Page 84 of The Redemption of the Shrew

Where in God’s name were Lady Marianne and her aunt? She wished she could have called on Marianne and made sure she came to the rendezvous, but Philippe had insisted she must not seem in any way connected with the elopement. He feared that Hythwick would seek vengeance on her as well as him, and therefore the meeting at the nursery must appear to be a chance one.

Gloriana had a feeling Hythwick would soon hate her anyway, but she acquiesced.

At last! An elegant barouche turned into the nursery yard. Gloriana pretended to be absorbed in the array of herbs. The nurseryman dithered—two wealthy clients at once! But this one was clearly more important, having arrived in a vehicle with a crest on the panel.

“If you might excuse me for a moment, ma’am, while I direct one of my assistants to advise you further?”

This gave Gloriana a reason to turn and notice Lady Marianne and Mrs. Apsley stepping down from the barouche. “What a pleasant surprise!” She trod forward, smiling. “My dear girl, has springtime prompted you to plant a garden too? Or are you the garden enthusiast, ma’am?”

Thus, she avoided directly identifying the new arrivals. The less that was known to the nursery folk, the less the gossips would learn.

“Not I,” Mrs. Apsley said. “My niece has taken into her head an unaccountable desire to plant window boxes.”

“Flowers cheer me up,” Marianne said, “and I’ve been so dreadfully unhappy lately.” Her color fluctuated wildly—no doubt from anticipation—but behind it, she was almost as wan as yesterday.

“Now, now, enough of that—” her aunt began.

“My brother will be sorry when he sees me go into a decline,” Marianne said with a convincing pout.

“Flowers are an excellent remedy for low spirits.” Gloriana struggled not to watch for Freddy’s coach. “I’m sure this knowledgeable fellow can give you the best of advice about which to choose.”

The nurseryman stepped forward, bowing and scraping, but Marianne’s attention had flown elsewhere. The coach and four pulled up, blocking the entrance to the nursery yard, and Freddy jumped down.

Marianne dashed across the yard and flung herself into his arms. He whirled her about and kissed her.

“Marianne!” her aunt cried. “This is most improper.” She bustled after them. “Freddy, you should be ashamed of yourself, taking advantage of my innocent niece in such a public situation.”

So much for not identifying the fleeing couple.

“That’s the least of your worries today, ma’am,” Freddy said. He opened the coach door and Marianne scrambled inside. He followed suit and slammed it shut before her aunt could utter another word. If the actor and actress were also in the coach, they stayed well out of view of the door.

The coach sped away. Mrs. Apsley gaped at it. “Oh, heavens! Oh, mercy me! Whatever shall I do?”

Gloriana put an arm around her. “Calm down, dear ma’am. Is there someplace we might sit for a moment or two?” she asked the nurseryman.

He guided them to a bench, trying to mask his curiosity with a bland face. Gloriana helped the trembling Mrs. Apsley to sit.

“Might I offer refreshment?” the man asked. “A bracing cup of tea?”

“Yes,” Gloriana said, “that would be most welcome.”

“No!” Mrs. Apsley cried, “I must go after them. Freddy cannot be allowed to drive her about in a closed carriage, completely unchaperoned.”

Gloriana motioned to Elspeth, who bore the man away to fetch the tea.

“Whatever has got into Freddy to behave so badly?” Mrs. Apsley said.

“I should think that’s obvious, ma’am,” Gloriana said.

After a bewildered pause, the elderly lady’s eyes widened. “You think they have eloped?” Her voice rose to a bleat on that last, dreadful word. “Surely not!”

“The coach headed toward the Great North Road,” Gloriana said. “And we both know that Freddy wishes to marry Marianne. Since Lord Hythwick’s refusal to allow it is based only on spite, it’s hardly surprising that Freddy has taken matters into his own hands.”

Mrs. Apsley rose hurriedly, hands clasped to her heaving chest. “I must go after them. I must catch them before Alvin learns of this.”

“You can’t go after them in the barouche. It has only two horses to their four. You’ll never catch up, and even if you do, how can you possibly stop Freddy?” She put an arm around the elderly lady. “Sit down, ma’am, and try to compose yourself.”

Tears glistened in Mrs. Apsley’s eyes, but she allowed herself to be guided back to the bench. “How could Marianne take such a scandalous step? She used to be such a sweet, biddable girl. It’s all Freddy’s fault, and now he has cozened her into fleeing with him, for she would never think of taking such a step on her own. Her brother forbade her to speak to him, and he has been proven right.” She dabbed at the tears with her gloved hand.