Chapter Thirteen
Lady Fanny’s stepmama, the Duchess of Denby, a young woman who could only be a few years older than her stepdaughter, took Georgiana’s hands in hers and bestowed a welcoming smile upon her.
“My dear Mrs. Carlyon,” she began. “I’m delighted to hear your news.
We had begun to despair that my husband’s scapegrace nephew would ever settle down and find himself a wife.
And such a delightful one. Fanny has told me so much about you, I feel I know you already. ”
Georgiana, who had not been expecting to have to meet yet more of Fitz’s extensive family, cast a baleful stare over her hostess’s shoulder at Fanny, who was seated on the sofa with an innocent, butter-wouldn’t-melt-in-her-mouth expression on her face. Hopefully she hadn’t revealed too much.
Two of her four younger sisters, probably Horatia and Louisa although Georgiana couldn’t be certain, sat beside her, disregarded embroidery limp in their hands. Their polite expressions failed drastically at concealing an open interest in their cousin’s new wife. Quite the family gathering.
“Do sit down beside me,” the young duchess said, indicating another sofa, and Georgiana, who’d sent a short explanatory missive the day before and had called to see Fanny, hopefully alone, was forced to politely take the offered seat beside a woman she had not wanted to meet.
Not because she didn’t like her, as the duchess seemed a pleasant young woman, but because she had things she wished to say to Fanny in private.
And this situation was most definitely not private.
The duchess put a hand on the impressive swell of her stomach beneath her gown. “As you can see, for I can hide it no longer, I am in the happy state of once again increasing. My husband is certain that this time it will be another boy, to join dear little Rupert in the nursery.”
Georgiana was just digesting, with some difficulty, exactly how big being with child could make one and wondering at what point she herself would begin to emulate the young duchesss. She managed a nervous smile. “You have daughters as well?”
The duchess tittered. “Mary and Caroline. They are younger than Rupert, who is the apple of his papa’s eye, as one would expect as he is the heir.
But the duke would very much like me to provide him with a spare.
” Her alabaster brow wrinkled. “As he keeps reminding me, he is only in the happy position of being duke because his own two older brothers both died as children.” She sighed and patted her stomach. “The more the merrier, he says.”
Did she sound more than a little jaundiced?
After all, Fanny had said Rupert was only four and the girls younger, so this must be baby number four in only four years.
Georgiana frowned. Would Fitz expect her to provide him with an heir soon after her own baby was born?
She almost put a hand to her own stomach, but just managed to prevent herself in time.
She needed to be careful for a good six weeks before she and Fitz could announce the impending arrival of their supposed child.
The duchess took Georgiana’s hand in her small, plump one, and patted it.
“From what dear Fanny has told me about you, I am of the happy opinion that you will make the ideal wife for Fitz. He needs a sensible girl to settle him down now he’s had time to kick his heels with his rakish friends.
Such bad influences on him. I’m sure you’ll be able to make him see the error of his ways. ”
She grimaced and her hand went back to her stomach.
“I’m certain this one must be a boy as he can kick so hard.
I’m rather afraid I’m going to have to leave you so soon after meeting you.
I am a little indisposed with this child, and only prostrating myself on my bed seems to help.
” She tittered again. “I must admit that I shall be glad once this little fellow is with us. Do forgive me, Mrs. Carlyon, for having to rush away, although I most certainly shall not rush, but rather totter. One day soon I pray that you will experience the same little discomforts as I am. They are so worth it in the end, I can assure you. I would not be without little Rupert… nor Mary and Caroline.” Mary and Caroline sounded a bit like afterthoughts.
And with that, she hurried, or rather tottered, away as though something urgent was pressing. The door closed behind her and Georgiana turned back to Fanny.
Fanny directed a fierce stare at her two sisters. “I’m sure Mademoiselle Féau must be wondering where you two have got to.”
