Jane had thought her blush could not get any deeper, but now she felt like her face was on fire.
“Randolph!” Helen said sharply just as the dowager and Charlotte joined them in the dining room. Helen bit her lip.
“Are you arguing, children?” the dowager asked wryly.
“Of course not, Mother,” Lord Keegain said as he kissed his mother’s cheek. “Good morning. I hope you slept well.”
“As well as I can at my age,” the dowager said. “This cold seeps into my bones.”
“I am sure you will get on once the sun is higher, Mother,” Lady Helen said.
“And we still have the dining room to decorate,” Lady Charlotte added. “The day of the ball will be here in no time. That shall cheer you.”
The dowager’s eyes lit with excitement, and everyone chuckled. Jane was glad the attention was off of her. It was no secret that the Dowager Keegain loved hosting social events and would easily become enthralled with all the details. Charlotte had said it was what her mother did to fill her time, and the lady loved to bring people together. Jane was beginning to get the impression that the Keening family didn’t carry a large concern over social status, but instead, simply enjoyed the good company of close friends and family.
The dowager called for the tea to be heated, as Lord Keegain buttoned his tail coat. “Do find some more of those sausages for the ladies,” Keegain said to the footman, and Jane realized, with no little embarrassment, that she and the earl polished off the entire plate of them.
“I say, Jane. The Beatrams should be here today,” Lady Charlotte said as she laid a napkin on her lap.
“I am excited to see Lady Patience,” Jane replied. “I haven’t seen her since Bath, or Lady Amelia for that matter.”
Lady Charlotte launched into a story about the plans the trio had made for their season, adding the names of several ladies Jane did not know. Jane listened politely, but she knew she would not be a part of those London plans.
12
Lady Charlotte peered out the drawing room window in a most unbecoming way.
“Honestly,” Lady Helen said as she remained seated. “They will not arrive any sooner for your impatience.”
“Is Reginald coming?” Lady Alice asked.
“Lord Barton.” The dowager corrected in a patient voice. “And we shall soon see.”
When a carriage finally pulled up the lane, Lady Charlotte squealed with excitement and announced Lady Amelia and Lady Patience had just arrived in time for tea. Charlotte rushed for the door. Jane was excited to renew her acquaintance with the ladies and hurried after Lady Charlotte to greet them, while the dowager urged them not to run.
Jane remembered her manners and curbed her excitement, but Lady Charlotte bounced on the balls of her feet and hugged her friends the minute the ladies shed their cloaks.
Lady Patience did the same, while Lady Amelia, stood a bit to one side. Ever the duke’s daughter, she was poised and beautiful. Jane was nervous about meeting a duke, but she noted that Amelia’s father, the Duke of Ely, was not with their party.
The two ladies were accompanied by Lady Patience’s family: her parents, the Lord and Lady of Battonsbury, and her elder brother Lord Barton, none of which Jane had met. Hughes invited the group into the house and the dowager did the introductions. The Dowager Keegain flatly refused Charlotte’s request to accompany the group to their chambers.
“Give them a moment to freshen themselves,” the dowager insisted and Lady Charlotte reluctantly agreed allowing their guests to get settled. “And Alice, you need not tag along.”
Alice stuck out her lip in a pout, but acquiesced.
The Lord and Lady of Battonsbury were as different as could be. Lord Battonsbury was tall and nearly bald. Lady Battonsbury was a stout friendly woman with frizzy brown hair. She looked a bit like a sparrow, Jane thought, which was not unusual given the bird-like presence of her daughter Patience.
Lady Patience though was tall as an egret with a swan-like neck, and graceful features. Unfortunately, she had bright red hair which was quite curly and escaped from her bonnet in all directions making her look a bit like a waif no matter how she tried to tame the locks.
Lady Patience’s brother Reginald’s hair could also be called ginger, but it was a dark coppery color rather than so vivid a shade as his sister’s. It fell in gentle waves rather than curls. He was also spared Patience’s freckles which did not seem quite fair. A gentleman who was one day going to be an earl could get by with freckles; for a lady, they were quite gauche. Both brother and sister had their father’s height.
