A Wager for Love (16 page)

“Nonsense, Kitty,” said Lavinia firmly. “It would not have been at all the thing to do, and if you had one atom of sense in your head, you would have known that for yourself.”

“Sense-me?” interjected Kitty, feeling extremely put out. “Well, it wasn’t me who spent the whole afternoon flirting, and exchanging languishing glances with a certain gentleman.”

“Rubbish,” retorted Lavinia crisply. Her colour high, nevertheless, she continued, “l hope I would never indulge in anything so vulgar as ‘flirting’. Really, Kitty. Now I’m going to see the housekeeper about this ball. Do you wish to come with me or not?” Kitty nodded sulkily.

As they sought out Mrs. Johnson, Lavinia’s eyes were thoughtful. She may have been living a quiet cloistered life in Rome and be unused to society, but she was not quite so naive as to think that goodwill and goodwill alone lay behind Ordley’s visit. Of course, it could merely have been curiosity that had prompted the visit. But she doubted it. Ordley had lost a good deal of money by her marriage, Richard’s seventy thousand guineas being not the least of it, and she had not missed the looks Ordley had given the Marquis. She experienced a twinge of unease. She had no wish to be used by Ordley to score off against Saltaire. A smile crossed her face, and Kitty seeing it wondered at it, for it was both gay and mischievous. So Ordley thought he would make use of her, did he? And the Marquis? Was that in his mind too? For a second, Lavinia felt disappointed. “Idiot,” she scolded herself. Surely she had not fallen for a handsome face-and at her age too. It was not to be thought of. But still, a small voice prompted, it would do no harm to encourage the Marquis a little. just in the admirable cause of making her husband see that his wife was not complacent, she reassured herself virtuously.

She had no time to ponder further on the matter, for the housekeeper was hurrying towards them. “You wanted me, My Lady?”

Lavinia smiled warmly. “Yes indeed, Mrs Johnson. I fear I am greatly in need of your help.”

A look of patent relief crossed the woman’s rosy face. “Oh as to that, My Lady, whatever I can do to help …”

“You may not be so pleased when you learn what I have in mind,” broke in Lavinia. “The Earl wishes us to give a ball.”

Mrs. Johnson was instantly obliging. “A ball is it, My Lady. Dear me. it must be two score years at least since any ball was held here. The old Earl, My Lord’s grandfather that was, he never went out much after Saltaire’s father died. Hit him hard it did. Alexander was, of course, always his favourite, being the eldest. My Lord was born three months afterwards. Quite put Jeffery out. Well, Alexander had been married a dozen years or more then and no sign of a child, then for a boy to be born and posthumously, and Jeffery there with his own son. Ten years old he was at the time. Why I remember it quite clearly. When he saw the baby, if looks could have killed…”

She chattered on the whole while as they climbed the stairs, pausing for a second outside the large double doors leading to the ballroom to catch her breath. “There, My Lady. Now if you will allow me. It will be plaguey dusty in there. Not but that we keep it well aired and as clean as possible,” she assured Lavinia. “But the furniture is all under hollands, and has been these ten years past.”

The housekeeper opened the doors, and for a moment all three women contemplated the room in silence. Once it would have been exceedingly fine. The delicate plasterwork of the ceiling and fine moulded wall panels proclaimed that. But it was distinctly shabby now. The ceiling was festooned with cobwebs; whatever colour the room had been painted in its prime, it had faded to a dingy grey. The curtainless windows yawned emptily onto the square.

“To be sure, it isn’t what it should be. But what with such a small household, and as I say the old Earl didn’t …”

“I’m sure you have done your best, Mrs. Johnson,” said Lavinia gently. This was dreadful, so much worse than she had ever imagined. How dare Saltaire even think of giving a ball. She ground her teeth. He must have known of the room’s state when he told her of his intentions. Well, if he thought she was going to give in and admit she was bested, he would have to think again, for she wouldn’t. She had said she would manage and manage she would.

Kitty advanced carefully into the room, her slippered feet leaving small prints on the dusty floor. Gingerly she pulled back one of the covers, dislodging a shower of dust. “Oh. Lavinia, look at this furniture. It is so old fashioned.”

Squaring her shoulders, Lavinia pulled the doors to, “Well, Mrs. Johnson, there is a great deal to be done, but between us I am sure it can be accomplished.”

The woman smiled in relief’. “Yes indeed, My Lady, perhaps we will need more servants?”

