“I shall be there, but it will be no big affair. The season is barely started, and London is still very thin of company. In spite of that, I daresay Miss Alice will be swamped by admirers. I scarce look to be happy enough to obtain her hand for a dance.”
“I am sure she will save one for you. She must still have little acquaintance in society.”
“With a face and figure like hers, she will not long be wanting. How are James and Geoffrey? They are generally absent when I call.”
“They have not yet exhausted the sights. Every day they come home with tales of new wonders.”
“And have you no curiosity to see those wonders?”
“There are certainly a number of places I should like to go, including Rob’s wild beasts at the Tower, but I cannot bring myself to walk through those excessively busy streets.”
“Hester, allow me to escort you in my carriage. I assure you it will not be remarkable. If you wish, perhaps we might take up Alice and her cousin, the freckle-faced chit, and I daresay my nephew George could be prevailed upon to accompany us. In general the ton are shockingly ignorant of the monuments and points of interest of the city, and it would do them good. Come, you cannot refuse me.”
Hester was not sufficiently conversant with the foibles of society to know whether Lord Alton might with propriety invite her sister without her. Considering the proposed party, she saw that she would be acting the part of a chaperone. It seemed unexceptionable, and she was loath to put a rub in the way of his lordship’s wooing, though she had rather not be present to see it. Other considerations aside, it sounded like a delightful outing.
“Thank
you,” she said. “I shall look forward to it. I take it you are not as uninformed as the generality of the ton upon the subject?”
“I shall purchase a guidebook,” he answered, smiling. “I shall speak to Lady Bardry tonight and arrange a date. Is there any time that would not be convenient for you? Then with your permission I shall call tomorrow afternoon to discuss our plans.”
“By all means. David, I heard what you and Mr. Rugby were speaking of when I came down, and it reminded me of the time you told me about the Regent’s creaking corsets. There is a rumour that he has now abandoned them. It is shockingly indelicate to ask, I know, but is it true?”
“I’m very much afraid it is. Prinny has left off his stays. The loss of his daughter quite took the heart out of him, and he has lost interest in appearances. Temporarily, one must hope. I believe he is a horrid sight! Well, Barney, how is Mosquito?”
Mr. Rugby entered with his arm about his wife’s waist.
“In fine feather,” he declared, “having lunched upon a sparrow. Master Robbie cannot approve of her catching anything but mice, and of that he seems uncertain. I must say I find it hard to believe she can catch anything. at all with one limb missing.”
“Nor does Mistress Dora approve of feathers in the soup,” added Bella. “In fact, Mosquito received a rare trimming from all sides. Hester, Susan ate the custard and is sleeping. The poor child seems to miss her grandfather excessively, and Miss Alice not a little.”
“She was always particularly fond of Grandpapa,” Hester agreed, frowning, “and a good deal in Allie’s company, of course. Do you think she is pining?”
“I would not put it so strongly. But I have noticed before that some children take it very hard when they are parted from familiar things and places, like a wildflower that withers away when you transplant it to your garden, despite the tenderest of care. I hope you will not think me interfering.”
“Of course not, Bella. I am grateful for your insight. I must consider what to do for the best.”
“And we must be on our way. Barney, David, bless you for introducing me to Hester. We shall meet again soon, my dear.”
Even as she pondered Bella’s analysis of Susan’s ailment, Hester silently echoed these words. Her worry receded before the joy of finding a new friend. She could not ask for a better friend than David Fairfax, but between a man and a woman so much must remain unsaid, and since she had foolishly lost her heart to him she had had to be even more circumspect. Nor could she trouble a gentleman with day-to-day worries about her family. With a female friend, she could speak openly, discuss her problems, ask advice. A new world opened before her, and she even wondered momentarily whether she might confess to Bella her love for Lord Alton, though the idea was soon dismissed.
She was completely unaware that no confession was necessary. Bella had not been in the same room with the pair for more than ten minutes before she would have taken her oath on their mutual attachment. The secret was safe with her. Fond as she was of David, she had no intention of setting him up in his own conceit and rendering his task too easy. Let him court Hester in form and lie awake nights wondering whether his lavender lady would ever return his affection. Knowing Bella’s love of the romantic, her husband had not failed to report the bunch of withered lavender that had worked its amazing transformation on his friend.
