by Jenny Hambly
“But I must admit, that apart from that, he behaved very handsomely,” she said.
“Yes, he did,” Georgianna said. “He behaved impeccably, and I am sorry if you do not like it, Eleanor, but I will go further. I can find no fault with his words to you, although I do, of course, understand that you did not like the manner of their delivery. But he was quite correct you know, there were many things that could have gone wrong, and in fact, something did go wrong when you decided, for some reason not yet entirely clear to me, to go to Madame Lafayette’s.”
“Yes,” Eleanor agreed. “But I could hardly have foreseen that Eliza Langton would come to the shop and then accuse me of being a thief!”
“That is my point,” Georgianna said. “You only accounted for the things you could foresee, but even the best laid plans may be ruined by chance.”
“So it appears,” Eleanor said, with a reluctant smile. “But chance also sometimes works in our favour.”
“True, but you cannot rely on it. I will admit, however, that it worked in my favour the day Somerton rode up the drive to my aunt’s cottage.”
“And it worked for me,” Marianne said softly, “when Cranbourne came to Cheltenham after a chance encounter with his friend, Sir Horace Bamber.”
“And I suppose it also worked for me when I ran into Lord Allerdale instead of another who might not have helped protect my identity.”
Eleanor saw her friends exchange a smile.
She laughed but said firmly, “If either of you thinks that our encounter shall prove to be fateful and lead to a love match as it did for you both, rid yourselves of the idea. I have no wish for a husband who would rip up at me whenever I displeased him. And as I will admit that I like to have my own way quite as much as I am sure he does, we would be forever at each other’s throats! Besides, I have other plans.”
“Are you still set on having your own establishment in Town?” Georgianna asked.
“I would like to have my own house,” she admitted. “But it seems that it would not be quite the thing for me to do so. It is yet another of those rules that make no sense to me; if I had a spinster aunt it would be entirely acceptable, but a hired companion will not do, at least not for a few years yet.” She sighed ruefully. “And I had not considered that if I showed to the world that I preferred to live with a stranger, it would reflect badly on Haverham. When I go back to Standon, I shall search the family Bible and see if I can discover some obscure relative who might do. Although I do not need to reside in Town, there are reasons why it might be useful to have somewhere I can visit regularly.”
“Such as?” Marianne asked.
Eleanor had not shared with anyone her intention to invest in Mrs Willis and put her in Madame Lafayette’s premises.
“I know it would be considered going into trade,” she said, a little defiantly. “And I am aware that Haverham will not like it, but my involvement does not need to be generally known, after all.”
“I think it a splendid idea,” Marianne said. “When next I am in Town, I will certainly buy one of your hats and tell all of my acquaintances where I purchased it.”
“As will I,” Georgianna said. “And I dare say that if your business becomes a success – and I cannot see why it should not – society will forgive you, should they discover your involvement.”
“Thank you,” Eleanor said. “But nothing is as yet certain. I shall go and see my solicitor tomorrow for he has not yet replied to my enquiries.”
They joined Lady Bassington’s party at the gate and the cavalcade moved into the park. Eleanor caught glimpses of rolling hills, wide grassy slopes, and groves of ancient trees and when they descended from the carriage at a spot chosen by Lady Bassington, she was presented with a delightfully picturesque view. The parkland spread out for miles in front of her, a ribbon of river glinted in the sunlight in the valley below, and in the hazy distance she could just make out the spire of St Paul’s Cathedral.
Eleanor wondered just how many people Lady Bassington had invited, for although Lord Brigham, Lord Allerdale, Captain Bassington and Lord Carteret had all chosen to ride, there were two carriages drawn up in front of theirs. The doors of one suddenly burst open and two footmen sprang out, followed by three grooms, and another descended from the roof. All was bustle for a few moments as Lady Brigham took charge, ordering the footmen to carry blankets, cushions, and baskets to a shady spot under a stand of towering oak trees, whilst the grooms took charge of the horses.
