Читать книгу Regency High Society Vol 1: A Hasty Betrothal / A Scandalous Marriage / The Count's Charade / The Rake and the Rebel - Mary Brendan - Страница 11

The August evening was warm and still. Judith had thrown open the doors of her largest drawing-room to allow her guests to walk on the rear terrace, should they desire to take the air. She had also arranged for the carpets to be taken up, determined to encourage ‘a little dancing’ in spite of Lady Butler’s sighing disapproval.

Groups were already assembling around the room when the Beldale party was announced. Conversation ceased as all heads turned to scrutinise Sandford’s betrothed and more than one hopeful mother of unwed daughters heaved a sigh of regret at the charming picture that Harriet presented.

About a dozen families had accepted Judith’s invitation and Harriet was quickly presented to the most senior of these, amongst whom were the local vicar, the Reverend John Taylor, with his very pleasant wife and two daughters, and Squire Bevans accompanied by his prodigious family. Also present were the earl’s family physician, Sir Basil Lambert, along with his wife Patricia and their son Cedric. This youngster considered himself a very bang-up, dashing man-about-town and lost no time in claiming Harriet for one of the sets, which started a minor flurry as other young men jostled to be included in her favours, and Sandford found himself having to take a back seat during these proceedings.

‘Making quite a mark, dear coz,’ came Ridgeway’s amused voice next to him. ‘Trust you to win such a prize. Every man in the room is full of envy.’

Sandford forced a smile. He had been studying Harriet’s bright and animated expression and wondered how it was that he always seemed to manage to quench her natural liveliness. Other young ladies of his acquaintance had always conducted themselves with elegant composure and dignity, but this one seemed to have little respect for convention—even laughed at it—and yet everyone was drawn to her. His father was obviously entranced and his mother adored her and yet he, himself, constantly found fault with her and could not explain the sometimes violent irritation she aroused within him—especially at this moment, surrounded as she was by laughing admirers.

Harriet lifted her eyes and caught his frown and her eager expression vanished as she excused herself from her court and came at once to his side, acknowledging Ridgeway with a polite and conventional smile while Sandford inwardly cursed himself.

‘Oh, I see Eugenie is here,’ said Lady Caroline, taking Harriet’s arm. ‘Do come and meet her, my dear. Charles, do your duty.’

Ridgeway bowed to his aunt and presented Harriet to his mother. Again that lively look of real interest appeared on Harriet’s face and in no time at all she was deep in friendly conversation with the earl’s sister as the countess brought Lady Eugenie up to date with Beldale’s progress. Harriet had been as fascinated by Sandford’s aunt’s history as Lady Eugenie quickly became with hers and they were soon immersed in a cheerful debate concerning some charitable organisation or other with which Lady Eugenie was involved.

Sandford, all at once discovering a growing hatred of himself, interrupted their laughing exchanges to point out to Harriet that he supposed the company might expect them to dance together at least once. She handed him her card and invited him to take his pick.

‘Not a lot of choice, I see,’ he said, scribbling his initials in the few blanks that remained. He desperately wanted to tell her how lovely she looked and to compliment her on her success but, realising that he had missed the moment, could think of nothing that sounded neither flippant nor contrived. ‘I shall take you in to supper, of course.’

‘Of course, my lord,’ she replied, without enthusiasm.

He hesitated and was about to begin his speech when one of her young admirers arrived to claim her for the reel that was presently assembling.

Harriet threw herself into the dance with relief, skipping around the circle, changing partners as the movement required and clapping her hands in time to the sprightly tune being executed on the piano by Lady Eugenie, who had been happily persuaded to perform that task.

Judith, looking radiant in her ruby silk gown, mingled gracefully with her guests, ensuring that no one was ignored or left without a partner for a set. She was sad that Philip was not with her to enjoy the success of his brother’s betrothal party, but equally determined that she would not shun society because she had been widowed. She had the children’s future to consider and knew that Philip would want her to see that they grew up with the same standards and expectations that he would have given them. He himself had not been fond of high-society occasions but had always entered wholeheartedly into the many country dances and musical evenings which had been held at Westpark and Judith was delighted to find that she had not lost her touch.

