An Introduction To The Eternal Collection Jubilee Edition (136 page)

“Thank you, Maria,” Caroline said as the tray was set down at her side.

“Miss Harriet Wantage is below, m’lady,” Maria said. “She is anxious to see your ladyship and I said I would enquire if you would receive her.

“Harriet! At this hour!” Caroline exclaimed.

“Tis nigh eleven of the clock.”

“How shameful!” Caroline smiled. “Harriet will think I am an indolent London miss who never rises before noon. I must explain to her that my behaviour this morning is the exception and not the rule.”

“I cannot see that it matters, your ladyship, what Miss Wantage thinks,” Maria said disdainfully. “After all, she is but the Vicar’s daughter.”

Caroline laughed.

“Maria, you are a dreadful snob!”

“Yes, m’lady,” Maria agreed complaisantly, “and now I will ask the footman to show Miss Wantage upstairs.”

Caroline was, eating her strawberries when Harriet was announced. She rose and went across the room to greet her.

“Harriet, I am hated that you should discover me in
déshabille
at such an hour, but I was so exhausted last night that Maria drugged me with the laudanum bottle and I have only just awakened.”

“Forgive me for disturbing you,” Harriet said, “but, Caroline, I had to see you, for I am in sore need of your help and advice.”

“Then sit down and tell me all about it,” Caroline said. “Maria shall fetch you some fresh chocolate.”

“No - no, please do not trouble,” Harriet said. “I require nothing. Indeed I think I will never eat again, for I am so excited, Caroline, and at the same time in such a twitter that I know not which way to turn”

Caroline looked at Harriet with laughter in her eyes.

“Then dare I collect that you are in love Harriet?”

A deep flush stained Harriet’s thin cheeks.

“Oh Caroline, is it so obvious?”

“Of course it is,’ Caroline declared, “for I vow I have never seen you look so pretty before.”

Harriet blushed even deeper.

“I never thought I would live to hear anyone call me pretty,” she said humbly. “’But, Caroline – he thinks so.”

“Meaning of course, Mr. Stratton,” Caroline hazarded.

Harriet nodded.

“And, has he – has he offered for you, Harriet?” Caroline asked.

Harriet nodded again, obviously too overcome for words.

“But that is beyond all things wonderful!” Caroline exclaimed. “La, Harriet , and of course you accepted him?”

In answer Harriet clasped her hands together.

“Indeed I know not what to say. I love him - deeply and with the greatest respect but – but he wishes me to elope with him and – oh, Caroline, how can I deceive Papa?”

Caroline gave a sigh and pushed her breakfast tray aside.

“Tell me everything from the very beginning,” she commanded.

Nothing loath, Harriet, who seemed to be almost bursting with excitement, began.

“It was the night of your wedding, Caroline. I cannot recall exactly how it happened, but I found myself walking in the garden with Mr. Stratton. He spoke to me of Papa and I explained to him as best I could without being disloyal that Papa had turned him from the house because he had learned that he was poor. “You must not blame my father too harshly, sir,” I said, “for seeing that we ourselves live in most straitened circumstances, he has a great repugnance to poverty and dislikes above all things to be reminded of it.” Mr. Stratton – Thomas he says I should call him now – asked, “And what do you feel about such things, Miss Wantage?” I answered him truthfully and said that, having been poor all my life, I had known little else but poverty and that we frail women were seldom afraid of what was familiar, however disagreeable it might be. Then he said, “If you fell in love with someone, Miss Wantage, and he was without wealth?” I replied with dignity, “If I fell in love with someone, Mr. Stratton, it would not matter a fig to me whether he was a king or a pauper. I would love him for himself and be proud to serve him even if he required of me that I should scrub his floors and cook his meals.” And then, Caroline – Oh, I can hardly tell you,” Harriet paused breathlessly, her eyes shining.

“Go on,” Caroline prompted. ‘It is the most intriguing story I have ever heard.”

“Well then,” Harriet continued, “he turned to me, took my hand and said, “Miss Wantage, could you love me for myself alone?” and Caroline, for a moment my heart seemed to stop beating and I thought I would swoon away at his feet.”

“But you didn’t,” Caroline said with a little smile. “What did you do?”

