AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Shall I take Edmund from you?” Mrs Armitage said. “He looks a little sleepy to me.”
“Then he can sleep in my arms, if he wishes,” his father said complacently, glancing down at the child’s almost white hair.
“You spoil him,” she said, but there was a softness in her tone that removed any possible sting from the words. She reached out a hand to stroke the child’s cheek, and for a moment, as both parents gazed adoringly at the infant, Will felt a stab of pure envy. To have the bliss of a much-loved child — how he longed for that! Such domestic happiness was beyond price.
And then the thought crashed into his consciousness — in a year or two, he might indeed have a child of his own. Perhaps he and Eloise would gaze upon their firstborn with just such unquestioning love. Perhaps they too would be happy like this. Even though there was no love for each other, there could still be limitless amounts of love for their shared children. That was a prize worth having.
“Now that we have met you at last,” Mrs Armitage said, “we should love to know you better. Do your sisters play or sing? Or yourself, perhaps? We are holding a small musical soirée this evening, and additional performers are always welcome. Or you may sit and listen, if that prospect appeals to you more.”
“My sisters are engaged this evening, but my betrothed is musical. She may enjoy the evening, if she has no other engagements planned.”
“You are betrothed! I did not know. May you have as much joy in your marriage as Eliot and I share. And who is the fortunate young lady? Anyone known to us?”
“You know her, yes. Miss Eloise Whittleton, a cousin to Lord Carrbridge.”
“Miss Whittleton! Then your engagement must be very recent, for she dined here only a few days ago and nothing was mentioned. A charming lady, and she plays and sings superbly, if I recall correctly. We would be delighted to welcome her tonight, if Lady Carrbridge can spare her.”
“I shall ask her,” Will said, a little surprised by this fulsome praise.
“You are engaged to Miss Whittleton!” Miss Barantine cried out, overhearing. “I am so happy for you, and when you wish to buy her some jewellery, you will know where to come.”
“Really, Violet,” Mrs Armitage said. “You must not be advertising the shop to everyone you meet.”
“Oh,Barantine’s,” Will said, laughing. “Now I know where I have seen you before, Miss Barantine. You helped my father select some pieces for my stepmother.”
“Did I? I cannot remember everyone who comes into the shop, but I should very much like to help you buy something for Miss Whittleton, and everyone says you are very rich, so you will be able to buy her some lovely things.” Will burst out laughing, but she gasped, hands raised to her mouth as if she would unsay the words. “Oh, Evie, I am so sorry, I should not talk about money, should I? Pray forgive me, Mr Fletcher. Evie is trying to turn me into a lady, but Mr Armitage says it is a lifetime’s work and I think perhaps he is right.”
“Miss Barantine, whatever Mr Armitage may say, no one who meets you could imagine any improvement to be necessary,” Will said gallantly.
“Oh, how kind you are to say so! And I think you are very much a gentleman, no matter what—”
“Enough, Violet,” Armitage said, although not unkindly.
She flushed and lowered her eyes, but Will only chuckled, and said gently, “To my mind, so long as one is a good, kind, honourable person, it hardly matters what other people may call one.”
“Oh!” she said, her huge eyes widening. “That is very profound, is it not, Evie? I should very much like to be a lady — all the time, I mean, and not just when I try very hard. You see, Mr Fletcher, Evie is a proper lady and I should so like to be like her. But it is very difficult to remember everything, and people still despise me because my father was a jewel merchant and not a gentleman, andyourfather was a merchant, too, was he not? And you look and behave just like a gentleman and I try very hard to behave like a lady, and yet people still despise us and do not invite us to things. At least, I am invited to things, because Mr Armitage knows absolutely everybody, butyoudo not, and your sisters are so pretty and dance so well that I do not see why they should not go to Almack’s too. It does not seem right to me.”
“The patronesses of Almack’s set their own rules, Violet,” Mrs Armitage said. “They may choose whom they invite, just as we choose whom we invite to our home.”
“The gentlemen’s clubs are the same,” Will said slowly, realising the truth of it even as he spoke the words. “I am no more welcome at White’s or Boodle’s than my sisters are at Almack’s, and yet… I think… that I prefer to be invited to a place because my company is wished for rather than because I have a title or a famous name or am a useful person to know. Such invitations are more valuable to me.”
“You are very wise, Mr Fletcher,” Miss Barantine said, and on such a pleasing note, Will thought it proper to bring the call to an end.
A swift note to Marford House brought an equally swift response — Lady Carrbridge graciously agreed that Eloise might attend the musical soirée. She would come for dinner and then she and Will would walk the short distance to the Armitages’ house.
Will had formed no idea of what the evening might entail, except that it sounded rather boring. He preferred a ball or a rout or even a card party to a series of musical performances by only moderately accomplished young ladies, as his previous experience of such occasions led him to expect. But as he walked into the Armitages’ drawing room he realized there was one very noticeable difference. This time, he had Eloise on his arm, her eyes bright with anticipation, a smile already lighting up her face. She enjoyed such entertainments, and he could delight in her pleasure, even if the occasion brought him no other.
She recognized some of the other guests and was soon chattering away animatedly about music, comparing pieces and examining the instruments set out ready — a harp and a harpsichord, as well as a pianoforte. He had never seen her so animated.
Several of the older guests were taking their places on the chairs arranged for the listeners. Rather lost, and knowing no one but Eloise and the Armitages, Will retreated to a window alcove, out of the way of new arrivals and those looking for seats.
“Dull evening for us, eh?” said a voice at his elbow. “Still, have to keep the ladies happy. My Gracie loves these affairs. Here, have one of these. You look as if you need it.”
He pressed a glass of wine into Will’s hand. He was little older than Will himself, with a cheerful face that immediately made Will feel cheerful too.
“Thank you, sir,” Will said. “Your kindness is very much appreciated. As a newcomer in town, a friendly face is always welcome. Which is your good lady?”
“You see the one by the harp, the one with dark curls and huge blue eyes? That is my Gracie, talking to the tall lady in pale green. Four years we have been wed, and I still can hardly believe my luck. Not sure what I did to deserve such a treasure.”
