The Black Moth: A Romance of the XVIIIth Century Read online

  CHAPTER XIX

  THE REAPPEARANCE OF HIS GRACE OF ANDOVER

  It seemed to Richard in the days that followed, that Captain Lovelacewas never out of his house. If he went to his wife's boudoir, there wasLovelace, hanging over her while she played upon the spinet or glancedthrough the pages of the _Rambler_. If Lavinia went to a ball ormasquerade, the Captain was always amongst the favoured ones admitted toher chamber for the express purpose of watching her don her gown andjudiciously place her patches. If Carstares begged his wife's companyone morning, she was full of regrets: Harry was calling to take her toVauxhall or to Spring Gardens. When he entered his door, the first sightthat met his eyes was the Captain's amber-clouded cane and point-edgedhat; and when he looked out of the window, it was more often to see achair draw up at the house and Lovelace alight. After patiently enduringa week of his continued presence, Carstares remonstrated with his wife:she must not encourage her friend to spend all his time at GrosvenorSquare. At first she had looked reproachful, and then she inquired hisreason. His reluctant answer was that it was not seemly. At that hereyes had opened wide, and she demanded to know what could be more seemlythan the visits of such an old friend? With a gleam of humour, Richardreplied that it was not Captain Harold's age that he objected to, but,on the contrary, his youth. On which she accused him of being jealous.It was true enough, but he indignantly repudiated the suggestion. Verywell, then, he was merely stupid! He must not be cross; Harry was hervery good friend, and did not Richard admire the new device for herhair? Richard was not to be cajoled: did she clearly understand thatLovelace's visits must cease? She only understood one thing, and thatwas that Dicky was marvellous ill-tempered and ridiculous to-day. And hemust not tease her! Yes, she would be very good, but so must he! And nowshe was going shopping, and she would require at least twenty guineas.

  In spite of her promise to "be good," she made no attempt to discourageLovelace's attentions, always smiling charmingly upon him and beckoninghim to her side.

  It was the morning of the Duchess of Devonshire's rout that Carstaresagain broached the subject. My lady was in bed, her fair hair unpowderedand streaming all about her shoulders, her chocolate on a small table ather side and countless _billets doux_ from admirers scattered on thesheet. In her hand she held a bouquet of white roses with a cardattached bearing, in bold, sprawling characters, the initials "H. L."Perhaps it was the sight of those incriminating letters that rousedRichard's anger. At all events, with a violence quite unlike his usualgentle politeness, he snatched the flowers from her hand, and sent themwhizzing into a corner.

  "Let there be an end to all this folly!" he cried.

  Lavinia raised herself on one elbow, astonished.

  "H-how _dare_ you?" she gasped.

  "It has come to that!" he answered. "How dare I, your husband, try tocontrol your actions in any way? I tell you, Lavinia, I have had enoughof your antics, and I will not longer put up with them!"

  "You--you--What in heaven's name ails you, Richard?"

  "This! I will not countenance that puppy's invasion of my house!" Hemade a furious gesture towards the wilted bouquet.

  "Neither will I permit you to make yourself the talk of London throughhim!"

  "I? I? _I_ make myself the talk of London? How dare you? Oh! how dareyou?"

  "I beg you will cease that foolishness. There is no question of mydaring. How dare _you_ disobey me, as you have been doing all this pastweek?"

  She cowered away from him.

  "Dicky!"

  "'Tis very well to cry 'Dicky,' and to smile, but I have experiencedthat before. Sometimes I think you are utterly without heart!--aselfish, vain, extravagant woman!"

  The childish lips trembled. Lady Lavinia buried her face in the pillows,sobbing.

  Carstares' face softened.

  "I beg your pardon, my dear. Mayhap that was unjust."

  "And cruel! And cruel!"

  "And cruel. Forgive me."

  She twined white, satiny arms about his neck.

  "You did not _mean_ it?"

  "No. I mean that I will not allow Lovelace to dangle after you,however."

  She flung away from him.

  "You have no right to speak like that. I knew Harry long before I everset eyes on _you_!"

  He winced.

  "You infer that he is more to you than I am?"

  "No! Though you try to make me hate you. No! I love you best. But I willnot send Harry away!"

  "Not if I order it?"

  "Order it? Order it? No! No! A thousand times no!"

  "I do order it!"

  "And I refuse to listen to you!"

  "By God, madam, you need a lesson!" he flamed. "I am minded to take youback to Wyncham this very day! And I promise you that, an you do notobey me in this, to Wyncham you _shall_ go!" He stamped out of the roomas he spoke, and she sank back amongst her pillows, white and tremblingwith fury.

  As soon as she was dressed, she flounced downstairs, bent on finishingthe quarrel. But Carstares had gone out some time since, and was notexpected to return until late. For a moment Lavinia was furious, but thetimely arrival of a box from her mantua-maker's chased away the frownsand wreathed her face in smiles.

  Richard did not return until it was time to prepare for the rout, and onentering the house he went straight to his chamber, putting himself intothe hands of his valet. He submitted to the delicate tinting of hisfinger-nails, the sprinkling of his linen with rosewater and thestencilling of his brows. He was arrayed in puce and gold, rings slippedon to his fingers, his legs coaxed into hose with marvellous clockssplashed on their sides, and a diamond buckle placed above the largeblack bow of his tie-wig. Then, powdered, painted and patched, he wentslowly across to his wife's room.

  Lavinia, who had by now quite forgotten the morning's _contretemps_,greeted him with a smile. She sat before the mirror in her under-gown,with a loose _deshabille_ thrown over her shoulders. The _coiffeur_ haddeparted, and her hair, thickly powdered, was dressed high above herhead over cushions, twisted into curls over her ears and allowed to fallin more curls over her shoulders. On top of the creation were poisedostrich feathers, scarlet and white, and round her throat gleamed agreat necklet of diamonds. The room was redolent of some heavy perfume;discarded ribbons, laces, slippers and gloves strewed the floor; overthe back of a chair hung a brilliant scarlet domino, and tenderly laidout on the bed was her gown, a mass of white satin and brocade, withfull ruffles over the hips and quantities of foaming lace falling fromthe corsage and from the short sleeves. Beside it reposed her fan, hersoft lace gloves, her mask and her tiny reticule.

  Carstares gingerly sat down on the extreme edge of a chair and watchedthe maid tint his wife's already perfect cheeks.

  "I shall break hearts to-night, shall I not?" she asked gaily, over hershoulder.

  "I do not doubt it," he answered shortly.

  "And you, Dicky?" She turned round to look at him. "Puce... 'tis not thecolour I should have chosen, but 'tis well enough. A new wig, surely?"

  "Ay."

  Her eyes questioned his coldness, and she suddenly remembered the eventsof the morning. So he was sulky? Very well! Monsieur should see!

  Someone knocked at the door; the maid went to open it.

  "Sir Douglas Faversham, Sir Gregory Markham, Moosso le Chevalier andCaptain Lovelace are below, m'lady."

  A little devil prompted Lavinia.

  "Oh, la-la! So many? Well, I cannot see all, 'tis certain. Admit SirGregory and Captain Lovelace."

  Louisa communicated this to the lackey and shut the door.

  Richard bit his lip angrily.

  "Are you sure I am not _de trop_?" he asked, savagely sarcastic.

  Lady Lavinia cast aside her _deshabille_ and stood up.

  "Oh, 'tis no matter--I am ready for my gown, Louisa."

  There came more knocking at the door, and this time it was Carstares whorose to open it.

  There entered Markham, heavily handsome in crimson and gold, andLovelace, his opposite, f