Lucy Muir (7 page)

“Lord Woolbridge is but recently ascended to the title, but he takes his duties quite seriously, I hear. He has a considerable fortune, so money would not be a factor to him. He has been very attentive to Lady Conliffe, but nothing was ever announced. He would be an excellent match for your cousin if he comes up to scratch.”

Anne felt less sanguine about the prospect after hearing he was connected with Lady Conliffe. She did not think that lady would relinquish her claim on the viscount easily. Well, there was time for other gentlemen to show interest in Melissa, Anne thought philosophically. The Season was just beginning. She ceased worrying about Melissa and commenced to enjoy the rest of the evening.

In the early hours of the morning an exhausted but satisfied Mrs. Halcott saw the last of her guests depart.

“I could not have asked for things to go better. It was an unqualified success! You should have heard the questions I was beset with by the mamas of Melissa’s dance partners,” she said to Anne. “Mark my words, you won’t lack for invitations after tonight. You will not miss being at Almacks.”

Anne and Melissa expressed their heartfelt thanks to Mrs. Halcott and prepared to go home, tired but happy.

“Do not forget we are to attend the opera Friday,” Mrs. Halcott reminded them. “An appearance there will put the seal on your success. Many of the haut ton not present tonight will have heard of Melissa by then, and no doubt we shall receive many requests for introductions.”

* * * *

The next day Benton was kept busy accepting flowers and cards from the gentlemen who had danced with his mistresses the night before.

“Isn’t this exciting!” enthused Melissa as two more young officers departed after leaving cards. “I never dreamed we would be so popular.”

Anne smiled at Melissa. Melissa’s unself-consciousness was one of her most attractive qualities. She seemed totally unaware of the beautiful picture she presented in her pink sprigged muslin morning gown, a matching ribbon in her dark hair.

“No, Melissa, I am not one whit surprised by your success. Although I am surprised that an ape-leader such as myself was singled out for so much attention.”

“I was not. You are not ancient, Anne. You are a very beautiful woman.”

Their conversation was interrupted by Benton announcing yet two more callers.

“Captain Leslie and Lieutenant Halcott,” he intoned.

After the officers presented their compliments, they begged to be allowed to take Anne and Melissa for a drive in the park later that afternoon.

“You must be seen during the Promenade now that you have been presented,” Lieutenant Halcott explained.

“You know it will greatly enhance our reputations to be seen with the new Incomparables,” added Captain Leslie teasingly.

“As it will ours to be seen with two such handsome officers,” returned Anne. “Thank you, we shall be pleased to go.”

“Viscount Woolbridge,” announced Benton.

Viscount Woolbridge entered, immaculate in a blue superfine coat with plated buttons, striped waistcoat, tight-fitting pantaloons and shining Hessians. He frowned slightly at seeing the uniformed officers already in possession of the drawing room, but greeted them politely before returning his attention to Melissa.

“May I hope that you will allow me the pleasure of taking you for a drive this afternoon?” he asked.

“Thank you, Lord Woolbridge,” Melissa replied, “but we are already promised to drive with Captain Leslie and Lieutenant Halcott.”

Lord Woolbridge was too well bred to allow his irritation to show.

“Tomorrow afternoon, then?” he persisted.

“Yes, I should be delighted,” Melissa assured him.

Viscount Woolbridge seated himself across from Melissa and gazed at her as though he could not get enough of her beauty. Lieutenant Halcott looked far from pleased at having a rival for Miss Amberly’s attention, particularly one with a title. Anne and Captain Leslie exchanged glances of amusement, but Melissa seemed unaware of the developing rivalry. When their fifteen minutes were up, the officers reluctantly departed, taking the viscount with them. Anne and Melissa informed Benton they were not home to any more callers and retired to rest and have something to eat before their drive.

* * * *

Anne and Melissa were ready promptly at a quarter to five, Anne in a simple green poplin frock and fur-edged curricle cloak of cashmere, Melissa in a yellow muslin frock and green sarcenet pelisse fringed in orange. Matching straw bonnets completed their outfits.

