Frederica Read online

  ‘Oh, no!’ Charis said, releasing her hold on Lufra’s collar. ‘Only he knows we are going out, and he’s bound to try to get out the instant the door is opened, so I brought him to you, Jessamy.’

  He nodded, and snapped his fingers at Lufra, who was sniffing at Buxted’s well-polished boots; and Charis went away, thankful to have escaped questioning.

  Buxted’s presence must have precluded suspicious enquiries, but Frederica would not, in any event, have made any. She was not a gaoler, nor did she wish Charis to feel that she was being kept under surveillance. There was little doubt that she had an assignation with Endymion, and deplorable though this was it would be needlessly unkind to prevent what would probably be their last meeting for some months. And at least she was taking Harry with her.

  She dismissed the matter from her thoughts, and set herself to divert Lord Buxted, who was annoying Jessamy by commenting humorously on the astonishment visitors must feel to find such a monster as Lufra in Frederica’s drawing-room.

  But none of the three visitors who were presently ushered into the room evinced any astonishment. The first was Darcy Moreton, whom Buxted eyed with hostility; and within a few minutes Lady Elizabeth Kentmere and Lord Alverstoke were announced.

  The effect of this was electric, and was observed by Mr Moreton rather ruefully. There was no misreading the smile in Frederica’s eyes, and no doubt whatsoever that Alverstoke was on the best of terms with his wards. Felix shouted joyfully: ‘Cousin Alverstoke!’ and struggled to his feet; and Jessamy, pausing only to bow to Lady Elizabeth, began instantly to tell him of something that had happened at Monk’s Farm after his departure. As Felix also had something to tell him, and Lufra, catching the spirit of these demonstrations, uttered some yelping barks, pandemonium reigned for several minutes. Lady Elizabeth was laughing, and said, as she shook hands with Frederica: ‘I knew that they liked him, but not that his arrival would cause a riot!’

  ‘No, and I apologise for them!’ said Frederica, smiling. ‘You would suppose them to have been reared in a back-slum!’

  ‘Hardly that!’ said Buxted. ‘But surely it cannot be good for Felix to be so much excited? Would it not be as well if Jessamy took him into another room?’

  ‘Oh, no!’ replied Frederica. ‘Alverstoke knows exactly how to handle him.’

  This was soon seen to be true. His lordship quelled the riot without the smallest difficulty, ordering Felix back to the sofa, requesting Jessamy to call off the Baluchistan hound, and adding that when he felt a desire to be deafened by a couple of gabble-mongers he would inform them of it. These trenchant words were received with the utmost good-humour: a circumstance which Buxted observed with some surprise, and considerable disfavour. Nor was he better pleased when Alverstoke went over to sit beside Frederica, and engaged her in what appeared to be an intimate discussion. Since Eliza, who was talking to Mr Moreton, good-naturedly drew her nephew into the conversation, he was obliged to give his attention to her, instead of trying jealously to hear what Alverstoke was saying, in a lowered voice, to Frederica.

  It could scarcely have been more innocuous. ‘A marked improvement!’ Alverstoke said.

  ‘I think so. He was a little tired after the journey, and this hot weather seems to bring back some aches and pains.’

  ‘The sooner you can get him to Alver the better. Have you written to Knighton?’

  ‘This morning. I mentioned your name, as you bade me, and enclosed the letter Dr Elcot gave me for him.’

  He nodded. ‘I shall hope to see you off before the end of the week. By-the-by, in the matter of a tutor I fear I have exceeded your instructions.’

  ‘You don’t mean to tell me you’ve discovered one?’ she exclaimed.

  ‘No, Charles did. He offered me his brother, Septimus, and I engaged him. He is staying in Berkeley Square now: a pleasing young man, and one whom the boys will like. I only trust you may!’

  ‘Oh, there can be no doubt! A brother of Mr Trevor’s must be acceptable to me! Pray tell Mr Trevor how grateful I am!’

  ‘Certainly, but the arrangement will be as much to Septimus’s advantage as yours. He was already seeking a post as coach during the Long Vacation, and this one – if you will be content to remain at Alver for the summer – will enable him to continue living at home. The Rectory is only a few miles from Alver. Tell me when it will be convenient for him to call to see you, and I’ll send him round!’

  ‘At any time: I don’t go out at present, or only for a few minutes.’ She paused, as a thought occurred to her. ‘I wonder if I should ask Harry to conduct the interview? I think he might wish to do so.’

  ‘Are you? I am tolerably certain that he wouldn’t! He would be extremely embarrassed – if he could be persuaded to undertake the task of enquiring into Septimus’s scholarship, which I strongly doubt! Septimus is a Fourth Year man, my dear, at present working for a Fellowship. I don’t see Harry, by the way, or Charis: is he still virtuously doing his duty by her?’

  She smiled, but answered, with a touch of constraint: ‘Why, yes! I believe he has taken her out to do some shopping.’

  She did not believe it, nor would she have been surprised to have learnt that Charis was at the moment seated on a bench in a secluded part of Kensington Gardens, between her brother and her lover, agitatedly telling Endymion of her conviction that they were to be for ever parted.

  ‘I wish you will stop talking such flummery!’ said Harry. ‘I’ve told you a score of times that nobody can part you for ever!’

  ‘Couldn’t do it for ever,’ agreed Endymion.

  ‘Once I am imprisoned at Alver –’

  ‘Ay, that’s the worst of it!’ said Endymion, his brow darkening. ‘Devilish shabby trick, I call it! Shouldn’t wonder if it was a plot: devilish clever fellow, Alverstoke, up to all the rigs! Y’know, I haven’t been easy in my mind since he told me not to be quite so particular in my attentions. Amiable enough, but giving me the office – that’s what I thought! I was right, too. Well, what I mean is, might have seen you at Ramsgate, but not at Alver. Everyone knows me down there, and you may lay your life some snitcher would tell Alverstoke, if I was to show my nose within ten miles of the place!’

  ‘And when we leave Alver, you will have been sent on a dreadful mission, and Frederica will drag me back to Graynard!’

  ‘Not if he’s been sent off on a mission,’ interposed her more practical brother. ‘Now I come to think of it, she couldn’t do it in any event: she hired the place to Porth for a twelve-month.’

  ‘Harrogate, then – so that Felix may drink the waters!’ said Charis bitterly.

  ‘She might do that,’ Harry admitted.

  ‘I shan’t go on a mission,’ suddenly announced Endymion. ‘I shall sell out. Nothing my cousin can do to stop me. What’s more, once I’ve done it, there’s nothing anyone can do to stop me marrying Charis!’

  ‘But I am under age,’ said Charis sadly.

  ‘Ay, that’s the devil of it! And when I think of having to wait for two whole years, and very likely not being given the chance even to see you – well, it’s enough to drive one to the Border! Not that I would!’ he added hastily, and with an apprehensive glance at Harry. ‘Too ramshackle by half!’

  ‘Oh, no! I couldn’t do such a shocking thing! Perhaps, if Frederica realises that we are unalterably determined – But she won’t give her consent! I know she won’t!’

  ‘Just a moment!’ interrupted Harry, sitting up with a jerk. ‘Lord, why didn’t I think of that before? By Jupiter, I have it!’

  Two anxious faces were turned towards him; Charis said breathlessly: ‘You have what, dearest?’

  ‘You don’t need her consent: nothing to do with her!’ Harry said, his eyes sparkling with mischief. ‘She’s not your guardian: I am!’

  Twenty-seven

  It was surprising, Frederica thought, how much benefit was to be derived from two nights of unbroken sleep. She felt very much better, far less depressed and irritable. Her affairs havi