Eugenie and the Earl

by Marina Oliver

  There was no news of George. None of the men the Duke employed could find any trace of him, and Serena denied all knowledge, saying she had not seen him since they had arrived in London.

  'How much money did you give him?' Arabella demanded one day when she and Eugenie had gone to visit her sister.

  'I really do not think that is any of your business!'

  'Oh, Serena, all I need to know is did you give him enough to live on for this long? If you did not, how is he managing for money?'

  'It is still none of your business.'

  'Then I suspect you are seeing him, or at least you know where he is and are in touch and sending him money.'

  At this Serena shrugged. 'And if I am? Your husband is cruel to the poor boy. He wants to deprive him of the sort of enjoyment a young man is entitled to, send him back to the country, and keep him confined as though he were a prisoner. Why, he has even announced he will not pay the poor boy's debts. What young man does not run up a few debts?'

  'Most sons do not incur so many thousands that their fathers have to sell off land in order to pay them!'

  'Nonsense. A few fields, that is all.'

  'If that is what George told you he was lying.'

  'You are simply jealous, Arabella, hoping you will bear a son and he will take George's place.'

  'That is an infamous suggestion! George is the heir.'

  'And no doubt you'd welcome his death!'

  Arabella stood up. 'Come, Eugenie, I will not remain to be insulted by my own sister. When you have apologised, Serena, I will visit you again. Until then you are not welcome at either of my houses.'

  'Hoity toity!' were the last words Eugenie heard as she followed a seething Arabella from the room, not waiting for Serena's butler to be summoned to show them out. She reached the front door and struggled to open it, but was blinded by her tears of rage. Eugenie gently pushed her aside and had the door open by the time a panting butler came through from the kitchen quarters.

  'My lady, your Grace, I didn't hear the bell!' he gasped.

  'No matter,' Eugenie said. 'Perhaps you could call a hackney? We walked from Grosvenor Square, but my aunt is feeling unwell.'

  She hustled Arabella into the hackney, and instructed the driver to take them to Cavendish Square.

  'Why? Oh, Eugenie, I am so very angry!'

  'Yes, and you are right to be. But do you want to go home and show it to all your servants? Your eyes are red and puffy, and there would be speculation and all sorts of rumours. They knew you were going to see Serena. They will guess there has been a quarrel. We'll pay off the hackney and then, if you can, we'll walk home.'

  Arabella gave a short laugh. 'I sometimes feel you are older than I, and much more sensible,' she said. 'You are right, and a good long walk will perhaps calm me. How could she say such a thing? She knows I would love to have a son, but not for the horrid reason she suggested.'

  'Of course not. But is she really giving George money, and denying it? Could she be so devious?'

  'Easily. She was always jealous of me, for before I was born she was the precious only child.'

  'I suppose that is natural, but she ought to have the common sense to disguise her jealousy. Will you tell my uncle about today?'

  'Yes. We don't have secrets. But I wish he could find George.'

  Eugenie had been pondering the question. 'Could he have left London, do you think? Might that be why no one can find any trace of him?'

  'Where would he go? He would not go to Brighton at this season, and he despises Bath and all the other watering places.'

  'That might be why he could go there, thinking you would not search for him. And I believe there are heiresses there. If he has given up the notion of marrying Lady Jane, and with her now being so well guarded he may have done so, would he not be looking for another wealthy young girl to marry? It may be the only way he can acquire funds.'

  Arabella nodded slowly. 'It is possible. I'll suggest it to Jerome, and he can send someone to Bath and if there is no sign of George there he can go to the other places. Oh, Eugenie, how glad I am to have you with me! Don't leave us soon, will you?'

  *

  'Here's the invitation to the Palmer ball,' Arabella said at breakfast the following morning.

  'I can't go!' Eugenie had refused all invitations to balls, with the excuse that she had never learnt to dance. 'There was no need. We did not go out in Society in Switzerland,' she explained.

