Lady Eugenia's Holiday (2 page)

“I believe we have very many things in common,”
Lady Penelope began.

“We do?” Eugenia knew nothing of Lady Penelope.

“You are the daughter of the Earl of Langford, are
you not?” Lady Penelope asked directly.

“Yes.”

“I am the daughter of the Earl Coddington—we are
both middle children, are we not?”

“I have an elder and younger sister,” Eugenia
declared. Perhaps they would not be well-known to one another, but it would be
very nice to have at least someone known to her when she arrived in Town.

“My siblings are brothers, but I am nonetheless the
middle child.” Lady Penelope brightened as she announced, “I am to come out at
the approaching Little Season.”

“I’m to have my come-out during the Little Season
as well!” Eugenia grew more excited that she might have discovered a true
friend.

“Your aunt is Mrs. Templeton?” Lady Penelope gazed
at Eugenia’s elderly relative who stood with her mother in deep discussion.

“She is my great-aunt, to be precise,” Eugenia
clarified. “My mother’s aunt.”

“Do you see that woman in the feathered turban
looking at them?”

Eugenia regarded the lady taking extraordinary
interest in her aunt and Lady Coddington.

“That is the Countess Tynsdale. She’s concerned her
position with my mother will be usurped by Mrs. Templeton.” Lady Penelope
giggled.

“Why ever should she worry about my aunt?”

Lady Penelope blinked at Eugenia. “Why they are
currently the best of friends and Mrs. Templeton threatens that position. She
is much better liked in society than the countess.” Lady Penelope gestured
again to their relatives. “See how there are so many people waiting to speak to
her?”

“She does appear to be quite popular.” A small
crowd had gathered around the two ladies. Aunt Rose seemed to be more occupied
with the guests than the cards.

“I suppose if one traveled as much as your great-aunt,
one would meet anyone who is of any consequence sooner or later.” Lady Penelope
turned back to Eugenia. “I believe she met my mother in Bath ages ago. Her
mother—my grandmother—introduced them.”

Aunt Rose had never spoken of her connection with
Lady Coddington nor did
she
, it occurred to Eugenia,
speak of any persons in particular.

“It is a pity that our families were never close.
You see, I believe that even the most casual acquaintances can be beneficial to
one’s position. From what I hear, your aunt is greatly admired. It is entirely
possible she may know Prinny himself!”

Eugenia couldn’t imagine anyone she knew would know
the Prince Regent personally.

She and Lady Penelope reached the far corner of the
refreshment table and turned to walk along the perimeter of the room, heading
toward the card games.

“Perhaps we are destined to become fast friends!”
Lady Penelope cried. “Here and now in this little town, we must acquaint
ourselves with the eligible gentlemen. Once we two arrive in London for the
Little Season, we shall reacquaint ourselves with them and both make perfect
matches!”

Yes, that sounded quite splendid. Eugenia would
love to have a close friend, especially in a place where she knew no one. She
considered what Lady Penelope had said. Indeed, one could never truly know what
might come from a casual meeting. Lady Penelope might make an advantageous
marriage to a duke and then Eugenia would be the very good friend of a duchess!

The evening came to an unsatisfactory end when Aunt
Rose halted their
coze
to announce to Eugenia, “I am
ready to leave now, dear.”

“Now?” Only minutes after making her first friend
since arriving perhaps her greatest friend.

“I am so very fatigued and there are so many
arrangements to make for tomorrow.”

Tomorrow? How could Eugenia think of tomorrow when
tonight might have held so many possibilities?

First thing the next morning, Aunt Rose made sure
the staff clearly understood there would be plenty of tea on hand. Then with
her next breath she continued, “Cakes and sandwiches, and oh, yes, fruit tarts,
ample fruit tarts. Strawberry, current, and apricot. Have Cook bake plenty. I
shan’t have my callers going away unsatisfied!”

“Do you really think we’ll have many callers?”
Eugenia naively asked. How was she ever to know what to expect? Did everyone
who said they would stop by truly stop by?

Aunt Rose leveled one of her knowing looks at her
niece. It made Eugenia feel as if she were seven years old again.

“They’ll come,” Aunt Rose said with a regal air. “They’ll
all come.”

Promptly at 11 o’clock they had their first
visitor. Each and every person they had met last night who said they would call
was true to their word. Lady Penelope arrived with her mother Lady Coddington.

“I usually do not accompany my mother on her calls,”
Lady Penelope explained to Eugenia, “but I knew she planned to see your aunt
and I wanted to meet with you again.”

