Putting on Airs (9 page)

     
Imogene watched as he continued to search the room.  "Do you suppose he is looking for your father?"

     
"Perhaps.  I cannot understand why he would, though; he has been resolved against my father for some years now."

     
"Perhaps he has another acquaintance," Imogene speculated.

     
At that moment, Mr. Phillip returned to Imogene's side.  "My brother would not be recaptured; he left.  Jane, I am sure you would not be afraid of our scheme."

     
"Scheme, sir?"

     
"For another play.  You will join Imogene and I, of course."

     
"Of course.  Which play this time?"

     
As they continued to discuss the play, Imogene excused herself from their company and tried to navigate nearer to Mr. Ashcroft.  He noticed her and approached her.

     
"You were just speaking to Mr. Cole, were you not?" he asked.

     
Almost afraid of provoking anything, Imogene took his meaning as Mr. Phillip Cole.  "Yes, sir, Mr. Phillip Cole."  He was about to clarify, but she prevented him; "I do not believe we have met.  I am Imogene Cartwright.  My younger sister Emmeline is the guest of honor here."

     
"And I am Patrick Reginald Ashcroft, miss.  But I was not talking about Mr. Phillip Cole; I meant his older brother."

     
"Oh, Mr. Henry Cole?"

     
"Yes, where is he now?  I desire to speak to him."

     
"I am afraid he left, sir."

     
"I see."  He looked around the room once more to confirm her statement.  "How long has he been in town?"

     
"He has only been here for the assembly, I understand."

     
"I see."  Without even saying "good evening", Mr. Ashcroft left.  As she watched him leave, she tried to fix his image and his name in her memory,
Patrick Reginald Ashcroft.
  It was then that she realized his initials matched those found on the letter for Mr. Cole.

     
"Then so do I."

     
Emmeline finally joined her husband in the carriage, and they drove off to their new home.  Imogene immediately retreated to her room to write her first letter to Emmeline, but as she sat down to write, she realized that she had nothing new to communicate yet.  Instead, she took a stroll outside.  She found her father in the gazebo, so she joined him on the bench.

     
"I am glad it all turned out so well," he said, his arm linked in hers.  "And it has made your mother happy, too."

     
"I am glad too," she sighed.  "But are you disappointed with me, father?"

     
"Why should I be?"

     
"I have humiliated us all in public, I broke off the betrothal with my cousin..."

     
"Do not give it another thought, my love.  It did not work out with Mr. Campbell, and now you can be free to choose someone else."

     
"Has mother spoken to Mr. Cole yet?"

     
"I am not sure, but I had a discussion with her earlier and convinced her that a betrothal was not a constructive approach for you.  She has agreed to give you a little more time on your own."

     
"Thank you, sir."

------

The month passed without worry for Imogene for the first time.  Her mother and Anthony were attending assemblies in the city, trying to find a potential wife for him, and Imogene would join now and again to satisfy her social needs.  Anthony's feelings were more set on the young Ms. Cole, but since the drunken embarrassment at the ball, she did not want anything to do with him.  Mr. Cartwright often visited his friend Mr. Butler senior, and Imogene would go along as well to visit Jane.  Both the Cartwrights and Butlers dined with the Coles every Saturday, and Imogene was thrilled to be finally unattached as Mr. Phillip and she spent more time together.

     
As the following month was introduced, Imogene received an unexpected visit.  She was sitting at her desk, writing to Emmeline, when the servant announced two visitors downstairs for her.  Folding away the letter, she went down to the drawing room immediately where she found Mr. Archer and Clarice.  After initial greetings, Mr. Archer got to the point of their visit.

     
"Clarice and I take a yearly trip down to Penzance in the summer to visit my friend and celebrate the Golowan Festival with him," he began.  "His name is Mr. Christopher Darwin Ashcroft.  Have you heard of him?"

     
Imogene's curiosity was instantly aroused.  "I have heard of Mr. Patrick Reginald Ashcroft."

     
"Oh, his father.  His son and I grew up in the same neighborhood; we have been good friends for years.  However, he is a widower and does not have any sisters, so we usually invite along a companion for Clarice whenever we visit him.  And we have both decided that we would like to invite you to join us."

     
"Oh, I see..."  Imogene certainly did not expect that.  And what about the play that Mr. Phillip was planning?  He had said at their last supper that he would announce the play and cast choice in a week.  Why did they not think to invite Nell, who was nearer Clarice's age?  Or perhaps they had, and she was somehow unable to.  She hated the prospect of missing the play, but Clarice looked so hopeful.  She did enjoy the young girl's company, and besides, she had often heard how wonderful Penzance was in the summer, and she had read about the Golowan Festival, which made her vow to attend it someday.

     
Somewhat hesitant, she replied, "If my father will spare me, then I would be pleased to accept your invitation."

     
Clarice's face lit up.  "We have already spoken with your father about it, and he consents to it.  Oh, I am so glad you are coming!  You will love Penzance—it is so beautiful!  And Mr. Ashcroft's cottage is right by the sea!"

     
"We will be leaving in a fortnight," Mr. Archer explained.

     
"And...I shall be ready in a fortnight," Imogene replied awkwardly, no better reply coming to mind.

