Supervising Sally (10 page)

Phoebe was reading in the drawing-room on the following morning, alone because Beatrice and Sally had both chosen to breakfast in bed, and not yet appeared, when the butler came in, closing the door behind him carefully. He handed Phoebe a card.

‘I told the gentleman I would ascertain whether you were in,' he said, and his voice was stiff with disapproval.

Phoebe, startled, looked at him in surprise, and took the card. What gentleman could wish to see her? And why did the butler seem reluctant to admit him. Then she gasped and understood. It was Reginald Bradshaw, and he never bothered to make himself pleasant to servants. But why was he here? He'd made no mention of plans to visit London. Was her mother ill? Or dead? She could not imagine any lesser disaster that would bring Reginald to London specially to see her.

‘My brother-in-law,' she told the butler when she could speak. ‘Please, show him up.'

She was pacing about the room when Reginald was shown
in, but she went straight to him, ignoring the butler who was followed by a footman bearing a tray with a decanter of sherry and some ratafia.

‘Mama?' she asked, her voice hoarse. ‘Is she all right?'

‘Of course she is. Why the devil should you think otherwise? Jane's an excellent nurse, and the care she is receiving has already improved her health since she left Buxton and those dreadful lodgings you had. I came to ask when you remove to Brussels, and to see the earl.'

‘He's not here,' Phoebe said, the relief at hearing her mother was well soon overcome by puzzlement at what Reginald wanted with the earl.

‘Well, of course, I know he doesn't live here, but I don't have his direction. That was what I came to find.'

‘He's gone out of London for a few days.'

Reginald heaved a deep sigh. ‘How aggravating. When do you go to Brussels? You are still determined to carry out this silly scheme of yours?'

‘Yes, I am. And we leave in a few days. Why?'

‘Are you not going to offer me a drink?'

With tight lips Phoebe poured him some sherry, and then a glass for herself. She needed something stronger than ratafia after the shock she had suffered when she thought her mother might be ill.

Reginald sipped appreciatively. ‘Not bad. Not bad at all. I'm going to Ghent to see this fellow Bauwens who's started a new textile industry. We can do business. So I thought, why not spend a few weeks in Brussels. It's near enough to Ghent. And it would be a treat for Hermione and Dorothy to spend some time there, meeting people they could not meet in Yorkshire. As it happens one of my best customers is staying there and has offered to have us stay at his house. So I need his lordship's direction, if you please, miss.'

Phoebe stared at him in astonishment. She was dismayed
at the thought of possibly having to meet Reginald and his sisters in Brussels, and could not imagine what he wanted with the earl.

‘Jane and Mama will be alone in Yorkshire. You are leaving them alone?' she asked. ‘Will they be all right?'

‘Of course they will. With a houseful of servants, and friends all around. That isn't alone, so don't be missish. Jane is perfectly capable of dealing with everything in my absence.'

‘Yes, of course, I know that. I'm not sure when the earl will be back in London, but if you would like to leave your own direction, I could let you know when he comes.'

‘That won't do. I need to see him at his own house, not wait on your convenience.'

Phoebe, hoping it would get rid of him, gave him the earl's address, and without a word of thanks he turned and left the room.

Oh well, she consoled herself. Brussels would be quite large, and as Reginald did not move in the same circles as Beatrice's friends, there was every chance she could avoid meeting him and his sisters.

Lady Drayton's coachman drove them to the party at a house in Albemarle Street, and said her ladyship had told him to come back for them at eleven.

‘Oh, but that's far too early,' Sally protested.

‘You have been ill, remember, and must not tire yourself,' Phoebe told her, a warning in her voice. ‘I know I will be tired and longing for my bed by then.'

Sally heaved a deep sigh but said no more, and Phoebe congratulated herself. She had hated to do it, but knew that if she were to control Sally's wilder activities, she needed a
hold over the girl. She had reluctantly threatened to tell Beatrice about the attempted elopement if Sally did any other stupid thing while they were in London, and Sally, laughing at her and calling her an old maid, had promised she would be good.

Sally had chosen to wear one of her new gowns, in lemon silk, and despite Phoebe's suggestion that a necklace of gold links plus a silver chain on which depended a single pearl, together with pearl eardrops and several bracelets, were not in the best of taste, Sally had laughed and said she wanted to show Emily her jewellery.

Phoebe herself, conscious of her role as companion, had on a demure gown of dark green, and wore, on a simple gold chain, a locket containing miniatures of her parents. Sally had offered to lend her a pair of coral eardrops, but Phoebe, inwardly shuddering, had declined. She saw she would have to work hard if she were to be proud of Sally's appearance in Brussels, but hoped the girl would learn better taste from seeing what fashionable women of the
ton
wore.

There were a couple of dozen people in the drawing-room when they were announced, predominantly young men and girls, but a sprinkling of older people Phoebe assumed were their parents. Emily rushed up to greet them, and dragged Sally away, saying she must meet some of her dearest friends.

Very soon Phoebe realized the party was mainly for playing cards. As several small tables were being set up Emily, coming back to talk to Phoebe, with Sally and a couple of young men in tow, explained there would be whist for those who preferred it, and in another parlour a table for a game of five-card Loo.

