This was a subject Robinia could enter into with enthusiasm. Lady Carrbridge had demurred on the matter of manners, saying that Robinia was perfectly able to move in even the most exalted circles. The subject of fashion was of the greatest interest to her, however, and she had wasted no time in examining Robinia’s wardrobe in the minutest detail. With the assistance of two maids, they had spent an entire morning covering the bed, chairs and tables in her room with every item Robinia possessed. Lady Carrbridge weighed up each one with an experienced eye, sorting them into three piles — those which would do, those which could be modified to do, and those which would not do at all. Then, even more delightfully, she presented Robinia with half a dozen gowns of her own.
“I do not wear these any more,” she said, with a lift of one shoulder. “Lord Carrbridge gives me so much pin money that I may outfit myself anew from head to toe for each new season, and not overspend my budget in the slightest. My wardrobes are so crowded, you cannot imagine, and this colour will look so charming on you. Hampton will adjust the sleeves a little for the new fashion.”
So it was that Robinia found herself descending to dinner one evening in a gown of the most ravishing figured sarsnet in the palest peach colour, with a voile overskirt trimmed with spangles, and a matching circlet in her hair. At the foot of the stairs, Lord Reginald materialised from behind the suit of armour, almost as if he had been awaiting her arrival.
“Why, Miss Chamberlain, how well you look tonight! May I escort you to the saloon?”
She took the proffered arm with a slight inclination of the head, but as they walked she said, “I thank you for the compliment, my lord, but I am always cast down when told that I look well tonight, for it implies that I looked less well yesterday, or might do so tomorrow. Is this the pinnacle of my looking well, do you suppose, or might I aspire to achieve such a level again if I try very hard?”
At once she could have bitten her tongue, in case he might take her levity seriously and imagine some slight was intended. To her delight, he laughed out loud and stopped, turning to face her. “Miss Chamberlain, you wound me to the heart! I tell you truly that you look as well tonight as I have ever seen you look before in the… oh, three days of our acquaintance, but I do not discount the possibility that there may come a time in the future when you will exceed even the levels of looking well that you have achieved tonight.”
She scolded him for his absurdity, but as they made their way to the saloon, she thought with some satisfaction on the exchange. Lord Reginald was neither handsome nor especially stylish in his dress or person, but he was an easy conversationalist, and she liked his ready wit very much. She had no wish to give him too much encouragement, but there was no harm in responding in an agreeable manner to his approaches, and it would increase her consequence enormously to have a lord dangling after her. Yes, it was all very gratifying.
~~~~~
Reggie spent the whole evening at Miss Chamberlain’s side. Until that point he had regarded her dispassionately, weighing up her good and bad points objectively, and thinking more, it must be said, of her fortune of forty three thousand pounds than of the lady herself. But when he had seen her descend the stairs, floating downwards in her fashionable gown with all the grace of an angel returning to earth, he had taken full notice of the lady herself for the first time and been much struck. No man, faced with such a vision of loveliness, could fail to be moved, and when she had treated his trivial little compliment to the ridicule it deserved, he found himself quite delighted with her. Her charming smile, and the pleasing way her eyes sparkled with humour — not coquettish, but most appealing — yes, he could see himself married to such a woman.
But when Miss Chamberlain and the other ladies had retired for the night, and the few remaining gentlemen had settled down with the brandy and cards for some serious play, the full weight of the earlier revelation descended on Reggie once more. Not minded for company, he took his brandy glass and a candelabra to the long gallery, and sat on the window seat opposite the portrait of his father in all the splendour of his coronet and ermine. In the flickering candlelight, the eighth marquess seemed almost alive, his face gazing sternly down at his second son, as if in disapproval. Such a familiar face, and yet what secrets lay behind it?
“Did you really know this Amelia Gartmore, Father?” Reggie said, and somehow, in that echoing room in the dead of night, it seemed not the least bit odd to be talking to a portrait. “Is this son yours? And could you possibly have married her? It seems unlike you, when you always drummed it into us never to forget the family’s honour. Whatever happened all those years ago?”
