Chapter 19
Prudence consulted with Emma about Miss Bullivant as Alverston had asked her to keep an eye on the girl; and invitations was despatched forthwith to Miss Bullivant, Mr Alver, Miss Fairlees, Miss Diana Wrexham and her mama, and a Mr Penrose who had danced with Prudence at Almack’s and had struck her as not being quite such a blockhead as some of her partners; and too the young daughters of the family who lived next door to John and Isabella, the oldest of whom was coming out this year and the other two suitable companions to meet Diana being young ladies of fifteen and thirteen. The event was to be an informal rout party with parlour games, the which was made quite clear. The daughter of the manse ought to be relieved that gambling was not to be the order of the day, and George sallied forth to purchase a box of silver or mother of pearl fish, or whatever was available, for the counters of such perennial favourites as lottery tickets and speculation.
“Quadrille and Speculation require some skill in making bids; Lottery Tickets is by far and away a simpler game and we have to make allowances for those of the company who are less clever,” said Prudence. “I doubt Diana will have any trouble; she’s sharp. But Kitty Fairlees is certainly NOT overly blessed with intellect, and Miss Bullivant does not seem much better.”
“Now dear cousin, you must not confuse poor-spirited with a lack of intellect
,” said Emma, gently chiding, “I confess that low intellect seems too to carry with it a sad lack of spirit, but the other way round is not necessarily so.”
Mr Alver, who escorted Miss Bullivant and her guardian harridan, in the form of an aunt who had been indisposed on the day that the fair Clara – such was Miss Bullivant named – had sallied forth alone. Prudence heard
all about the hacking cough that this dreadful continuous fog caused in the unfortunate woman and recommended a syrup of violets obtainable from any good chemist, added to a drink made of lemons and honey, both of which might be readily obtained in London, though the bad harvests had priced honey almost out of the market, and bees were said to be dying of the cold in their droves. The mother of the daughters from next door, Emily, Cecily and Amelia was soon ensconced in cosy chat about ailments and remedies with the older Miss Bullivant.
Mr Alver was full of praise for dear kind Mrs Knightley who was so thoughtful to think of such a wonderful way to help Miss Bullivant meet a few people and find her feet in town; and Emma was relieved that she had retired, in his mind, up a pedestal, as unobtainable goddess who was to be admired rather than adored. Miss Bullivant was a sweet natured girl, not devoid of brains, but totally overset by the onslaught of impressions in the city, and somewhat cowed by them. Prudence drew her out, and discovered that she and her mother and her next sister had made all her own gowns in anticipation of this one Season that she might afford, leaving off trim to the last minute to conform with fashion. She hoped to manage a season on just five hundred pounds with clever economy.
“Papa says that to hanker after fashion and position is sinful” she said wistfully “But Mama says that men have no practicality and must be judiciously ignored. And with good fashion I might manage to marry someone who will see all my siblings comfortably established because I am the oldest of eight surviving children, and all papa’s living goes on keeping Harry at school so it is up to me to find a way to get little Thomas to school as well. And Lucy is
so
good natured to sew for me because she has very little chance of a Season herself you know, unless I can marry someone who can contribute towards it. And I know I should worry more about marrying a
good
man, but one cannot help wishing for someone who is both good
and
wealthy because then mama will not have to worry. She
,
of course, is in Tring with the younger ones; Aunt Charity is very good to be my chaperone. My third sister is named after her, but it is unfortunate, and she is….wanting. But perfectly amiable!” she added hastily.
“I am sure she is a perfectly nice girl and as I understand people with such afflictions are most affectionate
,” said Prudence.
“Oh my
DEAR Miss Blenkinsop, how understanding you are! Yes, it is just so with Cherry – we call her Cherry though papa feels that Charity is a lovely name; I cannot myself, however, agree. Charity is so often given with the wrong motives don’t you think?”
“I think that the naming of a gift of love as charity makes it somehow suspect in terms of the motives
,” said Prudence, “Lord Alverston takes care of his tenants during this long famine but I rather fancy he would be faintly revolted if anyone referred to it as charity; he sees it as his duty and his pleasure to thus take care of dependants.”
“He is a trifle…..frightening
,” said Clara timidly.
“Do you find him so? I have never done so
,” said Prudence, “but then I am wont to quarrel with him, and enjoy the cut and thrust of wordplay in the quarrel.”
“How
brave
you are!” gasped Clara “I should never
dare
to contradict him!”
“Now I think that
you
are a brave girl to come to the city and undertake a venture which you clearly hate for the sake of your siblings!” said Prudence. “And I shall be happy – as will Mrs Knightley, my cousin – to look out for you and to add you to any party we make up.”
“Oh you are
very
good to me!” said Clara, looking as though she was about to cry.
Prudence escaped to greet Diana.
“Miss Blenkinsop!” said Lady Greyling “How kind of you and Mrs Knightley to think of my Diana; it’s so tedious for her in town, but Greyling must keep abreast of
matters and meet with people…..this terrible weather has grave
implications for any landowner, though most
contrive to ignore it and enjoy the Season!”
“Life goes on I suppose
,” said Prudence, “the wise ones maintain their social contacts and take notice of the weather – like Lord Alverston and his horses.”
“My dear, I cannot
believe
he took you behind those wild Astley’s perfoming beasts of colts!” said Georgiana “HOW like Gervase; he said you enjoyed it?”
