Frederica Read online

  Twelve

  It was not long before Frederica began to realise that society had formed an exaggerated idea of her father’s inheritance. One or two casual remarks showed that if she and Charis were not regarded as heiresses they were at least credited with large portions; and when Mrs Parracombe, to whom she had taken an instant dislike, asked her in what part of the country Graynard was situated, adding that she had heard it was a most beautiful seat, she suspected that Alverstoke must be the originator of these rumours. She was indebted to Miss Jane Buxted, who seemed to be unpleasantly addicted to backstairs gossip, for the information that Mrs Parracombe was one of Alverstoke’s chères amies; and though she gave Jane a set-down she saw no reason to doubt the story. His lordship’s way of life was no concern of hers; but she was vexed to find herself thrust into what she felt to be almost an imposture, and she determined to demand whether it was indeed he who was responsible for it.

  No opportunity to do so offered immediately, and when it did it was under circumstances which set her at a disadvantage and made her pose her question in a perfectly civil way. His lordship had not forgotten his promise to take Jessamy with him, when he drove his new team of grays to Richmond – or, rather, it had been recalled to his mind by Curry, his head-groom, who had formed a very good opinion of Jessamy – and he had called in Upper Wimpole Street one morning to pick the boy up: thus subjecting him to a severe struggle with his conscience. He told Frederica, who had encountered Owen on his way upstairs to deliver his lordship’s invitation, that having made up his mind to devote his mornings to study he must not yield to temptation; but Frederica very sensibly suggested that he could resume his studies later in the day, upon which his face brightened, and he hurried away to scrub his hands, telling Owen to assure his lordship that he would be with him in a pig’s whisper.

  It was Frederica, however, who conveyed the message to Alverstoke, asking him, at the same time, if he would spare her a few minutes upon his return.

  He looked down at her, as she stood on the flagway, his eyes, for all their laziness, curiously penetrating. ‘Certainly,’ he responded. ‘Something of grave importance?’

  She hesitated. ‘It seems so to me, but perhaps you will not think so.’

  ‘You intrigue me, Frederica. Do I detect a note of censure in your voice?’

  She was not obliged to answer this, for at that moment Jessamy arrived on the scene, and ran down the steps, breathlessly expressing the hope that he had not kept his lordship waiting. Bidding his sister a cursory farewell, he climbed up into the phaeton, looking so happy and excited that feelings of gratitude to Alverstoke for having granted him this treat overcame other, and less charitable, emotions in her breast.

  When he returned, several hours later, it was in a mood of deep content. He ushered Alverstoke into the drawing-room, saying: ‘Frederica? Oh, you are here! Come in, sir! Oh, Frederica, I have had such a time! I haven’t enjoyed anything so much since we came to London! We have been to Richmond Park – Cousin Alverstoke has tickets of admission, you know – and he let me handle the reins, and – Sir, I don’t know how to thank you enough! – Sh-showing me just how to turn a corner in style, too, and how to point the leaders, and –’

  ‘My dear boy, you have already thanked me enough – too much, in fact!’ replied Alverstoke, rather amused. ‘If you do so any more, you’ll become a bore!’

  Jessamy laughed, blushed, and said, a little shyly: ‘I think I must have been, sir! Such – such dull work for you, teaching a mere whipster! And so very kind of you to let me drive those grays, when, for anything you knew, I might have been a regular spoon!’

  ‘If I had had any such apprehension,’ said Alverstoke gravely, ‘I should not have let you drive them. You are not yet a top-sawyer, but you’ve light hands, considerable precision of eye, and you know how to stick to your leaders.’

  Coming from a Nonpareil, these words reduced Jessamy to stammering incoherence. He managed to thank his lordship yet again, and then effaced himself, to spend an unprofitable hour with his books open before him but his thoughts very far away from them.

  ‘I should like to thank you, too,’ Frederica said, with a warm smile, ‘but I don’t dare! Was it a bore?’

  ‘Oddly enough, no. A new experience! I’ve never before attempted to impart my skill to another, and I’ve discovered that either I’m an excellent teacher, or that I had a remarkably apt pupil. But I didn’t come to talk about driving. What have I done to vex you, Frederica?’

  ‘I don’t know. I mean, I am vexed, but I’m not perfectly sure that it was your doing,’ she said frankly. ‘The thing is that people seem to think that we are possessed of a handsome fortune. Cousin, did you set that rumour about?’

  ‘Certainly not,’ he replied, his eyebrows slightly raised. ‘Why should I?’

  ‘Well, you might have done so to be helpful, perhaps.’

  ‘I can think of few things less helpful.’

  ‘No, nor can I! Besides, it is so odiously vulgar! I detest shams! It makes it seem as though I had been cutting a wheedle, to achieve a brilliant marriage for Charis. As though such shifts could succeed!’

  He smiled. ‘Oho! Would you employ them if they could?’

  The smile was faintly reflected in her eyes, but she shook her head. ‘No – contemptible! Don’t you think so?’

  ‘I do, but you appear to have suspected me of selling just such a contemptible bargain.’

  ‘Yes, but I knew it must have been with the best of intentions,’ she assured him.

  ‘Worse! You believe me to be a flat!’

  She laughed. ‘Indeed I don’t! I beg your pardon – but if you didn’t set the story about, who can have done so? And – and why? I promise you, I’ve never tried to make people think we are wealthy, and nor, I’m very sure, has Charis. In fact, when Mrs Parracombe talked of Graynard, saying how much she would like to see it, and speaking as if it were a ducal mansion, I told her it was no such thing.’

  ‘Now I know why I fell under suspicion!’ he murmured provocatively.

  It was so unexpected that it surprised a tiny gasp out of her.

  ‘I am continually shocked by the on-dits people don’t scruple to repeat to innocent maidens,’ pursued his lordship, in a saddened voice.

  ‘If it comes to that,’ retorted Frederica, with spirit. ‘I am continually shocked by the things you don’t scruple to say to me, cousin! You are quite abominable!’

  He sighed. ‘Alas, I know it! The reflection gives me sleepless nights.’

  ‘Coming it rather too strong, my lord!’ she said, before she could stop herself. She added hastily, as he put up his brows in exaggerated incredulity: ‘As Harry would say!’

  ‘No doubt! But such cant expressions on the lips of delicately nurtured females are extremely unbecoming.’

  Well aware of this, she was just about to apologise for the lapse when she caught the gleam in his eye, and said, instead: ‘Odious creature! I wish you will be serious!’

  He laughed. ‘Very well, let us be serious! You want to know who is responsible for the rumour that you are very wealthy –’

  ‘Yes, and what’s to be done about it!’

  ‘Nothing. As to who may have started the rumour, I know no more than you do, and can perceive no reason why you should be thrown into high fidgets over it. If we are to be serious, let me advise you to discourage Ollerton’s advances to your sister!’

  She looked quickly up at him. ‘Why?’

  ‘Because, my innocent, he is what we call a man of the town.’

  She nodded. ‘I’m glad to know that, for it’s what I thought myself. Though I must own he has been very civil and obliging, and has a well-bred ease of manner – except that now and then he goes a little beyond the line of what is pleasing. However, there are others, who are even better-bred, who go a long way beyond it!’

  ‘So there are!’ he agreed. ‘Who introduced him to you?’

  ‘Mrs Dauntry, at Lady Jersey’s party. Which