But his father returned no answer.
5: Lake Cottage
The marquess came in his dressing robe to Reggie’s room early the following morning, while Reggie was still enjoying his morning chocolate.
“Good morning, brother,” he said, whisking back Reggie’s curtains.
“Good God, Carrbridge, what are you doing up and about at this unearthly time of day? Is there a fire?”
“There might as well be,” Carrbridge said gloomily. “Connie has got it into her head that I need a secretary and should offer Merton a permanent post here.”
“And you have no wish to? After all, you have managed for years without a secretary, ever since Mr Penicuik…”
“Ah, poor Mr Penicuik!” Carrbridge sighed and settled himself on the foot of Reggie’s bed, cross-legged. “Merton was only here for a month to find out the state of my finances, and that he has done, so I cannot see any further need for his services. Of course one cannot send him away while Lady Hardy is here, for the poor lady enjoys his company of all things in this sad time, and now he is to investigate further regarding this Amelia Gartmore and her son. But a permanent post? That I am not sure about. What is your opinion, Reggie? If Humphrey were here I should ask him, but he is not, and Monty is useless — he just tells me that naturally I must engage him, for he is such a pleasant fellow, and that is not in the least helpful. But you will advise me sensibly, I am sure.”
Reggie raised his eyebrows. “I wonder you ask me at all when my brothers are preferred above me.”
“Now, you must not be cross, Reggie. You know that is not true, for I would never ask for Gil’s opinion on such a subject. Or any subject, now that I think about it. Never knew such a ramshackle fellow, and not a sensible thought in his head. He makes even Humphrey and Gus look like paragons of docility. That is nothing to the point, however. What do you think, Reggie? Should I engage Merton, or not?”
Reggie hesitated. If he gave his honest opinion of Merton, it would hardly be flattering. “Do you truly want my answer, Carrbridge?”
“I do, for Connie said that you hold Merton in strong dislike, and your views will be the more valuable for it. I do not see it, myself, for if that is so, you will simply tell me you hate the fellow, and that I should get rid of him as soon as may be, but when Connie tells me to do a thing, I have found that it is best to do it at once.”
Reggie laughed and shook his head at such a lily-livered attitude, but he answered, “I do dislike him, it is true. I find him an encroaching sort of man, for look how he has wormed his way into his present position. He has completed the task he was brought here to accomplish, yet here he still is, finding more tasks and making himself indispensable to you.”
“He is indispensable, now that you mention it,” Carrbridge said, leaning forward eagerly. “That is an excellent point, Reggie. He helps me with all these tedious letters from the lawyers, which would otherwise have to wait upon Humphrey being here, and he explains everything very clearly, so that I understand it. Not like Sharp — now, do not glower at me in that way, for Sharp is a good enough sort of man, and perfectly adequate as an agent, but he never explains anything. He makes me feel like a fool for asking, and then he just waves his hands in the air and says he will deal with it and not to worry about it. But I do worry about these things when I have not the least idea what is going on, and Me
rton is very good at clearing my head. And look at what he did with that estate of Aunt Ruth’s! He went through the terms of the lease and discovered that little clause that Sharp had never noticed, and now we are three hundred pounds a year better off than we were.”
“Yes, that was very clever thinking,” Reggie conceded. “I never understood what Grandfather was about, to give away all these profitable estates to the ladies, for it materially reduces your income.”
“Well, they are not given away, exactly, for they only hold them for their lifetimes, just like Harriet’s, and it is no bad thing for them to be independent to a degree and not always under our feet here. But if I engage Merton permanently, he can look at all the leases, and perhaps he will find three hundred pounds from each of them, and then we will not have to economise so much and Connie may have her orangery after all. So you will not object if I offer him the position?”
“It is not for me to object or approve,” Reggie said. “Besides, if Connie wishes it, I daresay she will get her way. You never do say no to her.”
