Gayle Buck (19 page)

“If it is at all in my power to grant, I shall do so,” he answered gallantly.

Lady Hortense embarked on an explanation of the Christmas gathering. “Naturally it will be a private gathering only for our family and friends out of deference to Lord Robert’s passing. We are in black gloves, of course, but I felt it appropriate to recognize the season of our Lord’s birth in whatever small way we may. Do you not agree, Reverend?”

“Of course, dear ma’am,” said the reverend promptly. “I am touched by your gentle devotion. And how may I be of service?” Victoria glanced at Mrs. Pherson and noted the look of stiff disapproval on the lady’s thin face.

“I should like you, and Mrs. Pherson, to join us that evening, dear Reverend, for you must know that I count you very much my good friend and pastor,” said Lady Hortense.

The reverend, moved by her kindness, cleared his throat. “I am overwhelmed, my lady.”

“Your presence could only lend distinction and . . . respectability, sir,” Margaret said sweetly, looking straight at Mrs. Pherson. That dame’s expression sharpened and she turned red with anger.

Lady Hortense hastily intervened. “We thought, too, of my nephew Charles’s little daughter. She is but three years old and, having been born in Lisbon, the child has never seen an English Christmas. I feel it would be a great pity to deny her that treat, for Christmas season is for the children.”

The reverend nodded. “Indeed it is. My dear Lady Hortense, I appreciate your consideration towards myself and Mrs. Pherson. We shall be delighted to attend your Christmas gathering.”

Lady Hortense thanked him with a smile. “I shall be counting on you, Reverend.” As she rose to take her leave, she so lavishly complimented her hostess on her plum cake that Mrs. Pherson was promising to send her the recipe even as the visitors settled once more into their carriage. Lady Hortense signaled to the driver and gave a final wave.

“You are the most complete hand, my lady,” said Victoria appreciatively.

“I could hardly leave the woman time to think of an objection, could I?” Lady Hortense said, chuckling. She turned to Margaret with a twinkle. “Really, Margaret, it was a great deal too bad of you to goad her.’

Margaret bowed to her from the waist. “But what can one expect from a thoroughly unrespectable creature such as myself?” she asked mildly.

The ladies made merry the short distance to Belingham Manor. Upon their arrival, they found Lady Belingham and her daughter at home and were ushered into the drawing room. Lady Belingham received them with delight. “Pray make yourselves comfortable,” she said, waving the ladies to be seated. A beautiful young woman pleasantly greeted them. She was very slim and possessed a head of glorious red hair. “Lady Hortense, you will remember my daughter Erica, of course.”

“Indeed I do, but you have become a young lady since I last saw you, my dear,” said Lady Hortense, smiling.

Erica laughed, shaking her head. Her green eyes gleamed with mischief. “I left the hoyden behind only yesterday, ma’am, I assure you.”

“And these are the ladies I have been telling you about, Erica,” said Lady Belingham. “Mrs. Giddings has come down to be with her sister who is increasing and this is dear Harry’s friend, Lady Victoria.”

Erica nodded civilly to Margaret before addressing Victoria. “I am happy to meet you at last, Lady Victoria. Harry has written about you so often that I feel I know you almost like a sister,” she said.

Victoria laughed with her. “And I also, for dear Harry was forever doting on you.”

“Was he truly? He was careful not to spoil me, then,” said Erica wryly. She turned to Margaret. “Have you had occasion to meet my brother, Mrs. Giddings?”

“I have not had that pleasure,” said Margaret politely. The sight of Miss Erica Belingham’s beauty had startled her and her first impression had only been reinforced as they spoke. She had never met anyone who could seriously rival her for beauty and it was a distinctly unusual feeling.

As the ladies exchanged greetings, Lady Belingham beckoned a footman aside and gave him quiet instructions. Now she turned once more to her guests and urged them to remove their gloves and bonnets. “For I do wish you all to stay for a good long visit. Erica and I have been going over the latest fashion plates this past hour and we cannot seem to make up our minds which ensembles are the most appropriate for a Christmas assembly.”

“Mrs. Giddings, I know that you may guide us, for I understand that you have just come down from London. And one may see from the cut of your pelisse that you must patronize a superb modiste,” Erica said enthusiastically.

“I am flattered,” Margaret said, and though she laughed, she did feel a glow of satisfaction that her own dress excited such admiration.

