Jane Ashford (24 page)

“Will you introduce him to me, please?”

“Why are you interested in Warrington?”

“Because of Lady Agnes, and another friend of mine, who, I think, is fond of him.”

The man digested this. “I see. Or, rather, I don’t see, but I have some idea.” He looked around the room. “I don’t think he’s here… No, wait, there he is. Come along, if you’re serious.”

“I am,” replied Thalia positively, and they started across the floor toward a group of young people which included the Warrington children.

The next morning, Thalia came to Aggie’s bedchamber after breakfast and heard the whole story of John Dudley. It was told haltingly and with many pauses, but she listened in silence to the end. “And so, you see,” finished Aggie, “he changed. And I don’t know why. I think that is the worst part, receiving that cold reply to my letter and not understanding what I had done.”

Thalia looked at her. Aggie’s skin was paler than usual, and there were dark smudges under her eyes. She seemed more tired with each day in London. “My dear Aggie,” she began, “don’t you see that—”

But before she could complete the sentence, there was a knock at the door. Aggie opened it, revealing Euphie in the corridor outside. “Oh,” said the youngest sister. “I was looking for someone to help me pin up this flounce. Am I interrupting? I’m sorry.” She looked a little hurt.

Thalia looked at Aggie, who said, “Of course not. Come in. I was just telling Thalia about something that happened to me in Hampshire. She asked.”

Euphie looked from one to the other of her sisters.

“I meant to tell you, too, of course,” continued the oldest. “I suppose I must say it all again.”

She looked so gloomy at the prospect that Euphie said, “You needn’t if you don’t want to.”

“No, no.”

“Well, perhaps I can make it easier by saying that I think I know why he acted so,” put in Thalia.

Aggie turned abruptly toward her. “Why?”

“Tell Euphie the story, then we will see what both of you think of my idea.”

Aggie obeyed, speaking more rapidly this time and adding detail in response to questions from Thalia. When she had finished, she turned back to her and said, “Well?”

“The more I hear, the more I am convinced that I am right,” answered the other. “It was the money, you dear goose.”

“Money?”

“Yes, I see,” said Euphie.

Aggie frowned. “You mean, Aunt Elvira’s money?”

“Yes. Think back. According to your story, Mr. Dudley changed radically just after you got the letter. And nothing else happened. It must be that. He didn’t want to be thought a fortune hunter, you see.”

“But that is ridiculous!” exclaimed Aggie.

“Of course it is,” agreed Thalia. “But very possible, don’t you think? Here is a man about to offer for a charming girl without a penny, and suddenly he finds she is a great heiress. If he had spoken before he knew, all would be well. But to speak after?”

“It didn’t make the least difference,” insisted Aggie.

“I know, dear. But men have such queer notions of honor, don’t they?”

This gave Aggie pause; she frowned and considered it.

“You must be right,” said Euphie then. “Nothing else explains it. But what are we going to
do
?”

Thalia smiled at her. “Your perennial question.”

“Well, that’s the important thing, isn’t it? How are we to rid this poor man of his silly idea?”

Thalia laughed.

“It isn’t silly,” retorted Aggie. “I think it is very noble.”

The other two sisters grimaced. “There’s no doubt she’s in love,” added Euphie.

Aggie frowned at her.

“Yes,” said Thalia. “And as for what we are to do, I have already done something.”

Euphie looked interested, Aggie alarmed. “Thalia, you haven’t…!” began the latter.

The middle sister moved self-consciously in her chair. She felt a bit embarrassed about her talk with Mrs. Wellfleet. “I haven’t done anything terrible. Anne Wellfleet has written to Mr. Dudley. She is going to get him to come up to town.”

“Anne?” Aggie looked surprised.

“Yes. She noticed you were looking, uh, unhappy, and we talked it over.” To Thalia’s relief, her sister did not seem offended.

“And when he gets here,” said Euphie, “you must let him know that the money doesn’t matter a jot. And then everything will be as it was.”

Aggie was thoughtful. “Yes,” she replied slowly, “but how?”

“That must be up to you.”

Thalia agreed. “But now that you know the problem, you will be able to deal with it.”

After a moment, Aggie nodded meditatively. “Perhaps I will.” She drifted into reverie. The other two sisters exchanged a smile.

After a pause, Euphie said, “Now, will someone help me with this flounce?”

Thalia laughed, and Aggie started. “Here, I will,” said Aggie. “Give it to me.”

