Page 24 of The Undaunted
“Who has only room for two?” Lady Easton said, coming into the breakfast room.
“Alvanley,” Richard said, practically spitting the name out. “He’s having a dinner.”
“I am afraid I am notat allinterested,” Lady Easton said haughtily.
“Excellent,” Lord Easton said, “that solves all difficulties then. He wants myself and Caroline.”
“What?” Lady Easton asked. “Why, that is…” She turned to her nephew and said, “Richard, do help me out.”
“Dashed strange, is what I think,” Richard said.
“Yes, strange. And not at all…what we would wish. After all, Alvanley…” Lady Easton trailed off.
Richard had no intention of trailing off. “See here, Uncle, it’s all well and good foryouto associate with the Regent’s crowd, but I hardly think it’s the thing for an innocent young lady who knows little of the world.”
Miss Upton appeared to bristle at the idea that she knew little of the world. She might bristle all she liked but it was perfectly true. It was ever the case with those who could not conceive that there was more to know than what they had so far seen.
“I cannot imagine what sort of dangers would lurk at a dinner,” Miss Upton said. “Does Lord Alvanley keep crocodiles under the table, or perhaps dose a dish with arsenic and we’ll have to guess which it one is?”
Lord Easton snorted. “Hah! That’s funny, it really is, oh the picture I get from it. Everybody’s feet up to avoid the crocodiles and hoping somebody else finds the arsenic first!”
Richard and his aunt both stared at Lord Easton. Who was this person? Who were they both?
“Uncle, you know perfectly well what I mean,” Richard said. “It’s a forward sort of set. Too forward.”
“Yes, that is it exactly. He skates the line of respectability and I am certain he will cross it one of these days,” Lady Easton said. She’d sunk into her chair and nodded to Bramley to bring her tea. “In any case, Easton, why should you be escorting Caroline anywhere?”
“Why should I not?” Lord Easton asked. “She is our guest and the daughter of a great friend of mine.”
This was the first Richard had heard of his uncle beinggreatfriends with Baron Dunn.
“I only say that it should be me escorting Caroline,” Lady Easton said.
“And it would have been, my dear,” Lord Easton said, “had you been invited.”
Richard was certain the world had gone mad. Bramley went to the door where one of the footmen was waiting for him. They conferred together and then Bramley returned to the table.
“My lady,” he said, “the agency sends word that the candidates for Miss Upton’s lady’s maid will arrive beginning at eleven o’clock.”
Lady Easton pressed her hand across her forehead as if she had a headache.
Miss Upton said, “Lady Easton, I may do the interviewing if you like. You do seem tired.”
“No, no, if I am not to accompany you to dinner, the least I can do is see to your maid. I have very particular ideas about what is required from a lady’s maid.”
Lady Easton looked at the opposite wall, seeming as if her thoughts were far away. She suddenly jerked forward. “Something touched my foot,” she cried. “Is there a dog under my table?”
Before Lord Bertridge could account for Edgar, Miss Upton said, “Do not fret over it, Lady Easton, I have taken extra bacon and will fortuitously drop it and Edgar shall stay by my side for the rest of the morning.”
Lady Easton considered this plan and murmured, “Bramley, do fetch me a willow bark tea. And add some laudanum to it. I feel a terrible headache coming on.”
*
Caroline felt aripple of guilt that Lord Alvanley had not invited the entire household to dine. But then, she really did not think either Lady Easton or Lord Bertridge would have had a very good time.
As for herself, she was planning to have an excellent time.
Despite Lady Easton’s headache, or perhaps because of the salubrious effects of the willow bark and laudanum, the lady was able to carry on with the interviews for Caroline’s lady’s maid.
