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Authors: Mary Chase Comstock

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Of course, Miss Mansard, I shall have them seen to immediately. Now, this way, please.”

If Cat had entertained any commonplace notions of what to expect at Montrose House, these were soon shattered. As she, Eveline, and Felicia left the foyer and made their way up the staircase and through the halls, it became increasingly apparent that the furnishings were, if any
thing, extraordinary. The décor, Cat decided with growing alarm, defied classification. It represented not only a range of historical periods and taste, but a number of distressingly exotic cultures as well. Indeed, the ladies noted with growing trepidation a number of items, the purposes of which both invited and forbade conjecture.

Upon
entering her appointed chamber, Cat stopped and held her breath. The room was lavishly draped with silks and brocades of various brilliant shades of rose and violet. In the center of the room stood the most unusual bed Cat had ever seen, intricately carved of some light wood, complete with sliding doors. The scent of jasmine hung heavily in the air. Cat turned to Eveline and Felicia, whose features reflected her own dismay. This house, she thought to herself with increasing alarm, is where I must make my debut as a model of propriety?

As the footmen carried in the trunks, the three women stood silently
, maintaining expressions of frozen civility. As soon as the last footman had made his exit, they released their breaths simultaneously, sounding very much like three tea kettles about to boil.


What in heaven's name do you make of this, Eveline?” Cat exclaimed as soon as the three were alone together.


It is somewhat uncommon,” Eveline returned judiciously. She cautiously opened the door to her adjoining chamber, stood for a moment taking in its wild peacock hues, and shut the door again. “I only hope, for your sake, that Lady Montrose's peculiarities, whatever else they may turn out to be, do not extend to her manners or person.”


Do you think we dare hope for that? I had sufficient reason to suspect Lady Montrose's tendency toward the outlandish, of course, but in the past her eccentric gifts were always a diversion. Indeed, Eveline, I am more than a little put out with fate for I would dearly love to enjoy all of this and throw concern for dull decorum out the nearest window.”


Well,” Eveline sighed, “I cannot help but agree with you. But take heart, Cat. Our fears may well be in vain, and there's at least as much to be gained as lost here. These rooms, although somewhat brilliant, shall we say, afford a rare showcase of the world's treasures. Here we are. Let us determine to enjoy ourselves as best we can!”


If fears can't be allayed, we had best ignore them?” Cat smiled. “Capital advice, Eveline! Whatever would I do without you?”


Oh, dear, Cat — look at Felicia!” Indeed, the awestruck maid was turning small circles, staring about her new surroundings with her mouth opened in the shape of an 0. Had not the two ladies taken her quickly by the shoulders and set her down into a chair, there seemed but little doubt she would soon have spun her way right through the floor. Having secured the revolving girl for the moment, their inspection of the apartment was again interrupted by a timid knock at the door and a diminutive maid entered carrying a tea tray.


Here's some hot tea, Lady Montrose's own brew,” she informed them with a small curtsy, “and, Miss Catherine? These are invitations for next week — her ladyship thought as how you might like to look at them when you'd a moment to yourself. Can I bring you anything else?”

Cat looked over at her
maid, who was still staring about bemusedly. “Take Felicia here with you—I believe the poor girl's in need of sustenance—and have her come to me again in an hour. Will that leave enough time before dinner? Good. Now what is your name?”


Well, my real name's Sarah, but her ladyship calls me Birdie, of course.”


Why is that?” Cat queried with some amusement.


Well, to tell you the truth, I'm not sure I know, Miss Catherine. The fact is, she calls all of us maids Birdie, for some reason. And all the footmen are Matey. We're all just so used to it we don't give it a thought. I'll send your Felicia up just as you ask. Come along now,” she said gently, taking Felicia by the arm. “Ring if you need anything, miss.”


Birdie and Matey?” Cat exclaimed incredulously after the servant had withdrawn. “What next?”


Well, I own it does seem somewhat eccentric, but perhaps Lady Montrose has a faulty memory, and this system is easiest for her.”


Well,” Cat returned, “I suppose as long as she calls me by my right name when I'm introduced, we'll suit well enough, but I've been Cat all my life and I'm hanged if I'll be Birdie!”


You must remember that homely saying, 'Trouble not trouble, 'til trouble troubles you.' Now, what of these invitations? I am happy to see there are so many and so soon.”


Well, these are heartening, at least, Eveline. Whatever her eccentricities may prove to be, Lady Montrose at least appears to be received throughout London. Just look at these,” she said, handing the invitations to Eveline one by one. “There is a ball in two days at Lord and Lady Hawkesmith's, a rout the very next night at the Marquess of Shrewsbury's, and three dinner parties the following week. Oh dear! We shall never have clothes made in time to go, more's the pity.”


Why, Cat,” Eveline laughed in dismay. “I declare you are beginning to sound almost eager!”


Well,” Cat returned, coloring slightly, “I thought we had agreed that there is little to be gained by delaying a trial that cannot be avoided.”

Eveline had been more correct than Cat would ever have allowed, however. A peculiar mixture of ex
citement and consternation were indeed building in Cat's heart by the minute. True, Montrose House, thus far, appeared to be fulfilling many of her worst fears, but it also seemed to offer the tantalizing taste of adventure.

Chapter Seven

 

As Cat and Eveline descended the staircase to dinner, they were indeed encouraged to find that the further they distanced themselves from the pri
vate chambers, the more conservative the fittings of the rooms became. By the time they reached the drawing room it was evident that any fears they might have entertained—at least as far as decor was concerned—were groundless. The exotic was confined off stage, as it were. The drawing room itself was furnished in the best of taste, hung with watered silk of a delicate sea green accented by arrangements of pink roses in silver vases. The ladies had dressed in the best of what passed for finery in the country—Cat in her lavender silk bridesmaid's dress and Eveline in a more sober gray silk. These would have to do for evening until they were able to engage the services of a modiste.