“I am so very glad you came. I’m afraid I do not
find my aunt’s acquaintances as entertaining as she—and they have been here for
hours it seems.” But, of course, it couldn’t have been.

“Well, they’ve all overstayed their welcome.” Lady
Penelope glanced about them before suggesting, “What do you think about you and
I
paying a visit to the lending library? I believe it
is just down the street?”

“Is that not equally as tiresome?” Eugenia replied,
totally exasperated at her new friend. “I cannot imagine anyplace more
uninteresting!”

Lady Penelope persuaded her that they should leave.
Eugenia did not put up much of a fight when pressed to collect her pelisse,
hat, and reticule before accompanying her friend out the front door.

“My dear, Lady Eugenia.” Lady Penelope grasped
Eugenia’s hand and pulled her near as they strolled down the front walk of the
house. “I believe you are quite mistaken—you truly do not understand.”

Eugenia had to admit that it felt good to step out
of the house and move about after hours of sitting and entertaining visitors.
The company of Lady Penelope made the short foot journey all the more
enjoyable. Twenty minutes later they had arrived.

The lending library was not at all similar to the
one Eugenia visited at home where one simply borrowed books. Here ladies and
gentlemen not only found books but enjoyed tea and one another’s company. Lady
Penelope could not have been more correct.

There were so many people deep in conversation and
Eugenia could easily imagine being one of them. Filled with worthwhile,
pleasurable activity, she thought this was where she could spend many a
pleasant afternoon.

Brighton seemed to be the perfect place to wait out
the interval before attending the Little Season in the fall. Her stay here may
even work to her benefit.

It might have proved impossible for Eugenia to
appear anything but a country miss because her younger years were spent in the
country. She often wondered if it would set her apart from the others, who
seemed comfortable in a mixed social setting. Here in Brighton she might
acquire a dusting of the much-needed town bronze.

Furthermore, it could be entirely possible to meet
a suitable
parti
here in Brighton, as Lady Penelope
had previously suggested. Eugenia would not dismiss the notion nor place a
light emphasis on the chance occurrence if she were lucky enough to have it
happen to her.

The collection of calling cards that had
accumulated that afternoon was not to be believed! Aunt Rose fanned out the
invitations on the table for Eugenia to see on her return from the lending
library.

There must have been at least a dozen to choose
from. Eugenia tried to imagine what parties awaited her—balls, soirees, and
routs! Perhaps she would attend a garden party, the theater, or perhaps give
bathing in the ocean a try!

Before she left with her mother, Lady Penelope
urged Eugenia to choose her evening diversions carefully—and, of course, they
would wish to attend the same parties.

While perusing the invitations, Mr. Forth, the
Master of Ceremonies called. He invited Aunt Rose and Eugenia to the masquerade
ball, occurring at the Old Ship Inn the Thursday night after this. The assembly
room would be providing their guests with masks and dominos at the front door.

Just the mention of the approaching ball brought
Eugenia to despair regarding her wardrobe. She could not help but feel that the
gowns she had brought were so plain and would not do.

Although she lacked the skill to do her own
alterations, she would instruct Aunt Rose’s maid Katrina to drop the shoulders
on her pale blue muslin and add a double-gold soutache to her dark green silk.
That, Eugenia thought, should be sufficient.

“This evening we shall share dinner with my dear
friends Mr. and Mrs. Penshurst before her musical fete,” Aunt Rose told
Eugenia, completely ignoring the remaining plateful of invitations.

Why on earth would they share dinner with an old
friend when they had this plethora of invitations from which to choose? Surely
there would be some more desirable entertainment to pass that evening.

Is that not what Aunt Rose had promised her? Surely
she must have known just how much Eugenia wished to visit the ballrooms?

However, it did not signify. Not one complaint
passed through Eugenia’s lips as she dressed to accompany her aunt. She
accepted her fate and consoled herself, knowing that she need not wear her best
frock to this type of function, deciding that her dark green silk with the
short puffed sleeves would suffice.

To her surprise Lady Penelope attended, which
improved the prospects of the evening greatly. Eugenia believed that there
would not be a dull moment if she were in the company of her friend.

At the musicale, they met the hostess’ daughter,
Miss Cynthia Penshurst. Eugenia found her to be quite companionable and was
delighted to include Miss Cynthia in their little
téte
-a-
téte
.

Miss Cynthia told Eugenia and Lady Penelope that
her elder sister had married last year. After the wedding, she and her parents
left for the Continent, where they came across the musician Franz Mueller. Her
mother was so completely transformed by his music and believed his talent was a
gift to be shared!

