'Sophia is still far from well,' Brigid replied. 'I do not feel I can leave her just yet.'
'I am sorry, but of course you must help her. I expect we may see you at some of the entertainments, though? Is she well enough to attend quiet ones, the theatre perhaps?'
'She may be, soon,' Brigid said. In fact Mr Langston was trying to persuade his wife to attend either the theatre or the opera, hoping it would give her an interest.
'I assume she includes you in these visits?'
'I was with her for such a short time before we went to Oxfordshire,' Brigid replied, 'that we did not go out much.'
'Of course Sophia will include Brigid,' Matthew put in. 'She is one of the family.'
Brigid hadn't known he was listening, and she glanced across at him. He grinned at her. Sinead was looking aggrieved, and immediately tried to regain his attention by leaning closer to him and saying something in her low, breathy voice.
Colum was eyeing Matthew with a puzzled expression. 'But is she related to you?' he asked. 'Through her mother, perhaps? I didn't know. We know very little of Brigid's mother, don't we, Papa?'
His father cast him a contemptuous glance, but did not reply. Aunt Mary was nodding, looking pleased.
'I am so glad she treats you well. Perhaps we may see you at Almack's?'
Brigid blinked. 'Oh, I would not be given vouchers,' she exclaimed.
'But doesn't Mrs Langston know the Patronesses?'
'Of course, but they are very particular as to who gets vouchers. They'd never give one to a companion, or a former governess.'
'But could she obtain them for my Sinead? After all, her grandfather was one of the premier landowners in Ireland.'
Was he? Brigid certainly hadn't known that. Her father had, whenever speaking of his family, implied they were no more than moderately wealthy. She looked at Matthew, and he came to her rescue.
'Sinead would not enjoy Almack's,' he said firmly. 'It's the most insipid, boring evening you can imagine. The only girls who go there are the one who feel they cannot obtain a husband in any other way, and the only bachelors are those on the catch for an heiress.'
Brigid swallowed a smile. That was not what she had heard, but if it prevented her aunt from demanding what was impossible, it had served its purpose.
Sinead was looking disappointed, and Brigid felt a moment of sympathy for her. Matthew clearly did too, for he gave her a comforting smile.
'Why don't we get up a party for Vauxhall?' he suggested. 'You would enjoy that far more. There is music, dancing, fireworks, much more than at Almack's. Have you ever been, Brigid?'
'No,' was all she was capable of saying.
Aunt Mary was regarding Matthew with interest.
'Is it acceptable? I heard some of these entertainments were, well, not all the thing, and certainly not where a young girl - two young girls - should be seen.'
'I think you have confused it with the masquerades, where all kinds of vulgarity happens. A private party to Vauxhall is a quite different matter.'
'Please, Mama, I should like to go,' Sinead said, her voice loud enough for the first time so that Brigid could hear it.
'If you permit, I will arrange a party,' Matthew said, getting to his feet. 'It might even tempt my sister to join us. Now, Brigid, I think it is time to go. I will be in touch, Mrs O'Neill. It has been delightful to meet you all.'
*
Back in South Audley Street, Brigid had plenty to occupy her thoughts. She retired to bed early, soon after Sophia, who said she was tired after her first outing, a drive in the Park with her husband, went to her room. Sinead was remarkably pretty, with her dark glossy curls and big blue eyes. She had a pale complexion, a small retrousse nose and delicately formed lips. Her figure had been good, and she had made it delicately obvious she was attracted to Matthew. If she could have been seen at Almack's, she would have been an undoubted success. Matthew had clearly been interested. Why else would he have suggested an expedition to Vauxhall?
Colum obviously knew little about horses, but had tried to pretend he did. Perhaps all young men behaved in the same way? She had known very few, since she had for years been either a pupil or a teacher at a ladies' seminary. Matthew was older than Colum, and having been in the army, as well as being brought up in Society, was much more sophisticated.
