She laughed, ‘As though Wicken didn’t know all there is to be known about us! How is our dear sister Louisa, by the way?’
‘I’ve been spared the sight – and sound – of her for over a week.’ He scanned her, his eyes narrowed. ‘Setting aside the hat, what has brought you to London?’
‘You can’t set aside hats,’ she objected. ‘I must have a new crop, too, and bring myself back into the established mode. However, the thing that really made me come was your own complaint: boredom, my dear!’
‘What, tired of rural tranquillity?’
‘If,’ she said severely, ‘you ever took the smallest interest in your nephews and nieces, you would not talk to me of tranquillity! We began the year with whooping-cough; three of them had that, one after the other. Hardly had the last whoop died away, than what must Caroline do – at her age, too! – than start in the chicken-pox and communicate it to Tom and Mary! And then Jack brought home some horrid infection from Eton, and they all succumbed to it, even John! I wish I had done so myself, for it would have been much less exhausting! I remained at the Manor, like the devoted wife and mother I am, until they had recovered, and then packed my trunks before any of them had had time to throw out a rash, complain of a sore throat, or break a limb!’
He smiled, but his steady gaze remained on her face. ‘And for how long do you propose to remain?’ he enquired.
‘Goodness, I don’t know! a week or two, perhaps. Does it signify? Had you rather I went away?’
‘Not at all,’ he replied politely.
‘Well, I’m glad of that, because I mean to visit my old friends, and pick up all the threads again. Also to look about me for a suitable house to be hired for the season next year. I shall be bringing Caroline out, you know. At least, you don’t, but you should. A house with a ballroom, of course – no, I haven’t any desire to hold a ball under any other roof than my own, so you need not be alarmed! Vernon, what, in the name of all that’s marvellous, prevailed upon you to hold one here for Jane Buxted?’
‘I didn’t,’ he responded. ‘I held it in order to present Fred Merriville’s daughters to the ton. Can it be that you didn’t know I had taken upon myself the guardianship of a very beautiful girl?’
She tried to keep her countenance, but broke into laughter under the mockery in his eyes. ‘No, it cannot be! What a detestable creature you are! Very well, I own I am quite consumed with curiosity. But how came it about?’
‘Oh, very simply! You may call it the payment of a debt. I’m not, in fact, the Merrivilles’ guardian, but they were commended to my protection. To launch the beauty into society seemed to be the least I could do – so I did it. That is to say, I persuaded Louisa to do it.’
‘Demon!’ said his sister appreciatively. ‘Augusta wrote to me that she was as mad as fire when she clapped eyes on your beauty, and has been glumping ever since! And the other one? Is she a beauty too?’
‘Oh, no! Not to compare with Charis!’ he said indifferently. ‘She is the eldest of the family, and has charge of the younger ones. My guardianship, you perceive, is purely nominal: I have really very little to do with them.’
At this somewhat inopportune moment, Wicken entered the room, and said demurely: ‘Master Felix has called, asking to see your lordship. Shall I show him in, my lord?’
‘Now, what the devil does he want?’ demanded the Marquis, in accents of foreboding. ‘Tell him I’m – No, I suppose I shall have to see him: show him in!’ He glanced down at his sister, and said, with the hint of a rueful smile: ‘You are about to make the acquaintance of the youngest Merriville, Eliza – a devilish brat!’ He turned his head, as Wicken ushered Felix into the room, and said: ‘Well, Felix? What’s the scrape?’
‘Sir!’ uttered Felix, outraged. ‘There isn’t any scrape!’
‘Accept my apologies! Just a social visit! Eliza, allow me to introduce Felix to you: one of my wards! Felix, this is my sister, Lady Elizabeth Kentmere.’
‘Oh! – Oh, I didn’t know – I beg pardon, ma’am!’ said Felix, looking a trifle discomfited, but achieving a very creditable bow. He cast an anxious glance at Alverstoke. ‘P’raps I had better come to see you tomorrow, sir? I didn’t mean to – to intrude, only Wicken didn’t tell me – and I have something very particular to say to you!’
Lady Elizabeth, the mother of three hopeful sons, interposed, saying: ‘Then of course you mustn’t lose a moment! Is your business of a private nature? Shall I excuse myself to my brother, and go away for a while?’
Perceiving, from the twinkle in her eyes, that she
was what he termed a right one, he grinned engagingly at her, and answered: ‘Oh, no, ma’am – thank you! It is only a little private! If you won’t tell anyone?’
‘I’m true blue, and will never stain!’ she replied promptly.
‘Cut line, Felix!’ commanded Alverstoke. ‘If it isn’t a scrape, what is it?’
‘Well – well, it’s a balloon, Cousin Alverstoke!’ disclosed Felix, taking his fence in a rush.
Lady Elizabeth was betrayed into laughter, which she hastily turned into a fit of coughing; but his lordship merely said, in the voice of one inured to misfortune: ‘Is it indeed? And what have I – or you, for that matter! – to do with balloons?’
‘But, sir – !’ said Felix, deeply shocked. ‘You must know that there is to be an ascension from Hyde Park, on Thursday!’
‘I didn’t, however. And let me tell you, here and now, that I have no interest in balloons! So, if you are going to ask me to take you to see this ascension, my answer is NO! You can very well go to Hyde Park without my escort.’
‘Yes, but the thing is, I can’t!’ said Felix. Suddenly assuming the demeanour of an orphan cast penniless upon the world, he raised melting blue eyes to his lordship’s face, and said beseechingly: ‘Oh, Cousin Alverstoke, do, pray, go with me! You must! It’s – it’s obligary!’ he produced urgently.
‘Why is it obligatory?’ asked his lordship, preserving his iron calm, but directing a quelling glance at his sorely afflicted sister.