“I did actually
,” admitted Prudence.
“Well my dear, there’s no accoun
ting for tastes; but you are
not
to let him coerce you in any way!”
“I don’t think he could, Lady Greyling; I’m too stubborn
,” said Prudence candidly.
Georgiana laughed.
“My dear you
must
call me Georgie; all my friends do. I see there are other younger girls?”
“Indeed; Miss Wrexham, permit me to make some introductions.”
Diana beamed at her.
“If you are to call Mama
‘Georgie’ I should think it will be in order to call me Diana. Shall we call you Prudence?”
“I would like that very much, Diana; or Pru to my friends.”
Georgiana kissed Prudence on the cheek and Diana squeezed her hand.
“I should think
,” said Georgiana cryptically. “you will do very well indeed.”
The evening was a great success; and even the older young people soon threw dignity to the wind in the playing of parlour games, with serious Mr Penrose showing remarkable skill with a box of spillikins Emma unearthed and Kitty positively squealing with alternate delight and horror as Arthur Alver’s fox attempted to round up her geese. Alverston dropped in unexpectedly half way through the evening and Diana challenged him to a game of quadrille.
The vision of her elegant brother sitting on the floor with his niece, Prudence, and a selection of young people, bidding for fish and seeming perfectly contented in such unsophisticated pursuit brought a smile to Georgiana’s lips. One day he would make a splendid father.
And then Clara found the courage to suggest an unexceptional form of fortune telling which even her father was not opposed to.
“Tell my fortune then, Miss Bullivant,” said Arthur. She smiled shyly at him.
“You must promise to do
exactly
as I say,” she said.
“Of course!” said Arthur promptly.
“You must lay out a pack of cards around you in a circle first, face down,” said Clara. Arthur complied, adjusting its circular nature critically. She went on, “your past is that you laid out the cards; your present that you are sat surrounded by them; and your future that you are going to pick them up and put them away.”
Everyone laughed, including Arthur.
“Well you caught
me
out with your cleverness, Miss Bullivant!” he said. “Now I shall know how to confound the fellows at Oxford with such an amusing joke!”
The evening broke up early because of the youth of many of its participants and all declared themselves to have had a good time.
“May I call for you with my colts tomorrow, Miss Blenkinsop?” asked Alverston, lingering as he made his farewells. Prudence flushed slightly.
“I should be very pleased to accompany you
,” she said. “And this time I shall mount without your hand so you will not need to take your attention from them.”
“You are a most excellent woman, Miss Blenkinsop
,” he said, kissing her hand.
Chapter 20
Prudence and the faithful – and grumbling –
Hester were ready to leap quickly into the phaeton, Prudence scrambling for herself ; and she received an approving smile from Alverston who was really very firmly occupied with the horses.
“If you had only warned me in advance I should not have placed so severe a strain on your right arm holding them last time
,” said Prudence.
“Ah, well, it was then my own fault!” said Alverston gaily. “No fog today, only a rather penetrating rain; my scarf is at your disposal again.”
“I have brought a white silk one of my own which I trust will afford me even more of a view through it; though I thank you” said Prudence “I have also worn a less stylish but more robust bonnet for the trim on my other bonnet suffered sadly from its ordeal of speed, and the ribbon trimming looked I fear as dissipated as that fellow who accosted me in Bond Street!”
“Dissipated indeed!” laughed Alverston “Though I did not notice when I left you; all I noticed were your fine eyes shining with the joy of the trip.”
“You turn a pretty compliment to make me feel better knowing in what rumpled state I returned,” said Prudence. “I hope that you are not however offended that I do not wear a more modish bonnet to be seen out with you?”
“Why Miss Blenkinsop, it is to my mind far better to dress in accordance with the activity not according, necessarily to fashion; and I should rather by far be seen with a woman in a respectable, if less modish bonne
t than one in a
dissipated
bonnet as must put me to blush!”
She laughed.
“Why, even when you are funning, My Lord, I have to say that I find it hard to believe that you are
ever
put to the blush,” she said.
“Well yes, it was rather a bouncer, wasn’t it?” he said. “I thought we’d head into Kent today; if we tool them as far as Rochester we might manage to get a meal while they rest. The castle is a fine piece of medieval intimidation, which Arthur would doubtless quip makes it one with Aunt Mouser, though I doubt we shall get to look over it. It’s a fine old town however.”
“Well the trip is the pleasure,” said Prudence, “and if we might eat as well, such would be a bonus.”
It was a long drive and the colts were indeed ready to rest and be rubbed down in a coaching inn; and Alverston paid for a boy to help John so that his man would have some time to eat; and arranged for viands to be sent out to him.
The fare was simple but well prepared, a saddle of mutton with dried peas pottage and turnips mashed in a very little butter, the landlord apologising that no new greens were worth eating, not even young dandelions as would never normally be a dish to offer the gentry.
“And turnips hardly fit for human consumption either, but they be what has survived the frosts, My Lord,” he said.
“It smells very well indeed
,” said Alverston, “and your good lady an excellent manager to make do with what there might be!”
He looked grave however as they ate.
“Personally I like turnips,” said Prudence, “but I fancy that we may all be heartily sick of them by the year’s end. Do you have such a thing as conservatories or orangeries, My Lord?”
“I do; though I doubt there may be enough sun to ripen much fruit even under glass
,” said Alverston.