Animating Maria

by Beaton, M. C.

  ‘Oh, no,’ said Effy, waving her hands helplessly. ‘We have not started yet. Not a word, I assure you. But she is very young for you and she is most certainly not in love with you, so . . .’

  ‘Did she tell you she was not in love with me?’

  ‘No-o. But you did explain most clearly it was to be a marriage of convenience. I mean, you yourself are clearly not in love with Miss Kendall.’

  ‘Not at all.’

  ‘Then that’s all right. Such a relief when no hearts are engaged, don’t you think? Tea, your grace?’

  ‘No, I thank you. My mother has returned, I believe, and I must see her.’

  The dowager duchess looked up crossly as her son came striding into her boudoir and curtly dismissed her maid.

  ‘And now you are going to give me a jaw-me-dead about that engagement,’ said his mother with a sigh.

  ‘And why not?’ demanded the duke wrathfully. ‘I did agree to let the engagement stand, but that was before I met the girl’s parents. Out of the question. What can you have been thinking of to even consider joining our great name with such incredibly vulgar people as the Kendalls?’

  ‘I did not think you were marrying them. You need not see them once you are married. The fact is Miss Kendall would suit you very well. Fascinating little creature. She has very pretty ankles.’

  ‘I wish to make one thing perfectly plain to you, Mama. Never again must you interfere in my life, do you hear?’

  ‘Yes, dear. I can hear you, and so can the whole of Cavendish Square. What are you going to do?’

  ‘I have offered the Tribbles money to persuade Miss Kendall not to marry me.’

  ‘You silly boy. She is so very beautiful and so very rich, she can take her pick. She does not need you. The Tribbles would probably have done it for nothing.’

  ‘Am I such an antidote?’

  ‘No, but you are so used to being run after and toadied to that you have quite forgot how to please. You will soon become an opinionated crusty old bore. Now, send my maid back and take yourself off.’

  Maria spent a delightful afternoon with her new friend Frederica. They looked at the wild animals in the small zoo, bought trinkets from the booths at Exeter Change, and then strolled down the Strand and across the road and down towards the river.

  ‘We should go back,’ said Frederica suddenly.

  Maria, who had been discussing books and fashions, looked around her. Tall, ugly, ramshackle tenements reared up on either side. On the entrance steps of one of them, a woman in rags, nursing a baby, held out a claw-like hand for money.

  ‘Let me just give some alms to this poor woman,’ said Maria.

  ‘No, no, come away. It is dangerous here,’ squeaked Frederica, tugging at her sleeve.

  Maria gently disengaged herself and took some silver from her reticule and handed it to the woman.

  ‘She will only spend it on gin,’ pointed out Frederica.

  ‘That I won’t,’ said the woman, for she had heard Frederica, who had spoken quite loudly and clearly, thinking, like most of her class, that beggars were stone-deaf. ‘I’ll pay my rent and get food for the baby.’

  ‘Who owns such property?’ asked Maria wonderingly. ‘It is quite disgusting.’

  ‘Duke of Berham,’ said the woman, hugging the baby close.

  ‘Come away,’ said Frederica, putting an arm around Maria’s waist.

  ‘Very well,’ said Maria numbly. They hurried back towards the Strand.

  ‘Do not look so troubled.’ Frederica peered anxiously at her friend’s stricken face. ‘Most of these London rookeries are owned by the aristocracy. It’s not Berham’s fault. He probably does not know such a place exists.’

  ‘Do you think that woman’s baby is his?’ asked Maria.

  ‘How can you say such things? What put such an idea into your head?’

  ‘I am reading this monstrous fine book called Jasper’s Cruelty or The Wicked Duke. The duke is quite like Berham, I mean the duke in the novel. And he owns property like this and ruins all the female tenants and then turns them out in the street. Why, Emily – the girl in the book – is most affecting. She stands outside White’s Club with her baby in her arms on a snowy night and cries to him as he comes out, ‘‘Look upon your son, you dastard!’’’

  ‘Maria! I don’t think you love Berham one little bit.’

  ‘No,’ said Maria. ‘I am grateful for that, for I can never marry him now!’

  5

  Is not marriage an open question, when it is alleged, from the beginning of the world, that such as are in the institution wish to get out, and such as are out wish to get in?