His vigilant sister-in-law had paired Sandford off withone of the vicar’s daughters, still in the schoolroom, and it required all of his social skills to put the girl at her ease and to rescue her from her many foot-faults. When he was finally able to return her to her parents, having brushed away her stumbling apologies with a melting smile, he looked about the room for Harriet and, as he could not immediately locate her, he strolled outside along the terrace, fearful of being collared once more by his zealous hostess.

Couples were forming for the next set and Harriet had promised this to Charles Ridgeway but, finding herself slightly out of breath from the Circassian Circle she had just thrown herself into, she begged him to take her outside for some air instead. Laughing, he admitted that he was not the most practised of dancers and would be glad of the respite himself.

Lady Caroline, holding court beside the doors, waved to them as they went through and Harriet was embarrassed to overhear her own virtues being extolled at some length as Ridgeway led her down the terrace steps into the garden.

‘—even won Cook over by begging to be taught to make almond tartlets and three hours later I discovered her sitting on the table regaling the entire kitchen staff with her tales!’ This was received with peals of delighted laughter from most of her ladyship’s listeners, but one or two ladies raised their eyebrows at one another.

Harriet glanced up at Ridgeway. ‘I suppose I shouldn’t have done that?’ she said mournfully.

Charles laughed. ‘Why not? You are something of an original, to be sure. Robert must be delighted that you have everyone’s admiration.’

His own eyes travelled across the room to where Judith Hurst was standing. ‘Not that he would care if they took you in deep dislike, I’ll be bound,’ he continued, absent-mindedly.

‘Does she know that you’re in love with her?’ Harriet asked bluntly.

With a shocked expression, Ridgeway swung to face her. ‘What are you saying?’ he said, as a dull flush crept up his cheeks.

‘Well, it is pretty obvious,’ said Harriet cheerfully, motioning him to the seat at the foot of the steps. ‘You never take your eyes off her. She speaks very highly of you, you know.’

‘As her estate manager,’ Charles said bitterly. ‘What could I possibly offer her? She even pays my salary!’ Involuntarily his eyes homed in to their target once more and his shoulders slumped. ‘I should leave,’ he said. ‘I have tried, but I cannot.’

Harriet put her hand on his sleeve. She was desperately sorry for him, realising how keenly he felt the hopelessness of his situation.

‘Judith is still young and so beautiful,’ she said awkwardly, ‘but she is also very lonely and she still has a lot of love to give—someone. Why should it not be you? Do you mean to stand by and watch her turn into an embittered old harpy like—well, you know …’ She bit her lip and looked around anxiously.

Ridgeway burst out laughing and his eyes suddenly gleamed with a newfound confidence as he stared at Harriet curiously. ‘How did one so young come to be so astute?’ he asked.

‘Well, I’ve hardly had the conventional sheltered upbringing,’ Harriet answered dismissively. ‘I’ve mixed with people from many different walks of life, which I believe has helped me to appreciate other points of view. I have always been interested in people and—well—travel is supposed to broaden the mind,’ she laughed. ‘Isn’t that why young men were sent on the Grand Tour?’

Ridgeway’s eyes crinkled appreciatively. ‘I missed that myself, as a matter of fact,’ he said. ‘So I suppose you must consider my mind to be on the narrow side, since London and the Lake District are the furthest reaches of my travels!’

Harriet flicked his hand with her fan. ‘You know perfectly well that is not what I meant and just for that I shall oblige you to stand up with me for the next dance. So, kindly do your duty, sir, and lead me to my place.’

Laughing together, they re-entered the room and joined the set that was presently forming, Ridgeway carefully ensuring that he positioned them as close as possible to Judith and her partner, young Cedric Lambert, and, as Lady Eugenie struck the first chord, Sandford arrived back just in time to see his betrothed swing into the steps of the dance which he had selected as his.

A hot anger filled his throat as he watched Harriet’s laughing interchanges with the other members of her set and, turning away, his fury was such that he was obliged to sit down to control his breathing. Unfortunately, he chose the seat next to Lady Butler’s.

‘Without a partner, my lord? Your little miss is quite the little honey-pot, I see.’ Her voice held its customary disapproval. ‘She is no doubt used to being the apple of all the men’s eyes.’

