Faro's Daughter Read online

  He received this information with raised brows, smiled slightly, and turned to address some idle remark to his aunt. Adrian and Arabella then came back to the box, and the two parties separated.

  `How could you tell me she was not vulgar!’ was all he ladyship could at first bring herself to say, and that in accents c bitter reproach.

  `I told you the truth. She was not vulgar when I met her. Her manner tonight was certainly assumed.'

  `Assumed! In heaven's name why, if she wishes to win m consent to the match?'

  `I am reasonably sure that she has no such wish. There is no doubt her way of trying to force up the price ma'am.'

  `Whatever it is it must be paid!’ said her ladyship, in great agitation.

  `Whatever it is it shall not be paid!' said Mr Ravenscar. `Oh, don't put yourself in a taking, my dear aunt! I shan't let her marry Adrian!’

  'How he could-!' she shuddered. `Look at her now! Look at that dreadful woman with her!'

  Arabella, who had been attending to this with an air of lively interest, said: `Well, of course she was shockingly vulgar, Aunt Selina, but I could not help liking her a little, because she has such laughing eyes! And Adrian told me that she was not generally ill-at-ease, so perhaps she is not so very bad after all!’

  'Ill-at-ease I' ejaculated Lady Mablethorpe. `I saw no sign of that! Do you call her behaviour at this moment ill-at-ease?'

  Miss Grantham was seated by this time in the front of her own box, and was laughing immoderately at something Lucius Kennet had said to her. Her troubled swain laughed too but in a perfunctory manner. She could do no wrong in his enamoured eyes, but he did wish that she would not laugh so loudly, or flirt so much with her fan. Ably assisted by Kennet and Mrs Patch, she contrived to make their box the most stared at of any in the circle, so that he was glad when his carefully chosen supper had been eaten, and he was able to suggest a stroll through the gardens.

  Miss Grantham, who was feeling quite exhausted by this time, went with him willingly, and behaved so prettily that he was soon in a fair way towards forgetting her previous conduct. He supposed her to have been excited, and nervous at being presented to his mother, and thought no more about it. Except for the coquelicot ribbons and that towering headdress, she was again his own dear Deb, and he spent a blissful half-hour, walking with her down the many paths of the gardens, and telling her how much he loved her.

  It had grown dark by this time, and the coloured lights showed up brightly against the black sky. Lord Mablethorpe found a seat in a secluded alley, and persuaded Deborah to sit down for a few minutes. He began to describe his home to her, shyly expressing the hope that she would not find it very flat in the country; and had just asked her if she would not drive out with him one day to visit Mablethorpe, which was at no great distance from London, when the sound of a sob interrupted him.

  He broke off, looking about him, but he could see no one. `I thought I heard someone crying,' he told Miss Grantham. `Did you hear anything?’

  She had not, but even as she said so, the sound came again and from no great distance.

  `Do you think we had better go away?' whispered his lord ship, looking alarmed.

  `Go away? Certainly not! Someone is in trouble!’ replied Miss Grantham, getting up, and peering down the alley.

  Yet another heavy sob reached their ears. It seemed t, come from one of the small summer-houses which were dotted about the grounds. Miss Grantham walked up to it, and entered her tall figure silhouetted by the lights behind her. A frightened gasp greeted her arrival, followed by a breathless silence

  `Is anyone here?' she asked, trying to pierce the gloom `Can I help you?'

  A very young and scared voice answered: `Please go away.’

  By now Miss Grantham's eyes had become more accustomed to the darkness, and she was able to discern a pale form huddled in a chair against the far wall. She made her way to this ghost-like figure, and said kindly: `But, my dear, indeed cannot go away and leave you in such unhappiness t Come can I not be of assistance?'

  There was a tense pause; then the voice said desolately: `Ni one can help me! I wish I were dead!'

  `Oh dear, is it as bad as that?' Miss Grantham asked, sitting down beside the pale figure, and drawing it into her arms `Won't you tell me what it is?’

  Instead of complying with this request, the figure laid it head upon her shoulder, and burst into tears.

  While Miss Grantham was endeavouring to soothe his grief, Lord Mablethorpe had unhooked one of the coloured lanterns from its stand outside the summer-house, and brought it inside. Its roseate light illuminated the figure in Miss Grantham's arms, a woebegone face was turned towards his lord ship, and he saw that it belonged to the fair child in Lady Laxton's box.

  `Why, you must be Miss Laxton!’ he exclaimed.

  Miss Laxton was one of the fortunate few whom tears did not much disfigure. They sparkled on the ends of her lashes and drowned her blue eyes, but they made no unsightly blotches on her fair skin, and did not turn the tip of her little nose red. She said, with a catch in her voice: `Yes, I am Phoebe Laxton. Who are you, please?'

  `I'm Mablethorpe,' responded his lordship, setting his Ian tern down on a rustic table, and drawing nearer. `I am a little acquainted with your brothers. I wish you will tell us how we may help you!'

  Miss Laxton's lip trembled, and her eyes filled again. She turned her face away. `You cannot help me. No one can! I am very sorry to be so tiresome! I did not think anyone would find me here.'

  `Don't cry!' said Miss Grantham. `Were you hiding from Sir James Filey?'

  Miss Laxton looked startled, and stammered: `Oh, how did you know?'

  `Our box is opposite yours, my dear. I saw him leaning over your chair, and I did not think you enjoyed having him so close.'

  Miss Laxton shuddered and pressed her handkerchief to her lips. `I meant to be good!' she managed to say. `Indeed I did! But I hate him so! And when he took me to walk about the gardens, I - I made up my mind I would do my duty. But when he offered for me, and - and kissed me, I c-couldn't bear it, and I ran away! Oh, what shall I do?'

  `You shall not marry Filey, that's certain!' declared Lord Mablethorpe, revolted by the thought.

  `You don't understand,' said Miss Laxton mournfully. `There are three more of us at home, and Mama - and Mama - you see, she will make me!'

  `No one can make you marry against your will,' Miss Grantham assured her. `You have only to be firm, my dear!’

  Even as she said it, she realized that although there was great sweetness in Miss Laxton's flower-like countenance, there was not an ounce of decision. It was plain that Phoebe Laxton was a gentle thing, easily led, and still more easily bullied.

  `You do not know my Mama,' Phoebe said simply. `She will be so dreadfully angry, and I cannot bear people to be angry with me! Even Papa says it is my duty. You see, Sir James is very rich, and he will make a most g-generous settlement, and - and - only, I am afraid of him, and when he kissed me I knew I could not do it!'

  Lord Mablethorpe sat down on the other side of her, and took her hand. `I should think not, indeed! But is there no one who will take your part?'

  Her hand trembled a little in his, but she did not withdraw it. `There is only my Aunt Honoria, and she lives such a long way away, and is a great invalid beside and could not come to London. Papa is a little afraid of her, and she did write to him but - but he does not care much for letters. I thought if could only run away to aunt, she would hide me from Pap and Mama, or - or contrive something. But then I remembered that I haven't any money, and it all seemed hopeless, an, - and that's why I cried.'

  Over her head Adrian's and Deborah's eyes met. `Deb can't we-? It's horrible to think of such a child's being tie, to that devil!'

  The hand stirred in his. `Oh, do you mean you will help me I thought no one could!' gasped Miss Laxton.

  `If she goes back to the Laxtons she will be lost!’ said Adrian.

  `Yes, I think she will,' admitted Miss Gra