Lady Madeline's Folly (6 page)

“It wouldn’t cost you a penny. The seat he spoke of is a rotten borough, consisting of a barn and a couple of hen houses. It is his to give. There would be no expense.”

“No, nor any salary either, after it has been accomplished. He is looking for a free clerk.”

“My dear boy,” she said, shaking her head at his naiveté, “there are perquisites aplenty. An appointment to some position in the royal household could be arranged, to give you an annuity without increasing your workload a cubit. It is done all the time.”

“It is not done by the opposition, but by the government. It is unclear yet that our party will remain long in power.”

“Better take it now then, while they
are
in power, to make the appointment. For that matter, Tilsit first mentioned a different sort of job. He said he could use some help— a sort of secretary I expect is what he had in mind.”

“That is more interesting at the moment.”

“Go to see him then, today. Don’t waste a moment.”

“I don’t know that I would like being a secretary, to spend my days crouched over a desk, composing letters.”

“You can hardly expect to start at the top, Henry. It is like anything else; you must work your way up.”

“I shall think about it.”

“Good. I want you to think about something else too. Christmas. We are going home to Highgate Hall for the holiday. I would like you to join us. We are inviting a party of
very influential
people whom it would be helpful for you to know. The Castlereaghs will be there, Liverpool, and others. We leave three days before Christmas, and return at the start of the new year.”

“I had planned to go to my own home for Christmas,” he told her. “It is very kind of you, but my family will be expecting me, you know, and I cannot like to disappoint them.”

“I assume they are reasonable. They sent you to London to find a position. They will not expect you to throw this excellent opportunity away, only for a family visit. Go and visit them
after
you have got yourself established, Henry. You must make a few sacrifices for the sake of your career.”

None of her other protégés had hesitated to grasp the plums she held out to them. Yet there was some merit in his objection. He needed money, so a fairly demanding job with no salary was not the best one for him. Court appointments took time and were uncertain now, with the government’s fate in the balance.

For a son to wish to spend Christmas with his family was hardly to be condemned either, even though it was unwise. He was a curious blend of the sentimental and the practical, she decided. And whichever side he showed her, she found it attractive. She liked to go out in public with him, and watch her friends stare. She knew Henry was attracted to girls. She saw how his lips lifted when they cast their sheep eyes at him. It always angered her, and intrigued her too, that he did not step up his courting of herself.

He was unfailingly polite, a
little
gallant, but he was not smitten. He casually mentioned outings with other women, without looking to see if she minded. Perhaps that was his greatest charm for her—that she was not certain of him.

She occasionally mentioned finding him a well-dowered wife, to remove the burden of his lack of funds. She even had her eye on a few suitable heiresses, but was curiously reluctant to put them forward. Her Christmas party, for instance, could very well include Miss Anita Gresham and her mama, but she had no real intention of inviting them. She looked forward to the party with a good deal of pleasurable anticipation. There would be time to get to know Henry better, more intimately, to spend some hours with him at pursuits other than career-oriented ones.

“I shall write to Mama, but if she
insists,
you know, Maddie, I cannot disappoint her.”

“Your sentiments do you credit, but if she is as wise and as interested in your future as I think she is, she will urge you to come to Highgate with me.”

“Don’t count on it. She likes to keep me tied to her apron-strings. She has that in common with you, Cousin.”

“Well, upon my word, is
that
what you think of me?” she asked, too surprised at first to take offense, “Have I ever demanded an accounting of your time—your evenings, for example? I assure you, my
only
interest in you is to see you respectably established.”

“But what is in it for
you?”

“It is my hobby, avocation, if you like. It is enjoyable to have friends in various careers, doing all manner of different and interesting jobs. I keep in touch with my fledglings after they have flown the nest. Why you sound as though I were...”

He looked at her narrowly; then a reluctant smile peeped out. “You must think me a dashed conceited fellow. I certainly did not mean to imply you were dangling after me. I know well enough Lord Fordwich’s daughter with a dowry of a hundred or so thousand pounds would not be casting her cap at a mere nobody like myself.”

