to send the girls to visit you, he positively forbade me.”

  “Of course not,” said Elisabeth lightly. “Why should we?”

  Lady Darnell did not appear convinced. She stared at Elisabeth. “You mustn’t mind James, you know, when he gets into one of his moods. He can fly up into the boughs in a moment, but it is over as fast.” Her voice was commanding. Elisabeth felt a bit uncomfortable, but she had no intention of revealing the truth to Lady Darnell. She nodded pleasantly and started away.

  “Don’t be angry,” Lady Darnell called after her, and Elisabeth increased her pace.

  The rest of the evening passed swiftly. It was not long before the first of the guests came to bid Elisabeth good night, and soon, few were left. Derek Wincannon was among the last to go, and he paused to chat with her for a moment. He complimented her on the success of her party.

  Elisabeth smiled. “Thank you. I’m only glad it is over.”

  Raising his eyebrows, he returned her smile. “Why?”

  “It’s such work playing hostess. I much prefer attending other people’s parties to giving my own, I find.”

  He laughed. “Well, now you can do so with a clear conscience. You have performed your part with grace.”

  Elisabeth sighed. “How can you say so? Belinda’s wedding is only three weeks away. I have just begun my work.”

  “Ah. You are very busy these days, aren’t you?”

  Elisabeth nodded. “We all are. You can’t know how I look forward to the day when it’s all over and we leave for Willowmere.”

  He smiled again. “I can understand that feeling. I also look forward to going to the country. I prefer it.”

  “Do you? I’m not so sure. I enjoy town life too much.”

  “Ah, but you haven’t spent time at Willowmere yet. I think you’ll find the neighborhood very pleasant. We’re pleased to see you added to it, at any rate.”

  Elisabeth colored very slightly. “You are very kind.”

  He looked into her eyes. “Not at all. It is the truth. I, for one, shall find the country doubly pleasant now.” He emphasized the final word.

  Twenty-three

  The next three weeks were a whirlwind of activity. Elisabeth never remembered them later without a shudder. From the evening of her party to the day of the wedding, her life was an endless round of details and crises. When the day of the ceremony dawned bright and warm, she felt only a mixture of fatigue and relief.

  By nine thirty, they were all ready and gathered in the drawing room together for the last time. Belinda looked resplendent in her gown of white satin with an overdress of Belgian lace, and her eyes sparkled excitedly. Tony was also looking well in a new coat of dark blue, his linen snowy and his boots polished to an extraordinary high gloss. Though his shoulder was still a little stiff, this hardly showed in the way he held it.

  Elisabeth’s blue-violet gown became her, and Lavinia was very dignified in dove gray silk. The flowers had just arrived, white roses for Belinda and violets for Elisabeth. As they stood there chatting a little nervously, Ames came in to announce the carriage. Elisabeth looked at the others and smiled, “Well, shall we go, then?” she asked.

  St. George’s in Hanover Square was very busy when they arrived and went through a back entrance. Guests were pulling up to the front in carriages that jostled for position and a chance to add to the crowd filling the interior pews. Elisabeth herself took a deep breath; the occasion was rather impressive when it finally came.

  Of the ceremony, she remembered only a sea of faces
in the church and Belinda’s radiant look as she walked up the aisle toward her. Elisabeth felt almost the proud mama at that moment, and the beginning of tears stung her eyes.

  The wedding breakfast went smoothly, to Elisabeth’s profound amazement. Lady Larenby complimented her on it when she paused to point out that the duchess had come to the wedding with Mr. Aldgate.

  Elisabeth smiled. “I saw. I wonder how they met?”

  The viscountess shook her head. “I am afraid I can’t enlighten you. I admit I asked some of my mother’s old friends, but no one knew anything of a Mr. Aldgate. It’s quite a mystery.”

  “Yes,” sighed Elisabeth.

  “Speaking of mysteries,” the older woman went on, “I finally met your Mr. Jarrett, you know. Maria Coatsworth introduced him at the play last week.”

  “He is hardly my Mr. Jarrett,” responded Elisabeth. “Indeed, I’m not at all certain I like him. He called four times in the last two weeks, and Ames says he was very rude when I refused myself. What can the man have expected? I haven’t had a moment free.”

