The Maiden At Midnight (20 page)

‘I am not being rude. I merely wish to speak
with dear Isabella a little. We have only just arrived, Auntie. I
am sure there is plenty of time to talk to any of our friends who
are here.’

This was so irrefutable that Elise Fortnum
had no choice but to move away, albeit with bad grace. Isabella
arched an eyebrow at her friend.

‘That was very brave of you,’ she
murmured.

Alora blushed. ‘I do not know what has come
over her lately. She seems to watch everything I do.’

‘How peculiar. No doubt she is merely
looking out for you. With so many suitors beating a path to your
door, she must be concerned that you will choose the wrong one.’
This hardly helped Alora’s blush to disappear. In fact, her face
became even rosier as she tried very hard not to look at Joss,
still grinning like a fool at her shoulder. Isabella touched her
arm fondly. ‘Which I do not believe you will do for a moment. You
have a very good head on your shoulders and an even better heart. I
think you are by far the most sensible girl I have met this
Season.’

‘Really? Aunt Elise says that I am too
impulsive and in need of guidance.’

Isabella had the urge to say something rude
about Alora’s aunt but restrained herself. She had learned some
years since that, while one can loudly deplore ones nearest and
dearest, people became very sensitive if outsiders did so. So she
merely contented herself with the opposite view. ‘I disagree. In
all things, a girl must look to her continuing happiness and
sometimes, only she can know where that may lie. Your aunt
undoubtedly means well, but she cannot know what is best for you in
this.’

Beside her, she felt Harry Carstairs shift a
little. She knew he wanted to say something – probably something
cutting – but the company prevented him. The assembled guests began
to be organized by their charming hostess (for Alora and her aunt
had been the last to arrive), the card tables populated by those
who could not resist Piquet – and Isabella was surprised when Elise
Fortnum sat down at one.

When Alora’s attention had been taken by
several ladies who had felt the need to compliment her on her
dress, Joss bent his head towards Isabella, voice dropping. He
nodded towards his beloved’s aunt. ‘She enjoys cards more than she
enjoys shepherding Alora. I explained my problem to Celia and she
came up with this. An excellent solution, don’t you think?’

Isabella smiled at him. ‘You are a great
deal more cunning than you look, my lord.’

‘He’d need to be,’ Harry observed. He had
joined them in time to hear this remark. ‘For that face is surely
too simple to be genuine.’

‘Oh really?’ Isabella arched an eyebrow. ‘I
think you do his lordship a disservice. Who organized this event?
Who found me seven promising possibilities?’

‘Actually, that was both of us,’ Joss
confessed, ‘you would be amazed just how critical Harry can be.
Why, according to him nobody was good enough. He rejected far more
than he would countenance, let me tell you.’

‘Nonsense,’ Harry retorted, ‘I merely
rejected your more ridiculous suggestions.’

‘The Marquis of Witham?’

‘Too old, too unreliable and too inclined to
fall into trouble. You remember that affair last year with the
Bascombe chit.’

‘Rumors and innuendo. Nothing was
proved.’

‘Not in public, anyway. The last thing Miss
Hathaway needs is a loose fish that can’t keep his misdemeanors
under wraps.’

The earl shook his head wryly. ‘As I said…
you have the crème de la crème, Isabella.’

‘I think I am flattered,’ Isabella murmured.
It was very sweet of Harry Carstairs to have vetoed those he
considered grossly unsuitable and she was grateful for his
thoughtfulness. Actually, he was being kind in other areas as well.
She was grateful that he had not mentioned the presence of Willett
to anybody for she did not need to be the object of anyones
interest. Audrey was keeping to the sidelines with Mama, but
Isabella knew she was watching Lord Proctor like a hawk. Strangely,
Harry did not look pleased to hear Joss mention his efforts on her
behalf. He was frowning slightly, his eyes fixed on the carpet.

‘Well, then,’ Joss said, glancing towards
Miss Piedmont who was still fully occupied. He rubbed his hands
together. ‘Shall we take this opportunity to show you which
gentlemen have been selected for your future husband?’

‘Yes, please.’

