Frederica Read online

‘When have I ever said so?’ demanded his lordship.

  ‘Oh, you don’t say it, but a pretty good lobcock I should be if I didn’t know it!’ replied Felix scornfully. ‘Besides, when I told you about the bear-garden jaw he gave me when I went on the steam-boat, you said – ’

  In some haste, the Marquis interrupted, saying: ‘Yes, well, never mind that! In what way is Buxted concerned with this balloon of yours?’

  ‘He has invited us all to drive with him to the park, to watch the ascension – well, not Harry, but the rest of us!’ said Felix, in the voice of one relating a catastrophe. ‘And don’t you say that it is very kind and obliging of him, sir, like Jessamy, because if you don’t like a person, you don’t wish to be obliged to him!’

  ‘That is very true!’ remarked Lady Elizabeth, much struck. ‘In fact, one would prefer him not to be kind and obliging!’

  ‘Yes, one would!’ agreed Felix, bestowing a look of warm approval upon her. ‘Besides, I know just how it would be, and I had almost liefer not go at all! Because, you may depend upon it, Jessamy will sit on the box, with the coachman, and I should have to sit beside Cousin Buxted and listen to him prosing on and on, and very likely gibble-gabbling to the girls about aeronautics, just as if he knew, which he doesn’t, and then explaining it to me, in a very kind way, and – Oh, you know, sir! I – I couldn’t!’ He saw the corners of Alverstoke’s mouth quiver, and said triumphantly: ‘I knew you would understand! So when I came into the room – not knowing he was there – and Frederica told me that he had invited us, I said I couldn’t go with him, because you had invited me to go with you, sir! And if Jessamy tells you I was rag-mannered it is not true! I thanked him very civilly, I promise you! Yes, and naturally I see that I can’t go at all, if you don’t take me, because that would be uncivil.’

  ‘And you said you weren’t in a scrape! Did you bamboozle your family into believing your mendacious story?’

  ‘Oh, no! Frederica and Jessamy knew it wasn’t true, of course. In fact, Frederica said, afterwards, that she utterly forbade me to plague you to take me. But I am not plaguing you: I am just asking you, sir! She says you don’t wish to see a balloon ascension, but I think it would be a treat for you!’

  ‘Oh, do you?’ said the Marquis. ‘Then let me tell you, you repellent and unscrupulous whelp –’

  He was interrupted. ‘So it would be!’ said Lady Elizabeth. ‘A high treat! For my part, I should enjoy it excessively, because it so happens that I have never watched a balloon ascension. Dear Vernon, you have been wondering how you may best entertain me, haven’t you? And now you know! You shall drive Felix and me to Hyde Park, to see the balloon go up!’

  ‘Wretch!’ said the Marquis. ‘Very well!’

  ‘I knew you would!’ cried Felix. ‘I told Jessamy you would!’ He paused, before adding tentatively: ‘In your phaeton, sir?’

  ‘Now, what do you care for phaetons, or horses?’ asked Alverstoke. ‘What you would like me to do would be to drive you to Hyde Park in a Catch-me-who-can!’

  ‘Yes, by Jupiter, wouldn’t I just!’ exclaimed Felix, his eyes kindling. ‘Only you couldn’t, you know, because it ran on lines. The thing is that Jessamy is getting to be so top-lofty, because you let him drive your team, besides riding with him, that there’s no bearing it! So it would be splendid, if you took me instead of him!’ A doubt shook him; he cast a look at Lady Elizabeth, and said politely: ‘If you wouldn’t object to it, ma’am!’

  ‘Certainly not! I shouldn’t dream of watching a balloon ascension from anything so stuffy as a barouche,’ she said promptly. ‘Besides, how else could we take the shine out of Cousin Buxted?’

  This very proper speech confirmed him in his impression that she was a right one, and earned for her his fervent gratitude. A caveat, entered by Alverstoke, that phaetons were not designed to accommodate three people, was summarily disposed of, and he then took himself off, leaving Lady Elizabeth to the enjoyment of the mirth that had been consuming her.

  Eighteen

  As a result of Felix’s visit, Lady Elizabeth went to visit Lady Jevington on the following morning. It was surprising, but understandable, that Alverstoke should take an interest in so engaging a young gentleman; but it appeared, from Felix’s artless conversation, that his interest extended to Jessamy – whom he permitted to drive his cherished horses; and that was by no means so understandable, unless this unprecedented behaviour sprang from a wish to gratify the Beauty of the family. Eliza had learnt all about the divine Charis from one of her oldest friends’ rare letters, but she had not set much store by Sally Jersey’s prophecy that Alverstoke would marry a girl who had not yet attained her twentieth birthday. Sally might say that it was always so with hardened bachelors, but she fancied she knew her brother rather better than Sally did, and she had dismissed the prophecy as a mere on-dit.

  Dining tête-a-tête with him, she was careful to evince little curiosity about the Misses Merriville, merely saying: ‘I hope you mean to introduce them to me. If they are as delightful as Felix, I don’t wonder at it that you consented to befriend them! How do they go on? Did you contrive to fire them off successfully?’

  ‘Yes, and without the smallest exertion. I had merely to present them to the ton. I wish you might have seen Louisa’s face when they came into the room! She had met Frederica already, and was agreeably surprised, I fancy, to discover that she is neither in the first blush of youth, nor a beauty, but a passably goodlooking young woman, with a great deal of commonsense, and a somewhat masterful disposition. Louisa was therefore unprepared for Charis.’ A reminiscent smile curled his lips. ‘I suppose I must have seen the Beauties of close on twenty seasons, but I must own I have never seen one comparable to Charis Merriville.’ He raised his wineglass, and drank a little. ‘Face and figure are perfection, and her expression most winning. Impossible to find a fault! Even her carriage is graceful; and it is universally agreed that her manners are particularly pleasing.’

  Startled, and considerably dismayed, Eliza said: ‘Good gracious! I must certainly meet this paragon!’

  ‘You may do so tomorrow, if you choose. She will be at the assembly the Seftons are holding, I imagine. You had better accompany me to it – if only to spare me the gush of reproaches Maria Sefton would swamp me with for not having brought you. I shall be astonished if Charis doesn’t take your breath away.’

  Unlike her sisters, Eliza had never tried to provide her only brother with an eligible wife. Relations between them had always been amicable, even mildly affectionate, but no strong ties bound any member of the Dauntry family to another. Happily married to her John Kentmere, absorbed in her progeny, and rarely visiting London, she had little interest in Alverstoke’s future, and had once infuriated Louisa by saying that his marriage was no concern of hers. But installed once more in Alverstoke House, picking up the threads of her old life, she did feel some concern, for it seemed to her that he was on the verge of contracting an alliance which could only end in disaster. However beautiful she might be, this schoolroom-miss of his would become a dead bore to him within a year of their marriage – probably even sooner! She had set no great store by Lady Jersey’s disclosures, and even less by an impassioned letter from Louisa, recommending her to try what her supposed influence over Alverstoke would do to save him (and the Family) from a shocking mésalliance; but the dithyramb Alverstoke had sung in praise of Charis Merriville had the effect of sending her off next day to visit Augusta. With all her faults, Augusta did not want for sense or judgment.

  Lady Jevington received her with temperate pleasure, enquired, with meticulous civility, after the health of her family, and expressed the hope that she would replenish her wardrobe while she was in London. ‘For I should be failing in my duty as your eldest sister, Eliza, if I did not tell you that that outmoded gown you are wearing gives you a very off appearance,’ she said. ‘No doubt you have come to London for that purpose.’

  ‘Well, I haven’t,’ replied Eliza. ‘I’ve come to discover if