Chapter 14
“Wherein Lady Russell weighs in and a grim winter passes.”
As parliament didn’t sit until February this season, and as most men were out of town to enjoy the hunting season, they found London in November practically devoid of company.
As it happened, this suited Georgiana down to the ground, meaning she could find her feet a little and indulge in some serious shopping without having to endure stares and whispers as word got about as to who she really was.
Céleste was as good as her word and introduced her to a small circle of friends who were in town early for various reasons and who, in Céleste’s words, didn’t care a fig about her scandalous parent.
Their trips were hampered somewhat by the weather which was remarkably bad at times, to the point they often had to light candles during the day as the cloud cover was so very thick.
On the nineteenth there was much excitement at the prospect of a solar eclipse, but during the event it was so cloudy that little could be seen of it.
Georgiana’s enjoyment was not dimmed, though, as Lord Falmouth’s home was luxurious in the extreme and Céleste’s company a delight.
She was further indulged by them allowing her to bring Conrad with her, which had been something that had been on her mind.
She was afraid her faithful dog would have pined for her if she left him too long.
As it was, he and Céleste’s naughty scrap of a spaniel, Bandit, became firm friends and caused mischief wherever they went, much to Falmouth’s consternation.
Aware that Lord Falmouth and his wife were in fact newlyweds, Georgiana often retired early of an evening to leave them alone.
Seeing as she had the run of his lordship’s vast and well stocked library, however, she found no hardship in repairing to her lavish bedroom, with a fire that burned all day and night, and indulging in her favourite pastime.
Indeed, the only note of sorrow in a very pleasant visit was that she had been unable to discover any news about the Marquess of Beaumont.
She had heard in passing that he was staying with friends until the season began, but further than that, even the scandal rags had fallen silent.
Her thoughts were rarely far from him, and despite knowing he wasn’t in town, she found herself searching the faces of the people they passed as his lordship’s carriage bore them around the freezing streets, hoping for a glimpse of him.
And so, it was that November turned to December in a very pleasant fashion with intimate dinners and rout parties and a great deal of shopping.
Never having had money to spend, and being used to being thrifty, mending tears and turning cuffs, this was a revelation.
To find herself suddenly with a vast fortune - if not at her fingertips, then certainly on the horizon, the amount of clothes she was able to invest in, and which Céleste had encouraged her to buy, was quite staggering.
Céleste had in fact divulged a little of her own background, which was beyond any penny pinching that Georgiana had been forced to contend with, and indeed made her feel quite shamefaced for considering she had been in any way hard up.
But it meant that for the two of them, shopping was a new and delightful treat which was beyond anything they had enjoyed before.
Céleste’s favourite haunt was a modiste on Conduit Street.
A charming French émigré by the name of Madame Lisabeth.
When the two women got together Georgiana would be lost in a flurry of rapid-fire French until they remembered their manners and switched back to English.
Madame Lisabeth had exceptional taste, however, with a great eye for colour and line, and Georgiana never failed to walk away without her purse a great deal lighter.
Her favourite purchase was a gown of green sarsnet finished with a border of deeper green ribband appliqué.
As Madame Lisabeth had predicted, it looked glorious against the red of her hair and she indulged herself with a little daydream of walking into a ball and finding Beau staring up at her with wonder and admiration.
The week before Christmas she awaited with impatience a visit from her aunt and uncle, whom Lord Falmouth had graciously invited to stay. Before that happy time however, she had to face a visit from Lady Seymour Russell.
“You’ll be quite terrified of ‘er of course,” Céleste explained at breakfast with a mischievous grin. “And quite right too.”
She gave a gurgle of laughter at the obvious panic in Georgiana’s eyes.
“Oh, she’s a sweetheart really, I promise,” she said, waving a morsel of plum cake at her between elegant fingers. “And don’t worry,” she added. “I will protect you!”
“But why is she coming?” Georgiana asked, terrified that Lord Falmouth’s aunt, the daunting Lady Russell who was known as the scourge of the ton would take one look at her and advise her nephew to cast her off.
Though she doubted anyone but his wife, who could clearly wrap him around his finger, could get the earl to do anything he didn’t wish to.
“Why because she’s having the most terrible trouble getting us vouchers for Almack’s and she wants to meet you before she goes to the trouble of blackmailing Lady Jersey.”
Georgiana almost choked on her hot chocolate. “Blackmail!”
Céleste grinned at her and nodded. “It appears Aunt ‘as the dirt on most of the ton and doesn’t scruple to use it if she feels it necessary. Seymour and Lady Jersey - that’s one of the patronesses of Almack's - ‘ave been at daggers drawn for years according to Alex.” She paused to cut off another slice of plum cake and deposit it on the pretty gold-edged Sevres plate. “Anyway, her mother-in-law, of course you know, was the Prince Regent’s mistress, and I’m sure you’ve heard all the scandals .
..” She winked at Georgiana and raised an elegant eyebrow.
“Except you haven’t. Apparently, Seymour has proof of some dreadful misdemeanour that Lady Jersey would much rather keep away from the gossips.
So, she’s coming to see if you are worthy of deploying ‘er most lethal weapon.”
“Good God,” Georgiana replied, blinking at her. But Céleste just continued her breakfast, apparently unconcerned.
