A Sisterly Regard (10 page)

There were other times at the gaming table, when he had fallen
asleep just as he began losing, thus removing himself from the game
without insult to other players--for everyone knew that Reggie Farwell
was prone to uncontrollable sleepiness at all times and could not be
blamed for his strange affliction.

Wilderlake stepped out into the cold night air. As he buttoned
his greatcoat, he laughed out loud, sure as anything that his friend only fell
into sleep when he chose to do so.

The early spring dark had fallen when Lady Gifford and Chloe
arrived home from Richmond.

"No, my lady," Edgemont said, in reply to Lady Gifford's
inquiry. "His lordship has not returned, nor have Miss Phaedra and Mrs.
Arbuckle." He opened the door to the parlor. "Shall I send up a tea
tray?"

"Please. Although the day was fine, I took a slight chill on the
journey home. Come Chloe."

"Mama, I--"

"Not now. Let us relax until your father arrives. I am still out of
patience with you."

Chloe curled into a wing-back chair near the fireplace, chewing
her lip. Her mama was being unreasonable. She had done nothing wrong.
Nothing at all. It was the earl's fault, for luring her into the shrubbery. If
he was any sort of a gentleman, he would tell his mother so, and she
would realize that Chloe was blameless. Tomorrow she would ask him;
surely he would do what she asked.

The door opened and her father entered. "What is it, love?
Edgemont said you appeared overset when you came in."

"As I should be. My lord, your daughter may have disgraced
herself in the eyes of the
ton
, despite my many warnings. She
absented herself from the party in the company of Lord Everingham for
the better part of an hour this afternoon. Unfortunately, when she
returned, that odious Lady Everingham called them both to task in a loud
and penetrating voice. Everyone now knows about it, and many will
believe the worst."

Her father turned a worried face to her. "Well, Chloe, you have
landed yourself in a fine mess. Is there any reason for us to be
concerned?"

"What do you mean, Papa?"

"Did that young idiot make advances to you?"

"Oh, no, Papa. He was entirely circumspect. I promise you we
just walked about. He did compliment me on my appearance, but his
behavior never went beyond what is respectable." She mentally crossed
her fingers, remembering the way he had kissed her hand.

"I saw him holding your hand for an unconscionable time when
you were introduced. Do you mean to tell us that he did not recapture it
once you were alone?" her mother demanded.

"No Mama, he did not. And if he had tried, I would not have
permitted it. You have taught me better than that. I did nothing I have not
done at home. You have never scolded me for walking in the garden with
our neighboring gentlemen. Why was this so different?"

"Chloe, I have attempted time and again to convince you that
the
ton
is ever ready to believe the worst of a young woman
whose behavior is even slightly questionable. The casual behavior in which
you indulge at home will simply not do in London. Your behavior must
always be all that is demure, circumspect, and ladylike." With a moue of
distaste, she went on. "Lady Everingham is particularly high in the instep,
and overly protective of her son. And not at all reticent about venting her
opinion of what she deems unladylike behavior."

"How unfair!"

"It's the way of the world, pet," her father said with evident
sympathy. "This is why I argued against giving you girls a London Season.
Phaedra is as out of place here as a cow with skirts and you're already
teetering on the edge of scandal." He shook his head. "What possessed
you, Isabella, to take her to Everingham's? You know what an old harridan
that woman is."

"The Duchess advised me that she is finally looking for a wife for
her son. I thought--"

"Oh, Mama, you didn't--"

"He would be a very good catch, Chloe."

"Oh, Mama!" Chloe could not contain a small giggle. "He
reminds me of a sheep. I doubt I could never fall in love with a
sheep."

"Hush, Chloe. Never say such things, even in the privacy of our
home." Her mother sat upon the sofa and leaned her head back, eyes
closed. After a long silence she said, "What shall we do, George?"

"'Nothing. Pretend it never happened. I'll warrant that most
people will chalk any gossip up to the old harridan's dislike of any girl
whose way her precious son casts an interested glance. Don't you
remember last year, when she told everyone that Maribeth Fortescue had
been casting out lures. It was all the talk for a week or so, and then it all
died out when Miss Fortescue wouldn't even dance with him." He seated
himself beside his wife and took her hand in his, patting it gently.

