Lucy Muir (9 page)

If she had been able to read Lady Conliffe’s mind Anne would have been less happy. Lady Conliffe was very angry indeed, and when Lord Woolbridge took Melissa into supper instead of her, she determined to do something to destroy Miss Amberly and Miss Southwell’s chances in Society. An opportunity was not long in presenting itself. While Lady Conliffe and Miss Spencer waited for their supper partners to bring their plates, the conversation turned to Mrs. Halcott’s charges.

“Miss Amberly is so beautiful. I shall be glad when she accepts an offer and releases her court to the rest of us,” sighed Miss Spencer, the rather plain daughter of a baron. She looked wistfully at the table where Melissa sat with Lord Woolbridge.

“Yes, it does appear that she has succeeded in her aims,” Lady Conliffe replied.

“What do you mean, Lady Conliffe?”

“Oh, didn’t you know?” Lady Conliffe lowered her voice confidentially. “Miss Amberly’s father was quite all-to-pieces when he died, and her only hope to escape the poorhouse is to make a good match.”

“Truly? They do not appear to be poor. They have beautiful clothes, and I believe they reside in Mayfair.”

“Yes, it is very brave of them to use all they have in a last attempt to recoup by making a good match,” Lady Conliffe said, nodding her head in apparent sympathy.

Miss Spencer looked at Miss Amberly in disbelief and Lady Conliffe sat back, satisfied. She had achieved her goal without appearing spiteful. Let the rumours do their work.

* * * *

Lord Stanton had hoped to escape his sister’s ball before being cornered by her, but reckoned without her foresight. As he waited to have his carriage brought round, he was joined in the hall by Lady Brookfield.

“Oh, no, you don’t, Harry. I thought you would try to escape early, and instructed the servants to notify me when you called for your carriage.”

Lord Stanton gave in gracefully.

“My dear sister, I didn’t know you were so fond of my company.”

“You know quite well what I wish to discuss with you. Your carriage is not being brought round. Kindly wait for me in the library until my guests have departed,” she commanded, leaving the hall in a swish of silk.

Lord Stanton went up the stairs to his brother-in-law’s well-stocked library and, settling in a comfortable wing chair with a book, waited for his sister to join him.

It was quite two hours later before his sister, looking very tired, came in and sank gratefully onto a sofa.

“Thank goodness that’s over. I am getting too old to hold such entertainments.”

“You know you enjoy it, Caroline. Get on with your questions so I can return to my rooms and sleep,” Lord Stanton directed, laying his book down on the Pembroke table beside him.

“To Lady Parnell’s rooms, more likely, since Lord Parnell is not in Town. Now, be honest, Harry. What do you have to do with Miss Amberly and Miss Southwell? They are both beauties, I grant you, but not in your style. Miss Amberly is much too young, and Miss Southwell does not have the town bronze you prefer.”

“Do you know my preferences that well? Yet I confess you are correct,” he agreed untruthfully. “This time my interest is quite innocent, even praiseworthy. I simply wished to help Miss Amberly and Miss Southwell become established in Society. I was acquainted with Miss Southwell’s brother before he was killed in Egypt.”

“What do you take me for, a complete flat?” asked Caroline, removing her slippers and tucking her feet under her skirts. “You’ve never associated with military men, and I’ve yet to know you to do something out of the kindness of your heart. For women, that is,” she amended.

“Believe what you wish, Caro. The fact remains that I do have an interest in seeing how they get along this Season, and I do not wish to attract undesirable attention to them by interfering myself.”

Lady Brookfield observed her brother meditatively. He was exhibiting one of the least appealing aspects of his personality. She knew he was not being honest with her, and was convinced he was up to no good as far as Miss Southwell and Miss Amberly were concerned. It
was
most unlike him to have anything to do with respectable unmarried women. Well, she would watch out for Miss Amberly and Miss Southwell herself.

Lord Stanton scowled blackly at his sister, angry at her for activating his conscience. Seeing Anne tonight had increased his desire to possess her, but his sister’s words reminded him that what he planned was in fact quite reprehensible.

Lady Brookfield noted his scowl and, knowing that she would get nothing more out of him that night, changed the subject.