The young ladies soon put their heads together over the fashion plates and Lady Belingham drew Lady Hortense a little apart. “Now, dear ma’am, I may speak a few moments for your ears alone. I must tell you that this past week I have heard distressing rumors in the neighborhood concerning Lady Victoria and Mrs. Giddings.”

Lady Hortense smiled faintly. “You do not need to say anything more, Miranda, for I am fully aware of Adelia Pherson’s poisonous speculations. She had the audacity to inform me of them herself, if you please.”

Lady Belingham looked at her with concern. “But what shall you do? Mrs. Pherson’s word carries weight in certain quarters and I fear for our young ladies’ reputations.”

“I intend to prove Mrs. Pherson a fool,” said Lady Hortense. “We are giving a party, Miranda.” She had to laugh at her friend’s polite and bewildered expression. Quickly she explained.

“How splendid, Hortense,” exclaimed Lady Belingham. “Of course we shall come, the three of us.”

Lady Hortense was about to ask who the third individual was when a tall young man dressed in a military uniform entered the drawing room. “I believe you sent for me, Mama?” he asked in a pleasant voice.

Victoria looked up, disbelieving. “Harry!” she cried, springing up.

“Victoria! He disregarded her outstretched hands and caught her up in his arms. He swung her around laughing.

When he had set her once more on her feet, Victoria demanded, “Whatever are you doing in England? I quite thought your next leave wasn’t until the Christmas holiday.”

“I arranged a few days more on my furlough. I but arrived last night,” said Harry easily. He examined her face closely. “How are you getting along, Vicky?”

Victoria flashed a warm smile at him. She knew that his concern went much deeper than the conventional words revealed. “I’m fine, Harry, and especially since Jessica and Rebecca are now with me. Oh, it is good to see you again! But do come greet the ladies. I am certain Lady Hortense must remember you.”

“Indeed I do remember you, Sir Harry,” said Lady Hortense as he bowed smartly over her hand. “But you have long since turned out as a well-set young man. Alas, there is nothing left of the small rascal who used to raid my father s favorite peach trees.”

Sir Harry laughed. “I am covered in shame, ma’am.”

“I was never more shocked, Harry. You have led me to believe you were a paragon of virtue,” Erica said teasingly.

“Pray rescue me, Victoria,” pleaded Sir Harry. She laughingly obeyed, drawing him over to introduce him to Margaret Giddings.

Margaret had been stunned by Sir Harry Belingham’s appearance. His laughing face and tall form were magnificent. She thought he was quite the most virile man that she had ever beheld. She recovered quickly, however, and was prepared to be at her most charming when Victoria introduced him to her. She offered her hand to him, saying softly, “I have long had an admiration for the military men. There is something so exciting about a uniform.”

Sir Harry’s blue eyes kindled and a very few moments saw him seated beside Mrs. Giddings. He was not long is discovering that the lady was a widow, and by the time the ladies rose to take their leave, Sir Harry had made certain that he had a standing invitation to call at the Crossing. He escorted the ladies to their carriage, and as he handed Victoria up into it, she murmured, “You’re shameless, Harry.”

“You know that I always set up a flirtation with the most beautiful woman I can find,” said Sir Harry in a low voice.

“I think Margaret shall be a match for you,” said Victoria.
He only laughed and waved them off.

That evening at dinner Lady Hortense dismissed the servants so that she could announce the family’s Christmas gathering. “And I have set it for a fortnight from now,” she said.

“Whatever are you thinking of, Hortense?” asked Sir Aubrey. “We cannot possibly have a party.”

“Of course we can. I have already had acceptances,” said Lady Hortense.

“ ‘Pon my soul, madame! Have you forgotten that we are in mourning?” demanded Sir Aubrey, glaring at his sister-in-law across the table.

“Of course I have not forgotten. But I believe that the reputations of the living are more important than the deceased and I know dear Robert would have agreed, for he was very conscious of the family’s honor,” Lady Hortense said spiritedly.

“Come, Mama. What are you talking about?” asked Lord Damion.

“Only that there is scandalous talk in the neighborhood regarding certain members of our family and I mean to squelch it,” said Lady Hortense.

Sir Aubrey snorted in disgust. “They have talked about us for years, and especially Damion. There is nothing new in that!”

“Aubrey, be so kind as to be quiet.” Lady Hortense glared at him and he raised his brows in offended surprise. She was satisfied and continued. “The gossip concerns Lady Victoria and Margaret. Certain persons do not consider them to be respectable women. And that, coupled with Damion’s presence, has led to open speculation that our family is engaged in wicked liaisons and even orgies.”