Harriet blushed again and said, dropping her eyes,

“I said – and, Caroline, was it very bold and unmaidenly of me? – I said, “But I do love you, sir, and it matters not if you are a pauper, for to me you will always be a king”

“Bravo, Harriet,” Caroline exclaimed, “and what happened after that?”

“I am afraid,” Harriet said in a very low voice, “that I was so bemused by my own daring that I allowed him to kiss me. Oh, Caroline, I blush to think of it even now.”

“You have far more sense than I thought possible,” Caroline said. “Go on, Harriet!”

“Well, after that I remembered Papa, and when Mr. Stratton – Thomas I mean – suggested coming to the Vicarage to see him the very next day to ask for my hand, I begged him not to in a very frenzy of fear, for, Caroline, you know full well that Papa would have driven him away with a horsewhip. I told Thomas that and added that if Papa was really annoyed with me, he would send me away to his sister, my Aunt Roxana, at Ramsgate. She is as frightening as Papa himself and would make it utterly impossible for me to ever set eyes on Thomas again.”

And what did Mr. Stratton say to that?” Caroline asked.

“He said that in these circumstances there was only one thing to be done, that we must run away to Gretna Green.”

“And you have agreed?” Caroline asked.

“That is why I have come to see you,” Harriet answered. “Oh, Caroline, what shall I do? What shall I do?”

“There is no question on it,” Caroline replied. “You must go with him, Harriet - to Gretna Green.”

“But, Papa, he will kill me if he catches me.”

“He won’t catch you,” Caroline said reassuringly. “I think you can safely leave that in Mr. Stratton’s hands. All you have to do, Harriet, is to let him make the arrangements and to meet him at the time he asks.”

“He suggested nine o’clock this evening,” Harriet faltered, twisting her fingers together in an agony of indecision and helplessness. “He sent me a note yesterday from Sevenoaks where he is staying and I vow it was the merest chance that it did not fall into Papa’s hands. I nearly died with fright when a groom brought it to the house but two minutes before Papa returned from riding.”

“And in it Mr. Stratton suggested that you elope this evening?” Caroline said.

“Yes, he has told me to meet him outside the Castle gates,” Harriet said. “It is a wise idea, I know, for if curious eyes see a post chaise waiting there, they will not credit for a moment that it is for someone from the Vicarage.”

“Mr. Stratton seems to have got everything well thought out,” Caroline said. “He trusts you to be there and you cannot fail him. Why are you so worried?”

“But Caroline, surely you understand. How can I run away with a strange gentleman of whom I know so little, and leave Papa and my home and besides – Oh, Caroline, I have nothing to wear.”

There was such a
cri de Coeur
in Harriet’s voice over this last objection that Caroline could not help smiling. She rose to her feet and put her arms round the trembling girl.

“Now listen, Harriet,” she said, “There is only one thing that matters and that is if you are sure that you really and truly desire to wed with Mr. Stratton. Are you persuaded of that?”

“’Tis the only thing of which I am beyond all hesitation positive,” Harriet answered, “for, Caroline, he is indeed a most handsome, a most elegant gentleman and of the finest sensibility and to think that he should love me – me of all people!”

“And you don’t mind his being poor?” Caroline said. “Has he related to you his exact circumstances or spoken of his family?”

“No, he has not spoken of such matters,” Harriet answered, “and I know only what Papa has told me. I cannot imagine where he obtained such information, but it appears that he learnt that Thomas’ family is impoverished. That was why he forbade me to speak with him again.”

Harriet paused, looked as if she might cry, and then went on with her story.

“’If you marry,” Papa said to me, “though heaven knows ‘tis unlikely enough that any man would be such a fool as to offer for you, I will take care that ‘tis not some scallywag with pockets to let who will live on me.’ I am sure, Caroline, that Thomas would never consider such a degrading situation, but you know what Papa is like. And if he asks for my hand, Papa will enquire only as to the contents of his purse and my feelings will be his last consideration.”

“I am sure you are right there,” Caroline agreed. “Very well then, Harriet, quite obviously there is nothing for if but to run away with your Mr. Stratton. To be honest, I think this is the greatest thrill he has known in years. He has found life a bore, Harriet, and, if I am not mistaken, to play the knight errant to a maiden in distress and rescue her from a dragon – which of course is your papa – will be very much to his liking.”

“Then you think I should go?” Harriet faltered.

