Sally James (3 page)

'I'll expect to see you at Woodings within the week then,' he said with satisfaction as he eventually rolled up the maps. 'I'll be taking the girls down as soon as Isabella's done this confounded shopping for Fanny, and I'll be staying for a while. Might as well go on to Brighthelmstone from there. Will you be in Sussex for long, my lord?'

'That will depend on several things. But I will come to inspect the farms, for they do appear to be a sensible purchase for me.'

'You'll not regret it. Come and eat your mutton with us, any time. Fanny would be pleased to meet you, she don't get about a great deal. Will Lady Fordington be in Sussex too?'

Lord Fordington shrugged and smiled ruefully.

'I am never made privy to my stepmama's plans,' he said lightly, 'but I believe she intends to spend a part of the summer at Priory Dene while my half-brother is there.'

'Then I hope she'll be kind enough to visit Fanny. She misses all the gossip of town, but whenever she has tried to come for a few days the racket has made her ill. I'm going to have to persuade my Aunt Garstone to bring Geogiana out next year. Pity Isabella isn't a trifle older, then she could chaperone the chit to parties, but it wouldn't do. However, don't mistake me, my lord, I'm really in no hurry to lose her. Despite she's an exasperating wench at times, such as tonight when she's up to her tricks, there's no viciousness in her and I'd miss her bright company.'

Lord Fordington cynically doubted that, but bent his efforts towards escaping from the house where he had so hugely enjoyed the earlier ludicrous events. Succeeding at last, he walked the short distance to his own house in Berkeley Square musing on what had occurred, a reminiscent smile upon his lips. The problem of Ninian, which had previously loomed so large, had been reduced to manageable size, and he resolved that he would not again permit himself to become irritated by the tears and recriminations of his stepmother.

* * * *

The following morning he was out at an unusually early hour, strolling along Bond Street greeting acquaintances, and completely unaware of the envy his immaculate blue superfine coat and pale biscuit-coloured pantaloons aroused in the breasts of several youthful aspirants to fashion. One of these, a close friend of Ninian's, accosted him with a demand to know where his brother was to be found.

'He's not at home for I've tried there, nor is he at Tatt's. I say, Fordington, what do you call that way of tying your cravat? I've never seen it before.'

'I have no notion of where Ninian might be, although I confess considerable surprise to hear he is out of his bed at this hour,' Lord Fordington replied smoothly. 'He leaves for Sussex later today however. As for my cravat, I've never seen it in this style before either. If I can recall how I tied it and achieve the same result again, I might go to the trouble of inventing a name for it, and will inform you. I pray you excuse me,' he added, deftly sidestepping his admirer, and went to intercept a lady coming towards him.

'Good morning, Miss Isabella,' he greeted her, bowing. 'I'm afraid since we were not properly introduced last night – or was it this morning? – I did not learn your surname, so I beg that you will excuse the familiarity!'

She looked at him and smiled, an amused twinkle in her eyes. This morning she was decorously and charmingly attired in a pale green morning dress. Lord Fordington's experienced eyes detected that although it was several seasons out of fashion it had been deftly altered to bring it into the current mode. The colour made her eyes, which he had thought to be more blue than green, now appear entirely green. A hat of chip straw was becomingly perched on her glossy curls and tied with dark green velvet ribbons matching those threaded through the neck of the dress.

'Then I have the advantage of you,' she replied readily. 'Good morning –  again, Lord Fordington. My name is Clinton. I hope you were not too disgusted with our behaviour last time we met! I assure you Georgiana is not always creeping into the house in the middle of the night from clandestine meetings, nor does my cousin lose his temper so thoroughly. Not very often, that is,' she amended thoughtfully, and smiled ruefully.

'He was not – er – in the best of health when he arrived home!'

'He was less castaway than normal after an evening with the Prince Regent!' she replied tartly. 'But I do not think you are one of that set, so he presumably did not spend the entire evening with Prinny!'

'No, I am not a Carlton House habitué,' Lord Fordington agreed, amused. 'I'm thinking of buying Sir Roderick's two farms which abut onto my own land.'