"Papa," Chloe said, after a moment, "did you really argue
against bringing us to London?"

"I did indeed. You're too headstrong by half, pet, and your
sister's too retiring. You would've been better off to make your debut
closer to home, where one wrong step wouldn't have spoiled any hope of
making a match. For tuppence, I'd take you back--"

"Oh, no, Papa! Please! We had to come to London. I would not
marry any of those silly boys at home for anything." Her eyes filled with
tears she could not hold back. "Have I really ruined myself?"

"Of course not," he said heartily. "But you may be the center of
gossip for a week or two and some of Society's busybodies will watch you
forevermore. Best be on your mettle, pet. And listen to your mama. She's
up to every rig and tow in Town."

"I will, oh, I will. I shall be the model of propriety from now
on. Only...Lord Everingham did ask me to go driving in the park
tomorrow. Might I not do so?"

Her mother's eyes flew open "Absolutely not. Have you heard
nothing I've said to you? For the next week, you will accompany me on
afternoon calls, and will accept no invitations to ride or drive in the park.
We will attend Lady Applemore's musicale tomorrow night, rather than
the Heywood's ball. I think a visit to the Royal Academy as well, and
perhaps you might attend Sophia Larrimore's literary salon with your sister
on Friday."

"Oh, Mama," Chloe groaned.

"Hush, Chloe. You have brought this upon yourself.
Furthermore, I must warn you, if Lady Everingham expresses her opinion
to any of the patrons of Almack's, you will not be given permission to
waltz tomorrow night. Without that permission, you may not waltz at
your own ball."

"I will waltz at my ball. I must!" Chloe stamped her foot.

"You will not, unless you have the permission at Almack's. And
if you do not, perhaps it will bring home to you, as my words have
obviously not done, the fact that you have already placed a cloud upon
your reputation. You must now endeavor to convince everyone that this
afternoon's incident was a momentary lapse of judgment."

The tears that had threatened earlier filled and overflowed
Chloe's eyes. Her father gathered her in his arms. "There, my pet. You
must not cry. It will all come about, you will see. Just follow your
mother's good advice. Now, get you to bed. Tomorrow will be
better."

"Yes, Papa. Good night. Mama, I will truly try to behave." She
made her way slowly from the room and up the stairs, feeling exceedingly
put upon.

It was not my fault. He was so charming, even if he does look just
like a sheep. How could I resist him?

* * * *

Chloe's manner was subdued at breakfast the next morning.
Phaedra, on the other hand, was still excited about the literary salon she
had attended the day before. She had met several aspiring authors and
poets, and had learned that Lord Byron sometimes attended Mrs.
Stewart's salons.

"And while I think his poetry is pretentious and silly, I would
like to meet him, if only to see for myself if he is as beautiful as everyone
says."

Her mother interrupted her chatter. "Phaedra, I am sorry to
disappoint you, but I will require that you accompany your sister and
myself for the next week or two. She has narrowly avoided disgracing
herself. I will depend upon you to keep her under your eye for a
while."

"Disgraced herself? Chloe, what have you done?"

Lady Gifford related Chloe's activities of the day before. Chloe
sat silent, a sullen expression upon her face.

"Oh, Chloe, how careless! And how unfair too, that one woman
should be have such influence that she could blight a girl's hopes."

"Life is not--"

Both girls finished their mama's familiar statement. "...always
fair." The mood of gloom momentarily lifted. Unwilling to let it descend
again, Phaedra said, "I had planned with Cousin Louisa to visit Astley's
Amphitheatre this afternoon. Chloe could accompany us." She pretended
not to see her sister's grimace.

"Not today. We will require your presence in the parlor. There
will undoubtedly be a number of callers, many of them bent on obtaining
more fuel for their gossip."

"Very well, Mama," Phaedra replied, with a long-suffering sigh.
"And I suppose that I must accompany you to tea parties and whatnot for a
while."

"I am afraid you must. But only for a sennight or so. Can you
bear it?"

