Chapter 41
Whitsonby House
Ormond Square
Two and a half weeks later
Lady Marguerite, Aunt Deveraux, said placidly to her bosom beau of many decades in the privacy of her bedchamber two hours before the wedding, “ALL HAS WORKED OUT JUST AS I IMAGINED, LUCILLA. MY PRECIOUS LITTLE CAM IS WEDDING A VISCOUNT, WHO, WHEN HIS FATHER PASSES TO THE OTHER SIDE, WILL BECOME EARL ST. LUCY.” And she preened, fingering the lovely Brussels lace at her bony wrists.
Lucilla Bentworth, Lady Hawson, who’d stuffed cotton balls in her ears beginning the decades before when in her friend’s company, said in a loud, slow voice, right in her friend’s face, “What an amazing surprise when I received your missive, Marguerite. Such a pleasure, our little Cam getting married here in her father’s house with only the closest family and friends to attend. I am very pleased you invited me.”
Lady Deveraux said, “SINCE I’VE JUST ARRIVED FROM BATH, TELL ME WHAT IS SAID ABOUT THIS DISTRESSING SITUATION, LUCILLA.”
Lucilla patted Marguerite’s hand in its lovely white glove.
“It is quite remarkable given Society’s love of fresh meat, but everyone is solicitous, and all agree a wedding at St. Paul’s this soon after the appalling situation of Lady Whitsonby’s unfortunate madness wouldn’t be the thing to do.
Yes, and all agree it is wise for the young people to wed quickly and leave London.
” She paused a moment, sighed. “Poor Whit, he must be strongly affected.”
“MY brOTHER IS MADE OF STERN STUFF, LUCILLA, BUT YES, OF A CERTAINTY HE IS SADDENED BY HIS YOUNG WIFE’S MADNESS AND HAVING NO RECOURSE BUT TO SEND HER BACK UP NORTH TO HER FAMILY. COME, TELL ME WHAT YOU HAVE HEARD SAID, LUCILLA.”
“Everyone I have visited with has spoken of poor Averil’s madness, all very privately, of course.
All appear to feel very sorry for Whit and the family and bemoan the fact poor Camilla must wed privately, not present herself at St. Paul’s in full regalia as would befit her station and that of her fiancé, Lord Graham, Viscount Whitestone.
All agree the wedding is best done privately and quickly.
I must say, though, most ladies were surprised at the sudden wedding as none had known about their close rapport, but given all the smiles, I have to say most found it vastly romantic.
Many have actually seen Lord Graham, an incredibly splendid young man, so handsome he is—Lady Anson even remarked it was a case of unquenchable lust, er, love and her eyes shone with wickedness.
Of course Lady Anson is still young enough to understand the power of lust. She then drank down two glasses of champagne, and none doubted she giggled her way back home to her husband.
“I did hear one old bat remark Averil’s madness wasn’t all a sad thing since she thought poor Whit was near to expiring what with all the intimate sport he was having to endure with such a much younger, lusty young wife.”
Lady Deveraux laughed, a boom that rattled her teacup.
“INTIMATE SPORT—SO MANY DECADES HAVE PASSED SINCE I DISPORTED MYSELF INTIMATELY WITH A SUPERB SPECIMEN OF MANHOOD. BUT THANKFULLY ALL MY MEMORIES ARE CLEAR AND QUITE DETAILED. I AM ALWAYS TELLING DEAR FINCH—HE IS MY BUTLER AND CONFIDANTE, YOU KNOW—ALL ABOUT MY EARLIER EXPLOITS.”
Lucilla patted her hand, took a sip of tea and said slowly in her face, “Dear Finch, such a lovely young man and so very devoted to you.” She didn’t add Finch had suggested she also speak slowly and distinctly, right in her precious ladyship’s powdered face.
“Ah, Marguerite, I fear when I try to call up a pleasant intimate memory, all I hear is dear Fossen’s grunts, like a foghorn on the Thames. ”
Marguerite remembered dear Fossen very clearly, a very rich, very pompous little man, who had demanded an heir, and fortunately for Lucilla, she’d birthed three sons.
