Tea and Scandal (18 page)

In the corner, Horace Gurney smiled the uncertain smile of a man in his cups, said,
“
Good day, Rampling,
”
and lifted his glass to her.

“
This is Lady Pargeter, Horace,
”
his sister said with a commanding eye. When Lady Pargeter just shook her head, Phoebe knew any hope for a match between them was vain.

Lady Sykes and Lady Pargeter immediately began a verbal skirmish.

“
No written reply is necessary,
”
Fay said, handing her enemy the invitation.
“
So finicky, don
’
t you think, to request a written reply for a simple dinner party? I wouldn
’
t have bothered with the card, but I thought you might not be in this afternoon. I meant to leave it with Morton.
”

“
That is your provincial upbringing speaking, my dear Lady Pargeter. In London we are always so full of invitations that we never give a verbal reply. We have to check our calendars. A written reply is de rigueur.
”

“
When in Rome, Lady Sykes. I doubt your calendar is full to overflowing here in the country.
”

“True, there is no one to call on here.” Then she added with great condescension, “Present company excepted, of course.
Ça va sans dire.”

“
One wonders that you remain so long away from your friends,
”
Lady Pargeter said.
“
You are missing the Season.
”

Jane took a chair beside Fenwick.
“
Where is Mr. Swann today?
”
she asked, as he wasn
’
t in the room.

“
He
’
s gone haring after a rumor of black swans some twenty miles away
—
left right after breakfast. He mentioned asking you to accompany him, but as he was carrying two large baskets on the roof of his carriage, he thought you might not enjoy the trip.
”

“
And what are you doing to amuse yourself, Lord Fenwick?
”

“
Demmed little. I rode this morning.
”

“
I enjoy riding,
”
she said, thinking he might take the hint and invite her to join him the next time. In fact, she was a little offended that he hadn
’
t invited her that morning.
“
My aunt has a lady
’
s mount in her stable,
”
she said.

“
That
’
s nice. Then you won
’
t be bored to flinders,
”
he replied rather stiffly. She sensed the constraint in him. He was much less forthcoming than usual.
“
Scawen should be back late this afternoon,
”
he said.
“
No doubt he
’
ll call on you this evening and let you know all about his outing.
”

“
I hope you will accompany him, if you have nothing better to do,
”
she said. It was as bold a speech as she had ever made to a gentleman, and her cheeks flushed with embarrassment at her own audacity, but she had to know if he had any interest in her at all.

“
I should enjoy it,
”
he said. Then he gave her a diffident look and added,
“
Actually, I have a deal of correspondence I ought to be writing.
”

She took it as a direct rebuff.
“
I see,
”
she said. Her aunt was right. Lord Fenwick had no interest in her. It was his easy London manners that had led her astray. Caught between shame and anger, she had never felt so miserable in her life.

Fenwick saw her state, and had a good idea as to the reason for it. He liked Jane too much to hurt her.

“
It won
’
t do, you know, Miss Lonsdale,
”
he said gently. How to proceed with this delicate task without hurting her? She had already stiffened noticeably. He
’
d mention Swarm
’
s fondness of her.
“
I am Swann
’
s guest. It would be wrong of me to interfere in his romance.
”

Jane snatched at this face-saving crumb.
“
Oh, is that why you suddenly turned so cool after our drive? I must admit I did wonder if I had offended you.
”

“
Jane,
”
he said, shaking his head.
“
I shouldn
’
t think you
’
ve ever offended anyone in your life. You
’
re quite different from most ladies. So shy and gentle. You wouldn
’
t believe what some young ladies get up to.
”

“
What do you mean?
”
she asked with real interest.

There was a visit to be got in somehow, and he decided to amuse her with the story of Miss Merton, whose name he withheld like a gentleman.

“
Well, to take one example, I am at present being pursued by a certain Miss X, who has hounded me from London to Brighton to Bath, and I have no doubt she is not far from my hunting box this minute, waiting for me. I feel like a fox running for cover.
”

“
She
’
s not the only one after you, I take it?
”

“
Certainly not. We well-to-do bachelors are prime targets for all the nubile ladies. You notice how modestly I disclaim that the ladies have any interest in my poor self. Well, I daresay the title helps, if that can be considered a part of myself.
”

“
But don
’
t you want to get married and settle down?
”
she asked.
“
I have always heard it is necessary when estates and titles are at stake.
”

“
Certainly I do, but I prefer to make my own choice. I
’
ll not be bullocked into it by a marauding female.
”

“
Well, I never thought I should feel sorry for you, but I expect it is rather harrowing, pelting all over the countryside to escape entrapment.
”

“
Yes, it was a great boon to me, finding this safe corner of the country, away from all the ladies.
”

Jane was accustomed to disappointments. She took this latest with her usual stoicism. She had always known Fenwick was above her touch, and she had now heard from his own lips that he had no interest in her. She was
“
safe
”
; there was no danger of his falling in love with her.

“
If Miss X discovers you at your hunting box, you know where you will be safe,
”
she said.

He frowned then, wondering if he hadn
’
t made himself sound like a coxcomb.
“
I hope you don
’
t think ...
”

“
What?
”

“
Nothing.
”

The other conversation suddenly rose in volume. Jane heard the name Parker, and turned her attention to hear more.

