George nodded. ‘So Jock’s your Dr. Hume’s nephew? Ay, I recollect now that he once told me he could trace his descent from the Earls of Home, a set of Border chieftains, seemingly, whom the Scots think a deal of. He said it was the same family — Home or Hume, however one likes to spell it — and I can remember him saying that he was kin to the surgeon John Hunter’s wife, who was also of the same name.’
‘Oh, if you are talking of Mrs. Anne Hunter,’ broke in Aunt Lavinia, ‘I know of her. Horry Walpole used to attend her soirées at one time, poor man; though of course he is dead now. One still feels his loss! Not that I have any patience with that Bluestocking kind of female,’ she continued. ‘It’s enough for a lady to look pretty and charming — men cannot abide a clever woman.’
‘No, indeed,’ agreed Georgy, ironically. ‘She presents too much of a challenge to male superiority, does she not?’
‘I must say that comes well from a cow-handed female who comes a cropper the first time she takes out a pair of blood horses!’ remarked Freddy, provocatively.
Georgy coloured up, and bit back an angry retort Hugh raised his brows comically, and Aunt Lavinia called her nephew sharply to order for his use of a vulgar expression only fit to be employed in male society.
‘If you think so, Aunt, then you’d best reprove Dr. Graham when he calls,’ said Georgy, still looking annoyed. ‘He used the exact phrase to describe my driving.’
There was an outburst of laughter from her brothers at this. Pamyngton bit his lip hard in an effort not to follow their example, but Curshawe frowned.
‘If this man has said or done anything to distress you, ma’am, you have friends who would be only too willing to point out the error of his ways to him,’ he said, with heavy gallantry.
Georgiana turned to him with a swift smile of such charm that his heart gave a sudden leap.
‘Thank you, Mr. Curshawe, you are very good. But I fancy I can deal with Dr. Graham myself.’
‘Revenge!’ declaimed Freddy, striking an attitude. ‘What will you do, Georgy? We are all agog!’
‘Never you mind,’ replied his sister, darkly.
‘Tell you what,’ suggested the irrepressible Freddy, ‘you could always pay him out by taking him for a drive in Hugh’s curricle.’
‘Very amusing!’ retorted Georgy, icily. ‘To be sure, you are a great wit!’
‘Come, you have teased your sister enough,’ said Hugh. ‘It’s time we changed the subject, before our guests tire of it. Be good enough to ring the bell, Freddy, and we’ll take a glass of sherry wine.’
Before Freddy could comply with this request, there was a tap on the door, and a footman entered.
‘Dr. Graham has called, sir.’
CHAPTER 4
The Wager
Normally, Beau Eversley would have instructed the servant to show Dr. Graham into another room; but now some mischievous impulse prompted him to bring the doctor in amongst the assembled company. He was curious to see what Georgiana’s reactions would be, and also to make the acquaintance of any man under the age of sixty who could remain impervious to the charms of the irresistible Miss Eversley.
From the first, he liked the look of John Graham. The young doctor was not of his own fashionable world, of course. Doctors rarely were, although there had been a few, such as Dr. William Hunter, who had succeeded in breaking into fashionable circles. This young man had the appearance of a country squire, with his brown coat, leather knee breeches and rather dusty boots. He was of a good height, though not quite as tall as either Beau Eversley himself or Viscount Pamyngton, but in the matter of shoulders he had a trifle the advantage of either. It was a good-humoured face, thought Beau Eversley; strong, yet capable of compassion, and with an air of integrity that inspired confidence. On the whole, he could understand George’s faith in this man as a medico.
George Eversley at once came forward with outstretched hand, and greeted his friend heartily. After this, he presented him to the rest of the company. Dr Graham acknowledged the introductions with a quick, curt bow, and a smile that twisted one side of his mouth in an attractive way.
‘I think you’ve already met my sister Georgiana,’ said George, with a twinkle in his eye.
Graham bowed. ‘I’ve had that honour.’ Georgiana flashed a suspicious look at him, but his voice was non-committal. ‘Indeed, I came to inquire for the health of the two ladies, after their ‘ he paused mo mentarily — ‘unfortunate mishap this forenoon.’