Lucilla added, “Of course there was charming Armand, my very brief lover, but he was gone so very quickly, I only remember his breath.” She shuddered. “Garlic, surely not conducive to passion in the morning.”
“WELL, HE WAS FRENCH, LUCILLA, ONLY TO BE EXPECTED.”
Lucilla said, thinking back over the decades, “I never allowed him to spend the night after that morning he breathed in my face. Now, enough of my long-ago history. Perhaps after we see Cam married to the most striking young man I’ve ever seen in my life—and after their departure for their honeymoon, you can tell me of your most pleasurable memories. ”
Marguerite agreed. The two old friends spoke of the latest titillating scandals, never a shortage of those, drank their tea, spoke of the queen’s babies Victoria and Edward.
Lucilla said, “Marguerite, I remember so clearly when little Cam visited me in Somerset I watched her wriggle out of her clothes and leap into the lily pond, Eliza shrieking at her from shore. I laughed and laughed. And now she is nineteen and shortly to be a wife. How life simply continues and you’re just swept along, unless, of course, you die.
“Now, you told me when you arrived from Bath two days ago, you had nothing to do to assist her. Cam was a whirlwind, she arranged everything, including having poor mad Averil’s own seamstress make her wedding gown, all the while ensuring her sister Eliza’s maid of honor gown was exactly the right shade of lavender she insisted upon. ”
“VERY TRUE. SINCE CAM’S WEDDING GOWN IS A PALE SOFT PINK MADE IN SATIN-SILK, THE COLORS COMPLEMENT EACH OTHER.
CAM DID CONSIDER WEARING WHITE LIKE QUEEN VICTORIA TWO YEARS AGO, BUT ELIZA TOLD HER SHE’D LOOK LIKE A DEAD STICK.
ALAS, ELIZA’S RIGHT. I THINK THE PALE PINK IS SPLENDID ON HER.
DO YOU KNOW SHE ALSO ARRANGED ALL THE BOUQUETS OF FLOWERS, MAINLY ROSES, ALL THE WHILE HUMMING AND DANCING ABOUT, SHE WAS SO HAPPY?
AND COOK, SHE WAS PLEASED TO BE ASKED TO MAKE CAM’S WEDDING CAKE AND FEED TWO DOZEN GUESTS, SHE WAS SINGING ITALIAN ARIAS AT THE TOP OF HER LUNGS.
MY DEAR WHIT LAUGHED WHEN HE TOLD ME HOW CAM AND COOK WERE ALTERNATELY LAUGHING AND SINGING AND ARGUING OVER THE WEDDING brEAKFAST MENU.
” She paused. “DEAR WHIT, HE’S HOLDING UP SO WELL, A STIFF UPPER LIP, BLESS HIS STOUT HEART. ”
Lucilla said, “Just imagine, Marguerite, our little Cam only met Viscount Whitestone a month ago. Where did you say? On a bench outside Parliament?” She sighed.
“It quite makes me want to believe in fate. True love, it blazes bright, makes everyone and everything brighter, more exciting, more alive, every feeling deeper, every word heard and spoken by the other more profound. It never ceases to amaze.” She frowned.
“Isn’t it odd Eliza and dear Winstead will still wed in the Fall, all the extravagance you would expect even though it’s possible some will speak of poor Averil’s madness.
But by then, I predict no one will really care. ”
“ALL ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN IN PLACE FOR SIX MONTHS, NO CHANGING THEM. NOW, I TOLD YOUNG GRAHAM HE WAS NEVER TO GAIN ANY FLESH AROUND HIS MIDDLE OR CAM WOULD SCORN HIM. DO YOU KNOW, HE GRINNED AT ME, PROMISED HE WOULD ADHERE ALL HIS LIVING DAYS TO A MODERATE DIET. I TOLD HIM IF HE DID STRAY HE COULD ADOPT LORD BYRON’S DIET—POTATOES AND VINEGAR. I FEAR HE LOOKED QUITE HORRIFIED.
