The Paper Princess (17 page)

As she began to ascend the staircase, Felicity sensed a malignant presence behind her. She wanted to turn around, but the great hoop of her gown prevented her from doing so. Then a familiar, tall figure ahead of her on the staircase turned and smiled, and she felt a great flood of delight and relief. For it was Lord Arthur, very grand in a dark blue silk coat and knee breeches. His black hair was powdered, and he carried a bicorne under his arm. His delight in the beauty of Felicity's appearance stopped him from noticing Mr. Palfrey and Miss Barchester close behind her.

All Felicity's fears left her. The masquerade was nearly over. One curtsey to the Queen among so many, and then she would be free to marry Lord Arthur.

By the time she and Miss Chubb had ascended the staircase, inch by inch, both were heartily tired of the long wait. And when it came their turn to be introduced, neither felt any nervousness at all as they sank down into low curtseys before Queen Charlotte, who surveyed them with great indifference and helped herself to a pinch of snuff.

Felicity was just backing away from the royal presence when a voice behind her cried, “Impostor!”

One look at the so-called Miss Chubiski had been enough to convince Mr. Palfrey.

There was a hushed silence.

Then Mr. Palfrey said, “Your Royal Majesty, my lords, my ladies, and gentlemen. This is not the Princess Felicity of Brasnia. This is Felicity Channing, my stepdaughter, who stole my jewels and ran away.”

Miss Barchester laughed. “She is nothing but a paper princess,” she said.

A paper princess! A great hissing and whispering set the feathers nodding and dipping. Queen Charlotte looked at the stricken Felicity with mild curiosity. Then she raised her hand. Two Yeomen of the Guard stepped from behind her throne.

Lord Arthur came to stand beside Felicity and held her hand firmly in his own.

“This is indeed Felicity Channing,” he said, “who is to be my wife. Your Royal Highness, let me tell you her story.”

“Better let me tell it,” said a portly man, waddling forward. “I am Mr. Guy Clough, tobacco planter. I carry on me the late Mrs. Palfrey's last will, which this man"—he pointed at Mr. Palfrey—"tried to destroy.”

“Pray go on,” said the Queen. “We have become interested.”

There were screams and yells from the staircase outside, where the guests who had not yet gained the drawing room, but who had begun to hear garbled whispers of an attempted assassination by a Turk, were beginning to push and shove.

So Mr. Clough told Bessie's story and handed the will to Felicity.

As everyone pressed forward to look over Felicity's shoulder, Mr. Palfrey backed away. The down staircase outside was empty; no one wanted to leave until they had learned every bit of the drama. He darted down it and disappeared into the night.

“Quite like a gothic romance,” sighed one sentimental lady. Ushers moved in to keep the guests in line.

But Miss Barchester stood where she was, unable to believe the turn of events in Felicity's favor.

Queen Charlotte looked across at Miss Barchester, and her little monkey face creased in a frown. “That woman,” she said. “Have her removed.”

“It was nothing to do with me,” said Miss Barchester, turning white.

“You are only wearing six feathers,” said the little Queen. “It is an insult to us. We suggest you do not aspire to social circles until you learn to dress.”

-espite her bewilderment and distress, Felicity could find it in her heart to be sorry for the ex-fiancée of Lord Arthur.

Tears of humiliation were running down Miss Barchester's cheeks as she made her way down the grand staircase.

“Let us go,” said Lord Arthur in Felicity's ear.

Clutching her mother's will, Felicity let him escort her down the stairs, past the goggling guests, who were still demanding to know if anyone had seen this murdering Turk.

At his hotel, Mr. Palfrey packed feverishly. He knew that the minute the initial shock of all the revelations had died down, a warrant would be out for his arrest. He was bending over his largest trunk, stuffing in shirts and small-clothes, when he heard the door behind him swing open. His heart gave a jump. But when he turned around, it was only Miss Barchester standing there, still in her court dress and with the despised six feathers standing up on her head.

“You have ruined me,” said Miss Barchester.

“It was you who had the silly idea of challenging her in the middle of the Queen's drawing room,”

pointed out Mr. Palfrey acidly. “You had better leave, or they might arrest you as well.”

