Jane Ashford (21 page)

It was late in the morning when Laura went down to breakfast the next day. She had hoped to find the breakfast room deserted, and indeed Eliot and Clarissa had finished and gone. But Marina still sat at the table, though her plate showed that she had eaten. She was frowning over a sheet of paper and looked up as Laura came in. “Good morning. I have just received this note; it is the strangest thing.” For a moment the blood in Laura’s veins seemed to freeze; then Marina continued. “The earl wants me to go out driving with him.”

Laura sank into a chair opposite her. “Does he? And do you wish to go?”

Marina looked at her uncertainly. “I do not, of course, wish to seem pushing or to be stepping in where I am not wanted.”

“Whatever do you mean?” responded Laura, ringing for a fresh pot of tea. “I am sure you could never be either of those things.”

The other girl hesitated, then said, “Clarissa happened to mention to me that the earl may have some intention of forming a connection with your family. I do not wish to seem…”

Laura laughed. “I believe our cousin had some such idea when he came to town, but Clarissa would never consent to it, and he must have changed his mind by this time.”

“I see,” replied Marina, smiling a little. “Well I believe I will go then.”

Her hostess looked at her curiously. “You do not find the earl dull?”

“A little… but not so much as you, perhaps. My father used to take an interest in things in much the same way.”

“Ah,” said Laura. She could not imagine herself enjoying the earl’s conversation though her guest evidently did.

“I think I will go upstairs and answer the note then. He says he will come round at one.”

Laura nodded. She was not hungry and did not stay at the table. When she had finished her tea, she went in search of Clarissa. After the incidents of yesterday, she felt she must talk to her sister about Anne Rundgate. But as she was going along the corridor to the drawing room, she came upon not Clarissa, but Eliot. He was dressed for riding and obviously on his way out.

Laura stopped, wide-eyed, and waited for him to pass. His face showed nothing; she could not tell whether he had been told of her folly.

“Good morning,” he said when he came up with her. “You look tired. I trust you slept well?”

Remembering the hours of waiting to hear him come in, Laura straightened. “No,” she said baldly.

He frowned. “You must take better care of yourself. I think the season is too much for you.”

Laura shrugged. He
must
know it was not the season that was making her pale and thin, she thought.

“Perhaps we should not go out to Almack’s tonight as we planned. I think you should remain at home and go to bed early.”

“Oh no, Marina has never been. We cannot disappoint her.”

“I am sure she will be happy to go another time when she realizes you are burnt to the socket.”

“No, no. I want to go,” insisted Laura. An evening at home simply meant more opportunity for Eliot to question her. He did not act as if he had learned anything from Vera Allenby, but who could tell? He was always so correct and controlled.

Eliot turned away. “Very well. I am going riding and then to lunch with March. I shall see you at dinner.”

Laura bowed her head, and he went out. After a moment she continued on to the drawing room, finding Clarissa there listlessly flipping over the pages of
Marmion
and looking out the window.

“How abominably dull it is,” said the younger girl when Laura came in. “I miss my driving lessons. I wonder when Mr. Redmon will be back. Did he say anything to you?”

Laura shook her head. “I believe he meant to remain a week.”

Clarissa nodded resignedly. “Perhaps I will go to visit Anne.”

“You see her nearly every day now.”

“We are friends,” replied Clarissa, a bit defensively.

“Indeed? The poor girl looked quite harried yesterday. What can be the matter, I wonder?” Laura watched her sister closely.

Clarissa’s chin came up. “She is miserable. She is afraid she will end up just like her sisters, married to plump rich dullards and wearing out her life gossiping and eating chocolates.”

Laura raised her eyebrows.

“Why should she be made so unhappy?” Clarissa moved restlessly about the room. “I cannot bear it. She belongs with Captain Wetmore.”

“Clarissa!”

The other girl’s eyes flashed. “She loves him. Why will no one believe that?”

“Perhaps because it is less that she loves him than that you have encouraged her to think so and have kept the thing alive with meetings and plotting. Anne strikes me as the sort of girl who does as she is told, and you have told her she loves Captain Wetmore, I imagine.”

