The Alter Ego

by Elizabeth Bramwell

  Mrs Clyde closed over her eyes for a moment, although a smile hovered on her lips. When she reopened them, she flashed a dazzling smile at Arthur that made him feel like he’d been punched between the eyes.

  “This is my daughter, Miss Clyde,” she said.

  “Step-daughter,” corrected Miss Clyde. “Anna is only five years my senior, after all. I am so sorry that we have invaded your parlour and that my dog tried to, erm, damage your footwear, Mr...?”

  “Arthur,” he replied without thinking.

  “Well, I hope that Anna didn’t harangue you too much to let us into the room,” said Miss Clyde with an irrepressible grin.

  “Not at all,” he replied. “Nothing could give me more pleasure than to be of service to you.”

  “You hid that well,” murmured Anna Clyde, but so quietly that Arthur wasn’t sure if he’d heard her correctly.

  As Governess decided at that moment to pounce on Miss Clyde’s discarded bonnet, the two ladies were distracted by the task of removing it from the tenacious pug, and Arthur found himself lingering in the parlour. He called Rogers and requested some refreshments for the ladies to be added to his bill.

  “Oh, you did not have to do that,” said Mrs Clyde as the Landlord’s daughters carried in several trays laden with treats a few minutes later. “We are quite capable of taking care of ourselves.”

  “Naturally, but my mother would likely ring a peel over my head if she thought I had not displayed the appropriate manners.”

  “How silly, for how would your mother ever find out?” laughed Miss Clyde. There was a twinkle in her eyes that reminded him forcefully of his troublesome sister, Helena.

  Arthur forced himself to look grave. “You have evidently never met my mother. She sees all and knows all. Truly, it can be quite disconcerting.”

  Miss Clyde giggled, and her stepmother seemed to relax, just a touch, at the sound.

  “I thank you for your hospitality toward us, then,” she said.

  “As do I, for I was starting to feel ever so sick in the carriage, you know, for I detest travelling,” said Miss Clyde

  “Here,” he said, and passed her a cup of steaming hot tea that she took with a grateful smile.

  “Thank you,” she said with evident relief. “How foolish of me to have such a poor head for travel. Anna thinks I might be developing a cold as well, which is even more foolish of me when you think about it.”

  “That’s nothing to be ashamed of,” said Arthur, settling into the chair beside her. “I contracted the most awful cold the day before my sister’s come-out, and I don’t think she’s ever forgiven me.”

  “Why would she not forgive you? Were you not able to attend?” said Miss Clyde, her head cocked to one side like that of a bird.

  Arthur struggled to keep his face straight. “She’d have much preferred it if that’s what I’d done, believe me. During supper, I fell prey to a monster of a sneeze, and sent a wave of red wine splashing down the front of her white muslin dress.”

  The girl gasped, putting a hand to her face as she seemed torn between horror and laughter at his disclosure. “You did not!”

  “According to my sister, that’s not even the worst thing I’ve done,” he admitted. “Let me tell you what happened with the toads, which I promise was an accident, but Helena has never forgiven me for…”

  He wasn’t sure how exactly it happened, but somehow the best part of an hour passed as he regaled the two ladies with stories from his youth. Katie, his sister-in-law, featured prominently as his best friend, and her exploits had Miss Clyde in whoops of laughter.

  “I daresay you would lock me in my bedroom for a fortnight is I dared to ride a pony through the church,” Miss Clyde laughed as she wiped tears from her eyes.

  “More like a lifetime,” said her stepmother. “I’m sure that Mr Arthur is exaggerating, however.”

  Arthur paused for a moment as she addressed him. His plan appeared to be working, and the ladies seemed utterly oblivious of his true identity.

  “I promise you that every word is true. You must remember, however, that the rector’s son was a particular friend of ours, and there was no one about to see what we were up to.”

  “And how old were you when you pulled this lark?” asked Mrs Clyde. “Fourteen? Fifteen?”

  “It was shortly after Kate’s twenty-second birthday,” he admitted. There was a moment of silence before Miss Clyde’s laughter once again filled the room.

