They curtsied as he approached, and unable to resist such a bevy of beauty, Charles halted.
'Well met, Lady Lyndon, and Mistress Frances. Will you present your charming companions?'
'Of course, Sire. My nieces, Mistress Isabella and Mistress Clare Vaughan.'
'Vaughan?' The King said slowly as they curtsied to him. 'I know the name. Are you related to Captain Stephen Vaughan who lived in Brussels?'
'Indeed. He is our father,' Isabella replied.
'Then have I met you? I could not believe I would forget such beauty!' Charles looked at them, a comical expression of dismay in his large brown eyes, and Isabella, very conscious of his compelling charm, smiled in response.
'Several years since, Sire, when my sister was in the schoolroom and I had just left it. 'Twas but a brief meeting when you came to our house one day, for you had business to discuss with my father.'
'Then that explains it. Your father helped me considerably, and I shall ever be in his debt. Is he also in London?'
'Yes. He is about to rejoin his regiment.'
The King nodded. 'Tell him to come and see me.'
'I will convey your message, Sire.'
'And I trust I will see you all at Court soon.'
With another of his attractive smiles the King bade them farewell and walked away. Isabella turned excitedly to her aunt.
'He looks so much happier than when we last saw him! I am so pleased, for he is so kind. He encouraged some of the exiles more than they encouraged him, Father says, keeping their spirits up when they thought his cause beyond hope.'
'London is a different place since he returned,' Lady Lyndon agreed.
'It is fortunate he is the elder, not his brother,' Frances remarked quietly.
'Why, is the Duke of York disliked?'
'He is not so popular as his brother. I do not think he is disliked, but he has not the same pleasing manners.'
'His marriage with Anne Hyde would not have assisted his popularity, I imagine,' Isabella said.
'Was it not a love match?' Clare spoke for the first time. 'If he truly loved her, I think it right for him to have married her, despite the arguments against such a match.'
'Was it a love match?' Isabella asked dryly. 'We heard the King had to force him into it.'
'Aye, 'twas the talk of London for weeks, first that he had got her with child, then he tried to disclaim responsibility. Some of the other courtiers were willing to accept the blame, but in the end Charles made him wed the girl. I suppose he felt an obligation towards her father. Charles would normally appear to have no such scruples about getting bastards!'
'But is it possible, Aunt Margaret, the Duke is not the father of the Prince?'
Lady Lyndon shrugged. 'Who can tell? At least half a dozen have claimed to be Anne Hyde's paramours. 'Tis possible they said so in loyalty to the Duke, but it leaves a question.'
'But if aught should happen to the King, and he died without children, this infant might come to the throne!'
'Charles has plenty of time to beget heirs, and children die,' her aunt said calmly.
*
At that moment they were greeted by Gilbert and Thomas, and the two young men walked with them until Lady Lyndon declared it time to go home for dinner.
'We must not be late,' she said, 'for we are going to the Cockpit this afternoon to see The Moor of Venice. Have you seen the play?' she asked Thomas, but he shook his head.
'It's an old piece, but well liked.'
Even Clare was excited at the prospect of this, their first visit to the theatre, and the sisters sat entranced as they watched the unfolding of the plot.
Sir Arnold and Lord Belvedere joined them during the interval, and they discussed other plays that had been presented recently.
'I am not enamoured of these old plays,' Sir Arnold commented at one point. 'I shall be pleased when we have more of the modern plays to enjoy.'
'With the enthusiasm of the King and the Duke for the theatre, there will be more plays written than can be easily accommodated,' Lord Belvedere said, laughing.
'That will be no bad thing, 'twill give us more choice,' replied Sir Arnold.
They stopped talking when the second act of the play began, and watched absorbed as the tale of love and jealousy ended in disaster.
Riding home in the coach Captain Vaughan sat next to Clare and spoke quietly to her, observing that marriage for love did not always ensure everlasting happiness. He regarded her with compassion as she turned impulsively towards him.