Her aunt's request for vouchers to Almack's had been embarrassing, and Brigid was eternally thankful Matthew had been there to answer for her. How could she have told her aunt that only people in the top ranks of Society had any chance of obtaining them, and not always then if their behaviour gave the Patronesses any cause for displeasure. It would have been regarded as a snub, and no doubt she would have been blamed, as the messenger.
Did she, she asked herself, want to go and live with the O'Neills? They had shown themselves unfamiliar with how to behave, but that must be because they were Irish, and she did not want to condemn them for what they could not help.
It seemed probable Aunt Mary had brought Sinead to London in the hope of contracting a suitable marriage for her. With her beauty that should not present undue difficulties, and with all the property Uncle Brendan had mentioned he owned in Ireland, surely they would provide a substantial dowry? Yet if they were unable to penetrate the upper echelons of Society, would Sinead meet the most eligible bachelors?
A picture of Matthew came into her mind. Though a third son, he had a comfortable manor house and a substantial income. He had no title, and that might make Aunt Mary reject him as a potential husband for her daughter. Brigid recognised her aunt's ambition, scarcely hidden. Then she told herself firmly not to speculate on such slender evidence. Of course Matthew had been polite. And naturally a girl so lovely as Sinead, and probably used to a great deal of admiration in Ireland, would view any eligible male as a potential conquest.
'Don't be foolish!' Brigid told herself, and turned over in bed, determined to forget the O'Neills and think of ways to induce Sophia to take more interest in her friends and her clothes. It was useless, and she rose the following day heavy-eyed and almost as listless as Sophia.
*
Matthew was thoughtful as he walked home. Ryder Street was only a few minutes from St James's. He had spent the evening at White's, winning a considerable sum, and it was almost dawn now. It was still bitterly cold, and he thought he felt a few snowflakes. He was considering the visit earlier to the O'Neills' house.
Mr O'Neill was an enigma, for he had barely spoken during the entire visit, but Matthew had immediately put down Mrs O'Neill as an ambitious, toad-eating woman of the sort he heartily despised. If she thought Brigid's connection with his family was going to make her family acceptable to the ton she was going to be bitterly disappointed.
Colum he stigmatised as an unmannerly puppy, aping the men he apparently admired. How old was he? Around four and twenty, Matthew guessed, and surely he ought to have outgrown his pathetic need to boast, and in doing so revealing his own ignorance.
His thoughts then turned to Sinead. She was undoubtedly lovely, and given the right opportunities ought to make an acceptable marriage. She had been shamelessly flirting with him, and young as she was she knew all the tricks. He doubted, though, her ability to capture one of the most eligible bachelors. Mrs O'Neill, he suspected, would want both a title and a fortune for her daughter.
As he watched the sky to the east becoming lighter he considered his motives for suggesting a visit to Vauxhall. He had almost instantly decided, on meeting Mrs O'Neill, that Brigid would not fit into or be happy in that household. No doubt they would treat her kindly at first, hoping to benefit from her connections. Soon, though, when it dawned on them that Brigid herself did not know any people outside Sophia's circle, and few enough of them, they would turn against her.
He would not always be available to escort Brigid to Wimpole Street, to get to know the family better, but at Vauxhall he would be able to study them in the sort of surroundings where they might be off their guard. In Wimpole Street he
was convinced that Mrs O'Neill, at least, had been trying to impress him, despite her open ambition.
Other than to obtain entry into the ton for her daughter's sake, he wondered why. He was as certain as he could be there was another, less obvious motive behind their sudden desire to become friendly with Brigid. If they had tried, surely they could have found her before now? They had heard of her father's death, they probably knew she was a pupil at Miss Benson's seminary, but they had apparently not enquired there. Mrs O'Neill had claimed, he had been told, that someone at a rout had asked if they were related to Brigid when they heard her name. Some of Sophia's friends knew where she was, but it was odd that the toad-eating Mrs O'Neill could not recall the name of her informant.
He reached his set of rooms, quickly stripped off his clothes, and fell into bed. His valet was not permitted to wait up for him, and knew better than to wake him in the morning, but once he was awake he must set about organising the Vauxhall party.
