Martha Schroeder (7 page)

“Mother, dear,” Gerald said, “perhaps Meg does not wish to tell you anything and is too polite to say so.”

Lady Mattingly headed unerringly to the salient point. “Then there is something to tell? Something you do not wish to disclose to me, dear child.”

“I believe Miss Fairchild is feeling a bit fagged,” Gerald said. “She sent me to see if you were perhaps ready to leave?”

Annis had told him no such thing. However, he knew that his mother, scenting a secret and having known and befriended Meg from her childhood, would let nothing deter her from making absolutely sure that Meg was not in need of her advice and counsel. Since his mother was always warmhearted and well-intentioned, her implacable curiosity was almost impossible to withstand.

Meg gave him a grateful smile. “Indeed I am, Gerald. I will go and get Annis, if you will summon Walter with the coach.” She rose and hurried off to find her companion.

“Nicely done, Gerald,” his mother said without the slightest hint of sarcasm. “No wonder Castlereagh found you indispensable.”

“Thank you, Mama.” Gerald inclined his head. “But I am going to be very undiplomatic to you.”

Lady Mattingly sighed. “I know, Gerald, I know. I simply must learn—”

“Not to accost your friends like a terrier scenting a rat whenever they fail to tell you what you want to know.”

“A most disagreeable image, Gerald, as I am sure you know. Meg is hardly a rat, and I am much too large and sedentary to be a terrier.”

“That is neither here nor there, Mama.” Gerald spoke sternly. The long-suffering look on his mother’s face told him that he might as well save his breath to cool his porridge, as his Scots nanny used to say. But he persisted. “If Meg has something to tell us, she will do so in her own time.”

His mother looked at him as if he were a well-loved but dull-witted little boy. “Of course Meg has something to tell us—or rather, to tell me. Something you already know. If it will make you happy, I will not ask her about it.” Her gaze flitted around the room.

“Nor are you going to try to worm information out of Miss Fairchild.”

“Yes, dear. I do hope you never spoke to the czar or any of the other allies in that tone. The Congress of Vienna would have come to a vastly different end if you had. Fortunately,” she said with a saintly smile, “a mother knows how to endure these slights.”

Her undutiful son burst into laughter. “Wonderful, Mama. You are better than a play. Unsubtle, perhaps, but very affecting.”

With complete disregard for her son’s unseemly amusement, Lady Mattingly rose as majestically as a short, plump, good-natured woman could and left him without a word.

Chapter Seven

His mouth set in a grim line, James set forth for Hedgemere. He was determined that this very morning he would reveal his past to Meg. Suddenly he was hailed by a cheerful voice. Turning, he saw it was Mrs. Headley, with two plump young ladies in sprigged muslin sitting beside her in a landau. He remembered her from last night’s dinner. The one who had asked Gerald all sorts of questions about him. Now he knew why. The two young ladies were very shy and very plain. Even a retired sea captain of no discernible distinction, he thought sardonically, would do for one of them.

“Oh, Captain Sheridan, how lucky to have run into you!” Mrs. Headley said, her face wreathed in a smile. “These are my daughters, Susan and Mellicent. We are planning a little dance—nothing formal, mind, since Sukie and Mellie are not out yet—this Saturday evening. I have only just come from Mattingly Place. Lady Mattingly assured me that I might expect all three of you. The girls were so disappointed that they were not included in last night’s festivities, I could not deny them a treat.” She looked at him hopefully.

James could only be grateful mat he had headed for the stable before the Headley ladies had arrived at the Mattinglys’. He bowed while his heart quailed within him at the mere idea of being considered an eligible
parti.
The sooner he could become publicly affianced to Lady Meg, the better. She, at least, had no romantic notions about sea captains and their fortunes.

At last he said, “I shall be delighted to attend, of course.”

Mrs. Headley smiled yet again and told the coachman to proceed. Her daughters had turned alternately white and red and had said not a word after mumbling a polite greeting. James had no choice but to continue to jog along at the side of their carriage. Mrs. Headley turned to speak to him once again. This time he thought her smile was a little sly.

“So, Captain, you are on your way to Hedgemere, as we are?”

“Yes. I am thinking of purchasing a property now that I am retired. Lady Margaret seems very knowledgeable, and Hedgemere is a property of the size I am considering.” James knew that he sounded stiff and pompous. He always did when he was caught unawares.