  “How capital! I am not yet eighteen, so there is plenty of time for me to do something so famous!”

  Her stepmother shuddered, but there was a ghost of a smile playing about her lips. It made her look younger than her twenty-two years.

  It occurred to Arthur all at once that Mrs Clyde, in her simple but well-made outfit, was going out of her way to appear more worldly and mature than she really was. Her hairstyle was severe, her body language restrained, but it was not enough to hide the grace of her features and the beauty of her smile. Her golden skin and expressive eyes were striking, and he found himself wondering how much of a diamond she would be if she were to let go of her restraint and just laugh.

  “I fear you are a bad influence, Mr Arthur,” she said to him.

  He grinned back at her. “My mother and sister-in-law are inclined to agree with you. My sister, on the other hand, feels that I’m a dead bore when I am not ruining her life.”

  “And your brother?” she said.

  “Would rather have been an only child.”

  Miss Clyde pulled a face. “Your brother is quite wrong, Mr Arthur. I have always longed for a brother or sister.”

  “I don’t think I could cope with that,” said her stepmother with obvious affection.

  “Well, I have you now, for I was never in so much charity with father as when he married you and allowed me to come home!” The girl’s smile dropped quickly. “Not that we can ever go home again, I suppose.”

  Arthur cocked his head to one side. “Have you ladies met with some accident?”

  “Only if you count having the most appalling cousin who demanded that we leave before my father was even cold in his grave,” muttered Miss Clyde. Governess, snug in her lap, gave a little growl.

  “He let us remain for well over a year, darling,” said her stepmother, leaning forward and taking the girl’s hand in her own. “He owns the house now.”

  “He doesn’t even like the place. He said it was too old-fashioned and is considering just ripping it down and starting again,” Lily replied, glaring at her stepmother as though daring her to claim otherwise.

  Mrs Clyde just sighed. “This is hardly the time or place, my dear. Mr Arthur hardly cares about our family business.”

  Arthur wanted to say he very much cared about the Clyde’s business, although for the life of him he could not say why. Lily Clyde blushed deeply before turning her attention back to the pug in her lap.

  The silence grew to an awkward length, and Arthur, his society manners getting the better of him, sought a new topic of conversation.

  “Are you heading to Bath, ladies?” he said and knew immediately that he had erred.

  “Yes, although I hardly see why we should,” Lily replied, crossing her arms over her chest. “We know no one in town, and it’s hardly a fashionable place any more, so what Anna thinks we will find to entertain ourselves surrounded by invalids and elderly people I have no idea.”

  “Lily, what did we just say about telling perfect strangers our business?” said her stepmother with a sigh that suggested she knew her hopes were futile.

  “Well I cannot be blamed for being upset at having to leave my home, and besides, Mr Arthur doesn’t seem at all like a stranger. I feel like he’s known us for an age.”

  “I’m sure he feels that he’s been trapped in this parlour for an age,” muttered Mrs Clyde, and this time Arthur couldn’t help laughing.

  It was, however, time for him to leave. He had no interest in being sucked into what was obviously a brewin
g family drama. With the recent return of his brother to the fold, he felt that he had enough of those to be going on with.

  “It’s certainly been an enjoyable interlude on an otherwise boring journey,” he admitted. “But I am afraid that I must continue my journey. Perhaps I shall be in luck, and we will be able to further our acquaintance in Bath. Until we next meet, ladies!”

  They all stood up to make their goodbyes, but Governess was so indignant at being thrown out of owner’s lap that she grabbed the ribbon of Lily’s bonnet and ran straight out of the room. Lily, shrieking her pet’s name, ran out after the mischievous dog, leaving a bemused Arthur and a harassed-looking Mrs Clyde alone in the parlour.

  “That dog shall be the death of me,” she muttered. “If it did not bring Lily such happiness I swear I would abandon it at the door of my greatest enemy, all wrapped up in a pretty basket with a purple bow.”

