“Oh yes, I know the truth and there’s nothing she can do to change it. Lady Frances should have been mine. I’ll make her pay! I’ll make them all pay!”
By this point, Lord Baxter was completely out of his depth and shifted uncomfortably in his chair. What in the world was Lord Mulford raving about?
“My parents went to the wedding of Lady Frances,” the younger man put in rather helplessly, hoping to bring the conversation back down to earth. “They said it went well.”
“She didn’t invite you either, did she?” said Lord Mulford with sympathy. “Another old family friend cast aside without any consideration. We’re in the same boat, you and I.”
“I was invited but Father said I couldn’t go in case I disgraced them again,” Hubert admitted.
“They invited you? They invited even you?!” spluttered Oswald now.
Then, rising from his chair and seizing up the bottle of brandy, Lord Mulford looked down at the younger man with contempt and marched away.
Chapter Twelve
“How is my favorite great-granddaughter?” called out Euphemia Wilson cheerfully, only reluctantly accepting the assistance of a groom who had come hurrying over from the stables as her horse and buggy rolled up the driveway.
It had been a week now since the wedding, and this was the first guest to call at the house. Frances supposed that family and friends had not really believed her claim that they were not taking any kind of honeymoon.
“Great-grandmama!” Winifred exclaimed delightedly, rushing down the steps of Westall Park, with Frances and Miss Winters a little behind her. “You’ve brought the buggy! I love the buggy.”
“I know you do, my darling,” responded the silver-haired lady, embracing the child. “That’s why I brought it. I haven’t seen you for a whole week and couldn’t stay away any longer.”
“Duchess Frances, my great-grandmama can ride the biggest horses and drive the biggest carriages,” Winifred declared to her stepmother with shining eyes, seeming very proud to share this information with Frances, while Lady Levene only chuckled.
“Do you know, Winnie, I had to sneak out with the buggy today?” the doughty old lady confided to the child. "My stepson John is determined that a groom must drive me everywhere these days but I just hopped into the buggy while he was faffing round the stables, fussing over unnecessary things, and set off by myself.”
Winnie giggled, much entertained by this story, which Frances could already quite believe to be true.
“Will Uncle John be very cross when you get back?” the little girl asked.
“No one is allowed to be cross with me, Winifred, nor to cross me. I am far too old and venerable.”
“Father says you’re a tough old bird,” commented Winnie now, in tones of great admiration.
“Lady Winifred Clarke!” scolded red-faced Miss Winters, in the tones Frances expected from an experienced governess, and producing the alarmed result she expected on Winnie’s little face too. “How many times have I told you not to repeat things you overhear from adults?”
Lady Levene, however, only burst into further peals of laughter.
“Yes, your father is right, Winnie. I am a tough old bird, and I have been called far worse than that in my long life. Ha, I rather like it!”
The confused little girl looked between the adults’ faces, struggling to understand whether she had done something wrong or not, and caught between laughing and crying. Frances went over and took her hand with a smile.
“All is well, Winnie,” she said softly and saw the child relax. “Your great-grandmama knows that you meant to compliment her, but Miss Winters is also right that you must be careful about repeating things.”
Winifred nodded and leaned her face into Frances’ dress shyly so that she need not look at Miss Winters for a moment or two. When Frances glanced across, she saw Ambrose’s grandmother studying her with bright appraising eyes and hoped that Lady Levene was pleased with whatever she saw.
“Now then, it is a fine afternoon and I intend to take my great-granddaughter and new granddaughter-in-law for a drive,” the silver-haired woman pronounced. "If the Duchess of Westall permits, I think you might take the rest of the afternoon off, Miss Winters.”
Frances nodded confirmation to the governess, very much liking Lady Levene’s clear thinking and straight talking.
“It is a fine afternoon for a drive,” she agreed. “Winnie, go and get your coat and hat. Miss Winters, could you ask Nettie orone of the other maids to bring my coat too? I will take Winnie straight up to the nursery for tea when we get back.”
A few minutes later, Frances and Winnie were helped into the buggy where Lady Levene was already sitting and holding tightly to the reins, with a baleful look to the despairing groom. Frances guessed that the old lady had again refused his offers of greater assistance.
“Are we all safely in and holding tight?” called Lady Levene, to accompanying cheers from Winifred. “Very well then, off to the lake!”
Despite the fears of her family, Lady Levene was actually a very careful and competent driver. The horse was well-trained and obedient to her wishes and the ride was a thrilling one only in the head of Winifred who pretended that they were escaping together from a hungry wolf.
