The next day he was tired, though Hester seemed to have recovered her accustomed energy. He almost decided to stay in bed, but Mr. Stevens had sent a message that he would call that afternoon and hoped to meet his granddaughter’s guest, and he did not want to offend the old man.
He told Hester he would not get up until after lunch, being a little fatigued.
“You certainly should go down,” she replied, “though you must not overdo it. You will not wish to remain an invalid for the rest of your life! However, perhaps Grandpapa had best come tomorrow.”
“I am anxious to make his acquaintance,” he told Hester. “Besides, if I want to conquer this weakness, I must exert myself. It is extraordinary how tiring it is to allow oneself to be carried.”
“Your leg is not painful, is it?”
“No, never a twinge. It aches, but Dr. Price warned me that it would.”
“This damp weather is bad for such things. You have become a rheumaticky old man and can discuss your symptoms with my grandfather.” In spite of a resolve to keep a distance, Hester found herself treating him the same as always. He was so easy to talk to. He understood her teasing, did not take offence, and teased her in return. She suddenly realised that it was the first time she had had a relationship with someone she could treat as an equal, as a genuine friend, and made up her mind to enjoy it to the full for the short time he would be there.
Unexpectedly light-hearted, she smiled at him and added, “I expect he will offer you some of his liniment, but I must warn you, it smells atrociously and if you accept it, you will be ostracised.”
“I shall avoid the subject assiduously. What others is your grandpapa interested in?” Mr. Fairfax found himself unaccountably nervous and anxious to make a good impression.
“I expect he would like to hear about your travels. He used to have goods from every part of the world in his shops, and when I was a child he’d make up stories about different countries. I’m sure he would like to know what they are really like.”
“His imaginary world is probably more exciting by half.”
“Not if I am to judge by the tales you have told Rob. They are just Grandpapa’s style, I assure you. He dearly loves a tall tale.”
“Wretch! Has Robbie passed them all on then?”
“I fear he will be sadly disappointed when he goes to see for himself.”
“No, for then he will be older and will be excited by different things. I did not find my journeyings dull.”
* * * *
Today’s excursion was merely down a pair of stairs, but when he was once more settled on the old sofa, he was glad the trip was over. He felt weak as a kitten. However, as he boasted to Hester, he was not dizzy this time.
Grandfather Stevens joined the family for luncheon and was ceremoniously introduced to Mr. Fairfax. To Hester, anxious that they should like each other, they had the air of a couple of dogs, circling warily, trying to decide whether or not to fight. To her relief, they apparently resolved on a truce, and luncheon was an amicable meal, marred only by Robbie’s ghoulish description to Grandpa of the rabbit’s injuries. Alice was on the point of rushing out, handkerchief pressed to white lips, when he was stopped.
“It’s better now, Allie,” he protested indignantly, “so there’s nothing to carry on about. It ate a whole carrot this morning.”
“A carefully washed, scraped, and sliced one,” Hester sighed. “I should have guessed where it disappeared to.”
As soon as the table was cleared, everyone quietly faded away, leaving the two men confronting each other. Perceiving a martial light in the old man’s eye, Mr. Fairfax felt as if he had been led into a Roman arena and abandoned there to face the lion.
Mr. Stevens, never one for roundaboutation, came straight to the point.
“Dessay wi’ your looks ye’re a bit of a ladies’ man?” he queried.
“I’ve had my successes,” admitted Mr. Fairfax with cautious modesty.
“Well ye’ll just stay away from my granddaughters, ye hear me?” The old man was fierce.
“I’ve no designs whatever on the Misses Godric, my good man.” It was Lord Alton who replied, with aristocratic hauteur for which he was immediately sorry.
“No need to take offence, young fella,” said Mr. Stevens mildly, but with no sign of obsequiousness. “Jamie’s a good lad, but there’s no man in the house to watch out for the girls, and a poor sort o’ grandpa I’d be if I didn’t keep me eye on ‘em.”
“Of course, you have every right and duty, sir,” apologised Mr. Fairfax. “I beg your pardon for getting on my high ropes. I am glad to know that someone other than the curate is concerned for them.”
“That mealy-mouthed Pettigrew? What’s he got to say to the matter?”
Mr. Fairfax described his interview with the unfortunate curate, and Mr. Stevens laughed heartily.
