by Gloria Gay
“She’s the mother of Lord Lanquest’s ‘eir, mum, and a meaner woman ye’ll never meet.”
“Oh. Well, that does present a problem, doesn’t it? Sit down, Romy, so that you will regain your breath. It’s not good for you to be so agitated.” Kate knew that 30s in this time was not the same as mid-30s in her time, and that was the age Romy appeared to be.
“Meanwhile, why don’t you tell me all you know about Lady Bunright? Maybe this will calm you down a bit, for just the woman’s arrival has upset you.”
Romy sat where Kate pointed. “Well, mum,” she began, “when Lord Lanquest ain’t in, she gives orders to the staff and complains about every little thing. She almost got me aunt dismissed last year.”
“So, she did this last year—just appeared uninvited?”
“I’m sure of it, miss, ‘cause ‘is lor’ship’s valet commented in the servant’s ‘all that she came uninvited.”
“And how was Lord Lanquest able to get rid of her?”
“Others in the staff told me, mum, that his lor’ship told Lady Bunright he was closing the house while he was in London for the Season, then gave orders for her trunks to be re-packed. The servants buzzed as ‘how ‘his lor’ship told her she could not stay at the London townhouse because he had already invited another family to stay with him for the season.
“She was very agitated, mum, and yelled out in the drawing-room that ‘is lor’ship would have to pay for their stay in London as he was the ‘ead of the family. His lor’ship told her he had already arranged for Lady Bunright and ‘er daughters to stay at one of his other houses in London—a smaller one.
“So, she left right away?”
“Oh, no, miss! She still stayed more than a week and left when she was good and ready. Day and night Lady Bunright complained about ‘ow ill-treated she and her daughters were—right until the day they left.
“And now she be back again, Miss,” Romy said.
“Well, they are here for a reason, Romy,” Kate said. “Lady Donney told me Lord Lanquest was persuaded by Lady Bunright to host a ball for her daughters. That’s all there is to it. A few days and they will leave for London. Rest assured they will be the first in line for the first ball at Almack’s.”
“’ow you eased my mind, Miss!”
Kate resolved that while she was in the past she would teach Romy to pronounce her ‘h’s. Romy seemed capable and intelligent and she could advance to lady’s maid or even housekeeper if her language improved.
But this was not the time for such plans, uppermost now was the immediate problem of Lady Bunright.
“How many are with her party?”
“‘er two daughters always travel with her—the ‘onorables ‘erlinda and Sally, along with their maids and ‘er maid, too and the girls’ chaperone who’s also their governess.”
“What is Lady Bunright doing at the moment?”
“She ordered their luggage to be taken upstairs. She said she was to take this bedroom suite, miss, and when Cappy told her the room was taken by you she went and made a face of disapproval and chose the blue suite which ‘as two adjoining bedrooms.”
“Where is that suite located, Romy?”
“It be on the other end of the ‘allway ‘ere, on the west side.
“Thank goodness for the distance,” said Kate, sighing with relief, for the narrow, although high-ceilinged corridors were as long as those in a mid-size hotel. Why such huge mansions were built by the aristocrats boggled the mind, when only small areas could be heated in the winter where dozens of rooms were seldom used.
Kate sent Romy downstairs on an errand that had to do with her shoes and then sat by the window to ponder the situation.
What a time for that woman to arrive, when Lanquest was away!
After a while, Kate’s thoughts were interrupted by her code knock at the door from Romy.
She sighed in exasperation. It could be nothing other than about that bothersome woman who had invaded the earl’s house.
Kate put her notes away in a drawer of the desk, under some paperwork, and went to open the door, turning the key to do so.
“Mum, Lady Bunright,” Romy’s voice was atremble as she closed the door behind her. “She is making a ruckus, demanding you come down and speak to ‘er!”
“Amazing that she can demand anything of someone she has yet to meet,” said Kate. She sighed in exasperation as she pondered the situation. She was glad Amy had instructed her on the woman’s character. She could already imagine the woman going on and on about Kate’s accent and “Colonial” ways. She was probably glancing at the drawing-room doors, ready to pounce on Kate the moment Kate entered the room and preparing a dozen questions just on her first breath alone.
