`No.'
`Then what in the world is the use of thinking of such a thing?' she demanded crossly.
`I am not thinking of it. I would sooner kidnap the girl.'
`Max!' exclaimed his aunt, as an unwelcome thought entered her brain. `Do not tell me that she has got you under her odious spell!'
`You may rest perfectly at ease on that score, ma'am,' he said harshly. `I do not recall when I have met any woman who I disliked more!'
She was relieved in a slight measure, but said: `Do you think her determined to marry my unfortunate boy?'
`I am not sure. It may well be that she is trying to frighten us into offering her more money. Adrian's birthday is all too close at hand, and she knows it. Her behaviour in coming into the open points that way.'
`We shall have to give her whatever she asks,' said Lady Mablethorpe gloomily.
`I have already offered her twenty thousand,' he said, in a curt tone.
Her ladyship changed colour. `Twenty thousand! Are you mad? The estate can never stand it!'
'Don't alarm yourself!' he said ironically. `I was not proposing to pledge Adrian's fortune.'
She stared at him, quite astonished. `Well, I must say, Max, I never looked for such generosity from you! I am very grateful, I assure you, but-'
`You have nothing to thank me for,' he interrupted. `She refused.'
`She must be out of her senses!’
'I know nothing of that, but she has certainly mistaken her man.'
She moved restlessly in her chair. `I wish I might see the woman!’
His lips curled. `So you may, if you care to accompany us to Vauxhall tomorrow. Adrian is to take her there, to the ridotto.'
`Flaunting him in the eyes of the world!' she cried indignantly.
`Precisely. Or in my eyes: I cannot be certain which.'
She got up with an air of resolution. `Well, I will go with you. I dare say Olivia will be glad to let me take her place. Perhaps my deluded boy may be brought to a sense of his folly if he sees his mother when he has that creature on his arm!'
`I hope he may,' responded Ravenscar. `I would not myself be willing to hazard a penny on it, however.'
CHAPTER 7
Lady Bellingham’s emotions when she beheld her niece on the following evening threatened for a moment or two to overcome her. She could only stare at her with horrified eyes, and open and shut her mouth in an ineffective way.
Miss Grantham had come into her dressing-room to borrow her rouge-pot, and some patches. The vive bergere dress had always been arresting, for its green stripes were quite an inch broad, but until its owner had embellished it with knots of coquelicot ribbons it had been quite unexceptionable. It was amazing, thought poor Lady Bellingham, what a difference a few yards of ribbon could make! But even those shocking ribbons faded into insignificance beside the atrocity which Deborah had chosen to pin on to her elaborate coiffure. Fascinated, Lady Bellingham blinked at those three upstanding plumes, springing from a bed of gauze, and ribbon, and lace.
`I should like,' said Miss Grantham blandly, `to borrow your garnets, Aunt Lizzie, if you please.'
Lady Bellingham found her voice. 'Garnets? With that dress? You cannot! Deb, for the love of heaven!’
'They are just what I need,' said Deborah, going to the dressing-table, and opening the jewel-casket that stood on it. `You'll see!’
Lady Bellingham covered her eyes with her hand. `I don't want to see!’ she said. `You look - you look like some dreadful creature from the stage!’
`Yes, I think I do too,' replied her niece, apparently pleased. `Oh, do but look, aunt! Nothing could be more vulgar!'
Lady Bellingham permitted herself one glance at the garnets flashing round Deborah's throat, and in the lobes of her ears, and gave a groan. `You cannot mean to go out looking such a figure of fun. I implore you, Deb, take off that shocking head!’
'Not for the world!’ said Deborah, clasping a couple of bracelets round her wrists. `But I must paint my face a little, and put on just one patch.'
`No one wears patches now!’ protested her aunt. `Oh, Deb, what are you about? And why did you have your hair powdered, pray? It makes you look thirty years old at least! For heaven's sake, child, if you must wear a patch let it be a small one, not that great vulgar thing!’
Miss Grantham gave a gurgle of laughter, and stood back to survey her image in the mirror. `Dear Aunt Lizzie, I told you that I was going to be vulgar! I look famous!’
`Deb!’ said her aunt, in anguished accents. `Do but think of that poor young Mablethorpe! How can you be so unfeeling as to go out in his company looking so odd? He will very likely be ready to sink into the ground!’