Lady Bassington came over to them, chuckling.
“What a to-do,” she said. “I can’t think it necessary. Julia has treated the expedition like a military campaign, but perhaps it is just as well; I always leave the details of my schemes to take care of themselves.”
Lady Brigham came up to them in time to hear these words. She smiled. “And it is a fortunate circumstance that I am well aware of that, Frances, but at least you remembered to ask everyone to bring a dish. You must have stayed up very late organising the menu.”
“You’re out there, Julia,” she said, looking surprised. “It’s only a luncheon after all. I simply asked everyone to bring a basket of something.”
Lady Brigham’s pretty eyes suddenly sparkled with laughter. “Frances! You ninny! We will in all likelihood find we have enough to feed a small army, and I shall not be at all surprised if we discover that everyone has brought the same dish! It will serve you right if you have nothing to eat but slices of beef!”
“It wouldn’t worry me in the slightest, my dear,” Lady Bassington said, quite unperturbed. “I am very partial to slices of beef.”
Lady Brigham ordered everyone to go for a walk whilst she and her sister-in-law delved into the various baskets.
They fell into two loose groups and Eleanor found herself walking next to Lord Brigham.
“Allow me to thank you, Miss Edgcott, on behalf of both my sister and myself. Your actions may well have saved my nephew’s life.”
She looked up quickly.
“You look surprised,” he said softly. “You should not be you know; my acquaintance in London is wide. Once the tale was carried to Bow Street, I was bound to hear of it.”
“Oh, I see,” she said, her brow wrinkling. “I had not considered that. I do hope that my informing on Captain Bassington will not lead to the event becoming more publicly known.”
“I have taken steps to ensure it does not,” he said, with a small smile. “It is always so difficult to envisage every outcome our actions might have, isn’t it?”
Eleanor held her breath. Lord Brigham’s eyes were very penetrating, and she felt for a moment that he knew everything about her recent activities.
“Have you seen any interesting sights since we last spoke, Miss Edgcott?”
She cast about in a mind that had suddenly gone blank for something to say. “I was very pleased with the examples of Mary Linwood’s needlework,” she finally said, “but I hardly think that they would interest you.”
“I don’t know why you should make such an assumption,” he said. “I think some of her work very good. I purchased one of her pieces as a gift for my wife. It hangs in her private sitting room at Brigham.”
“What a lovely present,” Eleanor said.
“I like to think that Lady Brigham thought so,” he said. “What else have you discovered?”
“Oh, nothing really; we have been so busy. Although I did catch a glimpse of the Foundling Hospital whilst out driving. I had meant to learn more about it and perhaps visit it but have not yet had time.”
“My family have always supported the school,” he said. “What is it you would like to know?”
“A little more about the children. Are they orphaned?”
“Some are, but many are the illegitimate offspring of some poor soul who cannot look after them. The school takes the babes in their first year of life and sends them to a nurse until they are old enough to begin their education. It keeps them until they are old enough to be apprenticed to a respe
ctable trade.”
Eleanor looked thoughtful. “And what are considered respectable trades for the girls?”
“They often go into domestic service.”
“I see. Would millinery be seen as a respectable trade, do you think?”
“That would depend on the milliner. If someone of standing vouched for her, then I cannot see why not. It might also depend on the cost, however. Have you someone in mind, Miss Edgcott?”
Eleanor smiled. “Perhaps. I am not yet sure. You have given me much food for thought, thank you.”
Lord Brigham glanced down at her, his expression enigmatic. “If, when you are sure, you would like me to put your scheme forwards to the board, feel free to come to me and discuss it.”
“You are very kind, sir,” she said, her wide smile lighting her face.
She had purposefully positioned herself as far from Lord Allerdale as she could but had become so engrossed in her conversation that she had not seen him drop back from the group ahead to join them. Her smile faded as Lord Brigham gave up his place beside her to his son.