“Think?” Caroline enquired. “I don’t think, Harriet, I know you must. And now for your clothes. You cannot elope and not look attractive on such an auspicious occasion.”

“Mr. Stratton – I mean, Thomas – said that I was not to trouble to bring much with me. He promised to buy me all that I need once we were married, but Caroline – ,I am sure he cannot afford such extravagances, and besides, I must wear something in which to travel.”

“Indeed you must,” Caroline said solemnly, “and I will see to that, Harriet. ”

“Oh but, Caroline, I did not mean to impose on you,” Harriet expostulated. “I would not have you think that I came here for the very purpose of presuming on your generosity.”

“Fudge! As if I should think such a thing. You know I would like above all things to give you a gown for such a thrilling adventure but I will not spoil Mr. Stratton’s plans by giving you too many, for I guess that he wishes to dress you according to his fancy, and indeed I perceive that you are to be a very real interest to him and that you will disperse his blasé airs once and for all.”

“I have never seen him bored.” Harriet said quietly.

“No, my dear, and I hope you never will,” Caroline answered, “for I predict that once you are wed you will settle down to a life of domestic bliss and Mr. Stratton will quickly forget how fatigued he was by high Society. And now for your clothes.”

Caroline rang the bell and when Maria answered it she was entrusted with Harriet’s secret.

“You must speak of it to no one, Maria,” Caroline said, “and now let us look in my wardrobe and find something suitable for Miss Wantage to travel in.”

“There is your pale blue merino, m’lady, with the embroidered bodice, and it has an elegant manteau in the same colour edged with swansdown.”

“The very thing!” Caroline exclaimed, “and the bonnet which goes with it is entirely captivating. It will become you well, Harriet, and has the advantage of being warmer than most of my summer gowns. There is also a muff to match.”

“Alas, m’lady, I did not pack the muff,” Maria apologized.

“What a pity!” Caroline answered, then she added, “But with any degree of luck it should be here by this evening. When I wrote to Mrs. Edgmont yesterday, I begged her to have my clothes despatched to me here as soon as possible. Now let me think. The groom would have reached Mandrake yester eve, and if the things were sent off before noon today they should arrive before dusk and Miss Wantage can take the muff with her. I have two other things I would like her to have - my green gauze with rose ribbons and the negligée of India muslin inset with thread lace.”

“Yes, m’lady,” Maria said.

“‘Tis over-generous of you, Caroline,” Harriet interrupted, “but I dare not take so much. How indeed could I convey such luggage from the Vicarage to the trysting place? I can wear one dress and perhaps carry a night-robe in a small parcel, but that is all.”

“This is a problem!” Caroline said. “But wait, I have an idea. Maria and I will arrange for your luggage to be hidden somewhere by the lodge gates. Is there anyone who can be trusted, Maria, to carry a box for you?”

Maria nodded her head and looked coy.

“There is James, m’lady. He has asked me to walk out with him and I am sure that anything I ask of him he would do and keep secret on it.”

“Then that is splendid,” Caroline said. “James shall take the trunk, just a few things in it, Harriet, for I must not spoil your future husband’s pleasure and hide it by the lodge. Remember to pick it up before you start off on your journey.”

“Oh Caroline, supposing I cannot find it,” Harriet faltered, “and if Papa is following me or suspicious of where I am going, what shall I do then?”

Caroline sighed. She found it difficult to understand the hesitations and the apprehensions of the weaker members of her sex.

“I’ll tell you what I will do, Harriet,” she said. “I will meet you at the lodge gates myself. Maria will arrange with James to hide the trunk earlier in the evening. I will find it and wait until you arrive. You will not be afraid to look for me, will you, Harriet?”

“Oh no, indeed, Caroline, but why should you do this for me? 'Tis too much to ask. I would not think of troubling you.”

“It is no trouble, to be sure,” Caroline answered. “I think perhaps I should be wise to be there in case you are too chickenhearted at the last moment to embark on your great adventure. I will, not let Mr. Stratton see me, and, all you have to do Harriet, is to flee from the Vicarage a trifle earlier. I will be at the gates at a quarter to nine o’clock and will expect you as soon after that as you can manage. Do not be any later in case Mr. Stratton in his impatience to be away with you is also early.”

“But, Caroline, how can I leave the Vicarage wearing a dress of yours?” Harriet asked.