The girls, who somewhat resembled their pretty older sister, both returned determined frowns, and Horatia, who possessed an unfortunate complexion adorned with a nasty rash of spots, shook her head.
“Nonsense, Fanny. Mademoiselle is of the opinion that as a young lady about to make my debut next year, I should be allowed to participate in social activities.” Her smile for Georgiana was somewhat ingratiating.
“And meeting Cousin Fitz’s new wife is just that. ”
“And besides which,” Louisa put in, “if we go up to the school room she’ll make us learn French verbs again, which is something I just cannot get my brain to do no matter how hard I try.”
“She says they go in one ear and out the other where you’re concerned,” Horatia snapped. “And that you don’t try at all. So I think you had better go up to the school room and learn French verbs while I stay here, as I am practically grown up and you are not.”
Louisa bristled and opened her mouth to object. So this was what having sisters was like. Georgiana, for the first time ever feeling that being an only child had been a blessing, glanced at Fanny.
Fanny’s pretty face had assumed a black glare. She leaned forward in her seat. “Don’t for one minute imagine that I’m going to put up with any of your nonsense. I am the oldest and you’ll both do as you’re told or I shall tell Stepmama about you, and you know she always listens to me.”
“She won’t want you disturbing her now she’s prostrating herself,” Louisa retorted.
Fanny’s brows lowered in threat. “So you’d prefer it if I told Papa?”
Louisa visibly paled and shook her head.
“Off you go,” Horatia snapped with a hint of gloating in her tone.
Fanny turned the hard stare on her. “You too. Georgiana is my friend, not yours, and you are both only schoolgirls. She and I would like time to ourselves as we have womanly things to discuss. Go. Both of you.”
With great bad grace, both girls rose to their feet, their embroidery discarded, Louisa’s on the floor. At the door, Horatia turned back. “I’ll find out what secrets you want to talk about, you mark my words. If you talk about rude things, I’ll find out.”
Fanny puffed her chest out. “Go. And no listening at the door.”
They went, banging the door behind them.
Immediately, Fanny bounced up off the sofa and came to sit beside Georgiana.
She kept her voice low as though she suspected her sisters of doing what she’d just expressly forbidden them to do.
“I thought they would never leave. As soon as I said you were calling, and why, both Stepmama and those awful girls decided they must meet you. They have dreadful manners because Stepmama refuses to send them away to school but insists all my sisters should have a governess—a French one, at that. Mademoiselle has no idea how to control them. It was une mauvaise idée, as Mademoiselle herself would say.”
She shook her head in apparent disgust. “However, as you saw, Stepmama’s condition is something of a blessing.
I can tell you exactly where she’s gone.
To find her chamber pot. The poor thing is constantly off in search of it, although she would prefer it if no one knew.
Far too indelicate matter.” Her eyes twinkled.
“I suppose you have that to look forward to yourself. I gather it goes hand in glove with your condition.”
Georgiana sighed. “I would rather not think about that as I have other problems to consider right at this moment. And that is why I have come here to see you this afternoon. I confess, I’m pleased your stepmama is so afflicted.
Like you, I was worried I’d have no time alone with you for private conversation. ”
“She won’t be back,” Fanny said. “She’ll go and lie down all afternoon now.
She does so every afternoon on her doctor’s orders.
She has to have her feet higher than her head, apparently.
I try not to listen, but one can hardly miss it with the way she talks about her condition the whole time.
No wonder Papa sneaks off with his friends to the Lyon’s Den and other such gambling houses.
One cannot blame him. He’s never been interested in any of us children, although I’d always assumed it was because we are girls.
However, little Rupert sees as little of him as we do, so it must be that he doesn’t like any children.
” She gave a shrug. “Not that I care. It’s always left me and my sisters able to do just as we wished.
” She frowned. “As you can probably tell from their unruly, defiant behaviour. That governess has no hope of controlling them.”
“You’re very lucky to have so many sisters.” Although Georgiana wasn’t so sure about that now.