Second Season (22 page)

Hacking home one day, Sharlie mistook her road and found herself in unfamiliar woodland. She continued along placidly; the road was bound to lead somewhere, and she’d be set back on her track for Alden. For some time she saw no sign of life nor any cottages, and she began to be anxious that she might have come into the farther reaches of Alden Manor—she was not acquainted with all her uncle’s estate. Then ahead of her was an obvious nutting party: two small children with an obvious governess, engaged in whacking such tree branches as she could reach with a sturdy stick. Beyond was a pony cart, waiting on the road, and she realized she must somehow have strayed onto another estate.

Reining in thankfully, she called, “I beg your pardon, but I fear I am lost. Can you set me on the road for Alden Manor?”

“O’course,” the boy said scornfully, “but you’ll have to jump and go through the fields—that’s if you can.”

“I assure you I can,” Sharlie said amusedly, “but when I have jumped, in which direction shall I ride? Right, left, or straight ahead?”

The boy scrambled out from the tree shadows and came up to the lane with his sister beside him—and Sharlie caught her breath. There was no mistaking those slashing black eyebrows, nor the black eyes fixed unwaveringly on her. These were Imbries, however miniature!

“I think we should walk beside her until we reach the proper place for a jump, Gillie,” said the girl. “It isn’t far, and we’ve already got all the nuts we can reach.”

The governess had now got up the bank and was surveying Sharlie critically. Apparently she was satisfied. “You have strayed into Calydon Towers,” she observed in a deep contralto voice, “and I fancy you might be better advised to follow the lane until you reach the first fork, when you bear right, although it is a longer ride. The adjoining property belongs to Mr. Ridgeway, who has the greatest dislike of strangers riding across.”

“So he’s said repeatedly,” Sharlie chuckled, “but I fancy he will not shoot
me
if I am careful to follow the outer edges of the fields. I am Miss Stanwood, you see, and Mr. Ridgeway would not wish to fall out with my uncle, Lord Alden, until he has got that extra acre for his pasturage.” She smiled mischievously at the two children regarding her, wide-eyed. “I’ll take my chances on the short cut—and to thank you for your help,” she pulled Moonshine a few paces back and raised her whip to thrash at the higher branches, sending a shower of nuts down to the bank.

“Oh, I say!” the children shrieked excitedly. “Oh,
please
—could you just get down and around to the other side? The branches are so full, but the squirrels get them. Even the longest sticks won’t reach. Oh, Tolly, look—we never had so many before.”

“Let that suffice,” the governess commanded. “Do not be delaying Miss Stanwood, or she’ll be late for tea.”

“Oh, phoo!” the boy grumbled.

“Phoo, yourself,” said Sharlie. “Show me where to get down from the verge, and I’ll get you so many nuts YOU will be late for tea.”

Twenty minutes later, she was carefully short-cutting through Mr. Ridgeway’s fields, leaving .(had she known it) three devoted adherents behind her. “I suppose she couldn’t bear him,” Cinda mourned, “but if she only could! Oh, Gillie, wouldn’t it be wonderful to have someone to—to play with us.”

“For you,” Gillie scowled, “but I have to go to Eton, so what difference does it make whom he marries.”

“That will do,” said Miss Tolliver austerely. “I have told you before that your father is not a subject for gossipy speculation. You know nothing but what Cinda overheard—and if it stemmed from Miss Clapham,” she cleared her throat meaningly, “I would hesitate to give it credence.”

Cinda did not agree. “This time I think she was right, and what’s more, you’d like Miss Stanwood for our step-mamma, Tolly, because all would go on more easily. Do admit: you liked her, too.”

Miss Tolliver made a show of surprise. “Why, of course: a very pleasant young female with all that was correct in her manner. It was a charming condescension for her to turn aside and help you to gain the extra nuts—but scarcely all that your father would require for a life-partner.”

Four black eyes regarded her unwinkingly. “Oh, stuff!” said Giles disgustedly. “I didn’t think it of you, Tolly.”