Lady Amelia Atherton, on the other hand was diminutive, and yet, Jane thought for all her lack of stature, there could be no doubt that she was a lady of prominence. She was as short as Jane, but in contrast, her figure was perfect. In fact, Jane thought, Lady Amelia was quite flawless. Even after a day spent crushed in a carriage, her complexion was not flushed, her golden ringlets had not a hair out of place and her eyes were as bright and clear as a blue sea.
She looked like a lovely china doll, a bauble, but Jane knew from her brief acquaintance in Bath, that the lady was anything but. She had a sharp mind and a biting wit. When Lady Amelia entered a room, heads turned. Jane wondered how she, as a simple miss, could shine in the shadow of such a fine lady.
A little later, once they were reacquainted, the young ladies settled themselves at tea with their mothers while the gentlemen took brandy in the drawing room.
Jane wondered aloud where Lady Charity Abernathy might be and listened for the answer. Lady Charity was often found in the company of Lady Amelia and Lady Patience. Jane knew Lady Charity from her friendships in Bath and had hoped that she might accompany the others.
Lady Charity Abernathy reminded Jane of her younger sister, Julia. The two young women could not be more different in appearance, but their forthright manner was the same. The two girls had become fast friends last summer. Lady Charity did not look down upon those of lesser birth because although Charity’s mother had married the Earl of Shalace, she also had humble beginnings.
“Lady Charity was sorry to decline the invitation,” Lady Amelia said. “Her father was not well and the family did not wish to travel.”
There were nods all around.
“That is understandable in this cold,” Lady Charlotte said. “Travel is difficult. Did you stop at the Dovetail Inn?”
“No,” Lady Amelia said with an exasperated sigh. “It burned down.”
“Oh,” Charlotte said sadly. “I did love their pumpkin pastries when we went to London.”
“The effrontery of the place. It was done to spite you, I’m sure,” Lady Helen said dryly, and her mother shot her a look. “Sorry,” she said blushing, although young Lady Alice laughed and nearly spit her tea.
The dowager gave them both a look and they settled into silence.
“We stayed at another inn in the next town called The White Mouse,” Lady Battonsbury explained. “It looked quite nice.”
“But considering the name, we should have been forewarned,” Lady Patience added as she took a sip of tea.
“Whatever do you mean?” Jane asked.
“It was not one mouse,” Lady Amelia said. “There must have been dozens.”
“Hundreds,” Lady Battonsbury corrected. “The things were gnawing half the night. If I hadn’t been so road worn I doubt I would have gotten a wink of sleep.”
“How awful!” Lady Helen exclaimed sympathetically.
“Let’s just say I shall never stop there again,” Lady Battonsbury said shaking her head.
“Not unless they change the name to The Copious Cats,” Lady Amelia suggested and they all laughed.
“I am sorry the trip from London was so unbearable,” the dowager said, “but I am glad you are here now, safe and sound.”
“Yes,” Lady Charlotte agreed. “We are glad you are here.”
“Oh, it was not so terrible,” Lady Patience said. “It was only one night. We stay
ed the first night at the Amesford Arms not far outside of London. You know of it?” she asked.
Lady Charlotte, and her sisters and mother nodded.
“Their service is superb,” Lady Battonsbury added.
“And we had fine weather most of the way,” Lady Amelia agreed. “It only rained a bit just outside of London, and there was no sign of snow until the last few miles, so we did make good time.”
“Yes,” they all agreed.
“But it was rather cold,” Lady Battonsbury said. “I’d forgotten how brisk it might be this time of year.”
“We did stop for warm drinks many times,” Lady Patience said. “So much so, Father said we must press on if we hoped to make it here while the daylight held.”
“And after The Gnawing Mouse, the thought of another unknown inn did make us consider our stops,” Lady Battonsbury said and the ladies laughed.
Lady Patience leaned in with a whisper. “I was fair to bursting by the time we arrived.”
“Too many hot drinks,” Lady Helen surmised and the ladies giggled.
