The Foundling Read online

  ‘Do you mean that I shall never feel – a – a stronger degree of attachment for a female than – than –’

  ‘My dear Gilly, this is being foolish without permission! In plain terms, the sort of passion you have in mind has little to do with marriage. I grant that to be obliged to live with a woman whom you held in aversion would be a sad fate, but we need not consider that. You own that you are not indifferent to Lady Harriet. For a female, I believe her to have a superior understanding. Her disposition is amiable, and if you mean to object that there is a want of spirits in her I would point out to you that you have very odd humours yourself, and would find less rational comfort with a woman of more vivacity than with a quiet girl who would, I am persuaded, partake of many of your sentiments, and study to please you.’

  ‘Oh, yes, yes!’ interrupted Gilly. ‘But –’

  Lord Lionel held up his hand. ‘No, listen to what I have to say to you, my boy! You think I do not enter into your feelings upon this occasion, but you are mistaken. I shall be plain with you. In Lady Harriet you will not find yourself saddled with a wife who will expect more from you than you are inclined to give. She is a very well brought-up girl; and while, on the one hand, I am satisfied that she will conduct herself, as Duchess of Sale, with propriety and discretion, she will not expect you to be always at her side. If you choose to mount a mistress, she will know how to look the other way, and you will not be obliged to face the reproaches which might be levelled at you by a woman of lesser breeding. In short, you may be assured of a well-conducted household with an amiable woman at its head, and may indulge what romantic fancies you please out of it.’

  ‘Do you suppose, sir,’ said Gilly, in an extinguished tone, ‘that it is with such sentiments as these that Harriet thinks of marriage with me – or – or with another?’

  ‘I have been acquainted with Augusta Ampleforth any time these twenty years,’ responded Lord Lionel readily, ‘and I entertain no fears that Harriet has been allowed to fill her head with romantical stuff and nonsense. I daresay Lady Ampleforth may have some faults –’

  ‘I have always thought her the most unfeeling woman I have ever met!’ the Duke said.

  ‘Well, well, now you are in your high ropes again! She is an ambitious woman, but she has a great deal of common sense, after all.’

  The Duke released the chairback, and took a turn about the room. He was evidently agitated, and his uncle allowed him to walk about for a few minutes before saying: ‘If you dislike it so very much, Gilly, you should have told me of it earlier. To draw back at this late date will be as bad as to declare off.’

  The Duke turned a startled face towards him. ‘Oh, no, surely not!’

  ‘It has been understood between the two families for some years, and from what I hear the announcement of your engagement is pretty widely expected.’

  The Duke looked quite horrified. ‘But it cannot be! I have never offered – never said a word to Harriet, or given anyone the least reason to suppose that my affections had become fixed!’

  ‘My dear boy, in our world these affairs are generally known. Ampleforth has refused one offer for Harriet’s hand already, and I have little doubt that her ladyship will have dropped a hint or two abroad. It would be a great piece of folly to pretend that you are not a splendid matrimonial prize, Gilly, so we will not indulge ourselves with any humbug about that. In fact, except for Devonshire, who must be nearing thirty by now and seems to be a settled bachelor – besides, he is extremely deaf – I do not know of one to equal you. Depend upon it, Augusta Ampleforth will not have been able to resist the temptation of telling her friends – in the strictest confidence, of course! – that she has such large expectations for her daughter. She must be the envy of her acquaintance!’

  The Duke passed a hand through his fair locks. ‘I had no idea of this! Do you tell me that the Ampleforths – Harriet – have been expecting me to declare myself?’

  ‘Oh, well, no, I do not say that,’ replied Lord Lionel. ‘In fact, I told Ampleforth I would not have you established too early in life. Your health was too uncertain, and I wished you to have time to look about you before making your choice.’

  ‘My choice!’ Gilly ejaculated. ‘It seems I have none at all, sir!’

  ‘You have certainly made none,’ said his uncle dryly.

  There was a defeated silence. After a few moments, Gilly said: ‘I do not know what to say. I must see Ampleforth, and – and Harriet too. Until I am persuaded that she does indeed expect me to offer – Well, I must see her!’

  ‘Not before you have spoken with her father!’ exclaimed Lord Lionel.

  ‘Oh, no!’ Gilly said wearily.

  ‘There is no need for you to be in a hurry,’ said Lord Lionel. ‘I believe the Ampleforths are in London at present, but they will be removing into the country at any moment now, I should suppose. Ampleforth is bound to invite you to one of his battues, and you may then –’

  ‘No, no, I would rather by far visit him in town!’ Gilly said. ‘I had been thinking that I would go up to see my cousin. If you do not object, sir, I will do so.’

  ‘Object! Pray, why should you always be supposing that I may object to what you wish to do, Gilly?’ demanded Lord Lionel. ‘But you will find London very thin of company at this season, and I own I do not like the fogs for you, and they will soon be starting, you know. However, if you like to go for a few days it can very well be arranged. I will send an express to Scriven, to warn him to have Sale House in readiness for you. Romsey may accompany you, and –’

  ‘I should like to go alone – and to an hotel!’ said the Duke desperately.

  ‘Alone and to an hotel!’ repeated his uncle, thunderstruck. ‘Next I shall be told that you would like to travel to town on the stage-coach!’

  ‘No, I don’t wish to travel on a stage-coach, but I do not want Romsey!’

  Lord Lionel eyed him speculatively. ‘Now, what mischief are you up to, Gilly?’ he asked, not displeased. ‘Do you mean to go raking in town?’

  The Duke smiled rather perfunctorily. ‘No, sir, but I find Romsey very tedious, and I am very sure he will find me a dead bore, for I mean to see a good deal of Gideon, and you know that they could never agree! And I thought I might shoot at Manton’s, and look in at Tatt’s besides, and that sort of thing is not in Romsey’s line at all.’

  ‘No, very true,’ agreed Lord Lionel. ‘So you mean to buy another horse, do you? What is it you want? Something showy to lionise a bit, eh? You had best find out Belper, and desire him to go with you. Not that I mean to say you are not able to judge a horse for yourself, but Belper can advise you.’

  The Duke was too thankful to have escaped the company of his clerical tutor to jeopardise his position by demurring at having his other bear-leader thrust upon him. Captain Belper might override him in the matter of choosing a horse, but he was not likely to moralise, and he would not be staying under the same roof as his erstwhile pupil, and so would not be able to keep his movements under strict surveillance.

  ‘You will tell Scriven to draw on Child’s for whatever money you may require,’ said Lord Lionel. ‘No need to trouble yourself about that. But as for staying in an hotel, certainly not, Gilly! I would not vouch for the way they air the sheets even at the Clarendon, and when you have a very good house of your own it would be the height of absurdity not to use it. Borrowdale may go to London ahead of you –’

  ‘I do not mean to entertain largely. Should Borrowdale not remain with you, sir?’ said the Duke.

  ‘We shall do very well with the under-butler. Naturally Borrowdale and Chigwell go with you. You must not blame me for keeping only a skeleton-staff at Sale House, Gilly. While you were under age I should not have considered it proper to squander your fortune in keeping up several establishments as they of course must be kept up when you are married. And you have lived so little in Lo