  'Then we must teach you. After breakfast we will go up to the drawing room and I will play the pianoforte and teach you the steps of the simpler country dances first. Most of the time,' she added, 'the steps are simple and you just follow what everyone else is doing. Then we will try the cotillion, which is more complicated, but less so than it was when my Mama learnt it.'

  Eugenie was doubtful, but she realised she was missing the opportunity of dancing with the Earl, and for some reason she wanted to do this.

  They did their best, but with Arabella trying both to play the pianoforte and guide Eugenie in the steps of a country dance they made little progress. They were clinging together and laughing uncontrollably when Lady Emily was announced.

  'Oh, that's famous! You can partner Eugenie while I play,' Arabella said, without asking why Lady Emily had called so early in the day.

  Eugenie explained in between her laughter. Lady Emily, saying she had called only to bring an invitation from her Mama to a musical evening, was perfectly willing to perform the man's part, and with two of them Eugenie began to understand what was needed. They were making good progress when the Earl of Lyndhurst and his sister Lady Jane were announced. Arabella pounced on them.

  'Good, now we can try the cotillion. Oh, Lady Jane, you haven't met my husband's niece, Eugenie.'

  Eugenie looked at the girl with interest. She was pretty in an insipid way, with fair hair, much paler than Lady Emily's vibrant blonde locks. Her features were still immature, and she wondered what had attracted George apart from her fortune, which she understood had come to her from her mother.

  'What is this, a dancing school?' the Earl asked.

  'Yes, we need to teach Eugenie at least some of the simpler dances, or she refuses to come to the balls. You can remain for a while, can you not?' she asked, suddenly appearing to recall that their visitors might have other engagements.

  'Yes. I felt that Jane was being cooped up too rigidly, and needed to see something of London Society before she goes back home.'

  'Oh, are you going back to Hampshire soon?' Lady Emily asked.

  'I don't know. It depends on Hugh,' Lady Jane almost whispered.

  'Well, you are here now, and I suppose you have had dancing lessons?'

  'Yes.'

  'Why have you not engaged one of the dancing masters that are littering London?' the Earl asked.

  Arabella shrugged. 'I didn't think of it, and when this invitation to the Palmer ball came this morning, I felt it was necessary to teach Eugenie straight away. You will help, won't you? How about that last country dance, and with two couples we can do the grand chain.'

  'Or a little chain,' Eugenie muttered.

  'Well, you can get the idea. And then we can try the cotillion. It was hopeless with just one couple.'

  After a little more time Eugenie began to feel she would be capable of taking part in the simpler dances. The Earl partnered his sister, but in several of the figures Eugenie had to give him her hand, and she found him a stern teacher. He was not at all like Hugues had been in France, supportive and kind.

  'Not your right hand, girl!' he said. 'Your left. Into my left, or we get into a dreadful tangle, and there's nothing that offends people more than having the set pile up in a muddle. Don't you know the difference?'

  Eugenie swallowed. 'Perhaps I'd better not come to the ball,' she said. 'Not until I have had some more lessons.'

  'Don't be feeble! I'll dance the first country dance and the cotillion with you, so you need not be afraid of making the wrong steps.'

>   'But you make me nervous!'

  'Don't be silly, my girl. You, who faced a journey alone through France, cannot claim to have nerves!'

  'That was different!'

  He laughed. 'I promise not to shout at you. There, will you come to the ball?'

  'Wait, Hugh,' Lady Emily said. 'Why do we not make a party to go to a masquerade, and there Eugenie need not be afraid of making a mistake?'

  *

  The Earl was reluctant to agree, saying that public masquerades could develop into rowdy occasions and he would hesitate to escort any lady to one.

  'I don't mean a public one,' Lady Emily said. 'I have an invitation to one at Mr Silverthorne's house in Russell Square.'

  'Silverthorne? Isn't he the banker?'

  'Yes. A Cit, Hugh, but worth more than most of the ton,' Lady Emily said.

  'How do you know him?'

  'His son knows Sir Frederick, and Mr Silverthorne is hoping to catch a title for his daughter.'

  'I see. But will he want all of us?'

