‘If you count Walter Shayne asking me twice,’ replied Georgy, with a mocking smirk that was very far from displaying her real feelings, ‘it’s seven.’
‘Seven. You’re prodigiously hard to please, it seems,’ he said dryly.
‘Oh, really, Hugh, I don’t see why I should have to take this from you, as well as Sue! She is for ever going on at me about getting married, as though no woman could be happy in the single state!’
‘You know why that is. Susan and I are happy together, and her generous heart cannot bear to see you excluded from a similar happiness.’
‘It’s different for you and Susan,’ retorted Georgy impatiently. ‘You are in love — why, even now, after four years of marriage, you quite dote on each other. But I’m not in love with anyone — in fact, I find most of the men I know tedious, to say the least! Not for anything would I tie myself down to one of them!’
‘I feel tempted to challenge that statement; but I shan’t do so, because I didn’t start this conversation with any idea of pressing you into marriage with any one at all. What I wished to say was this — that until lately, I had always believed that the admiration you aroused was not deliberately sought by you, but came unsought as a tribute to your charms, which were completely unstudied.’
She stared at him. ‘Well?’
‘I have reason to think otherwise now — and that is why I called you a minx, Georgiana. You’ve changed lately and I don’t care for the change.’
A faint flush came into her face. ‘What do you mean? What reason? What are you accusing me of?’
‘Of coquetry of the most contemptible kind. Of leading men on to think you serious, when your only object is to amuse yourself at their expense.’
‘Oh la! You’re grown very prudish, all of a sudden,’ she mocked. ‘Why, what did you do before you were wed but flirt with every pretty girl in Town? And now you censure me for doing the same kind of thing — not that I admit it, mind, for I don’t!’
‘Heaven knows I wouldn’t wish you to follow my example in anything,’ he said frowning. ‘And at least I never aroused any expectations which I had no intention of fulfilling. The ladies concerned fully understood the rules of the game.’
‘There was at least one who didn’t,’ retorted Georgy, triumphantly, ‘and you can’t deny it, Hugh! All the Town know that Barbara Radley almost went into a decline when you transferred your attentions from her to someone else!’
She saw with satisfaction that he looked a shade disconcerted for a moment; but the expression was soon gone, to be replaced by an even sterner look than he had worn before.
‘It’s no good, Georgy. You won’t side-track me by launching into a catalogue of my past faults. We are concerned with your present ones. Do you wish to get a name for being the most accomplished flirt in Polite Society? If so, you are going the right way about it.’
‘But what am I supposed to have done?’ she asked, in exasperated tones. ‘Only tell me that, Hugh!’
‘I have told you. And even if I hadn’t mentioned it, your conscience must have told you that the distressing scene we were forced to undergo just before supper was entirely due to your encouragement of that poor devil Curshawe!’
‘Well, if that doesn’t surpass everything!’ exclaimed Georgy, indignantly. ‘Can I help it if the silly creature takes too much to drink, and makes a fool of himself as a result? Far from encouraging him — as you accuse me — I have been trying to depress his pretensions ever since he came to stay with us in the country! I am heartily sick of the way he goes on, and so is Pam!’
‘Then why did you go with him alone into the conservatory earlier this evening? You are not a little schoolroom miss, Georgy, so you must know very well that any man would consider that a most particular form of encouragement.’
Her eyes dropped away from his. ‘Yes, of course I do. But the fact is that I knew’ — she looked up again defiantly — ‘I knew he meant to propose to me some time, and I thought I might as well get it over and done with there and then, and afterwards perhaps he would let me alone! I’ve been driven near distracted trying to prevent him from getting the chance to be private with me, and suddenly I decided that after all it was better to let him pop the question, and have his answer once for all!’
‘I see. Perhaps I’ve misjudged you on that head,’ he said, slowly. ‘I do see your point of view — it is in your character to get a thing over and done with quickly when you can see no way of avoiding it. But can you honestly say that you haven’t been leading the man on lately?’
She shook her head vehemently. ‘Never! why, it isn’t even as though there’s any fun to be had out of flirting with him! He takes everything so seriously!’
