The Five-Minute Marriage (14 page)

“
But then,
”
said Gareth grimly,
“
my uncle will get wind of the matter! And he will realize that it was all a take-in! And what will his feelings be
then?
No, I fear we cannot have recourse to a dissolution.
”

Delphie gazed at him, silenced. After a short pause, she said, blankly,

“
You mean that we are married and must remain so?
”

“
That is precisely what I mean! We can do nothing until my uncle dies.
”

Delphie began to be extremely angry.

“
I never heard of anything so outrageous in my life! It may be all very well for you—I understand that you—that your circumstances—that you were in no particular hurry to enter the married state. But what about
me?
What about
my
circumstances?
”

“
Well? What about them?
”
inquired Mr. Penistone, giving her an annoyingly cool appraisal.
“
Do not tell me, Miss Carteret, that if you had had a devoted admirer waiting to drag you to the altar, you would have been quite so willing to take part in that piece of play-acting last week! Every feeling would have been offended.
”

“
Every feeling
was
offended,
”
snapped Delphie.
“
And—as it happens, sir—there
is
a gentleman whose proposals I am considering at this moment.
”

She glared challengingly at Mr. Penistone.

“
W
h
at am I supposed to say to
him,
pray?
”

“
Oh, well, of course,
”
said he after a moment or two,
“
that does put the case on another footing. I regret the predicament that you are in.
”

“
You cannot regret it more than I do, sir! But what, if I may ask, are the circumstances relating to yourself, which make it so imperative that you retain your uncle
’
s favor? At such a cost to us both?
”

“
I am not at liberty to discuss that aspect of the matter,
”
he said curtly.

“
In that case,
”
remarked Delphie, in a voice shaking with indignation,
“
I see no purpose in continuing this discussion. I shall wish you good day, sir.
”

“
You forget,
”
he said, a smile of annoyance curling his lip,
“
that, as we are now man and wife, I have authority over you. I may remain here, if I choose—even take up residence.
”

“
You are no gentleman if you choose to do so!
”
Delphie fairly blazed at him.
“
Let me tell you, sir, that I would sooner be married to—to that piano, than to you! Please take your departure, before I am obliged to call my friends from downstairs!
”

“
Calm yourself, miss—ma
’
am; I
am
going, directly. But I fear that it may be necessary for us to meet again at some time to discuss the—our situation,
”
he said stiffly.
“
Rest assured that I
bitterly
regret the necessity—quite as much as you may, indeed! I have not the least wish to force myself into your company, I assure you. But nonetheless I think I should give you some direction to which you can apply in case you need—in case you need to talk to me.
”

“
A most unlikely contingency, I dare say!
”
said Delphie as he wrote an address on a card, which he then laid on the piano.

“
Oh!
”
she said, reading the address on it, which was in care of a bookseller
’
s, in Shepherd
’
s Market.

“
You seemed surprised, ma
’
am?
”

“
I had thought—but it is of no consequence,
”
said Delphie, who had recollected Lady Dalrymple saying—
”
Lives with his mistress in a house in Curzon Street.
”

He misunderstood her.

“
I do spend some part of my time at Horsmonden Manor, but business affairs, at present, keep me for the most part in London.
”

Gaming, no doubt, thought Delphie. She remarked coldly,

“
It is of no consequence to me how you pass your time, cousin. Allow me to wish you good day.
”
She then somewhat spoiled the flow of this peroration by adding,
“
Oh, but what about your ring? Had you not better have it back?
”

“
It seems to me,
”
he said,
“
that you had best keep it for the present. It was my mother
’
s ring. I am sure it can come to no harm with you.
”

“
I will keep it tied up in a handkerchief,
”
said Delphie.

He bowed stiffly and took his leave. At the door he turned to say,

“
By the by, I greatly enjoyed your singing the other evening, cousin. Your performance was delightful.
”

Then he closed the door and she heard him run down the stairs.

Delphie was divided in mind between a wish to sit down and indulge in a burst of tears, and an irrational desire to observe Mr. Penistone from the window as he walked away down Greek Street. Fortunately, she decided on the second of these alternatives, for when she looked out, she saw that Mr. Browty
’
s carriage had returned, and her mother was just alighting, with his assistance. Reflecting how extremely awkward it would have been if the pair of them had returned to find her in a crying fit, Delphie made haste to get out the bread-cake and bottle of sherry, which was all they had to offer visitors. But when her mother came in, she was alone; Mr. Browty, with most distinguished consideration, had seen her as far as the door and then returned to the carriage.

Delphie could not but be relieved.

Mrs. Carteret was in excellent spirits, and full of chat as she returned to her fireside seat.

