My Wayward Lady (5 page)
securing her future in society while your girls are subject to the whims and tastes of their, er..."
"Patrons." The Temple of Venus's proprietress finished for her. "That is so, but at least my girls have some control over what they earn which is more than can be said for a wife. Besides, I do try my best to make sure that they advance in their profession if they cannot find employment elsewhere that will outlast their, ah, more transitory charms."
"And what constitutes advancement in the profession?" Harriet wondered aloud.
Elinor Lovington shot a quick, suspicious glance at her visitor, but saw no hint of condemnation in the dark blue eyes, only curiosity. "A generous patron who sets one up in a house of one's own and takes care of all the annoying expenses of life," she replied. "I see you are skeptical. Believe me it is quite possible. It was just that sort of arrangement that allowed me to do what I am doing today—running a business instead of selling myself and, I hope, helping others along the way."
"But that is still—" Harriet began.
"One can make it a life of one's own," Mrs. Lovington responded fiercely. "My girls have been taught to make sure that they use their compensations—whether they be jewels or carriages, or finery—to make themselves financially independent. Some of them remain mistresses to this day. Some of them have used their money to purchase their own shops. Some of them do as I do and put their earnings in the consols, but we all of us are working to make sure that we 42
My Wayward Lady
by Evelyn Richardson
can take care of ourselves and never fall victim to the prejudices of society again."
Struck by the passion in the woman's voice, Harriet studied her as she spoke. In spite of herself and the unpleasant suspicions she had first harbored toward the mistress of the Temple of Venus, she liked what she saw. There was character in the straight, dark brows and finely chiseled features, pride in the way she carried herself and in the air of confidence that surrounded her. She was a person who had lived through a great deal. One could sense that in the depths of understanding in the deep brown eyes and the alert, observant expression. Yet she had survived it all, whatever it had been, and had even prospered if the fine quality of her clothes and the furnishings in the house were any indication.
Harriet could not help feeling drawn to the woman. Here was someone who had led a life so different from her own, but who appeared to share with Harriet the same desire to be mistress of her own fate. Suddenly, even before she knew what she was about, Harriet found herself saying, "I would like to help you if I could."
"What?" Elinor Lovington snorted. "How could
you
possibly help me?"
Harriet colored. Accustomed to being more intelligent, more forceful, and more daring than those around her, she was not used to being dismissed so scornfully, but she took it in stride. If nothing else, she possessed a sense of humor, not to mention a lively appreciation of the ridiculous and she did see how absurd it must appear for a member of the
ton,
43
My Wayward Lady
by Evelyn Richardson
albeit a reluctant one, to be offering assistance to a person whose existence most of Harriet's acquaintances would not even be aware of, much less acknowledge. But Mrs. Lovington's outright incredulity challenged her to prove herself and Harriet had never been one to resist a challenge. She was determined to show this amazingly capable woman that she too was a person who took charge of her own life, thinking and acting deliberately and independently instead of slavishly accepting the role society had decreed for her. "I could teach." Harriet spoke with a quiet resolve that caught the older woman up short.
Mrs. Lovington stared. The chit was actually serious! There was something about the look of steely determination in those dark blue eyes and the set of her chin that made the proprietress believe her. "And what would you teach that could possibly help my girls?" The words were skeptical, but the tone of voice was softer now.
Harriet squared her shoulders. "For one thing, I am a gentlewoman and though I am disinclined to do so, circumstances beyond my control require me to mingle with the
ton.
This allows me to help you in two ways: firstly, I can teach your girls to act like ladies which is always valuable when one is wishing to become a maid or even a ... a
companion
to a fashionable gentleman; and secondly, I can possibly provide references for those of your girls who wish to go into service. Beyond that I could help your girls to learn to read and do their sums—skills they will always find useful no matter what they do."
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My Wayward Lady
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There, that should wipe the doubting expression off the proprietress's face and make her see that Lady Harriet Fareham was not just another milk-and-water miss with no thought in her head but the next gown she was to wear. Why she wished to prove herself to this woman Harriet no idea, but she did.
And apparently she had, for a slow smile swept across Mrs. Lovington's rather severe features, allowing Harriet a glimpse of charm beneath the competent exterior. "Perhaps you can be of some assistance," she acknowledged carefully. Her brows drew together in a thoughtful frown. "But why would you wish to?"
Why did she? Harriet considered carefully before replying. Her response to Mrs. Lovington had been almost instinctive and thus very difficult to articulate. She
felt
that she wanted to help more than she actually understood why she wanted to, and it was a moment before she could marshal these impulses into thoughts or words. "I am not precisely sure," she admitted honestly, "but I think it is because I find being a female rather confining myself and I, at least, am possessed of an independent income left to me by my mother. Moreover my father is too interested in his studies to interfere in my life. This gives me a degree of freedom not available to other young women, but even I am not as free as my brother and father are, for example. But I know of no other female who is allowed to live as I do and enjoy the independence I do. Most of them are forced to find a man to take care of them and look after them. In return for this they must subject their wills to their husbands'. So many women are at the mercy of men 45
My Wayward Lady
by Evelyn Richardson
who are anything but kind to them. You appear to offer protection to some women who have suffered the most. Even more importantly, you appear to be trying to insure that such a thing does not happen again. I believe that women should be mistresses of their own lives." Harriet grimaced ruefully.