  Her companion smiled. “Men often find it impossible to understand when a woman is busy with domestic tasks.”

  They were joined by Derek Wincannon, and soon after, his mother excused herself to speak to some of her friends. Derek looked down at Elisabeth and said, “I’ve seen very little of you lately. How are you?”

  “Tired,” replied Elisabeth feelingly. “I’ve been terribly busy.”

  He nodded. “I know. I haven’t called because I thought you would have no time free. I begin to wish I’d coaxed you to take a drive, however. You’ve knocked yourself up with this wedding.”

  “Not quite,” answered Elisabeth, smiling warmly in response to his concerned tone. “But I’ll be very glad to forget it all and leave tomorrow. Your mother has promised me a picnic at Charendon.”

  “Has she indeed? I’ll look forward to that, then, and not plague you now. I’m happy we’ll be seeing one another in the country.”

  As it grew toward noon, the crowd began to thin, and Belinda and the duke made ready to depart. There was a flurry of preparations. The remaining guests followed the young couple to the door and saw them to their carriage. With much waving and calls of farewell, Belinda and her husband drove off, heading for Dover and the boat to France. They were to spend their honeymoon touring the Continent.

  In half an hour, Elisabeth was left in the drawing room with her family and Jane Taunton. She sank down on the sofa and leaned back, sighing. “It’s over. Thank heaven.”

  Jane agreed. “Mr. Jarrett was rather upset not to see you,” she added abruptly.

  Elisabeth turned to her in amazement. “Mr. Jarrett?” she echoed, her tone clearly questioning.

  Jane appeared abashed. “I happened to see him. He mentioned to me that he couldn’t get in to speak to you. He feared you were offended.” Elisabeth began to look indignant, and Jane went on hurriedly. “I told him it was no such thing, of course.”

  Elisabeth was frowning. “Mr. Jarrett certainly discusses me very freely. As you know, I was simply too busy to see anyone.”

  “And so I told him,” said Jane. She rose. “I must go. Until tomorrow, then.”

  “Yes.” Elisabeth held out her hand. “We’re going to have a splendid time, you know.” Jane nodded and took her leave. When they were alone, Elisabeth said to Lavinia, “Imagine Mr. Jarrett speaking of me to my friends. I’m quite out of patience with the man.”

  “It’s ill done of him,” answered her cousin. “So contentious. I’m sorry I ever introduced you to him.”

  Elisabeth shrugged and smiled at her. “Well, it makes no matter. We’ll be gone after tomorrow, and I daresay he may not even be in town next season.”

  Rather to Elisabeth’s surprise, they got off early the next morning. The three ladies rode in her carriage with Tony mounted beside them, and Ketchem, Ames, and some of the other servants followed with the luggage in a post chaise. Growser had once more been relegated to an obliging carter, in spite of Tony’s protests.

  The short journey to Willowmere passed calmly. In a very few hours, Elisabeth was leaning out the carriage window eager to catch the first glimpse of the lane. From the moment she spied the tall stone gateposts, she knew that great changes had taken place. The weeds that had nearly obscured the posts had been cleared away, and the stones themselves had been cleaned. The surface of the lane had been smoothed and the great oaks cut back, and when they pulled up before the broad front door, the alteration was even more marked. Gone were weeds, brush, and untidy lawns. The gardens were neat and filled with early blooms. The grass was cut and rolled, and even the house itself looked brighter, perhaps because each windowpane now sparkled in the afternoon sun.

  These sights galvanized Tony, who rode this way and that, exclaiming and drawing his cousins’ attention to various details. Lavinia and Jane could have no real sense of the change, as they had never seen Willowmere, but both admired it sufficiently to assure Elisabeth that her pleasure was not misplaced. It really was transformed.

  Inside, Elisabeth found more to marvel over. Everything had been thoroughly cleaned, and the covers were gone from the furniture. The beautiful old oak paneling in the hall gleamed richly in the afternoon light, and the fine parquet floor reflected back the glow. There were flowers everywhere, and the new rugs and hangings she’d chosen were in place. The house didn’t seem the same one she had toured with such misgivings. “It’s lovely,” she exclaimed, as they started up the stairs. She turned to the Lewises, who’d come out to greet her. “You’ve done wonders.”