“Put him in his place all right,” he chortled. “Alice deserves better nor he, and my Hester promised her ma she’d see her come out proper. She don’t expect nothing like that for herself, though,” he added wistfully. “Only time I regret what I been. But there, if I hadn’t done well in business, there’d be no chance o’ gadding about, any road. Well, I’ve no call to bother ye wi’ such things. Rob tells ye’ve been a travelling man. Have ye been to Jamaica, lad?”
Rapport once established, the conversation rambled comfortably this way and that. It was a couple of hours before Mr. Stevens pulled a huge gold turnip watch from his waistcoat pocket, opened it, and regarded it with a sigh. “Hester warned me not to tire you, and here I’ve been forgetting ye’re an invalid. I’ll be on my way, young man, but first ye’ll kindly tell me who ye really be.”
“I . . . I beg your pardon, sir?” Mr. Fairfax was completely taken aback.
“My Hester’s not had much experience wi’ high society, but I have, and ye’ll not cozen me ye’re nobbut a plain mister. Ye’ve aristocracy writ large all over, and I’d wager a month’s take ye’re accustomed to sit in the House o’ Lords. What’s your game, young fella-me-lad?”
“None, sir. It was a mere whim. A decision made on the spur of the moment when I had scarce spoken to Miss Godric.”
“And your name?”
“Oh, my name is David Fairfax. I did not precisely lie. Only I happen to be the Earl of Alton. I expect you will not understand, but all my life people have treated me as a peer, or at least as heir to one, and I had a fancy to see if I could make my way incognito. Remember, too, that I had just received a blow to the head! I’d not have deceived Hester—Miss Godric—had I known her then as I do now, and now I do not know how to undo my deceit. Shall you tell her, sir?”
Mr. Stevens pondered. “Nay, lad,” he answered at last. “‘Twould serve no purpose as I can see, and ye’ll not be here forever. But my girl trusts you, and I’ll not have her hurt. Ye’ll make mighty sure she’ll not find out.”
“I will, Mr. Stevens. I am truly sorry for all the trouble I am causing.”
“I believe ye, I believe ye, though I’m danged if
I know why! Good day to ye, m’lord. Take care o’ that leg, lad.” He went off shaking his head over the foibles of the aristocracy, or possibly those of the younger generation.
Lord Alton, unmasked, lay back against his pillows with his eyes closed and breathed deeply. Who would have thought the old fellow would be so perspicacious? He’d be danged himself if he knew how he had given himself away.
He found himself as reluctant as ever to have Hester know of his deception. Her grandfather was right; the discovery might hurt her, and that was not to be thought of. It crossed his mind that if Alice went to town for the season, she would inevitably be enlightened and would certainly pass on the news. However, he managed to persuade himself that after a few months back in his usual milieu he would be quite uninterested in the Godrics’ feelings, and anyway, she might not go.
Robbie peeped round the door and saw Mr. Fairfax’s eyes open at last. Purple with suppressed excitement, he burst in.
“Sir! Sir!” he shouted, “there’s a letter come from Aunt Bardry, and we’re all to go to London!”
Chapter 7
Dear Niece,
For the sake of my poor dear Sister, I shall be happy to receive you in Holles Street in the Spring. Your Cousin Sophie will also Come Out next Season so I shall be subject to Great Expence. I understand that a Connexion of your Papa’s is able to defray the Cost of your Season, so that we may hope to rig you out in tolerable Style and contrive an Eligible Match.
Henrietta Bardry.
“You’ll not go, Alice!” The usually restrained Jamie was scarlet with fury. “The dreadful woman to speak so of Hester! I don’t care if she
is
Mama’s sister; this is outside of enough!”
“Oh, Jamie, I do not wish to go!” Alice’s eyes filled with tears. “She sounds so cold, not welcoming at all. I could not bear to be alone in London in such a household, with all of you so far away.”
“Of course you shall go,” declared Hester firmly. “It was your mama’s dearest wish that you should be introduced to polite society. I am sure Lady Bardry is not unkind. I expect she was embarrassed at having to write such a letter.”
“And so she should be! To write to Allie instead of to you and then to address it to ‘Miss Godric’ as though you did not exist!” Jamie, once roused, was not easily mollified. “I call it the height of discourtesy, and if that is an example of polite society, I am sure I cannot guess where it came by the name.”