“You overestimate both my dowry and your own worthlessness, Henry. I have only thirty thousand to call my own, and you are an intelligent, educated young man, in whose
career
I take a
cousinly
interest.”

He lowered his head and looked chastened. “I’m sorry. I spoke out of line. Can you forgive me?” She hunched her shoulders and dismissed it with a smile.

He arose and moved to a chair closer to her. “What
really
bothers me, you know, is that I...” She gazed at him with curious fascination, noting the shy shadow that was in his eyes. “Oh, damme, Madeline, it is no secret that every man you take an interest in falls in love with you on the spot. You are so beautiful, so charming, so self-assured, so far above us earthbound mortals, like a star shining in the sky. I don’t want to have my heart smashed and tossed over your shoulder, like all the others. If I have been a little reluctant to be led by you... well, that is the reason.” He looked at her, uncertain.

“That is a very good reason. I promise I shan’t smash your heart, Cousin,” she said with a teasing smile.

“I’m sure you never do it on purpose,” he answered gallantly.

“Perhaps I have a solution to the problem. I shall invite some eligible young ladies to our Christmas party. Miss Gresham, I believe would make an excellent heart-smasher for you.”

“No, no. If it is to be smashed at all, I would like to have it done by the best. You.”

“Miss Scott has a dot of—”

“Please!” he said, raising a hand to ward off her suggestion. “I have no intention of marrying a fortune for the sake of a fortune. Should I find myself in love with a lady of means who was inclined to have me, that would be a different matter. I suppose it would be foolish to let that stand in the way of making an offer, but I refuse to become a gazetted fortune hunter. I despise the breed.”

“Then I shall just invite a few pretty girls to brighten up the party. Tell me who would please you—just someone to flirt with.”

“Aren’t
you
coming? Who else should be required to brighten any party you are attending, Maddie?” he asked, in a playful spirit.

She approved of his reply, as she approved of his scruples in dangling after herself, particularly when those scruples were possible of being overcome. She also approved of his next suggestion of going to the visitors’ gallery at Westminster to listen in on a session of Parliament. When he was agreeable to accompany her to a rout party that same evening, she approved again.

“Come to dinner first,” she invited. “There will be only Papa and myself and a few of his crones. I shan’t invite Tilsit. It would look too contrived.”

“No, don’t invite him. I don’t want to appear too anxious, or he won’t offer me a good salary.”

“Conniver!” she charged, but in a smiling way, still with approval.

She was perfectly happy with the world when her next caller was announced. It was Lord Eskott, who had not lessened his visits when he discovered it was four pence to a groat he would find Aldred with her, but did take less pleasure in them. Aldred took none at all.

“Is the boy not here holding your hand?” he asked in a sardonic voice.

“The boy has just left to audit a meeting at Westminster. I see he will not have the pleasure of hearing
you
speak. Why are you shirking your duty at this perilous time?”

“All work and no play, et cetera,” he answered, taking up his customary seat beside her on the sofa before the grate.

“You have come to play with me, have you? How nice. What will it be: piquet, jackstraws?”

“Dutch uncle,” he replied with a sapient look. “I am going to give you some unwelcome information with regard to your new boy.”

“Meaning?” she asked, coming to sharp attention.

“I don’t believe the fellow is playing straight with you, Maddie.”

“I presume you have some basis for this extraordinary statement?”

“Yes, that old whore, Rumor, is my basis. Though shaky, it is one a lady seldom disregards. Rumor has it the boy is making inquiries with regard to employment within the ranks of the Whigs. He came to London with a letter in his pocket from his father, an ardent Whig, introducing him to Neville and some of the lesser lights amongst us. Of course he is not quite top draw socially, and could hardly be expected to know the top dogs.”

“Kind of you to describe my cousin as ‘not quite top drawer,’ Eskott. It is news to me if sons follow the politics of their fathers. It is the exception rather than the rule when they do.”

