The Toast of the Town

by Alice Chetwynd Ley

  ‘Then, Dr. Graham,’ she replied, speaking very slowly and distinctly, ‘kindly go about your own business, whatever that may be. You will, of course, require your — conveyance — before you can do so. Will you have the goodness — I should not ask it of you, but unfortunately there seems to be no one else in the vicinity at present — to call one of the servants to help me indoors?’

  He threw back his head and laughed delightedly. ‘You’re a rare one!’ he exclaimed. ‘There’s nothing wrong with you that a good spanking wouldn’t put right, after all! And if your brother Hugh’s anything like your brother George, you’ll most likely get one, too, for damaging his curricle.’

  Georgy was almost betrayed into civility by surprise. ‘Do you know George?’

  ‘Lord, yes! We were at Oxford together, though he wasn’t in my year — I’m his senior. Couldn’t help running across him, though — everyone knew George Eversley. Of all the ‘ He broke off. Georgy’s face, which had begun to show some interest in the conversation, froze over again.

  ‘No doubt,’ she said, tartly, ‘you were about to make one of your odiously impertinent remarks — this time about my brother George. I don’t wish to have anything more to say to you, Dr. Graham. Kindly send someone to my assistance.’

  ‘Who better than myself?’ he asked, swooping down suddenly and gathering her up into his arms.

  ‘Put me down instantly — instantly!’ stormed Georgy, losing her cold disdain all at once, and beating a tattoo on his chest with her fists. ‘How dare you!’

  ‘You should never dare a Scot,’ he warned her, laughing. ‘And if I were to obey you, and put you down instantly, you would be suffering from more than a twisted ankle when you made contact with this gravel. Shall I try it?’

  He dropped his arms a few inches as though he meant to dump her on the drive. She let out a stifled scream, and clung to him.

  ‘Oh! You are intolerable — the greatest beast in nature — I detest you, and hope I may never set eyes on you again!’

  ‘You’re a termagant,’ he countered, with a twinkle in his eye, as he mounted the steps to the house. ‘But you’re a very agreeable armful, all the same. As for not seeing me again, there’s no hope of that while you remain here in Buckinghamshire with your brother. I am acting here as locum for my uncle, Dr. Hume, who has been obliged to go up to Scotland for a few weeks on family affairs. And as Dr. Hume is physician to your brother’s family when they are down here in the country, I shall be frequently calling in to see how Mrs. Eversley goes on.’

  ‘I can say no more!’ exclaimed Georgy, in outraged tones. ‘Your manners disgust me — your ill-bred familiarity! But one can expect nothing else, I suppose, from one of your profession! A surgeon’ — she pronounced the word with loathing — ‘a low creature who does the most unspeakable things!’ She shuddered theatrically.

  He nodded. ‘Indeed, yes,’ he agreed, dryly. ‘Unspeakable things that now and then may manage to save a man’s life.’

  The house door was ajar. He shouldered his way in with Georgiana in his arms just as a footman, belatedly recollecting his duty, appeared in the hall, and opened the door of the nearest room. Dr. Graham was able to deposit his lovely burden, whose beauty was at present marred by the vengeful expression on her face, upon a sofa. Before she could prevent him, he had taken her right ankle between his short, strong fingers, and gently examined it.

  He nodded, satisfied. ‘You’ve only twisted it,’ he said, ‘just as I thought. Cold water bandages, and you’ll need to keep off it for the rest of the day. Should be as right as a trivet by tomorrow. All the same, I’ll give you a look-in tomorrow forenoon, when I’ll be waiting upon Mrs. Eversley.’

  ‘Thank you,’ replied Georgiana, with cold dignity, ‘but I shall not be requiring your services.’

  He chuckled. ‘Who shall say? Especially when your brother has done with you — though it may not be your ankle that is paining you then! Well, I must look to my real patient. I dare say they’ll have got her into bed by now. To our next meeting, Miss Eversley, ma’am!’

  He sketched a bow and went swiftly out of the room.

  She screwed up her face in an expression of rage, and stamped her good foot.

  ‘Hell and damnation!’ exclaimed the unladylike Miss Eversley.

  Fortunately, she was quite alone.

