The Black Moth: A Romance of the XVIIIth Century

by Georgette Heyer

  CHAPTER V

  HIS GRACE OF ANDOVER

  Lady Lavinia dressed herself with even more than her usual care nextafternoon, and well-nigh drove her maid distracted by her flashes oftemper and impatient, contradictory orders. So lengthy was the toiletthat she was only just in her boudoir when his Grace of Andover wasannounced. She had no time to tell the footman that she would receivehis Grace, for almost before the words were out of James' mouth, hestood bowing in the doorway, sure of his welcome.

  He was curiously like his sister, this man, and at the same timecuriously unlike. Hers were the high cheek-bones and pinched,aristocratic nostrils, but the mouth with its thin lips, and theheavy-lidded green eyes, were totally different. His Grace's browsslanted up at the corners, and his eyes, though piercing and bright,were constantly veiled by the black-lashed lids. He wore his own blackhair, unpowdered, and that, together with the black and silver garmentsthat he always affected, greatly enhanced the natural pallor of hiscountenance. Altogether it was a very striking figure that stood justbefore the closed white door and bowed to my lady.

  Lavinia took an eager step towards him, swinging her pearl-greybrocades.

  "Oh, Tracy!" she cooed, holding out both hands.

  His Grace advanced into the room and bent low over them.

  "I rejoice to find you within, Lavinia," he said, a faint tinge ofsarcasm running through his smooth tones. "As you perceive, I rodeover." He made a gesture towards his high boots with theirwicked-looking spurs. "No doubt Andrew forgot to give you my letter?"

  "No," she said, slipping her hand in his arm. "He remembered in time,and--oh, Tracy, I was so vastly delighted to have it!"

  "I am indeed honoured," he replied. "I am come on a sufficientlyimportant matter."

  "Oh!" She pulled her hand away disappointedly. "Money!"

  "You are really wonderful, my dear. As you so crudely remark--money!Will you not be seated?"

  She sank down on the couch dejectedly and watched him take a chairopposite her.

  "Your most noble lord and master lent me a trifling sum the other day,but very trifling. I am, as usual, hard-pressed. And that young foolAndrew must needs fall into debt."

  My lady opened wide her eyes in surprise.

  "Do you tell me you need money from Richard to pay Andrew's debts?" sheasked, frankly incredulous.

  "I do not. Is it likely? The remark was purely by the way."

  "Well, in any case, Andrew borrowed three thousand from poor Dick onlyyesterday. I know, because I heard him speak of it."

  His Grace raised his black brows in patient exasperation.

  "How unnecessary of Andrew! And how typical! So 'poor Dick' has beensqueezed already?"

  "Don't speak like that, Tracy!" she cried. "Dicky is good to me!" Shemet his piercing look unflinchingly.

  "Now this becomes interesting," drawled the Duke. "Since when have youcome to that conclusion? And why this sudden loyalty?"

  "I have _always_ been loyal to him, Tracy! You know I have! I worryhim--and indeed he is very forbearing."

  "But how charming of him!"

  "No, do not sneer, Tracy! He has promised to take me to London for thewhole winter--"

  His Grace leant back in his chair again.

  "Now I understand," he said placidly. "I was at a loss before."

  "'Tis not that, Tracy! Indeed I realise how kind he is to me. And wehave quarrelled again. We are always quarrelling, and I know 'tis all myfault."

  "What a comfortable conviction, my dear!"

  "No, no! 'Tis not comfortable, Tracy! For somehow I cannot change mydisposition, though I _mean_ to be patient and sweet. Tracy, I hateWyncham!"

  "You hate Wyncham? There was a time--"

  "I know, I know! But I never meant to live here always like this! I wantto go to London!"

  "I thought you said you were going?"

  "Yes, I am! But I want to go with someone who is gay-not--not--"

  "In fact, you want distraction, and not with the amiable Richard? Well,I can conceive that life with him might prove uninspiring. Safe, mydear, but not exciting."

  "I knew you would understand! You see, he does not like me to play atcards, because I cannot stop! And he cannot see how 'tis that I carenought for what he calls 'home-life' when there are routs, and the play,and _real_ life. He--he is so--so--so _staid,_ Tracy, and careful!"

  "A good trait in a husband, Lavinia," replied his Grace cynically. "'Tisbecause I do not possess it that I am single now."

  Her lips curled scornfully at this, for well she knew her brother.

  "No, Tracy, that is not so! It is because you are a devil! No womanwould marry you!"

  "That is most interesting, my dear," purred his Grace. "But pray striveto be a little more original. Continue your analysis of Richard'ssterling character."