It was enough that she had to contend with the questioning that was sure to ensue from Lanquest’s neighbors just from her being a “Colonial”. But she was also from another age altogether and covering that fact would be a problem, as she knew little of the day to day life of the America of 1818 and no smart phone and Google for quick reference. She was sure to make innumerable gaffes that might expose her and make people around her suspicious.
How to fend the questioning? She would have to develop a plan or else plead enough headaches to keep her from visitors until she and Lanquest could find the way for her to go back to her own time.
But Lanquest was not here to help her and in the meantime, Kate had to deal with the questioning that Lady Bunright must be preparing for her while she had her tea.
Kate sat back on the cushioned seat and pondered this while Romy puttered around the room, obviously delaying having to go downstairs and facing that woman again.
Kate knew she couldn’t postpone meeting the lady and her daughters until Lanquest could be there as a buffer.
“What is Lady Donney doing at this moment, Romy?” Kate asked, referring to Aunt Amy by her title.
“She’s taking her afternoon nap, miss.”
“And how long does her morning nap take? Could she by any chance be awake now?”
“It be just a cat nap she takes. Says it restores ‘er after ‘er luncheon. She does eat a large meal, mum.”
Problem solved! Lady Donney would be her buffer and introduce her to Lady Bunright. “Could you go and see if she is awake now? And if she is, please ask her if I can have a word with her.”
When Romy left, Kate went to the window to wait for her return.
Not only was Amy up from her nap but Romy had brought her back with her, telling her that Kate had something urgent to relay to her.
“Oh, thank goodness, Aunt,” Kate said, smiling affectionately. “You don’t know how happy I am to see you!
“We have visitors and I would much rather be at your side than to receive them on my own.
“Lady Bunright has asked to be introduced to me and I can think only of you to do it since his lordship is away.”
“Never fear, dear girl,” said Aunt Amy. “I shall introduce you to that termagant and her daughters. The nerve of that woman, not only inviting herself on a visit but insisting my nephew host a ball for her daughters. And this is not the first time, either!
“By the way,” Aunt Amy added, turning to a woman beside her, “This is Marinda. You can trust her as you would me. She has been with me since I became a widow, at a very young age, I must say.”
Kate smiled warmly at Marinda and Marinda returned the smile.
Kate then turned to Romy:
“Romy, ask Cappy to meet her ladyship and me at the drawing-room door so that he can announce us. Where is he, by the way?’
“Oh, he’s waiting for you by the drawing-room door, already, miss. It was ‘im as sent me up to get ye.”
“Very well, let’s go downstairs, then,” Kate said to Aunt Amy and Romy and immediately noticed Romy’s worried look.
“You’ll have to go downstairs, Romy,” she told her nervous maid as Romy hesitated. “Just try to stay away from Lady Bunright. Since you have been assigned as my personal maid, you don’t h
ave to cater to her.”
“She asked for me personal, miss, when she couldn’t get you,” Romy said, wringing her hands.
“Lady Bunright has Romy running around catering to her when she comes here,” said Amy, shaking her head, “even though she brings three maids and a footman!”
“Tell Wandy,” Kate told her, referring to the housekeeper, Mrs. Wandy, “that I asked that you be given a chore in the kitchen, something that will keep you away from that woman—polishing silver or some such. Also. tell her that I said you have been assigned as my maid and you are to answer only to me.”
“Thank you, miss,” said Romy with relief.
“Remember, Lord Lanquest assigned you as my personal maid. You don’t have to answer Lady Bunright’s bell. So, don’t panic if she rings for you. Just remind Mrs. Wandy that I said she is to send someone else.”
“Yes, mum and thank you mum!”
***
Cappy pushed open the massive door to the drawing room and announced Kate and Lady Donney.
As she and Aunt Amy walked in, Kate’s eyes flew to the three women as they sipped tea. All three looked up at their entrance.