Are you feeling more at ease now?” Eveline asked as they took in their surroundings.


I am very much relieved,” Cat allowed. “In fact, I begin to wonder if Lady Montrose shall not truly be the best answer to my predicament, for she seems to have mastered the art of maintaining a veneer of propriety over a host of idiosyncrasies.”


Good evening, my dears,” a small voice interrupted. “I am Lady Montrose.” Cat and Eveline turned to see a fine-boned, elegant lady of childlike proportions. Her almost unlined face, set with wide china blue eyes, was crowned by a profusion of white ringlets. She was wearing a gown of fine pearl silk, caught at the sleeves and hem with rosettes of mauve velvet. Approaching them with hands outstretched, she smiled her greeting, “You must be Catherine. You favor your grandmother, dear. Alice and I were such good friends. I know that we shall be, too. And you are Eveline. Welcome to you both. How do you find your rooms?”

Cat glanced warily at Eveline, but before either could formulate an appropriate response. Lady Montrose's laughter, like the ringing of little crys
tal bells, broke the awkward silence.


You must forgive me my self-indulgence, dears. Alice and I had a habit of teasing each other with such surprises when we were girls. Do you know, Catherine, your grandmother once dressed a monkey as the Queen Mother and let it loose at my twelfth birthday party? She did indeed. And in return, I hid that same monkey under the cover of a silver dish at her mother's next dinner party. I thought your great-grandmother would slide under the table with vexation. Ah me—how merry we were! You must count yourselves fortunate indeed, ladies, to have escaped worse than merely finding your chambers decked out like a seraglio.”


A monkey!” exclaimed Cat. “Are you quite sure?”

Lady Montrose smiled and fluttered her fan.
“Well, no, to be honest, my dear, I am not
quite
sure. It may, of course, have been that Alice and I merely talked of doing such things. I've stopped worrying about accuracy altogether. It doesn't really matter whether it happened or not, does it? It's just as amusing!”


But Lady Montrose …” Cat began.


Lady Montrose indeed! You shall call me Mouse, as your Grandmother did. You, too, Eveline.”


I ... we couldn't possibly,” the two protested in unison.


Very well, then,” she sighed resignedly, “ 'Lady Mouse' if you must be more conventional. Now, here comes Matey. Let us go in to dinner and you can both tell me all about yourselves.”

However much Cat's fears for her future were heightened by Lady Montrose's various eccentrici
ties, she could not but admit to herself that she also found them entertaining and endearing. By the end of dinner that evening, the little lady's good humor had won over her guests to the extent that neither of them would have traded her for a more conventional hostess, however much the future might depend on such. Moreover, the evening's conversation revealed that her ladyship's opinions and sentiments were all that could be hoped for and her peculiarities merely reflected a deep-seated love of the ridiculous.

They had returned to the drawing room for sherry when Lady Montrose's voice took on a seri
ous note, “Now, Catherine,” she began, “just what is this 'predicament' you were speaking of as I entered the drawing room earlier this evening?”

Cat and Eveline exchanged guarded glances and colored deeply.

“Come, come, Catherine,” Lady Mouse continued, “we can have no secrets here, and I must confess I shall badger you until it's all out in any case. I own it is a bad habit of mine, but I am not at all likely to change this late in life.”

And so it was that Cat, who was more than aware of her own lack of expertise as a dissembler, began to outline the strange turn of events which had brought her to London. Lady Montrose leaned forward and listened with avid attention, her brows knitting more and more closely together as the story progressed.

“And so it is, er, Lady Mouse,” Cat concluded, “that you have our company this Season, but I own I am much happier about my fate since meeting you than I have been for some weeks.”


Thank you, my dear. I shall make efforts to see you remain so. I see now why you looked so distressed at our first meeting. Poor child! Saddled with such a burden to begin with and then to find yourself in such surroundings! Oh dear, it really is rather amusing, though, don't you think? I am exceedingly surprised at your grandmother, I must say, to have arranged affairs in such a terribly awkward way. She should have consulted me—I am sure I should have set her straight. Nevertheless, Catherine, I see you are a regular Wellington to face your difficulties so courageously and arrange your future as best you can. I congratulate you!”

Cat was much encouraged by this speech and plunged into a detailed description of the various preparations they had undertaken thus far.
“Poor Eveline has spent much of her recent time as a slave to my deportment, with good success, I assure you. Now I have but to engage the services of a modiste and begin the campaign.”


I have undertaken to have Miss Spencer, my own seamstress, call first thing tomorrow morning, unless you had someone else in mind, Catherine,” Lady Montrose informed them, “and I have already purchased some lengths of cloth that came in from Paris last week—although I fear they are not
quite
so colorful as those which adorn your chambers,” she finished with a little twinkle.

Cat was more than happy to have been relieved of this last detail and thanked Lady Montrose heartily for her efforts. With affectionate cama
raderie, the three ladies bid each other a good night and retired early in preparation for the challenge of the day ahead. Later, as Cat climbed gratefully into her elaborate bed, she took one last moment to look about her fanciful surroundings before snuffing her candle. It began to seem as if everything would be all right after all.

 

Chapter Eight

 

Although Cat and Eveline had each secretly looked forward with some enthusiasm to their morning appointment with the modiste, they were as weary of that pastime after some four or five trying hours as could be expected of sensible creatures. Their initial excitement was naturally heightened at the impressive array of muslins and silks and crepes displayed before them; nevertheless, the ladies' patience was soon tested by such pinnings and drapings and exclamations over color and style that each was heartily sorry they were not cozily ensconced in the library with a good book and a pot of tea.

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