“What rot!” exclaimed Evelyn.

Lord Damion threw back his head and laughed. “My dear ma’am, you cannot be serious.”

“But I am, Damion,” said Lady Hortense quickly. “And I fear that if unchecked, the rumors will prove irreparably harmful. I do not intend to allow such malicious lies to be spread.”

“But who could bear us such ill will, Aunt?” asked Evelyn. “Do we know the guilty party? For I promise you that I shall thrash him to within an inch of his life.”

Dorothea touched his sleeve. “Eve, I fear that it began with the good reverend’s wife, Mrs. Pherson. When she came to pay her condolences, she advised our aunt that Margaret and Cousin Victoria were not suitable companions for me. She accused them of being Lord Damion’s mistresses.”

There was a short silence. Sir Aubrey leaned back in his chair, his eyes half-hooded and glittering. Victoria and Margaret exchanged glances as the hush lengthened. Finally Lord Damion reached over the table to take his mother’s hand. “Forgive me, dear ma’am. I see now that it is not a laughing matter. Mrs. Pherson is a respectable woman and her word must carry weight.”

“It is the fault of your damned rakehell reputation, St. Claire,” Evelyn said bitterly.

His wife once more placed a gentle hand on his arm. “Eve, I believe that you speak unjustly,” she said quietly.

He turned red. “I apologize, cousin. Dorothea is correct, I had no right to cut up at you.”

“But you were quite right, Evelyn,” said Lord Damion. His eyes were like agate. “As the Demon, I must excite such speculation for I am sunk quite beyond reproach.”

“Nonsense, Damion. I am sure I have never known you to be other than a gentleman,” said Lady Hortense stolidly. Lord Damion bowed to her but was silent.

“So you mean to show us off as respectable with this Christmas celebration, Hortense?” asked Sir Aubrey.

She turned to him eagerly. “I envision a small gathering with a select few whose opinions are respected. We shall observe the holiday with proper reverence, nothing more, and our guests may see for themselves that there is nothing untoward in our manner. That ought to do much toward putting to rest the preposterous gossip.”

“Outflank the enemy and roll them up, is that it, Mama?” asked Lord Damion with a faint grin.

Lady Hortense laughed at him. “Exactly, my dear. I have even Reverend Pherson’s blessing and his assurances that he and Mrs. Pherson shall attend. Let that but get about and his good wife’s speculations will come to naught.”

“Bravo, Aunt Hortense,” said Evelyn, grinning. “The sainted reverend himself will grace us with respectability.”

Reminded of Margaret’s remark to Reverend Pherson, Victoria glanced swiftly at her. Margaret shaded her eyes. Victoria could not help laughing, and said, “How utterly priceless!”

“What is the joke, pray?” Evelyn asked, puzzled.

Lady Hortense rose from the table. “I believe it is time for the ladies to leave the gentlemen to their wine. Come, Doro. I shall impart the source of our companions’ amusement, but you are on no account to tell Evelyn later. We must occasionally have our own little jokes, you know.”

Dorothea laughed at her husband’s indignant expression. “Oh, I should never do so, ma’am.” She knew Evelyn would badger her unmercifully at the first opportunity and she was as ready as Lady Hortense to tease him.

Chapter Nineteen

The following days fell into a quiet pattern as the weather grew colder. Each day Victoria spent the two hours before breakfast with Jessica and often returned to the nursery in the afternoons after Jessica had finished her nap. She asked Mrs. Lummington’s advice in finding a nursemaid and the housekeeper recommended her own niece, Eliza, who was a buxom young woman of eighteen. Victoria felt an instant liking for the good-natured girl and engaged her services on the spot.

Miss Webster quietly observed how Eliza got along with Jessica and was able to comment a few days later that the new nursemaid would do very well. “When I leave, I shall rest easier knowing that little Jessica is safe in Eliza’s capable hands,” she said.

“I shall miss you, you know,” Victoria said soberly.

Miss Webster reached out to squeeze her hand. “I am not gone yet, my lady.”

When Dorothea paid her first visit to the nursery, she was all trepidation about her reception. But her genuine interest and willingness to participate in Jessica’s play quickly established her as a favorite with the little girl. One morning Dorothea introduced the two spaniels to Jessica and from then on it became a special treat for her to be allowed to play with the little dogs.