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Will took the opportunity to slip down the back stairs, and thence to the library and into Pa’s office. His father was bent over the desk, engrossed in writing on some drawings.
“What is it? Ah, Will, it is you! Thank heavens for some male company. The doorstep has been besieged but not a one wants to call upon me. I have a fine view of them from here, all these young men with their eager faces. They come bearing posies of hot house flowers and books of some sort, poetry most likely, and up they go, to see the girls. Who was that last one?”
“I did not see. Shall I ask Keeble?”
“No need. He will tell me later. I have him trained to keep me informed. But where were you bound in the curricle? I saw you return a few minutes ago. Exercising the greys, were you?”
“I took Miss Whittleton for a drive.” Now, why was he so reluctant to own it? There was nothing odd about taking a lady out for a drive.
Pa wiped his pen and set it down on the holder, turning round to face Will fully. “Miss Whittleton again? This is serious then. You must like her a great deal.”
“Not at all. In fact, Idislikeher a great deal. She is the most irritating woman alive.”
“Then why drive her about?” Pa said, with a quick laugh. “It’s a strange way to show your dislike of her company, to seek it out as much as you do.”
“She sneered at me, Pa,” Will said, knowing he sounded petulant but not even caring. “She despises me thoroughly, and so I set myself to teach her a lesson and win her round a little.”
“Well, you could always charm the birds from the trees, right enough,” Pa said. “But still, you should be careful, Will. She might mistake your lesson for a serious attempt to engage her affections.”
Will gave a bark of laughter. “Ha! No, it is nothing more than a game we play.”
“Well, you know your own business best, I don’t doubt, but just remember that she hasn’t a bean to her name, and the sort of fortune that will be yours one day is a powerful inducement to some women.”
“She cares nothing for me or my fortune,” Will said. “She thinks I am far beneath her — too far ever to consider marriage. There is no danger there.”
“If you say so.” Glancing out of the window, he hissed, “Quick! Come and look at this fine fellow knocking on our door! Did you ever see such a dandy? Who is he, Will?”
Will could hardly see the man’s face for the vast bouquet he carried, but the elegance of the parts that were visible, principally the arms and legs, convinced him he could attach a name to the caller.
“That is Somerwell, Pa. He is the man who followed Rosie home from Hyde Park, and then asked all over town until he found out who she was.”
“Somerwell, eh. Hmm. Well, until he comes to see me and asks permission to pay his addresses to my daughter, he is nobody at all. Shall we have a brandy? Then you can tell me if you think these drawings are clear enough. It’s for Kelshaw — he can’t come to town himself, so he’s had me chasing all over the place finding out about this new idea of his. Gas for lighting, would you believe? Have you ever heard the like?”
“Gases? In houses? Sounds dangerous to me.”
“No, these scientific fellows have it all in hand. Quite the coming thing, apparently. What an age of wonders we live in!”
~~~~~
Eloise had had a trying day. Lord William had suffered a disturbed night, and, her room being close enough to the nursery to hear his heart-rending sobs, she had made her way there to offer what comfort she could. She told him stories of her own brothers, and the mischief they got up to when they were Lord William’s age, while his nurse cuddled him until he dropped off to sleep again.
With such a disrupted night, she had slept almost until the breakfast hour, missing her time at the instrument, and somehow that unsettled her even more than lack of sleep. She could face any challenge, she felt, if only she could sit at the pianoforte or harpsichord, running her fingers over the keys and letting melodies float unfettered through her mind.
And now they were awash with callers. No lesser personages than two duchesses, a marchioness, a countess and a viscountess were gossiping in the Chinese Saloon, teacups or wine glasses in their hands, while several untitled ladies vied with them to reveal the latest titbits of scandal. Since the viscountess and one duchess had brought their small children with them, and Connie and her sisters-in-law had brought their own children down from the nursery, Eloise found herself organising games for them in a corner, and periodically rounding up one or two strays who preferred to run around squealing. It was exhausting, and at odd moments she was swept up in reverie for those drives around the park, with tranquil greenery around her and a man who at least pretended that she was of some account, and not merely a glorified nursemaid.
“Eloise?” Connie’s head peeped over the back of a sofa. “There you are! Whatever are you doing?”
“Playing spillikins,” Eloise said.
“Great heavens! Kemp! Where are you, Kemp? Ah, there you are. Find a footman to play spillikins with the children. Come, Eloise, we have callers.”
Eloise looked in bewilderment around the Chinese Saloon, seeing a great many callers and wondering why this was a matter worthy of comment.
Connie chuckled. “Differentcallers. The Fletchers. Where have you put them, Kemp?”
“The Gold Antechamber, my lady.”
“Excellent. Fifteen minutes, Kemp, then the Duchess of Dunmorton wishes to consult me on… oh, teething, say.”