“Am I still in your black books?” he said, with a disarming grin. “I do wish you had not stopped smiling; it was like watching the sun going behind a cloud.”
She threw him a darkling look, determined not to respond to his flattery.
“I see that I am quite sunk beneath reproach and will hang my head out for washing. Go ahead, Miss Edgcott, rid yourself of your spleen and throw my past actions in my face. Tell me what a hypocritical fellow I was to drag you over the coals, and do not fear to call me impertinent, not to mention ungentlemanly to talk to you in such a way when it was none of my business after all.”
“Odious, odious, man!” she said, a reluctant smile edging her lips. “You have even rid me of that pleasure; how can I now do so, when you have already owned it?”
“Despicable of me to steal your thunder, wasn’t it? However, I do own it, and I apologise. I do not say that my views on the matter have changed but will admit that the manner of their delivery left much to be desired.”
“How can I fail to accept such a handsome apology?” Eleanor said, eyeing him resentfully.
“My only excuse is that I had had a very trying morning, and my nerves were quite shot to pieces.”
She laughed. “You, sir, are shameless! What a bouncer!”
“I am shocked to hear such an expression on your lips, ma’am,” he said, shaking his head.
She gasped. “You… you… Oh, I don’t know what you are! But I refuse to listen to any more of your faradiddles!”
They had walked a circuitous route and were now approaching the point at which they had started. Two large blankets had been laid end to end, and upon them sat a variety of dishes, which contrary to Lady Brigham’s expectations, did not wholly comprise of beef. A tempting selection of cold meat, cheeses, pies, cakes, and fruit awaited them.
Lady Bassington had been reclining against a pile of cushions but sat up as they approached, smiled at Eleanor, and patted the place beside her.
“You see, my dear, it all worked out wonderfully in the end. I could not have planned a better spread! I don’t hold with over organising every little thing. I have always placed great faith in serendipity, and it has never let me down yet.”
“You do not fool me, ma’am,” Eleanor said, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. “You certainly plan ahead when it suits you. I have not forgotten the opera glasses in your reticule or the extraordinary uses to which you put your walking stick.”
“You are as sharp as a tack, Miss Edgcott,” she said, smiling. “I will admit that I will sometimes bestir myself to plan ahead if by doing so, I will add to my comfort or amusement.”
A tinkle of laughter made Eleanor look up and she was surprised to see Lady Selena smiling up at Captain Bassington.
“I am pleased to see Lady Selena at such ease; she is usually so painfully shy with gentlemen.”
“The Sheringham lands march by ours. She has known him all her life, although she can only have seen Charles a handful of times in the last few years. I was great friends with her mama and am really quite fond of Selena. I invited her today as she always shows to better advantage when not with her stepmother.”
“Matchmaking?” Eleanor said. “I thought you preferred to trust in serendipity?”
“I do. I shall make no effort to push her in the way of any of the gentlemen here. Unfortunately, Lady Sheringham does not fail to do so. I do not believe she has any great understanding of those with less robust natures than herself. She has hopes of Lady Selena contracting a great match this season, but her tendency to shrink from anyone who is unknown to her has been a trial for them both.”
“Has she always been so shy?” Eleanor asked.
“No. She only became so when she left childhood behind and turned into a young woman. But once she knows someone well, she is a different girl. She came to me often after her mama died.” She sighed. “Poor Amelia. She understood how difficult it would be for her and so did not bring her out the moment she left the schoolroom. We discussed it and agreed that no good could come of it until she had grown up a little. Unfortunately, she died not long afterwards.”
“Lady Selena must have been very thankful to have you nearby,” Eleanor said gently. “It cannot have been easy for her when her father remarried so soon.”
“He waited a bare nine months,” Lady Bassington said. “I believe he did so largely for his daughter’s sake, but why he picked such a Roman-nosed dragon, I do not know. Amelia was very pretty; Selina is the image of her.”