  "'Tis only that we are so different," she sighed. "I always desire to dothings quickly--if I think of something, I want it at once--at once! Youknow, Tracy! And he likes to wait and think on it, and--oh, 'tis sotiresome, and it puts me in a bad humour, and I behave like a hystericalbourgeoise!" She got up swiftly, clasping her nervous little hands."When he speaks to me in that gentle, reasoning way, I could scream,Tracy! Do you think I am mad?" She laughed unmusically.

  "No," he replied, "but the next thing to it: a Belmanoir. Perhaps it wasa pity you ever married Richard. But there is always the money."

  "There is not," she cried out sharply.

  "Not? What mean you?"

  "Tracy, 'tis of this that I wanted to speak! You think my lord left hismoney to Dick?"

  "Certainly. He should be stupendously wealthy."

  "He is not!"

  "But, my good girl, the revenue must be enormous. He has the land,surely?"

  "No! No! He has not the land! Oh, but I am angry whenever I think on it!He induced my lord to leave it to John. _He_ has but his younger son'sportion!"

  "I still fail to understand. You informed me that the Earl left all toRichard?"

  "He changed his will, Tracy!"

  "He--changed--his--will! Then, my dear, must you have played your cardsvery badly!"

  "'Twas not my fault, Tracy--indeed 'twas not! I knew nought until thewill was read. Richard never spoke a word to me about it! And now we arecomparatively poor!" Her voice trembled with indignation, but his Graceonly whistled beneath his breath.

  "I always knew, of course, that Dick was a fool, but I never guessed howmuch so till now!"

  At that she flared up.

  "He is not a fool! He is an honest man, and 'tis we_--we_, I tellyou--who are mean and despicable and mercenary!"

  "Undoubtedly, Lavinia, but pray do not excite yourself over it. Isuppose he is still devoted to that young hothead?"

  "Yes, yes--'tis all Jack, Jack, Jack, until I am sick to death of thesound of his name--and--" She broke off, biting her lip.

  "And what?"

  "Oh, nought! But 'tis all so disagreeable, Tracy!"

  "It certainly is slightly disturbing. You had better have chosen John,in spite of all, it seems."

  She stamped angrily.

  "Oh, where's the good in being flippant?"

  "My dear Lavinia, where's the good in being anything else? The situationstrikes me as rather amusing. To think of the worthy Richard so neatlyoverturning all my plans!"

  "If it had not been for you, I might never have married him. Why did youthrow them both in my way? Why did I ever set eyes on either?"

  "It should have been a good match, my dear, and, if I remember rightly,no one was more alive to that fact than yourself."

  She pouted angrily and turned her shoulder to him.

  "Still," he continued reflectively, "I admit that for the smart lot weare, we do seem rather to have bungled the affair."

  Lavinia swept round upon him.

  "Oh, do you care no more than that? How can you be so casual! Does itaffect you not at all?"

  He wrinkled his thin nose expressively.

  "I shall not weep over it, Lavinia, b
ut 'tis a plaguey nuisance. But wemust see what can be done. And that brings me back to the originalsubject. Despite these upsetting revelations, I still require thatmoney."

  "Oh, dear! How much must you have, Tracy?"

  "Five hundred might suffice."

  "Tracy, do not the estates bring in anything?" she asked petulantly."And Andrew told us you had a run of marvellous luck not a fortnightsince?"

  "Since then, my dear, I have had three runs of marvellous ill-luck. Asto the estates, they are mortgaged up to the hilt, as you very wellknow. What little there is is between three. And Robert is extravagant."

  "I hate Robert!"

  "I am not partial to him myself, but it makes no odds."

  "I wish he might die!--oh no, no! Now I am become ill-natured again--Idon't wish it--only I am so tired of everything. You shall have thatmoney as soon as possible; but be careful, Tracy--please be careful!'Tis not easy to get money from Dick!"

  "No, I should imagine not. However, we have managed rather well up tothe present, take it all in all."

  "Up to the present he has had all the money he wanted. My lord deniedhim nought!"

  "Well, 'tis unfortunate, as I said before, but it must be endured. Whereis Dick?"

  "I know not. You will stay to dinner, Tracy?"

  "Thank you. I shall be charmed."

  "Yes, yes--oh, how prodigiously pleasant it is to see you again! Soon Ishall come to Andover. Will you let me stay a few days?"

  "The question is, will Richard allow you to stay so long in mycontaminating presence?"

  "Richard would never keep me away, Tracy!" she replied proudly. "He_could_ not. Oh, why is it that I don't love him more? Why do I not carefor him as much as I care for you even?"

  "My dear Lavinia, like all Belmanoirs, you care first for yourself andsecondly for the man who masters you. That, alas! Richard has not yetsucceeded in doing."

  "But I _do_ love Richard. I do, I do, yet--"

  "Exactly. 'Yet!' The 'grand passion' has not yet touched you, my dear,and you are quite self-absorbed."

