Lady Richards sat too, and grasped Sally's hands. 'Oh Sally, I like him most dreadfully!'
Sally blinked. 'It seems so sudden.'
'He says it was a coup de foudre for him.'
Sally was astounded. 'Serious Mr Steadman?' she laughed anew. 'But for you, Mama?'
'I, too, was overwhelmed at our first meeting, but of course I knew I must disregard it. He is too young, and of course, when he called, I believed him interested in either you or Ianthe.'
'Then when did you know other?'
'The walk. He proposed to me when I was sitting on the stile.'
Sally thought back to her descent down the hill with Audley, watching the two oddly close figures with their backs to them. 'I thought you were boring him with my good points as I fear you do with any eligible gentleman.'
'Indeed,' said Lady Richards, 'I meant to do so, but Mr Steadman was so previous in his conversation. He told me his feelings immediately. He is such a determined man.' Sally watched the admiration in her mother's far gaze and smiled. 'I did not know what to do, for it all seemed too ridiculous.' She turned to her daughter, large eyes anxious. 'You do not think him too young for me?' she asked Sally worriedly. 'There are only two years, but—'
'You look much younger than he. Sometimes I forget just how lovely and youthful my mama is. I am so happy for you, darling Mama.'
'He wishes us to be married very soon. I agreed that after I spoke to you, he may post the banns.' She looked a little conscious, but Sally smiled, hugging her again. 'We will have our own home in London next Season, can you imagine it, Sally? Mr Steadman says he wishes that you marry to please yourself only, you shall not be dowerless, and that you will not have to consider just anyone only because of your worry for me. It is more than I ever dreamed, my dear.'
The ladies were nearly late for dinner, with so much to discuss. After a half-hour Sally ran for Ianthe, who was engaged in choosing an evening gown, and dragged her away from her maid, Ianthe calling back, 'Just anything, Cherie!' and then to Sally, 'Don't pull! Whatever is it?'
'Such news as you will hardly believe. But Mama must tell you. Come along!'
Once appraised of the news, Ianthe hugged Lady Richards with gusto. Then she sat back, smiling. 'So, the mystery of Mr Steadman is revealed. I knew there was something.'
'You were probably suffering from the same vanity as me, thinking he must be visiting one of us.'
'I have been too preoccupied to consider it recently. I am truly not myself. He had already chosen the prettiest of us all! Well done, Mr Steadman!'
The three ladies hugged and bounced a little on the bed, but Lady Richards adjured, 'Go and dress, Ianthe, or we shall all be later than Lady Fox — and you know how that puts her in a passion. I want this lovely day to end without discord if you please.'
'But only think how cross she will be at your news!' said Sally.
'We shall not tell her tonight. I could not bear the upset today.'
'May I tell Fox?' said Ianthe, turning at the door.
'Dear Edward. Of course, you may!'
Ianthe was in her gown very quickly, but her hair was not quite so elaborately dressed as usual since she begged Cherie to hurry while giving her the happy news. With a kiss on Cherie's cheek, she ran off to Fox's study before dinner.
She poked her head around the door, and Fox looked up, and frowned. 'Cousin Emma is to wed Mr Steadman!' she hissed in his general direction.
'Wha—?'
'Don't tell Lady Fox at dinner!' She tripped away before he could close his mouth.
Ten minutes later, Fox entered the blue salon to find the household about to dine. Curtis was supporting the frail figure of Lady Fox, and so quite naturally, Fox was able to take Emma's arm which he squeezed warmly. She looked up at him with the dazzling smile that could only come from a woman in love. He returned it, for Her Ladyship had tottered away before them. He patted the hand on his arm and saw Sally quietly happy too.
Edward Fox suddenly wondered, once the Richards left, what life at Studham would hold for Ianthe Eames. He could not imagine the bleak dinners she might have to endure with only the Foxes for company. She would be resilient, he knew, and perhaps win some battles. But she would no longer, as she had phrased it, have them outnumbered.