“I am ashamed. I shall never dare show my face in polite circles again,” said Miss Barchester. “I shall go with you.”

“Charmed, dear lady,” said Mr. Palfrey, still packing. “But may I point out that I have only enough money on me to take me out of the country. What I shall do when I get to the Low Countries to survive is beyond me.”

“Marry me,” said Miss Barchester, “and Papa will give you my dowry.”

“How much?”

“Five thousand pounds.”

“Nearly enough, but not quite.”

“You still hold the Channing estates. Go to the bank in the morning and draw out as much as you can.”

“But the banker will have learned of all the fuss from the newspapers.”

“Then, you must trust to the fact that men of business rarely have time to read their newspapers first thing in the morning. I shall go with you. Perhaps this Channing creature will not want any more fuss and scandal and will not prosecute. So, do not draw out all the money, only enough to keep us comfortably.”

“I must leave this hotel immediately. Where shall I stay the night?”

“With my parents.”

“They will think it most odd.”

“Not them,” said Miss Barchester bitterly, thinking that her father would only see Mr. Palfrey as a further extension to his estate. “Come, I shall help you pack.”

There was something about Miss Barchester's stern, cold face that reminded Mr. Palfrey of his mother.

With a weak little smile, he moved over and let her help him.

Felicity was roused early the next morning by Spinks, the butler.

“An urgent message from Lord Arthur Bessamy,” he said sonorously. “We are to bar the door, close the shutters, and lock the windows.”

“Good heavens! What has happened? Has Napoleon invaded?”

“Vengeance is mine, sayeth the lord.”

“Pull yourself together, Spinks. Did not my lord explain the reason for his warning?”

“No, Your Royal Highness. But the end is nigh.”

“Don't be silly. Rouse Miss Chubb immediately, and bring me the morning papers.”

“I do not think that is a very good idea.”

“Do as you are told, Spinks,” said Felicity sharply. “And you may now address me as Miss Channing.

The masquerade is over.”

“Everything is over,” said Spinks in a hollow voice.

The minute he had left, Felicity jumped from her bed and made a hasty toilet. Miss Chubb came in just as Felicity was finishing dressing.

“What is all this?” asked the governess. “Has Spinks gone mad?”

“Something awful is about to happen or Lord Arthur would not have sent a message.”

There came a scratching at the door, and the tutor, Mr. Silver, came in, carrying the morning papers and with an expression on his face as gloomy as that of the butler.

“Is it war?” asked Felicity nervously. “Have the French come?”

“Worse than that,” said the tutor. He silently handed Felicity the newspapers and told her to look at the social columns.

Each paper carried a full account of the Queen's drawing room, and each damned this upstart, Felicity Channing, who had dared to masquerade as a royal princess and play a trick on “our beloved Queen Charlotte.” There was not a word of Mr. Palfrey's perfidy. Tricking her out of her inheritance and nearly murdering a maid was small beer in the eyes of the press compared to Felicity's audacity in tricking London society. “We had long noted,” said the
Morning Post,
“a sad want of any royal traits in this paper princess.”

PAPER PRINCESS screamed all the other journals. Miss Barchester had had her revenge after all.

“He will not want to marry me after this disgrace,” whispered Felicity. “Lord Arthur's father, the duke, is very powerful and will stop the marriage.”

“Listen!” said Mr. Silver. There were howls and cries outside, growing closer.

They sat staring at one another. Soon an angry mob was below the windows.

“You wouldn't think they would be able to read the newspapers,” said Felicity.

“They don't need to,” said Mr. Silver. A stone rattled against the shutters. “I am afraid, dear lady, that lampoons of you will be in all the print shops by now. The speed of the satirical artists of Grub Street never fails to amaze me.”

More stones began to strike the house and the roaring outside grew louder.

“If Lord Arthur guessed this was about to happen,” said Mr. Silver impatiently, “then he should have arranged to protect us.”

“Listen!” said Miss Chubb. “Someone is shouting something.”

Despite anguished cries from Miss Chubb to be careful, Felicity opened the shutters and looked down.

Lord Arthur Bessamy stood facing the mob. He was making a speech. They listened to him in silence, and then a great roar went up.

