Cousin Prudence (21 page)

Prudence had meanwhile managed to instruct Alison how to launder Mr Woodhouse’s linen without making it properly starched; the efficient maid found it scandalous that she should compromise her skill.

“Humour the old man
,” said Prudence, “he is more concerned with comfort than with style; and at his age, why should he not be?  It is only the leaving out of a process of the laundering.  That feckless piece in the village, poor woman, never starches his points at all; and nor should you.  He will not notice, save that he might notice that the linen is softer for your careful ironing which is most excellently done.”

Alison was flattered to be praised and agreed to humour the old man, whom she privately described to her sister, who was in service with the Westons, as a ‘silly old gaga with a maggot in the head about his imagined illnesses and only happy when he had something to be Friday-faced about’. 

Still, the position was a good one, the food for the servants not skimped on, though there were no rich leftovers to be had because the family ate frugally and plainly themselves – another of the old man’s maggots in

the head as Alison described it – but there was no doubt that the servants were not overworked nor treated with unkindness nor disrespect.  Mrs Emma was a fine housekeeper and scrupulous too – there was no putting any may game over her – but a good manager right enough; real Quality was Mrs Emma, ready with a word of praise as quickly as of censure, and Miss Prudence the same.

It may be said that the staff had less respect for the worthy Mrs Isabella although she was considered a kindly mistress in Mrs Emma’s absence.

Emma had raised an eyebrow or two at the way the weekly bills had risen during Isabella’s tenure in her stead and there had been a sudden rush on the part of Cook and Alison and Cowley to justify themselves for the extra expenses.  Emma permitted them to discuss the need to feed the nursery maids and the children and light their rooms before pointing out one or two ways where this might have been done more economically and hoped that should she leave Hartfield in Isabella’s care again the servants might recall her words and be guided by memories of her disapproba
tion since they were clearly
not
guided by Isabella.

“I am not
, I think,
mean,
” said Emma to Prudence, “but just because one is more than comfortably off does not mean that one should be in any wise
profligate
.”

“I quite agree, my dear
Emma,” said Prudence, “and I feel just as you do; some economies may be false, such as purchasing any but the best wax candles; but there is no need to throw money away lest you find it all rolls into the River Tick .  Only wealth generates wealth after all; and one wishes something to leave for children and grandchildren.”

They did not however say anything to poor Isabella who was, after all, in indifferent health and could not be expected to be as firm a mistress of Hartfield as Emma.

Chapter 27

Alverston arrived back in London at almost ten o’clock on the second Wednesday in May, under the baleful eye of a red moon not yet full.  He thought that the best chance he would have of seeing Prudence at such a time was to get to Almack’s; and he almost scrambled into evening clothes, to the shock of his valet, dressing in the ridiculously short time of some forty minutes; and even choosing a simpler style than normal in which to tie his cravat.  He fell into the door of Almack’s as the doorkeeper was coming to lock it.

“Welcome back to town My Lord; you are just in time
,” said that worthy.

“And no thanks to the deer that ran across the road and caused my cattle to shy that I had to check they were unharmed
,” said Alverston, “thank you for your welcome….”

The coin slid neatly and easily out of sight.

Alverston checked his appearance in the mirror in the entrance; decided that sometimes good enough really was just good enough; and walked into the ballroom, looking around for Miss Blenkinsop.

He could not see her.

Her height should set her apart from all other ladies, even seated…….

Alverston frowned.

He did not believe that a woman of fortitude like Miss Blenkinsop would eschew Almack’s during his absence; she had too much delicacy of spirit to be so discourteous.  He started to look around for someone who might tell him whether the Knightley ménage were in good health.

“Gervase!  Georgie did not tell me you were back in town!”

Lady Elvira had him surrounded and thoroughly rompéd thought Gervase.

“Largely because, my dear Elvira, Georgie is only now recognising me and realising the matter herself
,” he drawled, “I arrived in town just an hour ago.”

Elvira gave a little scream of delight.

“Oh GERVASE! And you just scrambled into evening wear to come to Almack’s to see
me
?” she laid a plump white hand on his arm.

“Well to come to Almack’s any way
,” said Gervase.  “I was hoping to see the Knightley family actually.”

Elvira gave a screaming little laugh.

“Oh the provincials?  But Gervase my dear, you are quite out of luck; they have left town, for good it is said; I expect that they found some shabby-genteel to marry that wretched girl too; poor creature, QUITE unmarriageable at that size; no wonder she fled the ridicule.  I gather you made a game of her by taking her up behind those dreadful colts you are breaking; and she has fled in hopes of avoiding you as much as anything else,” and she gave her affected little laugh again, “it’s all over town that you taught the mushrooms a lesson and then dropped them you know!”

She faltered and fell back a step; Alverston’s face blazed with fury and his swarthy skin was taught across his cheekbones and as pale as it ever got, his eyes grey ice.  He shook her encroaching hand from his arm and strode out of Almack’s.

Lord Greyling was enjoying a game of loo, but he knew when to throw in his hand; and when his wife said ‘Roger I need you to take me out of here
,’ in that tone of voice was one of them.

He meekly accompanied Georgiana out of the assembly rooms and left her giving orders to the coachman to take them to Alverston’s.