'I dare say he will notice nothing amiss,' said Miss Grantham optimistically. `And if he does, it won't signify.'
Lord Mablethorpe was in a condition when he might have been expected to be blind to any shortcomings in the dress of his adored Deborah, but not even his infatuation was strong enough to make him oblivious of that astonishing head. It obtruded itself upon his notice at the outset, since it seriously impeded Miss Grantham's entrance to the carriage which was to carry them to Westminster. She was obliged to duck her head as low as she could to get through the door, and when she sat down on the seat, the feathers brushed against the roof of the carriage. Lord Mablethorpe cast them a doubtful glance, but was too respectful to make any comment.
They took sculls at Westminster, to carry them across the river, and that nothing should be wanting to add to Miss Grantham's pleasure, and give consequence to the expedition, his lordship had lavishly arranged for a boat of French horns to attend them. Miss Grantham was touched by this boyish piece of extravagance, but could not help laughing a little.
Vauxhall Gardens, which were enjoying a run of extreme popularity, were soon reached. It was a very fine autumn evening, but although there was still daylight the walks and the alleys were already lit by a quantity of lanterns, and lamps burning in innumerable golden globes. Lord Mablethorpe piloted Miss Grantham towards the centre of the pleasure gardens where, in a large, open space, a number of booths, or boxes, for refreshment were arranged in two wide semi-circles. The booths presented a festive appearance, being well-lit, and adorned with gay paintings on their backs. In the middle of the open space an orchestra was playing, and couples strolling about to meet and greet acquaintances, or to show off smart toilettes. Dancing was going forward in the big rotunda near at hand, and at a more advanced hour in the evening a Firework Display was promised.
The booth which Mablethorpe had hired for the night being reached, it was found that Mr Kennet and his fair partner had already arrived there, and were enjoying a somewhat noisy flirtation. One glance informed Miss Grantham that Mrs Patch was all that she had hoped. She was an improbable blonde of uncertain years, with a very much painted face, a singularly penetrating voice, and a laugh which made Mablethorpe wince. Lucius Kennet called her Clara, and seemed to be on terms of the greatest familiarity with her. He was engaged in taking snuff from her dimpled wrist when Deborah and his host joined them, and as he turned to greet the newcomers he winked once, very broadly, at Deborah.
Mrs Patch, upon being made known to Adrian, treated him with a kind of arch flattery that quite set Deborah's teeth on edge. If his lordship were momentarily taken aback by the company in which he found himself, he was far too well-bred to betray it, and at once did his best to fall in with Mrs Patch's notions of convivial behaviour. He succeeded well enough to make her hide her supposed blushes behind her fan, rap him playfully over the knuckles with it, and declare that she vowed he was the wickedest creature alive.
Under cover of this raillery, Deborah said in an awed voice to Kennet: `Good God, Lucius, where did you find such a person?’
He removed her cloak from her shoulders. `Why, isn't she what you told me you wanted, me dear? And me thinking I'd hit upon the very thing!'
Her lips twitched. `Indeed, she could not be better! But how shabby it is of us to subje
ct that poor boy to such vulgarity!’
Mr Kennet, who had had time to assimilate the full glory of Miss Grantham's dress, gave vent to one of his low whistles. He eyed her with considerable respect. `If it's vulgarity you're talking of, me darlin'-'
She bit back a laugh. `I know, I know! Poor Aunt Lizzie is in despair. Tell me, is Ravenscar here? Have you seen him?'
`No, but we shall have the best view of him, and he of us, God help him! For I've prowled round the booths, and found his card on the door of that empty box over there. There's little he will miss, I'm thinking.'
`Good!' said Deborah, moving forward to the front of the booth.
The green stripes, now first seen by Lord Mablethorpe, hit him most forcibly in the eye, and almost caused him to change colour. He was too inexperienced in the niceties of female fashions to think his Deborah's dress vulgar, but he did wish that she had chosen a more sober combination of colours than grass-green and coquelicot. He did not think, either, that the dusting of powder on her hair became her very well. It made her look old, almost like a stranger; while the over-large patch at the corner of her mouth he did not admire at all. As for the feathers in her headdress, he supposed, vaguely, that they must be quite the thing, but he could not help wishing that she had worn her hair simply dressed, in the way she was accustomed to.