“
A most engaging man—not
quite
a gentleman, perhaps, but so full of consideration!—most truly thoughtful and obliging! Had promised to return and take her for another outing whenever she wished it—had said
he
greatly enjoyed the drive too—full of interesting conversation—tales of his life in the East—described the house in Russell Square, also—quite a curiosity to see it, she must confess!
”

After she had been settled in her chair for a little while, occupied in gazing happily at the flames rather than returning to her previous lists, she suddenly remarked,

“
Philadelphia!
”

“
Yes, Mamma?
”

“
Such a curious thing! You remember the other day we were talking of my cousin Gareth Penistone, who died in the Peninsula? Well, I really believe I must have seen his ghost! But what could the ghost of my cousin Gareth have been doing walking down Greek Street?
”

8

Greatly to Delphie
’
s relief, four or five days passed without incident after Mr. Penistone
’
s visit to Greek Street, and his shattering announcement that he and Delphie were married in good truth. Mr. Browty twice took Mrs. Carteret driving in the park, but on neither occasion did he come upstairs; and beyond repeating what a charmingly considerate man he was, and how agreeable the park had looked, Mrs. Carteret had nothing remarkable to report of these excursions; the notable result of them was in the improvement of her health and spirits. Her energy seemed to be redoubled after each airing; she began to perform small tasks about the house again, and Delphie
’
s only anxiety was that her mother might recommence her former undesirable habits, such as spending too much time and money at the ladies
’
gambling saloon in Orchard Street, or placing wild lavish orders at grocers and booksellers. But so far all was well.

Delphie
’
s own spirits, however, remained in a very considerable state of perturbation, which she did her best to conceal from her parent. She still had been unable to come to any decision as to what answer she could make to Mr. Browty. She was persuaded that she must refuse him—how could she not, since she was married already?—but what reason for doing so could she give him? She felt that he deserved the truth from her—but how could she tell it? To do so would be to give away Mr. Penistone
’
s part in the matter. Still—she sometimes thought—what
right
had Mr. Penistone to exact such secrecy from her? He had done little enough for her, in all conscience.

And yet she felt a decided reluctance to betray him.

She could, of course, merely tell Mr. Browty, as she had done already, that she thought they would not suit. But to Delphie
’
s scrupulous conscience this smacked of hypocrisy, not to say downright dishonesty. For in many ways, after thinking it over, she was bound to admit that they would suit very well. She was not blind to the fact that this was so. There was nothing romantic about Mr. Browty, but she felt that she could learn to love him for his unfailing kindness and good humor, for his practical abilities, even for his clumsy, but endearing sense of humor. As a father she knew him to be kind but firm; he was fond of his girls, but they were not overindulged. And he seemed disposed to take the same amiable care of Mrs. Carteret; he had shared little jokes and arranged small treats for her on their excursions; Delphie felt quite certain that her mother would receive the most kindly welcome if she should become a member of the Browty family.

It seemed almost wicked to turn her back on all this kindness and good fortune which merely awaited her acceptance!

Consequently Philadelphia gave her lessons, performed her household tasks, and attended to her mother, with a very heavy heart.

Of the fifth day she chanced to return home from giving a lesson to a pair of sisters in Westminster, just in time to see an exceedingly well-dressed young lady entering the Baggotts
’
millinery establishment. The lady was wearing a French cambric dress adorned with knots of blue velvet ribbon, a Zephyr cloak, Roman boots of blue Denmark satin, and a Lavinia chip hat, tied down with ribbons to match those on her dress. Even Delphie
’
s low spirits rose a little at such an elegant vision, and at the thought of the handsome purchase that the lady must be about to make from the Baggotts—very probably she might buy as much in ten minutes as they were used to sell in the whole of a day.

What was Delphie
’
s surprise, therefore, on entering the shop, to hear the young lady demanding, in a loud and somewhat arrogant voice, whether or not a Miss Carteret lived here. As she did so, she glanced impatiently around the shop, and her supercilious glance met that of Delphie.

“
I believe I am the person you seek,
”
Delphie said with quiet civility, moving forward.
“
How can I serve you, ma
’
am?
”

Inwardly she was entertaining herself by wondering what need
this haughty stranger could have of her. The young lady did not look as if she were capable of demeaning herself sufficiently to take lessons and pay deference to the bidding of a teacher; but yet she did not look old enough to possess children of an age for music lessons. Putting aside her fashionable accouterments, she was handsome in a somewhat stolid way, with round blooming cheeks, a straight nose, a full chin, china-blue eyes, which held a decidedly disparaging expression as she glanced about her, and a profusion of light brown ringlets, elaborately dressed.

“
You
are Miss Carteret?
”
said the young lady.

The disparaging glance swept up and down, subjecting Delphie to a complete scrutiny, from her basket willow bonnet to her sprig-muslin skirts.
“
Oh! How very—how very queer it all seems!
”
She stared about her with apparent disgust, and said impatiently,

“
Is there no place where we can be more private than this? I did not bring my maid with me, and I am not minded to stand talking in a shop!
”

“
Pray step upstairs, ma
’
am,
”
said Delphie politely.
“
Allow me to lead the way.
”

When they reached the small, neat apartment, Delphie offered the visitor a chair.

“
Thank you—I prefer to stand,
”
she replied.
“
I hope my business need not take long.
”

And again she surveyed Delphie, in her muslin dress, dark blue jean half boots, and shabby shawl, with a kind of astonished disdain.

She said,

“
I understand that you pass yourself off as Miss Carteret?
”

“
Pass myself off? I
am
Miss Carteret,
”
Delphie replied, surprised, but with a dim inkling of what might be to come.

