Page 41 of A Sense of Injustice
‘I am so glad you are here, Fel,’ Lydia clutched her sister’s arm. ‘He has been terribly mean and doesn’t let me have any fun at all. But it will be different now you are here, I am absolutely sure of it. You can always cajole him into a better frame of mind. Besides, he can absolve himself of responsibility for me and you and I will have a delightful time doing precisely as we please.’
Felicity linked her arm through her sister’s and they wandered out into the garden, where they could talk without fear of her uncle’s servants overhearing their conversation and reporting its contents back to their master.
‘Why is Uncle being so curmudgeonly?’ Felicity asked. ‘Is there a particular reason for it, or is his gout playing him up again?’
‘Oh, he is impossible! As to the gout, I have no idea. He hasn’t said anything and I didn’t think to ask.’
‘You should have,’ Felicity said on a note of mild censure. ‘Old people like nothing more than to run on about their ailments. And by asking, you are demonstrating concern that will show you in good light. Always remember that. It doesn’t take much effort.’
‘I will remember, Fel. You are so clever about these things. Anyway, we were invited to dine at the Earl of Swindon’s residence last night.’
‘Were you indeed? I hear that the earl is single, wealthy and very handsome. I hope you made a favourable impression upon him. He’s approaching the age when he can no longer delay choosing a wife.’
‘That is what I supposed, and so I did all the things you taught me to do. I looked fragile, and a little tragic, I hope,’ she said, giggling, ‘and agreed with every word he spoke. But my uncle scolded me for being too forward.’ Lydia wrinkled her brow. ‘I was not at all, Fel, really. You must believe me. Uncle got it entirely wrong. I just wanted to be sure that the earl would remember me.’ She pouted. ‘Now Uncle tells me we will not be invited to Beranger Court again because I embarrassed him. He accused me of being a flirt. Me!’ She puffed out her cheeks indignantly. ‘It’s ridiculous. And now he’s threatening not to accept any invitations anywhere because he says he cannot depend upon me to behave myself. Honestly, it seems to me that our uncle no longer remembers what it felt like to be young.’
‘I am sure he will change his mind now that I’m here.’ They strolled the length of a stone path. ‘Who else was at Beranger Court?’
‘Oh, it was the strangest thing. It was a party to celebrate the coming of age of the dowager countess’s companion. Only imagine! The girl is treated like a member of the family and they all made the most ridiculous fuss of her. It’s not as though she is even very pretty but the earl and all his brothers seem to like her. So does Lord Hardwick. He was there too but he’s a cripple.’
‘There’s no accounting for the ways of great families,’ Felicity replied.
‘A Mrs Pearson was there with her two granddaughters, but I didn’t really speak to her.’
Lydia was now fully assured of Felicity’s complete attention. ‘What did you make of the granddaughters? Were they of a similar age to you? I should imagine it would be nice to have a friend in the district.’
‘Oh, I barely exchanged a dozen words with either of them. The elder girl is quite pretty in a rather obvious sort of way, I suppose. One of the earl’s brothers seemed to like her, but she spent considerably more time talking with Miss Latimer, the companion. Our uncle called at Beranger Court today, as a matter of fact. He had business to discuss with the earl and happened to see Miss Pearson walking in the grounds with Miss Latimer. Really, the girl doesn’t seem to have any duties to perform—or if she does then she cannot give them much attention. Last night she was the guest of honour, and today, when it’s reasonable to suppose that she ought to be discharging her obligations towards the countess, she was wandering about the grounds in animated conversation with Miss Pearson.’ Lydia shook her head, setting her curls dancing. ‘I do not understand it at all.’
Felicity did, and was not too pleased. She had hoped that Louise Pearson would be hiding herself away as she contemplated the only decision she could possibly reach, which was a future as Darius’s wife. The wretched child should think herself honoured instead of putting up silly objections and keeping Darius dangling. How dare she toy with his affections! It made Felicity furious every time she considered the situation. It was damnably inconvenient being so comprehensively in love with Darius herself, but there was absolutely nothing to be done about that. Felicity knew because she had tried to put him from her heart and mind but had failed dismally.
Unfortunately her husband had known as well, and had been most unreasonable about the matter. She had resolved that problem and even recovered from the shock of being left destitute. But she hadn’t gone to all that trouble in order to have obstacles placed in her path by a green girl who didn’t know when she was well off. It was a very great pity that shedidlove Darius to the point of distraction, otherwise she might well turn her attentions to the earl herself. Felicity was in no doubt that she would succeed where her inexperienced sister had failed. Or perhaps she would go after Archie Hardwick, if only to show Magda Simpson how it ought to be done.
Felicity made a determined effort to return her thoughts to the situation with Louise Pearson. If she was becoming intimately acquainted with the earl’s family, Darius would have to act quickly and settle things between them. They couldn’t risk Louise accepting an alternative offer from the duke’s annoying brother, or pouring out her heart to this Miss Latimer person either. It sounded as though she had the earl’s ear and he, in turn, wielded considerable influence in the district.
Felicity had arranged to meet Darius in the village that evening. She had a great deal to tell him, and fresh plans to make. Time was no longer on their side. Felicity hadn’t gone to such extreme lengths only to have her heart’s desire snatched from her at the eleventh hour.
Chapter Ten
Flora’s prediction proved correct. Her charge decided against going down that evening, and she and Flora dined quietly in the countess’s rooms. The old lady was querulous and ate a worryingly small amount.
‘They have sent up stuffed pigeon breasts, my lady. They are your favourite. Can I persuade you to take one?’
‘Stop fussing, child. I shall eat whatever I wish.’
‘But that is precisely my difficulty. You don’t appear to wish for anything.’
‘Sorry, Flora love.’ The old lady gave a heavy sigh. ‘You will discover for yourself that the desire for food diminishes with the passage of time.’
Flora smiled, knowing when she was beaten. ‘Well, at least drink some hot chocolate.’
The countess made some uncomplimentary remark about domineering individuals but picked up her cup anyway. She had only just done so when Luke put his head around the door.
‘You have been overexerting yourself again, Grandmamma,’ he said, kissing her brow and looking at her almost untouched plate.
‘Nonsense! Why must everyone keep fussing over me. As I keep telling this irritating child, I am as strong as an ox.’
But Flora could see from her drooping eyelids that she was battling to stay awake. She rang the bell, to which Sandwell responded immediately, and the countess regally decreed that she would retire early.
‘Go away,’ she said, flapping a hand at Flora and Luke. ‘Sandwell will take care of me.’