  "Self-absorbed! Those are hard words."

  "But not too hard for the case. You think solely of yourself, your ownpleasure, your own character, your own feelings. If you could castyourself into the background a little, you would be less excitable andconsiderably less discontented."

  "How dare you, Tracy! Pray, what of you? Are you so selfless?"

  "Not at all. I am precisely the same. I was merely suggesting that youmight be happier an you could depose 'self.'"

  "You had best do the same yourself!"

  "My dear Lavinia, when I feel the need of greater happiness, I mostundoubtedly shall. At present I am quite content."

  "You are unkind!" she protested. "And you sneer at me."

  "Pray, accept my heartfelt apologies! You shall come to Andover if theworthy Richard permits."

  Her face cleared as by magic.

  "Oh, Tracy! Oh, I am so desirous to be gay once more! I cannot evenreceive now, on account of this mourning! But when I am at Andover--oh,we will not worry over anything, and I can be bad-tempered withoutfeeling that someone is being hurt by me! Oh, come to Dicky at once--atonce!"

  He rose leisurely.

  "I can imagine that you try Richard's patience somewhat," he remarked."Happily, your impetuosity in no way disturbs me. We will go in searchof Richard."

  Half-way down the great staircase she perceived her husband, and flew tomeet him.

  "Richard, I was coming in search of you! Tracy has invited me to Andoverfor a week--he purposes to ask several people to stay, and there will beparties--and entertainment! You will let me go? Say yes, Dicky--say yes,quickly!"

  Carstares bowed to his Grace, who stood watching them from the stairs.The bow was returned with exaggerated flourish. Carstares looked down athis wife.

  "So soon, Lavinia?" he remonstrated, and indicated her mourning. Sheshook his hand off impatiently.

  "Oh, Dicky, does it matter? What can it signify? I do not ask you tocome--"

  "No," he said half-sadly, half-amusedly. "I notice that, my dear."

  "No, no! I did not mean to be unkind--you must not think that! You_don't_ think it, do you, Dick?"

  "Oh, no," he sighed.

  "Good Dicky!" She patted his cheek coaxingly. "Then you will allow me togo--ah, but yes, yes, you must listen! You know how dull I am, and howsilly--'tis because I need a change, and I _want_ to go to Andover. I_want_ to go!"

  "Yes, dear, I know. But my father is not yet dead six weeks, and Icannot think it seemly--"

  "Please, Dick, please! Please do not say no! 'Twill make me so unhappy!Oh, you will not be so unkind? You will not forbid me to go?"

  "I ask you not to, Lavinia. If you need a change, I will take youquietly to Bath, or where you will. Do not pain me by going to Andoverjust now."

  "Bath! Bath! What do I want with Bath at this time of the year? Oh, 'tiskind in you to offer, but I want to go to Andover! I want to see all theold friends again. And I want to get away from everything here--'tis allso gloomy--after--after my lord's death!"

  "Dearest, of course you shall go away--but if only you would rememberthat you are in mourning--"

  "But 'tis what I wish to forget! Oh, Dicky, don't, don't, don't beunkind."

  "Very well, dear. If you must go--go."

  She clapped her hands joyfully.

  "Oh thank you, Dicky! And you are not angry with me?"

  "No, dear, of course not."

  "Ah! Now I am happy! 'Tis sweet of you, Dicky, but confess you aresecretly thankful to be rid of me for a week! Now are you not?" Shespread out her fan in the highest good-humour and coquetted behind it.Richard was induced to smile.

  "I fear I shall miss you too sadly, dear."

  "Oh!" She dropped the fan. "But think how you will look forward toseeing me again, and I you. Why, I shall be so thankful to be back aftera week away, that I shall be good for months!"

  His face lightened, and he caught her hands in his.

  "Darling, if I thought you would miss me--"

  "But of course I shall miss you, Dick--oh, _pray_, mind my frock! ShallI not miss him, Tracy?"

  Richard suddenly remembered his brother-in-law's presence. He turned andwent to the foot of the stairs.

  "So you are determined to wrest my wife from me?" he smiled.

  Tracy descended leisurely, opening his snuff-box.

  "Yes, I require a hostess," he said. "And I have"--he paused--"inducedher to honour Andover with her presence. Shall we have the felicity ofseeing you at any time?"

  "I thank you, no. I am not, you will understand, in the mood for thegaiety for which my poor Lavinia craves."

  The Duke bowed slightly, and they all three went out on to the terrace,Lavinia laughing and talking as Richard had not heard her laugh or talkfor days. She was the life and soul of the little dinner-party, flirtingprettily with her husband and exerting herself to please him in everyway. She had won her point; therefore she was in excellent spirits withall the world, and not even the spilling of some wine on her new silkserved to discompose her.