The Companion of Lady Holmeshire (10 page)

“
I tire of showing people this house, Papa. They have seen it all before; have you not, Your Grace? But that Papa has added statues and enameled boxes to it. It is too much bright color for me, just too much! I wish you would agree to redo it in some soft, pale French design, Papa. Moires and damasks in blue and pistachio. Would Louis XV not be lovely in this grand house? Then I would enjoy presenting it before these dear guests.” Though always allowed to speak her mind, Genevieve lived a heavily orchestrated life and looked forward with longing to her new life as mistress of a house of her own.

“
I shall have it this way, my dear girl, for as long as I live. Perhaps my grandson will make the changes you request.”

“
I love old fashioned rococo. I have purchased tapestries and paintings for
my
house in Holmeshire. Someday. But look at the veiled ceilings here and the dark colors everywhere. One is at pains to even walk through all the wood carvings, palm trees and glasswork! I am oppressed and cannot
bear
to live in it any longer. Mama is happy enough with it all, though, are you not, Mama?” she sighed. “I’ve sent my monkey away; I could not endure the horrid little creature. It will be kittens and rococo for me.”

Wills decided it best to inform her of the discord in their plans for the castle at once. She had presented the opportunity; it might not come again! Contention not being something he feared, he took her aside, not far nor out of view, but to the other side of a tall Kent palm and under a brown-framed map covering most of a wall.

“
I’ve been traveling, you know,” he began. “I stayed quite some time in Italy and shipped home two and thirty crates full of beautiful things for Holmeshire Hall. You will love it, as how could one not? It is all marble in light colors; it is very Italian.” Perhaps she could come to care for that? Or perhaps not. Wills took pains not to add detail for fear of making matters worse. Furthermore, should she recover, he might then receive excessive opinion or an offer of assistance.

She stared at him, incredulous; stunned, she could not converse. The futility of any protest began to dawn on her, for the investment had been made. Holmeshire would be Italian, and the rococo would go to Chenbury. “Do tell?” she at last haltingly acceded. “What sort of things did you buy? I’m breathless to see!” Surely, she hoped, some of it would appeal! Or, at the very least, she could do her own chambers in her preferred way? And the paramount matter, that she could go along to Holmeshire, soon, to make use of his supplies and recreate the home?

“
Oh, no, do not concern yourself. It is all sitting in crates. Marble this, marble that, vases, paintings, materials for restoring the house. And it all comes complete with an Italian designer. He’ll be there and gone quite quickly.” She had feared that very thing. She began to suppose that if she was ever to have things her way; she would have to live alone. The thought was appealing!

And what was this that he was saying now? “I would so like you to become acquainted with Miss Carrington tonight! You shall be great friends, I am sure.” She cast a brief look at Emma. His mother’s lower class companion. Perhaps the two of them would share the Dower House?

“
Miss Carrington? I am pleased to have met your mother’s companion, but I have no wish to distract her from her obligations. I do have some dear friends of my own, as you know. We have become quite occupied with Shakespeare, reading and performing his works amongst ourselves and dreaming of performing it for our friends. It will be far too time consuming for Miss Carrington.” She paused, nervously realizing that she had just invited her friends to Holmeshire Hall for lengthy visits, not something that would likely move matters in the right direction. She paused to regret it, resigned herself and then spoke with great trepidation on a third disagreeable matter. “Wills, should I be allowed to address you so as your betrothed, I have a question to ask of you. This Nicholas,” she nodded toward the tot, who was being kept fairly near his beautifully bedecked guardian, “I fear to ask, since no one has heard much of him before, from where did this child come, My Lord?” She hardly breathed while awaiting his reply.

“
I have no desire to hurt or deceive you in any way, ma’am...”

“
I cannot bear that you call me ‘ma’am’! Please call me by my name! And the boy?”