He asked her if she would like to go into the pavilion to dance, but she declined, saying that it was more amusing to watch the crowd passing and repassing the box. So he pulled a chair forward for her, and established himself at her elbow, while Lucius Kennet took Mrs Patch to stroll about the grounds, and to see the waterworks.
There were quite a number of fashionable people parading about the gardens, and Miss Grantham soon recognized most of the habitants of her aunt's house. The boxes began to fill up, and presently, in the one beside Ravenscar's, she observed Sir James Filey, gorgeous in a coat of puce brocade, and leaning over a chair in which a scared-looking child with pale golden ringlets and forget-me-not blue eyes sat bolt upright, clutching a fan between her mittened hands.
The child, who was as pretty as a picture, Miss Grantham saw, could not have been more than eighteen or nineteen, and to watch a roue of Filey's years and experience leering down at her made Miss Grantham long to be able to box his ears, and send him to the right-about. There was a formidable dowager in the booth, who seemed to look upon Filey's advances with an approving eye; a harassed-looking man with a peevishly pursed mouth, who might be her husband; a young woman, whom Miss Grantham judged to be the pretty child's sister; and a stout, middle-aged man with a dull face, and an air of consequence.
Miss Grantham directed Lord Mablethorpe's attention to this party, and asked him if he knew who the child was. He did not, but after glancing at the dowager, he said: `Oh, she must be one of the Laxton girls! That's Lady Laxton, horrid old wretch! Laxton, too. I suppose the other lady to be the eldest daughter. She was married last year to some nabob or other. My mother says Lady Laxton don't care whom she married them to as long as there's money. Poor as church mice, the Laxtons. I know the two sons slightly. I believe there are five daughters.'
`That is certainly a cross for any mother to bear, but I hope she does not mean to marry that poor child to Filey. Do but see how frightened the little thing looks! I wish I sat in her place! She is no match for him!’
He laughed. 'No! You would soon send him about his business! I have heard you give some famous set-downs.’
As he spoke, the door leading into Ravenscar's box was opened, and he saw his mother enter it, closely followed by Arabella and Ravenscar. He exclaimed: `Good God, there is my mother! I had no notion she was to be here! She said nothing of it to me. I suppose Aunt Olivia has the spasms again, and would not come. Look, Deb! That is Arabella: isn't she a rogue?'
He waved to the party, trying to attract their attention, but although Ravenscar perceived him, and returned the salutation, Lady Mablethorpe was too busy directing one of the waiters where to place her chair, and when to serve supper, to pay any heed. But Arabella saw her cousin, and at once blew him an airy kiss. Miss Grantham thought that Arabella was rather a sweet little creature, and wondered that Adrian's fancy should have alighted on a woman five years his senior when such a charming and eligible cousin stood ready, surely, to be fallen in love with.
Adrian turned to her. `Deb, I want to take you over, and make you known to my mother! Do please come!’
'Certainly!' replied Deborah, rising from her chair and shaking out her full skirts.
Mr Ravenscar, meanwhile, had enjoyed only the briefest glimpse of her. This had sufficed to make him acutely aware of her headdress, but it was not until he saw her approaching the front of his box on Adrian's arm that he had the opportunity of taking in the full enormity of the green stripes, poppy-red ribbons, and crimson garnets. He was not a man who wasted much thought on female dress, but the difference between Miss Grantham's appearance tonight and her appearance on the previous two occasions when he had been in her company struck him most forcibly. He had, in fact, thought her a woman of taste, so he was a good deal astonished at the flamboyance of her attire. Recalling that he had told his aunt that Miss Grantham was not vulgar, he touched her arm, saying somewhat grimly: `You had better be prepared to meet your future daughter-in-law, ma'am. Adrian is bringing her towards the box now.'
Lady Mablethorpe looked round immediately, and stiffened in outraged dismay at the approaching vision. She had no time to do more than throw one fulminating glance at her nephew before Adrian was leaning over the front of the box to shake hands with Arabella, saying: `I am so glad to see you again! I had meant to call in Grosvenor Square
this morning, but something happened to prevent me. Mama, I did not know you meant to come here tonight! I have brought Deb over to see you!'