‘The poor devil will take this night’s affair seriously enough, when he’s sufficiently sober to recollect what a cake he made of himself. Tell you the truth, I’m expecting him to remember an urgent engagement in London in the morning.’
‘I hope he does go — he’s the most stupid, boring man I know,’ said Georgy with a yawn, rising to her feet. ‘I’m going to bed, Hugh, if you’ve done.’
‘Not quite,’ he said. ‘I’ll allow that possibly I’ve misjudged you as far as Curshawe’s concerned. But what of your conduct towards this other man, this medical friend of George’s? You’ll have to talk very hard to convince me that you’ve not been playing the minx with him.’
‘George’s friend?’ She sounded surprised, but he noticed the faint colour that came up in her cheeks.
‘Yes. Come, my dear, I’m not such a fool as you take me for. I’m speaking — as you very well know — of Dr. Graham. I’ve been watching your conduct with him of late, and I’ve come to a settled conclusion that you’re doing your best to entrap him.’
‘Fustian!’ she retorted, hastily. ‘Why, everyone knows that I detest the man — we are always at odds, he and I, as Susan will tell you.’
‘What Susan has told me, together with things I’ve observed for myself, have led me to form my present opinion. Why you are playing the coquette with him, I can’t pretend to guess. I should have supposed there were men enough in your own circle, if you wish to try that kind of game — men who know the rules, and who wouldn’t allow themselves to get hurt. But if you do succeed in snaring this quarry, Georgiana, it will do you scant credit, and him a great deal of harm. I like the man — he’s a good chap, as George says, and seems to be a clever man at his job. He’s too good, my girl, to be made a fool of by you. Don’t distract him any further with your pretended favours, but leave him to make a match of it with that charming little cousin of his, who is eminently suited to him in every way.’
He rose, and put an arm about her shoulders, smiling down into her face. ‘Come, little sister, I can see you’re in a pet with me, but don’t get on your high horse. I cannot bear to see you acting in a wav that is contrary to the best in your nature. You’re too honest to find any true satisfaction in deception, and too kind-hearted to enjoy hurting others. Be yourself — your true self — that’s all I ask. What need have you to seek admiration? It’s always been yours for the taking.’
She made no reply, and when he looked closely into her face, he saw that her eyes were swimming in tears. He gave her a pat, and guided her towards the door.
‘Silly puss,’ he said, gently. ‘Why can’t you make your mind up to marry Pam? You would deal famously together, you two.’
CHAPTER 14
The Morning After
On the following morning more than one person felt the effects of the previous evening’s events. Curshawe slept late, waking in the middle of the morning with a thick head and a general feeling of unease, physical and mental. Something had gone badly wrong last night, he was sure, but he could not at first recollect what it was. He puzzled over it a little while he made himself ready to go downstairs, but his head was aching too much for him to persist, and his manservant, who could have helped him, was silent.
Evidently he was not the only one to rise la
te; when he entered the breakfast parlour, he found several other members of the party assembled there. They gave him a wary look, but he was not in a sufficiently perceptive state to notice this. He sat down heavily, accepted a cup of coffee, and waved away offers of food with a pained expression. Freddy, who was sitting next to him, leaned over confidentially.
‘I know the very best thing for your trouble,’ he said grinning. ‘Tell you what, I’ll fix it up for you now, if you like to go into the library — that’s if Hugh ain’t there. Dare say you won’t care to meet him just yet, eh?’
‘I’d be obliged, Frederick, if you wouldn’t talk in riddles,’ replied Curshawe, passing a hand over his eyes. ‘I don’t seem at all the thing this morning.’
Freddy laughed. ‘Not surprising, old chap. Bit up in the boughs last night, weren’t you? Never mind — I tell you I can soon fix that for you, if you come with me.’
‘Up in the -?’ Curshawe turned to stare at his neighbour. ‘Are you suggesting I was inebriated?’ he asked in tones of horror.
Freddy nodded. ‘Tight as an owl. Completely castaway, give you my word. Don’t you remember?’
