by Gayle Buck
Giving her gloved hand to Lady Alverley, Lady Frobisher said with a laugh. “Do forgive me for bringing my little ones in with me, my lady! They objected to letting me out of their sight for even a moment. Edmund and John seem to think that I shall forget their treat if they are not with me to remind me.”
“Perfectly all right, Lady Frobisher,” said Lady Alverley graciously. She bestowed a wary glance on the two lively imps, who were tugging on their nurse’s hands. “These are my granddaughters, Miss Sarah Sommers and Margaret.”
“I am delighted to meet you. My brother has described to me the plight in which he found you. I am glad that neither of you took hurt,” said Lady Frobisher.
“Thank you, my lady,” said Sarah, smiling. “I am happy to make your acquaintance.”
Margaret greeted Lady Frobisher also, but her attention swiftly returned to the twins. “And are these your sons? They are positively adorable!” she exclaimed.
Lady Frobisher and Lord Eustace laughed in unison. “You may change your opinion once you have been in their company for any length of time, Miss Margaret,” said Lady Frobisher.
“They are hardened rapscallions,” said Lord Eustace roundly. His nephews shot him gap-toothed grins, apparently delighted with this encomium.
One of them suddenly broke loose from the nanny. Promptly his twin emitted a cry of protest. Disregarding his brother’s howl, the tiny boy ran over to grab Lord Eustace around the leg. He twinkled up at his uncle. “Up, Uncle Gil! Up!”
Lord Eustace bent down and swung him up onto his shoulder. He met Lady Alverley’s incredulous gaze. “You see how I am used,” he said.
“Indeed!” uttered Lady Alverley, her brows scaling into her hairline.
Lady Frobisher cast a glance at Lady Alverley as she took possession of her other son’s hand. “Perhaps we should be going, Gilbert. I am certain that Lady Alverley has a myriad of things that she wishes to do this afternoon,” she suggested.
Lord Eustace agreed, and in short order the party had taken leave of Lady Alverley and left the town house. “We are going in two carriages,” said Lord Eustace. “It is impossible for all of us to fit into one. Who is riding with Mama?”
Both little boys vigorously rejected this option, giving it as their joint opinion that to drive with their uncle in his splendid curricle was much more entertaining than sitting with’ their mother. Lord Eustace gave way with good grace, laughing. “But I warn you, Edmund, John! Any fighting or one cross word and I shall put you down to ride with Nurse.”
“We will be good, Uncle Gil,” said one of the twins. The other nodded vigorously. “Yes, berry, berry good.”
“See that you are!” said Lord Eustace in a menacing voice that sent his nephews into fits of giggling. He lifted them into the curricle.
Lady Frobisher picked up her skirts and entered her carriage. Sarah sat down beside her, while Margaret took the seat with her back to the horses. “I do hope that you do not mind this sort of family party,” said Lady Frobisher anxiously.
“Not at all, my lady. We have never had the opportunity to be much around children. I, for one, think that your sons are perfectly engaging,” said Sarah.
“Oh, yes! They are such happy, merry little gentlemen,” said Margaret. “I am going to sit next to them in Astley’s Circus just so I can watch their faces. That is, if you permit. Lady Frobisher!”
Lady Frobisher laughed. “With my good will, Miss Margaret!”
Good relations thus being established, Lady Frobisher entertained her guests with little stories about her young family and amusing anecdotes about some of her friends in society. Sarah was not very long in realizing that Lady Frobisher was also subtlety eliciting information about her and her sister’s backgrounds, as well. Sarah reflected that perhaps Lady Alverley had been more correct than she had given her ladyship credit for. Lady Frobisher did indeed seem inordinately curious about them.
Sarah and Margaret were amazed by their first glimpse of Astley’s Circus. The building was built out of ships’ masts and spars and a canvas ceiling was stretched on fir poles and lashed together with ropes. The rough interior was lit by a huge, brilliant chandelier, which Lord Eustace impressively informed everyone continued fifty patent lamps. Below the blazing chandelier, and in the midst of three tiers of spectator boxes, was the huge ring of sawdust. An orchestra was situated next to the ring and provided dramatic music for the performance.
