Page 24 of The Book of Lost Stories
It lasted for barely half an hour (though it seemed longer!) during which time she interrogated me in the most vulgar and prying way imaginable as to my resources.
Charlotte is a large, fair, Roman-nosed woman of aboutmy own age, with a brusque manner, a loud voice and a shape that leads me to conclude that she is already well on the way to providing my cousin with an heir.
I can now read between the lines of what James told us yesterday of her immediate history, and perceive that she was so well and truly on the shelf that her widowed mother saw nothing for it but to take her to a different market: that of Antigua, where a fresh complexion and flaxen hair might be enough to procure her a husband.
She must have laid siege to poor James the moment she set eyes on such a prize, seized him, and now means to rule the roost. She was not at all grateful for my attempts to keep the Hall in good state for her arrival, but rather critical of anything that smacked to her of a lack of economy, by which I deduce that her mama’s finances are even more straitened than ours.
Mrs Young and two unmarried sisters are to arrive at the Hall in due course, and there was a distinct gleam in her ladyship’s eye when she asked me what families of consequence there were locally who could be asked to dine, and whether there were unmarried sons among them.
She seems full of energy despite her condition and means to pay a call on us tomorrow, being curious to see the Dower House, although I told her it was little but an extended cottage rather than the small mansion she might imagine. I will tell you more of her visit later, but clear it is to see that we are not about to become bosom bows!
Your affectionate friend,
Alys
‘Well!’ said Lady Basset, walking into the small and rather shabby parlour next day, shadowed somewhat apologetically by her husband.
She cast a hawk-like and proprietary gaze around the room. ‘This is quite cosy, and could be made exceedingly pleasant. It is certainly not amansion, but neither is it merely acottage.’
‘It was extended for my great-grandmother, years ago,’ James explained. ‘That is how it became known as the Dower House.’
‘And the furniture?’
‘Most of the furnishings came originally from the Hall, I believe,’ Alys said, ‘as did the china and linen.’ The latter, she reflected, being so worn it had been twice turned and was now more patchwork coverlet than sheet.
‘Perhaps you would do me the kindness of showing me over the house, Miss Weston?’
It was more a command than a request, but not an unexpected one, for Alys by now had her ladyship’s measure; nor was she surprised by the way she so rudely and inquisitively poked and pried about. Alys had already taken the precaution of locking into one of the presses her little desk and any novels – such as her own – that might cause an eyebrow to be raised.
Their tour took in the kitchen, where Mary regarded the lady in a steely manner that might have disconcerted a more sensitive woman.
‘I am astonished that you have not installed a closed stove,’ Lady Basset said, ‘for you would find it a great saving in coals and much more efficient.’
‘Nay, I’ve never needed nowt but what I have,’ Mary said belligerently, but luckily her accent was too thick to be entirelycomprehensible to Lady Basset, who favoured her with a cold stare, then turned and stalked back to the parlour.
‘Fetch tea, Mary, would you?’ asked Alys. ‘And perhaps some of those little honey cakes?’
‘Tek more than honey to sweeten that one,’ Mary said, ‘though ’tis clear what honeypot she used to snare Mr James! But there, that’s like a man.’
Lady Basset’s noisy advance across the uncarpeted floor of the parlour finally woke Pug, who had been asleep on his cushion dreaming, with twitching legs and small whimpers, of catching a rabbit. A small, very slow,defencelessrabbit … Jolted awake, he sat up and issued a series of wheezy barks.
‘I see you still have Pug, Cousin,’ James said, then explained to his wife: ‘When my stepmother died, Pug attached himself to Alys.’
‘Indeed?’ Lady Basset contemplated the creature. ‘My youngest sister, Honoria, is fond of dogs. It would make a pleasant gift to welcome her to her new home.’
‘But you could not separate him from Alys now!’ Letty gasped. ‘Oh, pray excuse me if I sounded rude, Lady Basset, but you do not know how the poor creature pined for his mistress.’
James looked discomfited as his wife, ignoring Letty’s outburst, bent down intending to lift the little dog up by the scruff and examine him further. Pug, eyes bulging indignantly at such lese-majesty, lunged at her, snapping.
‘The evil creature bit me!’ Charlotte exclaimed incredulously, snatching back her hand.
‘No, no, I dare say he was just surprised and alarmed when you bent over him,’ Letty said, hurrying over and examiningthe injured member. ‘See, the skin is not broken, for he does not have two teeth left in his head that meet!’
‘So sorry,’ Alys said sweetly, returning from confining Pug to the kitchen. ‘I should have warned you that he is not quite at ease with strangers.’
‘It is no matter,’ Lady Basset said shortly. ‘The creature is clearly too old and unstable to adapt to a new owner and should probably be destroyed.’
‘We willpurchasea little dog for your sister instead, how is that?’ James suggested.