“
How
can
you be?
”
demanded the other in an angry tone.
“
I am Miss Carteret!
”

Delphie
’
s ready sense of the absurd betrayed her into a small smile, which increased the young lady
’
s look of indignation.

“
Excuse me!
”
Delphie remarked.
“
But surely there must be room enough in the world for more than
one
Miss Carteret? Or is the breed so singular?
”

“
You are pleased to jest, ma
’
am, but it is no joke, after all! I understand that you have had the effrontery—the indecorum—the extraordinary pretension—to go through a form of marriage with
my
husband!
”

“
If he is your husband,
”
Delphie pointed out,
“
it cannot be possible that I have married him.
”

“
When I say
husband
,” the
young lady amended,
“
I should explain that the arrangement between us had not yet culminated in matrimony, but was of such a long-standing, binding, and thoroughly predetermined nature that its claims were equally strong! We have been promised to each other by family consent from earliest youth. I have considered him as my spouse, any time this ten years. When we met, it has been on this footing. And now
—
to have the arrangement overset by a nobody—by a vile pretender without respectable connections—by a vulgar
upstart
—this passes the bounds of what may be borne!
”

The young lady
’
s unconciliating manners were beginning to offend Delphie, and she was greatly tempted to reply,

“
Yet it seems they must be borne, since, apparently, the gentleman has not been so decided in considering
you
as
his
spouse!
”

But as this was not exactly the case, and as there would be no purpose in merely bandying words, and sending the affronted young lady further up into her high ropes, Delphie temperately answered,

“
Am I to conclude that the gentleman you refer to is Mr. Gareth Penistone?
”

“
Who else? I have been affianced to him forever!
”

“
And may I inquire from what source you have the intelligence that he and I are married?
”

“
That is of no moment!
”
she irritably answered.
“
I have it on good authority, however. In any case, I am not here to be questioned by you, ma
’
am!
”

“
What are you here for, then?
”
Delphie politely inquired.

“
I am here to demand that this disgraceful, improperly fadged
-
up arrangement be instantly annulled and set aside!
”

“
As to that,
”
Delphie replied,
“
even should I wish to oblige you
—
which, in consideration of your insulting language and wholly unpropitiating demeanor, you have no right to expect to be the case—it is quite out of my power to take such a step unless the gentleman agrees. And I am informed that there are reasons why he wishes
not
to take such a step. However, it seems to me that your best recourse is to make application to him. If the bond between you is as strong as you claim, you will surely have no difficulty in persuading him?
”

The young lady drew herself up even more rigidly.

“
I am not accustomed to being treated in this way! You provoke me beyond all reason! In any case,
who
are you? How dare you lay claim to the name of Carteret?
”

“
I claim it by right,
”
Delphie shortly answered.
“
My father was Captain Richard Carteret, of Barham, in Norfolk, who died in 1797 at the Battle of St. Vincent. My mother is Mrs. Elaine Iseult Carteret, daughter of Lancelot, Fifth Viscount Bollington; she married Captain Carteret in 1784.
”

“
That
cannot
be true! That
must
be a monstrous piece of falsehood!
I
am all those things! Those were
my
parents!
”

“
Then there are two of us,
”
Delphie answered, with an endeavor at calm, though her heart was beating rapidly.

“
I have been brought up all my life—supported by my great
-
uncle Mark—in the knowledge that I was Miss Carteret!
”

“
Perhaps we are sisters?
”
suggested Delphie doubtfully, though she could see or feel no resemblance between herself and this arrogant girl.
“
May I inquire your age—the date of your birth?
”

“
I do not see what business it is of yours,
”
she resentfully answered,
“
but I am twenty-three. I was
born
in 1793.
”

“
Then I do not think we can be sisters—unless we are twins, which seems improbable in the highest degree,
”
Delphie remarked thoughtfully.
“
For we were
born
in the same year.
”

“
I must request that you instantly desist from putting yourself forward under this deceitful designation!
”
cried Miss Carteret.
“
You must immediately take some other name!
”

“
Come, come, ma
’
am! That is hardly a reasonable request, since I have worn my name all my life,
”
Delphie replied, raising her brows.
“
I might ask the same of you—
”

“
Oh! Such impertinence!
”

“
—But, as it falls out, I have taken another name,
”
Delphie
continued equably.
“
It seems that I am now Mrs. Penistone. You may address me as that if you so choose.
”

She glanced out of the window.

“
I am afraid I must now bring this interview to its close, ma
’
am. I see one of my pupils across the street, on her way here; and also my mother, returning from an airing. My mother is but just convalescent from a severe illness, and I should most certainly not wish her to be troubled by disputes of this nature. So I will take the liberty of bidding you good day.
”

She held open the door in a marked manner.

“
You will give me
no
satisfaction of any kind?
”
demanded Miss Carteret in a voice almost choked by passion.

“
What can I say? I cannot cease being who I am, simply because you demand it! And as to the other matter—all I can suggest, as I have said before, is that you should apply to Mr. Penistone.
”