'Neither does the other sort,' she murmured. 'You will not persuade me, Father, I would be unhappy with Edward by showing me marriages that have failed.'
'Do not shut your mind completely to other possibilities, my dear. We wish the best for you.'
Clare sighed, but argued no more. When they reached home, Lady Lyndon swept the girls up to the room where the maids were stitching industriously at the dresses for the dance. Isabella, a competent needlewoman herself, was delighted at the progress that had been made.
'There is so little left to do,' she exclaimed.
'More than you'd think with all the trimmings,' one of the maids replied. 'But we will finish them by tomorrow.'
'This is excellent, is it not, Clare?'
Clare had to pretend an interest she could not feel. 'Indeed, you have worked wonders, and I am grateful,' she said to the girls.
*
On the evening of the dance the girls presented a charming picture in their new gowns.
'My dears!' Lady Lyndon exclaimed. 'We shall have the young men fighting for dances with you.'
Isabella laughed. 'I trust not, Aunt, for that would give me an exceedingly bad impression of behaviour at Court!'
'Oh, it will be done in an elegant and gentlemanly fashion, do not disturb yourself,' her aunt replied, laughing, 'but nonetheless fiercely.'
She was right. About forty people had been invited to the dance, most of them young people, and the girls were quickly besieged by would-be partners clamouring for dances. Clare was swept away immediately by Gilbert Meadowes, who had been one of the earliest arrivals, and Isabella watched them anxiously until she was led into the first dance by Sir Arnold. Soon it was obvious Gilbert was having little opportunity of keeping Clare to himself, and Isabella relaxed and gave herself up to enjoyment, renewing acquaintance with several fellow exiles from Brussels. They talked eagerly, comparing their fortunes since the King's return. There were several other people Isabella knew slightly, as well as the supper guests from two days before. Thomas and Robert both quickly claimed Isabella for dances, and she enjoyed herself thoroughly, remembering only occasionally her purpose of discovering acceptable rich suitors for Clare.
After a time, rather to Isabella's surprise, Lord Belvedere approached her and asked her to dance. He had paid little attention to her apart from the usual civilities of an older man, and she had regarded him as a contemporary of her parents, but now, dancing with him and afterwards sitting talking, she realised he was not so old as she had at first thought, being probably still under forty.
He asked many questions about the life they had endured in exile, and commented sympathetically on what they had lost through their loyalty to the King. Then he talked of the Court, and the changes that had been brought about in England since the Restoration, and Isabella found him sensible and interesting. He spoke somewhat disparagingly of the wilder elements at Court, and then said apologetically, 'The young must have their fling, I suppose. They will settle down and become staid, worthy citizens in a few years. Even my nephew. I do not altogether despair over Jason.'
'Is he still out of town?' Isabella asked.
'Yes. I do not know where the young devil has gone to, but 'tis nought unusual for him to disappear for days or weeks at a time.'
'Does he visit his estates?' Isabella queried.
'Not always. He spends some time there, for they are near London, in Kent, and he can visit them easily.' Lord Belvedere smiled at her.
'I doubt if he would go at all were they far away! Even so, he does not devote near as much time to them as he should. He is fortunate in having an excellent steward, who has controlled his affairs since my brother died at Worcester. Old Moffat has husbanded resources, and still treats Jason like a son, chastising him when he is extravagant, and preserving his inheritance.'
'Your nephew is wealthy, then?' Isabella was interested, for this was the first wealthy young man she had come across, if she did not count Sir Arnold.
'Not exceedingly, but ample if he does not waste it at Court. But enough about my disappearing nephew. Tell me about yourself and your sister.'
'Surely you know our history,' she demurred.
'But little of you. Frances and your aunt have talked much about you all, but that is a poor substitute for knowing someone personally. What are you going to do? Do you hope mayhap for a post at Court? When the King marries he will need to provide his Queen with attendants.'
Isabella shook her head. 'I have no ambitions in that direction, my lord. No, after this visit I shall return home with my mother. We have much work to put the house and the estate back to rights, for my grandmother was there alone for years, and she is very old. She was unable to oversee everything. With Father occupied in the army, and no brother, Mother needs my help.'