"I can if I must. Chloe, I must confess that I am quite out of
charity with you. How could you so forget yourself?"

"Stop it, stop it!" Chloe cried. "You are all acting as if I had
done something criminal. I only walked in the garden with Lord
Everingham. He was quite tiresome, too, although you probably would
have enjoyed his conversation, Phaedra. He introduced me to nearly every
shrub and flower we passed, just as you sometimes do."

Leaning forward, Phaedra said, with great interest, "He is a
horticulturalist, then?"

"I suppose so. I found it quite odd, an earl speaking of gardening
as if he were common. I am not sure I care to encourage his
interest."

Phaedra could not resist asking, "Why not?"

"You know I have no interest in horticulture. Besides, I would
never let a gentleman who looks like a sheep go beyond what is
proper."

"A sheep? Tell me more," Phaedra said, interested in spite of
herself.

"He is not very tall." She gestured with her hand, about three
inches above her head. "His hair and eyebrows are pale, so that he looks
washed out, like clothing that has faded in the sun. But he is very
au
courant
in his dress, his manners are quite unexceptional, and he is an
earl. He must be rich. The Everingham house is elegant beyond anything I
have ever seen. He seemed quite taken with me."

"And his mother, was she also taken with you? It did not sound
like it."

"No, she was quite horrid. I hate her!"

"So you were merely practicing your wiles on this unfortunate
young man, as you do upon poor Mr. Martin. It is most unkind in you to
do so. You do not find Lord Everingham attractive, but you do nothing to
discourage his attentions. What will you do if he has developed a tendre
for you?"

"Oh, I shall enjoy it. And I am sure he has, Phaedra. If you could
only have seen him gazing at me like a lovelorn ewe while he poked
himself in the chin with his fork. I do believe I have made a
conquest."

"What an interesting comparison. Is he effeminate then?"

"Oh, you know what I meant. He is masculine enough, even
though he is slender and his shoulders are narrow and his voice is a light
tenor. I am sure I could fall in love with him, should I choose."

"Chloe, I have a terrible feeling you are living in a dream world.
Just be sure you do nothing to compromise yourself."

"With Everingham? How perfectly ridiculous. But one should
always have something to fall back upon, you know."

"You would not be pleased if your admirers acted thus towards
you, I think." Seeing blank incomprehension on her sister's face, Phaedra
threw up her hands. "Never mind. I think I will go up and help Cousin
Louisa. She is embroidering silver oak leaves on Mama's gray silk
gown."

"Oh, how wonderful. I will come with you."

The sisters, their minds diverted to something other than their
social life, went companionably upstairs, to sew and gossip until the hour
for callers to arrive.

* * * *

The horde of callers did not materialize. Mrs. Graham and her
painfully shy daughter arrived first. Chloe practically snubbed Sarah, but
Phaedra, feeling sorry for the girl, attempted to converse with her. As
before, it was a failure. The girl again sat with her eyes fixed upon
Phaedra's face and did nothing but nod or shake her head and occasionally
giggle softly. Phaedra was relieved to hear Lady Mary Follansbee
announced. She had run entirely out of topics to introduce.

Instead of coming to her rescue, Lady Mary sat down next to
Chloe, leaving Phaedra to muddle along with Miss Graham until her
languid mother said it was time for them to leave. Only then did Miss
Graham speak.

"Oh, Miss Phaedra, I cannot tell you how much I appreciate
your kindness. I know that I have no conversation. Everyone else ignores
me, but you always take time to speak with me. And you are so amusing."
She subsided into a painful blush, but pressed Phaedra's extended hand
gratefully.

Well! Perhaps Miss Graham is not so insipid after all. She may be
overwhelmed. I believe I would be, with a mother like hers.
It is nice to
be appreciated.
She crossed the room to join Chloe and Lady
Mary.

"How unkind you are, Mary. Could you not see that I was in
need of assistance? I vow, trying to converse with Miss Graham is most
exhausting. I find myself answering my own comments, quite like our
nurse at home who never needs a second person with whom to carry on a
conversation."

"I am sorry for you Phaedra, but I felt that Chloe was in greater
need."