The older woman sat by herself, her posture regal. She looked up and her gaze darted immediately to Kate.
The two girls sitting on the sofa stood up to be introduced and curtsied. The older woman glared at Kate and remained seated.
Imagine glaring at someone you don’t even know, Kate thought. The woman was trying very hard to look down her nose at Kate, even though that was a difficult feat, as she was seated.
Amy gave a bare nod to Lady Bunright, greeted the girls warmly and introduced Kate briefly to all three as the daughter of a lady she had befriended in France. She then sat by the window.
Kate curtsied briefly to Lady Bunright. “Delighted to meet you, your ladyship,” she said, then nodded at the girls and all resumed their seats.
Lady Bunright stared at Kate and ignored the introduction.
Augusta had a long narrow face, small grey eyes under heavy square brows, long thin nose and a mouth that was a disapproving slit. Not a single hair was out of place amid the fake blond sausage-like rolls on which sat a bonnet that gave her no visibility on the sides, so that she had to turn each time she wanted to see someone. High green ostrich feathers that nodded as she spoke topped it.
She wore an expensive-looking and elaborate walking dress in heavily embroidered puce satin and a necklace in the same color. Over the gown, she wore a spencer in brown and green, with stiff frogging that ran the length of her flat narrow chest.
“I hope you are enjoying your day, Augusta,” Amy said by way of opening the conversation, for Lady Bunright had ignored her introduction to Kate as if it had not happened.
The woman put her cup down slowly and still staring rudely at Kate asked in a high strident voice:
“You, girl, exactly who are you, and what do you hope to achieve here?” Stunned by the rude woman’s words, Kate exchanged a look with Amy. She then breathed in, sighed audibly as an actress would on a stage and turned to Amy as though Lady Bunright had not spoken to her.
“It looks like it’s going to be a fine day, Aunt, do you not agree?”
“I believe so, yes,” Amy replied, reaching for a scone.
“Your colonial bad manners will not work on me, I assure you, miss,” said the woman, her voice rising still another notch.
Kate sipped her tea. She felt her throat and lips dry at the woman’s militant attitude. Augusta was certainly dressed for the occasion, with her military-looking attire.
“It is pleasant weather we are having, isn’t it?” said Kate, turning to the two young girls who had blushed painfully at their mother’s bad manners.
“I—we—” Herlinda began, but she was cut short by her mother.
“Herlinda, do not address this person. She is not of your station.”
Okay, thought Kate. So much for that effort.
CHAPTER 11
“Cappy,” Lanquest said as Cappy opened the massive front door to let him in.
“Good afternoon, my lord,” said Cappy. “Good tidings from the farms?” Lanquest had known Cappy only from his teens, for Cappy’s history at the estate only went back to when Lanquest was preparing to leave for Eton.
The family’s old butler, Bertwell, had died after an illness that had him bedridden at the estate for the larger part of a year. Jason Cappender was hired when Bertwell had taken ill and thereafter was known as Cappy.
“The blasted floods are making the farmers lives’ miserable,” Lanquest replied.
Eton had served Lanquest well for it had lifted him from his shyness and there he had formed lasting friendships which thrived to this day, even more than those he had formed at Cambridge.
“Yes, my lord, they are. I believe the ladies are gathered in the drawing-room for tea. Lady Bunright and her daughters arrived earlier this afternoon.”
***
“You have still not answered my question, young lady!”
“And I will continue to not answer your question, your ladyship, until I am addressed in a civil manner.”
At that moment, the drawing-room door was opened by Cappy who announced Lord Lanquest.
Kate could not have been happier. She smiled as she glanced at Lady Bunright and saw the startled look on her face.
Lanquest’s eyes swept the seated ladies.
“Good afternoon, Aunt Amy, Miss Shallot—and what have we here, visitors? I trust you are all well, Augusta, Herlinda and Sally?
“I did not expect to see you here at Arcadia so soon, Augusta. Is there a reason for this visit a week before you were scheduled to come?”
