Duel of Hearts (10 page)

Corianne received only an occasional brief reply from Belinda, but understanding that the country girl would be unlikely to have as many fascinating adventures as she was having, she felt no resentment. Even when Belinda wrote back bluntly that “
you have indeed become Shockingly Boastful, my dear girl,
” Cory didn't mind.

The rapid pace of her activities soon wore down her aunt's energy. Lady Stanborough began to realize that she needed an evening or two a week at home—for rest and repair. On those occasions, she permitted Corianne to go out without her, provided she herself was acquainted with the young man who would serve as escort and that their destination—usually a properly chaperoned house-party, formal dinner or a visit to the theater—was approved in advance. Tony Ingalls always managed to win Lady Stanborough's approval, not only because of his flattering remarks to her but because his close acquaintance with Lord North was enough to ensure her favor.

Sarah, however, began to feel some concern about the lack of restriction placed on Corianne's activity. As Corianne began to spend more and more time with Mr. Ingalls, her concern grew. She had none of the confidence in the gentleman that her mother felt, and his friendship with Lord North did nothing to add to his standing in her eyes.

One morning, at about half-past eleven, Corianne came into the breakfast room looking weary-eyed and dissipated. She found Sarah sitting at the table drinking a cup of tea. “Did you, too, sleep late, Sarah?” she asked tiredly.

“I had my breakfast at eight. I only came in for a cup of tea. Shall I ask Tait to bring you some eggs?”

“Ugh, no. I couldn't eat a thing. Is the coffee hot?”

“I think so. Here, let me pour it for you. Did you have a pleasant evening?”

“Oh, yes, very. Mrs. Saxon maintains a very modish salon. I found her to be a true woman of the world. She had at least thirty guests. Lord North was there.”

Sarah put down her cup, her brows knit worriedly. “
Mrs. Saxon
? I thought you were going to the rout at the Silvercombs'.”

“Yes, we were. But Tony said it was a great bore, so we ran off to Mrs. Saxon's after staying at the Silvercombs' for less than an hour.”

“You ran off with
Ingalls
? Cory, how
could
you?”

“Why shouldn't I? Tony was quite right—the party at the Silvercombs'
was
a bore.”

“But … was anyone else with you when you left?”

“No. What difference does
that
make?”

Sarah shook her head in perturbation. “What do you suppose Lady Silvercomb must have
thought
when she saw you leave—unchaperoned—at so early an hour? Really, Cory, it was not at
all
the thing to do. Does Mama know any of this?”

Corianne stirred her coffee irritably. “No, I haven't seen Aunt Laurelia yet today.”

“Well, when you do, I hope you will tell her.”

“Very well, I will, but I don't see why you're making such a fuss.”

Sarah stretched her arm across the table to squeeze Corianne's hand. “It's important for you to understand, love, that London is quite different from Lincolnshire. It is so large … and crowded with all sorts of people…”

“I don't know what you are hinting at, Sarah,” Corianne said impatiently. “What are you trying to say to me?”

“Only that … oh, how
shall
I say it?… Mrs. Saxon is, well, not quite the thing.”

“Really? Do you mean she's disreputable? I don't believe it. Tony says her salons are most exclusive.”

“I shouldn't take Mr. Ingalls word on these matters as being the most reliable,” Sarah said drily, picking up her cup.

“I don't see why you say that,” Corianne said with a pout. “Tony is a veritable Pink-of-the-Ton.”

Sarah felt a wave of irritation, and she put down her cup so hastily that the liquid sloshed over the side, burning her fingers. “Your Tony,” she said, unable to keep her disgust hidden, “is a
loose fish!
”

“A loose fish? Listen here, Sarah—!”

Sarah dried her fingers, but the pain made her wince. “No, Cory, I think
you
should listen.” She rose from her chair and walked angrily to the door. “He's as ramshackle a fellow as you're likely to meet anywhere, and everyone knows it but you and Mama.”

“I don't believe you!” Cory threw back at her, outraged. “You're only saying these things because…”

“Because?” Sarah asked, surprised at Corianne's sudden hesitation.

“Because you're
jealous
!”