And that was how he came to be in England.

“He’s Austrian, very quaint, old-fashioned—and very
talented. I believe he plays four or five instruments … perhaps more.” Miss
Cynthia glanced about as if some clue were to step forward. “The Prince Regent
summoned him by Royal command our first week here.”

“Really?” Lady Penelope leaned forward with growing
interest. “The Prince, you say?”

“Please allow me to introduce him to you.” Miss
Cynthia motioned him to approach. A round-shouldered man in a powered wig
neared. “Lady Penelope, Lady Eugenia,
may
I introduce
Herr Mueller.”

Herr Mueller clicked his heels, and with a curt nod
of his powdered-wigged head, acknowledged the two young ladies. “Das pleasure
ist
entirely mine.”

It was immediately clear to Eugenia, by Lady
Penelope’s unpleasant expression, that her new friend had taken an immediate
dislike to this man.

“Miss Cynthia tells us you recently played for the
Prince Regent.” Eugenia ignored her friend’s reaction and hoped it passed Herr
Mueller’s notice.

“Ah, yes, at his Pavilion von evening. His Highness
was so generous.” Herr Mueller placed his hand upon his chest. “Und he did me
the honor of accompanying me on his cello.”

“Really?” This news awed Eugenia. “You must be a
truly wonderful musician. Miss Cynthia here tells us that you are magnificent!”

Lady Penelope scoffed, glanced heavenward, and
remained unimpressed.

“
She
ist
too kind,” he replied with a gentle smile. He was humble, almost bashful.

“He is being modest,” Miss Cynthia returned. “Tell
them how you performed throughout most of the Continent.” She turned toward the
ladies, anxious that they should know, and told them herself, “And he has
played with many of the famous composers and for many of the Crown Heads of
Europe.”

“Please, Fraulein Zinthia.” His downcast gaze,
which had never reached their faces, adhered firmly to the floor. “You are
being too kind.”

“Mother insists he treat us with several selections
on the harpsichord and violin this very evening,” Miss Cynthia stated quite proudly.
“Please, Herr Mueller, you must relay at least one of your stories to my
friends.”

“Your friends?” Herr Mueller glanced up at Lady
Penelope, then at Eugenia, and decided to give in to Miss Cynthia’s insistence.
He relayed a tale of his travels.

One had to pay particular attention when conversing
with the visitor. His thick German accent made him difficult to understand. It
took a great deal of effort for the ones who listened.

Since Eugenia did not understand a single German
word, with the exception of Hessian, she interrupted and reminded him to
enunciate and slow his speech further. She did not wish to miss a single word
of his interesting travels.

Herr Mueller was especially difficult to understand
when he decided to pepper his anecdote with native words or phrases. Eugenia
stopped him each time and had him translate for them.

While in the midst of his discourse, Herr Mueller
gave Eugenia a most peculiar look.

“It is impolite for a … gentleman to stare at a
lady,” Miss Cynthia enlightened him.

Eugenia did feel a bit uncomfortable at his
lingering gaze but forgave him because she thought he might not know of their
customs.

“
Verzeihung
, I do not
mean to offend.” He nibbled on the end of one of his fingers. “I think perhaps
I have
zeen
you
zomewhere
before.”

“I really do not think so,” Eugenia said, certain
that she would have remembered someone of his peculiar nature.

“You see, there.” He pointed across the room. “Und
my patroness beckons me now.” He sharply bowed his head to each of them. “
Entschuldigung
Sie
,
bitte
, you must excuse me. Until later.” He clicked his
heels again with a final curt nod and departed.

“Wasn’t he an odd little
man.
”
Lady Penelope squinted in his direction. “Why does he wear that horrid wig?
Doesn’t he know it makes him look positively ancient?”

“He simply will not part with it.” Miss Cynthia
told them. “I think he believes it makes him appear more respectable. Perhaps
the illusion of being one of the old masters.”

“It does not signify. He’s definitely a foreigner,
without a doubt,” Lady Penelope uttered in a snobby, entirely unpleasant tone. “And
he is not handsome in the least. He is quite unexceptional.”

“You are being most unfair and very unkind,”
Eugenia scolded her, keeping her voice soft.

“As a matter of fact,” Lady Penelope stated even
louder, “the shape of his face, his countenance, and bearing in general, reek
of a commoner. What matter is it that he has kept company with royalty? He is
nothing but a mushroom.”

