CHAPTER SIX #2
‘Lady Godmanchester is, I am convinced, quite right 83about Mr Escott. Nobody is going to ask him to read his verses at their evenings, and I am sure most people regard him as a silly boy.’
Elizabeth smiled at this, coming from Amelia at seventeen, when Mr Escott must be all of four and twenty. ‘Are Lord Carbrooke or Mr Southram “silly boys” too?’
‘Well, they are youthful,’ admitted Amelia, ‘but they are not silly. I mean they can say silly things to entertain one, but they are not prone to stupid fancies like Mr Escott.’ A faint colour came into her cheeks.
‘I spoke with Lord Carbrooke’s mama last night, very briefly.
She commented upon my gown, and seemed very nice. ’
Which implied, thought Elizabeth, that her son had mentioned Miss Ashling several times, and his cautious mama was finding out as quickly as possible what sort of a girl she was.
She said nothing. It was then that a large bay horse cantering towards them was slowed by its rider.
Sir Lucius Radstock touched his hat and nodded to the ladies.
‘Taking the morning air, I see. How are the Misses Ashling?’
‘Quite well, I thank you, Sir Lucius.’ Elizabeth was conscious that there was a smile lurking in his eyes, and was suspicious.
‘And did you enjoy yesterday evening?’ He spoke casually.
‘Well, I most certainly did not, sir, and if you as much as mention poetry I shall most likely pull you from your horse and murder you with my hatpin,’ Elizabeth snapped at him.
‘Oh.’ He looked quite taken aback for a moment, but 84then his lips twitched reprehensibly. ‘That would be a very gruesome demise and probably the first such case to come before the criminal courts. I, er, take it that young Escott was present.’
‘Present and presented, Sir Lucius. Sixty lines.’ She sounded exasperated.
‘And all about my cousin, sir. He likened her to Gloriana,’ offered Amelia.
‘Good Lord, how glad I am that Godmanchester and I did not attend. I quite understand your threat of violence upon my person in that case, Miss Ashling. I can only apologise and say that I merely assumed it would be an evening of insipid music and dull conversation.’
‘So you gave it the go-by, Sir Lucius.’
‘I did, and without a single qualm, ma’am. I can think of few worse ways to spend an evening.’
‘Worse, sir, is having execrable verse spouted while everyone in the room knows one to be its object, and being the recipient of sly smiles and silent mockery.’
‘You must needs develop a thick skin, Miss Ashling, and ignore them.’
‘Easy to say and hard to do, Sir Lucius. If only I were a man.’
He blinked. ‘Forgive me, but I think you make a better woman than you would a man, ma’am.’
‘Yes, but if I were a man I would not be a “muse” and if any fellow got my back up, as Mr Escott has done, I could’ – she paused and considered the options – ‘punch him on the nose.’
‘You are in a most bellicose humour this morning, Miss 85Ashling. I am fortunate, therefore, that I am mounted upon a decent horse and can retreat at speed.’
‘Very lily-livered of you, sir.’ Elizabeth could not keep the tremor of a laugh from her voice.
‘Ah, but discretion is the better part of valour. I shall avoid death by hatpin, and wish you a good day. Ladies.’ Sir Lucius touched his crop to his hat once more and trotted away.
‘I find Sir Lucius rather disconcerting, Elizabeth. One has to concentrate so hard to keep up with him.’ Amelia sighed, but then the sigh became a groan.
Walking, or rather swaggering, towards them was Lord Nuneaton, his smile predatory.
There was no way in which they might turn about without being extremely rude, and perforce had to accept his greeting with a good grace.
Lord Nuneaton made his bow to them both, but it was almost immediately clear that he regarded Elizabeth as of no more consequence than a dutiful abigail in attendance, and his attentions were entirely focused upon the very uncomfortable Amelia.
Elizabeth listened and observed with revulsion, and could well understand why poor Amelia had stiffened at his approach.
His smile was positively reptilian, and Elizabeth was conscious of feeling that his inappropriate compliments and leering expressions emanated not from a lack of experience in recent years, but rather a pleasure in discommoding a young woman set at a disadvantage by her innocence and youthful respect for her seniors.
Elizabeth, by contrast, was several years older, more worldly-wise, and not at all afraid of putting their unwanted companion in his place.