Clarissa began a hot retort, then stopped. After a moment she said more calmly, “It is true that Anne is not a strong character and I suppose I am.” She smiled a little at her sister’s expression. “But this thing is not all my doing, as you seem to think. I did not introduce her to Captain Wetmore. She has known him for years, since they were children. It was only timidity that kept her from meeting with him before I arrived. And there is no doubt at all that he loves her. I had nothing to say there. I wish you would meet him, Laura. I know you would like him immensely and approve of my helping them.”

“Like him, I might, but I doubt that I would approve. If he is such an estimable young man, why does he not simply go to Mrs. Rundgate and ask for Anne’s hand.”

“Anne has begged him not to. She is convinced her parents will refuse. And he is so sensitive about his financial inferiority that he agrees, though it rankles, I promise you. He hates the secret meetings.”

Laura shrugged. “Not enough to end them, seemingly. And what of you? Do you think Mrs. Rundgate will stand in the way of her daughter’s happiness? She does not seem a cruel mother to me.”

Clarissa looked doubtful. “No, she does not. I admit that at first I urged them to go to her and reveal the whole, but Anne was terrified. She seems certain that her parents would send her into the country at even a hint of such a relationship. Perhaps it is her father?”

“Highly unlikely,” said Laura. “He is a meek little man, Clarissa, and Anne Rundgate is a ninny. How can you be guided by her?”

“Well it is her marriage and her family we are talking about,” responded Clarissa reasonably. “I did not wish to force her into a course that clearly frightened her.”

Laura sighed. “Well I think you should withdraw from the matter completely, whatever you have done up to now. It is wrong of you to interfere in this, as you well know.”

A stubborn look appeared about Clarissa’s mouth. “She cannot go on without me. She requires support.”

“Exactly.”

Clarissa stood. She started to speak, then with one eloquent look at her sister, swept out of the room. Laura was left to make what she could of this response, and she rightly concluded that Clarissa was by no means ready to leave Anne Rundgate to her own devices. Sighing, Laura realized that she would have to try to reason with her sister again.

The rest of the day passed calmly. Marina went out with the earl, and Clarissa went walking in the park with some of her acquaintances. Laura did some sewing and reading. Though tension hung in the air as she wondered who had paid her debts and whether Eliot had been told, she still managed to enjoy the quiet and rest.

***

The entire party set off for Almack’s at nine. Marina looked very well in her new blue gown, and she was understandably excited. Clarissa chatted with her about what she would see and who would be there.

Clarissa saw Mr. Redmon as soon as she entered, and her pleasure in the evening was assured. He came up to them at the same moment as the earl, and the two young ladies were engaged for the first set on the spot and carried off to join it. Clarissa’s expression was so joyous that Laura had to smile.

“Yes,” said Eliot, “I believe your sister comes close to getting her wish.”

Laura looked up at him questioningly.

“To marry a duke,” he added. “The thing itself is not possible, as she has very sensibly concluded for herself, but she is doing as well as can be expected.”

“She really cares for him,” replied Laura. “And she does not know that he is the son of a duke.”

“I know it. That makes her luck all the more amazing. Had she set out to do the thing, I would have given her a strong chance. But to do it without even trying, that is what shows that she is favored of the gods.” He smiled. “Pray, don’t misunderstand me. I mean no criticism. I am pleased to see her get her wish long after she had probably forgotten all about it. Such seems to be the way for Clarissa.”

Laura returned his smile. “Yes. She has always gotten what she wants almost without effort.”

“And what of you?” asked Eliot more seriously. “Have you gotten what you want?”

Looking into his clear gray eyes, Laura felt herself color. She looked down. Why must he look at her just so? “I don’t know what you mean,” she said in reply.

He continued to look at her, a crease between his brows. “You were eager to come to London, to have a season. Are you happy now?”

“Yes of course.”

“You have made friends who can help you?”

This seemed such an odd question that Laura looked up again. She encountered a set gaze and mouth, and her eyes widened a little. Could Eliot have heard, after all?

Seeing her surprise, he shook his head. “I am not a fool, Laura. I know you have been in trouble. If you cannot or will not come to me, I only hope there is someone to whom you can go.”

