S
The rest of the afternoon was spent completing their transformations. Oliver could scarcely recognize himself in the mirror, dressed up in some of Beaujean’s clothing. Beaujean had added padding to Oliver’s thighs and shoulders, and cinched his waist so tightly he could barely breathe. The stiff, high collar around his neck poked his ears and chin, and he found himself tugging at the cravat to loosen it. “How do you live in such clothes, Beau?” Oliver complained.
“High fashion always comes at a price, my friend. But is it not worth it, to look so good? Now, we must do something about this hair of yours.”
Thirty minutes later, with a stylish new haircut, courtesy of Beaujean and a pair of scissors, Oliver began learning how to walk and talk like a lord.
“You have learnt to drop your contractions; that is good. But we must work on your accent and your catch phrase. Every good dandy has a catch phrase,” Beaujean insisted. “Perhaps ‘I say!’ or ‘My good fellow’, or even ‘Zounds’!”
“I’ll not resort to swearing,” Oliver insisted.
“Not even a little one?” Beaujean let off a couple of oaths for show. “A man like you must learn to swear, Hodge. It’s what makes him a man!”
“But I am to join the church.”
“Oliver Hodgeis to join the church.” Beaujean gestured to Theo, now dressed in a simple gray waistcoat with a darker gray coat atop it, his cravat plainly tied. Anyone might think he was a gentleman of low birth, destined to become a clergyman. “You areLord Connally, a fashionable noble with thirteen thousand a year.” Beaujean reminded Oliver.
“Still, I will not swear. ‘I say!’ will be as good a phrase for me as any.”
Beaujean turned to Theo. “You must work on your accent too, Connally. If you speak in a posh manner, you’ll give yourself away. Adopt a little of the Yorkshire accent, if you please, even a local phrase thrown in now and again, to remind people that you are a gardener’s son, despite your gentleman’s education, and all will be well.”
“And you had better not call me ‘Connally’ anymore, Beaujean!” Theo laughed.
“Right you are! You are Hodge, and he is Connally. Zounds! This will be harder than I thought.” Beaujean nearly doubled over.
S
A few days later, dressed in their new attire, and fully schooled in their new roles thanks to Jean Beaujean, the gentlemen called at Fairclough.
Mrs. Reginald Hurst expressed her gratitude that they returned her call.
“Naturally, madam,” Oliver, disguised as Lord Connally, replied with an affected air. “I would be remiss if I did not return your call, after seeing your card left along with Mrs. Bird’s. Mr. Hurst was a childhood friend of mine.” At that moment, Reggie Hurst himself entered the room.
He did not appear to recognize Oliver or Theo, but of course they recognized him.
“Hurst, my good man! What a pleasure to see you again.” Oliver slapped him on the back.
“...It’s Connally, right? Theodore Connally?” Some spark of recognition entered Hurst’s eyes.
“I say! So you do remember me! Then of course, you’ll also remember our old playmate, Oliver Hodge,” Oliver gestured to Theo, who bowed humbly. “And I’m told you’re also acquainted with Jean Beaujean, here.”
“Yes, Beaujean, I remember you. You were in Town a few years back, during the Season.” Hurst’s chin jiggled as his head bobbed. He shook Beaujean’s hand, then each of the other gentlemen’s hands in turn. “It is good to find we have mutual acquaintances.”
“We met Beaujean while we were in Dublin,” Oliver explained. “Picked him up as a stray, as it were. And as you can see, just like a stray, he’s followed us home, too!” They all laughed at Oliver’s joke.
“Ah, Connally, your sense of humor is as good as ever! You have met my wife, I see,” Hurst gestured to Mrs. Hurst, who curtsied. “This is her sister, Miss Caroline Bingley, and of course, you remember my mother.” Miss Bingley mimicked her sister’s genteel curtsy. Theo noticed she gazed at Oliver as if she were taking stock of a horse she planned to purchase. The elder Mrs. Hurst did not rise from her sofa, but Oliver went to her and kissed her hand.
“Welcome home, Lord Connally. It is a joy to have you back in the county, whatever the circumstances. And may I offer my sincere condolences on your loss.”
Oliver bowed his head. “My father will be greatly missed.” Seeing Theo’s face darken, he quickly changed the subject. “But let us speak of other things. I say, Miss Bingley, you are new to this area. Have you seen any of the sights?”
“None, Your Lordship.” She took a step closer to him and smiled.
“Then we must remedy that. The castle is always worth a visit, and the wharf and the lighthouse too.”
“There is also the waterfall at Hayburn Wyke,” Theo supplied.
“Right you are! I had forgotten about that place. Beautiful spot, and hardly anyone knows about it.”