'What of your sister?'
'Clare? No doubt she will marry. Do you not consider her beautiful?' Isabella asked naively.
Lord Belvedere smiled. 'Indeed I do.'
'Do you not think she is the prettiest girl here tonight?'
He laughed. 'Do you really expect me to say "yes" to that?'
She looked at him, a trifle puzzled, and he smiled down at her.
'Most girls would expect a disclaimer, a declaration they themselves surpassed all others!'
Isabella felt herself blushing. 'Indeed, my lord, I did not intend – I was not fishing for compliments!'
'No, so I will risk telling you your sister is indeed the most beautiful girl in the room. But beauty is not all!'
*
At that moment Isabella was claimed by her partner for the next dance, and she went away, thinking how pleasant and sensible Lord Belvedere was. She dismissed him from her thoughts until some time later, when she was dancing with Thomas, and saw Lord Belvedere was partnering Clare. It suddenly occurred to her he might be a suitable husband for Clare. He was much older, true, but not ancient, and would certainly be kind to his wife. Isabella was so overcome by this thought she missed her step, and was recalled to her surroundings by Thomas laughingly chiding her.
'Have you seen an apparition?' he queried, and Isabella looked at him quickly, and then blushed in confusion.
'I beg your pardon! I saw something that surprised me, that is all.'
Thomas looked crestfallen. 'I am dejected you do not find me worthy of your wholehearted attention,' he said mockingly.
'I will promise to do better in future,' Isabella assured him, laughing. 'Tell me about your post at Court.'
'There I was fortunate. My Lord of Buckingham obtained it for me, but the remuneration is small. I hope, however, that it will lead to something better.'
They talked of the Court and the other dancers, and after a while Isabella mentioned Lord Belvedere.
'He seems to be a great friend of Lady Lyndon's. Is he a family connection, as you are?'
'No, a friend of the late Lord Lyndon. He gave Lady Lyndon much assistance when she was widowed, for there were no other members of the family close at hand.'
'My mother felt it keenly she was unable to go to her sister at such a time,' Isabella said quietly. 'Where are his estates?'
'He has several. Belvedere is an excessively rich man. There is a house in Hertfordshire, but the large estates are in the North, Yorkshire, I believe.'
'And he has never married. Or is he a widower?'
'I heard some story of a betrothal many years ago, and that the girl died of smallpox.'
'What is his nephew like?'
'Jason Marlowe? Have you never met him?'
'No, he seems to have disappeared.'
'He is very popular with the ladies, is Jason. He is heir to Belvedere.'
'I had not heard. What is the exact relationship?'
'Jason is the only son of Lord Belvedere's sister. Some people have all the good fortune. He has a sizeable estate himself, and the prospect of Belvedere's wealth. I have no such advantages.'
'You will be all the more estimable for making your own way,' Isabella said, laughing at him.
'I am aware that is what many people think, but they never assume that one day I will be rich, and the waiting is exceedingly tedious,' he retorted, grinning broadly.
When the guests had departed and the sisters were in bed, Isabella questioned Clare about the men she had met, to discover if she had any preference, but Clare was maddeningly cool. Yes, that one was pleasant, she liked this one, he had been most amiable.
'You danced more than once with Lord Belvedere, and sat talking with him for a long time. What did he say?'
'Many things,' Clare answered irritatingly.
'Do you like him?'
'He was very kind.'
'I found him most attractive, and not so old as we thought.'
Clare yawned. 'Oh, but I am tired.'
She turned away and feigned sleep. She did not intend to tell Isabella Lord Belvedere had been the only one of their new acquaintance who had perceived she was unhappy. He had, in a gentle fashion, tried to discover what was amiss, and finding him so sympathetic she had almost confided her troubles to him. But caution had won and she had kept her secret.