Childhood loneliness had fostered shyness, and early command had added the tone of chilly aloofness. He tried from time to time to adopt a friendlier tone, but it seldom answered. Today, faced with Mrs. Headley and her two daughters, he had all he could do not to bolt.

“Yes, she is a most knowledgeable landowner, I will give her that.” Mrs. Headley shook her head. “A very strange upbringing she’s had—what there’s been of it. More often left to her own devices by that governess of hers. No wonder Lady Margaret is as independent and outspoken as she is. Who was there to teach her how to go on?”

James longed to tell the woman that Lady Meg was twice the woman with four times the charm of both the Headley girls combined! How dare Mrs. Headley find fault with her? Shouldn’t she rather be helping Meg, if indeed she needed any lessons in how to go on in society! If her own daughters were anything to judge by, Mrs. Headley didn’t have much of use to say on the subject!

Though he of course kept his thoughts to himself, James’s frown must have communicated his lack of sympathy with her strictures, for Mrs. Headley tried an ingratiating laugh and said, “But I can see that you’re already enlisted in the ranks of her friends and admirers. Most of the men seem to be. Oh, not that she flirts or anything of the kind!”

James glared at her, his eyes hard as sapphires. How dare she insinuate that Lady Meg was anything but a complete lady? Meg’s behavior when he himself had first met her was conveniently forgotten. He saw her in his mind’s eye only as she was when she had smiled at him and talked with him at Mattingly Place the evening before. Lovely. Vivacious. Glowing with life and friendliness.

“She has been most kind to me.”

“Ah, yes. So I have noted.” James heard the dry, speculative tone in Mrs. Headley’s voice but had no idea how to counter it. Had this provincial gossip guessed what he and Meg had agreed to?

As they headed into the drive that led to the house, James thought of what marriage would mean. Not just the abstractions of home and family, or the scenes he had pictured of himself as the center of both. This time he thought of all that  would be required in order to arrive at that state. Of the kind of talk, the open-hearted honesty that Meg showed so easily but that he had seldom even attempted. Was it possible for him to learn at this late date?

James shook himself out of his brown study and found  they now stood outside the wide oak door of Lady Meg’s house. He smiled and dismounted and found as the door opened to reveal the aging butler that his heart quailed within him.

“Is Lady Margaret or Miss Fairchild at home, Meadows?” Mrs. Headley demanded.

As they were ushered into the house, James had a strong urge to find Lady Meg and whisk her away from this critical, observant lady. Unfortunately, he knew that Meg would never countenance such rudeness, even if he attempted it.
Get a hold on yourself! You didn’t run from Boney’s ships or the pirates; you ‘re surely not going to be frightened away by this old beldam!

The ill-assorted party was shown into the drawing room. In a matter of minutes, Annis Fairchild entered with an apologetic smile.

“Lady Margaret is away from the house right now,” she said, holding out her hand to Mrs. Headley and smiling at the two girls. “You know she’s in the saddle a great deal of the time. But is there anything that I can help you with, Mrs. Headley?” She gestured to the older woman to be seated and then asked, “Can I perhaps offer you some tea or other refreshment?”

Mrs. Headley frowned a little, as if she was not quite sure if it was proper for Miss Fairchild, who, after all, was only a paid employee, to act as if she were the Headleys’ social equal.

James, however, scented freedom and said briskly that he would ride out and look for Lady Margaret, as he had some questions of estate management to put to her. Annis’s eyes twinkled at him. He could tell she knew perfectly well that he was fleeing the scene. She pointedly told him that Meg was expected back for luncheon in a very few minutes. Checkmate.

As if on cue, Lady Meg entered the drawing room with a brisk, no-nonsense stride. She checked immediately upon catching sight of her almost betrothed. For some reason he appeared especially vital and attractive as he stood tall and straight, with the sun gilding his dark blond hair.

Smiling a little shyly, she held his gaze and said, “James, how nice to see you. Can you stay and take luncheon with us?”

James glanced at his side at the same moment Meg heard a sharply indrawn breath. With sudden dread, she looked over to see not only Mrs. Headley but her two silly daughters—and all of them staring at her as if she had suddenly turned green.