Laura put a hand to her lips and gave a little gasp.

“Just so,” said Eliot coldly, and he turned away from her.

She held out a hand helplessly, utterly overset by this unexpected barb. He had sounded almost hurt. She started to follow him across the floor, but at that moment she was asked to dance, and she realized that this was no place for a serious talk.

One set followed another, and before Laura knew it, it was the interval. She looked around for someone she knew, seeing Mr. Redmon in a curtained alcove on the side of the room. He beckoned when he caught her eye, and she walked over to him, trying not to laugh. “Good evening,” she said when she reached the recess. “Whatever are you doing here?”

Mr. Redmon looked harried. “Miss Lindley is surrounded by people who know me.”

“I thought you had made up your mind to tell her the truth?”

“Yes, yes. In fact I mean to call tomorrow to do so.” He looked down awkwardly, his ruddy face coloring further. “I should also like your permission to pay my addresses, ma’am. I have told my parents all about her, and they are very pleased.”

“I hardly think my permission is required. You will have to speak to my aunts. But you may do that later, I think.”

“Thank you. And, perhaps all of you will come up to Millshire for a visit later. That is, if she says yes. I don’t know whether Mr. Crenshaw will want to… That is…” he stumbled to a halt. “Well I daresay you know what I mean.”

Laura smiled. “I think so. And all will be settled tomorrow.”

Mr. Redmon heaved a relieved sigh. “Yes. I will take my leave of you now and come tomorrow afternoon. Someone is bound to expose me here.”

“Very well.”

“Good night.”

As Laura turned away, she saw Marina coming toward her. “May I speak with you?” she said.

“Of course.”

They sat down, and Marina twisted her fan between her hands. “Something has happened, and I must speak to you.”

“What is it?”

Marina looked down for another moment, then blurted, “The earl has offered for me.”

“Has he indeed?” answered the older girl. “Well that is very flattering.” She was not sure how to reply. Marina looked concerned, and her first impulse, to laugh, seemed wrong.

“Yes,” said Marina. She swallowed. “I told him that I would give him an answer tomorrow. I wished to speak with you first. Is it all right?”

“All right?” echoed Laura rather blankly.

“To marry him.”

Laura stared at her. “Do you wish to marry him, Marina?”

Marina looked down. “Yes,” she answered.

Laura frowned. “Well if you are certain of that, I do not see what I have to do with the matter.”

The other girl met her eyes. “You do not mind?”

“Why should I?”

“He is your cousin, and I…” She made a helpless gesture.

“And you are my friend,” finished Laura firmly. “I wish you very happy.”

Marina smiled shakily. “Thank you.”

They stood for a moment, looking at each other. Then, as couples were beginning to drift back into the ballroom, Marina bowed her head slightly and turned toward the doorway that led upstairs to the ladies withdrawing room.

The rest of the evening passed slowly for Laura. Eliot strolled in from the cardroom for a few minutes, but seeing all the ladies of his party dancing, he returned without speaking to them.

Clarissa pouted a little when she discovered that Mr. Redmon had gone, but she was too much in demand to languish long. Before the last set she came up to speak to Laura. “Is it not a fine ball?” she said, her eyes sparkling. “I’m sorry I was so silly today. Forgive me?”

Laura smiled. “Of course. Particularly if you tell me that you have given up interfering.”

Clarissa made an airy gesture. “Oh there is nothing to worry about, I promise you. That will all be over now.” She smiled.

Laura looked at her suspiciously. “That’s splendid. When did this change come about?”

“You’ll see. All will be well,” laughed Clarissa, and she returned to her friends.

Laura went over and sat down by the wall, puzzling over these remarks. She did not trust her sister to be prudent, and she wondered what new devilry she planned now. She was so engrossed in her thoughts that she did not notice when the set began. Only when someone came and stood directly before her did she look up, and then she started. It was Vera Allenby.

The redhead looked magnificent in pale green satin and emeralds. Her eyes glittered dangerously as she surveyed Laura, making her feel very young and dowdy. “How did you do it?” asked Vera, her lips curling.