Cousin Prudence (12 page)

“Poor little thing; I trust it was quite safe?” asked Prudence.

Diana regarded her with approval.

“Yes, I recaptured it and put it outside
,” she said, “but you are right,” and she leaned forward “Cousin Kitty, is Uncle Gervase to be expected?”

“He should have been here by now, Diana
,” said Kitty, “oh dear!  I wonder what can be keeping him? Do you think he has been hurt in that horrid place he visits to go boxing?”

“Don’t fret, Kitty
,” said Lady Katherine, looking in approval on Prudence for her handling of Diana, “Gervase is only tardy when it suits him or when he has a good

reason for it; indeed I hear his tread upon the stair.  Kitty, you may ring for breakfast to be served.”

Gervase Marquess Alverston came in with the Honourable Arthur Alver.  Mr Alver looked a trifle tousled.

Lady Katherine raised an eyebrow.

“Arthur?  What has been going on?”

“Now no need to fret, Aunt Mouser
,” Alverston spoke quickly, “Arthur was engaged in the rescue of a damsel in distress who had strayed – as green girls are wont to do” here he cast a wicked glance at Prudence “ – into haunts where delicately brought up females ought not to stray.  He got himself into a bit of a mill over it.”

“And Uncle Gervase rescued me as well as Miss Bullivant
,” said Arthur, half gratitude, half resentment in his tone, “and we saw her back to her lodgings.  She is such a sweet girl, and so innocent!”

“The girl is the eldest of a hopeful family and is the daughter of the manse somewhere in Buckinghamshire
,” said Alverston, “and quite unsuited to be let out on her own; Arthur was quite correct in defending her, for the girl did not even think to strike the rude fellow who was trying to force an acquaintance,” again his eye met Prudence’s with a laughing twinkle. “It is of course quite commendable that vicars should be of otherworldly demeanour but I fear poor preparation for their offspring that their daughters be quite green and their sons er clunches.”

Prudence smiled brightly.

“But perhaps it is a sign of inherent goodness that such a young lady not realise even the existence of such bogey men or even ogres?” she said.

“Touché
,”  said the Marquess appreciatively.

Diana was frowning.

“Uncle Gervase, you are teasing Miss Blenkinsop and in a manner I cannot follow,” she said severely.

“That, my poppet,
is because you were not
supposed
to follow it,” said Alverston, “it was a private joke.”

Diana digested this.

“Uncle Gervase, Mama said I might ask you if I may come and use your library because Hendy has measles,” she returned to the major topic in her mind.

“Poor Miss Henderson!” said Alverston “Well if mama says you may, then certainly I shall give orders that you are to be admitted at any hour of day or night but that if it is after your bedtime, Mrs Robertson shall spank you and take you home again.”

Diana pulled a face at him.

“
NOW you are teasing ME!” she said.

“Yes.  Satisfied?” said Alverston.

“Well I am grateful to use your library.  I don’t think you ought to tease Miss Blenkinsop, Uncle Gervase, I like her and she isn’t afraid of mice and she used to climb trees and her first idea of entertainment was to find a lending library.”

“Well in that case I must make Miss Blenkinsop – and of course Mr and Mrs Knightley –  free of my library too
,” said Alverston, “and that is a genuine offer; not a tease.  The lending libraries have an eclectic selection but not necessarily edifying reads.  Some of the novels that they hold are distinctly poor in both tone and style, your mama, Diana, is correct I think not to permit you unlimited rein in such.   Few write as well as Sir Walter Scott or Miss Austen, nor with such distinction of tone.”

“Once again my family is indebted to you, My Lord
,” said George, “for we are all avid readers, and though we had only had time to make a few visits to the lending library we have been sadly disappointed in the lack of choice.”

Breakfast with Lady Katherine was a more robust meal than was fashionable since Lady Katherine came from a more robust age and did not believe in ‘merely maudling her inside with tea and thin toast’.  Thin toast and conserve there was a-plenty but also cold meats and bread hot from the oven and eggs cooked in a variety of ways.

Gervase Lord Alverston certainly did the meal justice, so Prudence felt in no wise constrained to pretend to do otherwise.

Chapter 16

The first Almack’s meeting of the season was on the twenty fourth of April; the sky was dark as the Knightley ménage hurried to that most prestigious of clubs, for the waning moon had set long since, its narrow sliver having descended ere the sun as though scurrying to bed ashamed of its shrunken appearance.  The many lights of
London’s night life quite drowned the darkness in ripples of brightness and pools of shadow that robbed the stars of their brilliance.

“Dear me, how very confusing all this is to be sure
,” said Emma, “and how I miss the stars that shine so crisply at Hartfield!”

“The stars shine as brightly over Hartfield still
,” said George, “unless it is overcast there, which blankets any stars no matter how much the eyes may be dazzled with all this light from lanthorns and the gas lighting; dear me, how dark it was and how dangerous the streets before gas lighting was laid on less than ten years ago, and over the last few years, substantial area of the city have become illuminated!”

“It is made by some form of distillation of coal, I know that
,” said Prudence, “my father was much impressed by the lighting of a mill by this method in Manchester and introduced it to his mill; and as I was about ten I was interested enough in such things, and cheeky enough to ask the engineers who set it up, how it worked.  Papa is interested in having everything as modern and efficient as may be, for the safety and health of his work force as well as to make the better profit in the long run.”

“Your father is an excellent employer
,” said George, “and I am glad that he has always encouraged you to take an interest; as I was encouraged to take an interest in the land that I inherited.  Modernisation and experimentation are the way forward in the exciting age in which we live.

