The Accidental Marriage (22 page)

* * * *

Julia spent the following morning shopping with Elizabeth. They visited warehouses for fabrics, and Julia tried not to be swept away with the choice. In Bond Street they found slippers and shawls and fans and reticules which would match the gowns. The carriage was full of parcels by the time they returned to Upper Brook Street.

‘Now you must rest this afternoon,’ Elizabeth said. ‘You are going to the Hawkins’s reception tonight. It’s your first public appearance with Sir Carey, and you must look your best.’

Julia nodded. She was apprehensive. ‘They’ll all want to see what sort of woman he married.’

‘Of course. Now what are you going to wear? The pale green gown you bought when you were first in London would be ideal, and the new dark green slippers.’

Julia agreed to all Elizabeth’s suggestions, even permitting her to send round her own maid to do Julia’s hair.

‘Molly is a reliable maid, but she does not have the skills you need yet, if you are to look as beautiful as you can be.’

‘Me? Beautiful?’ Julia asked. ‘I’m just passable.’

She was not nearly as pretty as Angelica, she thought with a pang. She could not compete with the girl on looks or vivacity. The notion of competition had not previously occurred to her, but as she rested on her bed that afternoon, in obedience to Elizabeth’s orders, she began to wonder if it would be possible. What assets did she have that she might employ to tempt her husband away from his former love? She began ticking them off on her fingers. Perhaps most importantly she had the great advantage of living in the same house. She was older, and, she hoped, wiser. She could keep house, and already Sir Carey was admiring her changes. He was gentleman enough to support her in public, she was sure. The only times Angelica could be sure of meeting him would be at public assemblies, and in other houses, but Julia hoped these occasions would be few. He had said their two families looked in opposite directions for local amusements, and since he had not met her as an adult before she came to London, it was unlikely they would have mutual friends in the neighbourhood who would invite them to the same local parties. She might ride over to Courtlands when they were there, but Sir Carey was often out during the day, on estate business. Would Angelica try to waylay him? Probably, she seemed a shameless girl. Surely he would see through such wiles and if he was the sort of honourable man she thought, he would come to dislike such blatant attention.

By the time it was necessary to dress for the evening Julia was feeling confident she could manage affairs so that Sir Carey began to appreciate the advantages of being married to her, rather than to a lovely but shallow and much younger girl. When Sir Carey complimented her on her looks and insisted she wear a diamond necklace which had belonged to his mother, she was looking forward to the evening, ready to face Society at his side.

Her confidence waned slightly when they entered the large room where the reception was taking place. It seemed to be crowded with fashionable people, and though she looked round eagerly she could see none of the acquaintances she had known in Vienna.

They all stared so! She’d been ignored most of the time at the Viennese balls, just a poor relation of Lady Cunningham, who herself was of little importance compared with all the European royalty and nobility attending. Later, of course, there had been the calumnies of Mrs Webber, which had caused some people to look askance at her, but she had done her best to ignore them. Perhaps it was the story of their marriage, curiosity about it, which so intrigued people. Julia threw her head up high and smiled brilliantly. Then the smile froze on her lips. Stepping from behind a group of older women was Angelica, and she was walking towards them, her hands held out, and a charming smile on her face.

‘So you are back.’

Fanny turned her head away as Frederick bent to kiss her, and the kiss landed on her cheek. She was determined not to make this easy for him. She did not know herself, even, what she wanted. Elizabeth had advised her to be cool and judge by Frederick’s words and actions whether he had truly repented, whether she felt she could ever bear to live with him again. Fanny was determined to follow that advice, for she knew that if she did not, and gave way at once, she would always be treated as negligible.

‘You don’t seem very pleased to see me,’ he said petulantly.

‘Why should I be? You deserted us in Vienna and went off with that trollop, heaven knows where, and never bothered to inform me where you were or even whether you would be returning home.’

‘The posts are difficult. And why are you here, imposing on Mr and Mrs Pryce, instead of being at Greystones, looking after things there?’

‘You have a perfectly capable steward, and I am here in an attempt to carry this child to term, for you!’ Fanny snapped, patting her stomach. Her condition had been hidden until now by the loose, flowing robe she had carefully draped across her lap. ‘Do you want an heir? Or are you proposing to return to Russia and spend the rest of your life there?’