‘Good of you, my dear chap, but they’re little the worse, though Georgy has ricked her ankle a trifle. Still, if she will make such a cake of herself ‘
Georgy flashed an indignant look at her brother.
‘It’s a tricky bend just there,’ said Graham, diplomatically.
If he had hoped to placate her, he only made matters worse, as both he and George plainly saw from her face.
‘How is the ankle, ma’am?’ he went on. ‘I see you are taking my advice, and resting it.’
Evidently this did not please her, either. ‘Was that your advice?’ she queried, coldly. ‘I’m afraid I did not attend. I found for myself that it was easier this way.’ ‘You very well might, ma’am,’ he said, gravely, though his mouth twitched. ‘It isn’t the most closely guarded of medical secrets, after all.’
She gave him a look of disdain, then turned her back on him and summoned Pamyngton over to her chair. He came willingly, followed inevitably by Curshawe, who was determined that the Viscount should not steal a march on himself in Miss Georgy’s good graces.
‘Are you here for long, Jock?’ asked George, leading his friend over to the knot of men who had gathered about the tray of drinks which had just been brought into the room.
‘Three or four weeks at most,’ replied Graham. ‘My uncle will conclude his business as soon as he can. He’s anxious to return in plenty of time for Mrs. Ev-ersley’s confinement.’
‘Well, since you’re so near to us, we must try and see something of you. Would you care to take a gun out in our company, now and then? And of course you’ll be joining the Hunt.’
‘Thank you, I’d like to join you for a day’s shooting, if my duties permit. But I fear hunting’s out of the question — my uncle has no suitable horse in his stable, which consists solely of the old mare who pulls the gig. As for the horses the village innkeeper keeps for hire — well, perhaps you know their quality.’
George laughed. ‘I do indeed. But don’t let that worry you — Hugh will mount you, won’t you, Hugh?’ He looked interrogatively at his elder brother. ‘I dare say we can find Jock something a bit better in the way of horseflesh than old Reddings at the Feathers keeps in his stable, eh? And you may take my word for it that old Jock’s a first-rate rider — and a whip, too, come to that.’
Hugh readily assented. Graham thanked him, but privately made up his mind not to take advantage of the offer. His Scots pride did not relish favours. He finished his glass, and spoke of going, but George demurred.
‘Why don’t you stay and dine with us?’ he asked, hospitably. ‘Dinner will be on the table before long, and we’d be glad of your company.’
Graham looked down at his dress. ‘I’m scarcely rigged for dining out,’ he protested.
‘Oh, I dare say Susan will excuse you. We don’t stand on ceremony in the country, you know. What do you say, Sue? Here’s Jock refusing to stay and dine with us on account of his dress. Tell him it don’t signify.’
Susan did her part very prettily; but Graham was too perceptive not to see the veiled doubt on the faces of Mrs. Curshawe and Aunt Lavinia, and the open disgust on Georgiana’s. It was enough for him.
‘Thank you, ma’am, but I believe I must decline. I am expected back to dinner, and I wouldn’t like to put my aunt to any inconvenience. Moreover’ — quickly anticipating an offer to send a message by a servant — ‘there are one or two matters awaiting my attention in the surgery. We have no apothecary here in the village, you know, and my uncle is in the way of doing a fair bit of his o
wn dispensing.’
After a few protests, which were politely but firmly overborne, the doctor had his way. George then proposed that he should dine with them on the following day, and as the invitation was charmingly echoed by Susan, it would have been churlish to give a second refusal. The engagement was fixed, and the doctor took his leave.
‘In my day,’ remarked Aunt Lavinia, when he had gone, ‘no one would have dreamt of asking the leech to dine. I should have liked to have seen Papa’s face if any of us had suggested such a thing!’
‘Very likely,’ agreed Beau Eversley, smoothly. ‘But times change, my dear aunt, and we are starting on a new century, after all. Besides, it is not the doctor whom we have invited to dine, but a friend of George’s.’
‘Yes, and if you want to be so confounded uppity, Aunt,’ put in George, ‘I’ll have you know that old Jock’s a gentleman, right enough. Besides being a descendant of these confounded Border chieftains of his, he’s also kin to some deuced Scottish laird, with an unpronounceable name, and in direct line for the title, whatever it is. Damn it, the chap was at Oxford with me, as Hugh says, anyway. That should be enough.’