For the next hour and a half, Sarah and the others were enthralled by superb equestrian feats and trick riding. Lord Eustace had to forcibly restrain one of his nephews from his announced intention to jump down into the ring and run after the horses.
“I agree, John, it is a very pretty horse,” said Lord Eustace. “When you are older I will get you one just like it.”
Instantly the other twin began to lobby his uncle, tugging imperatively on his coat sleeve. “Me, too. Uncle Gil! Me, too!”
“Yes, and one for you, too, Edmund,” said Lord Eustace, laughing.
“How do you tell them apart?” asked Sarah.
“At the moment, I have only to count teeth,” said Lord Eustace. At her disbelieving expression, he grinned. “I am perfectly serious, Miss Sommers. Currently Edmund has one more front tooth than John. When I am in doubt about which of them I am talking to, I demand to see their teeth.”
Sarah choked on a laugh at the absurdity. “What shall you do when John gains another tooth?”
In a thoughtful voice, Lord Eustace said, “That possibility, Miss Sommers, haunts me.”
Sarah laughed outright. “How absurd you are, to be sure!”
Lord Eustace affably agreed to it, also laughing.
Lady Frobisher looked around at them. She smiled, returning her attention almost at once to the equestrian show. She pointed for her sons. “Look, John, Edmund! See the lovely lady dancing on the back of the horse!”
“I can do vat,” said one twin, critically watching the performance.
The other nodded. “Me, too.”
When the performance was over, the twins exclaimed loudly and tearfully that they wanted the horses to come back. “It does seem as though the time has flown past,” said Margaret regretfully.
Lord Eustace suggested getting an ice at Gunther’s and his nephews’ tears magically disappeared. “You spoil them terribly, Gilbert,” said Lady Frobisher between laughter and irritation.
“That is what an uncle is good for,” said Lord Eustace. He caught Miss Sommer’s gaze upon him and smiled at her. “Do you not agree, Miss Sommers?”
“We did not see our own uncle very much as children, my lord, so how can I say?” said Sarah, amused. “However, I believe that I would have enjoyed such an uncle very much.”
“There, Mary, you see? Miss Sommers approves,” said Lord Eustace, winking at Sarah.
Sarah felt her face warming. She glanced up into his lordship’s face, then away, uncertain what to make of Lord Eustace’s friendly air. She was relieved when her sister created a diversion.
“And so do I! An ice at Gunther’s!” exclaimed Margaret, clapping her hands just as enthusiastically as the twins.
Lady Frobisher laughed. “I am overruled, I perceive. Very well! An ice. But then I must return these two to the nursery for their naps or Nurse will be very irritable with me. Isn’t that right. Nurse?”
“Aye, my lady. They’ll be a handful if they don’t have their nap,” agreed the nanny with a benevolent smile.
Gunther’s was a great success with the Frobisher twins. They happily consumed their ices under the supervision of their nanny while the rest of the party conversed at another table nearby. Eventually Lady Frobisher thought it best to bring the party to a close. She suggested that her brother escort their guests back to Lady Alverley’s town house, while she went on her way with her sons and their nanny.
“For I see that Edmund is already nodding. He will fall asleep in a few minutes and John will not be far behind, so it is best that I take leave of you here,” s
he said, holding out her hand in turn to Sarah and to Margaret.
“Thank you, my lady. We have enjoyed ourselves very much,” said Sarah sincerely.
“Oh, yes! I have never seen anything quite like it,” said Margaret with a bright, happy smile.
“I am glad. I trust that we will see each other again quite soon,” said Lady Frobisher, also smiling. She turned to say something to Lord Eustace, who nodded. She went away to help the nanny with the twins. The small boys had wound down like slowing tops and they needed to be carried back to their mother’s carriage.
Lord Eustace smiled at Sarah and Margaret. “Let me escort you out to my curricle. My sister has said her good-byes to me, also, preferring that I see that you get safely home.”