Lord Stanton made his escape as quickly as he could, directing his carriage to Lady Parnell’s. Halfway there, the thought that his sister suspected where he was going made the intended end to his evening unpalatable, and he shouted at his driver to take him home instead. He went into his rooms in a foul temper, and without waiting for his valet, he tore off his clothes, throwing them about the room as he prepared to go to bed alone. When Lewis came in a short time later, he viewed the torn and scattered clothes with dismay, but picked them up quietly. He knew better than to make any comments when his master was in a temper.

* * * *

At her house on Half Moon Street that night, Anne lay awake in a mood of exultation. The minor problems she had had were overcome. Thanks to the sponsorship of Colonel and Mrs. Halcott, the doors of Society had opened to them, and now with their appearance at one of Lady Brookfield’s entertainments their place in Society was assured.

Anne’s brow creased in puzzlement momentarily as she realised again that they must owe Lady Brookfield’s invitation to Lord Stanton. She stared thoughtfully at the night shadows the raised plasterwork design cast on the ceiling as she tried to understand Lord Stanton’s motive in having them invited to his sister’s. Why was he aiding her to establish her ward in Society? Was it really his sense of fair play? Or did he perhaps regret the wager, and this was his way of helping her win so she would not have to pay? If that was the case, she would have to return the money later, to satisfy
her
sense of fair play. But that, she thought with satisfaction, would be simple, the way things were moving.

Her thoughts turned to her ward. Melissa’s debut in Society had been quite as successful as she could have hoped. Melissa’s sweet nature and charming conduct were such that even the sourest of the ton ladies had found nothing to dislike in her manners. The gentlemen appeared to be captivated by Melissa, and several of the nobility had already shown an interest in her, the foremost amongst whom was Lord Woolbridge. Yes, whether Lord Stanton held her to it or not, the wager was hers.

The excitement of her success kept Anne awake a long time, but she finally fell asleep, where visions of her triumph invaded even her sleeping thoughts. She dreamed of Melissa, radiant in a wedding gown of cerulean blue, going down the aisle of a cathedral in view of all the ton to stand by the side of Viscount Woolbridge.

* * * *

The following morning, Lady Amelia called to talk with Melissa about the previous evening’s ball.

“I wish Mama had planned to have my come-out earlier so I could be attending more entertainments,” she said wistfully.

“Could you go to Vauxhall?” asked Melissa. “I have been wishing to go there this age, but haven’t been able to persuade Anne to get up a party.”

“Oh, yes,” Lady Amelia said excitedly, “do let us go. There would be nothing to object to my going there before my ball.”

Anne hesitated, knowing that the Gardens were a place where the lower classes mixed freely with the gentry, and that there were things that went on that young girls should not see. She had an unexpected ally in Lord Millbank, who had accompanied his sister on her call.

“You may certainly not go to Vauxhall, ‘Melia. I won’t escort you. Too fatiguing, don’t you know,” he said in his most bored voice, flicking his new enamel-glass snuffbox open languidly and taking a pinch.

Anne smiled, thinking that although Lord Millbank tried very hard to cultivate his attitudes, she felt sure that underneath the outrageous clothes and mannerisms was a very nice young man.

“Oh, George,” protested his sister, “do let us go. May we go if we find someone else to escort us? I am so bored with not being allowed to go anywhere until I have my ball.”

“Yes, please, Anne,” Melissa added her importunings. “I am certain Lieutenant Halcott and Captain Leslie would escort us. We would be safe with them.”

“Suppose that would be well enough,” Lord Mill-bank agreed.

Anne weakened. She wished to see the Gardens herself.

“You may go if Mrs. Halcott agrees it is an acceptable outing,” she agreed conditionally.

“Oh, thank you,” Melissa exclaimed, and the two girls excitedly began to make plans. Lord Millbank turned his conversation with Anne back to the more interesting subject of his tailor, and the time passed pleasantly until their half-hour was up.

* * * *

When their party arrived at Vauxhall three evenings later, Anne was glad that Melissa had prevailed on her to agree to the outing. In addition to the Halcotts, Captain Leslie, and Lady Amelia, Mr. and Miss Spencer had agreed to go, and it was a very convivial party that set out. Vauxhall was a beautiful place. Luxuriant shrubs and trees lined the walks, and beautiful flowers bloomed in profusion. They could hear music coming from the orchestra pavilion, and were fascinated by the variety of people they passed on the walks. Captain Leslie conducted them to the box where they were to eat their supper, and Anne was pleased to see that it abutted on the promenade so they could watch the people passing by. They dined on the specialties of Vauxhall, powdered beef and delicate custard laced with wine.