Dressed demurely in a soft sprig muslin with a pale green fichu and green silk slippers, Georgiana sat by the fire in the drawing room and tried to apply herself to some embroidery.
Céleste said Seymour had a lot of rather old-fashioned notions about how young ladies should behave and to find them thus employed would please her.
Georgiana looked down at the little circle of crooked stitching on her own sewing frame and sighed.
It was supposed to be a daisy chain but looked rather like a row of rather odd shaped splodges.
She didn’t have long to fret over it though as the butler announced Lady Seymour Russell, and the two young women put aside their sewing and got to their feet.
Georgiana bit back a nervous giggle as a tall, elegant older woman, dressed all in dove grey and lilac looked them over with clear scepticism in her cool, grey eyes.
“Very pretty, I’m sure, child. Did you arrange this pleasing little scene for my benefit?” She looked at Céleste with the slightest twitch of her lips as the countess ran to greet her and kiss both her cheeks. “Oh, Aunt! As if you could believe such a thing of two such nice, English ladies.”
Lady Russell gave a snort but allowed Céleste to fuss around her and get her settled before ringing for tea.
Shortly everyone was supplied with tea and biscuits to fortify their nerves, not that Lady Russell looked in any way that she needed them as she raised her quizzing glass to survey Georgiana in a way that made her blush to the roots of her hair.
“So, you’re the Siren’s daughter,” she said, her tone considering.
Georgiana bristled. She had heard from her uncle that this had become her mother’s nickname when she made her come out.
She had been a huge success, not only because of her beauty but because of her vivacity and lively nature.
Many men had vied for her attention, but it had been the cold and cruel Baron Dalton that had finally won her, though no one knew why she had chosen a mere baron over some of the far worthier offers she’d had.
But sparks had flown, to all accounts, when they were together, and they had married against everyone’s advice.
It soon became clear to all that the marriage was a disaster.
The baron was jealous and despotic, but Lady Dalton refused to be cowed by him, becoming ever more extreme in her behaviour and her affairs.
Until she caught the eye of the Duke of Sindalton.
It had apparently been love at first sight and their scandalous affair and the bloody end it came to had rocked the ton and kept the gossips talking for years after.
“Goodness yes,” Seymour said, tutting and shaking her head. “It’s a pity but you are the image of your mother.”
“Oh, Aunt,” Céleste reproached her. “But she is a great beauty! How can you say it is a pity?”
“Because it is!” the old lady replied with a huff. “Much better for the child if she’d been unexceptional. Then people wouldn’t be so quick to judge and compare. But looking like that ... well, they’ll all say the Siren’s been born again.”
She pointed her quizzing glass at Georgiana, punctuating her words as she waved it at her. “You’ll need to be beyond reproach, girl, do you understand? They’ll be watching your every move, waiting to see if you show the slightest sign of following in your mother’s footsteps.”
Georgiana nodded, knowing she was right. “Yes, Lady Russell, I do perfectly understand. I promise I will do everything I can not to bring embarrassment to you or your family.”
To her surprise the old lady gave a bark of laughter. “As to that! I assure you my nephews have blackened the family name enough to withstand anything you might bring down on us.”
Georgiana smiled, as terrifying as she was you couldn’t help but warm to the earl’s outspoken aunt. “Well, I cannot tell you how grateful I am for your support, and that of the earl and Lady Falmouth. I feel blessed indeed to have such champions at my side.”
Lady Russell gave her an approving nod. “Yes, you’ll do. And you’re welcome. I’d like to say you won’t need us, but you will. You’ll have to be brave, brazen it out, you understand.”
Georgiana felt her stomach twist, but she nodded. “Yes,” she said, hearing the tremble in her own voice. “I understand and I will do my very best.”
***
The weather continued to be bleak and unpleasant and worsened as a thick fog descended on the capital.
Some days it was so completely dark, even in daylight, that coachmen were obliged to get down and lead their horses by lantern light.
Reports of the Spa Field riots in Islington in early December seemed to echo the air of discontent that hung over the country as grey skies and freezing temperatures kept England feeling grim and grey.
Christmas came and went far too quickly, and it was with a heavy heart that Georgiana bid goodbye to her aunt and uncle.
Despite everything going on outside of Lord Falmouth’s home, they had enjoyed a wonderful holiday.
Lord and Lady Falmouth were gracious and generous hosts, and Georgiana and her aunt and uncle only too ready to be pleased by everything.
Little by little, however, the time passed, and the weather improved, and the ton began to return to the capital.
Georgiana knew soon she would have to face them, and this pleasant little interlude would be over. In a way she welcomed it. The fear of her come out had seemed to glower on the horizon for the last months and now she just wanted it over with.
Of course, what she wanted more than anything was to find Beau and let him know everything that had happened to her.
That she was now an heiress. That she was not so very low born after all .
.. that they could be together, if it was still what he wanted.
The thought of course crossed her mind that he would want nothing to do with her when he discovered who she was.
She was sure she had often read his name linked to the current Duke of Sindalton. They were close friends if the scandal rags were to be believed, and that might make things more than a little awkward but ...
if he truly loved her, as he’d said he did, surely, nothing could keep them apart?