*
Sophia was feeling better and agreed to a sedate drive around the Park in a barouche. Her husband was so solicitous about making sure she had a warm cloak, a fur-lined muff, and hot bricks for her feet, that she somewhat snappishly told him she was quite capable of seeing to her own comfort. He frowned, and turned to go back into the house as the barouche was driven off.
She stared after him, and then began to sob quietly.
'Brigid, I am such a fool! I know he does it because he loves me and is afraid for me, but his concern is beginning to fret me unbearably!'
'It's only natural,' Brigid told her quietly. 'You've not been yourself for many months now.'
'I was never like this with the boys.'
'You were much younger then.'
Sophia gave a weak laugh. 'Go on, tell me I'm an old hag! But Brigid, I am feeling far more like a woman of fifty than one barely thirty! Well, perhaps a bit more than thirty,' she added.
'You must take it gradually. He cannot expect you to become as you were instantly.'
'My dear Brigid, you are so good for me! Now, I must forget my own woes. Tell me how your visit to Wimpole Street went yesterday?'
Brigid frowned. She was, for some reason, thinking of Sinead's behaviour and the fact that Matthew had seemed to enjoy her flirting. She could hardly discuss that with his sister, though.
'My aunt imagined you could obtain vouchers for Almack's for her,' she said slowly. If she did not tell Sophia about this, there was every possibility Matthew would.
'Goodness! What did you say?'
Brigid laughed. 'Fortunately I did not have to say anything. I could hardly tell her she would be considered far too unimportant. Matthew told Sinead, very firmly, that it was too insipid and she would not enjoy it. I think the clincher was when he implied no eligible bachelors went there.'
'What a whisker! They all go, to see what the debutantes are like.'
'It has deterred her mother, even if Sinead might still like to experience it. Sophia, she is the loveliest creature! I am sure they came to London in the hope of finding her a wealthy, titled husband, and unless Aunt Mary offends everyone, she ought to be successful.'
Sophia was looking concerned.
'Did Matthew - that is, do you think he was attracted to her? Of course, if she is suitable, I could not object, and in any case he would not listen to me, but - when he does marry, I want him to be as happy as I am.'
'I really don't know. He did spend most of the time talking to her, and - well - he has suggested making up a party to Vauxhall. He said it was to make up to her for being disappointed over Almack's.'
She fell silent. Was that Matthew's only reason, or did he wish to see more of the girl? He had seemed bewitched by her loveliness.
Sophia was looking thoughtful. Then she straightened her back and nodded to herself.
'I must ensure he includes us in his party,' she said firmly.
Brigid smiled wryly. This information seemed to have done more to restore Sophia to her normal self than any amount of doctor's physic or her husband's exhortations.
'Colum is an overgrown schoolboy,' she said, trying to speak lightheartedly.
Why was she suddenly feeling depressed? She told Sophia about his mistake with the horses, and they were laughing as they drove round the Park.
*
Chapter 4
The visit to Vauxhall took place a week later. Brigid, Matthew and the Langstons went by coach across Westminster Bridge, rather than by boat to the water gate, but the O'Neills decided to go by water. Matthew had hired a supper box, and he made sure he was there early so that the O'Neills could find them easily.
Brigid, wearing a new gown of primrose silk with gold embroidery, was enchanted with the thousands of lamps slung amongst the trees, and Matthew promised her they would take a stroll after supper.
'And we can dance, or listen to the concert,' he said.
Sinead's eyes were bright with excitement when they arrived, though Colum was contriving to look bored.
'There are some of the oddest people here,' he said, wrinkling up his nose. 'I am sure that group we passed, who are in that box over there, are coachmen or inn servants.'
Matthew looked across to where he pointed, and grinned.
'Actually,' he said, 'they are some of the Regent's set. They enjoy dressing up and pretending to be grooms.'
Mrs O'Neill gave a shriek of disgust.
'Oh, how could they demean themselves so? How can anyone tell who or what they are? When people are of a certain status in Society, they should uphold that status properly, not ape the lower orders.'