They both glanced in her direction. Charles was leaning back on his elbows, his mouth wide open, trying to catch the grapes a giggling Lady Selena was throwing at him. Her cheeks had a soft pink bloom in them, and her eyes sparkled. Eleanor thought that she looked quite beautiful.
“Perhaps they will make a match of it,” she said. “I have never seen her look so animated or behave in such a playful way.”
“I have no such hopes,” Lady Bassington said regretfully. “He has always treated her as a little sister, just as he is treating her now. He could always persuade her to join in with the games he played with her brothers, not that they always thanked him for it. And then, Charles has no great expectations and who knows when he will be home again? Lady Sheringham has her own daughter to bring out next season and Selena is approaching twenty, so I am sure she will make every effort to find her a husband before then.” She frowned. “I only hope she will not be forced into marriage whether she likes it or not.”
“Would Lord Sheringham allow such a thing?”
“I hope he would not,” she said, “but Lady Sheringham is very determined, and I have known more than one gentleman capitulate to his wife’s wishes if it will ensure she will stop cutting up his peace.”
A gurgle of laughter escaped Eleanor. “Do you speak from personal experience, ma’am?”
“That’s it,” she said cheerfully. “I see you have guessed it; poor Bassington is dreadfully henpecked!”
“Boys! Behave! You are making yourselves look ridiculous!” Lady Brigham protested, her smiling countenance robbing her words of any power to make them obey her.
Lord Cranbourne and Lord Somerton had also leant back on their elbows and were exhorting their wives to join in with the game.
“Whoever catches the most grapes in one minute is the winner,” Charles said.
“And what will be the prize?” Eleanor asked, amused.
Various ideas were batted back and forth, and when Lord Brigham forbade them to wager money on such a ridiculous game, it was finally agreed that the victor could beg the lady of his choice one favour.
Lord Allerdale had been quietly chatting to Lord Carteret, but he suddenly said, “In that case, I shall join in.” He quirked an eyebrow at Eleanor. “Will you partner me, Miss Edgcott?”
As all eyes turned towards her, she smiled sweetly and said, “But that would leave Lord Carteret without a partner. Would you
like to take part, my lord?”
“I thank you, Miss Edgcott, but I have no desire to make such an exhibition of myself.”
“Then you shall join me in adjudicating this childish competition,” Lord Brigham said. “Julia and Frances, we will need you also. We shall each observe one couple, and if there is any cheating, we will impose penalties.”
Eleanor felt Miles’ triumphant eyes upon her.
“Then I shall, of course, partner you, Lord Allerdale,” she said, suddenly all compliance.
Fortunately, nearly everyone had brought some grapes, and once the ladies had all collected a handful, and moved a similar distance away from their partner, the game began.
Eleanor was determined that she would not give Lord Allerdale the right to ask anything of her, and so deliberately aimed wide, making it very difficult for him to catch any of them. Her smile widened in direct proportion to his eyes narrowing. At the end of the minute, the judges compared notes and Charles was declared the clear winner.
“And what favour will you ask?” Eleanor asked.
An almost embarrassed smile crossed Charles’ face. He turned to Lady Selena and said gently. “Would you write to me, Selena? I would like to know how you go on, and a little news from home goes a long way when you find yourself in dashed uncomfortable barracks.”
She nodded, her cheeks reddening as she became aware that everyone was waiting for her reply. “Of course, I will, Charlie,” she said. “I only hope my letters don’t bore you to death.”
Miles glanced at his father.
“Did you not say, sir, that anyone cheating would be issued with a penalty?”
Eleanor felt a trickle of unease run down her spine.
“So, I did, Allerdale,” he said softly. “As Miss Edgcott clearly did not intend you to catch any of her grapes, you were undoubtedly handicapped. I think you may also ask her a favour of your choice.”
She found herself being regarded by a pair of eyes that gleamed with malicious amusement.