'So he said. Don't permit him to cheat you,' she advised candidly. 'He will if he can, you know. He thinks it good sport to get the better of someone, and despite the appearance to the contrary he is quite astute when money is in question!'

He laughed and she suddenly blushed.

'Oh, dear, do pray forget that! I am for ever letting my tongue run away with me but I am so out of patience with him this morning.'

'The shopping for his wife?' he asked sympathetically.

'Yes, because he will not be brought to understand that however much one harasses dressmakers they cannot finish gowns in no time at all!'

'He intends to carry out his threat and send Georgiana down to Sussex then?'

'Indeed, yes. She is confined to her room in dire disgrace, and Cousin Roderick thinks to start out this afternoon. If by some miracle all the gowns are delivered before dark I shall have to devise some ploy to persuade him to wait until morning before setting off.'

'I've no doubt you'll succeed!'

'Poor Mr Reece lying in wait to abduct Georgiana, if nothing else comes to mind,' she responded with a laugh. 'That poor boy! It was the greatest effort not to laugh at him, gulping like a fish and not knowing whether to take Cousin Roderick's threats seriously and spring to Georgiana's defence or not! I am so grateful to you for getting rid of him, but I fear he is in for a dressing down if he ventures to apologise.'

'It serves him right for participating in such an escapade,' Lord Fordington declared roundly.

'I doubt if he had much choice! Georgiana has more wiles than any other girl I know for getting her own way, and she is so lovely most men fall over themselves to do as she asks. One cannot blame a callow youth for succumbing!'

'Many older ones might,' he agreed. 'She will take the
ton
by storm when she does make her come-out. Sir Roderick mentioned an elderly aunt who would chaperone her next year.'

'Unfortunately, for Aunt Garstone is a holy terror! She petrifies Georgiana and has no understanding of or sympathy for a young girl! But Fanny has never been strong, and for the past five years has rarely left Woodings. It has been very bad for Georgiana for her father is away much of the time too, and I sometimes fear I am too old to be a real companion to her!'

'Too old!' he exclaimed. 'Nonsense! You cannot be more than a few years older!'

Isabella laughed. 'Almost ten years,' she replied mockingly. 'Georgiana was a little girl when I first came to live with my cousin and regarded me as one of the adults. She still holds me at a distance, although now she has left school and feels herself to be full grown she confides in me more. I have hopes that I can dissuade her from indulging in too many pranks. She is high-spirited and has too little to occupy herself with. And her brother, though he is old enough to know better, encourages her in her wildness. But she is kind-hearted and there is no harm in her!'

'But she is too lovely to be permitted to run loose!' Lord Fordington commented sternly, and Isabella thought that she detected a frown in his eyes.

'You are right. It is high time she did the season and then, for she would be sure to take and receive suitable offers, her husband could take care of her. You can be sure I regret as much as Georgiana that she was not permitted to come out this year! Being alone with Lady Sharman would be far more peaceful!'

He regarded her silently for a moment then, as if suddenly recalling something, looked about him.

'Where is your footman?' he asked abruptly.

'I sent him home with all the parcels I had acquired,' Isabella replied, astonished. 'Why do you ask?'

'You should not be alone here,' Lord Fordington told her. 'Have you finished all you have to do? I will escort you back to Berkeley Street if you have.'

'But there is no need, I do assure you!' Isabella laughed.

'Of course there is! It is not fitting that you should be unescorted.'

'Fiddle! Oh, dear, I do beg your pardon, my lord, but I am no green girl in need of a chaperone! I have been in the way of looking after myself for years.'

'And your cousin permits it?'

'He has no right to object! I am in fact his wife's second cousin, and apart from the circumstance that Sir Roderick gives me a home he has no control over my actions!' Isabella replied, a sparkle in her eyes.

'There I beg to differ,' Lord Fordington began, but Isabella had turned away from him to greet a man walking towards them.

'My dear Miss Clinton! I did not expect the happiness of seeing you here this morning,' the newcomer was saying, bowing low over Isabella's hand. She glanced over his shoulder at Lord Fordington, then quickly averted her eyes. He was astounded to see that she was blushing.

'Sir Frederick!' she exclaimed, and, with a final lingering look before he released her hand, he turned to nod coolly to Lord Fordington.