CHAPTER X

All the way back
to Alden Manor, Charlotte was appalled. That Imbrie’s principal seat should be so close! There could be no doubt that her aunt and uncle were known to him, even if not intimate due to difference in age. She could not recall they had ever mentioned Julian, but until the past two years, she was always in the schoolroom if they were entertaining during her visits. Lord Stanwood had judged her old enough to hunt the recent seasons, but Julian had been out of England. Papa himself had never chanced to encounter Imbrie until his sojourn with Beaufort. No, it was not remarkable that Sharlie should never have realized Calydon Towers was in this vicinity. Even Brummell had not pinpointed an exact location, merely described it as “in the North—the most uncomfortable pile in all England.”

By the time she had delivered Moonshine to John-groom’s hands; Sharlie was totally unstrung. She could not think what best to do, and hastily went in search of her sister. Emily was in the garden, playing battledore and shuttlecock with the older cousins, and considerably hampered by Johnny’s determination to assist, but one glance at Charlotte’s wan face, and Emily thrust her racket on the governess. “Please take my place—I must help my sister to change her dress.”

The instant they had gained their chambers, “What is it, darling? What has happened?” Emily asked in alarm.

“The very worst!” Charlotte said tragically. “Imbrie lives not ten miles away! Emily, what am I to do?”

When she had related her meeting with the twins, her sister frowned thoughtfully. “Of course he must be known to our aunt and uncle, but Sharlie, we have been here near four weeks with no word of him ... and from something Lord Arthur said, I feel sure he comes here as rarely as he can. Why should you run away to Stanbury, when Papa comes next week and you have looked forward to hunting?”

“Exactly! It is the very place of all others I am like to face him without warning,” Sharlie said distractedly, “and what must he not
think
to find me here? Oh, the embarrassment!”

“I don’t see that,” Emily returned stubbornly, “and in any case, you cannot spend your life avoiding the duke merely because you refused his offer. Some slight awkwardness there must be, I admit, but is it not better to settle it as soon as possible, Sharlie? What is it papa says? ‘Always get over heavy ground as lightly as possible.’ You cannot fear Imbrie would deliberately discomfit you; he may be an ugly old widower, but he is most truly a gentleman. He would never renew address he knew to be distasteful to you.”

“Yes,” Sharlie agreed, but in such a forlorn voice that Emily widened her eyes sharply, but beyond recommending her sister to consult Aunt Eliza, she made no comment.

“Aunt Eliza? Good God, I
cannot
!”

“You must,” Emily said with unexpected firmness. “If you cannot, I will. Do but consider, Sharlie: she must be apprised, lest she or Uncle George innocently invite Imbrie to dinner. You know she has it in mind to entertain for us when Papa comes, and if Imbrie is known to be at Calydon, nothing is more likely than to include him.
That
would be to embarrass our aunt and uncle, as well as yourself and the duke.”

Charlotte felt all the commonsense of Emily’s advice, but she was still agonized. “You know Aunt Eliza—she will have a deal of unpleasant remarks, or rake me over the coals for missishness, or something.”

“No, she will not,” Emily stated militantly, “for I shall come with you, and if she says anything to overset you, I will tell her to be quiet.”

“
You
?”

“Yes, me ... I ... whichever it is,” Emily said impatiently. “Come on. She’ll just be finished dressing, and we can be sure of finding her alone.”

Stunned by Emily’s command, Sharlie allowed herself to be thrust trembling into her aunt’s dressing room, where Emily said, “Aunt, there is a private matter—if you would spare us a few minutes when your dresser is dismissed.”

Lady Alden’s slightly prominent pale blue eyes widened to something approaching a pop at Emily’s authoritative manner. “That will be all for the moment, Robbins,” she said promptly. “I will ring when I want you. Now,” as the door closed, “what is this private matter?”

Charlotte’s voice deserted her, she could only twist her hands together and look pleadingly at her aunt, until Emily took charge. “Sit down, darling. There is nothing to be frightened of,” she pushed her sister gently to a chair, and turned to Lady Alden. “The thing is that Sharlie has just learned that Calydon Towers is in this area, and while we believe the duke is not often in residence, we think you should know that Sharlie refused his offer of marriage in Bath this summer,” Emily said calmly. “In general, one would not disclose such an incident beyond the immediate family—I daresay Mama may not have told you that Charlotte has also rejected the Earl of Waxe and I have refused Viscount Pelham—but the circumstances surrounding Imbrie make it necessary to inform you. We should not like you or Uncle George to be embarrassed.”