The conversation fell to speculation over whether or not they might have a dusting of snow for Christmas.
The Dowager Keegain directed the conversation to Lady Amelia. “Your father sent word of acceptance of our invitation,” she said.“I expected the duke to accompany you.”
“Father will be here later today,” Lady Amelia assured all. “He had some business to take care of before he followed. He was not far behind us although with all of our stops, I wondered if he might arrive before us.” She laughed.
“Gentlemen should expect a lady’s journey to be broken by stops,” the Dowager Keegain added. “Men would ride straight on until morning without need to refresh themselves, on horseback no doubt.”
“Indeed,” said Lady Battonsbury.
The ladies laughed at her expression, and Lady Battonsbury stirred her tea. “I must say the journey was longer than I remember, Agatha.” She said to the Dowager Keegain. “I am at least grateful that I had good company.” She smiled at Lady Amelia and her daughter. “We passed the time with a long discussion about our plans for your masquerade, did we not?” She nodded to her daughter and Lady Amelia. The ladies both smiled and told of their dresses.
“I cannot wait to see them,” Jane professed and Lady Charlotte and her sisters agreed.
“As soon as you are unpacked we can compare them all,” Lady Charlotte said, and Lady Alice agreed, but her mother belayed the idea.
“Charlotte, I am sure the ladies are tired after their trip and would enjoy a lie down before dinner.”
Charlotte looked disappointed, but nodded. “Of course, if you are tired, I would not want to disturb you.” Jane thought her friend would entirely disturb them if her mother had not forbidden it.
After tea, when Lady Battonsbury went to rest, Lady Patience took Jane’s arm and Lady Charlotte’s. The bright red-head was grinning broadly. “This is going to be so gay,” she said. “I cannot wait for the masquerade.”
“Nor I,” Lady Amelia agreed. “I have never been to a masquerade.” She twirled around and the heavy fabric of her green wool traveling dress flowed like water around her. “It shall be an adventure to be someone we are not.”
“Who shall you be?” Lady Charlotte teased.
“Someone mysterious,” Lady Amelia said with a spark of mischief in her eyes. “Someone interesting.”
13
The ladies spent most of the day catching up on London gossip and Jane felt a bit out of place because she did not know all the acquaintances, but Lady Charlotte worked to include her and soon all they were all talking like old friends. The ladies’ excitement and acceptance lifted Jane’s spirits and gave her courage, but the reprieve was not to last.
Before full dark, Lady Margret returned with her own entourage of friends. All of them were taller than Jane and more comely. A cold supper augmented with hot soup and mulled wine was served for the latecomers which allowed for a mingling of guests after supper. The gentlemen retired to the drawing room while the ladies remained in the dining room, talking in small groups.
Jane did not immediately renew her acquaintance with Lady Margret, but she noted the woman spoke briefly to Lady Patience. The red-head girl returned to their group visibly upset; her freckles were standing out like spots on her pale face. Lady Patience seemed as distressed by the new arrivals as Jane or perhaps more so.
“Patience, whatever is the matter?” Lady Amelia said laying a hand on her friend’s arm, but Lady Patience only shook her head.
“It is nothing,” she said.
Lady Amelia looked from Lady Patience to Lady Margret who stood across the room with her friends. The new group of aloof ladies stood whispering. The word, tatterdemalion was voiced a bit louder than the rest of the conversation.
Lady Patience blushed hotly and Lady Amelia’s face darkened like a storm cloud.
Jane was not truly certain whether Lady Margret’s companions were talking about Lady Patience’s waif-like hair or her own less than fashionable gown. Lady Amelia assumed the former.
Lady Amelia’s eyes flashed fire at the affront to her friend. “I will speak to them,” Lady Amelia decided.
“No!” Lady Patience said catching Amelia’s arm. “Let it go.”
“I could speak to my sister,” Lady Charlotte said hesitantly. “Mother would not condone such behavior.”
“No,” Lady Patience said again. “Leave it be. Let us talk of other things and be merry. I should not wish to allow harsh words to spoil the season.”