Lieutenant Halcott had brought his parents’ landau so the couples could be seated together and enjoy the drive. This was Anne and Melissa’s first excursion to Hyde Park during the fashionable hour of five, and they looked about interestedly. Progress was very slow, for vehicles and horsemen were constantly halting in order to greet acquaintances. One of the first acquaintances they encountered was Lord Millbank, driving a young girl in his fashionable yellow phaeton. Melissa admired the earl’s matched white horses, decked out in orange and green rosettes. They stopped to exchange greetings, and Lord Millbank introduced the girl beside him, who proved to be his younger sister, Lady Amelia Millbank. Anne felt compassion for this sister, who spoke in a very soft voice and appeared to be very shy. She was dressed attractively in a pale blue sarcenet carriage dress and matching pelisse, but her mousy hair and lack of countenance made her fade into the background.

Melissa was apparently quite taken with her, however, and did not hesitate to make plans for furthering their acquaintance.

“Lady Millbank, would you care to accompany me to the circulating library tomorrow morning?” she asked.

Lady Amelia flushed with pleasure. “Yes, I should like that exceedingly, Miss Amberly,” she replied.

As the two girls arranged a time, Anne felt some remorse. Why had it not occurred to her that Melissa must have felt the lack of a friend her own age? Well, Melissa seemed to have supplied the lack herself. In her pleasure, Anne smiled brilliantly at Lord Millbank, who preened in the light of the smile, feeling sure it was his new canary and cerulean-blue-striped waistcoat that caused it.

The vehicles soon had to pull away from each other, and they continued on their slow progress around the Park. The next acquaintances they encountered were Viscount Woolbridge and Lady Conliffe, in a shiny blue phaeton drawn by beautifully matched bays. Lady Conliffe, dressed attractively in a pink cambric dress with a waistcoat bosom, a velvet pelisse and a becoming cottage bonnet, looked smug in her place beside the viscount. As the occupants of the two vehicles exchanged greetings, Anne’s eye was caught by a familiar-looking form in a black curricle not far away, and she failed to respond to a question from Captain Leslie. Captain Leslie followed her gaze.

“Ah, I see you are not immune to the appearance of Lord Stanton, better known as ‘Hell-born Harry.’”

“Is he so dreadful?” inquired Anne innocently. “And who is his beautiful companion?” she asked, looking at the woman beside him, a fair beauty whose hair was so pale as to appear silver.

“That is Lady Parnell. Really, Miss Southwell, you should not show so much interest in the premier rake of the realm,” he teased.

“Indeed not, Miss Southwell,” interrupted Lady Conliffe from the phaeton beside them. “It would be thought unbecomingly fast, even in one of your years.”

Anne smiled at Lady Conliffe’s gibe, but did not allow herself to retaliate.

“Thank you, Lady Conliffe. I will try to keep your warning in mind,” she replied, turning her attention away from the glossy black curricle, at least outwardly. Inwardly, however, Anne found herself consumed with curiosity about Lord Stanton’s ravishing companion, as well as strangely hurt. She scolded herself. After all, Lord Stanton had made it very clear that it was for their benefit he would not acknowledge them in London. But the joy had gone out of the day for Anne, and she was relieved when they completed their turn about the Park to return home.

* * * *

The next day, Anne remained at home while Melissa went for her drive with Viscount Woolbridge. The viscount had gravely assured Anne of his driving abilities while he was waiting for Melissa to appear, and promised to return her safely. Anne just as gravely assured him of her confidence in his skill, thinking what a handsome appearance he made in his blue coat, buff vest and buckskins. The viscount appeared no less impressed by the appearance of Melissa when she came into the room clad in a chemise-dress of dotted muslin trimmed with lace and tied under her breasts with a red ribbon. A gypsy hat with a white veil sat rakishly on her curls, and a white sarcenet scarf was draped gracefully about her shoulders. The viscount gazed at Melissa adoringly a full half minute before he was able to bid her good-afternoon.

Anne stood in the window as the two departed, watching the viscount hand Melissa carefully into his curricle. She turned to Sanders, who sat quietly working on a muslin morning gown for Melissa.

“Melissa and the viscount make a handsome couple, do they not?”

“I still say you should have gone with them for propriety’s sake,” Sanders replied with some asperity.

“Perhaps I should have,” agreed Anne, “but his interest in Melissa seems quite respectable. He treats her like a piece of delicate porcelain. And Melissa appears to return his regard.”

Sanders stopped sewing and looked at Anne more kindly.

“I think Melissa is enjoying her first Season too much to make any decisions as to marriage. The Season has just begun. She may meet other gentlemen yet. But you have done very well for Melissa, so far,” she acknowledged.