  Emerson

  Maria sought out Amy, who was lying in her room, nursing her sore, stiff shoulder.

  Breathlessly, Maria told her about the buildings off the Strand and then launched into a comparison between the Duke of Berham and the duke in the novel she had been reading.

  Amy groaned. ‘You are worse than I thought,’ she said. ‘I have never heard such a piece of silliness in all my born days. Grow up!’

  Maria coloured angrily. ‘You must admit, Miss Amy, it is disgraceful that he should be the owner of such property.’

  ‘Take it from me, he probably doesn’t even know he’s got it,’ said Amy. ‘His agents and men of business handle things like that. Maybe it was not even his agents who bought the wretched place, but his grandfather’s. That is not what troubles me. You seem like an intelligent girl to me and yet you can easily dream up a picture of Berham having droit de seigneur with a lot of poor women when he could have practically anyone in society he wanted. Young girls’ dreams are one thing, Maria; dangerous fantasies are another. If you are looking for a way to break the engagement, then wait and do it gracefully. Don’t you want just a little bit of revenge on Berham? He don’t really care a fig for you at the moment, and believe me, if you told him right now it was all off, he would probably sigh with relief.’

  ‘Oh, he would, would he?’ exclaimed Maria, suddenly furious. ‘Then why was he so eager to let the engagement stand?’

  ‘That was before he met your parents. Yes,’ went on Amy, surveying Maria’s stricken face, ‘your parents. Now, Effy and I have invited Mr and Mrs Kendall to London.’

  ‘No!’ said Maria. ‘Oh, no.’

  ‘Listen. We are going to put it to them that they are the ones who need schooling. Think, Maria. If not Berham, then perhaps someone like Beaumont, hey? We’ll put a little town bronze on your ma and pa and then you can fly as high as you like.’

  ‘You will find it an impossible task,’ said Maria in a low voice.

  ‘I don’t think so. I mean, they must be able to recognize ladylike qualities, else how did they manage to make such a good job of you?’

  ‘By beating me?’

  ‘All children are beaten. I must admit they carried it on a bit too long, but that dream-world you live in, Maria, can be infuriating. You must have had some eligible suitors in Bath, or were you determined to not even think of them because they were your parents’ choice?’

  Maria hung her head.

  Amy looked at her sympathetically. ‘There, now. Look your best for the ball, and for goodness’ sake, stop casting Berham in the role of villain!’

  The couple, when they met on the eve of the ball, eyed each other with scarcely concealed dislike. Each was furious with the other for wanting to break the engagement. Each privately thought the other had no right to look so well. The duke was resplendent in black evening dress and a miracle of a cravat. His fair hair gleamed in the candlelight and his strange black eyes had a brooding look. Maria was wearing a pale-pink silk gown decorated with pearl embroidery. Pearls were wound through the thick tresses of her hair and a single row of pearls lay on her bosom.

  Effy was wearing a girlish pale-blue muslin gown with a turban made out of swathed blue chiffon. Amy startled them all by appearing in a splendid scarlet velvet gown with long sleeves. It was her evening hat that almost made Effy groan with env
y. It was of white satin with a high crown and narrow brim and lined with red satin. The red satin band round the crown was decorated with a crescent-shaped diamond brooch. That brooch sparkled and glittered like Effy’s jealous eyes. ‘Where did you get that expensive bauble, Amy?’ she demanded.

  ‘Mr Haddon sent it to me,’ said Amy with a radiant smile. Maria thought with surprise that Amy looked really handsome. The fact was that that glorious present had made Amy feel attractive and fascinating, and when a good-hearted woman feels attractive and fascinating, she quite often is.

  ‘Really,’ said Effy crossly, ‘I do not know what Mr Haddon is about. It is not at all the thing to send expensive presents to an unmarried lady, and so I shall tell him.’

  ‘Do that,’ said Amy with a sweet smile, ‘and I shall hang you by your garters.’

  The duke looked pointedly at the clock. ‘We are already late. It is time to leave.’

  ‘I hear Mr Randolph and Mr Haddon arriving,’ said Effy. ‘Now we can go.’