Sandford’s eyes glittered in distaste. ‘What makes you think that?’ he asked carefully.

‘Oh, I see how she tosses her head at them all—it is but a come-on—I was used to do it myself, of course, as a girl—I was much admired. She will have had plenty of practice with the military, I’ll be bound, and without such chaperonage as is considered de rigueur in our own society. Certain young women nowadays do seem to have the most perfidious disregard for convention, as I am sure you have found. However, I must admit to a certain surprise that you allowed your own betrothed to disappear into the garden with one of her recent conquests—and for so long!’

Sandford rose to his feet and bowed stiffly. ‘I cannot say that I have much experience of young women’s ways, ma’am,’ he ground out between clenched teeth. ‘And, since it appears we are about to go in for supper, I am sure you will excuse me if I now make a push to collect my own young lady before she bestows that singular honour on one of her many conquests!’

‘Your loyalty does you credit and is most touching, I’m sure,’ sniffed Lady Butler, also rising heavily to her feet. ‘I suppose I must see to my own repast, as usual.’

She waited expectantly for Sandford to offer his arm but he, still seething with indignation, ignored both her remark and her person and turned swiftly away from her just in time to see a smiling Ridgeway leading Harriet towards him.

‘Apologies, Sandford,’ said his cousin cheerfully. ‘I appear to have stolen your dance—Miss Cordell seems to have misread her card—not going to call me out, I trust?’

Sandford swallowed. He had been about to take Harriet to task, but had no quarrel with Charles. He doubted that Harriet had misread her dance-card, for she had made it perfectly clear that she did not care to dance with him. He gave Ridgeway a mock punch in the arm and said, with forced gaiety, ‘Pistols at dawn, I should think—I trust you’re as much out of practice as I am?’

Ridgeway returned the punch and laughed. ‘Quite right, coz. Guard her with your life—she’s a pearl beyond price!’ He smiled down at Harriet. ‘Thank you, dear lady—I think I know what to do now.’

Sandford frowned as he watched his cousin walk away. ‘What was that supposed to mean?’ he asked suspiciously.

‘Oh, nothing,’ countered Harriet quickly, not wishing to divulge Ridgeway’s confidences. ‘I’m truly sorry about the dance mix-up—shall we go in to supper? I see Lady Caroline beckoning us.’

The viscount led her to his mother’s table, where the countess and Lady Eugenie were exchanging reminiscences.

‘Harriet, my dear. Do join us.’ Lady Caroline patted the seat next to her. ‘Robert and Charles will fetch us our supper.’

She smiled at her son, who battled his way through the crowd to find Ridgeway already at the supper table collecting a plateful of sweetmeats and comfits.

Charles glanced at his cousin and grimaced. ‘Can’t stand these things meself,’ he said. ‘No substance to any of ‘em.’

Sandford laughed, nodding. ‘A good beef sandwich would suit me—and a tankard of decent ale.’ He looked around. ‘I suppose it’s Madeira or Portuguese for us, as

usual?’

Ridgeway pointed to the decanters. ‘Brandy too, I see. I wonder how Judith managed to slip that past her ladyship?’ Laughing, he made his way back through the throng to his table.

Sandford tossed back one large glass of brandy and indicated to the footman to pour him another. Thus fortified, he collected his glasses of lemonade and delivered them to the ladies who were still discussing the dances.

‘Not nearly so graceful as the minuets,’ Lady Caroline was saying, ‘but a good deal more lively. The young ones look so merry. We always had to be so serious, for the steps were quite intricate, you know.’

‘The country tunes are so cheerful, too,’ agreed Lady Eugenie. ‘Mrs Brewster brought me some new ones from London—and some German waltzes, too. I have been practising all week for this evening.’

Sandford’s eyes lit up at her words. ‘You play the waltz,

Aunt Eugenie?’ he asked, the germ of an idea stirring in his mind.

Lady Eugenie nodded, and then shook her head doubtfully. ‘Judith’s mother will never allow it,’ she said. ‘I understand it is still considered rather risqué.’

Sandford, now in a very mellow mood, laughed. ‘Not at a private party, surely?’ he asked. ‘And with such doughty chaperons present? I shall speak to Judith myself—come along, Charles, let us petition her together.’