***
To their amazement, Curtis Fox was waiting in the hall the next morning before breakfast. He was wearing his buckskins and boots, and he begged to accompany them on their ride. They explained about the gig and the side door, but Curtis had already brought his horse around. 'Don't worry. Hawkins doesn't know that I go with you, Stephens saddled my Dash.'
There did not seem to be anything to do but let him come, and so they moved off. Curtis' amazement at Sally's ability was prodigious. He told her thirty times that he could hardly believe it, but it was with such boyish enthusiasm that she could not be annoyed at his incredulity. He even asked her, at a stop, how she managed Sapphire's strong head.
Sally laughed. ‘I have just established him as my friend, you see, and so he is gentleman enough to do my bidding!'
Curtis laughed too, but Ianthe thought she saw him consider it, and she was more than pleased with the young man. On the gig ride back, Sally was once again sunk in a rather depressed reverie. Again, Ianthe apostrophised herself internally. She had been too sunk into her own worries recently to really pay attention to Sally. 'Did Curtis plague you, my dear?' she asked, but mendaciously, since she guessed the cause of Sally's low spirits. 'You do not seem yourself these days.'
'Oh, I am sorry, I have bats in my belfry.'
'Worrying about your mama's marriage?'
'Oh, I do not think so, though it is a deal to take in. But there is something so sure and comforting about Mr Steadman, don't you think? I like him.'
'Yes, I do. But as a new stepfather … it must be strange for you.'
'Indeed. How to greet him?' said Sally. 'I won't know how to go on.'
'Yes, especially as we are still not sure when it is to be announced.' Ianthe smiled. 'I do not wonder that you were wool-gathering.'
'Mmm.' But Sally realised that this was not what she had been thinking at all. All her thoughts had been of a man who would not appear before her again this visit. She missed his teasing ways, she wondered who he was smiling at now. She was afraid, she was very afraid, that the charm she had so severely spurned had crept into her bones unbeknown. Audley, she thought, I hope you, at least, are happy. 'Do you know, Ianthe, that we might share the next Season in London?'
'Yes,' said Ianthe. 'Edward spoke to me of some such notion. He has an aunt who might present me if Lady Fox will not.'
'Oh, the presentation. You will have to wear hoops and white ostrich feathers! I cannot imagine you in such a rig, so stylish as you are.'
'I hear the Queen still insists. It will be diverting at least.'
'Yes … I do not know quite how it is, but I am not excited about next Season — though I shall be relieved that there is no necessity to bring some poor gentleman to the point.' She smiled sadly. 'Do you think one gets too old for such diversions as balls or assemblies?'
'I do not quite think we have achieved such a great age yet,' laughed Ianthe. Then her eyes clouded over, too. 'But I understand you. I am interested to see more of London. And in the Season, too. I am curious, but not excited.'
'You are still grieving, though you hide it well. It must be so strange for you here, with everything different.'
'Not everything. I have Cherie.'
'Your maid? You do seem close to her.'
'I will tell you a secret. Or some of it — all of it is too complicated. Cherie came to me as a governess at first when I was quite little. Her father was in the navy, and she came from a very respectable household to a much less respectable one. My father's. But she became a mother to me, though she has acted in many guises because of our changing identities. These last years in Paris she acted my maid, but really she ran the household.'
Sally blushed. This order of
things was of course a shock to her, and she could not ask the many questions that arose. France, during the tumultuous times, must have very different conventions to England's established proprieties. 'But for a governess to act a maid. How Cherie must feel it!' was all she could muster.
Ianthe sighed. 'I have told the household I have night terrors, and Cherie sleeps with me, though a truckle bed is set up in my room for show. We have many a night shared a bed before, especially since my father's death. I am not happy at her position now, but she insisted that we could hardly expect the Foxes to house two guests, and we were determined not to be parted. She has a worry that she will be a detriment to my respectability. I have plans to change things for her soon.'
There was something in this last that Sally did not wish to consider, but she said, 'I am so glad you have her, Ianthe. She must be the source of your confidence.'
'Of course! You have guessed it.'
'Have you heard from the comte?'
'I have not. But Stephens tells me he is still in the village.'