'I think it would be fun to pretend to be a milkmaid,' Sinead said.
'You would not enjoy carrying pails of milk around the streets early in the morning, selling the milk,' Matthew said, laughing at her. 'Have you seen the herd of cows in Green Park yet? '
'No. Are there really cows, in the middle of Mayfair? Oh, how I should like to see them! Will you escort me there one day?'
'Sinead!' her mother exclaimed.' Oh, Mr Childe, I do beg your pardon. She is so young in some respects, and does not know any better.'
Matthew inclined his head, but he was wondering what the difference was between Sinead's innocent request and her mother's asking for vouchers to Almack's.
Sophia, with the ease of an accomplished hostess, covered over the awkward moment with a comment admiring Sinead's gown. The pale blue suited her dark hair to perfection, and it was a simple design with few embellishments. She wore just a string of small pearls, smaller than the ones she had worn on Brigid's visit to Wimpole Street, and carried a warm Paisley patterned shawl. Although it was now April the weather was still cold, and there were the occasional flurries of snow. At least her mother seemed to know what was appropriate for a young girl making her come out, even if her own gown was over-elaborate with too many frills and bows.
She was less successful with her son. Colum was dressed in pantaloons of an unfortunate shade of lavender, and his coat was so pinched in at the waist Matthew wondered briefly if the boy had donned corsets. His cravat had a couple of creases where there should have been none, but he seemed unaware of these faults. He was adorned with several fobs and an ornate quizzing glass which he employed frequently to ogle any pretty girl who passed, making loud comments on their charms. In between these sallies he kept trying, usually unsuccessfully, to open a heavy, ornate snuff box with one hand. He was, Matthew concluded, an undisciplined cub.
The waiters served supper, and Mrs O'Neill exclaimed at the thin slices of ham, a popular speciality of the gardens. Then they all went to listen to the orchestra. Sophia, Matthew was pleased to see, had more liveliness than he had seen since the birth of little Beatrice.
*
Afterwards the four young people wandered down some of the paths. Matthew felt he could not permit brother and sister to walk together, and there was not room for all four of them to walk abreast, so he had to consign Brigid to her cousin's escort and walk with Sinead himself.
'Oh, Mr Childe, you cannot imagine how wonderful it is to be in London. I've dreamed of it ever since I was twelve years old. I was afraid, when Papa quarrelled with Grandfather, that he might not leave us his money, but they made it up just before Grandfather died, so that was all right.'
Matthew was intrigued. Brigid's grandfather seemed to be a somewhat quarrelsome fellow, first of all with his older son, then the younger.
Colum had overheard his sister's artless confidence, and he pushed his way between them.
'Don't be a fool, Sinead. You don't know what you are talking about. It was just a disagreement about dismissing one of the farm bailiffs, Childe, the sort of disagreements they had all the time. Grandfather was rather old fashioned in his views, and Papa is very advanced in his notions.'
Sinead laughed, and saying she wanted to explore more of the gardens, darted away along a side path. Matthew frowned. It was less well lit further along, and there could be some unsavoury characters about.
'I'll go after her,' he said. 'You need not come, there's little of interest down there.'
Colum sniggered. Matthew clenched his fists. He would dearly love to give that undisciplined cub a piece of his mind, or, preferably, a straight left to his arrogant mouth. Perhaps, he thought, his mood lightening, he should invite him to Gentleman Jackson's saloon, where he could legitimately plant him a facer.
First, he must find Sinead. The dratted girl had disappeared from view, presumably exploring one of the small paths. He looked along each one as he went, and finally spotted her pale gown several yards along a dimly-lit path.
He frowned, and began to run. She was crouched down on the ground, and he thought she was crying. Had she been attacked? There was no one around, however.
When he reached her she looked up at him, a pitiful look in her eyes, which were glistening with tears. As he demanded to know what had happened he was thinking she was one of the fortunate few who could weep and look still more enchanting as she did so.
The Irish Bride Page 4
