‘Come back and sit by me, child. You may stay as long as you wish, we will be comfortable together.’
Antonia put her head in the old lady’s lap and felt her hair being gently stroked. She shut her eyes and let the wise voice wash over her. ‘You will forget him in time, child. You are young and beautiful and bright and there are plenty more fish in the sea.’
The following morning brought Hewitt and his younger brother Clarence, accompanied by his wife of a few months who, Antonia decided after the briefest of acquaintances, was a total ninny.
The ladies had scarcely finished their breakfast when the knocker sounded their arrival. Lady Granger was not pleased at the early interruption. ‘What I have done to deserve such fools for grandsons I do not know,’ she confided to Antonia, not bothering to keep her voice down. ‘Neither of them has a thought in his head, but that does not stop them sticking their beaks into my business at every turn.’
The unbecoming mottling of Hewitt’s complexion showed he had heard at least part of this condemnation, but he swallowed his anger, bustling forward to kiss his grandmother’s hand and enquire condescendingly after her health. Clarence followed his elder brother. Although two years separated them, they were as alike as twins with their florid complexions and bulky figures.
Clarence turned to his cousin and presented his wife with the air of a man showing off a rare jewel. Emilia Granger was at least ten years younger than her husband. She was blonde and fluffy and simpered up at Clarence, who swelled with pride at the blatant adoration in the shallow blue eyes.
Antonia marvelled that any woman could regard her cousin with adoration until Mrs Granger opened her mouth. ‘Have you been in London before, Miss Dane? Oh, yes, silly me, I quite forgot. Clarence told me you used to live here. Oh, dear, I am a goose!’ She giggled inanely, a noise not unlike a guinea fowl at its most irritating, and prattled on. ‘We are just a little early, are we not? But dear brother Hewitt was so set on visiting. He said last night…’
Even a woman as stupid as she could not fail to recognise the fury with which her brother-in-law was regarding her. Emilia flushed unbecomingly and subsided into silence. Hewitt glowered at her until he was certain she would prattle no more and turned his attention once more to Antonia.
Antonia, catching his eye, shifted uncomfortably and moved closer to her great-aunt, who was snapping at her visitors, ‘Sit down, sit down. Do not hover about like a flock of pigeons. What do you want, Hewitt? You were only here last evening.’
Emilia, clearly scared out of her remaining wits by this terrifying old lady, squeaked and dropped her reticule. The contents fell out and she scrabbled at her feet to pick them up, her cheeks scarlet. The two men sat firmly, one at each end of the sofa opposite their grandmother.
‘Ha! Like a pair of bookends, and with as much sense between you,’ Lady Granger snorted.
A moment of silence followed. Clarence finally broke it by clearing his throat. ‘Well, Grandmama.’ He fiddled with his neck cloth. ‘Sensible as we all are of your weakened condition and mindful that your doctor has prescribed rest…’
‘Poppycock. I have dismissed the old fool, as well you know. Young Dr Hardcastle – it does me good just to see his handsome face – stands for none of that nonsense.’
‘Be that as it may, Grandmama,’ Clarence continued gamely, ‘We were concerned that our cousin’s presence might fatigue you. So we have come to offer her accommodation with us. For the week or two you are in London, Coz,’ he added, turning to Antonia.
‘She stays here,’ the old lady snapped, causing another spasm of fright to shake Emilia’s thin frame.
‘And I intend to stay for quite some time – months, in fact. So, of course, I could not possibly impose on you in Wimpole Street.’ Antonia smiled sweetly at Emilia. ‘And I could not possibly intrude into the household of a newly married couple.’ Mrs Granger was so discommoded that she dropped her reticule again.
‘Fool of a woman,’ Great-Aunt muttered quite audibly, then, raising her voice, added, ‘We have all the dress shops to visit as Antonia needs a complete change of wardrobe. I fully intend to buy all the latest novels and volumes of poetry so we may read together. And, of course, we must get out of London soon. Bath, perhaps, or Brighton. What think you, Hewitt? Only a house in the best area, of course, and at this short notice it will no doubt cost a pretty penny. But there, I cannot take it with me, can I?’
Hewitt had raised a hand to cover his eyes and was murmuring gently to himself. Antonia thought she caught the words, ‘The money, the money…’
Lady Granger tugged the bell-pull at her side. ‘Well, you may all remain here if you wish, but we were about to go out. Antonia, did I mention last night that I intend to take my diamond set to Garrard’s to be cleaned and reset for you? We can do that on the way to the modiste’s.’ Having thus completed Hewitt’s anguish, she smiled benignly on her grandsons and, leaning on Antonia’s arm, crossed the room slowly but steadily.
Antonia was surprised to discover, when they sat down later to luncheon, how effective a good shopping spree was in keeping a broken heart at bay. Her mind still flinched from thinking of Marcus, but her spirits were lighter and she found she could look forward to the next few weeks with pleasant anticipation. At least she need not be constantly anxious that she would meet him.
‘I must go and lie down for a while,’ Great-Aunt announced. ‘No, no, I am not fatigued.’ She waved aside Antonia's concern. ‘Dr Hardcastle has told me to conserve my energies. Why not take a walk in the park? Or would you prefer one of the grooms to drive you?’
‘Thank you, Great-Aunt, but I think I will walk. I have grown used to covering some distances since I have been in Hertfordshire and I confess I miss the exercise.’ Antonia dropped a kiss on the dry, papery cheek and went upstairs to put on her bonnet and pelisse.
With one of the maids at her heels, Antonia set off briskly towards Hyde P
ark. Green Park was closer, but the more open expanses of the larger park beckoned and the afternoon was pleasantly sunny with a light breeze.
Antonia had an enjoyable walk, wandering further than she had intended. She finally turned for home, much to the relief of Julia the maid, who was not used to lengthy excursions of this sort, judging by the increasing number of sighs from her direction. A particularly gusty sigh distracted Antonia, she slipped on a tussock and turned her ankle painfully.
‘Oh, Miss Antonia, are you all right, Miss?’ Julia’s face was anxious as Antonia grimaced and rubbed the side of her kid boot.
‘Ow! That was a nasty wrench, but I do not think it is sprained.’ She placed her foot gingerly to the ground and winced. ‘I shall manage well enough if I lean on your arm, Julia.’
The two of them had begun their slow progress homewards when there was the sound of carriage wheels behind them and a cry of, ‘Cousin! What has befallen you?’ Antonia turned to see Hewitt in a shiny curricle pulled by a showy bay.
‘l have turned my ankle, Hewitt, there is no cause for concern.’
Hewitt jumped down from the carriage. ‘But you must ride back with me, dear cousin, I insist.’