“What?” Sarah couldn't help but smile at her cousin's childishness. “Oh, Cory,
really
!”

She pretended to be so Innocent
, Corianne wrote later that day to Belinda,
but I wasn't fooled. I've seen Sarah sitting at Home, day after day, having Nowhere to go and not one Suitor to pay her a call. She
must
be Jealous. I can't Forgive her for trying to Malign poor Tony. And as for Mrs. Saxon being Disreputable, I think it is all a pack of Lies. Mrs. S. is very beautiful, even though she is quite old, and her clothes are Bang up to the Mark. It seemed to me that Lord North stood on quite Familiar terms with her, and if
he
finds her Acceptable, I don't see why I shouldn't. I don't think Mrs. S. is Disreputable at all. I'd wager that if Miss Prissyface Stanborough were ever Invited to one of the Salons, she'd jump at the Chance to attend like a Shot
.

Sarah had laughed off the insult Corianne had thrown at her, but the incident itself was no laughing matter. The younger girl was too innocent to realize the danger of associating with people of unsavory reputation. If Corianne was seen too often in the company of people of that sort, she might find herself being labelled “fast.” That label, once it attached itself to a girl's name, was very difficult to erase.

Sarah had little confidence that Corianne would make a proper report of her activities to Lady Stanborough. Therefore, with extreme reluctance, she decided to tell her mother herself. Feeling guiltily akin to the slimy little tattletale who'd lived next door when she was a child, she entered her mother's dressing room to perform the distasteful task. “Has Cory told you where she went last evening, Mama?” she asked without roundaboutation.

Her mother was stretched out on a chaise near the window, her eyes covered with a lotion-soaked cloth. “She went to Lady Silvercomb's, I believe,” Lady Stanborough answered. “Why?”

“I wish you will sit up, Mama. This is important.”

“I can hear you, my love. My treatment is important, too, you know. Ten minutes a day of soaking one's eyelids with cucumber lotion works absolute wonders. It soothes away wrinkles, eliminates shadows and makes the skin feel
years
younger. You should try it, too.”

“Never mind about the lotion, Mama. You have more important matters to think about. You must speak to Corianne.”

Lady Stanborough didn't budge. “Well, go on. What is it?”

“She spent last evening at one of Mrs. Saxon's
salons
.”

Lady Stanborough snatched off the cloth from her eyes and sat bolt upright. “
Mrs. Sax
—! You can't
mean
it!”

“But I
do
mean it. She told me so herself.”

“But how can this be? She was to go to the Silvercombs'!”

“Your precious Tony Ingalls took her.”

Lady Stanborough fell back against the chaise and put a trembling hand to her brow. “Good heavens! Has the boy no
sense
?”

“It isn't
sense
he lacks. It's
character
.”

Lady Stanborough moaned. “I
knew
I shouldn't let the girl come. I
knew
it. You young people are becoming much too difficult for me to handle.”

“There's nothing difficult about this, Mama,” Sarah suggested calmly. “Just tell Cory that she may not see Mr. Ingalls again.”

“Not
see
him?
Ever?
” Lady Stanborough looked up at her daughter doubtfully. “That's a bit strong, isn't it? Why don't I just tell her that she mustn't ever go to Mrs. Saxon's again?”

“Yes, of course you must tell her
that
, but it seems to me that Tony Ingalls has proved himself to be completely untrustworthy. You cannot wish to permit him to escort Cory after this, can you?”

“No, I suppose not,” her mother admitted. “But she seems to prefer him to the other young men who call.” She sat up and sighed. “I shall have to make sure to go along with her in the evening from now on. What a nuisance. I shan't have a moment's peace.”

“Don't look so dismayed, Mama. Perhaps Mr. Middleton will share the chore with you, if you ask. And I can attend some of the affairs—the ones where I could be certain that—” She caught herself up short.

“Certain that what?” her mother asked.

“Nothing.”

Lady Stanborough snorted irritably. “I know what you were going to say. Those affairs where you could be certain that Lord North would not be in attendance. I don't know what's wrong with you, Sarah. You try my patience.”