“And I shall leave you to it,” added Thalia, rising, “How I hate sewing.”

They all laughed, and Thalia went out and walked down the corridor to her own bedchamber. At the door, she met one of the housemaids. “Oh, miss,” said the girl, “I just left a letter on your dressing table. Mr. Jenkins told me to bring it up, being as the messenger said it was private.”

Puzzled, Thalia thanked her and went into the room. She took up the envelope and tore it open. It was from Mrs. Wellfleet, and as she read it, Thalia began to smile. It went:

Dear Thalia,

Such news! John Dudley has arrived in London all on his own. He left before he got my letter. Poor dear, he looks ghastly. Isn’t it wonderful? It is my belief that he couldn’t bear to stay away any longer. I shall bring him to the Butlers’ evening party tonight. I leave the rest to you.

Affectionately,

Anne Wellfleet

Thalia put the sheet down, her smile broadening. This was splendid. All would be settled very quickly indeed. And she turned to go back to Aggie and tell her the news.

Thus, it was an excited group that left Lady Fanshawe’s townhouse for the Butlers’ later that day. Aggie, in particular, was distracted, but she looked far happier than she had in days. The other two girls watched her with pleasure, and the countess asked plaintively what they were up to, to be so gay.

They arrived early; only a few guests stood about the Butler drawing room. This was to be a musical evening, so there were extra chairs and a piano and music stand at one end of the room. The Hartingtons greeted their hostess and then went to join a group opposite the door, where they could see all
who entered.

They saw many acquaintances. Lady Agnes came in soon after them, and Mary Deming and her mother. Thalia noticed the Warringtons and, with a slight tremor, the Elguards. But there was no sign of the Wellfleets until just before the entertainment was to begin. Then, they came in with a rush, as if afraid they were late. And behind them, diffidently, walked John Dudley.

Aggie’s fingers tightened on Thalia’s arm when she saw him. Mr. Dudley did not seem aware of the girls at first. He looked rather nervous. And before they could make any move to reveal themselves, their hostess began urging people to chairs for the music, and all opportunity for private conversation was at an end.

More than one guest looked impatient during the quite admirable program Mrs. Butler had organized. Aggie clearly did not listen, but spent the time twisting her hands in her lap. And though Euphie was soon wrapped up in the music, Thalia divided her attention between her older sister and John Dudley, whom she could just see on the opposite side of the room. She noted that he did not seem particularly enthralled either. And Anne Wellfleet met Thalia’s eyes more than once, each time with a roguish smile. Out of sight behind the Hartingtons, James Elguard also exhibited signs of impatience.

At last the entertainment was over. Guests stood and began to walk about, some going into the adjoining room, where a cold supper had been laid out. The Hartington girls were soon surrounded by a crowd of admirers. But John Dudley was not among them. He had by this time discovered Aggie and her sisters, but after one stunned glance at the three of them, he had retreated to one of the window embrasures, there to stare painfully at Aggie and shift from foot to foot. Thalia was soon quite out of patience with him. But when she turned again and saw her sister’s face, she said, “You must go and speak to him, Aggie. He is afraid to approach you among all these strangers.”

“In front of everyone?” murmured the other.

“I see no other way.”

Aggie nodded, swallowed, and excused herself to the young man who had been addressing outrageous gallantries to her for some minutes without effect. She took a deep breath and started across the room to Dudley. He, seeing her coming, stepped forward, and they met just beside the window.

“He is not so dashing as I would have imagined,” whispered Euphie to Thalia as they watched the couple.

“No, not dashing. But his face looks kind and sensible, and I think he will do very well.”

Euphie considered this as she surveyed Mr. Dudley. “Perhaps. But I should prefer a bit more… oh, something myself.”

Thalia laughed “I daresay. Fortunately, what you prefer is not the issue.”

Euphie smiled at her. “Or you?”

“Or me.”

Their whispered conversation was interrupted, and they turned back to the group around them.

On the other side of the room, Aggie had said, “Good evening,” and John Dudley had replied. Both were now looking at the floor.

At the same moment, Aggie began, “I hope you…” and Dudley said, “You are looking…” They both laughed uncomfortably. “Go ahead,” said both at once. They laughed again; Aggie wondered miserably if their former easy friendship was gone forever.

“I was only going to say that you are looking splendid, Miss Hartington,” said Dudley then. “Quite magnificent, in fact.”