  'Refuse to entertain an Earl? Hugh, have you never met any of these City men? A title, to them, is worth more than all their money.'

  He laughed. 'Are you throwing me at the daughter? What is she like?'

  'Ruth is pretty, especially when you think of the dowry she can expect! I believe Mr Silverthorne is planning to buy up the estates of whoever next loses all at play, as an added inducement.'

  'May I come?'

  Eugenie was startled. She had forgotten Lady Jane, who was sitting on the edge of a chair listening to this discussion with a wistful smile on her lips.

  'Jane? No, it's not suitable for you,' the Earl said.

  'But if we are masked, who would recognise me? Please, Hugh, I haven't been to any parties since I came to London, and Aunt Susannah won't even permit me to walk in the Park except very early in the morning.'

  'I'll see.'

  Eugenie almost laughed. This was the standard response of any man who didn't want to make a decision. She felt sorry for the child. 'This would be like a private party,' she said, 'and we would all be there to look after her.'

  'Frederick is coming,' Lady Emily said, 'and I can force John to come.'

  'Your brother? But he's only eighteen and I thought he was at Oxford.'

  'Rusticated. For some stupid prank with a boat. I think the Dean was taken in one that had a leak. A new, man-made one. Or rather John-made one. The Dean was very wet.'

  Eugenie did laugh this time. 'Let your sister enjoy one party,' she said.

  The Earl looked flustered. 'You are all against me. What do you say?' he asked, turning to Arabella.

  'If we stay with her all the time, and do not permit her to dance with anyone else, I can see no problem.'

  'Will Jerome come?'

  She sighed. 'No, he is too busy with Lord Liverpool now the general election has started. The assassination of the Prime Minister has thrown the entire government into chaos. I can force him to come to our parties, and escort us when he feels there will be a political advantage, but he wouldn't dream of coming to a masked ball.'

  'Then I will write a polite note to Mr Siverthorne and ask if I may bring my friends. He'll never refuse a duchess, an earl, an earl's sister, and a duke's niece.

  'You won't tell him who we are?' Arabella asked in sudden alarm.

  'Don't worry, he is very discreet.'

  Soon afterwards the Earl and his sister left, with Lady Emily, and Arabella fretted that she had done wrong to agree to this party.

  'If I can't go, I'll never learn to dance,' Eugenie said, 'though if he snarls at me like he did this morning, I'm not sure I want to go.'

  'He did not snarl! He – well, he had to speak quickly to correct you, before you made a mistake.'

  Eugenie did not look convinced. 'Who are these other people? Who is Frederick?'

  'Sir Frederick Quainton? Emily's betrothed.'

  'Lady Emily is betrothed? But – '

  'You thought she and Hugh might make a match of it? No, she is so besotted with her Frederick she is prepared to defy her father if he does not give his consent. Frederick is neither rich nor well-connected.'

  Eugenie was wondering why she suddenly felt cheerful. 'I haven't seen him.'

  'He works at the War Office, and I think had been sent on some mission, but Emily says he came back yesterday. Now, we need to see what we can do about a domino and mask for you.'

  *

  The Duke shook his head when informed they intended to go to the masquerade at Mr Silverthorne's house.

  'He will expect a return invitation,' he warned, 'and once you are intimate with a person like him you will never be rid of him. Don't you recall that woman who used to live near Castle Tempus? She bombarded us with invitations, until you finally felt so guilty at refusing them you accepted a dinner invitation.'

  Arabella giggled. 'Yes. Wasn't it dreadful!' She turned to explain to Eugenie. 'She had hired several servants and brought them from London.'

  'There was a butler who did not appear to know what to do, and who poured the wrong wine. He was adding some red wine to white that was already in the glass,' the Duke said, shuddering.

  'The dining room table was only big enough for eight places, but she had squashed twelve people round it. And worst of all, she had hired twelve footmen to stand behind each chair, and they were always getting in each other's way. We had to ask her back, of course, and after that the invitations came even more frequently. I was expecting Charlotte, so I made the excuse that I was not able to pay visits.'