Augusta ignored this and went on to say, “I have prevented my daughters to be introduced to your guest until I am furnished with an explanation, Lanquest. Please explain this young lady’s appearance at your household.”
Augusta pointed at Kate with a long transparently white index finger. “And let me assure you,” she added, frowning her square brows, “I don’t find your behavior in bringing her here the least amusing.”
“Aunt Amy and I did not mean for Miss Shallot’s visit to be amusing, Augusta, so I’m glad we are in agreement. And what I don’t find amusing, is your rude attitude toward my aunt’s guest. Miss Shallot is the daughter of a lady from America Amy befriended in France. She is here at Amy’s invitation. We were not aware that you expected to be consulted by my aunt before she invited her friend’s niece, Miss Shallot, to stay at Arcadia as her guest.”
“Answer me truthfully, Lanquest, what exactly is your relationship to this young lady?”
“Your words are insulting to Miss Shallot, as they are to Aunt Amy and to me, Augusta. Have I not stated that she is here as Lady Donney’s guest? I will not elevate your words with a response.
“It is the outside of enough for you to discuss our house guest as if she were not in the room.
“I have agreed to host a ball for my nieces, Augusta,” he added, “but don’t try my patience with your militant attitude.”
“You are insufferable.” Augusta’s voice trembled with rage. “I would have it in the gossip columns faster than you can imagine if I should not accept your explanation as to your guest.”
“It is very well, then, that I have no respect for the gossip columns and so I am not affected by them,” Lanquest replied. “However, I am fond of my nieces and have agreed to host a ball for them. They should not have to pay for your lack of manners.”
“Miss Shallot, Aunt Amy,” said Lanquest, turning to Kate and Amy, “may I have the pleasure of your company for a stroll around the gardens? This beautiful spring afternoon should not be wasted indoors.” With questionable company, his shake of the head said.
“I would be most pleased to accept,” said Kate and with a sigh of relief she eagerly reached for Amy’s hand.
Kate smiled as she saw Augusta turn grey with anger.
The gall of that woman, referring to her as the colonial
and speaking about her as if she was not in the room.
Kate was glad that Augusta looked daggers at being left to finish her tea by herself.
“I can’t believe you would leave me to finish tea by myself,” Augusta said. “I have never seen such a display of ill manners.”
“You must choose between assigning yourself as guest or relation, Augusta,” Lanquest replied. “You cannot be both. Relations may treat each other with familiarity, but when this familiarity turns to insults I must shield both my guest and my aunt from your tongue.”
The footman opened the door for Lanquest, as Kate and Amy followed in his wake without a backward glance toward Augusta.
CHAPTER 12
“Please believe I deplore my aunt’s rude comments toward you, Miss Shallot,” Lanquest said as he extended his arms to both Kate and Amy. “She is a difficult woman to get along with.”
Amy declined his arm. “The path is too narrow, my dears,” she explained in her sweet way. “Go on ahead, I would rather follow in your wake at my own pace.”
Kate was grateful to Lanquest for standing up to Augusta for her and smiled warmly at him. She had held her ground with the impossible woman but was glad at Lanquest’s timely arrival.
“Judging from Lady Bunright’s luggage she seems to be prepared for a long stay at your estate, my lord.”
“Only for a couple of weeks, thankfully,” Lanquest replied. “After the ball that I am hosting for my nieces they will head to London for the season. But Augusta always travels as if she is going on safari in Africa,” Lanquest added with a laugh.
“Besides, I can monitor her activity a lot better while she is under my roof than to have her out there contacting the newspapers about you, Miss Shallot. I will allow her to remain until I deem her stay a nuisance beyond endurance.
“But however much she makes me grind my teeth, I am fond of my cousins, who struggle to understand their mother’s attitude toward me and often blush at her bad manners.
“It is the same with her sons. Although my heir, Cortland is a scoundrel, his brother, much younger than he and not in his sphere of influence, is a nice and honorable young man of excellent character. He is away on his last year at Cambridge. He graduated recently and went back only to arrange for his luggage to be sent here and to have a last fling with his close friends.