He, too, was now convinced that the affair was serious. Not that he had any inkling of the lady’s feelings, but the astounding sight of the Earl of Alton on terms of intimate friendship with a grimy eight-year-old had clinched the matter in his eyes. David was in love!
Chapter 12
By the time Lord Alton arrived on Sunday afternoon, Hester had made up her mind about Susan. For once the whole family was present. His lordship had brought Alice, and even the invalid was below stairs, bundled up in a quilt.
“I’m going home to stay with Grandpa,” she cried joyfully as Bessie ushered in the visitors. “Hester had a letter from him yesterday saying he misses us dreadfully already. Jamie is to take me on the stage on Tuesday.”
Alice’s eyes filled with tears. “Oh, Susan, you will be so far away. Only think how you will miss Hester and the boys.”
“Allie, dear,” said Hester, embracing her, “it is all settled. Susan is not well here, and we will see if she goes on better in Henley. Excuse me, Lord Alton, for not greeting you at once. One forgets that you are no longer one of the family as you were in Henley.”
“Must I break my other leg to regain my position? I wish you will not ask it of me, for then we should be forced to forgo our outing. Miss Alice and I laid our plans last night at Orpington House and persuaded Miss Bardry and George to join us. I have purchased a guide, but perhaps James and Geoffrey now feel themselves qualified to instruct us on where to go.”
“Yesterday we went to the—” began Geoff. Jamie kicked his ankle.
“Hester will wish to see the Tower,” he interrupted, throwing his brother a minatory glance, “and Vauxhall Gardens.”
“And the docks,” put in Robbie.
“It’s a grown-up party,” Susan told him. “They won’t want to look at boats.”
After some discussion, Hester, Alice and Lord Alton agreed on an itinerary.
“Will Thursday suit you, Miss Godric?” his lordship asked at last. “I must go out of town for a day or two on Tuesday. As it happens, I shall pass through Henley. Will you allow me to drive Miss Susan to her grandfather? I should be happy to renew my acquaintance with Mr. Stevens.”
“I am sure he would be pleased to see you, but you must not go out of your way. Jamie may very well escort his sister.”
“I assure you it is not the least out of my way.”
Since I must in any event call on your grandfather soon
, he added silently. “Susan, should you not like to keep me company on my drive?”
“Oh yes, sir. Shall you take the curricle? That would be beyond anything great.”
“If it is fine and Miss Godric is not afraid that you will be chilled.”
“Hester, say I may! Please? Think how surprised Grandpa will be to see me arrive so grandly!”
Hester found it impossible to refuse, though she suspected Lord Alton of fabricating a nonexistent errand. She had not been entirely easy about allowing her little sister to travel with only Jamie as escort. However willing, he did tend to be absentminded. Not that she imagined his lordship could have guessed her misgivings. She must be glad that his love for Alice joined with his natural kindness to make him so solicitous for her family.
“Allie, you have not told us about your grand party last night,” said Geoff. “Did you enjoy watching the toffs dancing?”
“Indeed I had no opportunity. Everyone was so friendly and obliging that I had no leisure to observe.”
“Miss Alice danced every dance,” Lord Alton corroborated, “and had to disappoint a throng of admirers. I was fortunate to secure her company for supper. And if others were obliging—which is possible, I suppose—then she herself was the soul of benignity, for she would not stand up until her cousin was provided with a partner.”
Alice had not the least idea of the meaning of “benignity” but recognised a compliment when she heard one and blushed becomingly.
“I am glad she was capable of thinking of others while enjoying herself,” said Hester approvingly. “I would wish her to have a kind heart more than any amount of social success. But I confess it is very gratifying to know you were so sought after, Allie.”
She would have liked to enquire whether her sister had found any of her partners especially attractive, but it did not seem tactful to do so in Lord Alton’s presence. Alice was looking particularly fetching in a walking dress of canary yellow jaconet muslin trimmed with mull, all her own work from a fashion plate in Ackerman’s
Repository of Arts,
and Hester wished she had seen her in her evening gown. Suddenly she felt dowdy in her old kerseymere round dress. She had never had time or inclination to hanker after finery, but now she wondered how she would look arrayed in the first stare of fashion. A tiny sigh escaped her unnoticed as she decided it would be wasted on her face and figure, even if the expense were not out of the question. Abandoning unprofitable daydreams, she joined in the general conversation in time to hear Jamie bemoan the fact that he and Geoff had nearly exhausted the respectable amusements of London.
