Gayle Buck (15 page)

The second visitor was like a breath of fresh air after Mrs. Pherson. The lady was attired in a fashionably cut velvet pelisse trimmed in dark gray ribbons that won even Margaret’s jaded attention. Her blue eyes sparkled with goodwill and innate merriment.

Lady Hortense greeted her with warm friendliness and a hint of relief. “Miranda, how very nice to see you! Of course you know Mrs. Pherson.” Mrs. Pherson acknowledged her with a stiff bow. “Lady Belingham, I should like you to meet my niece Dorothea St. Claire and her sister, Mrs. Margaret Giddings. And this is Lady Victoria March, who has just come to us from Portugal. She was Charles’s wife, you know.”

Lady Belingham nodded to Dorothea and Margaret, but she held out her hand to Victoria. “My dear! I am happy to meet you at last. Harry wrote me so many times about you and Charles. But why ever did you not let me know that you decided to visit first with Charles’s family. I have been expecting you for days.” Mute with astonishment, Victoria mechanically shook her hand. Lady Belingham read her expression and lowered her voice. “Is there anything wrong, Lady Victoria?”

“Oh no, ma’am.” Victoria smiled, recovering from her shock. “I was but surprised for a moment, for I did not know that you had returned home.”

“Whatever do you mean, my dear? I have not been away from home these past several months,” said Lady Belingham, puzzled.

“I see,” said Victoria. She thought she did indeed understand. Sir Aubrey had manipulated her and made a complete fool of her.

Lady Belingham, observing the gathering storm in Victoria’s expressive eyes, drew her apart from the others. “Pray be seated beside me, Lady Victoria. Now explain to me why you should have thought I was away from the neighborhood.”

Victoria examined her face. She saw only a kind light in Lady Belingham’s eyes and was persuaded to confide in her. “A storm caused me to change my plans and stop here at the Crossing. When I informed Sir Aubrey that I was expected at Belingham Manor, he gave me to understand that you had taken your daughter to Bath. He said the trip was made to remove your daughter from an ineligible suitor and he did not know when you would return. I consequently accepted his offer of hospitality until such time as you were again at home.”

“How extraordinary! But why should he concoct such a fanciful tale?” asked Lady Belingham. She saw Victoria color and thought there was more to the story than had been divulged. She placed her hand over Victoria’s fingers and squeezed them gently. “Never mind, my dear. If you should not wish to tell me, then I shall understand. Sir Aubrey is known to me only casually, but I am aware that he has odd humors.”

Her soft voice held only sympathy. Victoria shook her head, tears suddenly gleaming in her eyes. “Dear Lady Belingham! I see now where Harry gets his extraordinary kindness. How could I not confide in you?” She took a deep breath and plunged into a thorough summary of her experiences since she had met Lord Damion St. Claire, including Sir Aubrey’s scheme.

When she was finished, Lady Belingham blinked and could only say, “Well, well.” After a few seconds of thought, she patted Victoria’s hand. “You have been placed in a very awkward position indeed. Sir Aubrey is an odd creature to believe that he may force Cupid’s work in such a manner. You are naturally welcome to remove to Belingham Manor whenever you wish. I will gladly send the carriage for you at a moment’s notice.” She directed a glance at Lady Hortense and Mrs. Pherson, who listened to her ladyship with an acid smile. “However, I do believe that to do so now would excite unwelcome talk in certain quarters that would distress dear Lady Hortense very much.”

“You are right, of course, I am now caught fast. If I had removed to Belingham before the family began to receive calls, it would not have mattered,” said Victoria. “But how I wish I had known before of your presence, dear ma’am! I would long since have come to you.”

“You shall come to tea soon and meet Erica. Then you may see for yourself if she is as flighty as she has been painted,” said Lady Belingham.

Victoria laughed. “But it is Harry’s own descriptions that led me to so readily believe Sir Aubrey, my lady.”

“Then I shall have a great deal to scold him for when he comes home,” said Lady Belingham, her eyes twinkling.

Dorothea caught her last words. “Oh, does your son come home soon, Lady Belingham?”

“He has written to me that he is to receive a leave of absence shortly. I shall be very glad to see him,” said Lady Belingham.

“And I also. He is my very dearest friend,” said Victoria.