“
Not inviting Mr. Parker?
”
Lady Sykes was saying, with a tinge of annoyance.

“
It would throw my table out of kilter. Four ladies and four gentlemen will do admirably for a small, informal dinner. I hope Mr. Gurney will come
—
if he is able.
”

Fay looked to the corner, where Horace was falling asleep, but he made the effort to smile and assure her he would attend.

“
You have only three gentlemen,
”
Lady Sykes pointed out.
“
Fenwick, Swann, and Gurney.
”

“
Oh, did I not mention it? My good friend Lord Malton has accepted. I could not leave him out. He would take it very much amiss. We are bosom bows.
”

“
Dear Malton,
”
Lady Sykes said, with a shake of her head.
“
He is looking ancient since his wife died, is he not?
”

“
I
’
ve noticed a marked improvement since he has begun calling regularly on me,
”
Fay replied.

Lady Sykes
’
s sharp eyes snapped. She had had some thoughts of nabbing Malton herself, but he had not returned her one call. He had been such a lethargic host that she hadn
’
t bothered to call again.

“
Setting up a new beau, Lady Pargeter?
”
she inquired ironically.
“
In London society, it is the custom to wait until the crape is set aside before going courting.
”

“
Lord Malton is not in mourning; it is he who is doing the courting.
”

Lady Sykes turned a fulminating eye on her brother.
“
Get Lady Pargeter a glass of wine, Horace. Where are your manners?
”

“
We must be leaving,
”
Lady Pargeter said, rising.
“
We still have to call on Mrs. Rogers. We wanted to make sure you were free before inviting her.
”

“
Of course I
’
m free. What else is there to do in the middle of nowhere?
”

Horace knew Phoebe was annoyed with him, and struggled to his feet to accompany the ladies to the door, leaving Fenwick to receive the blast of Phoebe
’
s ire.

“
You see what she is up to!
”
she said.
“
Poor old Pargeter still warm in his grave, and already she is legging it after another fortune! And the young chit was rolling her eyes at you, Fenwick. Watch your step, or you will be added to their harem.
”

A glint of anger flashed behind his smiling facade.
“
What a slow top you are, Phoebe. You should have tossed your own bonnet at Malton.
”

“
At least mine is not draped in crape.
”

She rustled from the room and went calling on Lord Malton within the half hour, only to learn he had gone to call on Lady Pargeter.

“
I am going to call on Miss Lonsdale,
”
Scawen announced after dinner that evening.
“
You
’
ll come with me, Fen?
”

“
I have some correspondence I must write,
”
Fenwick replied.
“
In fact, I shan
’
t be able to remain with you any longer, Swann. I had a note from Mama this morning. I must go to Bath to tend to some business for her. Perhaps you will be kind enough to deliver this note to Lady Pargeter, begging off. She will want to find another man for her dinner table. I
’
ve written Miss Lonsdale a farewell note as well.
”

Swann accepted the notes reluctantly.
“
Dash it, how can I court Jane without you to oil the wheels for me? You will be coming back soon, I hope?
”

“
That
’
s up to you, Swann. I shall return to stand as best man at your wedding, if you like.
”

“
I
’
ll never get her to the altar without you to give her a shove. She
’
s always livelier when you
’
re along.
”

Fenwick was aware of a keen desire to stay, but it would be wretched to take advantage of such a trusting soul as Swann.

“
You
’
ll do fine by yourself,
”
Fenwick assured him.

Lady Sykes was happy to hear of Fenwick’s departure. At least he wasn
’
t enamored with the schoolteacher. Phoebe had had no reply to her note to Nigel. No doubt he had gone rattling off to Newmarket to lose money on the horse races.

“
Bath, you say?
”
Lady Sykes said to Fenwick.
“
Do give my regards to your dear mama, Fenwick. And while you are there, you might have a word with Miss Prism to check up on Miss Lonsdale. I
’
ve written a dozen letters to Bath. No one has ever heard of her. I begin to wonder if she was ever there at all. Really, it is very mysterious.
”

Fenwick stiffened in annoyance.
“
Do your own dirty work, Lady Sykes.
”

“I’m not suggesting there is anything amiss with the girl personally,” Lady Sykes assured him. “Who got the position for her, is all I mean. Who she received letters from—that sort of thing. I have been pondering this business of Lady Pargeter running after Malton. Why would she be so eager to nab another
parti
if she were sure of keeping Wildercliffe? Depend upon it, when the year is up, the estate will go to Miss Lonsdale, Pargeter
’
s by-blow daughter.
”

“
Why would Pargeter wait a year to establish his daughter, if Miss Lonsdale were his daughter? You
’
re hunting mares
’
nests, Phoebe.
”

Phoebe said no more. The full depth of Fenwick’s scheming had just occurred to her. He was dashing off to Bath for no other reason than to ascertain that Jane was the future owner of Wildercliffe, before rushing back to marry her. Her anxiety soared. She would send Mr. Parker to Bath to look into the matter for her, at once. He must make discreet queries at Radstock, too. If a Mrs. Lonsdale ever gave birth to a daughter, which she took leave to doubt, the church would have a record of it.