Cousin Prudence (8 page)

The day was fortunately fine when Emma and Prudence sallied forth to ride in Hyde Park; they might, another time, walk in St James’ Park which was open to pedestrians only save with the licence of the crown where favoured notables might drive in their carriages.  Emma had a desire to see the deer and too the cattle in St James’ park in order to compare them to George’s own beasts to see whether or not these royal cattle – whose milk was on sale to the public at midday when they were milked – were in any wise superior to those of their own herds.  Privately Emma doubted that they would be; for cattle subjected to the curious scrutiny of those not familiar with farming might not be expected to be so content as their own wonderful beasts. Today, however, they were to ride, and to air their new redingotes for the purpose, Prudence’s being in olive green wool with black trimming and frogging in her favourite military style, which she carried off so well with her statuesque figure; and Emma’s in Madonna blue trimmed with white velvet.  They made an attractive pair, and turned a few heads, though there were few riders in the park this early in the season.  George had decided to accompany them after all, at least initially, leaving them to Joseph once he was certain that the escort of just a groom would not be looked at askance.  George had no wish for either his wife or cousin to be viewed with opprobrium!

“Who is that man over there I wonder who looks at us and seems to be approaching?” wondered Emma.

Prudence glanced over and colour rose to her cheeks.

“That – that is Alverston; Mr Alver’s cross uncle
,” she said.

“Mr Alverston has a different yet similar name?” Emma was intrigued. “Forgive me dear cousin but I cannot think it nice to just use his surname, the way Mrs Elton has referred to George” she added.  Prudence shook her head quickly.

“He is
Lord
Alverston…. So it is, I think correct to just refer to his title; that is why the name bears a resemblance but is differentiated; I told Uncle Henry but I think you were not there….”

Alverston had approached within earshot so she said no more; and it was apparent on a horse and less elevated in height by comparison to her that he was a very tall man indeed, even allowing for his large and sturdy mount.  The ladies and George bowed a greeting, which Alveston returned.

“Miss Blenkinsop!  I pray you to introduce me!” said Alverston “Though I fear you may be at a disadvantage; I fear I was rude enough, in my concern for my nephew and a familial connection to leave without furnishing you with my name!”

“Why Lord Alverston
,” said Prudence, “your man John was quick to furnish me with your consequence in case I should in any way fail to recognise it!  Cousin Emma, Cousin George, permit me to introduce you to the Marquess of Alverston, the best driver in all the land who can even take poor roads safely at speed.  Your Lordship, my cousins, Mr and Mrs Knightley.”

“Your servant, ma’am, Mr Knightley
,” said the marquess.  “John is a trifle partisan; I hear his words in your introduction.”

Prudence smiled.

“He was induced to admit that there was a great deal of enjoyment to be had in travelling so fast – there was an implication of trusting the one who drove – but that too many people seek that exhilaration without  having the skill to handle it,” she said. 

“You will not find my nephew so ill prepared for the road now; I have trained the cub to the point he almost hated driving
,” said Alverston, “I understand the silly whelp had to deliver his apology in person since he was so foolish as to permit his puppy to eat the written version?”

“Oh he said all that was proper; it was most civil of him to rectify his poor little dog’s appetite by seeking me out in person
,” said Prudence.  “He is very young.”

Alverston gave a harsh laugh.

“Ah, excellent; you have not fallen prey to his good looks and winning manners,” he said. “He will grow up well enough I dare say; but he is no fit suitor for any woman yet.  Though I have heard nothing but how lovely Mrs Knightley is from Arthur,” he bowed to George, “and if I may be permitted to say so, he did not exaggerate!  Miss Blenkinsop, how fortunate you ladies must find it that you are cast in two different moulds than none can compare one with the other!” he wore half a sneer.

“Oh I cannot be compared to Cousin Emma; she is the most beautiful girl I have ever seen!” said Prudence, warmly, smiling at Emma.

“And you are regal in your height!” said Emma quickly.

The lines of cynicism faded on Alverston’s face.

“A word of advice if you will take it,” he said, “to see such generous affection between cousins is a rare and beautiful thing; do not permit any of the old cats that you will meet in the town try to come between you.”

“My wife and our cousin have, I think, too much good sense to listen to harmful gossip
,” said George, “but the advice is heeded.  And if your nephew is in town, I will not think ill of him should he wish to be much in our company until his sudden er admiration has run its course.  Mrs Knightley does not play games.”

Alverston nodded.

“My thanks,” he said.  “Miss Blenkinsop!  Shall I be seeing you and your escort at Almack’s?”

“No My Lord
,” said Prudence, “even my cousin, whose birth is better than mine, does not move in the sort of circles that attend such a ….rarefied place.”

His eyebrow and the corner of his mouth both twitched.

“Rarefied?  A singular choice of words,” he said.  “Your speech does not in any wise suggest that you would be out of place there.”

“Sir, I am the daughter of a Mill Owner
,” said Prudence, with simple dignity, “and wealth may purchase education, but not social standing.  My mother, Emma’s aunt, was however gently born and my father desires for me the same advantages that she had; and I fancy that Almack’s would have been above her touch also.”

“Then, Miss Blenkinsop, I have a way in which I might make amends for my rudeness in failing to help you personally and leaving only John and his biased opinions
,” said Alverston, “I have a good knowledge of the Patronesses; and I might put your name forward, and that of Mr and Mrs Knightley as suitable candidates for vouchers; and then you might duly purchase them and make use of Almack’s as a further launch upon the social scene.”