In the same way I have been instituting underdraining as well as ploughing marl into our heavy soil, and making sure to grow clover to refresh the land and provide a sweet nourishment for the cattle.”

“Dear me!” said Prudence, “I did not realise there was so much technical knowledge required to farm!  There is always so much to learn, is there not?”

“Oh yes!” said Emma, squeezing her husband’s arm “And George is so knowledgeable and such a good teacher!”

“Oh I learn all the time myself,” said George, “ah, and here we are; you have our vouchers, Emma?”

Emma removed the vouchers which she had taken charge of from her muff; and soon they were within the fabled halls of Almack’s!

Prudence felt quite dazzled by the lights and colour of Almack’s, the number of people and the dazzling array of fine gowns and glittering jewels.

She was dressed in the white Indian muslin gown with its train – which would need to be pinned up to dance, which seemed a ludicrous fashion to go to a ball in yet nevertheless expected –  that was embroidered in white and gold by herself and Hester to her own designs.  A quick glace at other embroidered Indian muslins showed many that were more gaudy; but few, Prudence thought with a degree of smugness, so tasteful and so well wrought to follow the line of the gown.  She wore pearls – they had belonged to her mother – as a jewel suitable for a young girl; and the choker necklace, reset to modern taste at her father’s suggestion, emphasised the slender column of Prudence’s elegant neck. 

Emma was in no wise outshone by any of the other women there, save by the glittering few.  Her gown was perhaps simpler in cut than some but held the classic elegance that suited Emma so well; and the dark rich silk was a contrast to so many in pale muslins.  There was little chance that Emma, who was shining with happiness to be

at Almack’s with her George, would be taken for one of the dowagers; but her status as a married woman made her an eligible chaperone for Prudence, however absurd that appeared in the light of Emma’s obvious youth!

The newcomers were greeted by Lady Jersey, who had offered them patronage.

“Mr and Mrs Knightley; Miss Blenkinsop.  I am
so
glad you could come,” said Lady Jersey.  Prudence wondered how glad she really was.  The Patroness added “I see Gervase twisted my arm to include a lady tall enough not to make him look such a quiz when dancing as he does with the shorter ladies… I NEVER stand up with him myself; the long and the short of it would have nothing on it!” and she gave a trilling laugh.

“Lord Alverston is indeed built on generous lines
,” said Prudence gravely, “he will therefore probably marry a lady of less than five feet tall and obey her implicitly in all things.”

Sally Jersey gave her trilling laugh again.

“La, my dear, you are a wit too; Gervase was quite correct to ask for vouchers for you!” she said “I hope you may enjoy yourself!”

And it was obvious that Prudence was dismissed to take her place with the other ladies hopeful to be asked to dance.

It was the rule at Almack’s that a woman had to accept the invitation of the first man to ask her to dance; or else she had signalled that she intended to sit out the evening.

Emma had no intention of sitting out for the evening and so accepted Mr Alver’s invitation.  She had wondered whether his encounter with the shy and green Miss Bullivant the vicar’s daughter from Buckinghamshire – which description sounded like some version of the game of consequences – had robbed him of his infatuation for her; and was sorry if it had not. Intercourse on the dance floor however soon informed Emma that Mr Alver’s fickle

affections might well be in the process of transferring to Miss Bullivant since he did not gaze on Emma with such

blatant adoration and seemed a little embarrassed.  It spoke well of his gentlemanly instincts, since he had promised to stand up with his dear Mrs Knightley at Almack’s that he carried through that promise even though his heart was undergoing a metamorphosis. Emma was as kind to him as always and he thanked her kindly for the dance.

George did his duty by Prudence meanwhile for the first dance; and noted that Alverston was there already though the hour was not advanced.  It would hardly be proper however for Alverston to single out Prudence for her first dance ever at Almack’s.

Alverston came up to Prudence for the second country measure and bowed.

“Will you partner me for this dance?” he asked.

Prudence curtseyed.

“Why My Lord I believe I should be delighted!” she said “Do you then pack your manners to bring to Almack’s?”

He laughed.

“I should hardly dare do otherwise for fear of being blackballed
,” he said.  “If I ask permission of the patronesses, will you stand up with me in the waltz?”

Prudence flushed.

“I do know the steps,” she said, “but I have never danced it with a man and rarely with a more animate partner than a pelisse stuffed with cushions. I should warn you in case I am not any good at the steps.  Cousin George was going to permit me to practice with him, but I had not expected to be permitted it until much later in the season.”

“Why I am certain that you have learned the steps well enough; though I trust I shall be a more accomplished dancer than your pelisse!” said Alverston.  “I shall relish the opportunity to give you the practice myself; and if you find yourself in difficulties I am not above counting the measure for you as I have done for my sisters before now!”

“Then if permission is granted I shall accept with the greatest of pleasure,” said Prudence, “for it looks a most exhilarating and energetic dance from what I have seen!”

“What, more exhilarating than driving at speed?” teased Alverston.

“Oh that is a question I cannot be expected to answer,” said Prudence, “since I have never learned to drive, nor, may I say, have I had any inclination to learn; and I believe I am not about to start wishing to learn now.”

“Do you know, Miss Blenkinsop, almost any other young lady of my acquaintance would answer that question with a coy look and a comment that as they have never driven behind my bays with me at the ribbons they could not truly answer.  You are one of the first girls I have met who has not angled for me to take them driving.”

“Lord Alverston, I should think it quite pushing to ask in so hinting and oblique a fashion; if I were in a position to ask favours of you I should ask outright,” said Prudence, “and as you have already done me so many favours that my honour at least is mortgaged to you for a goodly length of time I would not be likely to ask.”

“Would you like to go driving with me?” he asked.