“Pray do not make me go,” wept Alice. Jamie looked at her in disgust and stalked out to find Geoff and tell him the news.
“My dear, I know you will enjoy it if you will only compose yourself. And I hope we will not be so very far from you. I have not mentioned it before, for it seemed like castles in Spain, but I have been asked to rent out this house for the spring and summer at the most exorbitant rate. Of course, it is Jamie’s house and his decision, but if he should like it, we will all remove to London to be near you, and then go together to the seaside in July.”
Robbie and Susan, who had been interested spectators of the entire scene, jumped up and down and clapped their hands.
“Can we go to Portsmouth, Hester, can we?” cried Robbie. “And see the navy and all the ships and go sailing on the real sea? Oh, please say we may!”
“I need a new dress for London,” pointed out Susan, pastry-cook and saint both in abeyance. “Can we go to Vauxhall Gardens and see the fireworks?”
“Hush, children, hush. Nothing is settled yet, so off you go and let me talk to Alice.”
While Robbie went to inform Mr. Fairfax of the great treat in store, Susan first told Ivy, before running down the garden to Grandpa Stevens’s cottage. Soon the whole household was discussing Lady Bardry’s letter.
James, still in a rage, had given Geoffrey the details of the letter and finding his sentiments on the subject entered into exactly, he was able to calm down.
“Of course Hester is right,” he admitted.”Alice must go. She is such a wet-goose—dripping all over, in fact—but it is the only chance she will have to find a creditable husband. Geoff, should you like to go to London for a few months?”
“Me? You mean all of us? That would be above anything great, to see all the sights—the menagerie at the Tower and the theatres and . . . oh, everything.”
“I should like to go to the theatres,” agreed Jamie, “and to the British Museum to see Lord Elgin’s marbles. Only I cannot like the idea of renting out the house to strangers. However, it falls mighty apropos, and I know Hester would prefer to be near Allie. You wouldn’t believe what they have offered. We should be able easily to afford a small house and a servant in London, and have some over to help with Allie’s expenses.”
“That rankles, doesn’t it? Having Hester pay for her season? You know she wants to do it, Jamie, and I daresay you could not stop her if you tried.”
“I know, I know. But it was damnable of Papa to leave me in such a situation. You do not know the half of it.”
“That we are living on Hester’s fortune?”
“And that her grandfather frequently helps out. She always told me that this house was bought with the proceeds of the sale of the manor, but I know how encumbered it was, and I am certain that Grandpapa had a hand in the purchase. How much I cannot guess,” said Jamie bitterly. “I do not want so much for myself—just my books and a roof over my head—but that I should be unable to provide for my brothers and sisters!”
“You could refuse to let Alice go to London. She does not wish to go.”
“How can I go against Hester’s wishes? Besides, it was what Mama wanted, and it is my duty to see that Alice finds an eligible husband. There are none around here, you must agree. Oh, Geoff, I do not know what to do for the best!”
“Should you object to consulting Mr. Fairfax?” suggested Geoffrey cautiously. “Don’t chew my head off now. He’s not a member of the family, but that will make it easier for him to judge impartially, and he does know us all pretty well. You must admit he’s up to every rig and row, and you need not take his advice, after all.”
“I could never tell him I’m hanging on Hester’s purse-strings!”
Geoffrey cleared his throat. “I—er—I rather think he already knows. You may call me any name you choose and I will deserve it, but I let it drop, oh, an age ago,” he confessed.
“Will you never learn to hold your tongue, you rattlepated, clothheaded . . . !” began Jamie furiously, then paused. “Well, you deserve it, Geoff; only it will make it much easier to talk to Mr. Fairfax, so perhaps I should thank you. Come on, let’s go see him.”
Susan caught up with them as they entered the house.
“Jamie, Grandpa says he’ll watch the house while we are in London, so please may we go? Please?” she begged.
Robbie barrelled out of the back parlour.
“Jamie, when we go to London, Mr. Fairfax will take me to the Royal Dockyard to see the navy ships. Do you want to come too?”
“I haven’t decided yet whether we shall all go or not,” Jamie told them repressively. “Geoff, will you keep them out of my hair while I talk to Mr. Fairfax?”
Geoff bore his protesting juniors off to the kitchen, where Hester had just succeeded in persuading Alice that there was a faint possibility that she might enjoy her London visit.