Page 20 of The Book of Lost Stories
Serle, Viscount Rayven, read the last chapter ofThe Travails of Lady Malvinawith fascinated horror, then laid down the book and stared into space.
He had been told that the villain of the novel was his speaking likeness, and eventually curiosity had caused him to see for himself. He supposed Raymundo Ravegnac’s appearance was not unlike his own, but there was no resemblance at all – he hoped! – to his own character. He flicked back through the last pages: had it really been necessary to eviscerate Raymundo in such a gory and melodramatic way? Had he not already been punished enough for the assaults on the heroine’s person, mainly through the resourceful inventiveness of Malvina herself? And the fierce way she had pushed him into a ravine in the previous chapter …
He was reminded all at once of his encounter with Miss Weston in Knaresborough, when she had taken practical – and sudden – measures to dampen his ardour.Andthe letter she had dropped, in which she had said that he was the very likeness of the villain of some tale she was writing … although had shenamedthat villain? It was too long ago to remember with any certainty.
No, the idea was too ludicrous! With a laugh he tossed the book aside: he must be mad to even suspect that any respectableyoung lady could be the author of such stuff, and in rejecting his advances so forcefully, respectable she had proved herself to be.
Dear Nell,
Or perhaps I should now address you as Mrs Rivers? I am glad that the Lakes lived up to your expectations.
Yes, do send me Mrs More’sCoelebs in Search of a Wife, although I have no expectation of its being anything other than sober and worthy.
Grismortis near completion and the Minerva Press are to reprint my first novel already, and are pressing me for the new one, so things go well. I do not have any difficulty in keeping my writing from Papa, since he stays mainly in his bedchamber, but Letty is in a continual quake lest someone discover who Orlando Browne is.
Lady Basset adoredThe Travails of Lady Malvina. She rarely now leaves her room, for she has put on so much weight that she needs two stout servants to assist her to her feet.
Papa is following the news of our army’s movements in the newspapers and thinks he could order it all so much better himself, had he been in charge.
Your affectionate friend,
Alys
Dear Nell,
I do not know what I would do without your letters, especially since the sudden sad demise of Lady Basset who, despiteany little shortcomings of manner and taste, was always kind and generous to me.
I expect you will see copies ofGrismortbefore ever I do.Lady Mallorie’s Secretproceeds slowly, but I must press on, for who knows how long the vogue for such novels will last? You asked what Lady Mallorie’s Secret was, and in strictest confidence it is that she is not a widow, as she pretends, but a wife fleeing with her child from a brutal and drunken husband, who married her for her fortune:
‘He looked at her, and she saw at once the calculating monster hidden beneath the mask of seeming amiability and affection and was repelled.
How could she ever have been deceived in her husband’s character?’
There, is that not shocking? The vile husband will recapture her, but then I fear I intend to commit murder, in order to permit her to be happy thereafter.
Your affectionate friend,
Alys
Dearest Nell,
I was so sorry to hear of your disappointment, and I know it is of no consolation to say that you are very young yet, and there is plenty of time to start your family. I do so wish I was near enough to visit.
It was delightful to see you when you stopped here on your way to visit friends last month. Mr Rivers, in agreeingto make a detour of several miles just so you could spend an hour with an old friend, shows a generous and amiable disposition.
How sad the news of the King’s illness is, and how shall we go on? Prince George sounds sadly profligate and, if it is not treasonable to say so, of a flibbertigibbet character.
Your affectionate friend,
Alys
Dear Nell,
It is quite decided. Thomas Grimshaw is to invest the money from my writing in the little house in Hans Town, and let it out. I count myself very fortunate to have the assistance of so trustworthy a young man and also one who can drive a hard bargain, for I never thought to receive such sums of money for my novels. You would be quite shocked if you knew how much he attained forLady Mallorie’s Secret.
Poor Papa continues to deteriorate, so I only hope my novels carry on selling in large numbers. Thomas is of the opinion that Orlando Browne’s name is now made. I have attempted several false starts at a new book. The ideas seem to jostle in my head, then come to nothing.
I had thought Prince George would immediately change the government for the worse once he became Regent, but from what you say, he has not done any such thing. Wiser counsels may yet prevail!