“
Yes, my dear Genny, should I be allowed to call you that, I shall. As to the child, he is not my son.” He had turned his back to Nicky, and spoke quietly. “Be assured of that. My sons and heirs will be your sons, too. I can promise you my absolute allegiance in marital matters. My parents have taken great pains to teach me the dangers of infidelity—the trauma and the state of crisis that it can yield. It is my intention to provide you with the most pleasant home, the most comfortable life and the greatest confidence in your husband. You will be able to sleep in peace when I am gone, knowing that I am a man of absolute integrity to my nuptial vows. There, now you are aware of my views on that matter. As to Nicholas, he is the child of a man of the utmost importance to me, for whom I would do anything, and I have taken the responsibility of being the permanent guardian of the child. Until we have a son, Nicholas has been entered into my will as my heir, as I must have one. I ask that you will give him the same security and happiness that I intend to give you in our home.”

“
And so I must raise this child?”

“
Please, Genevieve, with my providing all the help you should care to have in the matter, do accept Nicky as part of the family.”

She absent-mindedly studied the picturesque rug she stood on, traced a design with the toe of her white-buttoned shoe and then looked back up at Wills. “I will do as you say, My Lord. May I ask, then, when we will begin this family life that we have discussed?”

Wills hesitated, not meaning to have created
this
adversity, and then responded, “I will provide you with a ring, someday, and a far more appropriate proposal of marriage than the conversation we just had could possibly have been deemed.”

Genevieve closed her eyes briefly, irritated and clenching her jaw. “I did not deem it, My Lord, an appropriate proposal, but there has never been another. To be or not to be! That is the question,” she flashed back at him. He patiently offered his arm for her to join him as he returned to the group, which was now examining a huge portrait of the great Marquess of Breyton.

***

A dinner of rice and spicy curries was served around a long table decorated with bouquets of flowers mixed with peacock feathers. Emma felt Breyton glaring across the table at her. He quickly turned his face away when she looked in his direction. She felt unwanted, but was determined to stake her place in the group and fulfill her purpose. Occasionally he looked at her as if trying to read her like a book, disapproving. She squirmed in her seat. If only something would distract him.

“
Peacock feathers are widely used in fashionable Indian weddings,” volunteered the Marchioness, the Lady Breyton. “We have learned so much about the culture, weddings and all, you know.” She realized, belatedly, that had she sounded too forward. Nevertheless, she was most decisively informed of it.

“
I am not planning a wedding, yet, Mother, and when I do, it will not involve Indian culture,” asserted her daughter, who had deeper dimensions of self confidence. “I will thank you to remember that my interests lie elsewhere.”

“
Oh, indeed, I surely know of your admirable theatrical interests, my dear,” conceded the panicking woman, as she attempted to back out of having brought up what was surely a bitter subject.

“
Not just any theater, and surely not your opera, Mama, but Shakespeare. And Shakespeare only! And I would like to announce to everyone that since there is nothing more important happening this summer, Mama and I wish to throw a huge ball with the theme ‘Midsummer Night’s Dream.’ I’m sure Papa will allow us? A lady has to have something to work on to banish idleness and...and...wasted days.” She was clearly referring to the pathetic ebbing away of her life as a twenty-one-year-old maid and was certain that everyone at the table reproached her for it.

Lord Breyton replied, “I should think it would be a fine thing, my dear. You make your plans. I am surprised that you have nothing else intended for this summer, though?” He looked straight at Wills, who he had long presumed would marry his daughter and make her a Countess and Mistress over several houses at age seventeen. Wills smiled and nodded politely, not at all thrilled to be enjoying another evening at this discussion, but enduring, as the topic should surely soon burn itself out.

“
I think that we should find a larger ballroom than what we have here. I want this to outdo all balls ever thrown!” Genevieve emphatically declared, while drowning in exasperation. “I shall do nothing else whatsoever the rest of The Season, but throw myself into this ball. We shall form a committee of some of Mama’s and my friends.”

