These Old Shades Read online

  An hour later, when Marling sat in the withdrawing-room awaiting his wife, the door was flung open, and Fanny sailed in. Behind her came Léonie, hesitantly. Edward rose quickly, staring.

  ‘My love,’ said Fanny, ‘this is my husband, Mr Marling. Edward, Mademoiselle de Bonnard.’

  Marling bowed; so also did Léonie, but paused in the act of doing so.

  ‘I must curtsy, is it not so? Bah, what skirts!’ She smiled shyly up at Edward. ‘Please pardon me, m’sieur. I have not learned to curtsy yet.’

  ‘Give him your hand, child,’ commanded Fanny.

  The small hand was extended.

  ‘Please, why?’ asked Léonie.

  Marling kissed her finger-tips punctiliously, and released them. Léonie’s cheeks were tinged with colour, and she looked doubtfully up at him.

  ‘Mais, m’sieur –’ she began.

  ‘Mademoiselle?’ In spite of himself Marling smiled.

  ‘C’est peu convenable,’ explained Léonie.

  ‘No such thing,’ said Fanny briskly. ‘Gentlemen do always kiss the lady’s hands. Remember that, my love. And now my husband will give you his arm to the dining-room. Lay but the tips of your fingers on it, like that. What ails you now, child?’

  ‘It is nothing, madame. Only that I am not at all myself. I think that I look very strange.’

  ‘Tell the silly child that it is not so, Edward,’ sighed her ladyship.

  Edward found that he was patting Léonie’s hand.

  ‘My dear, ’tis as my lady says. You look very proper and charming.’

  ‘Ah bah!’ said Léonie.

  Twelve

  His Grace of Avon’s Ward

  A fortnight later, when Léonie was practising a court curtsy before the mirror in her room, Fanny entered with the announcement that Avon had come at last. Léonie arose from her curtsy with more haste than grace.

  ‘Monseigneur!’ she cried, and would have flown from the room, had it not been for Fanny, who resolutely barred her passage. ‘Let me go! Let me go! Where is he?’

  ‘’Pon rep, Léonie, that is no way to receive a gentleman!’ said her ladyship. ‘To run downstairs like a hoydenish miss, with your hair in a tangle, and your gown caught up! Come back to the mirror.’

  ‘Oh, but –’

  ‘I insist!’

  Léonie came reluctantly and was passive while Fanny arranged her gown of primrose silk, and combed out the unruly curls.

  ‘Léonie, you tiresome creature, where is your riband?’

  Léonie fetched it meekly.

  ‘I do not like to feel a riband in my hair,’ she complained. ‘I would rather –’

  ‘It is of no consequence at all,’ said Fanny severely. ‘I am determined you shall look your best. Shake out your petticoat, and pick up your fan. And if you dare to run forward in an unmaidenly way I shall be so mortified –’

  ‘Let me go now! Please, I am ready!’

  ‘Then follow me, child, so!’ Out swept Fanny, and down the stairs. ‘Remember! A decorous curtsy, my love, and give him your hand to kiss.’ As she spoke she opened the door into the withdrawing-room.

  ‘Bah!’ said Léonie.

  His Grace was standing by the window, looking out.

  ‘So my sister has not induced you to stop saying “bah”?’ he said, and turned. For a moment he said nothing, but stood looking at his ward. ‘Infant, it is very well,’ he said at last, slowly.

  Léonie sank into a curtsy, talking all the time.

  ‘I must do this because madame says so, and you bade me do as she told me, Monseigneur, but oh, I would rather bow to you!’ She rose gracefully, and danced forward. ‘Monseigneur, Monseigneur, I thought that you would never come! I am so very pleased to see you!’ She caught his hand to her lips. ‘I have been good and patient, and now will you take me, please?’

  ‘Léonie!’

  ‘Well, but madame, I want so much for him to take me.’

  Avon raised his eyeglass.

  ‘Stand still, child. Fanny, I kiss your hands and feet. I am almost surprised at the miracle you have wrought.’

  ‘Monseigneur, do you think that I am nice?’ asked Léonie, tiptoeing before him.

  ‘It’s an inadequate word, child. You are no longer Léon.’

  She sighed, shaking her head.

  ‘I wish I were Léon still. Monseigneur, do you understand what it is to be put into petticoats?’

  Fanny started, and frowned direfully.

  ‘Naturally I do not, my beautiful ward,’ Justin answered gravely. ‘I can imagine that after the freedom of your breeches, petticoats are a little cramping.’

  Léonie turned triumphantly to Fanny.

  ‘Madame, he said it! You heard him! He spoke of breeches!’

  ‘Léonie – Justin, I’ll not have you let her bewail her – her breeches – as she is for ever doing! And don’t, don’t say bah, Léonie!’

  ‘She has fatigued you, my dear? I believe I warned you that she was something of a rogue.’

  Fanny relented.

  ‘Indeed, and we love her dearly! I could wish that you would leave her with us longer.’

  Léonie took a firm hold on Avon’s coat sleeve.

  ‘You won’t, will you, Monseigneur?’

  He disengaged himself.

  ‘My infant, you must strive to be more polite. One would infer that you had been unhappy with Lady Fanny.’

  ‘Yes, Monseigneur, very unhappy. It is not because she is not kind, for she has been very kind to me, but I belong to you.’

  Over her head Justin looked mockingly at his sister.

  ‘It distresses you, my dear? I believe you are right, Léonie. I have come to fetch you.’

  She was all smiles at once.

  ‘Voyons, now I am happy! Where will you take me, Monseigneur?’

  ‘Into the country, child. Ah, the worthy Edward! Your devoted servant, Edward.’

  Marling had entered quietly. Stiffly he returned Avon’s bow.

  ‘I would have a word with you an it please you, Alastair,’ he said.

  ‘But does it please me?’ wondered his Grace. ‘No doubt you wish to speak concerning my ward?’

  Edward looked annoyed.

  ‘In private, sir.’

  ‘Quite unnecessary, my dear Edward, I assure you.’ He flicked Léonie’s cheek with one careless finger. ‘Mr Marling has no doubt warned you that I am no fit companion for the young and – ah – innocent, infant?’

  ‘No-no.’ Léonie tilted her head. ‘I know all about that, you see. Me, I am not very innocent, do you think?’

  ‘That will do, Léonie!’ hastily interposed Fanny. ‘You’ll drink a dish of Bohea with me, Justin? Léonie shall be ready to accompany you to-morrow. Léonie, my love, I have left my handkerchief in your room. Be so good as to fetch it for me. And Edward may go too. Yes, Edward, please!’ So she drove them out, and turned again to her brother. ‘Well, Justin, I’ve done as you desired me.’

  ‘Admirably, my dear.’

  Her eyes twinkled.

  ‘At no small cost, Justin.’

  ‘It is no matter, Fanny.’

  She eyed him irresolutely.

  ‘What now, Justin?’

  ‘Now I take her to Avon.’

  ‘With Cousin Field?’

  ‘But could you doubt it?’ he bowed.

  ‘Easily.’ She curled her lip. ‘Justin, what is it you intend? You’ve some scheme, I know. I’ll believe you mean no ill by Léonie.’

  ‘It is always wise to believe the worst of me, Fanny.’

  ‘I confess I don’t understand you, Justin. ’Tis most provoking.’

  ‘It must be,’ he agreed.

  She drew nearer, coaxing him.

  ‘Justin, I do wish that you would tell me what is in your mind!’

  He took a pinch of snuff, and shut the box with a snap.

  ‘You must learn, my dear Fanny, to curb your curiosity. Suffice it that I am as a grandfather to that child. It should suffice.