Cousin Prudence (9 page)

“Ah; then perhaps I was mistaken to use it as a description of your uncle
,” said Prudence.  Mr Alver paled.

“Indeed!” he said “I pray he will not hear of it!”

“Oh I used the term to his face,” said Prudence, “I was angry however; it was at our first meeting!”

“Oh, that explains it
,” said Mr Alver “He told me that he had his hair well combed by as spirited a young lady as he had ever met and that it was all my fault and that he…. Dear me, I forget what I was going to say,” he said hastily.

Prudence laughed.

“Oh I dare say his opinion of me, as mine of him, was less than complimentary,” she said, “but if I see him again, I must apologise to him for miscalling him.”

“It’s always worthwhile apologising to Alverston
,” said Mr Alver, “uncomfortable while doing it because he fixes you with that nasty eye of his and makes sarcastic comments.  But if you mean it, he’s pretty forgiving.  He quite understood the business of the punt poles when I told him that Charles had called me out and demanded that I name my weapons and it was the only thing I could think of on the spur of the moment that wasn’t lethal.”

“Almost commendable
,” murmured George with only a touch of irony.  A youthful sportsman probably could accidentally kill his friend if employing pistols or swords when he was not entirely sober.  A feckless youth, Mr Alver!  But by no means irredeemable.  George liked him much more than he liked Frank Churchill whom he considered utterly feckless.  And Mr Churchill’s charm of manner was too studied for George to like it as well as the frank and open manner of Mr Alver.  He had to agree with Emma that the youth was reminiscent of their nephew rendered older!

It was arranged that Mr Alver would also meet the family to walk the next day in St James’ Park; and if walking was less to his taste then riding, he was a polite enough youth not to say so.

Prudence had her opportunity to apologise to Lord Alverston the next day when the marquess met the group out walking and raised his hat politely.  It was a fine and sunny day and bid fair to remain so.

“Good grief, Uncle Gervase, up early in t
own and
walking
?” said Mr Alver tactlessly.

Gervase Marquess Alverston raised an eyebrow.

“I believe I am not entirely devoid of the ability to utilise my legs,” he said, “and as the Season is barely upon us, the exigencies of late nights have not robbed me entirely of my country habits.”

“My Lord, I am
given to believe that I owe
you
an apology,” said Prudence.

His angled eyebrows rose.

“Surely not!” he declared in mock horror.  She flushed.

“I am given to believe that I was not fully conversant with the niceties in which the term ‘dandy’ is employed
,” she said, “which being so I inadvertently used it incorrectly to describe you.  I have an abiding horror of insulting people by accident.”

“But not deliberately?” his eyebrow quirked again.

“Oh, if I insult anyone I should always wish to do so deliberately, My Lord,” she said, “and at the time I wished to convey scorn.  There is a subtle line of difference I believe.”

“How true!” said Alverston.  “And how splendid to find someone capable of distinguishing between; we must pick a quarrel over something else to be able the better to enjoy the fine distinction!”

“I believe sir, you are attempting to do so by being provoking,” said Prudence, “but with the first sunshine of this spring that looks as though it is actually in earnest I shall refuse to be provoked.  Moreover, I understood that as we have now mutually apologised, there should be no more animosity to lay between us; and indeed some measure of obligation on my part for your efforts on my behalf.”

He laughed.

“So you cannot be provoked unless your equanimity has been as thoroughly overturned as was your chaise?”

“Oh I have a temper, My Lord, but it takes much to rouse it
,” said Prudence, “though I must take exception to you reminding poor Mr Alver of his indiscretions concerning my chaise; for I have promised him that I have forgiven and forgotten the incident.”

“Ah, Arthur, my apologies
,” said Alverston. “I forgot that the incident was your affair as well as mine and that I was merely incidental, as Miss Blenkinsop points out so correctly.”

Prudence gave a gurgle of mirth.