  Maria thought it ironic that the two elderly Tribble sisters should be setting out for the evening with their gallants, showing all the pleasure and excitement of young girls going to their first ball, while she simply wished the evening were over. Then she remembered Beau would be there and began to experience some pleasurable anticipation.

  The duke began to feel a little sorry for Maria. She was a beautiful girl. Such a pity she should have such terrible parents attached to her like a ball and chain. He would pay her particular attention so that society would think, when the break came, that it was Maria who had left him rather than the other way around.

  Maria had been looking forward to dancing with Beau and even hoping he might take her in for supper. She had forgotten she had made him promise to entertain Amy and so she had to be content with the Duke of Berham as a supper partner.

  Effy was furious when Beau invited Amy to waltz and then took her in to supper. Really, it was too bad of Yvette to make that hat for Amy and not to dream up a similar creation for her, Effy. Mr Randolph waltzed with her before supper and then both Mr Haddon and Mr Randolph took Effy into the supper room. Normally Effy would have been preening herself at having the company of these two middle-aged beaux, but jealousy of Amy was making her sour and bitter.

  Supper was served at long tables in the Marriots’ dining room. When Mr Randolph was engaged in talking to the lady on his other side, Effy said to Mr Haddon, ‘I am amazed you should send such an expensive gift to poor Amy. It has quite gone to her head.’

  Mr Haddon looked across the room at Amy and replied mildly, ‘Yes, she is wearing it in her hat. A good idea.’

  Effy fanned herself vigorously. ‘I only hope you know what you are doing. I ’member in ninety-two – or was it ninety-three – when Amy received a diamond bauble from Colonel Withers and was quite in alt. Of course, his motives were of the worst, and the work I had to do to avert scandal! But at least there was no child.’

  ‘Are you trying to tell me . . . ?’

  ‘My wicked tongue!’ cried Effy. ‘La, Mr Haddon, it is an old scandal and best forgot. Now do not breathe a word to dear Amy about what I have said.’

  Mr Haddon did not reply but pushed his food about his plate with his fork.

  ‘Would you say you are a good landlord?’ Maria was asking the duke.

  ‘Yes,’ he said. ‘My estates are in good order. My tenants have nothing of which to complain. Why do you ask?’

  ‘I was in John Street the other day. You know, one of those narrow streets between the Strand and the river. A shocking place.’

  ‘There are many shocking places in that area. What took you there?’

  ‘I went for a little walk with Miss Sunningdale. What a horrible sight it was. Crumbling stonework, broken windows. That anyone could charge rent from the poor people staying in such a rat hole is beyond me.’

  ‘There is something pointed about the tone of your remarks, Miss Kendall. What has John Street to do with me?’

  ‘You own it.’

  ‘I do? Well, perhaps I do own it. I have a great deal of property.’

  ‘And not a care in the world either,’ said Maria. ‘You don’t have to live there. I don’t think a penny has been spent on the place in years.’

  ‘I leave such matters to my agents.’

  ‘Good landlords, your grace, never leave such matters to their agents.’

  ‘Your parents no doubt being prime landlords, for example.’

  ‘Yes, they are!’ said Maria in surprise. ‘Papa owns a street of houses in the poorer area of Bath and he makes sure the roofs are always in good repair and that the very poor are not pressed for rent.’ She felt a warm glow. She had, she realized, been bitterly ashamed of her parents. It was wonderful to discover virtues in them.

  ‘Then perhaps before tomorrow’s church service, you will do me the honour of directing me to this John Street so that I may examine this slum for myself.’

  He had hoped to throw her, but she said calmly, ‘Gladly.’

  He studied her profile in silence for a few moments while he wondered how best to irritate her. ‘You have not asked me about my visit to your parents,’ he said.

  ‘I hope you were tolerably entertained,’ retorted Maria, knowing he was trying to unsettle her and determined not to show it.

  ‘It was a strange meeting,’ he said reflectively. ‘There were a great many servants.’

  ‘We do not have many servants. The house is too small. They must have been hired.’

  ‘So I gather. I hope for your sake and for your parents’ sake that that slut of a parlourmaid was one of the rented ones.’

  ‘Our servants are all respectable. Who is this parlourmaid?’

  ‘A wanton called Sally.’

  ‘Hired.’