“Certainly. Take on as many as you think fit,” said Lavinia, smiling grimly at the look of surprised pleasure on the housekeeper’s face. Doubtless she would think her generous with Saltaire’s money-if only she knew. But then, reflected Lavinia hollowly, the entire servants, hall was probably abuzz with the news that the Earl had married an heiress for a wager. Quickly pushing this unwelcome thought to the back of her mind, Lavinia outlined her plans. “You will engage painters, I dare swear you know of reputable ones.”

Lavinia was thinking of her bedroom, someone must have arranged for that to be refurbished. The housekeeper nodded. “Good. I want the room painted.” She thought for a second, and then, a small smile playing round her mouth, said, “I have a colour in mind-golden lemon. And the plasterwork is to be picked out in white.”

Kitty clapped her hands. “Why. Lavinia, how clever-to match your dress. Lud, I’m glad I shall be wearing white, for anything else would clash hideously with the room.”

Lavinia smiled in agreement. Indeed it would. “The furniture needs to be regilded,” she continued, “and the chairs recovered, in blonde satin I think, but no doubt you can procure some patterns for me.”

“But what about the decorations for the ball?,’ queried Kitty. “Last night the rooms were hung with painted silk. I thought it vastly becoming.”

“Well. we shall not be having painted silk,” said Lavinia determinedly.

“What then?”

“Flowers, fresh flowers, masses and masses of them. The entire room will be arranged like a garden, with coloured lights, and perhaps even a waterfall.”

Kitty and the housekeeper exchanged doubtful looks. “Fresh flowers? But …”

“Yes, I have seen it done in Rome. I assure you it will be very attractive. Wait and see,” she promised.

Her confidence returning with every minute, Lavinia started to enlarge upon her plans, and continued to do so, until the dinner gong put an end to their discussions. “Is that the time? Come, Kitty, we shall be late. Thank you, Mrs. Johnson. If there are any difficulties at all, please let me know.”

When Lavinia entered the dining room, Saltaire was already there. Deliberately she had not put on any of the new dresses she had purchased, despite the fact that her closet was now overflowing with them, and there were still a good many to come. As her husband’s eyes flickered over her, she derived a certain grim pleasure in contemplating his surprise when he did see her in her finery.

Fortunately Kitty was too full of their doings to notice this strange omission, and, carefully avoiding the Earl’s eyes, Lavinia found herself glad of Kitty’s bright chatter. Her thoughts on their ball and the problems it was causing, she paid scant heed to what Kitty was saying until she caught her own name. Glancing up quickly, she found Saltaire’s eyes resting on her in a distinctly unpleasant manner.

“Perhaps you would care to tell me how it comes about that you made the acquaintance of these gentlemen?”

“‘What gentlemen?” asked Lavinia nervously, noting with dismay Kitty’s flushed cheeks. What on earth had Kitty been saying?

“My cousin Ordley, and the er, who was it now, ah yes, the Marquis of Andover.”

“They called this afternoon, ” she replied calmly, continuing to eat her dinner.

“Yes indeed, nothing could have been more convenable,” added Kitty gaily.

“l see, my cousin, you say?”

“Only think, Saltaire, they proposed the most delightful scheme-a party for Lady Harrington’s ridotto.”

For a second the green eyes rested on Lavinia’s face. The Earl seemed a little less than enchanted with the invitation; that much was obvious. “I hope I may take it that you refused?”

“What?” Kitty was outraged. “Oh, but there, your cousin said you would forbid it, didn’t he, Lavinia?’I vow ‘tis most disagreeable of you, especially when …” Kitty faltered and fell silent as she saw the look on the Earl’s face.

Carefully he refilled his wine glass. “Yes, you were saying Kitty?”

“Oh it is nothing. Merely that Viscount Ordley remarked that you had become extraordinarily convenable of late. But I still don’t see why we should not go.” She appealed to Lavinia. “You want to go, don’t you?” She giggled a little. “You should have been there, Saltaire. Why I declare the Marquis was quite bowled over by Lavinia. He held her hand for a full minute.”

Lavinia was conscious of a dreadful sinking feeling in the region of her stomach. The delicious piece of chicken she had just been eating suddenly resembled sawdust.

“Did he indeed? How very odd of him to he sure. A full minute you say?”

Seeing that she was making no headway, Kitty tried again. “Besides, I don’t see why we should not go. After all you yourself…” Too late she saw she had gone too far.