“I fear, My Lord, that you are entirely unused to being merely incidental,” she said.

“It is not a state of affairs to which I am accustomed I admit
,” said Alverston.  Damn, she was quick! And ready too with verbal fencing…. A pity about her birth but…..  “I do not intend to hold so subsidiary a position as a matter of course,” he added.

“Oh no chance of that, Uncle Gervase
,” said Arthur cheerfully, “not now the betrothal is off and you’re back to being the ton’s most eligible bachelor.”

“Cub
,” said Alverston.

“Oh dear
,” said Prudence.  “I do trust Miss Fairlees is quite resigned to the matter?”

“She is quite delighted
,” said Gervase, “It was
not
an elopement, just a misunderstanding, and how the devil do you know her name?” he glared at Prudence.

She bit her lip.

“I would prefer not to say sir,” she said, “because it would be a case of breaking my word.”

Alverston glared at Mr Alver.

“Well I never said anything,” said that young gentleman defensively.

Alverston sighed.

“John!” he said “I suppose he shot off his mouth when shooting off my consequence?  Oh if you promised him not to mention it to preserve his skin as well as Miss Fairlees’ honour I’ll honour your promise and say nothing

to him.  But if you know it behoves me to explain that the betrothal was but a whimsy of our parents and came to naught.  Indeed, Miss Fairlees is to be presented this Season by my Aunt Katherine; I am sure that she will like to meet you, Miss Blenkinsop, and Mrs Knightley also.”

Mr Alver brightened.  If the Knightleys and their charge entered his cousin Kitty’s social orbit, then he would see more of Mrs Knightley.

“That is a splendid idea, Uncle Gervase!” he said “Kitty will just love Mrs Knightley!  And Miss Blenkinsop!” he added belatedly.

“Why so thought I” murmured Alverston.

“My Lord
,” said Prudence with some chill to her tone, “there is no need to introduce us to such a social sphere merely to ensure my silence over a misunderstanding.  I would never dream of mentioning the matter and would not have done so this day had you not been a protagonist in the affair.”

He frowned.

“My very good Miss Blenkinsop,” he said with hauteur, “the suggestion was not made with any concept of it being an inducement; merely that I felt that Miss Fairlees – who is by way of being a cousin of mine by some degree – might relish the friendship of young women her own age whose company I consider suitable and who have an air of both decorum and sense that would be a better example to her than some of the other young women she might meet in town.  Although bearing in mind some of the gooseish little fools there are to be found, I fear that is hardly a compliment.”

“Uncle Gervase rarely turns a compliment that isn’t two edged or decidedly barbed
,” supplied Mr Alver.

“You really are a tiresome cub
,” said Alverston.

Mr Alver grinned.

“He knows I’m right,” he said.

“Lord Alverston, if you feel that Miss Fairlees would enjoy our companionship then we are more than ready to meet her
,” said Emma.   “My cousin misunderstood the way in which you made the suggestion.”

“I must always be apologising to you My Lord
,” said Prudence, “I fear my more intemperate side rose; I am not used, you see, to the company of noble lords, never having met any – nor even any ignoble lords for that matter – and I am a trifle suspicious therefore of any motives of one condescending to one of my birth.”

“Miss Blenkinsop; I like the way you meet my eyes and tell the truth
,” said Alverston, “and if you would like my opinion you and your cousin are ten times more ladylike than many of my own estate.  Kitty – er, Miss Fairlees – could not ask for better examples of deportment, for though your manners are lively there is nothing in them to disgust. And you too have a becoming modesty as well as no unseemly desire to hide your birth and pretend to be other than what you are; and that is a girl who is a worthy daughter of her mother, that gives me too a respect for your father in so rearing you.”

Prudence flushed.

“Then I thank you,” she said. 