Nothing to do now but plow ahead. “And Mrs. Headley. What a nice surprise! How fortunate that I returned for luncheon. Usually, you know, I take sandwiches in my pocket and eat wherever I happen to be.”

She saw Mrs. Headley frown and remembered that to the older woman, Meg’s acting as estate manager was on the borderline of hoydenish behavior.

She tried again. “And Sukie and Mellie. How you both have grown.”

Sukie and Mellie frowned. Too late, Meg noticed that they were each a stone heavier than the last time she had seen them. Oh, dear. Why had she never paid attention to Annis’s strictures on thinking before you spoke? She cast a helpless smile in her companion’s direction and excused herself to wash her hands.

Annis took over, as Meg had known she would. “I’ll just see when luncheon will be ready. I do hope I can tell Meadows that you are all staying?” Annis’s quiet voice and gentle smile never failed to soothe.

Mrs. Headley picked up her reticule and gestured to her daughters, “No, no thank you, Miss Fairchild. I had no idea it was so late. We must be on our way. The girls and I just came to ask you and Lady Margaret to come to a little dance and supper that we are giving on Saturday. Captain Sheridan has already accepted,” she added, simpering.

“I—I’m sure we would love to come. Of course, I will have to ask Lady Margaret what her plans are.” Annis took one look at Mrs. Headley’s face and realized that the news that Lady Meg had seemed suspiciously happy to see Captain Sheridan and— most significantly—had called him by his first name, would be served up with the refreshments wherever the Headleys went. Calling the captain by his given name had been a terrible mistake. Was there not something Annis could do to head off die gossip Meg hated so much?

Uncharacteristically, Annis acted on impulse. She went over to the captain and took his arm with a proprietary air. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Mrs. Headley’s eyebrows ascend to meet her hairline. Already she was rethinking her story. For good measure, Annis smiled up at James, who was looking down at her in watchful silence. She could tell he knew she was up to something, and was willing to wait until he understood her plan, thank heavens.

“I’m sure Lady Margaret will not deny me the pleasure of coming to your dance even if she cannot be there,” Annis said, smiling even more blindingly at James and incurring an even more disapproving stare from Mrs. Headley.

James said nothing, but he couldn’t resist a small smile. Annis had successfully blunted the Headley woman’s attack by drawing the fire to herself. There was nothing he admired more than gallantry toward a comrade, and he smiled approvingly down at Annis.

“Well!” Mrs. Headley shimmered with outrage. “I will certainly be glad to see the captain and Lady Margaret.” With that final shot she rose and summoned her daughters to do likewise. As she turned to sweep out of the room, her magnificent exit was spoiled by Meg’s reappearance.

“Oh, Mrs. Headley, I am so sorry you feel you must—

“Far be it from me to give you advice. Not after the way you spoke to me the last time I thought to give you a hint to guard your good name. But
some
people take a great deal too much upon themselves. I would be careful if I were you of encroaching persons hanging on your sleeve for their own advantage!”

“I beg your pardon, Mrs. Headley. I am afraid I don’t fully understand.” Meg looked at her visitor with bafflement.

“I’ve said all I mean to on the subject. Come, girls!” And she swept from the room, her two daughters trailing behind her like smaller vessels after a ship of the line.

James bowed over Annis’s hand. “That was bravely done, Miss Fairchild, but I fear you may have called down the furies upon your head.”

“Never mind, Captain. She has never approved of me.” Annis attempted to shrug off the incident.

But Meg was not to be left out. “Just what are you talking about? What could Annis possibly have done to send Madam Headley sweeping out of here like an insulted queen?”

“It was nothing, Meg, truly. You know Mrs. Headley.”

“It was Miss Fairchild’s attempt to throw herself on her sword to spare your reputation,” James said bluntly. He
recognized that although he viewed the entire scene as much ado about nothing, for unmarried young women who lived permanently in the neighborhood, the kind of gossip Miss Fairchild and Lady Meg were going to have to endure could be very painful.

Meg refused to leave the topic until she knew exactly what had happened. Her reaction disturbed James. “Oh, lord, Annis, what possessed you to do such a harebrained thing? And in front of the biggest gossip in the county! Before the cat can lick his ear, the world and his wife will know that both of us are trying to ensnare the handsome captain!” She sank down onto one of the brocaded settees and put her head in her hands.