  Her calm manner was beginning to nettle him. ‘Ten footmen of various sizes and different liveries had been engaged to line the steps and cheer on my arrival,’ he said. ‘An orchestra in some room upstairs played ‘‘See the Conquering Hero Comes’’.’

  But Maria had fallen under the influence of Amy Tribble. She put her napkin to her face and snorted with laughter.

  She looked up at him with dancing eyes and the duke’s normally severe face broke into a charming smile as he looked down at her. The laughter died from Maria’s eyes and she felt uncomfortable and short of breath.

  ‘Everyone’s behaving strangely,’ commented Beau to Miss Amy Tribble. ‘There’s Berham smiling at Miss Kendall and both seem in high spirits, just when I had begun to think they did not like each other. And now your Mr Haddon keeps looking in this direction and he is becoming angrier by the minute.’

  ‘He might have indigestion,’ said Amy anxiously. ‘The food is very rich.’

  She looked across the room at Mr Haddon, who pointedly turned his head away and then began to talk to Effy with great animation. Effy’s blue eyes sparkled and she said something and rapped Mr Haddon playfully with her fan. ‘I’ll kill her,’ muttered Amy through her teeth.

  ‘I beg your pardon?’ asked Beau surprised.

  ‘Nothing,’ muttered Amy. ‘Pass the wine.’

  There was one more waltz that evening. Beau managed to get Maria as a partner and Mr Haddon asked Amy to dance.

  For a few blissful moments, Amy was happy. All her normal clumsiness fled and she floated round the room in Mr Haddon’s arms. ‘I am very proud of my brooch,’ said Amy.

  ‘Do believe me, Miss Amy,’ said Mr Haddon, ‘when I say it was merely a trinket given by one old friend to another.’

  A shadow crossed Amy’s eyes. ‘I did not think it anything else,’ she said defensively and then stepped on his toes.

  ‘I was worried that your sad experience with Colonel Withers might have led you to think differently.’

  ‘Who is Colonel Withers?’

  ‘The man who gave you a diamond bauble in ninety-two or around then, and then . . . and then . . .’

  ‘And then what?’ demanded Amy, stopping s
till.

  Mr Haddon looked this way and that, but Amy’s fine eyes were boring into him.

  ‘Why,’ he said disastrously, too nonplussed to choose his words, ‘Miss Effy said it was a mercy there was no baby.’

  ‘Hear this,’ grated Amy. ‘I never knew a Colonel Withers, nor would I dream of lying like a trull with any man outside marriage. Effy has been pouring poison in your ears and you think so little of me, so very little, that you believed her.’ With shaking fingers she unpinned the brooch. ‘Take it back. I don’t want it now.’

  ‘Miss Amy, I should not have listened to her. Forgive me.’

  Amy pressed the brooch into his hand and turned and walked away, leaving him standing in the middle of the floor. Effy was talking to Mr Randolph. She saw Amy bearing down on her like an avenging fury and realized Mr Haddon must have relayed the lies she had told. She squeaked with fear and shoved little Mr Randolph in front of her. Amy picked up the startled Mr Randolph by the arms and lifted him to one side and then seized her sister by the shoulders and shook her till her teeth rattled. Effy began to scream like a banshee. The ladies stood around helplessly and several of the gentlemen were crying, ‘A mill! A mill!’ and rapidly placing bets on the outcome of the fight. Maria broke through the watching circle and hurled herself on Amy, shouting, ‘Behave yourself, Miss Amy. You are a disgrace!’

  The sound of her voice made Amy stop hitting and shaking Effy and swing about. She saw the ring of staring faces, the ladies shocked and the men grinning. Effy had slumped to the floor and was crying helplessly. Only Amy knew her sister was as tough as old boots and barely hurt, but Effy looked a fragile and pathetic picture.

  She helped Effy to her feet and into a chair. ‘Smile and talk, damn you, Effy,’ hissed Amy. ‘Look as if nothing has happened.’

  Effy rallied amazingly. She raised her fan and waved it languidly. ‘The provocation was great, sister dear,’ she said. ‘But you must not go on so or you will set the fashion for ladies’ wrestling.’

  Amy burst out laughing, although the effort it cost her to look merry was painful, and the crowd drifted away.