It did not surprise Sally that Ianthe was so intimate with the burly groom. She had charmed all the servants at Studham, except perhaps Evans, Lady Fox's maid, who looked sourly on both of them. 'Fox will get rid of him.'
Ianthe nodded. She had forbidden it, but she was secretly surprised that Fox had not acted.
***
In fact, it had taken all Fox's time not to visit the inn, and possibly knock the charming smile from the comte's oh-so-handsome face. Moreover, the Frenchman now had Ianthe's jewels, and Fox wished very much to buy them back, and had striven to release enough funds to do so. Without selling land, it was difficult to accomplish straight away. Funds in bonds were not easy to liberate quickly. Henderson was shaking his head, wondering at his orders to sell and hoping, Fox knew, for a delay. But it was only Fenton's words that had kept Fox from the comte's door. That and the humiliation he would have felt demanding the jewels with only a promissory note to offer in return.
He was brooding over this again when Curtis entered his study, looking a little unsure of his welcome.
'Hello, Curtis. Do you want a glass?'
This was such a difference, since Fox usually berated his drinking habits, that Curtis spluttered. 'I … I would, thank you.'
Fox handed a glass to his brother, and Curtis sank into the chair opposite him, saying, 'I thought you should know I am leaving for some days.'
'Oh yes?' said Fox easily. 'Back to town?'
'No, I thought I'd visit Broadbank,' Curtis said, referring to his estate in Wiltshire, with an assumption of casualness.
'Very well. It is good that you find the time to do so.'
'I thought I might drive around, you know. See what's what.'
'Richard Gibley is a good agent, but there are many things he cannot do without the master. He will be pleased to see you.'
'I think so. He has written a number of times recently, asking if I might visit, but with one thing and another, I have put it off.' Curtis coughed. 'I asked Mama if she would care to come, but she does not think herself well enough.'
'I shall watch out for her health while you are gone, Curtis, never fear,' said Fox, seriously. He added, 'If need be, I will send—'
'— for Doctor Tolliver!' Curtis said with him, and their eyes met in a grin.
They clinked glasses, Fox leaning over the table. 'Enjoy the trip, Curtis!'
'I have noticed … there are some methods that you have adopted here at Studham that I wished to persuade Gibley of. He might be worried since I have been so …'
'You are master there. He must do as you instruct.'
'I know, but I would rather he did not think it merely a boy's fancy. Can I ask him to write to you about it? He respects you.'
'And I have new respect for you, Curtis. I didn't think you noticed anything at all…'
'Well, Mama always took issue with you and Henderson on any changes to the estate, but as I rode about, you know, I saw what a difference from Papa's time…'
'And here I thought you had only windmills in your head!'
Instead of pouting, Curtis grinned, and the brothers shared their drinks in comfortable silence.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Lady Fox Plots
Lady Fox, whom no creature on earth called Evadne any longer, was losing her way. Evans put a rosewater cloth to her brow, and another at her wrist to try to diffuse Her Ladyship's "head".'
'Shall I call for the doctor, my lady?' said Evans, worried.
'I fear there is nothing to be done, Evans. I have taken the powders he prescribed, and it does not calm me.'
'You shall have one of my special infusions, my lady. You know they do you good.'
'Yes, Evans. But all my peace is cut up. By that wretched girl. Now Curtis is going to Broadbank, at this season, and leaving me here to be agitated every day by that pert young hoyden. She has turned first the Richards into her cohorts, then Fox — by way, no doubt of getting the Richards girl and her mother to dream of attaching themselves to Fox. And Fox, seeing a way to flout me, has joined them. Now my son no longer obeys me. It is no wonder than I am abed with a sick headache. And with Curtis gone, there is no one here to protect me from insolence.'
'You are still mistress here, my lady. No one can do what you do not wish.'
'But I cannot send her away, for Fox will forbid it. I am caught in her trap. And if she goes to the Fentons, who by all accounts would have her, the World will talk of my lack of welcome! And how she would lord it over me in town. My life in London will never be the same. She will be accredited a beauty, although she has just the sort of empty charm that I cannot abide, and then she will marry. And if it is to someone above me in rank, I shall have to bow to her.'