“
We may have to talk more about that, my dear,” asserted the Marquess. “We have ample space here and, quite truthfully, have plenty to show off.”

“
Perhaps I prefer
not
to show it off. I pray, we
will
talk about it later.” A short delay preceded her addendum, “This above all: to thine own self be true. Nobody else is.”

Her father’s voiced raised a degree, “We shall discuss it together privately, your mother and I, Genevieve. After all, young ladies do not throw their own balls!”

The discussion ended, ere the Lord should turn a bit too angry. He was already looking at Wills in a new and discomfiting way. Genevieve struggled quite mightily with the impulse to run out of the room, but was thankfully restrained by the acutely disturbed, but well disciplined, lady within.

Wills would have preferred to have had dinner on Belgrave Square. He decided, however, to push matters to the limit since he was, unfortunately, at Handerton House. Things were already hopelessly miserable there, and it might just as well be done.

“
I would also like to give a ball. I would like to invite some of those who do not often have the opportunity.”

“
Oh, who has been, regrettably, left out?” asked a guest, the sweet Lady Shaw, in all innocence and with deep concern.

“
Our dear Miss Wathem, my mother’s governess, has not been to a ball in quite some time. We would especially like to honor her. She is getting old and may never again have the opportunity,” Wills advised, knowing fully well that he would be assailed for it in this particular company. “She recently did us a great service by taking in Miss Carrington and assisting her to learn the ways of society.”

Genevieve struggled to carry on as a member of the party. “To be sure,” she said, “that will be most useful for Miss Carrington when spending time with Her Ladyship.” She nodded toward Winnie. “I am very happy for you both.” There was no strength for a smile. She could barely muster stiff toleration, which attempted a masquerade as graciousness.

“
And,” Wills continued, “there are a great number of middle class persons who have used their time and resources to assist those beneath them. It is time they received acknowledgement and honors, and I believe that a modest banquet and ball would be just the venue for such a ceremony. They deserve the best. Do you have any suggestions for such a ball, my dear Genevieve?”

Genevieve froze with her knife and fork, which she had at last raised, hovering above her plate. She looked at him blankly and blinked a few times, unsure that she could believe that he had actually just involved her in this notion. A few seconds passed before she was able to repossess herself, set down her silver implements carefully and compose a reply.

“
I am sorry, My Lord,” she breathed, “living here, so near London, I do not know how I could assist in this concept.” Barely coping, she had hope upon hope that the affair was to take place well after The Season in the Holmeshire mud and moors. After all, she was not his wife and did not have to attend!

“
It is already more than a concept, my dear. You see, just this morning I found a merchant and ordered shiny silver medals made for the persons on my list of names. But I do fear leaving out someone deserving. Does anyone wish to name a person, or perhaps a couple, who has contributed in some kind way to the welfare of those less fortunate?”

Quiet ensued, and Helena sensed the need for support from higher places. “Perhaps His Grace and I could discuss providing a venue here in London for this ball. How would you feel about that, my darling?”

Wills interjected before His Grace could speak, “That would be splendid, Aunt Helena. I had wished to be able to invite Her Majesty! She has spoken kindly of such persons’ efforts.” …Perhaps this would convince the Duke? And shock the Breytons?

Trent wiped his mouth with an elegant linen, thinking quickly, and stammered, “I, I, I have no problem with providing accommodations for a fine work such as this, though I was told last night that you prefer not to entertain? Would it perhaps be more appropriate to hold, say, a ceremony with some diversion? Musicians, perhaps? We have a spacious room with seating for such an event.”

Emma saw her opportunity. With her feelings of responsibility to the poor giving her new-found bravery, and with a quick prayer, she cleared her throat and threw herself in, come what may. “I know that I can say, having felt the sentiments of common people, that many of the lower classes would welcome the good fortune of enjoying a banquet and ball.” She held her breath. The Duke raised his eyebrows and nodded, amused. Winnie and Helena smiled.