The Suitor List

by Shirley Marks

  "The orchard to the west, moving south there's the stables and then the pond" Augusta pointed to the manor's edge, far beyond the rear garden, opposite the maze. "One can see the water better from the knot garden"

  Augusta was so desperate for him to smile that she finally told him the story of the first, and only, time she baited her fishhook. She regarded him after the tale and could not even decide if he enjoyed the anecdote.

  "Ah, yes. That is quite charming, very amusing."

  But this did not alter his staid expression.

  "What a delightful child you were-filled with curiosity and very brave," he commented in a tone that conveyed his satisfaction.

  He thought it was just as humorous as Augusta had.

  Either he was incapable of smiling or Richard had been wrong. The story was not funny.

  "Well?" Muriel and Charlotte sat in Augusta's bedchamber, waiting to hear the outcome of Lord Fieldstone's interview.

  Augusta glanced at each of them in turn and walked by. Could they not wait until she changed her clothes? Until she sat? Even for two minutes?

  "It appears the Viscount is incapable of laughter," Augusta told her sisters as she sat at her dressing table. "I cannot find the smallest evidence of joviality in him."

  "I knew it, the man is as dull as dishwater." Muriel brightened in the knowledge that she had been correct.

  "Oh, I am sorry, Gusta. Does that make you think less of him?" With a tilt of her head, Charlotte's sympathy threatened to overwhelm Augusta.

  She did not want sympathy of any kind. There was no shame if Lord Fieldstone was not the man she thought him to be, the man she would have wished him to be.

  "It is of no consequence. There are many other gentlemen and there must be at least one among them who you will find agreeable." Charlotte turned her face away and whispered something to herself or to Muriel, but clearly, it was not meant for Augusta's ears.

  "What is that you're saying, Char-Char?" Augusta urged her sister with a pat on her arm, then glanced at Muriel, trying to decipher what new complication her sisters had planned for her.

  "I'm afraid we really must insist, Gusta," Charlotte repeated a bit louder.

  Augusta stared at Muriel, counting on the comprehensive explanation that would soon follow.

  "Char-Char means Lord Ce-treece, Gusta," she enunciated quite distinctly.

  "Who?" Augusta could not recall any gentleman by that name.

  "Moo, do stop," Charlotte scolded. "We call him by that name so no one will know to whom we are referring"

  "Unfortunately, you include me" Augusta stood, crossed her arms, and waited for clarification.

  "Moo is speaking of-" Charlotte glanced about to make certain they were not overheard, and whispered, "Sir Benjamin Pelfry."

  Augusta felt quite taken aback. "Sir Benjamin? He is perfectly agreeable and most amiable. I have even seen him laugh on more than one occasion."

  "He is completely addle-brained, perhaps even mad," Muriel interrupted, quite passionate in her response. "I believe deviant would not be too harsh a term."

  Both Charlotte and Augusta gasped.

  "This very morning that man told me that I was to retreat from the small pitcher of orangeade on the sideboard in the breakfast room"

  "Whatever for?" Odd behavior, perhaps, but Augusta could not conceive why that would make him a deviant.

  Muriel affected an air, imitating the baronet, and continued, "I could not possibly appreciate the finer qualities of a freshly prepared citrus extract"

  "He was speaking of a beverage, was he not?" Charlotte must have not been sure she had understood correctly.

  "Yes," Muriel said with a firm nod. "I'm telling you, Gusta, that man has an unnatural affection for fruit, citrus in particular. I heard that he even asks for sliced lemon for his tea."

  Even Charlotte could not suppress a small cringe.

  "I would not be shocked to discover that he had been pinching the oranges from the foyer trees!" Muriel's voice rose with the heated accusation. "The two trees standing in the Grand Foyer, have you noticed the number of fruit decreasing?"

  Augusta had.

  Citrus? There was something about citrus ... and oranges in particular ... Augusta tried to recall. A month ago while she was in Town, Sir Benjamin had sent a tribute of sweet-smelling orange blossoms tied with a white satin ribbon. The day after their visit to Kew Gardens he had sent her candied orange rinds, which she had enjoyed with Emily on the morning of her departure.

  "I forbid you to marry him," Muriel announced. "In fact, I insist you rid us all of his presence at once!"

