Second Season (23 page)

The pack found swiftly, the horn sounded View Halloo, and the horses advanced to a canter. Sharlie yearned to be in the thick, but loyally held back to encourage Emily, who was gallantly doing her best to keep up ... and it seemed they had no sooner dispatched the fox than the pack gave tongue once more. This time Reynard had a good start, but at last there was View Halloo, and the hunt was streaming over the countryside in pursuit. Suddenly the fox doubled back, the Master blew Tantivy, and as the hunt swept around, Sharlie and Emily found themselves leading. Sharlie could see her sister’s face grim with determination, looking at the water jump ahead. “Come on, darling—throw your heart over. Firefly never refuses!”

Somehow Emily made it. They were in at the death, when she could not suppress a sick moan. “Look away,” Sharlie muttered firmly. “I can’t stand it, either, but you must NOT faint, even when you’re blooded.”

“No! Oh, Sharlie, I
cannot
!”

“Take a deep breath, hold up your head, and think of Eustace!”

Those were the magic words. Emily gulped, threw up her chin, and drew off her glove to accept the gory brush, while Lord Stanwood chuckled proudly and Eustace joined the general cheer—but with no more than a smiling wave as the hunt dispersed, he was trotting away beside the Master. Sharlie’s heart misgave her; had Emily misinterpreted? Now that Eustace was a landowner had the change of fortune superseded his feeling for her? In London, he’d been at loose ends; she was beautiful, the Irish were noted for dramatic affections, easy in and easy out. With no future to it, had Eustace been enjoying a hopeless attachment? Today seemed evidence that he meant to establish himself firmly in the locality, hold his household and be respected. Might he not think it too soon for taking a wife, or even that he could do better for his altered circumstances than a London Incomparable?

She worried in silence; Emily was entirely calm. Beyond exclaiming happily at Mr. Cleghorne’s generosity, “for one could not have dreamed of it. You recall he sounded the worst-natured old man in the world,” Emily evinced no suspense. Indeed, she was following Sharlie’s strategy all too well, and Lord Stanwood was delighted with her.

“Eh, puss, you’ve got bravely over your timidity. Good, good! It’s pleasant for an old man to have two pretty daughters for company.”

“
Old
?” Emily protested scornfully. “What fustian, Papa!”

“At least we know what to give him for Christmas, Emily: an ear trumpet and a cane,” said Sharlie.

“I wish you will not mention age, Robert,” Lord Alden observed, mildly. “I can give you a full five years, and have not yet finished setting up my nursery.”

“Lud, it’s a prolific lot on both sides,” Lord Stanwood agreed, while his sister bridled and glared at the men.

Charlotte and Emily looked demurely at their plates, but later, “Could you have
believed
it of Uncle George?”

“No, but I expect it’s very true, because Aunt Eliza was increasing two years ago, only she lost it almost at once,” said Sharlie. “I overheard Papa telling Mama
her
work wasn’t done yet, and he’d like another girl.”

Emily’s eyes widened. “You never told me.”

“Two years ago you were too young.”

“So were you!”

“Yes, but they didn’t realize I was in the hall, and there is no reason to be
missish
about interesting events,” said Sharlie. “Lud, Emily, between bulls and stallions and boars ... even cockerels and drakes ... one cannot avoid
knowing
.”

Second Day dawned fair and crisp-cool. Descending the stairs in their riding habits, the girls encountered Lord Alden. “Good morning, good morning, ... I’m for the stables, I’ll send your mounts around shortly,” he said. “Your father’s engaged with Major Gayle, but I’ll take you off to the hunt, if he’s not finished.”

“Eustace!” Emily breathed, as he vanished through the rear hall. “Oh,
Sharlie
!”
She sped back to the study door, and softly eased it open a crack. “
Shhhhh
,” as Sharlie sought to pull her away.

“I’m aware ’tis not grand, ’tis no more than a competence of five thousand in the Funds with a hundred acres,” Eustace’s voice was impersonal, “but the house is sound, the stock is excellent, and I’ve the knowledge to manage. Mr. Cleghorne’s reputation gains me all opportunity to prove myself. I’ve no fear I’ll not advance for Emily’s comfort.”

“Phoo, nonsense, no more than five hundred a year? Good God, man are you daft?” Lord Stanwood demanded testily. “Emily’s no heiress. She’ll have what I settle on her, and I’ll say now that the amount will depend on what her husband can put up for her jointure. On five thousand pounds you can’t spare a penny. No, I’m sorry, but it’s not good enough.”