After supper the temptation to investigate the walks was irresistible. Major Halcott preferred to stay in their box enjoying his Arrack punch, but Mrs. Halcott gave her permission for the younger members of the party to explore, as long as they did not go into the Dark Walks. The young people started on their explorations together, but soon Anne and Captain Leslie became separated from the other couples. Anne wished to see the famous statue of Handel by Roubiliac, while the younger people were more interested in visiting the dancing pavilion. Anne and her partner walked slowly down the tree-lined avenue leading to the statue, admiring the waterfalls and fountains. As they started on their way back to the box, Captain Leslie teased Anne.

“Would you dare brave Mrs. Halcott’s wrath to go into the Dark Walks with me?”

“Why not? I think I should be quite safe with you,” said Anne, smiling at Captain Leslie and looking meaningfully at the sword by his side.

“I do not think it was only the dangers from inebriated young bucks and commoners Mrs. Halcott was worried about,” responded Captain Leslie, taking Anne’s arm.

As they strolled into the famous Dark Walks, Anne was very grateful for the captain’s presence, for the walks
were
dark, and they passed several unsavoury-looking characters who leered menacingly at Anne, although none dared more with her officer escort by her side. As the two advanced deeper into the walks they also passed several couples who looked as though they would rather not have been disturbed. At last they came to a quiet spot by a grotto, where Captain Leslie stopped and took Anne’s hands in his.

“Anne,” he said softly, bending to place a soft kiss upon her lips.

Captain Leslie’s kiss was warm and pleasurable, but Anne did not feel the sensations she had felt when Lord Stanton kissed her at Longworth. Had that kiss been an exception, she wondered, brought about by her fatigue and the port? Would she feel the same for a kiss from Captain Leslie under similar circumstances? But Captain Leslie did not seem to find anything lacking in Anne’s response, and he held her hand tightly as they started back out of the Dark Walks.

When the two arrived back at their box, it was to find the others already returned, and Mrs. Halcott looked at the tardy couple closely. Anne couldn’t help feeling a little self-conscious, knowing her sponsor suspected where they had been. Mrs. Halcott said nothing, however, and Anne decided that her chaperone trusted her to behave circumspectly.

Captain Leslie and Anne joined the others in having more refreshments while they waited for the fireworks display. Later when the behaviour of the people in the gardens began to deteriorate noticeably, Mrs. Halcott declared their party had stayed long enough, and they returned home, very satisfied with their outing.

* * * *

Vauxhall proved to be the last outing Anne was able to enjoy whole-heartedly, for she soon began to notice that their invitations were falling off. Melissa, still inundated with requests to go riding and walking with young gentlemen, and happy in her friendship with Lady Amelia, did not appear to notice, but Anne did, and began to worry. She found it had not been her imagination when Mrs. Halcott made an early morning call some few days after their excursion to Vauxhall. Anne rang for tea to be brought and poured a cup for her guest.

“I am glad to find you by yourself,” Mrs. Halcott said when Anne told her that Melissa was out driving with Lord Woolbridge. “There is something I wish to discuss. There are some distressing rumours going around.” She paused to take a sip of tea.

“Nothing too bad,” she hastened to reassure Anne at her expression of alarm, “but we must do something to counteract them. It is being put about that you and Melissa are penniless, and are attempting to foist yourself off on the ton in an endeavour to make good matches.”

Anne was hard put not to laugh. “But Mrs. Halcott,” she protested, “many of the members of the ton have little money and attempt to recoup by making good matches. I do not see how such talk can affect one of Melissa’s beauty and good nature. Although,” she added slowly, “I have noticed that our invitations have been fewer since the ball at Lady Brookfield’s.”

Mrs. Halcott nodded. “You see. If you and Melissa were better known in Society, or if you had higher ranks, such talk would not affect you at all. But the two of you have suddenly appeared upon the scene, and stolen much attention from other girls making their come-outs. There are many who were looking for a reason to exclude you, and even such a minor rumour is enough. It doesn’t help that Melissa’s father
was
pretty much all-to-pieces when he died. Not that it is Melissa’s fault that her father made some unwise investments, but there you are.”