  Augusta thought both Muriel and Sir Benjamin had overreacted that morning. Her hope was that in a few years, Muriel would outgrow her need for dramatic vignettes. But what of Sir Benjamin? If he did, indeed, have an unnatural affinity for citrus, how was Augusta to know if he loved her or her family's orangery?

  "Oh no, Gusta, you must rid us of him." By the determined tone of Muriel's voice she was already formulating some sort of plan to be rid of him.

  "It will have to wait. I am to meet Mr. Allendale for a boat ride on the pond" Augusta collected her parasol, gloves, and bonnet.

  "He brought you to the Exeter Exchange, as I recall," Muriel mused. "I'm sure you won't need protection from any ferocious animals on our property"

  "Unless he expects to find tigers hidden in the nearby shrubbery" Charlotte chuckled.

  "I shouldn't think so, but you might beware of some kind of assault, Gusta," Muriel commented. "Not from the water but from your companion."

  "A good afternoon to you, Lady Augusta, and to you, Mrs. Parker," Mr. Bertram Allendale greeted them at the edge of the knot garden ten minutes later.

  "You and my niece may proceed, Mr. Allendale. I shall observe from here" Aunt Penny fastened the ribbons of her bonnet.

  "Very well, Mrs. Parker." Mr. Allendale held out his arm, offering to escort Augusta to the pond. "Good fortune is indeed shining down upon me. I am so very delighted to have this opportunity to spend some time with you, ostensibly alone. Your suitors have made themselves scarce and their number seems to dwindle by the hour."

  "There are other pastimes at Faraday Hall besides keeping my company." Augusta tucked her parasol under her free arm. "You gentlemen seem to have no limits when it comes to entertaining yourselves"

  "There may be other activities but none more important." A genuine smile filled with charm graced his face. "Ah, here we are. Is this our vessel?"

  "It is. Do you approve?" Augusta had no idea what she would do if he did not, for there was no other boat available.

  "It appears seaworthy" He strode onto the small dock and looked the boat over. "If you, and your aunt, will forgive me" Mr. Allendale arm-waved to Mrs. Parker, who stood in the distance, acknowledging her presence. He removed his jacket and deposited it, along with his hat, on the bench, and made quite the show of rolling up his shirtsleeves. "Although we are not chaperoned, I know that one is not far off, and I must prepare to take hold of the oars"

  Augusta thought it might not take much encouragement from her to have him flex his muscles, to strike a pose or two for her amusement before he stepped into the rowboat.

  After embarking, he reached out to help her step safely on board, and she sat at the stern, facing Mr. Allendale, who sat in the center. Augusta opened her parasol and rested it upon her shoulder.

  Mr. Allendale used an oar to push the boat from the dock before taking his position. An almost audible grunt erupted from him as he began to row.

  The boat pulled away, gliding with ease across the smooth surface of the water.

  "This is lovely, is it not?" Hatless Mr. Allendale squinted into the sky and then glanced over his shoulder.

  "It's a very nice afternoon," Augusta agreed. The boat pulled behind a willow tree, where sight of them might have been obscured for some short period.

  Mr. Allendale stopped rowing and leaned from port to starboard.

  "What are you doing?
" An unsettling feeling, not of their circumstance but in question of his sanity, grew.

  "I am merely testing the boat's stability." Mr. Allendale swayed to his left and right, doing his utmost to increase the motion.

  "If you think you're frightening me, you are very much mistaken," Augusta cautioned him.

  "Oh, come now, my lady, surely you must be a bit concerned. Perhaps you would like to sit closer to me?" He patted the space, the very small space, next to him. "Here?"

  "I do not think that would be advisable." Especially for someone whose company she had growing doubts about sharing. She had thought him agreeable and admirable. She soon amended her opinion of him to odious and tyrannical.

  He pulled in the oars and stood, rocking the boat from side to side with more animation.

  "Mr. Allendale, what do you think you're doing?" The soundness of the craft did not worry Augusta. Her companion's questionable actions did.

  "I just thought I'd stretch my legs." He then used the weight of his entire body. Water splashed around them, some into the boat as he leaned side to side.