“Only in the matter of the phaeton,” Carrbridge said. “I should not have a moment free of anxiety should she be driving about London in her own outfit, Reggie. It is not to be thought of.” He shuddered. “That is settled then. I shall speak to Merton this very day.”
The offer was made just a few hours later, as soon as Reggie, the marquess and Merton retired to the ship room after breakfast. Merton accepted the post with a pleasing gratitude, and accepted the suggested salary without demur, which immediately made Reggie think that the sum was too large.
But then Merton said, “Should you object if I were to live out, my lord?”
“Live out? Why would you want to do that? You are comfortable enough here, are you not?”
“Most comfortable, my lord. I should not wish you to imagine that my request arises from any dissatisfaction with the present arrangements. However, if I am to be an employee and not a guest, it would be more appropriate if I am not constantly dining at your table.”
Reggie could not fault him for such a standpoint. The change of status would indeed make a difference, and a secretary was of an inferior level of society. It was not proper for him to be on an equal footing with the family, and he approved of Merton’s nicety in recognising that.
Carrbridge frowned. “But you lived in with Sir Osborne Hardy, I think?”
“I did, my lord, but I was a friend to Sir Osborne long before I was anything more. We were at school together, and my position as secretary and adviser arose only gradually, over many years. The situation here is very different, and I have no wish to presume upon any closer relationship with your lordship than that which arises between employer and employee.”
“You are most scrupulous, Merton,” Carrbridge said. “I appreciate your consideration. Very well, but where will you live? Not too far away, I trust.”
“There is a house very conveniently situated at this end of the village which has been unoccupied for some years. That would suit me very well,” Merton said.
“Lake Cottage, you mean?” Carrbridge said. “Indeed, it has stood empty since the Mallorys quit it. Do you know who the owner is, for I am sure that I do not.”
“Why, you are, my lord,” Merton said, with one of his reluctant little smiles. “The house is yours, and I am sure we can come to some agreement regarding the rent.”
Carrbridge laughed at the joke, and assured him he would not be a demanding landlord. “But good Lord, I never knew I owned the place! All those times I visited Mrs Mallory and her daughters and never had the least idea that I had the power to turn them out in a moment. Well, well! Think how much amusement I might have gained if I had but known of it! But it is too late now. Of course you may have Lake Cottage, Merton.”
“It is rather a large house for a single man,” Reggie said suspiciously.
“Indeed it is, and I daresay I shall keep half the rooms under holland covers just at first,” Merton said without a moment’s hesitation. “But one never knows what the future may bring. It may be that I shall marry one day, and then it would be convenient to have a suitable house awaiting the occasion.”
Reggie said no more, but he wondered greatly at it. Sharp, the agent, who might be supposed to have a similar standing to a secretary, lived in a tiny stable cottage with his wife and several children, and made no complaint. Now Merton would be taking up residence in one of the few houses of substance in the village. It hardly seemed fair. No, on reflection, he felt it was distinctly unfair.
~~~~~
The marchioness had no sooner heard of the scheme regarding Lake Cottage than she wanted to see the place with her own eyes. “It will need refurbishment, I make no doubt, Mr Merton, and there I can be of service to you. I should delight in restoring an old house to a state of beauty.”
They were gathering in the saloon before dinner, and Connie’s face was alight with enthusiasm, an expression Reggie had learnt meant that she would not be gainsaid, and any opposition was fruitless. Nevertheless, Merton put up some resistance.
“I should not dream of putting you to such trouble, my lady,” Merton said. “I shall get a man from the village to run over it with fresh paint.”
“You will do nothing of the sort!” she declared. “Now that the refurbishments at Marford House are complete, my fingers itch for another project of that nature, and I am not allowed to turn my attention to Drummoor yet — not until our financial state improves. So you see, you will be doing me the greatest favour and keeping me from idleness if you allow me to offer you my advice.”
