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He left the gathering in no very good humour, wondering how he could penetrate the wall of indifference that surrounded the cool Miss Whittleton. Of one thing he was determined — he would make her notice him.
~~~~~
“Well, that went tolerably well, I thought,” Connie said, when the ladies had retreated to a cosy sitting room and were relaxing with wine and an array of tempting pastries. “Eloise, this is the first time you have seen my party for cits’ daughters. What did you think?”
“I think it very brave of you, Cousin, when you know nothing about any of them. They were very well behaved, I thought, but are you not afraid they will take advantage of your generosity?”
“No, no,” Connie said with a smile. “They write to thank me, of course, and send flowers, but I do not allow them to encroach. If they call, they are admitted, but if they try again, I am not at home. If they invite me to their entertainments, I send a polite refusal. If I bump into one or other of them at the theatre or in a shop, I smile, ask how they do, and move on. They understand. I should love to take up one or other of the girls, for I confess I do love to have a girl to clothe from head to toe. But it is better that they keep to their own circle. But tell me, all of you, what did you think of this year’s collection?”
“One outstanding beauty, three rather pretty, several passable and one absolute fright,” said Lady Humphrey at once, before addingsotto voce, “poor girl. And none with any spirit.”
“At least Miss Malpas was becomingly dressed, unlike most of the others,” Connie said. “Have you ever seen anything so hideous as that dreadful satin gown the red-haired girl wore, and in carmine, too. A dowager would disdain to wear such a thing. Oh, to re-dress the lot of them! Too many frills and flounces, too many beads, too many clashing colours and not an ounce of subtlety.”
“The beauty and her sister were not so bad, I thought,” Lady Reggie said. “A trifle overdressed perhaps but—“
“A trifle!” Connie said, jumping up and pacing across the room in agitation. “Fashionable, perhaps, and beautiful stitchery, but they are such dainty creatures that they deserve more careful choice of fabrics, more flattering colours, and simpler styles. It is such a waste! And my hands itched to cut their hair. If I could but have the dressing of them — both of them — I could make them the sensation of the season.”
“Then why not do it?” Lady Humphrey said. “It would be an amusing project for you.”
“I am very tempted,” Connie said. “The trouble is, one never knows how they would respond to a little attention. I found my first season terrifying, and one cannot imagine what it must be like for the daughters of cits and nabobs. And who knows what the rest of the family may be like.”
“They are landed gentry,” Mrs Burford said. “There is a country house… Something Park. Hertfordshire, if I recall correctly.”
“They originated from Sagborough, however,” Connie said. “Perhaps Genista will know something of them. I shall write and ask, and Fanny Craston might know of them, too. I should like to know more about them. But the brother was very personable and gentlemanlike. What did you think, Eloise?”
“He is precisely the sort of man I despise,” she said. “Smug, self-satisfied and irritating beyond endurance. He doubtless thinks he is a most charming fellow, and a great boon to womankind, but although he may be superficially gentlemanlike, there is nothing beneath the surface. Such men are not to be trusted.”
“You speak most decidedly,” Lady Humphrey said. “He was the best of a poor set, it is true, but rather pleasant, I thought.”
“And he knows it,” Eloise said crisply.
“Handsome,” Lady Reggie said.
“No better than commonplace.”
“Stylishly attired,” was Connie’s contribution.
“A fop.”
“A fine figure of a man,” Lady Humphrey said.
“Pfft,” was all Eloise said.
The ladies laughed merrily, but Connie said, “What a pity, for he would have suited you admirably, Eloise dear, and his father is undoubtedly wealthy.”
“My dear ma’am, I am very happy for you to match-make on my behalf, if it amuses you, and I am perfectly willing to marry, butnotsuch a man as Mr William Fletcher. I had sooner die a spinster, I assure you.”
“Fletcher… I am sure I have heard the name recently,” Lady Humphrey said. “Oh, I have it. Humphrey said that someone is asking around the clubs for anyone who knows a Miss Fletcher and can effect an introduction. This must be the very one. She is very beautiful, after all. I imagine someone saw her on the street and was instantly smitten.”
“If he is determined, he will find a way to meet her,” Connie said briskly. “Still, I must confess, my interest is aroused. I might even invite them to one of our balls, if only I could find out something of the rest of the family. One would not wish to introduce a parcel of villains into theton.”
~~~~~
‘To Miss Jupp, St Peter’s Road, Sagborough, West Riding. My dearest Belinda, We have been to Marford House! I could not believe the size of it, and the number of rooms, and the extravagant decoration everywhere. It was overwhelming. I should not like to marry a marquess if I should have to live in a house like that, for it makes one feel small and insignificant, although I suppose if one grows up there, one would be used to it, but I should not like it one little bit. It is hard to believe that people can live in such palaces and yet seem perfectly ordinary, but Lady Carrbridge does. She was so affable and kind, and made us feel quite at home. Not that Marford House is very home-like, but you understand me, I am sure. We made many new acquaintances, and all people like us, not lords and ladies. I talked to the Miss Hartnells and their brother, who come from Bristol, which is a great city by their account and a fine place. Mr Hartnell is a ship builder, so we had a cosy chat about Pa’s mercery business. We saw Emmy Malpas, too, and that made me very happy, for I had no idea they were in town already. Emmy said her mama had hesitated to call because she was not sure if we were moving in superior circles now. That is exactly how she said it — in superior circles! I suppose she means the nobility, but apart from Lady Carrbridge and her family (she has so many sisters and sisters-in-law and they are all very friendly and not at all starchy, is it not wonderful?), we know no one of superior society, and Mama says we may not look upon Lady Carrbridge as an acquaintance, but merely as a great lady whose house we once visited. I do not suppose we shall see her again. We met the marquess and his brothers, too, but although they were very kind, they seemed rather distant personages, and not like us. I shall try to sketch something of Marford House, but I do not suppose I can do it justice. You sound very lively in Sagborough. Tell me more about the Plymstock daughters, for despite the long nose, Ricky might be tempted by one of them if they are good-humoured. Beauty is not everything, after all. Your affectionate friend, Rosie.’
~~~~~
Eloise was attending the marchioness in the Gold Saloon the following day, where several members of the family had gathered to receive callers. The marchioness and her numerous sisters, sisters-in-law and cousins were popular members of the Beau Monde, so the callers were equally numerous. Eloise’s rôle was to move about unobtrusively, ensuring that the guests were kept well supplied with the food and drink of their choice, and to engage anyone solitary in conversation. Thus she was deep in a discussion of the Princess Charlotte’s upbringing when the door opened to admit another caller.