Sally opted for Loo, a game which Mrs Kingston had enjoyed occasionally with her cronies in Buxton. Phoebe had always regarded it as insipid, with no need for skill. Dr Kingston had taught her whist, so she decided to join one of
the tables in the drawing-room while Sally went off with Emily and her friends to the parlour.

It was two hours before supper was announced, and Phoebe was hungry. She had been concentrating hard, and managing to hold her own with an elderly couple and a middle-aged man who complained that there were no good players in the village where he lived, and he had to come to London to be sure of a good game.

They finished the game and rose to go down to the dining-room. As they passed the door to the parlour they heard shrieks of laughter from the Loo players. Emily's mother smiled, commenting that they must be enjoying themselves.

‘Then we will have first choice at the buffet,' an elderly man whose rotund stomach seemed to be encased in creaking corsets, commented.

It was more than ten minutes before the Loo players appeared. They were all laughing, Sally rather loudly, and Phoebe hoped she had not indulged too freely with the wine the footmen had been passing around while the guests were playing.

Sally sat with Emily at the far end of the room, and it was not until a footman came to tell them their coachman was waiting that Phoebe noticed she had removed her jewellery.

‘Have you left any of the bracelets behind, or are they all in your reticule?' Phoebe asked, as they waited for their cloaks to be brought.

‘It's all right,' Sally said. Her spirits seemed to droop as she said farewell to Emily, promising to write and tell her all about Brussels.

They climbed into the coach and settled in opposite corners. Phoebe's thoughts reverted to Reginald's visit. She hadn't previously wondered why he was so eager to see the earl, but now she did, and hoped it would not lead to more contact with him and his sisters in Brussels.

Phoebe pushed the thoughts out of her mind and asked Sally if she had enjoyed herself. ‘It's years since I played whist. I've had little opportunity since my father died.'

‘It was all right. I'm tired,' Sally said irritably, and Phoebe wondered if she had been reminded of George, while mixing with several young men. She was thankful when they reached home and she was able to wish Sally a good night and retire to her own room.

Zachary returned to his house late the following night. It was some time before he could retire, as there were several messages which needed replies, and a long report which had come from Brussels, and which he needed to read before he went to the ministry to receive his final instructions.

On the following day he had to finalize his plans for Brussels, so in the afternoon he went to visit his sister. As he turned the corner into Brook Street he saw a man he didn't recognize being admitted to the house. When he arrived himself the man was still in the hall, demanding to see Sally Benton's parents.

The butler gave him an anguished look, and Zachary stepped forward.

‘Sir, will you come with me? Perhaps I may be able to help you,' he said, taking the man's arm and guiding him into the small parlour.

The man was in his thirties, his clothes were good but rather flashy. He sported several fobs, an enormous emerald ring, a quizzing glass with a pearl-studded handle, and a rather large diamond nestled in his cravat.

‘Are you the jade's guardian?' he demanded, shaking himself free of Zachary's hold. ‘You're not old enough to be her father.'

‘I am not her guardian, but she is staying with my sister. Miss Benton's father is not in London. What did you want with him?'

‘Him, her, anyone who's responsible for her. I want the money I won from the cheating jade; a hundred pounds, it was, which she was supposed to pay me yesterday.'

‘Pray, sir, sit down. I know nothing of this. Let me introduce myself. I am the Earl of Wrekin, and this is my sister Beatrice Lady Drayton's house. You are?'

The man glared at him. ‘My name's Tobias Hill. I let the jade give me notes two evenings ago, when she ran out of money and jewels and couldn't pay her debts. I should have sent her from the table if I'd known she would cheat me.'

‘Ah, I begin to understand. Where was it this took place, and what game were you playing?'

Mr Hill told him, and Zachary nodded his head. ‘Was the play honest?' he asked quietly.

‘Honest! Are you accusing me of card-sharping?'

‘By no means, sir, but was it wise to permit a green girl to continue playing, as you seem to have done, and go on winning large sums from her? Sums which you might have expected her to be unable to pay? And do I understand you also won jewels from her? It does not seem the behaviour of a gentleman.'

‘I wasn't the only one winning from her, but it was to me she gave her notes of hand. If you're responsible for her, I'll take it kindly if you'll settle her debts. Debts of honour, mind.'

‘Pray, wait here. I need to speak to the young lady.'

‘You're saying you don't believe me?' He pulled a bundle of slips of paper from his pocket. ‘Here, look at these if you think I'm lying, add up the total yourself. One hundred and five pounds it is.'

‘I believe you,' Zachary said, ‘but I need to see Miss Benton before we have further discussion.'

He left the parlour and walked slowly up to the drawing-room, where he found his sister and Phoebe.

‘Where is Sally?' he demanded.

‘Welcome, Zachary,' Beatrice said gently, and he gave a rueful grin.

‘My apologies. That chit makes me so angry I forget my manners. I see you are better.'

‘What has she done now?' Phoebe asked.

‘Were you with her at this party the other night, where they played cards?'

‘Yes, but why has that put you in such a pother?'

‘She is being dunned by some fellow I suspect is a card sharp for a hundred pounds she is supposed to owe him.'

Phoebe went pale. ‘There was no gaming there,' she said. ‘Were you with her all the time?'