“Not I, but Mrs. Halcott,” Anne said fairly. “I know I should not be making plans so soon, but I do so wish Melissa to make a good match. I cannot afford a second Season,” she added, thinking,
nor will I be a proper person to chaperone her if she does not make a match this Season.

Sanders looked at Anne with some concern. “I hope you are not jeopardizing your own income to present Melissa this Season. There is no need. A girl of Melissa’s beauty and breeding will make a good match despite her lack of money.”

Anne wondered uncomfortably if Sanders suspected something from the day at the bank. She wished she had not begun the conversation, or that Sanders were not quite so familiar in her speech. Somehow Sanders always made Anne very aware of her shortcomings as a chaperone.

“No, I have not endangered my income,” she replied rather shortly, and left the room with the excuse of conferring with the cook about the week’s menus. Sanders looked after her thoughtfully, convinced something was worrying Anne, and hoping it was nothing serious.

* * * *

Friday, Anne and Melissa dressed for the opera with great care, aware that they would be on view to much of the haut ton, which they would have few opportunities to meet elsewhere. Anne chose a trained evening gown edged in trim of an Egyptian motif worn over a petticoat of white satin trimmed in gold. She wore a gold net on her hair, and at her neck was her simple amber necklace. Melissa was clad in a high-waisted gown of white sarcenet which fell about her slender form in classical folds. She carried a large white swans-down muff and wore a fillet of amethysts in her curls. Sanders looked her charges over critically, making several minute adjustments to their costumes before she was satisfied.

The Halcotts called for the cousins in their large town carriage, Mrs. Halcott looking well in a purple velvet robe and modest tiara of diamonds on her elaborately dressed hair. Their party arrived at Covent Garden unfashionably early so that Anne and Melissa might have the opportunity to look about the opera house before the performance began. As they entered the box, Anne was grateful for Mrs. Halcott’s foresight, for she found herself hard put not to gawk at the magnificence like the provincial she was. Gleaming chandeliers illuminated the interior brightly, and the tiers of boxes and galleries decorated in crimson, white and gold looked quite majestic.

Soon, however, Anne’s attention was diverted from the furnishings by the people. The other boxes began to fill with women wearing glittering jewels, and the pit filled with rowdy young bucks and people from the lower classes. Mrs. Halcott informed them in a low voice of the identity of some of the other patrons, pointing out the many titled gentlemen present. A familiar head of silver-blonde hair in a box across from theirs caught Anne’s attention.

“Who is the beautiful woman with the pale hair across from us?” she asked Mrs. Halcott, knowing quite well what the answer would be, and avoiding looking at Melissa.

“She is Lady Parnell. And that is Lord Stanton, the Marquess of Talford, who has just joined her. He is quite rich and is very well-favored, but he is also very dissolute. Oh, dear,” she fretted, “he appears to have noticed Melissa and is looking this way.”

Anne could not resist a glance to ascertain if Lord Stanton were indeed looking their way. She was not prepared for the thrill that went down her spine as she found herself looking directly into his eyes. He was standing behind Lady Parnell, and Anne could see he was impeccably clad in the requisite black silk knee breeches, white waistcoat, and black coat, a
chapeau bras
beneath his arm.

“I hope he doesn’t ask to be introduced to Melissa between acts,” worried Mrs. Halcott. “I don’t know what I should do. Many of the highest-ranking hostesses don’t receive him, although he is close to the Prince.”

Anne doubted that Lord Stanton would come to their box but, perversely, found herself wishing he would. Let him see that she
was
establishing Melissa in Society.

This last became very clear after the first act, as the Halcotts’ box became full of Melissa’s admirers. Several gentlemen asked to be presented to her, not a few of whom were of the nobility. When she dared, Anne stole looks at Lord Stanton’s box, but he seemed totally absorbed in his beautiful companion, and never again did she catch his eye upon her.

Anne was unaware that her stolen glances at Lord Stanton’s box had caught the attention of a dark-haired beauty sitting not far from Lord Stanton. Lady Conliffe, furious at seeing much of her usual court stopping in the Halcotts’ box, was observing them very closely, and noticed Anne’s apparent interest in Lord Stanton and his partner. Lady Conliffe had a very thoughtful look on her face when the second act began, and it remained throughout the opera.