Curshawe shook his head, then winced. ‘No. But I had a feeling there was something wrong’
‘Come on,’ said Freddy, rising from the table. ‘I’d better give you some idea of how the land lies, I can see.’
Curshawe gulped down a mouthful of coffee, and rose to follow him.
‘Here, drink this,’ said Freddy, about five minutes later, coming into the library where he had settled Curshawe, and holding out a glass.
‘What is it?’ asked Curshawe, suspiciously.
‘Oh, a little concoction of my own for a thick head. It’ll set you right in no time — you’ll see. Go on, gulp it down, man, it won’t harm you.’
Having first smelt the liquid, Curshawe obediently swallowed it, then made a wry face.
‘If you’re playing off one of your jokes on me’ he began, indignantly.
‘No, no — I assure you, it’s all right. Never kick a man when he’s down,’ protested Freddy. ‘Do you mean to say, though, Curshawe, that you don’t recollect anything of what took place yesterday evening?’
Curshawe put his head in his hands. ‘I didn’t,’ he replied, with a groan, ‘but it’s coming back to me now. There was an argument with Pamyngton — something to do with your sister — oh, God!’
Freddy regarded him with something close to sympathy. He had no use for Curshawe, but the man was in an awkward situation, and Freddy’s sporting instincts prompted him to lend a hand. Besides, it would be no bad thing for everybody if Curshawe decided to curtail his visit, and once he realized what a fool he had made of himself last night, surely he would go as soon as possible?
‘That’s about it,’ Freddy said, helpfully. ‘George and his friend Jock Graham towed you off and tucked you up in bed ‘
‘Oh, God!’ exclaimed Curshawe again. ‘I — I believe I tried to call Pamyngton out, didn’t I? And then your brother Hugh came along…’ He broke off, and looked at Freddy wildly. ‘What the devil can I do about it?’ he continued, in tones of despair.
Freddy shrugged. ‘Best forgotten. Tell you, you were completely castaway. They know it — they won’t take it seriously, you’ll see.’
‘But I take it seriously!’ burst out Curshawe. ‘And when I consider what Miss Georgiana must think of me — ‘
It was on the tip of Freddy’s tongue to advise his companion not to worry on that score, either, as Georgy had never had any good opinion of him to lose. But he kept quiet, contenting himself with another shrug.
‘I must go to them at once!’ went on Curshawe, in an agitated tone. He half rose from his seat, then subsided with a groan.
‘You’d far better just sit quiet here, and give that potion time to do the trick,’ advised Freddy.
Curshawe groaned again. ‘Perhaps so. But afterwards I must at once seek out your brother and sister, and make them my apologies! I can scarcely stay under Hugh’s roof, after this — he must wish me gone already! As for Pamyngton –‘
‘Oh, Lord, don’t put yourself into a taking over Pam,’ said Freddy, carelessly. ‘He ain’t the man to bear a grudge — especially as he knew you were foxed. Well, we all did, come to that. No mistaking it.’
‘What you say only fills me with a deep repugnance for my own behaviour,’ said Curshawe, in bitterly humiliated tones. ‘To think that Miss Georgy should have seen me behaving in a fashion that — that…’ He could not continue.
Freddy flung him a half contemptuous look. ‘Well, no use overdoing the self-loathing stuff. Thing is, you did make a bit of a cake of yourself. Not the first time a man’s done anything of the kind, though, when he’d taken more than was good for him. My advice is, apologise to Hugh — after all, he’s your host — then forget about it. Least said soonest mended. Why not take a turn in the grounds, when you feel more the thing? Nothing like fresh air to blow the cobwebs away.’
Georgiana was also trying the effects of fresh air on jaded spirits. She had breakfasted early, and slipped away to walk alone along a path which ran right round the grounds to the boundary wall which separated Fulmer Towers from the road.