Sarah accepted Lord Eustace’s hand up into the curricle. She sat down and eased over to make room for Margaret. The vehicle rocked slightly when Lord Eustace climbed in and took up the reins. It was a tight fit on the seat. Sarah glanced at her sister’s face. Margaret was in high spirits, her vivid blue eyes sparkling as she looked out over the horses’ heads. She seemed oblivious that she was sitting close enough to Lord Eustace so that his shoulder occasionally brushed hers.
Sarah did not think that she would have been so insensitive if she were seated in her sister’s place. That afternoon she had become aware of each nuance of Lord Eustace’s voice and his every change of expression. She had very much liked sitting with him at Astley’s Circus and exchanging cheerful observations about the performance. For her, it had seemed there had been a sort of rosy hue in the very air all afternoon.
“Did you enjoy yourself, Miss Margaret?” asked Lord Eustace, glancing at her with a glinting smile.
“There was never anything so wonderful!” exclaimed Margaret, turning her head and laughing.
Sarah saw a queer look cross his lordship’s face, but then it vanished. He was laughing, too.
“I am glad,” said Lord Eustace. He looked past Margaret and met Sarah’s eyes. “And what of you, Miss Sommers? Was Astley’s Circus everything that you had envisioned?”
“More, my lord, for I did not know what to expect,” said Sarah. “I, too, found it a wonderful spectacle. I am glad that you included us in your party. It was extremely kind of you, for Margaret, in particular, wished to go.”
“Not any more than my nephews, I daresay,” said Lord Eustace dryly.
Sarah chuckled. “No, indeed!”
“Well, I did like it,” said Margaret, tossing her head. “I daresay I will go back if I am ever invited by anyone to do so.”
As Lord Eustace conversed with them, he guided his team expertly through the heavy traffic. The ribbons slipped through his fingers effortlessly, seemingly just a touch from them communicating everything necessary to the high-bred team of blacks that he drove. Sarah liked to watch his lordship’s hands, for she appreciated the strength and skill that he was displaying as he drove.
“Here we are!” He pulled up at the curb in front of Lady Alverley’s town house and snubbed the reins.
Lord Eustace jumped down to the pavement, then turned to help Margaret to descend. He put his hands around her waist and swung her down to the ground.
Margaret darted a laughing glance at him. “I am no featherweight, I believe, my lord!”
Lord Eustace only smiled and bowed. He turned to offer a hand up to Sarah. Guiding her with one hand, and the other supporting her elbow, he helped her to descend.
“Thank you, my lord,” said Sarah, smiling up at him. “Will you come in?”
Lord Eustace escorted them up the stone steps to the door. At Sarah’s query, he shook his head. “Thank you, but no, Miss Sommers. I have another engagement yet this afternoon. But be assured that I will call again.” He lifted her hand to his lips for a brief salute. Then he turned to her sister.
Sarah watched as Margaret gave her hand to him, and how Lord Eustace lifted her fingers to his lips. It was not quite the same formal leave-taking that he had honored her with, Sarah abruptly realized. She glanced sharply at Lord Eustace’s face. She saw that his lordship’s eyes were fixed, with a queer sort of hunger in them, on her sister’s bright countenance. With something of a squeeze in the vicinity of her heart, Sarah saw that Lord Eustace was very definitely interested in her sister.
When they entered the town house, Sarah was more than usually quiet. But Margaret did not notice. She continued to chatter away about the delightful outing that they had enjoyed.
* * *
Chapter 9
The dawn of Lady Alverley’s small gathering finally arrived. Days of preparations had gone into making a success of the evening. The pleasant scent of beeswax and the deep gleaming reflections of candlelight in the furniture attested to hours of polishing. Huge floral arrangements were delivered that afternoon and were distributed throughout the rooms, adding their delicate perfume to the air. Two hours before the guests were due to arrive, the gowns that Sarah and Margaret were to wear were delivered.
Sarah’s gown was discovered to be too long for her, dragging on the floor. “What am I to do?” asked Sarah, casting an anxious glance at the clock. “There isn’t time to send it back now!”
“Do not fret, miss. I’ll have it fixed in a trice,” said Bordon. The maid brought out a sewing basket and quickly set to work. She proved to be an excellent needlewoman, whipping up the hem in less time than Sarah thought possible.