Under the guise of examining the
entertainment on offer, the three of them began to wander the room.
She had already seen Arnold Fanshaw and Sir Oswald, but five others
waited for her considered opinion. Having cast her eyes over each
of them – Joss illuminating their virtues while Mr. Carstairs
elaborated on what was wrong with them – Isabella had a far better
understanding of her choices. Surprisingly, they were not nearly as
grim as she had thought although she knew perfectly well that she
would have been unlikely to meet all of these gentlemen in the
normal course of the Season. Having prospective males grouped
together in such a manner made the hunting that much easier.

‘Well?’ Joss murmured when they finally came
to rest. He was quite swollen with pride at his achievements.

As well he might be. Isabella looked around
her thoughtfully. ‘Do you know, I rather like the look of James
Huntingdon? I do not believe I have come across him before.’

‘Oh, good choice. James is an excellent
fellow. He doesn’t turn up at the usual social turnouts – a little
uncomfortable in petticoat company, as a rule – but he’s amiable
enough and has a very decent place in Cumberland.’

‘How delightful. What do you think, Mr.
Carstairs? Does he meet with your approval?’

He was silent for a long moment, then. ‘He’s
all right.’

‘All right?’ Joss said indignantly. ‘Damn it
man, he’s perfect for her. Calm disposition, easy going nature
-’

‘Doesn’t baulk at fences, responses well to
the bit!’ Mr. Carstairs muttered sourly. ‘Yes, he’d do well enough,
I suppose and he’s old enough to be looking for a wife.’ He gave
Isabella a hard look. ‘You could do worse than James Huntingdon.
And now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go and find a
drink.’

Both Isabella and his lordship watched him
walk away, bemused.

‘Now what in the world has gotten him so
bedeviled?’ Joss wondered, taken aback by the abrupt departure.

‘I do not think he likes the way we are
going about this. He seems to find the idea of me picking my way
through available men to be offensive.’

‘I can’t see why. It’s what men do every
time they go to Almacks and cast their eyes over the debutantes
there.’

‘You’ll get no argument from me on the
subject, my lord.’ She allowed that she was a little perplexed by
Harry Carstairs attitude but then, he had her in that unhappy state
much of the time. What a complicated man he was; always stirring
her up. And how she enjoyed their volatile encounters. She
suspected probably a great deal more than she should. ‘You have
done very well by me. And it seems that your relationship with
Alora is progressing nicely?’

‘I think so. Although I live in fear of her
discovering that I’m in need of funds. That kind of thing gets out,
you know and the last thing I want her to believe is that I am
after her for her money like the rest of them.’

‘The money would not, presumably, go astray
however?’ she suggested delicately.

‘The money doesn’t matter a jot. I’ll allow
it did, in the beginning. But I’ve come up with a compromise. If
Alora will have me then I’ll bite the bullet and go to my trustees.
Clear my debt with Gallows Jack -’

‘With
who
?’

‘Fellow I owe money to,’ he said briefly,
‘nasty fellow, wouldn’t recommend starting up an acquaintance. He’s
been leaning on me to repay the funds I owe. Not a great deal, just
a thousand or so,’ he ignored Isabella’s gasp, ‘and when that is
dealt with, then it’s all plain sailing. I do not intend to touch
Alora’s money. Won’t need to anyway. After a twelfth month has
passed, I come into my own.’

She went over this, trying to follow it. She
knew that Joss owed money but the amount made her feel weak-kneed.
How much had Papa owed? And how desperate must he have felt when he
could not see a way out? There had been a small kernel of anger,
buried deep within her grief for the shabby way Gideon Hathaway had
ended his life, leaving his family to cope by themselves. But she
was beginning to see that desperation could far outweigh reason in
matters of survival. Was she herself not shopping for a husband to
take care of her family’s problems?

‘And your trustees will agree to fund
you?’

‘They’ll be delighted if they think I’ve
snagged such a catch. They’ve been expecting me to get shackled to
an opera singer since I brought Maria del Lucia back to Suffolk for
a week. Mind you,’ he added wryly, ‘I’ll have to listen to them
prosing on at me about what a wastrel I am, but now that Alora is
around it seems that I’m not so adverse to listening as I was.’