Frederick looked startled. ‘You’re breeding?’ he asked. ‘In that case, you must come home. It is mine, I suppose?’

Fanny stared at him ín disgust. Never before, despite his own infidelities, had he questioned her behaviour. ‘Please go! If you cannot be civil to me, I want no more to do with you!’

He looked momentarily abashed. ‘Well,’ he said, ‘I could hardly blame you, could I? A good many children are fathered by other men than the husbands. It’s the norm in the
ton
from all we hear. Look at Lady Melbourne. A different father for every child, from what they say.’

‘I don’t wish to look at anyone but myself! Are you going back to Russia?’

He shuddered. ‘It’s a barbarous country, even in the area close to the west. Lord knows what it’s like further eastwards.’

Fanny frowned. ‘So that’s why you came home? Because you were uncomfortable? That’s not very flattering. I’m prepared to accept you no longer want me, but surely your daughters mean something to you? And if this child is a boy, you’ll have your heir at last.’

‘When have I said I no longer want you?’ he replied, attempting to take her hand. Fanny resolutely moved it away.

‘Your actions say it.’

Frederick rubbed a hand over his eyes. ‘Fanny, I’m exhausted with travelling. I don’t want arguments. I want you and the girls to come home.’

‘That is impossible. I’m forbidden to move about or do much, for fear of losing the baby. And I don’t want to come home with you. I want a formal separation.’

* * * *

Julia took a deep breath and smiled brilliantly. ‘Why, Angelica, how lovely to see you again so soon,’ she said, in a clear, carrying voice. ‘You didn’t say you were coming to London the other day at Courtlands.’

‘I didn’t know,’ Angelica said. ‘Papa only told me when I got home from seeing you.’

‘The day after you stayed with us?’

She heard Sir Carey, standing slightly behind her, utter a slight choking sound, and smiled.

‘Where are your parents?’ Sir Carey broke in. ‘We must pay our respects to them, and I want to introduce Julia to all my friends.’

Angelica, her smile rather fixed, told them her parents were in one of the other salons, and with a smile and a nod Sir Carey took Julia’s arm and steered her in that direction, leaving Angelica looking after them.

‘Best get it over with,’ he murmured in Julia’s ear. ‘I wonder if they were hoping Angelica and I could take up from where we left off?’

Was he regretting they could not? His manners were so impeccable Julia could not tell. Perhaps meeting Angelica’s parents would give her some clue.

Julia saw at once where Angelica’s beauty came from. Mrs Philpot was in her mid thirties, but looked younger. She was also blonde and blue eyed, slender enough for the fashionably slim skirt to cling provocatively to her excellent figure. The neckline was daringly low, and her breasts had been pushed up, Julia was convinced, by her stays, though these were so cleverly designed no evidence of them was visible through the silk of her gown.

Mr Philpot, beside her, was in his late fifties, corpulent and red-faced. He glared at Sir Carey and merely nodded to Julia when she was introduced. Mrs Philpot began to smile, and then shook her head.

‘Dear Sir Carey, who would ever have thought that a confirmed bachelor such as yourself would feel Cupid’s dart twice in such a short time? Angelica was devastated when she heard of your marriage.’

‘Perhaps Angelica should have had more faith in me,’ he replied evenly.

‘Oh, but she is so young! And she felt deserted. You must admit it was hard on a girl only just out of the schoolroom to find what she imagined was true devotion, and then discover that the pleasures of Vienna meant more to you than she did.’

‘She found consolation, I heard.’

‘That was just a passing phase, caused by her loneliness.’ She turned to Julia, who had been standing by, ignored while this barbed exchange took place, and looked her up and down. ‘When I heard Sir Carey had married so suddenly, I expected him to have chosen a girl who looked like my own dear child.’

‘I think he wanted a change, not to be constantly reminded of his disappointment in her,’ Julia said sweetly. ‘Do tell me, who was it that turned her affections away from Sir Carey? He must have had some very enticing attractions.’

‘Oh, that’s all over now. A momentary attraction when she was vulnerable. But she will make an excellent marriage, you may be sure. Already there are some exceedingly eligible men looking interested, and we have been in London but a couple of days.’