  “Would you really?” he asked. Mrs Clyde looked up at him in surprise, as though she had forgotten he was there. Her expression turned sheepish.

  “No, I’d probably insist on keeping her, continue to feed her chicken from the table, and loudly complain every other day that she had tried to bite the hand of a local gentleman. Although that can be considered a virtue in a dog when you think about it.”

  Mr Arthur held up his fingers and made an elaborate show of checking them. “I believe I may have secured the good opinion of your daughter’s Governess, Mrs Clyde.”

  She laughed, and it suited her. “Yes, a great accomplishment indeed! She does not much like men.”

  “Which sounds like almost every governess I have ever met,” he replied with a theatrical shudder. “It was wonderful to meet you, Mrs Clyde. I hope to further our acquaintance in the future.”

  She hesitated just a moment before holding her hand out to him. “Yes, that would be very nice, Mr Arthur. My daughter will be happier to know that she has at least one acquaintance in town to look about for.”

  “Of course,” he said, refraining from pointing out that as vivacious as Lily Clyde appeared, he had no more wish to spend his time with her than he did with his own sister. Without really thinking about what he was doing, he raised her hand to his lips and kissed the air a mere inch above her fingers.

  She blushed as she pulled away, looking even younger and unsure of how to react. Arthur took pity.

  “Until next we meet, my Lady,” he said and walked out of the Inn.

  He made his way out into the yard where an ostler waited with his phaeton and rested horses. He paused for a moment, debating going inside and offering his services as an escort to the two ladies.

  Then he realised what he was doing, and gave his head a violent shake.

  “Good grief, man, your brain must be addled,” he muttered to himself as he mounted his vehicle. “Why on earth would you voluntarily spend time with available women? Crackers, old chap! Absolutely crackers!”

  Chapter Two

  Anna felt a great deal of relief as their chaise drew up outside the White Hart, despite their late hour of arrival. The slow pace on the last leg of their journey had done nothing to alleviate Lily’s suffering, and the girl had not even attempted to put a brave face on for over an hour.

  To be fair, she genuinely was not feeling well, for even the news that they had finally arrived in Bath did nothing to interest the girl, while Governess insisted on curling up in Lily’s lap, as though she knew her mistress was not feeling the thing.

  Two smartly-dressed footmen appeared beside the chaise, each presenting an arm to help the ladies alight. Neither so much as quirked an eyebrow when they noticed Lily’s ugly little pug, which Anna thought spoke volumes about the well-to-do nature of the establishment.

  The evening air was cool despite it being summer, and Anna was most grateful to be led to an elegant sitting room, complete with a roaring fire. They did not have to wait long for a chambermaid to enter, and offer to show them up to their room.

  “May I request a light repast be brought to our room?” said Anna, eyeing Lily with some concern. “I think it best for my daughter to lie down.”

  If the maid felt any surprise as to the relationship between two young women so close in age, she did not so much as blink in response.

  “I will head to the kitchens at once, Mrs Clyde. And perhaps some tea for the young lady, and some wine for yourself?”

  “You are an angel,” said Anna, reminding herself to tip the girl well upon her return. “And what is your name?”

  “Molly, Mrs Clyde.”

  Anna smiled. “Well, Molly, I do hope you will be available to take care of us during our stay, for neither Lily nor I possess any talent for dressing hair and the like.”

  Molly looked surprised. “You’re not expecting a maid to join you?”

  Anna, expecting the question, just shook her head. “I’m afraid not, for Sarah did not want to move away from her family, and so we arranged for her to be employed by a friend of the family. Thus we are quite alone, and desperately hope you will be willing to act as a lady’s maid for us.”

  The girl bobbed a curtsey. “Naturally I will, Mrs Clyde. Now, I’ll go to see about fetching you some food, and perhaps a treat for that darling little pug.”

  Lily, for once holding her tongue until the chambermaid had left them alone, looked up at her Anna with a vague smile.

  “Well at least the servants are friendly, and Molly likes Governess which indicates to me she has excellent taste.”