Ridgeway glanced at his cousin curiously as they sought out their hostess. ‘What are you up to, Sandford?’ he asked. ‘Lady Butler won’t be at all amused, you know.’

Sandford stopped and whirled round to face him, his face flushed and his eyes bright. ‘Dammit, man!’ he said angrily. ‘This is Judith’s house, and she will decide. What’s more—if I want to waltz with my fiancée, I defy anyone to stop me!’

Charles put his hand on Sandford’s arm. ‘Steady on, dear boy,’ he said quietly. ‘Surely you cannot be foxed? Judith will not appreciate your making a scene, you know.’

Sandford hesitated. It was true that the strong spirit might have somewhat impaired his judgement, but it had been the exhilarating thought of whirling Harriet around the room that was responsible for the sudden rush of blood to his head. He took a deep breath and flashed a conspiratorial grin at his cousin.

‘Ne’er a bit, Charles’, he said. ‘Just thought to liven things up a touch. Wouldn’t you like to waltz with Judith?’

Ridgeway reddened and looked away. ‘Not sure I’d know how,’ he said diffidently. ‘Not been much of a one for dancing.’

‘This one is different. Your feet will soon tell you, once the music starts, I promise you. Come on, let’s ask the lady.’ They found their hostess collecting couples for the first after-supper dance and soon discovered that, after all, she needed little persuasion. Her party was an assured success and, as the guests consisted entirely of family and friends, she felt sure that it was highly unlikely anyone would take exception to this little divertissement.

‘Apart from your mother, of course,’ pointed out Sandford basely.

Judith pulled a face at him. ‘You need not remind me, dear brother,’ she said. ‘However, Mama will not make a fuss until everyone has left, so do let’s—it will be the perfect finish to our assembly!’

Since this had been his lordship’s intention, he merely grinned and nudged his cousin who, catching some of Judith’s excitement, had grasped her by the hand.

‘Will you do me the honour, Judith?’ he said breathlessly. ‘I can’t promise expertise, but I will do my best.’

Judith looked up at him in surprised delight and found herself blushing. ‘Thank you, Charles,’ she said almost shyly. ‘It will be my pleasure.’

As soon as the last chord of the eightsome reel had died away, Judith clapped her hands to gain everyone’s attention. She then announced that the very last dance of the evening was to be a waltz and that anyone who wished to try out this new dance was very welcome to take the floor. There was a gasp of excitement from the younger members of the local gentry, most of whom had undergone tortuous instruction from Monsieur Lavette, the local dancing master, but few of whom had ever expected to put their dubious skills into action quite so soon. There was a feverish rush of brothers seeking out the sisters who had been their usual partners when Monsieur had attended them for their weekly lessons and a hasty consultation with parents by those without convenient siblings.

The reels and sets that followed Judith’s announcement

were danced with an undercurrent of anticipation. Few of the older guests had actually seen the waltz performed but they were, for the most part, level-headed country folk who liked to make up their own minds about such things and who felt that there were enough chaperons amongst them to curb any excessive behaviour that their offspring might exhibit.

Sandford found that the sets he had secured with Harriet were rather unsatisfactory, insofar as conversation was concerned, and the ‘grand chaining’ that formed part of the movements meant that he was forever having to change partners. No wonder no one else had initialled them, he thought savagely, as he led yet another schoolgirl under the arches of raised arms.

Eventually he had his moment as they stood together once again waiting their turn to ‘strip the willow’ and, looking down at her bright and laughing face he said in a low voice, ‘You will waltz with me, Miss Cordell.’

‘Oh, no! I don’t think so, thank you, my lord,’ she said, flushing momentarily.

‘You misunderstand,’ he said shortly. ‘You will waltz with me!’

Startled, Harriet looked up at him in dismay, but was swung away down the set by her new partner before she could formulate a reply. She completed the rest of the movements in a stunned rage, causing at least one of her young admirers to wonder in what way he had offended her that she should look so crossly at him.