Chapter 12

Miss Kitty Fairlees was not to be coming to town until the Season opened fully, after Easter; so the Knightley ménage took the opportunity to find their way about London.  An invitation to purchase vouchers for Almack’s had duly arrived too from Sally, Lady Jersey; and Prudence was glad that Lord Alverston had not placed her under obligation to him by buying them as well as arranging for their availability; for at ten guineas a time that would have been a considerable debt.  She begged George and Emma to permit her to purchase their vouchers however as a token of her appreciation for putting themselves out to chaperone her; and George considered and decided that it was in order to accept such a gift.  He did not, himself, anticipate much pleasure at Almack’s save if he got to dance with Emma; but Emma would enjoy herself hugely and that pleased George.  And he might dance too with Prudence if there were a lack of tall enough partners or she might use a spurious dance promised  him to avoid dancing with anyone whose attentions she disliked. 

Emma was positively blooming, and George was glad of anything that would give her pleasure!
Even if he did privately suspect that half the pleasure might be in dropping into conversation with Augusta Elton the fact of having visited the famous Almack’s.

Prudence wrote a pretty note of thanks to Lady Jersey for the procurement of the vouchers.

Emma and Prudence were tireless sight-seers too; and if Mr Alver could not quite understand their desire to go round St Paul’s before Easter to view the architecture, nor to study all the old churches in their secluded nooks, and see the White Tower and read in the guide book all about its colourful history, he managed to stay manfully quiet; for if wonderful Mrs Knightley thought that something was worthy of attention, it must then be so.

His one minor complaint was that he had learned more history in sightseeing than he had acquired at university; and as Emma seemed to think this showed a lack of diligence on his part concerning his studies he did not raise the matter again.

The ladies decided that it would be most unkind to permit Mr Alver to go shopping with them; the good natured George however was always ready to assist and watched indulgently as his charges gave little cries of almost identical delight on perceiving the many shops and emporia of Bond Street that stocked every delight of luxurious novelty that might be imagined, and, said Emma, awed, plenty that were outside of
her
imagination.

Indian muslin with gold and silver threads woven into the pattern were to be had here, and too Indian muslins embroidered all over with motifs in gold or silver, silks, furs, feathers of all kinds and in colours that had never been seen in nature; there was jewellery, and clothes and shoes. There were bookshops too, and George promised that they might visit when all other purchases were complete, since if Emma was once permitted into a bookshop, all other activity might as well be forgotten for the rest of the day. She might not manage to finish a book - unless George rea
d aloud - but she liked the
idea
of so many. And she loved to pick something for George to read for both of them in the evenings.

“You know me so
very
well my
dear
Mr Knightley,” said Emma.

“And I love you well enough to curb s
ome of your gentle vices my
dear
Mrs Knightley,” said George.

The ladies were able to make all the purchases they might want; if that was more perhaps than George might have considered strictly necessary it was a long way short of what they might have bought had not both ladies been full of shrewd frugality and a decided horror at paying out

for such things as beaded reticules that they might easily make at a fraction the price; and George rolled his eyes up at their antics where one of them would keep the shop assistants talking while the other made sketches.  In this way they assembled a veritable fashion book of ideas to apply to their own gowns and accessories. Both young ladies were talented at sketching and if Prudence surpassed Emma with a needle, both would ply their needles with enthusiasm for their fine adornment, aided by both Jennifer and particularly Hester who could turn her blunt clumsy looking fingers to all manner of needlework and crafts with greater skill than Prudence herself.   Hester was remarkably talented and Prudence declared that she was worth her weight in gold.  In many ways, Emma noticed that Prudence had a closer relationship with Hester than was common for a young lady to have with her maid  and when she found out that Hester had also been Pru’s nurse, this made a great deal of sense, and Emma stopped being concerned that Hester would speak her mind.

That
Hester spoke her mind concerning Emma looking fatigued after a long day’s shopping and declared that if she knew what was what then poor Mrs Emma was in a condition that should not be fatigued, Emma permitted the good woman to hustle her to bed with a bowl of good oatmeal porridge well sweetened and milky – Hester had no time for gruel – and a dish of tea. 