Presumably it was something to do with that prime bit of goods Alverston had been wont to let warm his bed

once, since Georgie had cast a fulminating glance on Lady Elvira; but Roger Wrexham Earl of Greyling, who loved his wife dearly, preferred to leave any thinking that did not involve land management or the fall of cards to Georgiana.

Georgiana had a key to her brother’s house; and proceeded to let herself in. 

Alverston was, as she had guessed, in the library.  He was pouring a stiff drink that did not look as though it was his first.

Georgiana adroitly relieved him of both glass and decanter and handed them to her husband.

“Roger, take this away and dispose of it.  You may as well drink what he has poured out,” she said.

“Yes dear
,” said Roger, who did not despise Alverston’s best brandy at any time.

He took it away to a small parlour where he and it were unlikely to be disturbed.

“Gervase,” said Georgiana, “
what
did that vulgar creature say that had you storm out with an expression I’ve not seen on your face since papa whipped you for the window that Percy broke?”

He looked at her.

“Is it true that the story is all around town that I amused myself making a fool of Prudence Blenkinsop?” he demanded.  Georgiana stared.

“I never heard such ridiculous rubbish in all my life
,” she said.  “I have a letter from Pru for you as it happens; Emma’s father was taken ill so they left in a hurry to be with him.  As all the world knows; Pru even managed to write a quick note to Lady Jersey, so far from being in any ridicule she’s in rare good odour with the leaders of fashion. Are you sober enough to read it?  I have it in my reticule on the principle that when you DO turn up from having been out of town it’s as likely to be somewhere unexpected as anywhere.”

“I had not had time to get drunk
,” admitted Gervase, “I had only had the one glass.  So she does not hate me and did not try to put as much distance between herself and me as possible as Elvira hinted?”

“Oh
Elvira
!” snorted Georgiana “She and I have already had high words because she was expecting to get you into the parson’s mousetrap…”

“GEORG
IE!  Where did you come by
that
vulgarity?” demanded Gervase.

“You I think.  Unless it was Percy
,” shrugged Georgiana, “doesn’t one usually learn vulgarity from one’s brothers?”

“Well if it was I then I apologise….leg-shackled I will accept from my sister
but…. She was expecting to
marry
me?”

“She seemed to think it was all over bar the ring on her finger; as I said, I disabused her, said you had a father to ask permission of but that there was an understanding…. I’m not wrong am I?” she said anxiously.

“Well I hope not,” said her brother.  “On what terms did you leave Pru – uh, Miss Blenkinsop?”

“Sisterly
,” said Georgiana firmly.  “Now just read the letter; I am quite sure that Pru puts anything in a far better way than I could. I am going to separate Roger from your Napoleon Brandy before he starts giggling. There’s nothing quite as unbecoming as a middle aged man giggling.”

“At least Roger becomes genial in his cups; it was the test I enacted before I let him marry you
,” said Gervase.

She paused.

“Oh Gervase! How very sweet you can be!” she said, much affected, before going in search of her husband.

Gervase Alver Lord Alverston broke the wafer on the letter which his sister passed him.  The scent from it was more reminiscent of Georgie’s reticule than of Prudence; but one could not have everything.

He read the firm, boyish cursive script.

“
My dear Gervase,

M
ay I say that although you may be able to SPELL Prudence with facility I fear that often you are less apt at observing it.  If I am to marry you it would be my duty as your wife to attempt to curb such distressing tendencies, but may I say I hope I shall not altogether succeed
.

“To get to the burden of my budget of news; Emma’s father has fallen ill and we must return forthwith to Hartfield.  We had planned to return in any case for his peace of mind, but had intended to await your return that we might see you ere going and talk about the letter that you wrote to me.  Unfortunately this development has necessitated a change of plan. 

I hope when you read this you will communicate with me concerning any future plans that might be made.

Trusting that this will find you in good health; and may I say, My Dear Lord, that I hold you in the Greatest Regard.

Your(largely) obedient servant, Prudence Blenkinsop.

P.S. at least my handwriting is legible.”

Alverston gave a shout of laughter, having smiled his way through reading it.

“Ah, but Miss Blenkinsop, I
do
intend to have Prudence for the rest of my life,” he said to himself.    “John; I need John.  Damn, the nags are tired…..”

Georgiana came back into the room.

“You are
not
to set out right away,” she said firmly, “you may not be foxed but you
are
bosky, drinking brandy on an empty stomach and besides, what good will it avail you to arrive at past two o’clock in the morning?  Go and sleep for a few hours; it will do you the world of good and then you will not look like a bedlamite and worry the life out of Pru.  I will have a servant wake you.”

“Paulson will see to that
,” said Alverston.

“No he won’t
,” said Georgiana, “he’s eloped with Clara Bullivant.  I have no idea why he needed to elope but perhaps when they return he might tell someone.  Arthur

went haring off to Hartfield to cry on George and Emma’s shoulders.  Best place for him; out of the way somewhere with sensible keepers. He has less sense than Diana.”

“Alas that your are correct,” said Gervase. “Very well; I shall be gone early.  I don’t know when I shall be back.  I shall pack a valise or two to stay; whether I shall or not I do not know.  There has to be an inn of some sort there.”

“Take care you pudding-head
,” said his sister lovingly.