After dressing, Sarah looked at herself in the looking-glass. She was attired in a simple round gown of palest pink that brought out the color in her cheeks and emphasized her dark hair and eyes. The dress had small slashed sleeves at the shoulders and a modest neckline. Sarah had put on a string of pearls, which had belonged to her mother, and a matching pair of earrings. Her hair was dressed in a knot on top of her head, wisps of natural curls softening her face.
“It is such a plain-looking gown, but I don’t think that I’ve ever looked nicer,” she remarked.
“‘Tis the making of the gown, Miss Sarah,” said Bordon, expertly smoothing the long flowing lines of the skin. “Her lady ship’s modiste has a particular knack.”
“And so do you, Bordon. I don’t know what I would have done without you. Thank you,” said Sarah.
The maid’s stern face eased into a slight smile. “I am glad that I could help, miss.”
The panel door in the corner of the bedroom opened and Holby came in. She nodded to Bordon, who stepped back to allow her full sight of Sarah’s toilette.
“Well, Holby, how do I look?” asked Sarah, catching up her skirt and twirling round.
Holby’s sharp gaze took her former mistress in from head to toe. She was not displeased by the efforts of her replacement. She nodded briskly. “You’ll do very well, Miss Sarah. Bordon has done a very credible job.”
“She performed a rescue, as well, Holby. The hem was too long and I was tripping over it every time that I took a step. Bordon shortened it almost quicker than I could blink,” said Sarah. “She has a way with a needle.”
“Aye, I can see that she does,” said Holby.
There was a knock on the door and a maid entered to relay a summons to meet Lady Alverley downstairs. “I sent Miss Margaret off not a moment ago, Miss Sarah,” said Holby.
“Then I must be close behind or her ladyship will wonder where I am,” said Sarah. She allowed Bordon to slip her shawl over her elbows and arrange it in graceful folds. When she was ready, she smiled at her old retainer. “Wish me luck, Holby. I feel as though this might be one of the most important eves of my life.”
Sarah descended the stairs and went into the drawing room. Her sister was already there with Lady Alverley. Sarah cast a fleeting glance at Margaret, wanting to see how her sister was turned out.
Margaret’s gown was similar to her own, except that it was blue. The soft color caught the vividness of Margaret’s blue eyes and brought out the honey blonde of her hair. A fillet of blue satin and pearls was twisted through her curls and a simple gold pendant hung around her
slender neck.
Lady Alverley turned when Sarah entered. She inspected her eldest granddaughter’s appearance with a critical eye while Sarah waited, smiling, for the verdict. Her ladyship nodded. “You’ll do, Sarah.”
“Thank you, Grandmama. I cannot hold a candle to you, however, ma’am,” said Sarah, going over to kiss her grandmother’s cheek.
“You are learning, dear child,” said Lady Alverley. Her ladyship wore an emerald green satin with an overdress of Italian lace. A diamond set had been placed in her hair, holding a few esprits in place, and diamonds winked from her ears and around her wrinkled neck. Several bracelets graced her arms and rings circled every finger. A fine shawl dripped from her elbows.
“Margaret, you’re beautiful! And Miss Hanson, too,” said Sarah.
“Oh, I’m not half as pretty as you, Sarah,” said Margaret admiringly. Her eyes sparkled. “Isn’t it simply wonderful! I daresay I shan’t sleep all night for the excitement.”
Miss Hanson was elegantly dressed in a ruched crepe. She had adorned herself with several gold chains and wore carnelian drops in her ears and a carnelian bracelet. She opened an ivory fan and slowly fanned herself. “Naturally it will be quite exciting for you and Sarah.”
“Sarah, when you came in I was telling Margaret what to expect this evening. I have invited an intimate number of my closest acquaintances,” said Lady Alverley. “There will be a sprinkling of younger gentlemen, of course, but most of my guests come out of my own circle. This is because I wish more to generate invitations for you tonight than I wish to introduce you to any eligible partis.”
“Dare I admit that I am just a bit relieved, ma’am?” asked Sarah with a laugh. “I confess the thought of facing a roomful of eligible gentlemen on our first evening had seemed rather daunting.”
