A Bright Particular Star (33 page)

The contrast
between husband and wife
was st
artling
.
Unlike Lady Dinniscombe
’s
el
egant but
understated
attire, Sir Seymour
’s
style was
extraordinarily flamboyant
.
The starched points of his shirt collar almost reached his ears; his coat
, clearly
from the hands of a master
,
could
only be d
onned with
help
,
so closely did it fit his person
.
H
i
s cravat, arranged with
astonishing intricacy, was wondrous to behold and the
pale biscuit coloured
pantaloons which adorned his legs showed not a single crease.
A garish yellow and blue
waistcoat
was stretched around his
girth.
The silver tassels which de
corated his
Hessian boots
danced in a jaunty fashion as
he walked.
Several fobs hung at his waist and
suspended around
his neck on a long, thin ribbon was a silver-mounted quizzing glass.

His dress suggested the
empty-headed
buffoon
but
,
although
Sir Seymour
’s
countenance wa
s as
amiable
and
open
as his manners
,
the
keen
way he
looked
out upon th
e world gave a
clue to the
intellect
behind
his appearance
.

Unfashionably,
Sir Seymour adored his wife.
He was
one of the richest men in England
as well as
one of the most fashion conscious,
but
he
had tramped
two
m
iles through deep
snow on his Gloucestershire estate last Christmas
, dressed
in an old greatcoat and
leather breeches
,
in order
to oblige his spouse
by delivering
a food parcel
to a gravely
ill tenant
.
Sir Seymour and Harriet
had
been married for over
a year
,
according to
the
letter
s
Sophie had received from Olivia,
but
their affection was
clearly
deep, heartfelt and mutual
.
Th
e ardent glance h
e bestowed upon his wife
and the
way he kissed her
hand
when he came into the room
made Sophie wish
she
too
c
ould
be
so loved
one day.
T
his directed her though
ts to
wards
Theo, but she wrenched
them
back
from that
futile route
to concentrate
on what Olivia was saying,
“
…and Lady Dinniscombe
and
Sir Seymour have
made
me
most
welcome.
”

Sophi
e
,
noting
Olivia’s
glowing features,
t
houg
ht she had never seen her
looking more beautiful, or more confide
nt.
She wore a
primrose-coloured morning dress of fine cambric, with trimmings of muslin Van-dyked at the edge.
She was
blossoming
under Harriet and Sir Seymou
r
’s
care
, although Olivia
’s
next comment made Sophie
realize
there was another reason.

“
Mr
.
Grey has called
several times
,
”
explaine
d Olivia
.
“
H
e asks a
bout you
, Sophie, and
says he intends to visit you
soon.
”

“
Excellent
fellow,
”
observed Sir Seymour, nodding.

“D
o you know
Mr
.
Grey well
?
”
inquire
d
So
phie, trying to sound nonchalant.

“
I know him throu
gh
…
er
…
official channels
,
”
said
Sir Seymour
,
looking
a little
uncomfortable
.

Sop
hie would have asked more,
but Harriet int
ervened.

“
How are you finding
London,
Miss
Devereux
?
”

“
Very well,
although I have not managed to see
as much of it as I would like
.
”

“D
oes
your cousin Peregrine
escort you?
”
Seeing her guest
’s
look of surprise
,
Harriet continued
with a smile,
“
I hope you do not min
d.
Olivia has told me
abou
t
your situation
.
She is
worried
her brother will
make a nuisance of himself
where you are concerned
.
”

“
Is he
, Sophie?
”
asked
Olivia.
“
He has called here but once and
,
although I quizzed him, he would not be drawn into conversation about you.
”

“
Not r
eally.
I
have managed to avoid him so far, d
espite James
and his Mama
encouraging
me
otherwise.
”

Olivia
’s
brows rose.
“D
on
’t
they understand
what sort of a man he is?
”

“
I don
’t
believe they do
,
”
said
Sophie.

S
ir Seymour tapped
his quizzing glass against his lower lip, his expression thoughtful
.
“
Perhaps
it would be wise if you talked
to Lord Verney again about
Peregrine
.
”

“
I have tried,
”
confessed Sophie,
“
but
James and Lady Verney are determined
to find me a suitor quickly.
”

“
But what is this?
Your
friendship with James
has not been re
kindled then?
”
said Olivia, giving her
a
puzzled,
searching look.

A flush stole into Sophie
’s
cheeks.
“
W
e have
agreed we would not suit.
”

“
I see,
”
said Olivia, after a pause.
“T
his changes matters completely.
But then who is L
ord Verney considering
a
suitable
—
”
Seeing
S
ophie
’s
wry
expression, Olivia squeaked in disbelief,
“
Perry!
”

“
I fear so,
”
she replied
.
“
James is to be married soon
—
the betrothal has not yet been announced because the lady is
still in black gloves.
I can
’t
blame him for being reluctant to expla
in my presence to Lady Penelope Crighton, but he
wil
l consider no alternative
.
He
is
intransigent on the subject
of me living with a chaperon
e
and t
he
only
solution as far a
s James is concerned is for me to marry
.
”

A
heavy
f
rown
had
descended on Sir Seymour
’s
brow
.
He studied Sophie
through his quizzing glass,
but
made no further comment and shortly
afterward
,
he and
Harri
et
left
, leaving Sophie and Olivia alone.

When Sophie asked Olivia if
she
had heard from her mother
, Olivia nodded and lost no time in vo
icing her concerns
.

“S
ophie, I dread the thought of going back!
Sir Seymour and Lady Dinniscombe
have been so kind and
I’m
ashamed to say I
haven
’t
missed Mama or Perry at all.
What about you?
How are things in Brook Street?
I’m
so
sorry t
o hear about you and James.
I
know how much you were looking forward to seeing him again.
”

The colour in Sophie
’s
cheeks deepened
, but
she
said firmly,
“
W
e
’
ve both changed
and m
arriage is out of the question.
You
mustn
’t
think
I’m
sad about it
, though, because
I’m
not.
James has grown so pompous I hardly recognise him.
”
She
gave a deep sigh.
“
I feel incredibly
stupid
and
naïve
,
Livvy, but
I can
’t
regret
wha
t has happened.
I
f I hadn
’t
tried to reach James,
we
might never have got
away from Ludstone
.
What has Sir Seymour said about
Mr
Grey?
”

“
Very little,
”
replied
Olivia
.
“
Both Lady Dinniscombe
and Sir Seymour seem on good terms with him,
b
ut I don
’t
know where they met
or how long
they have been acquainted
.
He visits regularly,
but
he spends most
of the
time
with Sir Seymour
in the
study
discussing business
.
”

A
little smile
curved Sophie
’s
lips
.
“
I’m
sure he
does not call purely
for the pleasure
of Sir Seymour
’s
company.
”