“God bless my soul!” Lady Alden fumbled for her vinaigrette and took a deep sniff. “God bless my soul, Imbrie? And Charlotte
refused
him? Well—well, and why should she not, if she had no fancy for him?” Lady Alden pulled herself together with a vigorous shake. “Lud, child, there’s nought to be so dolorous about. You were right to inform me, although we rarely encounter. Your uncle sees him, of course; they sit on the Bench together when Imbrie’s home, and I believe they are sometimes in company at a club or a shooting party, but I cannot abide Laura Voss! A dismal female!”

“Yes ... but the thing is that I doubt anyone knows about Waxe or Pelham, but
everyone
in Bath knew about Imbrie, because—because ... well, I’m not sure what happened because I wasn’t present,” said Emily, “but ... but...”

Sharlie roused herself. “I—didn’t expect a declaration,” she said feebly, “and—and I made a scene, Aunt Eliza ... and Beamish heard me, and summoned Mama, and,” her lips quivered, “it was a
scandal
.”

“Good God,” said Lady Alden, faintly.

“So you see that it would be every way unfortunate if I were to meet Imbrie here, in your household.”

“Yes, but you need not worry.”

“I think I should return to Stanbury, but Emily says it will be better to face him and be done with it.” Charlotte hung her head.

Surprisingly, Lady Alden agreed with Emily. Even more surprising, she was entirely sympathetic and said no word to censure her niece. “You cannot run away, Charlotte. For once Emily shows sense,” she chuckled and patted Sharlie’s hand. “You cannot avoid every man you reject, you know, or shortly you will never be able to appear anywhere in society! Lud, Waxe and Pelham, eh? Well, well, it appears my nieces have been sweeping the board in London, not that I’m astounded. You’re a good pair of girls, and the men you choose will be lucky.”

“Could you have
believed
it was Aunt Eliza?” Charlotte asked when they were dressing for dinner.

“Oh, yes,” said Emily, fastening the clasps of her overdress. “I own she scares me to death sometimes, but mama says she is her nicest relative by marriage, and you know she would never entrust us to visit anyone else when we were young.”

Sharlie grimaced,
“Not
an unmixed blessing, when I remember.”

“But I do remember, and it can’t have been easy when we developed the
measles,
but she was very kind, Sharlie. You’re rather like her.”

“Good God,
NO
!”

“Yes, you are,” Emily insisted, stepping into her slippers. “You’re prickly outside, but silky-satin whenever anything is really wrong. You have a—a
mind,
you see what’s truly important and grow impatient with the rest. Aunt Eliza is the same. Like Eustace—you did it differently, but it ends the same way: she is keeping me busy, and you explained how I must do it.”

Sharlie stared at her sister incredulously. “Well! You are certainly growing up. Such wisdom!”

“Not really,” Emily colored, “but—when you give your heart, I fancy it does change things. You look at people and
think
about them ... not that I’ve any great store in my cockloft, as Geoff would say, but I do see things I never saw before. Mama and Papa love each other, for instance, but Aunt Eliza is simply
married
to Uncle George. She does not dislike him, she considers always what will please him—but have you ever seen between them the sort of glance or chuckle we see with Mama and Papa?”

“No,” Sharlie admitted, “but I do believe them to be sincerely attached, Emily. Uncle George is a much more
formal
man than Papa, I fancy he may show a different side in private.”

“I do not think I would wish my husband to keep all his evidence of affection private,” Emily said after a moment. “I think I should like him to escort me in public, and to dance with me, and sometimes stay home for a solitary evening—and do not tell me this is Gothick! It is what
I
should like.” She looked at her sister, “Shall I do your hooks?”

Nothing more was said of Imbrie, but Sharlie could not put him out of her mind. She feared, yet longed, to see him again, and could not decide whether this would be easier in company or chance-met while riding, although she was careful to turn Moonshine in the opposite direction from Calydon. Her agitation might well be for nothing, since she had no idea whether Julian was at the castle and shrank from inquiry. Daily she wished she had not lost her way, never met his children or learned the proximity of Calydon. Ignorance would quite truly be bliss!

The children were darlings, though; Sharlie was more drawn to them than to her small cousins ... and for all her dragon-appearance, the Calydon governess looked exactly right. The children obviously liked her. Sharlie could not but contemplate being a step-mam-ma, nor wonder how she should go on, whether she would be accepted or rejected by Imbrie’s twins.