It was a golden October morning, and at any other time she would have delighted in the glowing tints of the trees which stood on either side of the path, their autumn colours set off by the background of a delicate blue sky. Trees had always had the power to move her quick sense of beauty. But today she did not see the trees, and walked unheeding past the bright piles of gold and amber leaves which the gardeners had heaped beside the path, ready for burning. What had happened last night had in some way left her changed; but how and why, was at present beyond her understanding. She walked along with bent head, trying to solve the riddle.
Her abstraction was broken at last by the sound of a horse trotting along the road on the other side of the wall. She stood listening for a moment, then an old childhood impulse came over her to see who it was. Close to the wall not far from this point there had been a sawn-off tree trunk which she had often used as a look-out post. She ran towards it now, and scrambled on to its broad, flat surface. In the old days, she had been obliged to stand on tiptoe to see over the wall from her vantage point; now she found herself standing head and shoulders above the wall, with a clear view of the road below.
The rider was approaching from her right and was at first hidden from view by the trees which grew beside the wall. In a few moments, he drew level with the spot where she was standing, and then she saw that it was John Graham. Involuntarily she gave a little gasp of surprise which drew his attention. He turned his head in her direction; their eyes were almost on a level, and as their glance met, he drew rein sharply. The horse fidgeted for a moment before responding to his capable hands.
He removed his hat, and bowed curtly. ‘Good morning.’
‘Good morning,’ replied Georgy, with a welcoming smile. She hesitated a moment, then, seeing that he was about to ride on, exclaimed impetuously, ‘Oh, no, pray don’t go! Stay and talk to me for a while — I’m in the doldrums this morning.’
‘Are you?’ he asked, without any noticeable interest. ‘Perhaps late evenings do not suit you.’
She forced a laugh. ‘They should — I have sufficient of them in Town!’
‘No doubt. Well, I do not. And I fear, Miss Eversley, that in consequence you’d find me rather poor company at present. So I’ll be on my way.’
‘Oh, no, please!’ she pleaded, leaning over the wall so that her tawny curls fell forward on to her face. ‘Even poor company’s better than none — and I can’t bear my own at present!’
His dark eyes looked bleakly into her green ones. ‘You’ve plenty of company in the house,’ he said curtly.
‘Those people!’ She tossed the hair back from her face. ‘I am heartily sick of them all — yes, even my dear little Sue, who never did any harm to anyone!’ ‘They may be equally sick of you,’ he suggested, grimly.
&nb
sp; She shrugged. ‘Possibly — very likely. One always grows tired of house parties after a time. It’s all diverting enough at first; and then all at once everything and everyone seems prodigiously boring! I think I’ve been too long away from London — it’s time I returned.’
‘Yes, perhaps that would be best,’ he replied in a voice devoid of expression.
She stared at him for a moment, then asked abruptly, ‘Where are you going? Are you in a hurry?’ He shook his head, and glanced at the road ahead. ‘I’m exercising this horse for a patient of mine who’s broken his leg — or, at least, that’s his way of putting it. He’s urged me to borrow the animal whenever I’ve a mind, but this is the first time I’ve taken him at his word. Today I felt I wanted a canter, and poor old Nell’s past it.’
‘But George told you he’d find you a mount at any time from our stable,’ protested Georgy.
‘Maybe,’ replied Graham. ‘But I don’t choose to be under an obligation to your brother.’
‘Oh, don’t be absurd!’ She reached out a hand towards him across the wall. ‘Look here, won’t you come in and finish this conversation? There’s a gate in the wall just a little way down there, by the way you’ve just come — I’ll go and let you in.’
He seemed about to refuse, but she gave him no chance, for she disappeared promptly. Jumping down from the tree trunk, she pattered quickly throuqh the fallen leaves until she reached a side gate which she unbolted and flung open. He was already waiting on the other side. He dismounted and led the horse through in silence.
‘Perhaps you’ll tether your horse to that post,’ she suggested, turning to fasten the gate so that she could cover a momentary embarrassment. ‘Would you like to go up to the house and join the others? Or shall we walk along this path a little way? That is what I was doing when I saw you.’
‘I must not stay long, in any case,’ he replied, rather stiffly. ‘So perhaps I won’t go up to the house.’
The Toast of the Town Page 12