“You will not go, because I do not want my wife jaunting about the town in the company of my cousin and a man who is known the length and breadth of England and France as a notorious rake. Do I make myself clear?” he demanded.

Lavinia’s face darkened, and Saltaire glanced across at her just in time to catch her disdainful look. For a second his eyes held hers, and it was she who looked away first.

Kittyls voice broke the uncomfortable silence. “You are most unfair, Saltaire, and the Marquis was so charming. He may well be a rake. But the way he looks at one, I declare it quite gives me the shivers. What think you, Lavinia?” she asked, quite oblivious to Saltaire’s anger.

“Yes, my wife, what think you of our friend the Marquis?” taunted the Earl.

Getting to her feet, Lavinia replied with just a hint of defiance in her voice, “I thought him a most gentlemanly person, and now if you will excuse me, Saltaire, we shall leave you to your port. Come, Kitty.”

Summoned by Lavinia to call and give her the benefit of her advice, Lady Elizabeth lost no time in hurrying round to the Grosvenor Square house. If there was one thing she enjoyed more than parties and gaiety. it was giving advice. She had quite accustomed herself to her cousin’s marriage now, and it occasionally she felt a twinge of disquiet when she recalled the Earl, she swittly banished it. What was done could not be undone, and after all the girl was a Countess.

Lavinia greeted her warmly. admiring her new head with the enthusiasm she knew her cousin expected, kissed her painted cheek and ushered her into the small salon put aside for her own personal use. Quickly she outlined her plans for the ball, and then waited anxiously. Lady Elizabeth pursed her lips. “Fresh flowers, you say. Nothing could be better.”

Laviniays brow cleared. “It is all such a rush. You should see the guest list Saltaire has given me. lf they all come there won’t be room to breathe in the ballroom.”

“If they all come? My dear Lavinia, you need not fear about that. lt will be the highlight of the whole season.”

Lavinia looked a little doubtful. “Oh, Elizabeth, I’m not sure.”

“Not sure about what?” asked her cousin. “Come, you can never be imagining that people will stay away? Why, your marriage is the talk of the town already, and you can be sure everyone will be only too ready to flock to see the new bride.”

Lavinia smiled bitterly. “In spite of Saltaire’s reputation?”

Lady Elizabeth shook her head with authority. “Good Heavens, Lavinia, don’t be a fool. Who cares a rap tor Saltaire’s reputation now? No. It is you they will come to see. The whole town is agog. You can be sure of a good attendance. That should be the least of your worries. Now about these flowers.” They discussed the details and Lady Elizabeth recommended a market garden in Kensington, where Lavinia might obtain her flowers. “By the way, Lavinia, do you go to Lady Harrington’s ridotto tonight?”

Lavinia sighed. An invitation card had arrived that very morning, and she wondered if Ordley had had anything to do with it, “Well, we do have an invitation but …”

Lady Elizabeth watched her cousin shrewdly. She had already heard the rumours that Saltaire, far from being the rake reformed, was, it anything, worse, and apparently cared nought for his new wife, even flirting outrageously with her companion, and openly flaunting his mistress.

“Nothing will be gained by staying at home, my love …”

“Gained! Wliatever can you mean?” asked the indignant Lavinia, “What should I want to gain? Besides, it you really want to know, I have already received a most unexceptional invitation to join a party for the ridotto.”

“Oh?” Lady Elizabeth was curious.

“Yes, from Viscount Ordley and the Marquis of Andover,” boasted Kitty, entering the room in time to catch Lavinia’s remark.

“Andover, my dear.” Lady Elizabeth was all agog. “You refused it, of course?”

“‘Why should we?” asked the unrepentant Kitty.

Lady Elizabeth shook her head. “It would not be proper.

Andover’s reputation, though perhaps not quite as bad as Saltaire’s, is certainly not good. Ofcourse, he is quite the most charming of men. Such an air…” She rolled her eyes melodramatically making Kitty giggle.

Lavinia thought briefly on Saltaire’s command, and resolutely decided to ignore it. She would not be dictated to. Why should she sit at home? Besides, it would bejust a quiet family party. Nothing could be more convenable, and if she should happen to meet the Marquis … Her lips twitched a little. “Well, if you are going, Elizabeth,” she said slowly.

Kitty clapped her hands in delight. “Oh, Lavinia. And Richard can join us. Nothing could be more delightful.”