‘I see.’ She didn’t, really but the thought
processes of young gentlemen often left her confused. Why he didn’t
just go to these trustees and arrange for enough funds to dispose
of this Gallows Jack person was beyond her but she suspected there
was no point in asking. ‘As soon as Miss Fortnum takes a break from
cards, I might try and engage her in conversation. I cannot help
but wonder why she is so set against you.’

‘Nor can I,’ Joss agreed, looking all at
once aggrieved. ‘If she were keen, I would probably offer for Alora
tomorrow but I am scared she will throw some obstacle up that will
put the clappers on things. Do you think you can find out
anything?’

‘I can but try.’ She touched his arm
lightly. ‘Leave it to me.’

And she sallied forth, determined to ignore
her urge to speculate about Harry Carstairs peculiar behavior and
focus on the job at hand. Securing Alora Piedmont for Joss and
selecting a suitable husband for herself.

Chapter Nine

The next hour proved somewhat testing for
Isabella. She was determined to talk to Alora’s aunt while at the
same time, avoid any meeting with Lord Proctor. Luck had favored
her in that he had yet to lay eyes on her. He seemed to be
frequently engaged in conversations on the opposite side of the
room and Isabella could only thank her lucky stars that it was
so.

She could only cope with one hurdle at a
time.

Having a conversation with Elise Fortnum
proved to be easier than she had thought it might be. A buffet had
been laid out, a selection of hot and cold food that in no way
impeded upon the entertainment, but still allowed guests to enjoy
the refreshments when they wished to. Fortunately Miss Fortnum
enjoyed food almost as much as she enjoyed Piquet for she rose at
the completion of a hand to gather some tasty morsels to sustain
her, thereby giving Isabella the opportunity she was looking for.
Observing the lady move towards the buffet, Isabella herself moved
forward casually and stepped up to the table beside her.

Miss Fortnum gave her a nod and a smile,
which were returned promptly.

Isabella opted for ingenuous. ‘Isn’t this a
delightful party? I have never been to a card party before.’

‘Oh, they are quite the mode at the moment,’
Miss Fortnum returned, ‘and I must say, Lady Bromely always puts
out an excellent spread.’

She did indeed, for the tables were groaning
with everything from whole lobsters to tiny, braised quails with
herbed garnish. Fruits, platters of meats, sweetbreads and syllabub
were to be found in plenty, along with pitchers of chilled lemonade
and ratafia, brandied apricots floating in cream custard and an
array of vegetable dishes designed to be eaten easily with the
fingers.

‘One hardly knows where to start,’ Isabella
murmured, picking up a napkin, along with a plate and a fork. Miss
Fortnum had no such issues and was piling her own plate high with
all manner of things. Isabella seized a few random morsels,
determined to follow the woman when she went to eat, while keeping
a wary eye out for Willett.

‘Have you seen Alora? I seem to have lost
sight of her.’ Elise Fortnum asked vaguely, looking around.

‘I believe she was talking
to my mother a few moments ago,’ Isabella assured her quickly.
Mama
and
the Earl
of Stornley, but there was no need to supply unnecessary details.
‘Mama so likes your niece, Miss Fortnum. She is always singing her
praises after they meet.’

Happily, this was just the right thing to
say and was enough to satisfy Miss Fortnum who, plate full, moved
off to find a place to sit and enjoy her feast. Isabella followed
with determination and they took seats next to each other in the
corner.

‘I hope you do not mind me joining you?’

‘Not at all,’ Miss Fortnum returned
graciously, slipping a piece of chicken into her mouth.

‘I do think this is
a
very
pleasant
gathering. Have you met Lady Bromely a great deal?’

‘Not a lot but she’s
good
ton
,’ Miss
Fortnum replied, breaking open a lobster’s leg and raising it to
her mouth to suck out the meat. Isabella averted her eyes, made
rather queasy by the sight. Miss Fortnum had thick, somewhat
rubbery lips that seemed perfect for securing food. A little
too
perfect, really. She
picked up a strawberry and bit into it. ‘You must be very happy
with the way Alora’s debut has gone,’ she said cheerfully. ‘She is
so popular. Not at all surprising. She has such a delightful
disposition to go with that lovely face.’