At last the floor was cleared and Lady Eugenie struck a new chord. The first notes of the stirring music were played and there were a few suppressed giggles as the floor remained empty while the local blades dug their friends in the ribs to spur them into action. Their movements were stilled as Sandford led his new betrothed into the middle of the floor.

Placing his right hand firmly on her waist, he pulled her towards him and clasped her hand in his. Holding her breath, she raised her free hand to his shoulder, trembling as she felt herself propelled backwards. Moving together as one, they swung across the floor in time to the compelling beat of the music and all eyes were upon them as Sandford neatly executed a reverse turn at the corner of the room. There came a ripple of applause and Dick Bevans, the squire’s youngest son, grabbed his sister by the hand and dragged her on to the floor, to the accompanying cheers of his friends, who quickly found their own partners and joined them.

As the floor became more crowded, Sandford skilfully guided Harriet around the less-practised pairs. So smooth were his steps and the pressure of his hands was so confidently in command of her body that she began to feel quite heady, as though she were skimming across a frozen lake. She had waltzed several times before, at the winter headquarters in Lisbon, but never with such an expert. She glanced up at his face, which was curiously expressionless, his eyes carefully anticipating unexpected manoeuvres from all sides. Like a general going into battle, she thought suddenly and choked back her laughter in a hiccough.

He looked down at her in concern and almost missed his step. The laughter brimmed into her eyes as her lips curved in a wide smile.

‘You don’t seem to be enjoying this much, my lord,’ she challenged him. ‘In fact, onlookers might suppose that you were undergoing some sort of penance.’

The viscount studied her animated face and sighed. ‘My apologies,’ he said wryly. ‘I suppose I was trying to impress you.’

He swept her round another untutored pair as he spoke and she marvelled once more at his ability. ‘Oh, but I am,’ she said. ‘Impressed, I mean. You’ve obviously done this before.’

Sandford laughed and his spirits began to rise. ‘A fair bit. It was all the rage in Vienna last year.’

He sidestepped nimbly to avoid a young couple in danger of imminent disaster and, in doing so, drew Harriet more closely to him. This is more like it, he thought with a surge of satisfaction.

‘More pleasant than our continual jousting, wouldn’t you say?’ He tightened his hold around her waist. ‘A much better way of ‘'getting to grips” with one’s enemy.’

Harriet looked up at him in consternation as he swung her around once more. ‘I do not consider you to be an enemy, my lord,’ she protested, ‘and I trust you do not think of me in that way.’

Sandford smiled down into her eyes. ‘Better if I don’t tell you how I do think of you, perhaps?’

Harriet, flustered, drew her eyes away from his and missed her step. Swiftly, he corrected his to hers and they were once more in time with the music.

Struggling to keep her eyes away from his outrageous gleam, Harriet attempted to devote her attention to her footwork. She refused to look up, but had the strangest sensation that the viscount was laughing at her. She caught sight of Charles Ridgeway quite competently shepherding Judith around the room and both were looking extremely pleased with themselves. All at once her reticence evaporated and, tossing her head back, she relaxed into the haven of Sandford’s embrace and abandoned herself to the compulsive rhythm of the dance.

Sandford’s cup was full. Holding her in his arms at last made him feel as though he had won a great victory. He wished that the music could go on forever, taking them both into a land where there would be no more bickering, no stand-offs, no contention, just pure unadulterated bliss. Oblivious to all else around them, together they swayed and moved as one, whirling and twirling in perfect harmony. Inevitably, the spell was broken as Lady Eugenie played her last triumphant chord and the roomful of laughing, breathless couples swung finally to a halt.

There was a burst of spontaneous applause from both dancers and audience alike and the younger ones crowded around Judith, begging for just one encore but, shaking her head, she smilingly pointed at the clock, for it was almost midnight and, as she reminded them, the following day was Sunday.

In the darkened carriage Sandford leaned back against the velvet squabs with his eyes closed, only half-listening to his mother’s approving comments regarding the success of the evening. He had to strain to catch Harriet’s soft replies to the countess’s questions, but found himself quite content just to hear the rippling sound of her voice. He was acutely conscious of the sensation of being at the threshold of some lofty precipice where a single false step would send him hurtling into an uncharted ravine. Tomorrow, he thought, tomorrow I shall tread lightly and with great care.