86‘I am glad to see that you have wrapped up warmly, Miss Ashling. I would hate to think of a pernicious breeze harming your “neck”.’ Nuneaton’s comment might have been seen as considerate, had he not invested the word with significance, his focus not been upon her bosom and his eyes twinkling wickedly as though he were imagining her disrobed entirely. He awaited Amelia’s blush with relish.
‘Whereas you have no such need, my lord, obviously possessing such a thick skin.’ Elizabeth’s riposte was swift and acerbic, and took the lascivious peer by surprise.
‘I beg your pardon.’ Nuneaton had forgotten Elizabeth’s presence.
‘Why, you must either possess very thick skin or be lacking in wits not to see that your “attentions” are not to my cousin’s taste, sir.
Indeed, they would not be to the taste of any elegantly brought-up young woman.
One can only suppose that you have essayed them too long upon women of an entirely different calibre. ’
‘And what would you know of them, ma’am?’
‘Thankfully very little, but pretending they do not exist does not mean being ignorant of their existence.’
‘And I think’ – his lordship’s eyes narrowed, and his voice lost any pretence of cordiality – ‘that you would be wise not to meddle where you have no right.’ He looked her up and down, taking in the drab pelisse and the stern expression that made Elizabeth look older than her years.
Not having taken an interest in her at parties, he assumed she was some indigent relative.
‘I doubt very much that Lady Chalford would share your attitude.’
‘Then you do not know my aunt, sir. There are limits, 87and you overstep them. We wish you good day, my lord. Come, Cousin.’ With which Elizabeth took Amelia by the elbow, and strode purposefully away, head held imperiously high. Lord Nuneaton’s chagrin was thus invisible to her.
‘Oh dear,’ whispered Amelia. ‘What if he complains to Mama? Will you not be in trouble?’
‘No, Amelia.’
‘But you have heard how she is pleased that he pays me attention.’
‘Yes, but she has not been privy to his manner.’ Elizabeth halted, and turned to her younger cousin.
‘Dear Amelia, your mama would have been horrified to hear what Lord Nuneaton said to you. It is beyond all that is seemly, and you can be assured that he would not have dared speak so in her hearing. You need not be concerned about what he may say, since I have every intention of broaching the subject with my aunt as soon as we return home.’
‘He is the most repellent man’ – Amelia shuddered – ‘and I do not know how you dared to confront him.’
‘It was not daring, Amelia, for he can do me no harm.’
As soon as she had divested herself of her outside attire, Elizabeth sought out her aunt, who was making a list of those to invite to a dinner the following week.
‘May I speak with you, Aunt?’
‘Of course, my dear, as long as it isn’t about that “you know what” last night.’
‘It is not. Amelia and I encountered Lord Nuneaton in the park.’
‘Oh, did you?’ Lady Chalford sounded cautiously pleased.
88‘It was not a pleasant encounter. His behaviour, his language, his looks … he put Amelia to the blush intentionally, and the poor child did not know how to counter him. When he lost all sense of propriety, I myself made our disapprobation clear.’
‘Oh dear. You got up in your high ropes no doubt and said something cutting.’ She sighed. ‘I do wish you were not so … belligerent, Elizabeth. You will get a reputation as sharp-tongued and waspish if you do not take care.’
‘You are the second person to call me belligerent, or rather he termed me “bellicose”.’
‘Lord Nuneaton?’
‘No, Sir Lucius Radstock.’
‘Do not tell me you bit his head off too.’ Lady Chalford put a hand to her cheek.
‘If I did, he took it in good part, ma’am, but Sir Lucius is not the problem. Nuneaton is beyond the pale, truly.’ Elizabeth, reluctantly, repeated his comments to Amelia, and her aunt frowned.
‘Well, how disappointing. He is always perfectly reasonable with me. Are you sure …’
‘You, dear Aunt, are not an innocent of seventeen. I watched him. He wanted to put her to the blush, took pleasure in her embarrassment. It was … disgusting.’ Elizabeth shuddered.
‘What a pity, and just as I was beginning to have hopes. Oh well, there are, as they say, more fish in the sea.’
‘Hopefully not more sharks, ma’am.’