  Augusta cried out more at his audacity in attempting such a feat than in fear that their vessel should be overturned. She dropped her parasol on her lap, clasped the sides of the boat with her hands, and increased the rocking motion. Mr. Allendale was not prepared for her attempt and lost his balance.

  She watched his eyes fly wide open before he soared through the air, as if in slow motion, landing in the pond with a loud, crisp splash.

  "What I really find worrisome," she shouted over the edge at him, "is that you are probably not as confident in the water as on the water."

  "Lady Augusta!" Mr. Allendale's struggle soon ended and he appeared quite able to remain afloat. It seemed water immersion was not as dire as it was inconvenient. "Please, I beg you!"

  Augusta stood, stepped about, and resettled in the center of the boat. She picked up the oars and paddled away. "I bid you farewell, Mr. Allendale, for I expect I shall not see you again. I'll make sure to have Huxley inform your valet that you'll need a dry change of clothes before he packs your trunks to leave"

  Muriel came upon her aunt, who at one moment sat placidly, looking toward the pond, and the next moment sprang to her feet, quite agitated, and cried, "Oh, goodness !"

  "What is it, Aunt?" Muriel ran to her side at once when her normally unflappable aunt panicked.

  "Moo, dear Moo-quickly now! You must summon some footmen." Aunt Penny grasped her arm, urging her niece back toward the house but kept glancing over her shoulder. "Augusta and Mr. Allendale ... they were rowing on the pond and there has been an accident. He has fallen in!"

  "An accident?" The alarm Muriel once felt subsided. She gazed in the direction of the pond. Even without the aid of her opera glass she could see a single person in the rowboat, clearly Augusta, rowing toward the dock. "I'm sure he is fine, Auntie, he's hardly splashing at all."

  "He has fallen overboard! Now, go-at once. You must send someone to rescue him."

  "With Augusta there, I can see how he would need someone to save him." Muriel headed toward the house while Mrs. Parker moved in the direction of the pond. Once inside, Muriel alerted a pair of footmen to the emergency. They left immediately to aid Mr. Allendale.

  Muriel strolled down the corridor toward the Grand Foyer. The house felt quiet with the majority of Augusta's suitors gone. The departure of Mr. Allendale would leave six.

  The clink of china led her down the corridor and the murmur of many voices drew her toward the Oriental Parlor. Inside, Charlotte played hostess to Emily, Miss Randolph, Miss Olivia and Mr. Lawrence Skeffington, Sir Samuel Pruitt, Lord Arthur Masters, Sir Benjamin Pelfry, and Lord William Felgate.

  "Muriel," Charlotte called out. "Would you like to join us?"

  "No, thank you, Charlotte." Muriel glanced at the lot of them and decided she was never more happy not to be included in their gathering. She backed from the doorway and continued toward the Grand Foyer, but not before she heard, from Sir Benjamin Pelfry, "Look there, they provided a dish of lemon slices for my tea!"

  "Sounds splendid!" came Lord William Felgate's reply. "I'd like to try that!"

  Muriel hurried away down the long corridor, hoping she could avoid overhearing any further citrus remarks. She came upon the two orange trees with their paltry offering of two oranges each. By tomorrow these trees would be stripped of their fruit completely.

  "We'll stay in Bloxwich for a few days until I can arrange the marriage settlement with Miss Jessop's father, then we'll make plans for the wedding." Lord Marsdon, with his younger brother Sherwin by his side, descended the staircase. Both were dressed to travel.

  Muriel thought it odd how a heavy feeling developed inside her upon seeing him, knowing that he was to leave Faraday Hall.

  Mr. Lloyd noticed her once he reached the main floor. He leaned toward his brother and spoke before stepping toward her.

  "Are you to leave, then?" Muriel could not very well deny she had overheard Lord Marsdon's announcement.

  "I was hoping our stay would last longer. Indeed," Mr. Lloyd continued, "I had thought how very fortuitous it would have been if our siblings were to marry. We could have had many more discussions regarding the Romans and the Greeks, and compared their various works of literature."

  "So your brother is to wed Miss Eleanor Jessop, is he?" Muriel could not imagine a more ill-suited young lady to become a viscountess and future countess. Muriel was saddened to see her new friend, if she could call Mr. Lloyd that, leave.

