‘You should put salve upon it, you know.’ She tried to sound practical and matter-of-fact.
‘I will bear that in mind, ma’am,’ he answered, as formally, hearing the butler’s approaching tread in the hallway.
They continued down the stairs, at the bottom of which Sir Lucius made his bow, and was shown out by Ribston, who concealed his interest admirably. Elizabeth returned upstairs, and informed her aunt of the successful delivery of the message before seating herself once more with her embroidery. Lady Chalford noticed, with satisfaction, that she actually did not set many stitches, and that she frequently had difficulty in controlling the urge to smile.
It was only an hour later when Lady Godmanchester paid a call, and she too noticed a change in Elizabeth. Lady229Chalford, aware that confidences were best exchanged in private, absented herself after the first few minutes under the pretext of a slight headache, and sent Amelia for her hartshorn. Left alone, Helen Godmanchester raised an eyebrow.
‘Well?’
‘Well what?’
‘No, do not pretend with me, Elizabeth. Godmanchester was irritatingly cryptic yesterday evening, but I gather Lord Easby was in some manner offensive, and that Sir Lucius possesses a sore fist. Now am I, or am I not, your best friend?’
‘You are, Helen.’
‘Then tell me everything, from the beginning.’
Elizabeth did, diffidently at first, fearing her friend might say ‘I told you so’, but Helen Godmanchester was a true friend and did not. Gradually, she forgot herself and let out the emotions she had pent up in her family’s presence: the outrage, the anger, fear and then relief, when matters were taken into Sir Lucius’s capable hands.
‘I know that I would not have come to serious harm, Helen, because, after all, we were in Hyde Park, and he could not have made off with me. But his behaviour; it was repellent. To take advantage of a lady in such a way! I am sorry if I sound heated but …’
‘No, no, I quite understand. How awful for you.’
‘At least I took some action in my own defence. His lip bled quite profusely when I hit him with the butt of the whip.’
‘Brava!’ Lady Godmanchester actually clapped her hands.
230‘Helen!’
‘I think it admirable, oh I do.’
‘Well, it was not as effective as Sir Lucius’s knocking him to the ground. I actually thought for a moment that he might take him by the throat and shake him as a terrier does a rat.’
‘That would have been appropriate, if nothing else,’ remarked her ladyship unsympathetically. ‘Ghastly man.’
‘I … Sir Lucius …’
‘You like him, do you not?’
‘Lord Easby? Why of course not!’
‘No, ninny, Sir Lucius.’
Elizabeth looked at her hands, which were working in the fringe of her shawl and frowned, though her mouth twisted in a smile. ‘I should not, I know.’
‘Why “should not”, Elizabeth?’ Lady Godmanchester looked puzzled and perturbed. ‘Surely you know nothing to Sir Lucius’s detriment? I am sure I have never heard anything other than good things about him as a man.’
‘But that is the nub of it, Helen. He is a man.’
‘Er, yes, obviously.’ The confusion was more pronounced.
‘In the end, men let you down. You let yourself love them and they desert you.’ Elizabeth looked at her friend sorrowfully. ‘I am sorry. I know you will not understand.You have been so very fortunate.’
‘You mean like Henry Freshford? But surely you can see Sir Lucius is not at all like him? And your heart cannot still be broken over that.’
‘Oh no, he is not, and my heart is not.’ She paused. ‘I thought it might be, but it was but the memory of pain and231disillusionment.’ She sighed. ‘I do like Sir Lucius. I tried so hard not to.’
‘My dear friend’ – Helen Godmanchester laid a hand upon her arm – ‘you said you “let” yourself love, but love is not something that requires permission. It happens, or it does not. You cannot make yourself love someone for whom you feel nothing, nor feel nothing for someone whom you love. Oh dear, that sounds terribly profound, but it is true.’