“To be sure, I never took Aldred for an exceptional man in any way. Extremely common, I should say.”

“You are at pains never to take him for a
man
at all, but always to describe him as a boy.”

“Your
boy is my customary term.”

“Where did you hear this rumor? Have you spoken to Neville?”

“No, it would not be a rumor if I had. I confess I have the story second or third hand.”

“What does rumor decree he has done about this letter? Has he been actively looking for a spot in your party?”

“He presented the letter to Neville. Neville, out of regard for his father, offered him the sort of minor post his lack of experience and acumen entitled him to. Aldred said neither yes nor no, but indicated he would think about it. For the past ten days he has been deeply cogitating the matter, while angling to see whether you haven’t something better to offer. A plain old opportunist. He did not mention the matter to you, I take it?”

“Nothing. He knew I would dislike it.”

“I should think you would like the secrecy even less.”

“I do dislike it. I shall ask him about it.”

“Be sure to tell him where you heard the rumor.”

“You are at great pains to see he dislikes you!”

“I don’t want the unpleasant chore of telling him
I
don’t have a soft berth for him.”

“I thought such a chore would be very much to your liking. Not that you’re likely to have the pleasure of refusing him. Tilsit has just recently made him an excellent offer.”

“Has he indeed? My worries were in vain then. I am happy for you. What is the position to be?”

“It is not quite decided yet. He has to call on Tilsit to arrange the details.”

“It is his intention to compare the offer to Neville’s. You may lose him yet.”

“He will accept some offer from Tilsit. The only uncertainty is whether he will become an M.P. through the courtesy of a seat belonging to Tilsit or act as secretary for him.”

“There is nothing to prevent his doing both.”

“I know that,” she said angrily, though her anger was truly directed at her cousin for his lack of frankness with her.

“You don’t have to snap my nose off!”

“I feel the need to snap off someone’s. You happen to be here.”

“It
does
bother you then, his duplicity?”

“It is not duplicity, only a lack of openness. Henry will have some explanation.”

“I expect the boy is well versed in explaining away a lack of openness.”

“The boy is twenty-four years old, only one year younger than myself.”

“Strange, is it not? Twenty-four is young for a man, while twenty-five is
old
for a woman.”

“Very strange indeed. One of the wonders of the physical world. Stranger yet when you take into consideration that women generally outlive their husbands by a decade or so. One would think women would choose husbands ten years younger than themselves.”

“Perhaps they would, if they had the choosing, but that is a man’s prerogative, like paying the bills. Am I to gather, as you introduced the comparison of your ages, that you are thinking in terms of making a match with the boy?”

“That subject again! What must I do to convince you, buy a herd of apes?”

“You give every appearance of being enamoured of him. Trotting with him four nights a week to routs and balls.”

“You know I always show my protégés the ropes. It is a part of their initiation.”

“How extremely tiring for you. Ratting on Aldred behind his back was only part of my reason for coming. I want to offer you a respite from your work. I am taking a party to Kent for the Christmas holiday. I would like you to join us.

“Your father, I know, will not like to come, but he is busier than usual this year, and will not miss you here. I have made it a non-political party, in your honor. No rampant politicos, but a nice heterogeneous blend of literati: Tom Moore has a young friend he wishes to bring along—chap named Byron. He has been abroad and has some verses he is about to publish on his travels. Some social lions and lionesses, a few sports-minded individuals, and of course a brace of dandies to entertain the ladies. Brummell has invited himself, and
I
am inviting
you.
Your Aunt Margaret is welcome to come along, if she likes. I have a ball planned to see in the new year, a few country dancing parties, skating on the pond if the cold weather holds up, but I hope it don’t, skating notwithstanding.”

It was a party designed to tempt her. For a minute she regretted her own party, already under preparation, the invitations not only out but accepted. It was clear that her wishes had been considered in the arranging of Eskott’s do. “It sounds lovely, but we have already made plans for the holiday. We are off to Highgate.”