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But for the moment, she was inspired to move slowly and, she hoped, gracefully, although still avoiding the furniture in case she tripped. There was no point inviting trouble.
Pa and Mama were waiting for them on the landing.
“Ah, here are my lovely ladies,” Pa cried, kissing Rosie, Julia and Angie soundly on each cheek, and then for good measure kissing Mama, too. “Allmy lovely ladies. What a fortunate man I am to have such a fine family.”
“You are very smart too, Pa,” Angie said. “A new waistcoat, I see. You look quite splendid, and Mama too. How grand we all are tonight!”
Even Aunt Madge had been persuaded, grumbling at the extravagance, into a new gown, and Camilla looked charming in carmine, the dark colour and looser fitting concealing her increasing girth. Will looked exactly as always, arriving in the saloon in his London fashions just as the Plummers’ carriage was heard on the drive.
They arrived, Mama and Pa went out to the hall to greet them, they returned and were announced by Keeble in ringing tones, enjoying the moment. Julia had taken up her usual position near the window, as far as possible from the door. From there, she watched the Plummers enter the room. Sir Owen, as serious as always. Lady Plummer, moist-eyed, gazing round the room as if to see what changes had been made. Michael, pale and looking anxious, as usual. Patricia, expressionless. Lord Charles, exuding aristocratic hauteur. Lady Charles, prune-faced. Creeping in at the back, Thomas Leadbetter, invited at the last minute to balance the excess of ladies. But where was—?
There he was, looking remarkably stylish. She had grown so used to the gamekeeper, with his battered hat and mud-coloured coat that she’d never noticed how smart he looked when he dressed for the evening, every inch the baronet’s son. He had a remarkably good figure, she decided, broad in the chest but not too broad, and with legs that looked extremely well in stockings and silk knee breeches.
His eyes scanned the room, he saw her, he smiled. He made his greeting to Mama, and then to Rosie, but his eyes kept flitting back to Julia. Then, almost as if he couldn’t help himself, he set off across the room determinedly towards her.
“You look lovely,” he said.
This was such a shockingly direct remark, and spoken in an unusually serious manner for him, that she was speechless, and for some moments they simply stared at each other. Then, in a rush, he went on, “How is your leg now? No infection, I trust. You must be very careful to keep it clean and change the bandages every day. One cannot be too vigilant against infection in such cases. Has the surgeon attended to it? There is a physician I can recommend in Ware if you should want… Oh dear. I am babbling, am I not?”
He smiled so charmingly that Julia laughed out loud. “My leg is entirely healed, Mr Plummermay I walk, and no hint of infection has dared take root therein.”
He laughed too. “I am glad to hear it. I was fishing again earlier today, so I doffed my hat to our friend the bull as I passed by, and wished him a good day.”
“From the other side of the hedge, I hope.”
“From three fields away, Miss Fletcher. I dared not go closer, in case he remembered that I had the temerity to evade him once and thought to rectify the situation.”
“And did he reply to your civil greeting?”
“Not a word. He had not even the courtesy to raise his head from the patch of grass with which he was engaged. Dreadfully rude. I cannot imagine what the world is coming to, when bulls are so ill-mannered. It was not so when I was a boy, I swear.”
She giggled, and there was a warmth inside her to find that it was just as he had said, that there was no awkwardness between them. How pleasing that was!
In no time, it seemed, Keeble was announcing dinner, and what could be more natural but that Mr Plummer should lead her through to the dining room and then sit beside her? And why should he not, after all, for were they not the best of friends?
Lady Plummer was gazing avidly around again, and Julia said in a low voice to Mr Plummer, “Is your mama pleased or displeased with the room? I cannot tell from her countenance. We have made few changes, so it is very much as she left it. I hope she does not find it too distressing.”
“She is merely astonished by the number of candles,” he said at once. “Grandfather was never particularly generous with light, but since Father inherited, candles were one of his biggest economies. We could scarce see what we were eating. But you have all the rooms lit up as bright as day, and very pleasant it is, too.”
“It must be very disagreeable to be forced to economise,” she said.
“I imagine you have never had to do so.”
“No, never. Not that we could have anything we wanted, for Pa always wanted to justify the expense. If a chair broke, he’d see if it could be mended before he’d lay out money for a new one. Mind you, he spoilt us girls. There were always little treats, and new gowns when we wanted them, although the materials came from his own warehouses, so I dare say it cost him very little. He’s careful with his money, but he says it’s because he can remember being poor… or at least, a lot less wealthy.”
“That is a sensible attitude,” Mr Plummer said, “but he has become a little more profligate of late, buying this house and undertaking the season. London is shockingly expensive. Shall you and your sisters be presented at court?”
“Heavens, no! Nothing so grand. Mama has a connection who will introduce us to a few people here and there, so we’ll paddle about on the fringes of society and hope that Rosie is noticed.”
“She will be noticed. You will all be noticed,” he said, with a smile that lit up her insides like a bonfire.
Somehow, and she couldn’t say quite how it was, the meal passed in a flash. All her stepmother’s carefully planned dishes, spread over two courses, with six removes and a final array of sweetmeats and nuts, made no impression on her. All she knew was that they talked, although what they talked about was impossible to recall. She was both surprised and disappointed when Mama rose to lead the ladies away. It was to be hoped that the gentlemen would not be long at their port.
There was a dull hour in the withdrawing room, then the gentlemen returned and the tea tray was brought, but Mr Plummer was intercepted by Mama, so there was nothing for Julia to do but sit and drink her tea, and watch everyone else.
Aunt Madge and Mr Morgan Plummer were squabbling gently in one corner, and Lady Charles, Lady Plummer and Miss Plummer were whispering in another. Camilla and Lord Charles were very cosy together, poring over a book, but sitting a little closer than politeness required. Julia had spent enough time with Camilla to recognise the signs of flirtation in her. She was leaning towards Lord Charles, gazing into his bedazzled face as if he were the most fascinating man in the whole world, and he was foolish enough to believe himself to be so. He whispered something into Camilla’s ear, but then to Julia’s relief he rose and left the room.
None of this would have alarmed Julia in the slightest, for Camilla was an outrageous flirt and nothing seemed to curb her behaviour. Mama didn’t even try. But when Camilla looked about her in the most furtive manner a few moments later, and then rose and left the room, all Julia’s senses tingled with apprehension. Setting down her teacup, she quickly crossed the room and followed Camilla into the passageway. She was just in time to see a wisp of Camilla’s distinctive gown disappear into the library.
