Page 40 of The Undaunted
“That’s where the Prince will hold his ball,” she said. “In the winter months, we have our own dances in the hall there, but in the summer it’s taken over by the swells.”
Just before Caroline wondered aloud if the Prince’s invitations had been sent and whether there was any chance at all of her going, there was a soft knock on the door. It opened and Lady Easton took in the scene.
Caroline supposed she would be surprised to see her lady’s maid having tea with her.
Bemmy stood and said, “Lady Easton, I did take it upon myself to have my tea here on account of Miss Upton’s headache. One never knows if a headache will develop into something more serious and I was determined to have my eyes upon her at all times. I once saved a charge in similar circumstances who started with a headache and ended with a high fever. Had I not been there, well…”
Caroline was vastly entertained to watch the flashes of emotion cross Lady Easton’s features. Shock when she came upon the scene, alarm at the mention of serious illness, and finally gratefulness over Bemmy’s thorough attentions.
“You are very good to do it, Bemmy. I would have a word with Caroline alone for a few minutes and then you may continue your vigil. You will alert me to the smallest change.”
“Oh, Lady Easton, my headache has begun to fade already,” Caroline said hurriedly, lest she be trapped in the room for days with an illness she did not have.
“I wondered if it were a general weakness, my lady,” Bemmy said gravely, “brought on by lack of nourishment, as sometimes happens in the young. It’s been my experience that anything sweet often does the trick and so tea and biscuits were the remedy.”
Bemmy made a pretty curtsy and as she departed the room, Lady Easton said, “You are a treasure trove of information, Bemmy, you really are.”
Caroline pressed her lips together to avoid collapsing in a heap of laughter. Bemmy had the good grace to blush, knowing full well she was a treasure trove of nonsense and fabrications.
“Now,” Lady Easton said sitting down, “I do not like to bother you when you have a headache but as it is fading, I will venture it. It seems the dinner at Alvanley’s is being talked about in an unflattering and false manner. All sorts of lies have been spread about.”
Lady Easton went on to inform Caroline of the outrageous stories of dancing on tables and a scavenger hunt in the dark. She hardly knew what to make of it. Certainly, nobody would believe it, it was too ridiculous.
“I know perfectly well that none of it is true and Richard is convinced it was some young gentleman who only wished to tell a wild story to impress his juvenile friends.”
“I am very sorry to have involved you in such a thing, no matter how it came about.”
“It is not your fault,” Lady Easton said. “The blame is firmly laid at my husband’s door. I did tell him it was not suitable and then, as soon as he saw Mrs. Jordan and Mrs. Fitzherbert, he should have whisked you away.”
Lady Easton was silent for what felt like a full minute. Then she said, “I do not know what has happened to him. I really do not.”
Caroline was indeed sorry that such a story had made the rounds. Not really for herself, as the tale seemed too silly for any rational person to countenance, but for Lady Easton. The poor woman worked so hard to maintain a strict decorum, this was precisely the sort of thing that would affect her deeply.
As for Lord Easton, Caroline suspected he’d laughed off the tale as being the ridiculous story that it was.
“In any case,” Lady Easton said, “letters are going out to my friends. I will have all the ladies of the society by our side. Further, our dinner on Thursday will cement the idea that we have formed a new set. A set characterized by dignity and restraint. We will do things with solemnity of purpose—I’m thinking of card parties and musical evenings to begin. Alvanley and his cronies may host their unseemly parties and toy with the reputations of others, but they will no longer toy with us. And that reminds me, whenever you are walking out of the house, always direct your gaze to the right.”
“To the right?” Caroline asked, entirely mystified as to how the direction of one’s eyes indicated a solemnity of purpose or showed dignity and restraint.
“Mrs. Fitzherbert lives to the left,” Lady Easton said. “We should not like any unfortunate encounters.”
Poor Mrs. Fitzherbert. Caroline hoped the lady was not aware that others would take such steps to avoid her.
“I suppose that means we do not attend the Prince’s ball on Tuesday next?” she asked, half hoping her assumption was wrong.
“Certainly not,” Lady Easton said with a sniff. “I will not have you in harm’s way again. He may be the regent, but his judgment in friends is deplorable. One had hopes that he might grow out of it, but really, how much more can he grow? From now on, you will be accompanied everywhere you go by at least one of the ladies. Lady Redfield will walk out with you and Bemmy on the morrow—of course I would be happy to do it, but I must manage the preparations for the dinner.”
As Caroline took in what Lady Easton was saying, she found herself looking for a way out of the plan.
“But surely, Lady Redfield needn’t be bothered. Bemmy is very careful, after all.”
“Bemmy is a wonder,” Lady Easton said. “I do not deny it. However, I wish all in this wretched town to view Miss Upton in the care of the most eminent ladies in society.Thatwill teach them what to think.”
Caroline’s heart sank. With a friend of Lady Easton’s always by her side, there would certainly be no exhibition. There would be no jolly parties or Lord Alvanley’s wit to entertain. There would be no Regent’s ball. There would be no chance encounters with Mr. Landon. There would be no entertainments at all, for what entertainment could be hoped for when it was accompanied by solemnity of purpose?
“Never fear, Caroline,” Lady Easton said, “we will repair this situation and we will persevere. Now, I wonder if you will be well enough to dine with us this evening? We meet in the drawing room at seven forty-five. I do hope you make every effort as itisTuesday and we will have fish. Bramley says it’s come straight off the boat this morning.”
Caroline nodded absently. She might as well go down at seven forty-five. Fish for dinner was likely to be the most exciting thing that would happen all week.