  'When we went to see any of our friends we had to creep out in disguise, and use the old chaise I keep for the servants. Fortunately, for us, her father died and she inherited a house in Wales. So you can see why I do not wish you to become friendly with this banker. Why, he might even expect me to transfer my business to his banking house!'

  'I will not invite them to anything smaller than a rout, and you know they are always crowded so that I don't manage to speak to half the people who come.'

  Arabella made certain they did not arrive in Russell Square until some time after the masquerade had begun. Lady Emily and Sir Frederick, with John Carruthers, had gone ahead, but the Earl escorted them and his highly excited sister in the Duke's town carriage. The coachman was instructed to return for them at midnight.

  'I promised Jerome I would not stay later. He fears the party will become wild later in the evening.'

  'He is probably right,' the Earl said. 'Listen to the noise! The entire square must be able to hear it.'

  They discovered why it was so noisy when they were admitted to the house and shown to where a huge tent had been erected in the gardens. There was a small ballroom, and the windows of this were open and connected to the tent, which enclosed the garden's flower beds and even some fruit trees. The orchestra, not the usual three or four musicians, but a group of about twelve, were in the tent, all of them appearing to be playing louder than their fellows, as if in a contest.

  'Is it always like this?' Lady Jane whispered to Eugenie.

  'I don't know. I've never been even to a ball before.'

  The music stopped, the dancers left the floor, many of them making for the supper room which was beyond the ballroom. Lady Emily appeared, introduced Sir Frederick and her brother to the others, and declared they would eat later.

  Then a country dance was started.

  'Come, Jane, I'll dance with you,' the Earl said and led his sister into the set which was forming. John, clearly following instructions, asked Eugenie to dance, they joined the set, and Lady Emily and Frederick followed. A stranger asked Arabella, so that more than half of the set consisted of their own party.

  'We'll make sure you know the moves,' Lady Emily said, and Eugenie smiled thankfully.

  'I don't know them either,' John said, and laughed. 'We're going to make a tangle of this!'

  Somehow, mainly due to the Earl and Lady Emily, they struggled through it without any major disasters. Afterwards they all
agreed they needed some refreshment. The ladies were found a table while the men went to fill plates from the lavish buffet. The Earl had just returned, balancing several plates in his hands, when his sister sprang up and managed to knock his arm so that the plates and their contents crashed to the floor.

  'Jane! How could you be so clumsy?'

  She ignored him. 'Look, over there, the man who has just taken off his mask. It's George!'

  Arabella swung round and looked where she pointed. 'It is! I'm going to ask him where he is living.'

  It was Eugenie who grasped her arm and held her back. 'No! You mustn't reveal who you are! My uncle would be furious! We can find out some other way. Mr Silverthorne must know his direction.'

  'She's right. But does anyone know the chit he's with? She's taken off her mask too,' the Earl said.

  'It's Silverthorne's daughter, Ruth,' Sir Frederick said. 'I met them in the Park a few days ago. I mean Silverthorne and his daughter, not the man she is with. I don't know him.'

  'He is my husband's son, and no one knows where he is living,' Arabella said. 'Perhaps you can use your diplomatic skills to discover it for us?'

  *

  They watched as a tall, burly man Sir Frederick said was their host approached the unmasked couple and said something, waving about his hands as he did so. George seemed to apologise and tied on his mask, but the girl looked to be protesting. Eventually she turned away from her father and tied on the mask, but not before the confrontation had attracted a good deal of attention.

  The Earl's party went back to the ballroom and Arabella said she would sit with Lady Jane in a small room set aside for tired dancers. Eugenie, with the Earl partnering her, and with Lady Emily and Sir Frederick in the same set, managed to dance a cotillion without too many mistakes, none of them disastrous.

  'I'm becoming quite used to being hauled about,' she commented as they went back to join the others. John had disappeared, but the ladies had acquired a few hopeful gentlemen who were begging them for a dance, but when they saw the Earl and Sir Frederick, both large men, they soon departed.