‘I wish her good fortune,’ Julia said, ‘like mine.’

* * * *

Fanny cried herself to sleep that night, after Frederick’s visit. Had she driven him away? Did she want that? When Elizabeth had advised her to be cool and distant, she had thought it good advice. Now she was not so sure. Frederick was a proud man. He’d looked astounded when she’d asked for a separation. Instead of blustering, trying to persuade her to change her mind, he’d stared at her, then without a further word turned and left the room.

She’d been tempted to run after him and tell him she didn’t mean it, but before she could reach the door it opened again and Elizabeth came in.

‘He looked shattered, my dear. Did you ask for a separation?’

‘Yes, but it’s probably what he wants! Oh, Elizabeth, I shouldn’t have done that!’

‘Nonsense, of course you should. The man deserves a shock to bring him to his senses. Wait and see what he does now.’

‘He’ll probably divorce me.’

She was still in bed after breakfast the next day when Elizabeth brought her a huge bouquet of flowers.

‘From your husband. You see, he’s taken heed. He sent me a note asking if he could call this afternoon. He’s prepared to be conciliatory. So we must get rid of those red eyes and you must remain firm. Don’t fall on his neck and beg pardon.’

Fanny almost smiled. It was probably what she would have done had Elizabeth not been here to stiffen her resolve. She nodded submissively. Elizabeth, though perfectly happily married to her Edward, seemed to know all about the feminine tricks Fanny had never acquired. She would abide by her advice.

‘Do I insist on a separation still? He might think I mean it and agree.’

‘Hint that you would be willing to negotiate.’

Fanny chuckled. ‘Like the Powers in Vienna?’ she said. ‘Do you think I should call on someone like Lord Castlereagh to present my case?’

‘You are fully capable of doing that yourself,’ Elizabeth reassured her. ‘Mention the children, how they have almost forgotten their father, and need to see him frequently so that they know him. Say a son and heir should be brought up in the home he will one day inherit, but how sad it would be for a baby to be separated from its mother. Especially, you may hint, if its father means to leave it there without him too. And you might say, should he wish to divorce you, that step-mothers are notoriously unkind to the children of a first wife, and if they have children of their own, jealous of the first brood.’

Fanny smiled. ‘I think I might even enjoy this,’ she said. ‘You are so kind to me, such a good friend, and I have imposed on your generosity for far too long.’

‘And you must stay here until you have reached a satisfactory conclusion.’

* * * *

Though she contrived not to show it, Julia’s peace was seriously disturbed during the next few weeks. Everywhere they went she seemed to meet Angelica. Whether it was a ball or reception, a concert or balloon ascent, Angelica was nearby. She did not always speak to them, but Julia could sense her watchfulness. When Caroline and Susan accompanied them, Angelica would come and talk to Caroline, and the two girls were frequently to be found with their heads close together, gossiping and laughing.

Sir Carey seemed to treat her with indulgence. Frequently, when Julia saw him watching Angelica, she surprised a small twisted smile on his lips. The girl still enchanted him, it was clear, and although he gave her no hint of his true feelings, no doubt he regretted his hasty marriage.

A different irritant was Mrs Webber. Several instances of her malicious remarks were repeated to Julia. Surely this could not all be ascribed to her friendship with Frau Gunter, and that old woman’s threat that Julia would regret tangling with her? Julia tried to recall all the occasions when they had met in Vienna. She had avoided the woman whenever possible, and so had Fanny. Was that the reason for this sustained malevolence?

Mr Webber was, she now knew, Austrian by birth. Did Frau Gunter have some sort of hold on him? It seemed possible.

Then Julia recalled the meeting at the inn in Bavaria, when Sir Carey had told her she was being offensive, and refused to allow them to share his private parlour. Surely if that was what had caused this attitude, she ought to be spreading rumours about Sir Carey?

One evening, after Julia had been snubbed by a particular crony of Mrs Webber’s, which Sir Carey had witnessed, he tackled Julia when they reached home.

‘Come into the library. Foster, you need not stay up. Now, my dear, what is the reason for that harpy’s hostility towards you? Is she the only one? Does it happen often?’