Before Sharlie could restrain her, Emily thrust back the door and tumbled into the study. “Yes, it
is,
and I don’t want to be an heiress or—or sold to the highest bidder,” she cried. “You needn’t give me any dowry, if that’s the way you feel, Papa ... and I’ll wait four years if you make me, but I won’t marry anyone else, not even if Eustace gets tired of it. I’d rather be a spinster! Oh, Eustace!” Emily cast herself against him, whimpering with abandon.

“Oh, my
GOD
!” Lord Stanwood roared irascibly. “Is she back at
that
again?”

“Shhhh,” said Eustace tenderly. “Sure, and ye’ll be no spinster, me darlin’, for I’ll wait forever—but ’tis a shock-like for your father, when ye could do so much better.”

“I’ll never do any better,” Emily declared fiercely, burrowing against him ... but she stopped snivelling.
Lord Stanwood rumpled his hair wildly. “Well—well, we’ll see what your mother decides.
I
don’t know what she has in mind,” he said feebly. “All
right,”
as Emily ran to hug him joyfully, “it’s agreed she settles what’s best for the girls—but you’ll not make any display of particularity before her decision!” Lord Stanwood strove for vanished authority, but Emily only hugged him again.

“Yes, of course, Papa—but you’ll see she agrees. Oh, Eustace!” She was back in his arms, smiling up at him adoringly.

“Me darlin’,” he murmured fondly, “but your father’s right, and we’ll leave all to Lady Stanwood. If she says ‘wait and see,’ well—’tis not so long, and I’ll use the time to develop our property.” He patted her cheek lightly, “Now, we’re delaying your father for the hunt. Come along, and no more tears. He’ll come about, you’ll see.”

“If you say so,” Emily allowed herself to be led docilely to the hall, while her father and sister stood transfixed.

“God bless my soul!” Lord Stanwood muttered.

“Yes,” said Charlotte. “I’m sorry, Papa, but Emily doesn’t give a tinker’s curse for a peerage or lots of money. She enjoyed being an Incomparable, I’m sure Pelham wasn’t the only rejection...”

“Good God, no; your mother had me turn down ten other offers,” said Lord Stanwood, fussing bewilderedly with the desk blotter, “as well as three for yourself, Sharlie: Ogilvie, Beauchamp and Reston. She would have it you’d never consider them and should not be distressed.”

Charlotte stared at him, wide-eyed. “Well! No more I
would
have considered any of them,” she agreed, “but if you add Waxe, that means I actually had
four
offers ... and God bless MY soul, Papa!” she chuckled. “Did you ever expect you’d have a choice of avenues to be rid of me?”

Her father grunted with amusement. “Lud, I’ve no fear for you, m’dear. You’re one who needs time for the men to see your worth—like m’sister Eliza ... but Emily,” he shook his head and sighed. “I’ll own I thought she’d end up with an earl or duke.”

“Well, she won’t—and you’ve no need of a rich son-in-law, Papa, for I know you’re very well to pass,” Sharlie said bluntly, “but you can give my dowry to Emily if necessary, for I’ve grandmother’s fortune, after all.”

“Phoo, nonsense,” he roared. “I fancy I can care for the settling of all my children, miss.”

“Then you’ll not have the heart to deny Emily her share,” she shrugged, “and if she chooses a younger son, at least Eustace is well-born, Papa.”

While Lord Stanwood was stamping into his riding boots and arranging his stock, Sharlie flew to the writing desk for a letter to her mother. “I expect papa will write you—eventually—but why delay? Emily is all that is happy and comformable—Eustace also—but it must be an anxious time for them. Papa leaves the decision to you; pray send word as quickly as may be. Better yet, come in person ... your loving daughter,” but scanning her lines, Sharlie could not resist a postscript. “
Please
, Mama!”

Hastily she sought her aunt, “If this could be sent express?”

Lady Alden eyed both letter and niece. “I collect there is a development?”

Out of her new-found confidence in Aunt Eliza, Charlotte hastily put her in possession of the facts. “Eustace—Major Gayle—has come into Mr. Cleghorne’s estate and offered for Emily, who declares she
will
have him, which completely oversets Papa, who says all must be decided by Mama...”