  The only others she could engage in a worthwhile discussion were her brother, Fredrick, when school was not in session, and her father, who was far more busy recently than he had ever been.

  "I am very happy to have made your acquaintance, Lady Muriel." A quaver in Mr. Lloyd's voice told her he was just as saddened by his early departure. "I do not know how long we'll stay in Bloxwich nor do I know if I shall return home to Lloyd Manor before the next term begins." He leaned close and whispered, "I shall be very happy to receive your missives once I return to school. I pray that Headmaster Keate takes your suggestion under serious consideration."

  "Thank you, Mr. Lloyd." Muriel smiled. "I should, very much, like to continue our dialogue."

  "If there is a matter of which I can be of service, please let me know" He flashed a shy, nervous smile. "Perhaps I will make the acquaintance of your brother."

  "I shall write a letter of introduction," Muriel told him. He accepted her hand when she held it out to him and bowed.

  "Sherwin," Lord Marsdon called out. "It's time to leave"

  "Perhaps we will have the good fortune to meet again." It was clear young Mr. Lloyd felt self-conscious when a flush crept up his neck and washed over his face. He squinted a bit.

  Muriel knew, without his glasses, he could not see close up clearly. He stared, quite focused on Muriel, as if committing her to memory. For they both knew it would be a very long time, if ever, that they should encounter one another.

  Lord Marsdon handed Sherwin his hat, which he seated upon his head of dark hair, and with a last look and a nod, he and his brother left. Muriel did not follow them or look out the window to watch their transport pull away.

  Moving down the corridor, her destination was the Music Room. She paused next to the orange trees, halfexpecting their fruit to have disappeared while her back had been turned.

  Muriel jumped when the door to her father's library pulled open, and she staggered back when she heard voices. Men's voices. Her father's and ... who else's?

  "I shall send word to Augusta, Lord Fieldstone, and you shall have your chance to speak to her alone. I wish you luck."

  "Thank you, Your Grace"

  Muriel dashed around the nearest doorway, hiding from Lord Fieldstone as he exited.

  Where was Augusta? Outside ... the pond ... but surely not after "disposing" of Mr. Allendale. Muriel was quite sure she would find her sister in her bedchamber for some privacy to gain control of her temper.


  But after what Muriel had just witnessed between their father and Viscount Fieldstone, it would be worth disturbing her sister.

  Augusta would want to know.

  Not two minutes after she had settled in her bedchamber, Augusta bade her youngest sister enter. Clearly, Muriel wanted to know what had transpired on the pond with Mr. Allendale. Not until Augusta set eyes upon her sibling did she realize Muriel's agitation nearly matched her own.

  "What is it, Moo?"

  Muriel was seemingly out of breath from rushing up the stairs. Or perhaps her condition was due to the significance of the news itself.

  "Viscount Fieldstone has spoken to Father," she blurted out.

  They both knew what a private audience meant.

  "How do you know this?" Augusta did not wish to rely upon any type of hearsay, from servants or otherwise.

  "I saw Lord Fieldstone emerge from father's library with my own eyes just a few minutes ago" Muriel raised her right hand as if to swear what she had witnessed was the entire truth.

  Augusta's knees felt as if they would not hold her upright. She reached out for the edge of her dressing table and eased herself onto the chair.

  The Viscount had received permission to pay his address to Augusta. But he couldn't possibly ... Augusta was simply not ready to make a decision.

  Lydia entered and handed a slip of paper to Augusta, which she read immediately.

  Gusta,

  Lord Fieldstone wishes to speak to you. Please meet him in the Citrus Parlor at 3 P.M.

  Papa

  Augusta took a quick glance at the clock on her bedside table-ten minutes. She swallowed, drew in a slow breath, and held the note out to her sister.

  "So it's true!" Muriel gasped. "Gusta, what are you going to do?"

  "What else can I do?" Augusta gazed once more into her mirror at her reflection. "I must ready myself to see Lord Fieldstone in the Citrus Parlor."

  Some five or so minutes later-because she did not wish to arrive late-Augusta entered the Citrus Parlor. It was a room named for its numerous lemon, orange, lime, and grapefruit depictions. Trees and orchards of various colors-yellow, orange, and green-decorated the walls and the furniture upholstery and trailed across the ceiling.