Lord Stanwood’s arrival on the Monday posed another question. Sharlie did not doubt her mother had told him of Imbrie’s proposal, but he had never mentioned it and
officially
—should he encounter the duke—her father knew nothing, for Imbrie had not offered to Lord Stanwood. Should she, or should she not, speak to him of it? As before, Charlotte consulted Emily.

“That depends on what you want to tell him,” Emily said. “If you wish to avoid the duke at all costs, you had better warn Papa, for you know he liked Imbrie very well, and since there was no formal offer, Papa may pretend complete ignorance if he chooses—you know Papa’s sociability.”

“Yes,” Sharlie said mournfully, “and I dislike to interrupt his easy relations, for if I bring it to his attention it must necessarily cause a stiffness between them, but...”

“Oh, stuff!” Emily remarked firmly. “Get it over with, Sharlie! I never knew you to be so—so wambly. There is no certainty that Imbrie will be here at all, for it is not the major hunt season. That is why Papa takes us, although I wish he would not,” she shuddered. “I dread it, all that leaping over hedges and streams, ugh! But however, Papa calls it humbug country, suited to ladies, so it is most unlikely Imbrie will attend. I would say nothing to Papa.”

However, it was not Imbrie, but Eustace who was at the opening hunt, and great was the astonishment on both sides! Even greater was Lord Stanwood’s displeasure. “Good God, what’s that curst puppy doing here? I thought he was in Spain.”

“Obviously he isn’t,” Sharlie returned, “and he’s wearing the Hunt Club silks, which means he’s a full member.”

“Hmph!” Lord Stanwood snorted. “Probably invalided home as a half-pay officer. Well, I won’t have him dangling after Emily, you understand?”

“Yes, but you cannot be impolite to him, Papa,” Sharlie urged. “Remember, the only fault was writing secretly; you know there was not an improper word. In fact, I have wondered if, perhaps, he never realized it
was
illicit, but thought he was simply writing to all of us, for you know we made him almost a family member.”

“Hmph,” her father snorted again. “Damme, what a coil. Sharlie, stay beside your sister, and for God’s sake, don’t let her start
crying
again!”

“She won’t,” Sharlie promised, sidling Moonshine over to Emily. “Remember, do not allow papa to see any evidence of partiality!”

“No—but what can it mean, Sharlie? How comes Eustace
here
?”

That was quickly explained, as soon as Eustace had finished his courtesies in the club and gained their side. “Faith, it’s glad I am to see ye, milord! I’d promised myself the pleasure of renewing acquaintance with you and Lady Stanwood did I ever complete the details,” he said cheerfully, “for ye must know, my godfather has died, leaving all to me!”

“Hmph,” said Lord Stanwood stiffly. “My congratulations.”

“Aye, ’tis a rare bit of luck for me—not grand, but a very respectable property, and completely unexpected. I’d not thought he liked me above half, y’know, but he’d no relatives, so I suppose ’twas logical he’d think of me. The devil was in it, he’d die just as I’d got the majority and gone to Madrid, but when the news reached me, I made haste to sell out and return,” Eustace beamed at them proudly, apparently unaware of Lord Stanwood’s reserve. “And now I’ve the luck to encounter you at once. I’d not have known, but I’ve no great acquaintance in these parts. ’Tis why I asked to continue Mr. Cleghorne’s membership, thinking it an easy way to introduce myself to my neighbors.”

“I’m sure you’ll have no difficulty,” Emily said with her new assertiveness. “Uncle George,” as Lord Alden nimbled up to them, “we have met a friend known to us in London, who has recently inherited the property of Mr. Cleghorne. This is Major Sir Eustace Gayle—our uncle, Lord Alden.”

“Cleghorne, eh? Bit of a recluse, but a very sound manager, highly respected,” Lord Alden observed austerely.

“I’ll hope to continue his reputation,” Eustace bowed. “Your servant, sir.”

At that point, the Master sounded his horn and cried “Tally ho!” The hounds loped forward eagerly, the hunt was in motion, and Sharlie began to wonder if Eustace’s fancy for Emily had altered. He made no effort to stay beside them. Together with Lord Stanwood and Lord Alden, Eustace was in the vanguard, leaving all but the most determined ladies far behind.