"And until now I have not met another woman who agreed with me on that except my Aunt Almeria who avoids the question altogether by burying her head in her books and ignoring the world as much as possible." Mrs. Lovington listened intently, scanning the vivid face in front of her. Her visitor's voice rang with the strength of her convictions. It was clear to see that she had given these matters a good deal of thought. It was also clear that this was a passionate nature longing to express itself in worthwhile endeavors. She smiled. "Very well then. I suggest we put your thoughts into action. If you will agree to instruct my girls in their letters and show them how to go on, I shall be most grateful to you. I promise you, you will feel most rewarded by all that you can do for them. Assuredly I have felt so for these past several years. Now I think it high time you return home before your family becomes too concerned with your whereabouts. Though I feel certain they are accustomed to your independent ways I would not want them to worry unduly. If you can arrange to visit us perhaps once a week in the morning, we would be most grateful." With that Mrs. Lovington rang the bell for the footman, who appeared with more alacrity than he had when they first knocked on the door. If he was curious as to the identity of 46
My Wayward Lady
by Evelyn Richardson
this unusual caller, however, he gave no sign, having been well trained in discretion by the mistress of the establishment.
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My Wayward Lady
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And so it was that Harriet became a regular visitor to one of the most select bawdy houses in all of London. If Harriet's family had not been so preoccupied with other things they might have wondered at a sudden interest in the modistes of Bond Street being demonstrated by a person who hitherto had only one requirement for her wardrobe—that it be comfortable.
However, Lord Fareham was far too busy rendering translations from the medieval texts he had managed to acquire for his burgeoning library, and Elizabeth's thoughts were all of balls and routs and proving herself worthy to be called Countess of Sandford as she dragged the reluctant Aunt Almeria all over London in pursuit of this goal. Charlie, though he called in Berkeley Square whenever he could, lived in the barracks with the rest of his regiment and was occupied with regimental duties and therefore was not around enough to notice that something havey-cavey was going on with his younger sister. And Rose, though she did not approve of her mistress's visits to a house of ill repute, was too loyal to Harriet to betray her secret, besides which she was loathe to do anything to upset Lady Harriet's newfound interest.
Anyone who cared to could see that Harriet's visits to Mrs. Lovington's brought her a great deal of satisfaction. She had lost the restless air that reminded Rose of a caged lion she had once seen at a traveling show. Now she spent a great 48
My Wayward Lady
by Evelyn Richardson
many hours poring happily over volumes of educational theory from the Edgeworths'
Practical Education to
Keyne's
On Classical Instruction
to the latest edition of Thomas Smith's book on teaching, which she rejected as being too mechanical.
These volumes were all very stimulating, but nothing seemed to apply to her particular case so Harriet was compelled to come up with her own ideas. At last she decided upon employing a combination of advertisements from
The
Times
and articles from
La Belle Assemblée
and
Ackermann's
as supplemental texts to Thomas Smith's reader that would capture the interests of her pupils.
Having heard from Bessie a thorough catalog of Harriet's many talents, chief of which was a burning desire to eradicate any injustice, real or perceived, her pupils greeted her gratefully, if skeptically, the first morning she appeared clutching a stack of newspapers and fashion plates. Harriet's true identity had been kept secret and she was simply introduced as Miss Harriet, a gentlewoman who had taken a serious interest in the ladies at the Temple of Venus. These ladies, attired in the most modest gowns they could find, greeted her in a sitting room at the front of the house, which had been arranged to approximate a schoolroom, with rows of chairs facing a small table at the front. To be sure the voluptuous paintings of nymphs gaily cavorting in forest glades and scantily clad marble statues placed in a corner here and there afforded an atmosphere that was in distinct contrast to the soberness of the gathering, but no one appeared to think it at all strange.
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My Wayward Lady
by Evelyn Richardson
Noticing the blatant skepticism in the faces assembled before her, Harriet discovered herself to be rather nervous. It had seemed such a good idea at the time, but now, confronted with these young women who had been betrayed by so many people thus far, she began to doubt herself. However, an encouraging nod and a bright smile from Bessie, seated at the back of the room, made her square her shoulders and plunge in.
As Harriet explained what she planned to do and showed them the newspapers and the fashion plates she intended to help them read, she felt a stirring of interest and hope among her prospective pupils. "Oooh, miss, you mean I could even tell what them words means?" a saucy-looking raven-haired girl gasped, her dark eyes sparkling with sudden enthusiasm.
"Yes," Harriet responded with more assurance than she actually felt. "I am also going to teach you to speak like ladies so that gentlemen of the first stare will not be ashamed to be seen in public with you, and I shall start by saying
those
words
instead of
them words."
Realizing how pompous she must appear, Harriet frowned. "Oh dear. I do sound altogether too much like a schoolmaster already. I apologize. What is your name?"
"It's Fanny, miss," the girl responded, suddenly shy now that the lady was actually paying attention to her.
"Well, Fanny, it may seem rather unreasonable for me to tell you to say
those
instead of
them
when it is quite obvious that I can understand perfectly well what you mean, but I assure you that it makes a difference to the rest of the world and people will treat you ever so much better if you learn to 50
My Wayward Lady
by Evelyn Richardson
speak properly. I shall do my best to help all of you understand how to do that, though I expect my task will be an easy one because Mrs. Lovington assures me that you are all very bright young ladies, which I can see for myself. Before we begin I would like to know a bit about each of you. Let us start with Fanny here and proceed around the room giving your names and telling me what you would like to do if you could do anything in the world."
"Anything, miss?" Fanny's eyes were wide with astonishment.
"Anything." Harriet responded firmly. Fanny thought hard for a moment. "I would like to have my own shop in a nice little village somewhere, a village just like Bri ... "—she stumbled over the name that was too painful to reveal, then caught her breath and continued—"but never mind, a nice little village where I could sell all sorts of things and people would come in and chat with me." The wistful note in her voice made Harriet's heart ache for the girl. She was so lovely and looked so worldly, yet she longed for the simplest of things. In that moment, Harriet caught a glimpse of just how isolated and how lonely these girls' lives truly were and she became even more determined to help them.