George slipped
Hester a good gratuity for actually getting Emma to rest.

“More than I can manage
,” he said.

“Eeh, Mr George, tha’s but a man, sithee
,” said Hester kindly.

George did have more influence on Emma than he had joked about to
Hester; and he had noticed how quickly – for her – the long day shopping had pulled her.

He had a long and serious talk with Emma and extracted from her a promise to take things at a reasonable pace for fear of overdoing things and then missing out on fun.

Emma always took her husband’s words seriously; and she knew that she had lied to him by her actions, laughing gaily when she was already wishing she might rest.  The day was a lesson to her; and whatever her faults, Emma always learned from the mistakes she made; and confessed, a little tearfully to her husband how she had lived a lie for the last hour or two.

George freely forgave her; so long as she promised not to do it again.

Emma was glad to do so.

With a less frenetic sightseeing regime, Emma was soon quite back to her effervescent self; and the family greatly enjoyed the solemn service on Good Friday and the joyous one on Easter Sunday.  And if the main enjoyment that Mr Alver had was in sitting near to and able to watch the beloved Emma then that at least brought him pleasure even if he kept losing his place in the service and once absently said ‘AMEN’ in a too loud voice in the middle of a prayer.

Fortunately the Bishop conducting the service was used to fashionable young men with more religious fervour for their appearance and impressing ladies than for the ceremony and he was ignored.

Mr Alver was however much embarrassed and kept apologising until Emma said,

“I pray you will not refine so much upon the incident, Mr Alver; it is a well known fact that men find the way that some vicars speak quite soporific; you will not be the first man of my acquaintance to have dozed off and lost track of the service.”

Mr Alver was nonplussed; he did not wish the object of his veneration to think that he had dozed off and ceased gazing upon her adored countenance but nor did he wish to be thought the sort of boor who would not listen.  And he did not quite know how to explain that he had lost the thread of what the Bishop was saying because of the dear little curl of golden hair that had escaped from Emma’s coiffure that he longed to tuck back.   He sighed softly.

“I know old man
,” said George, gently, “it is hard to concentrate on anything else is it not?”

“Sir!  You know?” Mr Alver was horrified. “Are – are you very angry?  Will you tell my uncle?”

“Arthur – if I may presume, as an older man to so call you – I cannot fault your taste,” said George, “and I know that you are a gentleman and will not reveal your feelings to her such as would embarrass her.   How can I blame you? I am not angry.  I should be angry if by word or deed you did anything to upset her.  As to telling your uncle, I fancy Lord Alverston, who knows you well, is very well aware.”

Arthur flushed.

“I have never felt this way before sir!” he said in an anguished tone “And that I should feel thus for a married lady!  You are very good; and – and I shall never betray your trust in me to be proper in all ways, and never to upset that darling angel!  Sometimes my feelings threaten to overwhelm me!”

“Then may I suggest
,” said George, “that you should express them in poetry, written down and kept to yourself, but some relief even so to put your heart into words.”

“Mr Knightley you are very wise!” said Arthur.

George hid a smile.  At least the young puppy had not got as far as writing execrable sonnets of his own accord to Emma’s azure eyes; and who might say, turning his passion to prose might even prompt him to produce some memorable poetry.

On the other hand, he was more likely to turn out as much rubbish as any youth who fancied himself in love; but it would keep him from pouring out his heart to poor Emma who was too kind hearted to be anything but hurt in discouraging him.

Chapter 13

Emma was noticeably less than her sunny self in the mornings at the moment and Prudence decided that she need not trouble her friend to escort her to make a purchase she just had to have – a length of ribbon to match a trim she was adding to a  gown of hers that she had torn and wished for some way to disguise the tear. 

She collected Hester.

“Eeh, lass, if tha’ll ask me, it’s reet improper t’go out to
Bond Street alone,” said Hester.