Evans dabbed at her lady's forehead and patted her arm familiarly. 'There, there, my lady, don't let your thoughts run ahead. None of this has happened as yet. When Lady Richards leaves, she will be friendless, and all will be as it was.'
Her Ladyship sat up with a wild look in her eye. 'It may be so. I could send them away, could I not? The Richards. I could send them now.'
Evans shook her head. 'Would there not be talk if you did so, my lady? Of course, you know best.'
Lady Fox subsided, defeated. 'I shall expire of this head,' she moaned. But in truth her thoughts were becoming clearer. It would not do to keep to her room, for example. She would begin by obliging Ianthe Eames to be forever at her side — even though she wished her otherwise. It would be a trial, but she would puncture the girl’s pleasures where she could, and take her revenge on the girl. And just before they went to London, Lady Fox knew which of her particular friends she would drop hints to. Hints that she had been saddled with a relative who fell short of respectability. The dratted girl would get vouchers for Almacks even so, she feared, for although Aurora Fenton's gaming parties had made her persona non grata for a number of years, she was now fully restored to society, and moreover intimate with at least three of the patronesses of that august establishment that she knew of. If Lady Fox could hint of some real scandal surrounding Ianthe then there would be nothing for Aurora Fenton to do, of course. But suggesting something so big would cast a shadow over the respectability of her own name, and this could not happen.
She would insist that Miss Eames come out under the Fenton's aegis then, and watch how her wild spirit would shame her while that louche pair let her run untamed. Then Miss Eames' inevitable fall from grace would be set at the door of the Fentons and not at hers. As for any talk that Ianthe was not welcome under the Fox's roof in town, she could set it about that the Fentons insisted on bringing the girl out, owing to their friendship with Miss Eames' deceased papa. Might that work even at the moment? Lady Fox continued to ponder the social consequences.
As they waited that afternoon in the salon for the visitors that the dreadful party at Audley had spurred, the butler announced the Poppers. Lady Fox, looking Ianthe's way, was delighted to see her mouth open. Lady Fox, turning to
greet her friends, gave a sour smile.
***
As expressions of affection were being exchanged between Lady Fox and the Poppers, Fox entered, and looked appalled. He moved to escape quickly, but Ianthe held up an admonitory finger, while she leant towards Lady Richards, who was seated on the chair next to the baroness' own. She turned and whispered, 'Audley's tactics!' Lady Richards blinked, then got up from her chair.
'Mr Popper, you must take this seat, please.'
'Yes ladies,' added Ianthe to the Popper sisters, 'and you two must sit near Her Ladyship as honoured guests.'
Sally was late catching on, and Fox gave her foot a nudge with his Hessians, whereupon her brain functioned, and she rose with alacrity. 'Miss Mildred, do sit here.'
The Poppers, pleased to be so noticed, sat, bodies turned towards Lady Fox, and the conspirators were at liberty to sit far away from Her Ladyship's disapproving eye.
'God bless the Marquis of Audley,' giggled Lady Richards under her breath, and Sally blushed.
'How so?' she asked in confusion.
'Audley's tactics!' whispered Ianthe.
'Ah, yes!' said Sally.
'What do you speak of?' asked Lady Fox acidly. 'It is rude to whisper.'
'The ladies were asking after Curtis, your ladyship,' said Fox mendaciously.
'Oh yes,' said Mr Popper unctuously. 'Where is your dear son this morning?'
'He is gone to his estate in Wiltshire. He has many obligations to tend to there, you know.'
'Such responsibility in one so young! You must be very proud of him, your ladyship,' the elderly sycophant said sweetly.
'I am. He is like his father in his sense of diligence and duty.'
Sally, remembering an evening when she had had to lift Curtis from the floor and summon his valet to take him to bed, giggled, covering it with a cough.
Yet again the Poppers saved them. They began to agree so wholeheartedly with this sentiment that the subject was still not completed five minutes later when the gentlemen were announced, all at once.
'Lord Jeffries, Sir Anthony Lonsdale, Mr Steadman and Mr Markham.'
Ianthe and the Fighting Foxes: The Fentons Book 4 Page 18