The affronted matron bowed slightly, and said in frigid tones that she was happy to make Miss Grantham's acquaintance. Miss Grantham, to the uneasy surprise of her betrothed, simpered, and turned away her head, and uttered a memorable speech.
`Oh, la, ma'am - your ladyship, I should say! - I am sure you are monstrous good to say so! I declare I am quite of a tremble to be standing in front of one who is to be my Mama-in-law! But Adrian would have me come across to speak to you, and I thought to myself, Well, I thought, if it must be, let it be at once, for I was always one to rush upon my fate, as the saying is! But there! I am sure we shall deal extremely, after all.'
`Indeed!’ said Lady Mablethorpe icily.
`Oh, la, yes, ma'am! I made sure you was a dragon, and my knees quite knocked together when Adrian said you was here, but I vow and declare the instant I clapped eyes on you I knew I should love you as though you were my own Mama! And then the affability with which you said you was happy to meet me - la, I'm sure I never looked for such a degree of condescension in one so far above me!’
A muscle twitched at the corner of Mr Ravenscar's mouth. Nothing could exceed his dislike of Miss Grantham, but he had a sense of humour, and was hard put to it not to burst out laughing. If her object were to convince Lady Mablethorpe that no price would be too high to pay to rescue her son from such a woman as herself, it would certainly succeed, for her ladyship's face was rigid with disgust, and she could barely bring herself to answer with at least a semblance of civility.
Arabella, meanwhile, was watching Miss Grantham in the liveliest astonishment. `Good gracious, are you going to marry Adrian?' she exclaimed, with that impetuosity so much regretted by her mother. `No one said a word about it to me!’
Miss Grantham recollected Mrs Patch's arch use of a fan, and unfurled her own, and hid behind it. `Oh, I protest, Miss Ravenscar! You must spare my blushes I'
`But are you?' asked Arabella.
`That will do, child!’ said her aunt.
`Of course she is going to marry me!' Adrian declared stoutly. `Won't you wish us happy?’
'Yes, indeed I do,' Arabella responded, with a doubtful look at Miss Grantham. `I wish you very happy!’
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'Adrian!' said his parent, in majestic tones. `I should like to talk to Miss Grantham. Do you take your cousin to dance while she sits with me for half-an-hour!’
Lord Mablethorpe, hoping that the extraordinary manners which Miss Grantham had assumed upon being presented to his mother had their origin in nervousness which would wear off as the two ladies became better acquainted, readily agreed to this suggestion, and said that he would bring Miss Grantham round to the door of the box. Miss Grantham giggled, and said that it seemed absurd to be obliged to go round to the back of the booths when she was sure she could jump over the low wall in front, if only Adrian would give her his hand. Then she said that she supposed that she would have to learn to behave respectably since she was to become a’ Viscountess, and consented to be led round to the back of the boxes.
When she made her entrance, in the correct manner, Mr Ravenscar left the booth. He would try a fall with her himself before very long and enjoy doing it, but it was no part of his plan to join his aunt in whatever scheme she might have in mind for the discomfiture of the minx.
He returned to the box a few minutes before Adrian le Arabella back to it. One glance at the two ladies was enough to assure him that it was not Miss Grantham who had suffered discomfiture. Lady Mablethorpe was looking crushed, and the glance she cast up at her nephew was one of pathetic entreaty.
She had sustained the most shattering half-hour of her ]if She had subjected Miss Grantham to a catechism which had been intended to show that young woman how very far she stood from Adrian, and how very uncomfortable she would feel in Polite Society. It had apparently failed in this laudable object. Miss Grantham had replied with the greatest readiness and the most appalling frankness, to all the searching question put to her. She had remained throughout wholly oblivious c the most patent disapproval. She had been voluble, expansive, and shockingly vulgar; had confessed to a passion for all form of gaming; described in quite imaginary detail the events c several horse-races she said she had attended; and expressed desire to set up a select faro-bank in Brook Street. She had also ogled several bucks who had strolled past the box, and had claimed intimate acquaintance with three of the most notorious rakes in town. Her ladyship felt herself to be passing through a nightmare, and hailed the return of her nephew wit heartfelt relief. Miss Grantham assured him that she and Lad Mablethorpe were now the greatest of friends.