The duke rumbled with amusement. “Oh, when we fought over her, that was true enough, but later… well, having been accused and challenged over it, I saw no reason not to make it true. But it was a fleeting affair, and I had nothing to do with the divorce. She had long since moved on to someone else by then. Poor Cecilia! I hope, wherever she went, that she found happiness in the end. As for Edlesborough, he found a wife more suited to his temperament. Quiet little thing, your mother, Payne. She gives him no trouble, I imagine.”
“As you say, sir.”
Nothing more was said, and Simon was left to reflect on the difficult lives of aristocratic wives, and wonder whether it was better to be lively, like Cecilia, and end up cast out of all good society, or to be meek and timid like his mother, living always in fear of a mistake that would bring down retribution on her head.
13: A Suitor
In the garden, the first signs of spring began to emerge from winter’s iron grip. Snowdrops edged the paths, and here and there in sheltered spots primroses brought their own sunshine to the shrubbery. Sophia and her sisters took advantage of a milder spell to explore further afield than the formal gardens, venturing across the river to explore the woods beyond.
They returned one day to see a mud-bespattered travelling chaise being driven away to the stables, as footmen laboured with several items of luggage.
“Visitors?” Charlotte said.
“Ooh, exciting!” said Augusta.
“Who can it be? No one is expected, I think,” Maria said.
“Cousin Hester did not mention any arrivals,” Charlotte said. “Perhaps it is one of the duchess’s sisters.”
“There was a coat of arms on the chaise,” Sophia said.
“Ooh, nobility!”
“Quick, quick, let us find out who it is.”
Augusta’s longer legs took her up the front steps before any of the others, where she almost crashed into Froggett. He smiled paternally at her, and beamed at the three following close behind her.
“Who is it, Froggett?” Charlotte said. “Anyone we might know?”
“It is the Lord Daniel Torbuck, madam.”
The sisters gasped in excitement. Sophia gasped too, with a queer shivery feeling, as if she were about to succumb to the influenza.Lord Daniel!He could only be here to see her, surely? But no — she must not assume that every acquaintance who happened to appear at Staineybank had arrived on her account. That would be foolishly presumptuous of her. Perhaps he was just passing, or brought a message from his father to the duke, for these peers all knew each other.
The others, whispering together in awed voices, were in no doubt. “Oh, Sophia! How wonderful for you,” Maria breathed.
“Where… where is his lordship, Froggett?” Sophia said, her voice unnaturally high, but she could not quite master it, not yet. The shock was too overwhelming.
“Upstairs putting off the dirt of his journey, madam,” Froggett said, his smile widened. “Her grace wishes you to know that she and Mrs Roland Merrington will expect you in the White Drawing Room whenever you have divested yourselves of your outer garments.”
The White Drawing Room!The most formal room in the house, used only in the evenings, or for very important guests. So Mama and the duchess were according this visit its proper solemnity.
The sisters tore up the stairs to hurl away cloaks and pelisses, bonnets and gloves. Kitty was waiting for Sophia, a fresh gown already laid out, one of her newest ones.
“Madam said you’re to wear this one, Miss Sophia,” she said, eyes shining with excitement. “I’m to make sure your hair’s neat, too.”
Sophia understood. The arrival of a potential suitor was too important a matter for an ordinary day dress. She submitted meekly to Kitty’s ministrations, although it was hard to be still when she was quivering with anticipation. What would he say? Would he be eager to see her again or restrained? And how should she respond to him? She was pleased to see him, naturally, but… somewhere deep inside her was a fluttering of alarm. She might be on the brink of receiving her first offer… she could even be married by midsummer. Heavens! After so many years of dashed hopes, she was not at all sure how she felt about that.
When Kitty was satisfied that her appearance would bring the appropriate credit to the family, Sophia left her room, to find her sisters waiting on the landing for her, eyes wide with delicious anticipation. Arm in arm, they descended the main staircase in a sedate manner, for heaven forfend that they arrive out of breath or dishevelled in any way. Froggett was loitering at the foot of the stairs, awaiting their arrival. He led them at a stately pace into the Marble Hall, where Henry and Robert stood ready to throw open the high doors to the White Drawing Room.
Froggett led them through, and bowed as they entered.
“Ah, here they are, Lord Daniel,” Mama trilled, from her seat at the far side of the room. “My girls.”
And there he was, looking just as he had at Marshfields, jumping to his feet and smiling, smiling… he saw the four of them, his eyes scanned them, the smile slipped and the strangest expression flashed across his face. It was almost as if he were horrified… but how could that be?
“Lord Daniel,” Sophia said, stepping forward into the room. “What an unexpected pleasure to see you again so soon.”
She did not ask why he was there. Presumably he would have some reason prepared, but she left that to him to articulate.