“How like a man,” murmured Lady Alden.

“Yes—but the thing is that he will never trouble to write, and I think Mama should know, do not you?”

“I do, indeed,” said Lady Alden, “and the sooner Nelly arrives to take charge of you, the better. I declare, I don’t know what has happened to you and Emily. You were such
good
children!”

“You never said so when we
were
children,” Sharlie remarked, irrepressibly, but her aunt merely sniffed and said, “No doubt I have forgotten. Go along with you, do.”

The second day’s hunt was not so glorious as the opener. Only one fox was found, and he was smart enough to lose his trail by swimming downstream until he could go to ground. By the time the pack had picked up his scent, the chase was hopeless; he would certainly have opened a rear tunnel and long since made his escape. “Oh, well,” said Lord Stanwood, “tomorrow’s another day.”

That it was—and produced not merely the Duke of Imbrie but his cousin, Lord Arthur Voss.

“Oh, God,” Charlotte murmured faintly, but Emily held firm.

“If I can do it, so can you,” she said flatly, and grinned wickedly. “If you want him, go get him, darling.” She nimbled Firefly forward demurely and said, “Your grace—Lord Arthur—how delightful to see you. We hadn’t hoped you’d condescend to ladies’ hunting—and did you know that Eustace has newly inherited a property in the neighborhood? Sharlie, where are you?”

Perforce Charlotte joined the group, although it was not so bad as she’d feared. In the spate of conversation between Eustace, Lord Arthur, Emily ... with Lord Stanwood jovially recognizing the duke ... it was possible to bow and murmur politely before turning aside to chat animatedly to Mr. and Mrs. Ridgeway, who were manifestly surprised by so much recognition ... but it was all Charlotte could manage to keep her countenance after meeting the glance of the duke’s black eyes.

They widened, narrowed, flickered with determination—and she found herself totally unstrung. He couldn’t still ... or could he?

He could. At least, he could set Ajax beside Moonshine and pace her whether for canter or gallop, from the Tally-ho to the View Halloo that proved to be a hind, and required a Tantivy to sweep the hunt around for the death. The duke said nothing, he was simply—
there:
smiling at her as they soared over the water jump, and choosing the better path around a brush clump (where half the hunt came to grief, but Moonshine automatically followed Ajax), and they were still tantivy behind the Master and the pack, in at the death ... when the duke said quietly, “I know it seems brutal, but remember a single deer can girdle enough trees to destroy a forest.”

“Is a forest more important?”

“Yes, because it contributes. There is wood for firing, nuts and fruits, leaves for mulch, even acorns for hogs and branches for birds’ nests. A deer does nothing but eat,” he flicked that disturbing glance at her again, and said, “Your servant, Miss Stanwood. I’ll hope to see you tomorrow.” He trotted away leisurely, and was seen to be conversing with the MFH, moving on from one to another of the members until he fetched up beside Lord Stanwood, where he stayed for so long that Sharlie was trembling with nerves.

What could he be saying to Papa? Surely a hunting field was not the place to make a formal offer, but if he did? No, they were laughing heartily, turning to include Uncle George. It must be no more than casual gossip, but Sharlie could not withdraw her eyes from the group. Emily had been right that he would do nothing to distress her, nor had he, but only (she supposed) sought to put her at ease by ignoring the past.

So did everyone else, including Lady Stanwood who had arrived during their absence, much to her husband’s astonishment. “Lud, Nelly, what do you here?”

“Oh, I had a sudden whim to join you,” she returned airily. “It is a very long while since I have been hunting. I suppose you will not object to mount me? You have all your hunters here, and I have brought my saddle.”

“No, of course you may have Countess. Well, well,” he beamed, “it’ll be like old times. We’ll coax Eliza to make up our original quartet, eh? Remember that run over Haythorp, George?” He chuckled wickedly, drawing a guffaw from his brother-in-law and a helpless titter from Lady Alden, while Lady Stanwood said, “For shame, Robert!” At which they all laughed heartily and became lost in reminiscences that meant nothing to Charlotte or Emily ... but in the privacy of the bedchamber he said, “Well, I am glad you are come, Nelly, because the devil’s in it but Eustace Gayle has inherited a penny-farthing property hereabouts, and has offered for Emily on the strength of it ... and here’s Emily saying she
will
have him.
I
don’t know what to do,
you’ll
have to settle it.”