Mrs. Pherson glanced sharply at her but remained silent as Lady Hortense began to tell Lady Belingham of the sketches that Victoria had brought to them.

Lady Belingham soon rose to take her leave and the reverend’s wife reluctantly followed her example. Mrs. Pherson’s small eyes avidly inspected every object and person within sight as Lady Hortense showed both ladies to the door.

“Salvation at last!” exclaimed Margaret dramatically, bringing a spontaneous laugh from Victoria and Dorothea.

On the front steps Mrs. Pherson waited until Lady Belingham had driven away before she unexpectedly clasped Lady Hortense’s arm. “My dear Lady Hortense, I felt compelled to have a private word with you before I left,” she said.

“Of course, Adelia,” said Lady Hortense.

“Our understanding is such that I may surely unburden my heart to you without reproach,” said Mrs. Pherson.

Lady Hortense regarded her with astonishment. “But of course you may.”

Mrs. Pherson nodded. “Indeed, it is my duty to speak to you. I have long approved of your goodliness, but I believe your amiable nature has led you astray in this instance.”

Lady Hortense was at once bewildered and amused. “Forgive me, Adelia, but I do not follow you.”

“I have been reliably informed that Lady Victoria was brought to the Crossing by Lord Damion himself. I must tell you that I was shocked beyond measure,” said Mrs. Pherson.

Lady Hortense thought she understood and laughed. “My dear Adelia, I assure you that whatever you may have heard was greatly distorted. While it is true that Lady Victoria did not have a maid with her—”

With a pitying smile, Mrs. Pherson interrupted her. “Dear Lady Hortense, my heart bleeds for you. It must be difficult for you, indeed. Lord Damion proves himself an utterly selfish son to introduce his paramour into your presence.”

Lady Hortense gasped. “Mrs. Pherson, I assure you—”

“And that fallen woman! The instant I clapped eyes on Mrs. Giddings I knew that she was not here for the comfort of her wretched sister. She dares to parade herself in such dress that it makes one blush. And such fine London airs!” Mrs. Pherson’s thin mouth twisted in distaste. “I shudder to imagine the loose conversation that must grace your drawing room each evening, my lady. It is particularly repugnant that poor Mrs. St. Claire is subject to such debauchery in her blessed condition. For her sake alone, those two creatures should be routed from this house.”

Lady Hortense’s voice shook with anger. “Enough, madame. It is all utter, despicable fiction. I shall not listen to another word. Indeed, you have outstayed your welcome, Mrs. Pherson.”

“My lady, your son—” began Mrs. Pherson.

“My son is not subject to your judgment, Mrs. Pherson,” said Lady Hortense coldly.

Mrs. Pherson drew herself up, affronted. “Well! I see that I have misjudged your breath of understanding, my lady.” She flounced around and entered her waiting carnage.
As the carriage began to draw away, she put her head out the window. “You choose to turn a blind eye, my lady, but I must warn you that others shall not!”

When Lady Hortense returned to the sitting room, she found Margaret parodying the reverend’s wife with a wicked skill that delighted her companions. She observed Margaret’s performance silently for a few moments, then said with finality, “I dislike to speak ill of anyone, but Adelia Pherson is an odious woman.” Two bright spots of color stained her cheeks and her mild eyes had become rather hard. Margaret suspended her charade and turned to stare at her, as did Dorothea and Victoria.

Victoria went to her and guided her to a sofa. “My dear ma’am, what could possibly have occurred?”

“The reverend is a very good man. How he could have allied himself with that viper’s tongue I am sure I do not know,” said Lady Hortense, still seething.

“Aunt Hortense!” exclaimed Dorothea.

Even Margaret was alarmed by her ladyship’s unusual temper. She sat down beside her and took her hand. “Lady Hortense, pray calm yourself. What has the good lady done to affront you so?”

“Mrs. Pherson has had the audacity to lecture me on the company I choose to keep. She hinted that both you and dear Victoria are Damion’s mistresses. Can you imagine?” exclaimed Lady Hortense wrath-fully.

“Oh no!” said Dorothea in distress.

“Yes, and she told me that I should turn both out, for you, Dorothea, are in danger of corruption from these two fallen women.”

There was a short silence, broken when Margaret said, “I am disappointed in Mrs. Pherson. A ‘fallen woman’ sounds so common, don’t you think? She could have at least called me a Jezebel.”