*
On Sunday they spent the day quietly. Lady Lyndon took them to the Abbey where they heard a sermon condemning excesses of all kinds, whether it be religion, gaming, or dress. As they were discussing the sermon afterwards, Lady Lyndon remarked it was well the King and his brother had not been present.
'Some of the sermons poor Charles has to sit through would drive any less tolerant man crazy,' she remarked, 'and many people will read into this sermon criticisms of the King and the Duke.'
'But 'tis better criticisms should be openly voiced, rather than festering underground,' Captain Vaughan suggested.
'There is a limit to what may be tolerated, wise though such forebearance is.'
Captain Vaughan left immediately after supper to rejoin his regiment, while the rest of the family accompanied the Lyndons to a small musical gathering at the house of a friend. They knew scarcely anyone there, but the Vaughan sisters attracted the attentions of several young men, who paid them many compliments, and flatteringly said they looked forward to future meetings.
One of the most assiduous in his attentions to Clare was a Mr Samuel Aloysius. He was, Isabella judged, in his late thirties, and he hovered close to Clare all evening, giving way reluctantly when other people approached. Isabella looked on, complacent her sister was receiving such notice. Mr Aloysius took pains towards the end of the evening to introduce himself to Lady Lyndon and Mistress Vaughan, and they discussed him on the way home.
'He seemed a most affable man,' Mistress Vaughan commented, 'though there is something about him I cannot like.'
'I think he was too anxious to please,' Lady Lyndon said sagely.
'Do you know him?'
'I have never met him before, though I knew of him. He is a widower, his wife died some years ago. I understand his father was a merchant and made a vast fortune trading in the Indies. Then Mr Aloysius married well, socially, that is. She had no money, but was a connection of the Howards.'
'He made me feel uncomfortable,' Clare volunteered, shuddering.
Lady Lyndon laughed. 'Was it just that he kept your younger admirers away?'
'No, of course not, Aunt! Nought like that. I cannot explain it, but he made me feel afraid.'
'He was just too obsequious,' Mistress Vaughan decided. 'What are your plans for the week, Margaret?'
Lady Lyndon outlined them.
There was a card party, another musical evening, a large dance, and she planned, if the spring weather was propitious, to pay a visit to Mulberry Gardens. On the following Monday they would start for Newmarket, to attend a race meeting there.
*
Clare's spirits revived during the week, and she showed more animation than previously. Isabella congratulated herself on the apparent success of her scheme for detaching her sister from Edward. She would have felt less cheerful had she known Edward had contrived to smuggle a letter to Clare by one of Lady Lyndon's maids. He told Clare he was to be at Newmarket, riding several horses belonging to an uncle who was an ardent supporter of the sport, but now too elderly to compete in the races himself. Hugging her secret, and knowing she would be able to meet Edward openly at Newmarket, Clare was quietly happy as she waited for the days to pass.
On Saturday they all went to watch the King perform the ceremony of healing in the great Banqueting House in Whitehall. The Vaughans were most impressed, both by the magnificent room with its lovely painted ceiling, and the sincerity with which the King performed the ceremony, talking with interest and compassion to those of his subjects who hoped, by means of his special power, to be rid of their disease.
On Sunday they endured an exceedingly dull sermon in Whitehall Chapel, and made their final preparations for the journey to Newmarket. Lady Lyndon had her own house near the little town, and several of their friends would be staying there. As the journey by coach would take two days, they were staying for one night at Lord Belvedere's house at Bishop's Stortford.
They started early on Monday, Lord Belvedere and several menservants riding, the ladies in the great lumbering coach. The roads were already dusty, for it had been a dry winter, and they were all heartily glad to arrive at Bishop's Stortford. Belvedere House was impressive, large and well proportioned, with many extensions which had been made during the previous century. Isabella recalled Thomas saying it was not the main estate Lord Belvedere owned. She had been considering her notion of Lord Belvedere as Clare's husband quite seriously, for he continued to pay solicitous attention to her whenever they met. After they had retired to bed Isabella cautiously began to extol Lord Belvedere's virtues.
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