“Come away from the window,” shouted Miss Chubb. “They have seen you.”

“No,” said Felicity slowly. “Lord Arthur is below. He made a speech, they all listened and cheered, and now they are going away as quietly as lambs.”

She turned from the window and ran out of the room and down the stairs to where John Tremayne was stationed by the door, holding a shotgun.

“Open the door,” cried Felicity. “It is Lord Arthur.”

John drew back the bolts and bars and opened the door. Felicity flew into Lord Arthur's arms, crying,

“They are calling me the paper princess. Your father, the duke, he will never let you marry me.”

“Don't clutch my cravat,” said Lord Arthur amiably. “Quite spoils the shape. My dearest, by next week they will all have forgotten you exist.”

“How did you get rid of them?”

“I told them about Palfrey. I told them I was going to marry you. But I think it was when I told them that I had arranged for free beer at the pub in Shepherd Market, for them to drink your health, that started them cheering.”

“I was so afraid you would not want to marry me.”

“Idiot. But remember: It is to be our wedding, and only ours.”

“I do not understand.”

“Miss Chubb and Mr. Silver may marry when they please, but not at the same time as us.”

Felicity laughed. “Poor Miss Chubb. Of course she is not going to marry Mr. Silver.”

“I fear you are blind to love,” said Lord Arthur. “Why do you think Mr. Silver was so angry with poor Dolph? Now, do you want that wretch, Palfrey, arrested? After I left you last night, I went to call on Mr.

Clough. He told me that Bessie is quite reformed and never wants to leave America.”

“No, I would rather let all the scandal die down.”

“Do you know the name of the bank where the Channing money is lodged?”

“It is Coutts in the Strand, I believe.”

“Then, I had better go there directly or Palfrey will flee the country with all the Channing money.”

He bowed and left, and Felicity went back upstairs to look at Miss Chubb and Mr. Silver with new eyes.

Lord Arthur was too late. He could only be glad that Mr. Palfrey had only drawn out ten thousand pounds. The estates, properly managed, would soon recover the loss.

The Duke of Pentshire's home, Pent House, was a palace in the middle of rich green countryside. Felicity felt she had been hurtled down there out of the chaos of London and then left stranded with a great number of chilly people who did not approve of her one little bit. The duke and duchess, Lord Arthur's parents, were a handsome, formal couple whose exquisite manners barely concealed the wish that their youngest son had chosen someone else for a bride.

The couple were to be married in the private chapel. Felicity had made no suggestions of her own as to preparations for the wedding. There had been so much to do. John Tremayne had been parceled off to Lord Arthur's home to study estate management under the tuition of the steward. Dolph had volunteered to travel to Tregarthan Castle right after the wedding to take charge until such time as Lord Arthur could manage to join him and decide what was necessary to bring the Channing estates into good order.

Felicity's servants had either been pensioned off or found other jobs, according to their wishes. Dolph had taken a fancy to Spinks, who he claimed was an original, and had said he would take the biblical butler with him as a sort of aide when he went to Cornwall. Mr. Silver and Miss Chubb were to be married and were to live at Tregarthan Castle until a home of their own could be found for them.

Contrary to Lord Arthur's hopes, society had not forgotten or forgiven the paper princess, and news of her masquerade had reached the august ears of Lord Arthur's father. Felicity had not been present during the long family arguments in which Lord Arthur's parents had tried to talk their son out of marrying her.

But she felt their disapproval keenly.

There could be no reassuring hugs and kisses from Lord Arthur. If he took her out on the grounds for a walk, a footman was always in attendance, as the duke and duchess held strictly to the rules of society, which decreed that no couple should be left alone for a minute until after they were married.

Lord Arthur was beginning to become furious with his parents. He had been left a fortune by a distant relative and was economically independent of them, so they could not forbid the marriage, much as they wanted to. But he could not help feeling they might have put a better face on things.

If he had brought home some actress, they could not have been more shocked.

The arrival of Felicity's sisters and their husbands did more to remove her from him, because she took refuge in her family's company in the guest wing, keeping as far away from his parents’ aloof disapproval as she possibly could.