“You should certainly accept Lady Carrbridge’s services, Merton,” said the marquess. “Her transformation of Marford House has been admired at the highest levels of society, if I may make so bold as to mention such a thing publicly.”
“Now you have made her blush,” Reggie said.
“But it is true!” the marquess said. “Why the Prince of Wales himself said—” But his wife hushed him before he could embarrass her further.
The marchioness would not be deterred, and so a plan was made to visit Lake Cottage the following morning before breakfast. The hour being so early, many of the guests were still abed, but Reggie was pleased to see Miss Chamberlain amongst those gathered in the entrance hall. He was less pleased to see Julius Whittleton descend the stairs and promptly attach himself to the lady, addressing her with many loud compliments.
Lady Hardy, standing nearby, leaned towards Reggie and said solemnly, “You will need to be more forward, Lord Reginald, if you are to secure your prize.”
He guessed that Lady Hardy and Connie had exchanged some cousinly talk of his intentions towards Miss Chamberlain, so he took no offence at the remark. Indeed, it would be a difficult thing to take offence at anything Lady Hardy said or did, for although her demeanour was serious, the manner of her speech was pleasing. She was a handsome woman, and dressed in some style, although without ostentation, and her complexion was better suited to black than was often the case. Although she was Connie’s cousin, Reggie had not previously known her well since she had been tied to her husband’s sickbed for several years, but now he liked what he saw, and heartily wished her a good husband when her year of mourning was over.
“I do not believe I have anything to fear from Julius Whittleton,” he said in the same low tone. “If I were to advise him, I should suggest a little more subtlety.”
Lady Hardy nodded, her lips almost quirking into a smile, and as those assembled began to make their way outside, she fell into step beside him in a friendly manner. “Indeed, she is not likely to be caught by such obvious tactics as those. The lady is too sensible to succumb to flattery. Her heart is most likely to be won by a more straightforward approach, I should have thought. But although you are more subtle, you like her, too, I think. I have not been here long, but it seems to me that you prefer her company to any other.”
They were far enough behind the others that Reggie felt it safe to speak. “That is very
true. Indeed, who could not like her? She is charming in every way. My acquaintance with her is not of long-standing, but every day that passes increases my admiration for her manners and quick wit.”
“And her person?” Lady Hardy said with a sly glance at him. “Do not tell me you are indifferent to her attributes in that direction.”
He laughed, rather shame-faced. “A lady must have more than a pretty face and well-formed figure to recommend her, and so I mention her other virtues first.”
“Well answered!” she said.
“Indeed, I am perfectly sure I have never even noticed her bright eyes or smooth cheeks or her dainty hands or—”
“Enough!” she said, with a smile. “Now you have quite spoilt the effect! But I shall not tease you about Miss Chamberlain any further. Let us talk of other matters. May I say how delighted I am that Mr Merton is to become Lord Carrbridge’s secretary. Never was a man better suited to such a role.”
Reggie made some non-committal answer, but Lady Hardy frowned. “I know you do not think much of him now, Lord Reginald, but I assure you, in a year or two you will all wonder how you ever managed without him.”
“Is that so?” He could not keep the disbelief out of his voice.
She threw him a quizzical look, but said, “His disposition is not of an open, easy nature, which makes it hard for him to recommend himself to others, but I know him to be the most generous and best of men, as well as one of the cleverest. He was a devoted and loyal friend to Sir Osborne for many, many years, in trying circumstances, for Lady Hardy — Philippa, Lady Hardy, that is, Sir Osborne’s mother — took him in great dislike, and opposed his influence over Sir Osborne at every turn. I was able to counter that to a great degree, but that reprieve is at an end now that Lady Hardy has taken Lady Hardy — oh dear! I mean the new Lady Hardy — under her wing.” She clucked in dismay. “You cannot imagine, Lord Reginald, how awkward it is to have no fewer than three Lady Hardys in one house. It is at least one too many, and I was never more glad in my life to receive an invitation from Connie.”
Lord Reginald (Sons of the Marquess Book 1) Page 5
