‘No, you, my friend, are the one who made the mistake. Even if the cards were not fuzzed, which is debatable, setting up tables where the young men are green as grass and many of them minors is hardly the done thing. I will pay you the fifty pounds, and not a penny more, and if you object, well the university owns the majority of the leases hereabouts. Need I say more?’313
The man’s scowl became more pronounced.
‘No.’ He thrust out his hand. Without haste, Sir Rowland drew precisely fifty pounds in notes from his pocket, and gave them to him, at the same time taking the piece of paper on which Tom had scrawled his signature.
‘I will not say it is a pleasure doing business with you, sir, for it is not. Good day.’ With which Sir Rowland turned and walked out, closing the door behind him, so that should the gentleman seek to rush out and try to push him down the stairs, he would be forewarned. However, he reached the street unscathed, and returned to Merton, where he went to have a quiet word with the Warden.
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CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
The brothers returned to Tapley End to discover a number of invitations had arrived for Christmastide parties, since everyone wanted to have some gathering over the twelve days, and Tom, who rather fancied a break from Greek tragedy for a week or so, happily declared they would scarcely have an evening at home, which was an exaggeration, but only a slight one. Sir Rowland was pleased, but mostly because he correctly assumed that those who sent invitations to Tapley End were also sending cards to the dower house, and this would mean he could spend more evenings if not with, then in sight of, Miss Lound. The first part of the month was also showing signs of being socially busy. The Roxtons were holding a ball, one which was designed for Madeleine to make her come out among315those she knew, prior to her ‘official’ come out in the spring. It was only two days hence, being on the feast of St Nicholas, and thus at the beginning of all the December socialising. Lady Roxton had decided it was far better to lead the way than be lost in the middle of a round of engagements, and it meant everyone else’s party would have a lot to live up to if it wished to be remembered. Sir Rowland dashed off his acceptance, with the explanation of its tardiness being due to absence, although he was sure that it was well enough known in the district.
He visited the dower house the following day, but found that the ladies had gone to Cheltenham to buy whatever necessities were required for the festive season. It was therefore on the morning of the ball at Hazelwood that he was able to see how the woman he loved had coped with his absence. He was pleased that she did not look wan, and her welcoming smile was all he could have wished. He brought the sweetmeats and perfume, sure that the first would be genuinely appreciated and hopeful for the second. Lady Damerham was cast into transports, for whilst both the confectionery and lavender water could be purchased in Cheltenham or in Gloucester, neither had the cachet of a London name. When it came to the perfume for Miss Lound, he tried to make it clear that the assistant had guided him, but if it was not to her liking he would—
What he would do was never revealed, for she316shook her head as she unwrapped the tissue paper from around the bottle, removing the stopper with care.
‘I have never smelt anything like it, Sir Rowland.’
‘Is that good or bad?’
‘Oh, my dear sir, it is good. This is not simply a scent of roses, for there is more to it, which actually raises the rose within it. Thank you so very, very much.’
‘I said you ought to make Sir Rowland some gift, dearest,’ Lady Damerham reminded her.
‘Yes, Mama, but you were thinking of knitting or embroidery, and I fear anything I presented in that line would be an awful disappointment.’
‘You need not fear, Miss Lound. I did not buy you a gift in expectation of reciprocation,’ Sir Rowland assured her.
She did not reveal that she had made him a gift, but that it was nothing connected to the contents of a workbox, and she had not revealed it to her mama.
‘You are too generous, Sir Rowland,’ sighed Lady Damerham.
‘But I like you being “too generous”,’ added Miss Lound, her eyes lit with what he could tell was more than gratitude. If she looked like that at him, he thought, his generosity could be boundless. He smiled at her, but then his face grew more serious.
‘There is something that I think you ought to know before the Roxtons’ ball, though it is not for public knowledge, as yet. I was hoping you might let Miss317Banham know of it, though I will be advising Lord Roxton.’
‘That sounds very serious indeed, sir.’ Miss Lound frowned.
‘It is. Lord Cradley is a married man.’
‘What?’
‘He is married, and his wife is with his mother in Bedfordshire, and apparently carrying his child.’
‘Good grief!’ cried Lady Damerham and put her hands to her cheeks.
‘The … cur.’ Miss Lound’s surprise emerged as outrage. ‘And there he has been, going about the shire as if he were a single man, no doubt entertaining himself by making up to Madeleine Banham with obviously no honourable intentions, and throwing a rub in the way of decent men like Harry Penwood. I never liked him, but even I would not have thought he would be that bad. How came you by this information, Sir Rowland?’
‘Tom overheard a student, who is Cradley’s cousin, sneering at the fact that he had married in haste to cover his debts last year, a cit’s daughter, straight out of an expensive seminary for young ladies. The poor girl’s family were only too pleased to “sell” her to the heir to a title, thinking it would give her position and security. I gather Cradley sent her to his mother as soon as it was clear she was increasing.’
‘That is disgraceful. One cannot but feel for the poor soul. No doubt he played his charms upon her and her family whilst he needed to do so, and then, once he318had her money, he found her an inconvenience. Well, if he does eventually bring her here, we must try and be welcoming.’ Miss Lound looked grim. ‘Men have much to answer for.’ She saw Sir Rowland wince and amended her words. ‘Some men, Sir Rowland. You cannot think I would place you in the same category as Lord Cradley, even if you do catch trees not fishes.’ She softened her tone, and a ghost of a smile returned to her. ‘I will do my best to speak with Madeleine tonight as early as possible, though I am sure it will diminish her enjoyment of the evening. I would not have her deceived. At least we can be sure that Lord Cradley will be shown in his true colours and the neighbourhood will be in no doubt as to his black-heartedness.’
‘He might try to excuse himself on the grounds that his wife is not fit to travel long distances in her condition,’ suggested Lady Damerham.
‘No doubt he will do so, but that is not an excuse for omitting any mention of her, and going out of his way to appear a bachelor, ma’am. I doubt many doors will open to him hereafter.’ Sir Rowland thought the man despicable.
‘Thus, the latest Risley has proved true to type.’ Miss Lound tossed her head, and her lip curled.