  They made an early night of it after their journey, the ladies seeking their chambers by ten, but everyone was up betimes the next morning, and all the talk at the breakfast table was of walks, rides, and exploring the gardens. Jane planned to sketch the various views the park commanded, and Tony was chafing to try out a new hunter he’d brought from London. Lavinia wished to go all over the house with Mrs. Lewis. Elisabeth walked in the gardens and breathed the scent of early roses that blew across the lawn.

  A week passed full of such pursuits. Tony ran wild across the countryside, blissfully happy to ride the whole day long. He’d designed a training program for Growser which he now put into effect, though no change was evident in that exuberant animal. Jane began to accumulate a sheaf of watercolors and pronounced the country air very conducive to writing as well. Lavinia and Mrs. Lewis hit it off amazingly and were soon deeply involved in the mysteries of calves’ foot jelly and the relative merits of blackberries and currants for jam.

  As they sat in the drawing room after dinner one evening, Ames brought Elisabeth a note. When she tore it open, she found the promised invitation from Lady Larenby within. “How delightful,” she exclaimed. “We are asked to a picnic. And there’s to be a sort of festival.”

  “What do you mean?” put in Tony. “What sort?”

  “Lady Larenby says that there is a tradition at Charendon of holding a celebration when the family arrives from town every year. All of their tenants and household will be there. Her sister and her family are also visiting, so there will be quite a party.”

  “Must we go?” asked Tony. “I thought we had left all that flummery in London.”

  Elisabeth smiled. “Alas. But we shall ride over, you know. And I daresay you might get a tour of the Charendon stables.”

  Tony brightened. “I hadn’t thought of that. All right. Let’s go.”

  Elisabeth laughed. “On Wednesday next, we shall.” She looked at Jane. “Will you scold me? I promised you that we wouldn’t fill our time with parties. But surely this is an exception? Will you come?”

  Jane nodded. “Of course.” She didn’t smile, but Elisabeth didn’t press her further. She’d done everything she could think of to make Jane comfortable, she thought. The girl might try harder to enjoy it.

  When they arrived at Chare
ndon the following Wednesday, they were cordially greeted by Viscount Larenby near the front door. “Don’t dismount,” he said. “I stationed myself here only to take you on to the festival field.” He mounted, and soon they were all riding around the house.

  Elisabeth rode beside the viscount. “Is it far?” she asked him. “We might have gone directly there and saved you waiting.”

  “Nonsense. It’s no distance at all, and I wished to escort you. In fact, I cut out Derek for the privilege of seeing your face when you first glimpse the spectacle.”

  She smiled. “Is it very impressive?”

  “It is, really. Last year, the vicar’s son organized all my tenants for a medieval tournament. He’s quite a scholar, you know, and he arrayed every farm worker and village maid in tunic and gown.”

  “I had no notion it was to be so elaborate,” laughed Elisabeth. “What is the idea this year? Should we have come in costume?”

  “No, no. It’s all organized by the neighborhood. I have nothing to do with it and am always to be surprised with the program. I cannot tell you what they have gotten up this year. But since Daniel, the vicar’s son, has gone off to Oxford, I fear you may be disappointed. Most likely, there will be no great show but only a bit of dancing and a picnic.”

  “It sounds delightful.”

  “I hope you’ll enjoy it. Did you have a pleasant journey down from London?”

  “Oh, yes, and my arrival was even more pleasant. You must come to see what they’ve done at Willowmere. It is utterly changed.”

  “So I have heard from my agent. I look forward to viewing the marvels he describes. You are the heroine of the neighborhood, you know, for the wonders you have wrought there and, more important, the work you have provided.”

  “I’ve done nothing, really. It’s all Mr. Lewis.”

  “You commanded it all, however, as your uncle never did. I daresay you may find yourself cheered this afternoon.” He smiled at her surprised look.

  “Goodness, do you think so? That will be a new experience.”