“You are very good sir!” Prudence almost stammered “It is a favour beyond the mild offence that was quite understandable under the circumstances!”

“It is a matter that is easy for me; and so no great favour,” said Alverston.

“In that case I am happy to accept
,” said Prudence with a little bow.

He smiled.

“Good girl!  I thought you had sufficient instincts as a lady as well as pride that you would not be stiff necked about it – but would cavil as a mushroom would not,” he said.

“My cousin is indeed the soul of gentility
,” said Emma defensively.

“Oh Mrs Knightley, have I not just said so?” said the marquess. “Will you let me have your address so that I may pass it on to the Patronesses?”

George readily furnished the marquess with their address and Alverton nodded, committing it to memory.  He raised his hat briefly and rode off.

“I thought you said he was disagreeable?” said Emma.

“Well he was rather on the road,” said Prudence, “it is kind of him to wish to make amends; I rather ticked him off for trying to buy me off.”

George laughed.

“I would say that he is a hard man a lot of the time, and something of a cynic; he was truly admiring my dears that you are ready to defend each other so readily and he finds that a welcome breath of fresh air in a society where, as I understand it, the rivalry to be noticed on the social scene can be intense.  I would also say,” he added, “that terrified of him as Mr Alver may be, he would be a man that a nephew might go to in serious trouble.  I should also say that he would make a bad enemy but a good friend.”

Prudence laughed, flushing slightly, though she was not sure why.

“Oh now that he has discharged any obligation we are unlikely to be on friendly terms with a noble lord!” she said.

“What did you mean about Mr Alver, George?” asked Emma.

“Why, had you not noticed?” said George “Alverston had; Arthur Alver has conceived an infatuation for you that, if permitted to run its course will die down in due course.  I intimated that you would neither rebuff nor encourage him but would behave with every propriety until the fascination wears off of its own accord.”

“Dear me!” said Emma “I fear I never noticed; you see he seemed to me much like a bigger version of small Henry!”

“I also missed noticing,” said Prudence, “how wise you are, Cousin George!  Alverston will be much relieved!  But I thought he was in love with….”

“With whom?” asked Emma.

“Oh, he was with a lady when Alverston was chasing him; I promised not to mention any names,” said Prudence, “his man John was upset that he had been indiscreet and I gave my word I should not discuss it.”

“Then of course you must not, dear cousin
,” said Emma. “Well it appears his infatuations must be as short lived as they are violent; Lord Alverston has quite a charge upon his hands!”

“I certainly am glad not to stand in his shoes
,” said George, “and think better of him for taking a stern attitude!  Yet he is indulgent for all that to give time to training the boy in better driving techniques!  I am agreeably surprised in him.”

Chapter 11

The first visitor to come to the Knightley residence was the Honourable Mr Arthur Alver who declared that he had come by to pay his respects.

“I can be in town all season because I was rusticated from Oxford for the rest of the year as it happened so close to the end of term
,” he said, “which will be very fortunate!  And a chance to show you about town, Mrs Knightley and Miss Blenkinsop, before the season proper starts; for most people will not begin arriving until after Easter and it’s confoundedly late this year.”

“Yes, we were hoping to attend
St Paul’s magnificent cathedral for the services,” said Emma.  Mr Alver, who was in the habit of skipping any service he might get away with, brightened.

“Then permit me to add my escort to that of Mr Knightley for any service you wish to attend!” he said.

Emma gave him an austere nod.

“That would be most civil of you Mr Alver
,” she said “Pray, however, enlighten my ignorance!  What is ‘rusticated’ and what was it that happened?”

“Oh it is to be sent down temporarily in a cloud of disciplinary opprobrium
,” said Mr Alver, “as opposed to being Sent Down which is to say utterly cast out.  It happens to plenty of chaps and I suppose if Charles and I had to have a duel when we were a little bit the worse for wear it would have been more sensible not to have done it in so public a fashion.”

“I should think that duelling would be every reason for the authorities to be angered!” said Emma, shocked
, “was your opponent hurt?”

“Charles? Lud no!” said Arthur “He got very wet though; we were fencing with boating poles standing in punts and he lost his balance trying a circular parry.  Funniest thing I ever saw; well worth being rusticated for. 

I was at fault of course; Charles is a dear friend of mine, but if he doesn’t expect to be insulted he should never wear such unfortunate waistcoats.  He aspires to be a dandy and succeeds in being a fribble! As if aspiration is the right term for such a degree of foppishness!”

Mr Alver could never be said – even by Prudence –
to aspire to incipient foppishness; he affected a style as close to that of his uncle as he could manage, save that on his youthfully narrow shoulders the excess of driving capes on his coat looked more ridiculous than otherwise.  Since, apart from the capes, the Corinthian style in its less extreme reaches turned out a very smart youth whose curls could never achieve the fashionable windswept look  to mar that impression, Mr Alver’s attire made a good impression on the Knightleys.  His biscuit coloured pantaloons were scarcely creased at all and fitted well to a leg used to exercise; and if his hessians were not so brightly polished as those of his uncle – Prudence had wondered at the gloss – and his cravat not tied in quite such intricate folds, he was very well turned out. 

“Excuse me, Mr Alver
,” said Prudence, “but is not the term Dandy used to indicate any man who follows fashion?”

Mr Alver wrinkled his nose.

“It’s more a term to indicate someone who takes an inordinate interest in fashion; we Corinthians would use it to apply to those who take on high kicks of fashion without necessarily any regard to taste.  The fashion we follow accentuates our interest in sport.  My friend Charles – who is a good sort of fellow in other respects – abhors all sport besides watching the racing.”