“I AM VISITING CAM IN HER HOME AT KING’S HEAD, EARL ST. LUCY’S COUNTRY SEAT—NEAR DOVER—IN THREE MONTHS, AFTER THEY’VE HAD A BIT OF TIME TO INDULGE YOUNG LUST AND SETTLE IN TO THEIR NEW HOME.
I REMEMBER MEETING GRAHAM’S GRANDFATHER IN THE OLD DAYS.
WHAT A FINE SPECIMEN HE WAS, UNDERSTANDABLE SINCE DEAR GRAHAM IS SO SPLENDID.
CAM TELLS ME EVERYONE LOOKS AT THE TWO OF THEM AND WHISPERS, BUT NOT LOW ENOUGH SHE CAN’T HEAR—GRAHAM IS THE MORE BEAUTIFUL.
” She gave a low, cackling laugh, not loud enough to dislodge her two novels off the marquetry table, thankfully, drank more tea, and set her delicate bone china cup back on its hand-painted saucer.
She consulted the small watch in her pocket, and slowly rose. “FINCH!”
Finch came into the small second-floor family room, smiled at the two dear elderly ladies, both splendidly gowned, walked up to Lady Deveraux and said slowly, distinctly, not an inch from her face, “You are a vision, my lady. As are you, Lady Hawson. Allow me to escort you to the top of the stairs, where his lordship will accompany you to the drawing room. All are now gathered. The pianist is already playing quietly, but I fear I have heard some discordant notes since Cook was so happy she gave him a bottle of champagne to drink, which, frankly, he guzzled. But we will hope. His lordship is presenting a fine brave front given the very sad nature of her ladyship’s condition and her departure to the north.
From what I’ve heard, everyone admires his fortitude given what happened to his poor wife.
It is of course appropriate the only guests are family and close friends, which shows immense discretion and intelligence.
“It appears Lord Graham’s sister, Lady Eugenie, is becoming fast friends with Lady Eliza. I heard Cilly say Lady Cam was trying not to smack her sister who was telling her not to smile so much, it reeked of ill-breeding, and she needed to push up her bosom.”
“YES, YES, POOR AVERIL, SUCH A PITY. NOW, AS FOR ELIZA, SHE IS LOVELY TO LOOK AT AND HER WATERCOLORS DO NOT MAKE THE EYES BLEED, BUT ALAS, SHE HAS THE DISPOSITION OF A CRAPPED-UPON GOOSE.
“YOU KNOW SHE FULLY EXPECTED TO RULE HER FATHER-IN-LAW’S HOUSE WITH AN IRON FIST, HERS, OF COURSE, AFTER SHE MARRIED WINSTEAD, A VERY NICE YOUNG MAN IS WINSTEAD AS IS HIS FATHER.
YES, SHE FULLY EXPECTED HER WISHES AND ORDERS TO BE THE ONLY ONES TO BE OBEYED.
” She grinned like a bandit. “BUT NOW I HAVE HEARD WINSTEAD’S FATHER MARRIED A LOVELY WIDOW WITH SIX CHILDREN.
IT’S DELICIOUS—DEAR ELIZA WITH A MOTHER-IN-LAW WHO WILL RULE OVER HER AND SIX CHILDREN SWARMING THE HOUSE.
WHAT IS EVEN MORE DELICIOUS IS WINSTEAD IS QUITE PLEASED FOR HIS FATHER.
AH, POOR LAD WILL BE BETWIXT AND BETWEEN.
DID YOU KNOW ELIZA CALLS WINSTEAD WINNIE?
LIKE A HORSE?” And Lady Deveraux punched Finch’s arm and laughed and laughed.
She caught her breath, patted Finch’s shoulder.
“AS FOR YOU, FINCH, I MUST SAY YOU ARE A HANDSOME FIGURE OF A MAN TODAY.”
Finch thanked her, offered each precious old dear an arm. “Your kindness overwhelms, my lady. Now, I believe all bespeaks a lovely wedding on this very fine day.”