  CHAPTER 3

  The Doctor Pays A Visit

  Susan was soon restored by a short rest, but Georgiana suffered more lasting effects from the recent mishap. Her ankle was painful for the rest of the day, and she was forced to follow the advice she would have preferred to spurn, and to sit about with her leg raised on a footstool. Inactivity was always irksome to her, and it did nothing to soothe her feelings of rancour towards the young doctor who had treated her in so high-handed a fashion. Besides, her thoughts made unpleasant company. As the day wore on towards the time when the gentlemen could be expected back from their day’s sport, she became more than a little apprehensive.

  She was not the only one. Susan had misgivings which she was careful to keep to herself; and Aunt Lavinia, who was to remain with the Eversleys until after the birth of their second child, did not scruple to voice hers.

  ‘If Hugh gives you a good dressing down, miss, it will be no more than you deserve!’ she declared, with all the freedom of a relative who had held Georgy as a baby on her knee. ‘I should have known better, I suppose, than to leave the pair of you alone! I might have guessed you’d be up to some mischief the moment my back was turned. It was always the same!’

  ‘In that case, I’m glad I didn’t disappoint you, Aunt,’ replied Georgy, tartly.

  Aunt Lavinia bridled. ‘I want none of your impudence, miss! When I was a girl of your age, I would never have dared to speak so to my aunt ‘

  ‘I am one-and-twenty,’ returned Georgy, wearily. ‘You talk as if I were still a schoolgirl.’

  ‘Then you shouldn’t behave like one. At your age, you should have outgrown all such hoydenish pranks, and acquired the conduct befitting a young lady of rank. Your father had best hurry up and find you a husband — marriage should give a more proper direction to your thoughts, though sometimes I doubt even that!’

  ‘Aren’t you perhaps being a little severe on her, ma’am?’ asked Margaret Radley, another of the visitors. She was the wife of one of Beau Eversley’s closest friends, and by nature a peacemaker. ‘She really does drive very well, you know, in general. I know of no other female who could possibly handle the kind of horses Hugh keeps in his stable. She was just unfortunate — or perhaps it was this young doctor’s fault, after all.’

  ‘Good of you, Margaret,’ said Georgy, brusquely. ‘But it won’t do, I fear. I was well over on my wrong side, as it happens.’

  Miss Caroline Curshawe said shyly that perhaps there might have been a little — a very little — error of judgment on both sides. Her mother, Mrs. Curshawe, who was the remaining lady of the party, pursed her lips and was silent. Privately, she considered that Georgiana’s conduct too often exceeded the bounds of propriety. Of course, since Lady Eversley’s death three years ago, the girl had been more or less her own mistress. She lived at home with her father, who indulged her in every possible way, even to the lengths of allowing her to dispense with the services of an older female to act as chaperon. No doubt he considered a resident chaperone unnecessary when Georgiana could always call on either her elder sister or her sister-in-law to act in that capacity. But as both Evelina Cunningham and Susan Eversley were mothers of young families, it was hardly to be expected that they would devote much of their time to Georgiana’s concerns. What was certain, thought Mrs. Curshawe scornfully, was that these ladies seemed to have not the slightest influence on their wayward young relative. She did as she pleased, and always seemed to be an object of admiration to those surrounding her.

  The Curshawes had naturally been delighted when George Eversley had offered for their youngest daughter: it was a splendid match. But since accepting Hugh Eve
rsley’s invitation for Caroline, herself and her son Henry to join a party at his house in the country for a few weeks, Mrs. Curshawe had constantly been assailed by doubts. The fashionable Eversleys were reputed to have a wild streak, and Georgiana’s conduct daily bore witness to the truth of this. She began to recall some of the rumours concerning her host that had run round the Town at one time. It was scarcely fair to bring these up again now, for he was certainly a changed man since marrying that obscure little Miss Susan Fyfield. Still, the streak was there in the family. She fervently hoped for Caroline’s sake that by now George Eversley at least might have finished sowing his wild oats; and that his unruly sister might not involve them all in some dreadful scandal before she, too, learnt sense, and settled down to a way of life more becoming to a gently-reared female. After all, it was one thing for gentlemen to be a bit wild. In a way, it was almost expected of them. It was quite another, thought Mrs. Curshawe disapprovingly, for a young lady to be so heedless of convention.

