Page 29 of Scandal’s Daughter

Chapter 14

“Wherein Lady Russell weighs in and a grim winter passes.”

As parliament didn’t sit until February this season, and as most men were out of town to enjoy the hunting season, they found London in November practically devoid of company. As it happened, this suited Georgiana down to the ground, meaning she could find her feet a little and indulge in some serious shopping without having to endure stares and whispers as word got about as to who she really was.

Céleste was as good as her word and introduced her to a small circle of friends who were in town early for various reasons and who, in Céleste’s words, didn’t care a fig about her scandalous parent.

Their trips were hampered somewhat by the weather which was remarkably bad at times, to the point they often had to light candles during the day as the cloud cover was so very thick. On the nineteenth there was much excitement at the prospect of a solar eclipse, but during the event it was so cloudy that little could be seen of it.

Georgiana’s enjoyment was not dimmed, though, as Lord Falmouth’s home was luxurious in the extreme and Céleste’s company a delight. She was further indulged by them allowing her to bring Conrad with her, which had been something that had been on her mind. She was afraid her faithful dog would have pined for her if she left him too long. As it was, he and Céleste’s naughty scrap of a spaniel, Bandit, became firm friends and caused mischief wherever they went, much to Falmouth’s consternation.

Aware that Lord Falmouth and his wife were in fact newlyweds, Georgiana often retired early of an evening to leave them alone. Seeing as she had the run of his lordship’s vast and well stocked library, however, she found no hardship in repairing to her lavish bedroom, with a fire that burned all day and night, and indulging in her favourite pastime.

Indeed, the only note of sorrow in a very pleasant visit was that she had been unable to discover any news about the Marquess of Beaumont. She had heard in passing that he was staying with friends until the season began, but further than that, even the scandal rags had fallen silent. Her thoughts were rarely far from him, and despite knowing he wasn’t in town, she found herself searching the faces of the people they passed as his lordship’s carriage bore them around the freezing streets, hoping for a glimpse of him.

And so, it was that November turned to December in a very pleasant fashion with intimate dinners and rout parties and a great deal of shopping. Never having had money to spend, and being used to being thrifty, mending tears and turning cuffs, this was a revelation. To find herself suddenly with a vast fortune - if not at her fingertips, then certainly on the horizon, the amount of clothes she was able to invest in, and which Céleste had encouraged her to buy, was quite staggering.

Céleste had in fact divulged a little of her own background, which was beyond any penny pinching that Georgiana had been forced to contend with, and indeed made her feel quite shamefaced for considering she had been in any way hard up. But it meant that for the two of them, shopping was a new and delightful treat which was beyond anything they had enjoyed before.

Céleste’s favourite haunt was a modiste on Conduit Street. A charming French émigré by the name of Madame Lisabeth. When the two women got together Georgiana would be lost in a flurry of rapid-fire French until they remembered their manners and switched back to English. Madame Lisabeth had exceptional taste, however, with a great eye for colour and line, and Georgiana never failed to walk away without her purse a great deal lighter.

Her favourite purchase was a gown of green sarsnet finished with a border of deeper green ribband appliqué. As Madame Lisabeth had predicted, it looked glorious against the red of her hair and she indulged herself with a little daydream of walking into a ball and finding Beau staring up at her with wonder and admiration.

The week before Christmas she awaited with impatience a visit from her aunt and uncle, whom Lord Falmouth had graciously invited to stay. Before that happy time however, she had to face a visit from Lady Seymour Russell.

“You’ll be quite terrified of ‘er of course,” Céleste explained at breakfast with a mischievous grin. “And quite right too.”

She gave a gurgle of laughter at the obvious panic in Georgiana’s eyes.

“Oh, she’s a sweetheart really, I promise,” she said, waving a morsel of plum cake at her between elegant fingers. “And don’t worry,” she added. “I will protect you!”

“But why is she coming?” Georgiana asked, terrified that Lord Falmouth’s aunt, the daunting Lady Russell who was known as the scourge of the ton would take one look at her and advise her nephew to cast her off. Though she doubted anyone but his wife, who could clearly wrap him around his finger, could get the earl to do anything he didn’t wish to.

“Why because she’s having the most terrible trouble getting us vouchers for Almack’s and she wants to meet you before she goes to the trouble of blackmailing Lady Jersey.”

Georgiana almost choked on her hot chocolate. “Blackmail!”

Céleste grinned at her and nodded. “It appears Aunt ‘as the dirt on most of the ton and doesn’t scruple to use it if she feels it necessary. Seymour and Lady Jersey - that’s one of the patronesses of Almack's - ‘ave been at daggers drawn for years according to Alex.” She paused to cut off another slice of plum cake and deposit it on the pretty gold-edged Sevres plate. “Anyway, her mother-in-law, of course you know, was the Prince Regent’s mistress, and I’m sure you’ve heard all the scandals ...” She winked at Georgiana and raised an elegant eyebrow. “Except you haven’t. Apparently, Seymour has proof of some dreadful misdemeanour that Lady Jersey would much rather keep away from the gossips. So, she’s coming to see if you are worthy of deploying ‘er most lethal weapon.”

“Good God,” Georgiana replied, blinking at her. But Céleste just continued her breakfast, apparently unconcerned.

Dressed demurely in a soft sprig muslin with a pale green fichu and green silk slippers, Georgiana sat by the fire in the drawing room and tried to apply herself to some embroidery. Céleste said Seymour had a lot of rather old-fashioned notions about how young ladies should behave and to find them thus employed would please her.

Georgiana looked down at the little circle of crooked stitching on her own sewing frame and sighed. It was supposed to be a daisy chain but looked rather like a row of rather odd shaped splodges. She didn’t have long to fret over it though as the butler announced Lady Seymour Russell, and the two young women put aside their sewing and got to their feet.

Georgiana bit back a nervous giggle as a tall, elegant older woman, dressed all in dove grey and lilac looked them over with clear scepticism in her cool, grey eyes.

“Very pretty, I’m sure, child. Did you arrange this pleasing little scene for my benefit?” She looked at Céleste with the slightest twitch of her lips as the countess ran to greet her and kiss both her cheeks. “Oh, Aunt! As if you could believe such a thing of two such nice, English ladies.”

Lady Russell gave a snort but allowed Céleste to fuss around her and get her settled before ringing for tea.

Shortly everyone was supplied with tea and biscuits to fortify their nerves, not that Lady Russell looked in any way that she needed them as she raised her quizzing glass to survey Georgiana in a way that made her blush to the roots of her hair.

“So, you’re the Siren’s daughter,” she said, her tone considering.

Georgiana bristled. She had heard from her uncle that this had become her mother’s nickname when she made her come out. She had been a huge success, not only because of her beauty but because of her vivacity and lively nature. Many men had vied for her attention, but it had been the cold and cruel Baron Dalton that had finally won her, though no one knew why she had chosen a mere baron over some of the far worthier offers she’d had. But sparks had flown, to all accounts, when they were together, and they had married against everyone’s advice.

It soon became clear to all that the marriage was a disaster. The baron was jealous and despotic, but Lady Dalton refused to be cowed by him, becoming ever more extreme in her behaviour and her affairs. Until she caught the eye of the Duke of Sindalton. It had apparently been love at first sight and their scandalous affair and the bloody end it came to had rocked the ton and kept the gossips talking for years after.