CHAPTER TWELVE #3
‘It amazes me how the French can have become so common in so short a time.’ The Duchess frowned, as though this was intended to annoy her personally.
‘When I was a girl, France was the centre of all things cultural, and led fashions. Then it went all revolutionary, and ended up with that nasty little Napoleon fellow. Upstart.’ The Emperor was thus summarily dismissed.
‘And do not think I am so fragile of mind I do not know what you have been about, trying to distract me, the pair of you.’
Louisa nearly choked on a mouthful of chicken. It had been a good try.
198‘Perhaps after we have eaten? I am not sure Lady Dembleby will be very forthcoming with all these soufflés to essay, ma’am.’ Mr Gilmorton gave a small smile, and Louisa mentally commended his perception.
Reluctantly, the Duchess let the conversation drift into the safe topics of Bath entertainments, not that Louisa had attended many public functions.
When the ladies withdrew, Mr Gilmorton promised to enjoy but one glass of his solitary port, and join them forthwith.
Until he did so, the Duchess expounded at length upon the failings of the Dowager Lady Dembleby’s mother.
‘A sour-faced fool she was, and with a temperament to match. Even more sour when her husband found entertainment elsewhere, and utter folly it was to have sought solace with a selfish rogue like Louth.’ The Duchess shook her head.
‘The family was obsessed with lineage and breeding, but remarkably good at turning a blind eye to their own indiscretions and the consequences, when it suited them. Of course, all that was long ago and both she and the dangerous Marquis of Louth are long dead.’
‘Well, Dembleby’s mother was so high and mighty she might have been born in a palace.’ Louisa was taken aback. ‘And she was so demeaning of my family and dismissive of me once I failed.’
‘You failed? At what?’
‘Producing a son, ma’am. I lost the first child, a boy, about halfway through the pregnancy, and thereafter produced “only” a girl. Failure to produce the required heir male is the ultimate sin.’ Louisa did not hide her derision. ‘I will not bore you with details of my belittlement.’
199‘But you do not strike me as a weak-willed young woman, but one of resolve.’
‘I have had to become strong, ma’am. I had foolish expectations upon marriage.
By the time I had realised just how stupid such ideas were, I had learnt to give in.
It was easier than fighting on my own. I was isolated, and after I lost the baby, most unwell for some time.
I was worn down, I think. Only when Emily was born did I learn to resist in any way, because I had to protect her.
It was all a nightmare to me. When Dembleby was brought home from the hunting field with a broken neck I could only feel that I had been granted a release from a prison.
I returned to Deerswell, my family home, but then I inherited Elliston Court, a small estate in Somerset.
I moved there in August, with Cousin Hetty here as my companion, and anticipated becoming, gradually, part of the local community. ’
Mr Gilmorton entered at this point, though his grandmama almost shooed him to a chair while she continued her ‘interrogation’.
‘How came you by this inheritance, and where is it?’ The Duchess believed in direct questions.
‘Near Frome, in a house that I have inherited from my godmother, the Dowager Lady Frampton.’
‘Clarissa Frampton. I remember her. Hmm. So, why are you the subject of gossip?’
‘One of the local gossips wrote to another gossip, who had it “upon authority” from another that the Dowager Lady Dembleby avers that I killed my husband.’
Mr Gilmorton actually forgot himself so much that he gasped, and his mouth hung open.
200‘Well, if he was anything like his grandsire he is no loss.’ The Duchess did not sound particularly shocked at all. ‘It all sounds perfectly ridiculous. How could you have done so?’
‘Exactly, ma’am, but it seems if not murder, then I killed him by making his life “unhappy”.’
‘Valeria Dembleby was ever a nasty piece of work, and only a ninny would believe such rubbish,’ snorted the Duchess.
‘Alas, it appears the border of Somerset and Wiltshire is full of ninnies, Duchess.’ Louisa pulled a face.
‘Then why did you run away from such people?’
‘I think it was disappointment, and feeling that whatever I do I will always be haunted by my awful marriage.’ Louisa did not add that she was afraid that she was increasingly attracted to a man with a disfigured hand and a dangerous ability to appear understanding. ‘I wanted a fresh start.’
‘There is no such thing, not completely, child. Coming to Bath will remind you not to incarcerate yourself in your inheritance, but it will not mean that nobody ever remembers sly rumour when they want to do so. So make sure that after your sojourn here you go back with your head held high, and treat the gossips to a display of insouciance. I loathe gossips.’
‘Yes, ma’am.’ Louisa gave a wry smile as Mr Gilmorton suffered a coughing fit. The Duchess gave him a scathing look.
‘Summer cold,’ she said sapiently, knowing full well it was not. ‘And before you say a word, young man, there is a world of difference between gossip and information.’ She returned her gaze to Louisa. ‘Now, do you play picquet?’