“Please, that is beyond rude!” Eugenia was
beginning to feel that she had less in common with Lady Penelope than she’d
thought. The sole aspect they shared was that they both were earls’ daughters
and that small matter was purely by accident of birth.

“He doesn’t even have the decency to stand up
straight in our presence! Can you imagine?” Lady Penelope continued. “The
inelegant slouch!”

Herr Mueller did not have the statuesque posture of
an English nobleman nor did he quite meet their eyes when he spoke. Eugenia
thought him a bit shy, she would never think less of him because he was a
foreigner.

With the way Miss Cynthia had gone on about his
talent, Eugenia had looked forward to hearing Herr Mueller perform. Even before
he sat to play, Aunt Rose alerted Eugenia that she wished to leave.

Eugenia was sure she did this on purpose.

Aunt Rose waits until I’m at the ultimate point of
my enjoyment during the evening, then up and announces, “Eugenia, dearest, it’s
time we be off.”

She found it most perplexing.

How had Aunt Rose gotten anywhere in Society when
she did not stay through the evening?

It was just as well. Eugenia decided that if she
sat through the musical performance, she might have caught some young man’s
interest. That might have proved problematic. After the musical performances he
would search out the hostess and beg her for an introduction.

Eugenia had no doubt he would then court her, try
to win her over, but she would not give him any indication of her affections.
She would not wish to attach herself to anyone before attending the Little
Season. Of course, she would bid him and this sleepy seaside city adieu then
depart for London.

It should be quite tragic. She probably would never
see the poor lad again.

If their paths should cross, she would be quite
civil but not overfriendly. He may never be able to give his heart to another
for the rest of his life. He might be the first of a long line of shattered
hearts she would leave in her wake as she blazed a path into next Season.

It was just as well Eugenia left the card party
early with Aunt Rose.

The next afternoon, Eugenia and Lady Penelope
accompanied Miss Cynthia to the lending library. Miss Cynthia stepped away to
return a book at the desk. Eugenia and Lady Penelope stood off to one side,
trying to stand out of the way of the passing foot traffic.

Eugenia distinctly heard her name being uttered
ever so softly. She glanced about but saw no one.

“Look there.” Lady Penelope pointed into a tall
bookcase. “Is that not Herr Mueller?”

To Eugenia’s surprise, there he was peering between
neatly stacked books on a shelf.

“Und Lady Penelope, it
ist
mein
good fortune to
see you also!”

Lady Penelope tried very hard to ignore the hail.
She must have imagined that if she did not notice him, he might cease his
torment. Concentrating on the shelves before her, she trailed her finger along
the book spines, staring with increased intensity, showing that she had not
heard him.

“Come now, Lady Penelope, we cannot be rude,”
Eugenia scolded.

“You may not be able to speak what you truly feel
but I assure you I can.” She took a few steps down to the next shelf and
resumed her intensive search.

Eugenia watched a large book disappear from the
shelf to the other side and a pair of eyes took its place.

“Lady Eugenia? Das
ist
you?” The brows arched and lowered as the
speaker, in a heavily accented voice said, “How
wunderbar
to see you!
Bitte
,
warten
Sie
.” The tome was quickly replaced and the staccato sound
of footfalls told her of his impending approach.

This must have been where Herr Mueller had seen her
previously. With the surrounding people and bookcases she must not have noticed
him.

She resisted, complaining through the entire effort
as Eugenia pulled on Lady Penelope’s reticule strings, returning her friend to
her side.

“I do not want to—” Lady Penelope protested through
clenched teeth.

“Und a good day to you as yell, Lady Penelope.” He
greeted her with a broad smile and a deep bow.

“Oh—good afternoon, Herr Mueller,” Eugenia
returned, trying to sound cheerful but in actuality she felt ashamed at her
friend’s behavior, and a bit nervous that Lady Penelope might say something
hurtful.

“Whatever are you doing here?” Lady Penelope
managed to sound civil.

“Same as you, Fraulein.” He sounded thrilled to
have run into them. “Roaming das shelves for enlightenment. Hoping to meet
friends who drop by and gossip.”

“Gossip? Not I,” Lady Penelope gasped.

To enjoy gossip is one thing. For others to know
one enjoyed it was entirely another. Eugenia wished Herr Mueller had not said
that to Lady Penelope. Miss Cynthia took this moment to join them, which was of
great relief.

“
Guten
Tag, Herr Mueller,”
she said.

“Miss Zinthia!” he proclaimed as if she were an
undiscovered jewel. He gave a curt nod and clicked his heels, acknowledging
her.