  Anna, who had dropped into a chair beneath the window, just smiled.

  “The servants are not paid by the hotel, my dear, but directly by us. It is in their interest to be kind to Governess, even if she bites their fingers and nibbles their toes.”

  Lily looked surprised at this. “Do they really?”

  Anna gave a tired smile. “Always remember that people will be nice to you if they are dependent on your coin, my dear, and do not let their attention go to your head. Be nice and kind always, but remember that they would pay you as little mind as you do if the roles were reversed.”

  “How horrible,” said Lily, pulling a face as she fussed Governess.

  “An unfortunate necessity, but console yourself with the fact that you, at least, do not have to work yourself to the bone for your bread, and remember that you are as lucky as I am that your father left us a fortune.”

  Lily, tired as she was, just nodded at this advice.

  Molly returned quickly and stayed to unpack the cases while Anna and Lily ate. She helped them both get ready for bed, and even warmed their sheets with a copper iron. Lily thanked the girl profusely for her thoughtfulness in bringing Governess a cushion to sleep on, and Anna had to bite her lip from laughing. For all Lily was convinced everyone must adore her pug, Anna had caught Molly’s expression of disgust as she’d put a few bites of chicken out for the dog to eat.

  Despite the long list of things to do now that they had arrived in Bath, and the general noise and bustle that characterised the White Hart even in the later hours, Anna and Lily slept well and deeply. Molly, true to her word, returned in the morning to help them dress, and then was so kind to show them down to breakfast. There was a slight mishap when Lily discovered that Governess would not be allowed to join them, but upon being promised that the servants would treat the pug to a dish of cream in their room, she was satisfied.

  “Do we have much to do today?” asked Lily before tucking into a plate of eggs and toast.

  “More than I wish,” replied Anna, “but the two most important tasks are sending my letter, and to begin the search for our new home, of course.”

  “Who is the letter for? The Dowager Lady Harden?”

  Anna nodded. “Yes, Eleanor was good enough to send a letter of introduction, but I would prefer to write and let the Lady know we have arrived rather than just stopping by to pay a call. I hear she is a stickler for manners in others, although not so much for herself.”

  “I don’t see why we have to meet her,” shrugged
Lily. “She’s a hundred, is she not? How will that help us to make friends in Bath?”

  Anna smiled but shook her head in mock despair at the same time. “Are you determined to hate everything about Bath, my darling? The dowager is in her eighties, but by all accounts holds court over the entire city. It is rumoured that even the Princes will bow to her, although that might be an exaggeration. Rest assured that she will be as well connected among the younger people of Bath as she is with the elderly.”

  “Only if there are any young people in Bath,” muttered Lily.

  “I’m sure there are at least ten of you,” said Anna with a wry smile. “Come now, how about we go out for a walk after I have finished my letter? We could stop in at the Pump Room and have a look about us.”

  Lily looked torn. “Do you mind awfully if we just take Governess for a walk about the park? I hate to admit it, Anna, but I’m not feeling at all the thing right now.”

  Anna hesitated before answering. Although it was apparent that Lily had not recovered fully from their journey as well as looking as though she may be developing a cold, it was hard to shake the conviction that the girl just did not want to find anything to like about Bath.

  Leaving her home for good had been a wrench to the girl. She’d developed a close relationship with her father after her return from schooling, and most of Lily’s memories of him were tied up with the old manor house. It was understandable that she was reluctant to leave, and even more reluctant to begin a frivolous life of husband-hunting without the guidance of a father she had very much adored.

  Anna cradled a cup of coffee, enjoying the warmth of the cup against her hands as she came to a decision.

  “Very well, for I do not want you becoming fagged to death only days after our arrival,” said Anna. “We will ease into our new life slowly, starting with meeting Lady Seraphinia, and finding somewhere to live. However, I think it’s dreadfully important that we do so with style, so I think that I will try to find out where the best places are to do some shopping while you rest up with Governess.”

  The prospect of shopping had the desired effect on Lily, who sat straighter in her chair and almost flashed Anna a genuine smile.