Lady Amelia huffed indignantly, but agreed. She turned her back to the other women most deliberately and ignored Lady Margret entirely as if she and her companions were not worth her attention. Lady Margret did the same. Lady Patience and Lady Charlotte became caught up with each other after a while and the slight was forgotten, but Jane noticed that Lady Amelia’s eyes kept straying to Lady Margret.
Perhaps Lady Amelia could not disregard the hurt of her friend, or perhaps she just did not take well to being ignored. In any case, they found themselves gravitating towards Lady Margret and her group, but not so close they might be overheard.
Lady Amelia turned abruptly to Charlotte and said in a low voice, “Charlotte, has your brother set a date?”
Lady Charlotte shook her head to the negative.
Lady Amelia made a short nod and with decisiveness began to move towards the other group of ladies.
Jane, Charlotte and Patience followed inexorably in Lady Amelia’s wake as she approached Lady Margret and her minions.
“Lady Margret,” Lady Amelia said sweetly. “I am sorry. I did not greet you sooner. I must have missed you when we arrived. I thought you would be hostess by now.” Amelia caught both of Margret’s hands within her own, which might have been a friendly gesture, but Jane wondered if it was too keep the lady from escaping.
“Not quite yet,” Lady Margret said in a tight voice.
“Then you have finally set a date?” Lady Amelia said brightly, her oh so white teeth flashing.
“Not quite yet,” Lady Margret repeated tightly.
Lady Margret’s companions shuffled nervously, but Margret did not bother to introduce them.
Lady Patience, ill at ease with the animosity in the room, tried to smooth the way despite the previous insult.
“That is a lovely dress you are wearing, Lady Margret,” she said.
Indeed the dress was exquisite and she wore it well.
Lady Margret turned her attention to Patience for a moment, as if perhaps searching for a complement to return, but Lady Amelia did not let go of her. Instead, she eyed Lady Margret’s dress critically.
“Yes, Margret,” she said. “That is a most attractive dress.”
Lady Margret began to preen at the duke’s daughter’s complement, but Lady Amelia continued and Margret’s face fell. “It fits you so much better now than it did in Town for the coming of the Masters,” Lady Amelia said sweetly.
Lady Helen gasped and one of the other ladies in Margret’s company sniggered, proving they were not as good as friends as Margret may have assumed. Lady Margret glared daggers at her companion and the lady attempted to turn her snigger into a cough. Lady Amelia went right on speaking.
“Have you a new seamstress? You must give me the lady’s name.”
Jane was dumbfounded. Lady Amelia had managed to complement and insult Lady Margret all within the same breath. Jane was unsure if she meant to say her seamstress was of poor quality or to imply that the lady had gained weight. Either way Lady Margret was furious.
Her eyes narrowed, but she said nothing of the slight. “It is indeed a pleasure to see you again, Lady Amelia,” she said tightly as she pulled away from Amelia’s grasp.
“And you,” Lady Amelia said with a full dimpled smile. She turned then, catching Patience’s hand and pulling the lady to her side. She tucked Lady Patience’s hand in the crook of her arm. “You of course, know my dear friends, Lady Patience, and Miss Jane Bellevue.” She gestured to Jane.
Lady Margret stiffened, but she was unable to fail to acknowledge Jane now that Lady Amelia brought her forward. One did not offend a duke, or even a duke’s daughter.
“Of course,” Lady Margret said through gritted teeth.
She introduced her own friends, Lady Ursula and Lady Guinevere, but she turned back to Amelia as soon as was barely polite, changing the subject to one in which Jane could not participate. “The Masters was quite the event, was it not?”
Her companions twittered in agreement.
It was impolite to continue to exclude Lady Patience and Jane, but Jane was unsure what to say as the ladies spoke of music.
“Have you managed the Bach concerto yet?” Lady Amelia asked.
“Of course, but I strive for perfection. There has been hardly a single day where I have not had the chance to play the pianoforte,” Lady Margret said.
Winning Lady Jane: A Christmas Regency Romance (Ladies of Bath Book 0) Page 8