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“That is perfectly true. You think, then, that I am too hard on Michael?”
“Not at all, sir. I think thatMichaelis too hard on Michael. He desperately wants to fulfil your expectations and make you proud of him.”
“And yet I wish only to see him happily married, no more than that.”
“To someone suitable, and preferably wealthy.”
“Well… yes, naturally, but—” Sir Owen frowned, considering the point. “It is a matter of temperament, perhaps. Michael is not so easy-going as you are, James. For you, it is easy to disregard my expectations.”
“What did you ever expect of me except that I would take up a profession? I only baulked at the army, a career for which I am manifestly unsuited. I am better fitted to the church, but I never tried to do it well. That is your great legacy to both of us, Father, that you set us an ideal we could never hope to achieve. Everything you do is done well. The house runs as smoothly as a well-oiled clock. Efficiency is your watchword. Michael despairs because he can never reach your standard, and I chose not even to try. We have both been in your thrall our whole lives. It is only now that I have found Julia that I can begin to see how to become the man I ought to be. I would like Michael to have the same chance — to meet a woman who inspires him.”
“And yet you set out to court Miss Fletcher almost on a whim,” Sir Owen said.
“I did. She made me smile, Father. Every time I see her, she makes me smile, and I pray that one day Michael will find someone who makes him smile, too, for God knows he has smiled little enough lately. Three years ago, he thought he had finally found the way to earn your approval, by marrying a woman rich enough to restore our fortunes without selling the Park. It would have pleased you and Mother, and it would have satisfied Michael’s desire to do his duty. His failure nearly killed him, he still feels it deeply and I would see him relieved of that burden. I very much hope my marriage will do that. It would help if you would explain that to him… tell him that he need not continue his desperate search for a bride… that he need not even go to town, if he does not wish it.”
“Surely he knows that? He must be aware that I should never wish him to marry against his inclination.”
“And yet you pushed him to try with Rose Fletcher.”
“A pretty and well-mannered girl with a fortune? An excellent opportunity, if he had liked her.”
“He wanted to do it to please you, Father, that is all. I think it would help if you explained to him that you want his happiness above all else. That you want him to marry for love, as I am doing, and as you did too, after all.”
For the first time, Sir Owen’s face softened. “That is true. Lady Plummer was not well-born, and was certainly not what my own father wished for me, but even at twenty she was a perfect lady —myperfect lady. And look how well she fulfils that rôle now that she is entitled to the rank. An excellent wife and mother, and I will not say that she is entirely wrong to be concerned about Miss Isabella Fletcher. Only time will tell whether those fears are justified or not. Very well.” He set down his glass and rose briskly to his feet. “I shall talk to Michael as you suggest, James, and I shall inform Lady Plummer that he may not be in town this spring and she should not plan to introduce him to any young ladies, as she is wont to do. That should resolve the matter. Good day to you, James. I am glad we have had this little chat.”
So saying, he marched out of the room, leaving James bemused but not unhopeful.
~~~~~
‘To Miss Fletcher, Chadwell Park, nr Ware, Hertfordshire. Rosie, we are in such an uproar here as you cannot imagine, and it is all Camilla Weston’s fault again. The Romanies came back as they always do at this time of year, and one of them turned up at the Westons’ house on a fine black horse and demanded to see Camilla. A great tall fellow, but most uncouth. Naturally he was refused admittance, but he yelled in the street and threw stones at the window until she came out, whereupon he scooped her up onto his horse and rode off with her!! And she was laughing, and kissing him, and since it is the same Romanies who were here last autumn, certain conclusions must be drawn. Mr Weston went off to their encampment to talk to the fellow, but Camilla would not leave her paramour and so Mr Weston returned home and struck her name from the family Bible and she is nevermore to be mentioned in his hearing. What a wicked girl she is! Poor Mr Osgood is most distressed, although beginning to realise, perhaps, that he has had a most fortunate escape. Ruth Malpas is helping him to overcome his grief, and since he is a dean and she thinks reading sermons is the height of enjoyment, I would think they are well suited. Such excitement! Your most astonished friend, Belinda. Post script ~ The Malpases have taken a house in London, so you will have some acquaintances there, at least. I hope you have a lovely time. Do write as soon as you arrive to tell me what your house is like. Post post script ~ In all the to-do, I forgot to send my congratulations to Julia. I hope she will be very happy, although I do not think a vicar sounds very exciting, myself. However, a Romany would be a little too exciting. Something in between would be best. Post post post script ~ I almost forgot to send Ricky’s regards to you but you know how fondly he thinks of you, and it does not need to be said, although he pesters me every time I write to be sure to mention it, so now I have done so.’
27: Connections
Dinner that evening was almost entirely consumed by discussion of Romanies and their seductive ways, and how Mr Osgood, a dean and upstanding pillar of respectability, could ever have wanted to marry a wild girl like Camilla Weston, and how thankful he must now be to have escaped that fate.
“What sort of girl is Miss Ruth Malpas?” Mama said.
“She was used to be a great deal of fun,” Julia said, “but Allie says she is grown very sanctimonious. If she is making up to the dean, then I should say they will suit very well.”
“’Making up’?What a vulgar expression, Julia,” Mama said.
“But you will not let me say that she is throwing her cap at him, either, even though she is, by the sound of it.”
“You may say that she displays a marked partiality for Mr Osgood, perhaps, or that she appears to enjoy his company. Was there any other news from Sagborough? Anything unconnected with Camilla Weston?”
“Belinda says that the Malpases have taken a house in town, so we will have some acquaintances there, at least,” Rosie said.
Mama dropped her knife onto her plate with a clatter. “The Malpases! And Emmy, no doubt. So we shall have to have our parties cluttered up with a man who imports rugs and his vulgar family.”
Pa carefully laid down his knife and fork. “Mrs Fletcher, let us understand one another rightly here. Jacob Malpas is one of my oldest friends, and is also Mayor of Sagborough, a position of great honour. Ruby Malpas and her daughter are good-hearted, inoffensive souls, and if they’re in London this spring, we’ll treat them with all the courtesy and respect due to them. I’m not so far removed from the business of importing and exporting myself as to disdain the company of others of similar background. You will displease me greatly if you offer them any slight.”
Two spots of colour flared on her cheeks, but she answered at once, “Indeed, I would never do so, but you must admit that it is not the sort of connection with which Rosie should be surrounding herself.”
“I hope my daughters will never be ashamed of their Sagborough friends,” Pa said with dignity.
“Of course not, but this season is so important. Rosie must make a good first impression, and if she is to marry into the nobility, as we all hope, she must distance herself from any reminder of trade.”
“Which is why I’ll not go into society with you,” Pa said. “That I understand. But we must not cast off all our old friends in order to secure new ones.”