“Though I shall happily return to my books,” he added. “I have sadly neglected them this fortnight. But Geoffrey has not that occupation, and he can hardly do much gardening here.”
“I’m sure I shall contrive to amuse myself,” said Geoff shortly. “Just because I am not a swot doesn’t mean—”
Seeing Hester about to intervene to head off an incipient quarrel, Lord Alton broke in.
“Geoff, I wish you will consider exercising my horses occasionally, and James also, of course. I have little time for riding at present, and my groom, Jerry, has been complaining that Jettison and Orangepeel grow fat and lazy and he is too busy—”
“Why is it called Orangepeel?” demanded Robbie. “That’s a funny name for a horse.”
“His dam was Orangeblossom and his sire Repeal. Blossom was my mother’s horse. Jettison is really more interesting as a name. He is not named after his parents, but he is black as jet, and in early youth he had the unfortunate habit of throwing off anyone who had the temerity to mount him.”
Geoff and Jamie laughed, but Robbie had to have the joke explained to him. Even after this, Alice was left looking rather blank.
“I hope he does not still behave so naughty,” she said anxiously. “Geoffrey might be hurt if he fell off.”
“No horse can throw me,” boasted Geoff unwisely. “Besides Lord Alton would scarcely keep in his stable a horse with such a habit. May I really ride them, sir?”
His lordship assured him that he would be doing a favour, while Hester began to wonder how she had ever contrived to manage her family without his assistance. It was an unwelcome thought. She was used to believing herself capable of bringing up her brothers and sisters by herself, and she might not count on his continued help if Alice rejected him.
* * * *
Tuesday proving fine, Susan departed in Lord Alton’s curricle at nine o’clock in the morning, well wrapped in a fur rug and with a hot brick at her feet. Mr. Stevens had been warned of their coming, and they reached his cottage in time to partake of a nuncheon prepared by Ivy Hewitt.
“And how’s the leg, yer lordship?” she enquired.
“It still hurts me when it is cold and damp,” he answered, anxious not to disappoint her.
“Artheritus setting in. Be crippled afore yer forty, mark my words, just like Tom Black’s cousin’s ma.” To his relief, she did not also produce any young girls who had pined their way into the grave, though she did hurry Susan off to bed right after lunch.
Mr. Stevens had heard all about his lordship’s quarrel and reconciliation with the Godrics, and did not believe in raking over old coals.
“It’s kind o’ ye to bring our Sue down, m’lord,” he said. “Hester says ye’ve another errand, so I expect ye’ll be on your way.”
“To tell the truth, my other errand was to you,” confessed Lord Alton. “I’ve come to tell you that I wish to marry Hester.”
The old man did not bat an eyelid. “Ye’re asking my permission to court her?”
“No, I’m afraid not. Informing you of my intentions, rather.”
“Hester’s not said owt to me o’ this.”
“I’ve not said anything to her yet. You see, sir, she is used to looking on me as just another nursling. I must make her see me as a real person, as a man, before I can even begin to attempt to win her affection. Besides, I rather think she has an understanding with the Reverend Collingwood, so that I have a rival to consider.”
‘Ah,” said Mr. Stevens cryptically, “that’s as may be. Well, lad, ask it or no, ye’ve my permission, which is more nor this Collingwood ever sought. ‘Tis little I saw o’ the young fella, but he struck me as a milk-and-water chap. Our Hester has a mind o’ her own, and it’s my belief she’d do better wi' a man o’ spirit. There, m’lord, ye’ve my vote along wi’ my permission. So now it’s up to you to persuade the lass.”
“Thank
you, sir. I’ll do my best, I assure you. The thought of losing her does not bear contemplation.”
“I’ll not push her, mind!”
“I do not expect it. The knowledge of your support is all I wanted. Now, how about a game of draughts?”
Lord Alton drove back to London that afternoon perfectly satisfied with his journey.