Fortunately, dinner was announced at this point, and the conversation turned on to ways of conveying Georgy to the dining-room, which was quite a distance away from the parlour where they were sitting, although it was on the same level. Pamyngton and Curshawe had their own reasons for favouring a chair lift which they were determined to operate themselves. Freddy settled the matter by sending for the chair on wheels which had been provided for Susan in case she should not feel like walking later on in her pregnancy.
Pamyngton and Curshawe were plainly set on helping her into the chair, but Georgy insisted on her two younger brothers performing that service for her. She felt just a little bored by her admirers’ constant attentions. No sooner was she safely installed in the chair than Freddy seized the handle before anyone else could reach it, and began to propel the chair through the parlour door and along the passage at an alarming rate.
‘Oh, pray be careful!’ begged Georgy, clinging on to the sides of the chair. ‘I’ll have a broken leg at this rate, you monster!’
He looked back over his shoulder for a second, then turned again quickly, ignoring the signals from the others whom they had now left behind.
‘I don’t mean to surrender you to either of’em!’ he chuckled, in her ear. ‘Lord, did you ever see such a doting pair? Fair makes you v — ‘ he changed the word quickly — ‘sick, don’t it? Wonder what there can be about you, Georgy, that sends all the men wild for you? I can’t see it, myself — you’re not a bad-looking female, of course, as they go. But you’re as mad as a hatter, and have a devil of a temper, besides.’
‘Thank you,’ replied his sister, icily. ‘Freddy, just you wait until you’ve injured a limb! I shall be sure to treat you to a ride in this chair, you may depend on’t!’ ‘You’d most likely have the thing over, though, whereas I’ — he swerved, narrowly avoiding an occasional table — ‘am in complete control, as you see.’ Georgy suppressed a scream, and clung to the chair even more tightly. ‘If you say so.’
‘Y’know,’ went on Freddy, slowing down to steer her through the doors of the dining-room, ‘I dare say poor old Susan felt like you do now, when she was out with you this morning.’
She turned her face up to him, and he was taken aback to see that her lip was quivering.
‘It’s ungenerous of you to say that. Don’t think it hasn’t occurred to me ‘
He leaned over and patted her hand. ‘Sorry; you’re not the only lunatic in the family. Anyway you’ll feel better when Hugh’s given you a drubbing. I never knew that fail to relieve any feelings of guilt one might be suffering from.’
She did not answer, and he stood still for a moment, trying to think of a way to blot out the impression made by his tactless remarks. Like his sister, he had a kind and generous nature; but both of them sometimes allowed their tongues to outrun their discretion. Presently, he thought he had hit upon a way to drive his tactless words from her mind.
‘I say, Georgy,’ he began, in a different tone, ‘I must say it made a welcome change to see the doctor don’t dote on you, at any rate. Don’t know when I ever came across anyone who was quite so indifferent to your charms — why, you might have been old Aunt Lavvy, for all the notice he took.’
‘I haven’t the faintest desire to be noticed by such a man,’ replied Georgiana, loftily. ‘His admiration could only be an insult to any female of taste.’
‘Oh, I don’t know,’ said her brother, reflectively. ‘He’s not a bad-looking chap. I dare say he could be almost as much of a hit as Hugh was, if he’d a mind to — he’s not one of your elegant Beaux, of course, more the sportsman — but there’s definitely something.’ ‘Well, whatever it is, I want none of it!’
He set the chair against a wall, and stood facing her, awaiting the rest of the party. There was a challenging smile on his face, and the Eversley devilment in his eyes.
‘Are you sure, Georgy? Or aren’t you just the slightest shade annoyed that Dr. Graham commits the heresy of remaining impervious to your charms?’
‘No such thing!’ retaliated his sister. ‘It’s no matter to me! Believe me, if I had the smallest inclination to bring the obnoxious man to my feet — which I have not — I don’t doubt my ability to accomplish it! So there!’
‘I’ll wager you couldn’t,’ stated Freddy, emphatically.
‘I’ve just told you I haven’t the slightest wish ‘
Her brother laughed. ‘Oh, ay, that’s an easy way out! Sour grapes, eh?’