“I'm sorry, Mama,” Sarah said simply. She had long since given up trying to explain to her mother her feelings about Lord North.

Lady Stanborough grunted sourly and lay back against the chaise again. “Between the two of you, I shall have an attack of the vapors. I
know
I shall.”

“No, you won't, Mama. You'll do just as you ought, and everything will be fine.” With those soothing words, she took the cloth from her mother's unresisting fingers, gently laid it over her eyes again and went quickly from the room.

Lady Stanborough kept her word. She spoke to Corianne firmly about the dangers of associating with people like Mrs. Saxon, and she chaperoned the girl regularly. When she became particularly worn out, she sent for the obliging Mr. Middleton. Sarah, much relieved, put the entire incident from her mind. She didn't realize that her mother often left her chaperonage early, leaving Corianne in the care of whatever gentleman was in favor at the moment. But a chance encounter a week later brought the matter back to her consciousness with a shock.

The encounter took place just outside Hookham's library. It was a particularly balmy October day, and Sarah, out for a stroll, had decided to stop in for a quick browse through the bookstore before returning home. In the doorway, she almost collided with a tall, lanky gentleman whose face was buried in his just-purchased copy of
The Gentleman's Magazine. “Really
, my dear sir—!” Sarah sputtered, her face having narrowly missed being bruised by the magazine.

The startled, guilt-ridden gentleman dropped his magazine in dismay and opened his mouth to apologize. “I'm
terribly
s—
Sarah
!”

“Lord
Fitz
! Good heavens, what are you doing in London?”

Lord Henry Fitzsimmons was the husband of Sarah's dearest friend, who, when last heard from, had written from the Fitzsimmons' estate in Norfolk that she'd been delivered of a pair of twin girls. This, in addition to two small sons under the age of five, gave Clara Fitzsimmons neither the time nor the energy to come to town. But Sarah was surprised to see Fitz here without her, for the two were usually an inseparable couple. Their fondness for each other was so great that they occasioned smiles from all onlookers. Fitz never referred to his wife by any other name than “my Clara.” Yet here he was, alone.

Lord Fitz looked down at Sarah from his great height, his eyes twinkling with mischievous delight. “My Clara has thrown me out. Well, not thrown me out, exactly, but … I'll explain later. Arrived only today, you know. I was just on my way to
call
on you! My Clara has given me all sorts of messages for you. What a lucky chance to have run into you like this!”

“
Blundered
into me, you mean,” Sarah laughed. “What do you
mean
, Fitz, by saying Clara's thrown you out? Did you leave that poor woman to cope with four babies all by herself?”

Lord Fitz rubbed his thick moustache guiltily. “Had to, don't you see? Well, I didn't exactly
have
to, but my Clara said it would be good for me to get away from crying babies for a time.”

Sarah giggled. Fitz still had not lost his way of equivocating whenever he made a statement.

“Said I was getting in the way,” he continued. “Well, not exactly getting in the way, perhaps, but she thought I needed a bit of time for myself. Besides, I needed to spend some time with my man of business. But if you ask me, Sarah, I think she thought I was getting housebound. A good woman, my Clara.”

“Yes, she is indeed,” Sarah said affectionately. “But it
is
good to see you, Fitz, even if you
are
alone. Come and walk along with me, and tell me all about the twins.”

Lord Fitz happily obliged, for talking about his children was his favorite pastime. He took Sarah's arm and, turning with her in the direction of Stanborough House, they were soon engrossed in his account of the remarkable progress of the two most beautiful and clever baby girls in the world. It was not surprising, therefore, that they failed to notice Edward Middleton, who was hurrying down the street, approaching them from the opposite direction. As they were about to pass each other, Edward recognized Sarah. “Good day, Miss Stanborough,” he said, lifting his beaver.

“Oh, Mr. Middleton, good day to
you
! Everyone in the world seems to be out for a stroll today. May I present my friend, Lord—”

“
Fitz!
” Edward chortled. “Fitz, as I live and breathe—!”

“Ned?” Lord Fitz asked in astonishment. “Is it really
you
? I don't
believe
it!”

They pounded each other on the back in delight, while Sarah watched them in amusement.