'Your servant, my lord.'

'Good-morning, Hill. I heard you had left town.'

Sir Frederick frowned.

'I had intended to go but I was delayed. Miss Clinton, I was proposing to call on Sir Roderick later today, but if you would give me the pleasure of escorting you my curricle is just a short way off, and I would be happy to see you home.'

Isabella bit her lip and glanced at Lord Fordington. He smiled and nodded.

'Then I can safely give Miss Clinton into your care, Hill,' he said swiftly. 'Farewell. Pray give my regards to Sir Roderick and tell him to expect me within the week.'

* * * *

Lord Fordington bowed and walked away and Isabella, as unwilling to accept Sir Frederick's escort as she had been his, began to protest. Then, knowing she had no real reason for refusing and regretfully aware that Sir Frederick was very unlikely to leave her without a great deal of argument, submitted and permitted him to assist her, most carefully, into the curricle.

She responded with little enthusiasm to his remarks on the short drive to Berkeley Street. He larded his talk with too many fulsome compliments for her taste and she was relieved when, having reached home, she was able to escape while he was shown into Sir Roderick's study. She ran upstairs and went to see Georgiana.

The girl was sitting by her window, which looked over the front of the house, but when she saw who it was entering her room she sprang to her feet and ran to take Isabella's hands in hers.

'Isabella, I am sorry! I did not mean it, you know that! It was just that, well, Belinda is having such fun, and I did not see why I should not have the memory of just
one
exciting evening to take back to Sussex with me! But I did not mean to cut short our visit!'

'Well, it was foolish of you, but cease repining. I doubt if the gowns I have ordered for your mother will be ready tomorrow, but I can see no reason to wish to remain another day here in your room!'

'Oh no, it is beyond everything tedious! But I was thinking of you. I have ruined everything for you.'

'What in the world do you mean?'

'Sir Frederick!' Georgiana uttered in tones of despair. 'He has been here almost every day, and I had hoped that, given a little more time, he would come to the point!'

Isabella laughed.

'Georgiana, please do not be nonsensical. The man is well over forty.'

'But he is a widower and has those three little girls. Don't you feel sorry for them, Isabella, without a mother?'

'Not sorry enough to marry their father, were he to be so foolish as to offer for me,' Isabella declared firmly.

'I think it is a foolish notion on your part to reject him simply because he has been married before,' Georgiana stated.

'Since he has not offered I cannot be said to have rejected him! Pray let us forget him.'

'I cannot! I have been thinking, ever since the spring, when he was so attentive while he was in Sussex, that he would suit you very well. He is not precisely rich, but neither is he poor. He may be a trifle
old
for you, but–'

'But I am not in my first blush, and having no fortune can expect nothing better,' Isabella finished for her. 'Thank you, my dear, but I really would prefer to remain a spinster. I do not like him!'

Georgiana sighed. 'He came round the minute he heard we had come to town. He told Papa so. And I do not see that his daughters would be a barrier. After all, if you had a son he would come first!'

Isabella laughed. 'You are more designing than I thought,' she commented. 'In the past you have always declared that love is the most important consideration.'

'I still believe it,' Georgiana said hastily, 'but you say you have never been in love, and so I thought it would not matter. Would you not like to be established? It cannot be pleasant having to depend on earning your living instead of having a home of your own.'

Isabella suppressed a sigh and contrived to laugh.

'I am not so desperate yet that I am reduced to taking Sir Frederick and his no doubt spoilt brats of children!'

'I shall apologise to Papa and beg him to permit us to remain for a few more days in London, as we had planned,' Georgiana resolved.

'It would be better if you apologised because you repented of your idiocy!' Isabella pointed out. 'In any event your father must be down at Woodings soon, for Lord Fordington is planning to visit him and may buy that land next to his own.'

* * * *

Georgiana permitted the subject to drop, but later in the day, having been permitted by Sir Roderick to join him and Isabella for a quiet dinner, she apologised prettily and did her utmost to cajole her father into relenting. He, however, was adamant and only the fact that several of the gowns being made for his wife were still not ready persuaded him to put off their departure the following morning.