  Georgiana was paying no attention to her companions. Her ankle was causing her a certain amount of discomfort, but her thoughts were a more serious cause of unease. Although she generally followed her own inclination, paying little heed to the criticism of others, she was not immune from self-criticism. This would often be the more searching of the two, for hers was a frank, honest nature. Any mistaken notions she entertained were never the result of deliberate self-deception. Now she freely acknowledged that she ought not have taken Susan out with her in Hugh’s curricle. The truth of the matter was that she always found it difficult to think of Susan in any other way than as the schoolgirl with whom she had shared so many escapades in the past. She had overlooked the fact that her friend was now a wife and soon to give birth to a second child. She told herself that she had been thoughtless, and might have caused serious harm to Susan, as that detestable Dr. Graham had not scrupled to remind her.

  It was enough for her to accuse herself: but what in the world was Hugh going to say? As the time drew near when he might be expected home, her trepidation mounted. If only he would come quickly, so that she could get it over and done with! She had never been one to postpone an unpleasant ordeal that must eventually be faced.

  At length, sounds were heard of the returning party.

  Her heart began to beat unpleasantly fast, and, but for the wretched ankle, she would have taken herself off to her bedroom until she felt calm enough to face Hugh. Clearly this was impossible, so she steeled herself for the ordeal, her face achieving an interesting pallor as the moments of suspense ticked away.

  They all entered the room together, laughing and chatting, and Hugh paid no heed to Georgy, but went at once to his wife’s side. She heaved a little sigh of relief for the respite, but it was short-lived. Both Pamyngton and Henry Curshawe had no eyes for anyone but herself after a day’s absence. They came towards her, and at once demanded to be told why she was resting one leg upon a footstool.

  ‘Oh, it’s nothing,’ she answered, airily. ‘I’ve twisted my ankle a bit, that’s all. It will be perfectly well tomorrow, I dare say. Did you have a good day’s sport?’ Pamyngton was a perceptive man, and saw at once that she wanted no fuss. But Curshawe, whose ardour for Georgy had been increased since coming to the Towers by the presence of a formidable rival, was determined not to be backward in any attentions. He plied her with questions about the injury in such an earnest tone that he drew Hugh’s notice to her.

  ‘What’s this? Hurt yourself, Georgy? How?’

  Susan made frantic signals with her eyes to stop her sister-in-law from replying. ‘Poor Georgy!’ she said hurriedly. ‘And it was all my fault, Hugh! I fear you’re going to be very vexed with me!’

  He smiled at her, and raised a quizzical eyebrow. ‘Vexed with you, my love? Vastly, I dare swear! Very well, you’d better confess — what have you been up to this time? Though I’ll wager,’ he added, ‘that it’s six of one and half a dozen of the other, if Georgiana’s concerned in the business.’

  Georgy started to speak, but Susan frowned her down. ‘You — will be vexed, I know,’ she said, turning a timid look on her husband. ‘You see, we — I, that is — wanted to go for a drive. And so we took out your curricle, with the chestnut pair ‘

  ‘You did what?’ Beau Eversley stared at his wife.

  ‘I know it was foolish — and wrong ‘

  ‘That’s not it, Hugh,’ put in Georgy, quietly. Now that the moment of revelation had come, she was quite calm. She raised her tawny head in a proud gesture as she felt Hugh’s outraged gaze upon her. ‘You’re very good, Sue, but don’t think I mean you to take the blame. It was my idea, Hugh, and I persuaded Sue to come with me.’

  He nodded. ‘Yes, that certainly sounds more likely. Do you mind telling me’ — his lazy drawl did not deceive either of them for a moment into mistaking his feelings — ‘exactly what befell my horses, since you didn’t manage to escape injury?’

  ‘Oh, they’re quite safe, Hugh!’ put in Susan, quickly. ‘There was just — well — there is only the wheel of the curricle which is not quite — not quite ‘

  ‘Not quite as good as it was, I think you would say, my love?’ The Beau’s tone was mild.

  ‘I assure you, Hugh, the horses are sound in wind and limb,’ said Georgy. ‘I sent round to the stables for a report, as soon as Susan was settled ‘

  ‘Susan,’ interrupted Hugh, gently, turning a reflective eye on his wife. ‘Yes, to be sure, Susan. I think perhaps, Georgiana, you and I will discuss that aspect of the affair later, in private.’