     
"It is settled, then."  Mr. Archer then rose from his seat.  "I am sorry to leave so soon, but we are on our way to make another visit."

     
Imogene felt that he merely wished not to encounter her mother or Anthony whenever they should return.  They bid their farewells and parted, leaving Imogene to dazedly watch them go from out the window.  Only a moment later, her father entered the room and surprised her.

     
"Now you will be leaving me, will you?" he asked.

     
"Yes..." she replied blankly.

     
"You do not sound as though you are quite willing."

     
"Oh, no.  I think it will be quite exciting, and I am fond of Clarice.  I just...I find it somewhat odd that they chose to invite me."

     
"Although I know that you and Clarice have become good friends, I wondered about it myself.  They explained to me that the Cole family are expecting a visit from their aunt and uncle with their children, so they knew not to ask Ms. Cole.  Then I myself also speculated that it might bring you out of this disposition you have had of late."

     
"Disposition?"

     
"You miss your sister."

     
It was true that Emmeline's absence had given her a sense of loneliness, and Clarice was almost like a younger sister.  She smiled, "You are right.  It will be nice to feel like a sister again."

     
At that, it brought to mind that in her next letter to Emmeline, she should inform her of her travels and promise to disclose the proper address so that they could continue their letter writing even while she stayed in Penzance.

------

Mr. Cartwright was not the only one disappointed at her departure, but also Jane and all the Cole family, Mr. Phillip especially who was so depending on her performing in the Moliere play he had chosen.  He had also desired for her to meet his visiting family, and the more he declared how much he would miss her, the more she ached to stay and pacify him.  But she would not go back on the Archers, and in a fortnight, the Archers and their carriage came by to escort her and her luggage to Penzance.  Imogene tried not to, but could not help falling asleep in the carriage on the way—it was the longest trip she had ever made.  But she had the fortune to wake up just as they were to enter into Penzance, and to find Clarice asleep with her head on Mr. Archer's shoulder.  She grinned at the sight, and Mr. Archer, who saw she was awake, smiled faintly in return.  In the silence, she decided to unearth some conversation.

     
"What manner of man is young Mr. Ashcroft?" she asked.

     
"He made his fortune as a privateer," he explained.  "He was occupied with it until three years ago—On the day he returned from his last voyage, his wife fell ill and passed on a week later."

     
"How terrible!"

     
"He was quite altered by it, and he vowed never to set foot on board a ship again.  But in recent years, he has improved.  In his last letter I received, he declared an uneasiness that could only be solved by setting out to sea again."

     
"He enjoys the privateer life?  He must be quite a courageous young man."

     
"Courageous or foolish, I know not," he said.  Imogene suspected it was a joke, but the inflection was so subtle, she could not discern it.  "Furthermore, he has tried to convince me to join him in his ventures, but..."  Lowering his voice for the sake of his slumbering ward, he continued, "...I promised Clarice that I would not leave her until she is secured with a husband.  Even leaving her alone for a few months is unthinkable now."

     
Imogene had, through many instances, observed the strong attachment Clarice had to Mr. Archer, and he had always taken good care of her.  It was indeed too soon to leave her on her own, being just sixteen.  "You take great care of her, sir.  And I am certain that she appreciates it."

     
"She is like my own sister, and she often calls me her brother."

     
"She always speaks so highly of you."

     
Mr. Archer only flickered a smile, then turned again to look out the window.

------

Not long after, they arrived at a fine cottage overlooking the seashore.  Clarice woke upon the halt of the carriage, and as the servants fetched the luggage to their rooms, they met young Mr. Christopher Ashcroft in the parlor where he was practicing at chess by himself.  At the sight of Mr. Archer, he sprang up with a laughing smile and went to embrace his friend.  Imogene had never seen Mr. Archer smile so wide, nor ever heard him laugh, and when he did has he greeted his friend, he was rather five times handsomer, which left Imogene blushing in spite of herself.  Mr. Christopher also greeted Clarice with a kiss on the cheek, then noticed Imogene.

     
"And who is this charming lady?" he inquired.  "Ms. Cartwright, I presume?  I am delighted to meet you."  Despite the three years on land, Mr. Ashcroft had all the rugged and ruddy look of a sailor, his smile very energetic and pleasant. 

     
"As am I, Mr. Ashcroft," she replied with a curtsey.  Then she added, "I had the pleasure of meeting your father not three months ago."

     
She thought it would be some good bit of conversation, but she quickly regretted mentioning it, for she judged by the sudden discomfort of the gentlemen in the room that it was a subject not to be broached upon.  However, Mr. Christopher rallied a smile.

     
"He does indeed get around often, rarely idle in one place, it seems.  Well, I am always pleased to meet a new friend of Sebastian and Clarice—they have the most keen judgment in forming new acquaintances."

     
Wanting to redeem her mistake, Imogene tried a new subject, "I have heard of your passion for privateering, sir.  It sounds like quite an exciting profession."

     
This time, she knew she struck the right chord, for Mr. Christopher's face beamed.  "Indeed it is, Ms. Cartwright; there is nothing like it!  To abandon it and return to such peaceful surroundings as these seems perfectly dull.  But now that you are all come to visit, I am beside myself."