“Oh, that is all Lady Fanshawe’s doing. She is very concerned with clothes and, and that sort of thing. I should prefer my old familiar gowns.” Aggie excused this half-truth by telling herself that she did often miss her former quiet life.

“Really?” Mr. Dudley’s face brightened a bit.

“Yes. I, I get so tired of the city, and of going out every night. My sisters enjoy it, of course. I came to town mainly for them. But I shall be very glad when I can return to the country and be done with all this.” She made a vague gesture at the room around them.

“Indeed? Will you indeed?” The gentleman seemed transformed by this confidence.

“Oh, yes.”

There was a pause; then Dudley cleared his throat and said, “Miss Hartington, I should apologize for not calling before you left the Wellfleets’ house. I was, ah, very, ah…”

Summoning all her courage, Aggie put in, “I know why you did not.”

“You do?” He stared.

“Yes, and, and although I think it was very noble, you were mistaken!” This was so bold that she drew in her breath sharply and put a hand to her lips.

But Mr. Dudley did not seem at all shocked. He looked very steadily at her, then, unconscious of the eyes around them, reached for her hand. “I think perhaps I was,” he replied. “And I am sorry for it, though I could not help feeling as I did. I still feel it a little.”

“You mustn’t,” answered Aggie intensely. “It does not matter a whit.” Her deep blue eyes met his.

“No?” Mr. Dudley smiled down at her; then some noise made him aware of the crowd around them and he let go of her hand. “This is no place to talk privately. May I call upon you tomorrow? I want particularly to ask you something.”

Aggie’s answering smile was radiant. “Yes, please.”

Their eyes held for another moment, and a clear understanding passed between them. Then Dudley said, “Would you like some lemonade or, ah, something?”

Aggie laughed. “Yes.” He offered his arm, and they strolled toward the dining room together.

Thalia, who had been keeping one eye on her sister from across the floor, sighed audibly. “And that, I hope, is that,” she said to herself.

“What is what?” a deep voice replied.

Thalia started. She had thought she was alone. Indeed, she had been only a moment before, when her companion went to fetch a glass of ratafia. She turned and found James Elguard standing behind her.

“What is what?” he asked again. “You sounded uncommonly pleased about it, whatever it is.”

“I am. But I can’t tell it yet.”

“Ah. I suppose it concerns your sister and that unknown young man with brown hair?”

Thalia looked surprised.

“It wasn’t so difficult to tell that. I saw where you were looking. And I think I know what you can’t tell, so you needn’t worry over it.” He paused briefly. “Did you enjoy the music?”

Still a little startled at his divining of her thoughts, Thalia stammered, “Uh, yes.”

“Really? I didn’t. I had far too much to think about to pay any heed.”

“Did you?”

“Yes. And I mean to tell you what it was, even though you don’t ask.” He looked into her eyes, and Thalia’s heart beat rather faster.

But before he could speak again, they were interrupted. “Mr. Elguard,” said Lady Agnes Crewe caressingly, “how lovely to see you again.” She came up behind them and took his arm. “I was so dull only a moment ago, and now here you are to amuse me.” Her glance flicked over Thalia. “Hullo, Miss Hartington.”

Thalia nodded, wishing she could slap Lady Agnes’s impudent face.

But the younger girl was gazing meltingly up at James Elguard and saying, “I was just longing for some lemonade, too. Why don’t we go and get some supper? I should so like to talk to you about, oh, everything. I met your charming sister last night, and she told me how wonderfully intelligent you are.”

Thalia gritted her teeth.

Elguard slipped his arm out of hers. “You flatter me. And I fear Miss Hartington and I were in the middle of a discussion, so I must beg to be excused.”

The total lack of interest in his tone made Thalia’s eyes glow, but she still said nothing.

“Oh,” answered Lady Agnes sweetly, “I am sure Miss Hartington would release you. She has so
many
beaus.”

At this, a small sound escaped Thalia. She was immediately furious with herself, because Lady Agnes surely heard it and gloated.

“Nonetheless,” replied Elguard stiffly, “I should prefer to continue our discussion.”

Thwarted, the blond girl looked at him. Their gaze locked for a moment; then she shrugged slightly and said, “Oh, very well.” She started to turn away, but threw a flirtatious glance over her shoulder. “Perhaps we can have a ‘discussion’ later on.”

James Elguard made an almost inaudible sound of exasperation, and Lady Agnes walked away. “That girl is abominable,” added the man.