Georgiana tilted her chin in a dignified silence.
‘Tell you what, though, Georgy,’ went on Freddy, as through the open door he watched the others approaching the room. ‘You were talking earlier on of getting your revenge on Graham. Wouldn’t that be a capital way, if only you could do it? Which, of course, you can’t, as I’m convinced — in fact, prepared to bet on it.’
He looked down at his sister, and saw that her green eyes had suddenly started to glow.
‘Are you, Freddy? Very well, then, why not? As you say, it would be a fitting revenge for his insolence — and, anyway, it will lend a little zest to a quiet stay in the country. What will you wager?’
He laughed, catching something of her excitement; then he named a sum. She nodded.
‘You won’t have very long,’ he warned her. ‘And it must be accomplished while you’re here in Buckinghamshire — that’s part of the bargain.’
‘Done!’ she agreed, recklessly.
‘Well, I wish you luck, sister! But I’m bound to tell you that I believe I shall win.’
‘What will you win?’ asked Pamyngton, who was first in the room.
‘Oh nothing,’ replied Freddy airly. ‘Just a little private wager between Georgy and myself.’
‘I wonder Miss Georgiana is sufficiently in charity with you to enter into any friendly contract,’ remarked Curshawe, ‘after the way you tooled that chair along! I wished afterwards that one of us had taken it.’
‘Don’t you worry about my sister,’ advised Freddy, with a surreptitious wink in Georgiana’s direction. ‘She’s a devil to go, aren’t you, Georgy?’
CHAPTER 5
Anne Hume Mends A Coat
When John Graham returned home, he found his cousin Anne in the small room where her father kept the medicine, busy making up some potions from prescriptions which he had written out after he had done the morning’s rounds. She looked up as he entered, and gave him a shy smile.
‘It’s good of you, Anne, but you shouldn’t put yourself to this trouble,’ he said, shaking his head. ‘I’m sure you have enough calls on your time, as it is.’
‘I always do this for Papa,’ she explained, her small capable hands busy with the pestle and mortar. ‘I like the work. Besides, there is no sewing that Mama wants me to do at present, and I can’t sit and do nothing.’
‘No, indeed. I’ve been here lon
g enough to see that you are certainly no drone,’ he agreed, smiling at her, as he removed his coat, and rolled up his shirt sleeves. ‘And you’re such a little thing, too, which makes your energy somewhat unexpected. No doubt about it, you’re a fine, healthy girl, Anne.’
She coloured up a little at this. ‘I wish you wouldn’t, cousin John,’ she protested, gently.
‘Wouldn’t what?’ He was genuinely puzzled. ‘Wouldn’t speak of people as though you saw only their physical attributes, and nothing of their minds or — or characters.’
‘Do I do that?’ He paused in the act of reaching for a bottle from the medicine chest, reflecting for a moment. ‘Yes, perhaps I do. Well, I’m more concerned with bodies than minds in most of my work — though mark you, cousin, I believe that the mind has a powerful effect on the body at times.’ He broke off, frowning. ‘Perhaps I should devote some time to the study of that particular subject. That female I saw today, for instance. Of course, she’s a fine, healthy specimen of womanhood,’ he continued, talking more to himself than to his cousin. ‘But I wonder what effect a mind and character such as hers — proud, bold, inperious — might have on the course of an illness, say ‘
‘What female?’ asked Anne, keeping her head down over her work.
‘The one who’s staying at Fulmer Towers. Viscount Eversley’s daughter, Georgiana. I dare say you’ll have seen her hereabouts at some time?’
Anne shook her head, but still did not look up.
‘She’s magnificent,’ he said thoughtfully. ‘Firm, strong bones, and a good straight spine — no backboard was needed there, I’ll be bound! One of those fine, creamy skins and a mass of softly curling auburn hair — a veritable Juno of a girl; only six inches or so shorter than I am.’
‘There you go again,’ accused Anne, still avoiding his eye. ‘What is she like, herself? Her character, I mean?’
‘Oh, odious, I should imagine!’ he answered, with a shrug. ‘Spoilt, arrogant, selfish ‘
The Toast of the Town Page 4