  Georgy nodded, but her heart sank. She could foresee a most unpleasant interview. Hugh was not one to fume and storm, but he had a quiet technique of his own which could bring home an offence far more effectively.

  ‘What exactly happened?’ asked Freddy Eversley. ‘Did the chestnuts bolt with you?’

  ‘No such thing!’ answered Georgy, her pride stung. ‘I came round the bend — the one just before the gates, you know — a trifle fast, and there was this stupid gig, driven by the most odious man, with positively execrable manners ‘

  Freddy grinned. ‘Can’t blame the chap if he was rude, when you obviously muffed the whole thing,’ he said, with a brother’s brutal frankness.

  ‘You’re the greatest beast in nature!’ retorted Georgy, equally frank. ‘I did not muff it, did I, Sue?’ Fortunately, she did not pause for her sister-in-law to answer, but continued, ‘And anyway, if you could have heard the way he spoke to me — and treated me — I feel sure any of you, Hugh, George or even you, Freddy, would have called him to account. Although, of course,’ she added, reflectively, ‘I’m not sure that you could, as he’s not precisely a gentleman ‘

  ‘Had a dust-up with a tradesman, did you?’ asked George, turning from his betrothed for a moment. ‘Well, I dare say you deserved anything he may have said to you. You ought to know by now that you can’t career round that bend, Georgy; the road’s too narrow there. Damn it all, you’re a fair whip — for a female,’ he added cautiously.

  ‘Thank you very much! But he wasn’t exactly a tradesman — he was a doctor, and what’s more, he said he knew you at Oxford.’

  ‘So did a good many people,’ replied George. ‘What was his name?’

  ‘John Graham,’ replied Georgy, with her nose elevated.

  ‘John Graham — old Jock? Is he down here?’ asked George, with increased interest. ‘He’s a rattling good chap — you must have met him at our evening party in Town last month, Georgy, for he was there.’

  Georgy shook her head. ‘No, I’m sure I didn’t. I don’t recollect the name, although’ she paused, frowning. ‘Although I’m bound to say that I did have the impression I’d seen him before, somewhere ‘

  She broke off, then suddenly snapped her fingers in what Mrs. Curshawe privately considered an unladylike gesture.

  ‘I recollect now!’ she exclaimed, with a laugh. ‘He was the young man who split his coat!’

  ‘Oh, that man!’ said Pamyngton, sm
iling. ‘It’s no wonder he seized his chance to be revenged on you today, Miss Georgy. You certainly made him angry enough at the ball.’

  No one else in the room had any notion what they were talking about, as Dr. John Graham had evidently left the party without ceremony that evening after his unfortunate mishap. Georgy and Pamyngton proceeded to tell them the story in a lively duologue that did much to restore Georgy’s spirits. When they had finished, there was a general laugh.

  ‘Oh, ay, that sounds very like old Jock!’ chuckled George. ‘He’s always been one to speak his mind without fear or favour.’

  ‘It’s an attribute that surely can do little to recommend him to his patients?’ asked Mrs. Curshawe, in surprise.

  ‘Perhaps not, ma’am. But I can tell you this — if I had anything seriously amiss with me, I’d as lief have old Jock to doctor me as any medico you’d care to name,’ replied George, defensively. ‘I’ve watched him remove a bullet from a man’s arm, as neat as shelling peas, and all over in a matter of minutes.’

  Several of the ladies shuddered.

  ‘Pray, nephew, remember where you are!’ said Aunt Lavinia, with a snap. ‘This is not a fit conversation for a drawing-room!’

  ‘Oh, very well, Aunt, though I can’t see what harm there is ‘ He met Hugh’s eye, and coughed slightly.

  ‘I beg your pardon, Aunt Lavinia. All I meant to say is that Jock’s a clever chap. But I wonder how he comes to be in this part of the country at all? He’s a surgeon at St. George’s Hospital, and his home’s in Edinburgh, if I remember aright.’

  ‘I believe I can enlighten you on that point,’ said Hugh. ‘Dr. Hume waited upon me one day last week to let me know that he would be away in Scotland for the next few weeks, and that his nephew would be acting as locum until his return. He was anxious to assure me,’ he added, smiling at Susan, ‘that he would be back in good time for a certain important event in our family.’