Victoria gave a peal of laughter. Lady Hortense said indignantly, “Margaret, how can you joke about it? That woman will spread it over the countryside that it is just as she supposed—the both of you are living in Damion’s pocket. Drat that boy’s reputation!”

“But does Mrs. Pherson honestly think that you would ever countenance such an outlandish arrangement, ma’am?” demanded Victoria.

“Such households are not unknown in certain sets in London, Lady Victoria,” said Margaret.

“And our family’s reputation for eccentric behavior is well established, my dear, though we have never had anything along this line,” said Lady Hortense bitterly. “Mrs. Pherson but needed to establish that you were a soldier’s daughter and that dear Margaret was well known in London circles before she became convinced of her idiotic fancies.”

“I hardly consider that the intelligence of a Christian lady,” said Dorothea quietly.

“No indeed, but there are those in the neighborhood who enjoy nothing more than a bit of choice gossip. And they will not be behind in carrying the tale even as far as London,” said Lady Hortense angrily.

I do not believe that I should care for that,” said Margaret musingly.

“Then, dear ma’am, we must prove her a fool,” said Victoria. “You shall give a party at which Margaret and I shall appear as thoroughly respectable as one could wish. And Lord Damion shall treat us as strangers.”

“We are in black gloves, Victoria. We cannot possibly have a party,” said Lady Hortense.

“But the twelve days of Christmas are approaching and even those in mourning celebrate the season by bringing together friends and family.” Victoria’s eyes danced. “It need not be an open house, of course. Just a small respectable gathering which naturally would include Reverend Pherson and his good wife.”

“Oh, marvelous! And I shall be the most respectable of chaperones for you and Margaret at the gathering,” said Dorothea, patting her rounded stomach.

“To be sure, a small intimate gathering would be eminently suitable,” said Lady Hortense, a smile tugging at her lips.

“You have a positively fiendish streak, Lady Victoria, which I must admire.” Margaret laughed.

Victoria acknowledged the compliment with a laugh of her own. Then the ladies put their heads together to begin planning for the Christmas gathering.

Late that afternoon Victoria, who had hidden herself away in the library for some solitary reading, was surprised when a footman came in to inform her that a messenger had asked for her. “Are you certain that he did not ask for Lady Hortense?” she asked, rising from the wingback chair.

“Positive, m’lady,’ said the footman.

“Very well. Please show the man in,” said Victoria, setting aside the novel that she had been reading. When the messenger entered the room, she clutched the tall back of the chair, her heart jumping. She immediately recognized the man’s livery and could scarcely contain her impatience until the door was again closed.

Victoria held out her hand. “Pray give it to me at once,” she said. The messenger bowed as he handed her a slim envelope. Turning away from him, Victoria ripped it open and unfolded the single sheet.

As she expected, the letter was from her former companion, Miss Rebecca Webster. She was relieved to read that the solicitor had visited her daughter and that all was well.

Victoria sat down at the cherrywood desk to pen a short note and sealed it in an envelope. She took out of the desk several of the pound notes that Lord Damion had put there for her use, and gave the notes and her letter to the messenger. “Pray do not tarry here, but return directly to Miss Webster. The notes are for your board at the inn tonight. Keep a close watch on the innkeeper, for he shall try to overcharge you,” said Victoria. “And whatever there is left over the tab you may keep for yourself.”

The messenger bowed. “Rest assured that I shall do as you wish, m’lady,” he said with a quick grin. He was gone a second later.

Victoria tucked the note from Rebecca into her pocket and attempted to return to her reading. But she quickly discovered that she was too restless to concentrate. Finally she put aside the novel and wandered from the library with no particular destination in mind.

Some time later Lord Damion found her in the sitting room at the pianoforte. He listened a few moments and quickly realized that she was playing at random. He went forward to bring himself to her notice. “Allow me to turn the pages for you, Lady Victoria,” he said quietly.

Victoria thanked him quietly and began to play the selection he had chosen. It was several minutes before she warmed to the music and Lord Damion took that to be his cue.

“I have looked through Charles’s sketches again this afternoon,” said Lord Damion, his eyes on her profile. “He was quite good.”

Victoria flashed a pleased smile at him. “You are gracious, my lord. But truly, his ability constantly astounded me. Charles was able to capture with a very few pen strokes the essence of whatever he was looking at.”