‘No, but that does not make Susan’s behaviour any the better. Have a care, cousin, for your antics are liable to have repercussions you cannot even begin to imagine. Now, remember we want to be at Almack’s for nine. Do not dally.’
With which Sophy went to her room, and offered up a silent prayer as she removed her habit that her cousin might not send her grey with worry.
CHAPTER TEN
Sophy chose her gown with care. She did notwant to appear too young to be a chaperone, nor yet an ape leader. Now that she did not feel under pressure to attract partners, she had found that she enjoyed Almack’s, but tonight, having to watch both sister and cousin alone, she felt too much on duty. She looked at herself in the mirror, and felt she looked ‘creditable’. Her grandmama’s diamond drops made her look a little more mature and sophisticated, and the deep cream of the silk was set off by gold floss at the hem and upon the intricately cut puff sleeves. She told herself that she must not set out in trepidation, and met her charges in the hallway, where she checked final details and pinned an errant curl for Harriet.
They arrived before the rooms were too crowded, and Sophy saw Harriet and Susan solicited to dance by unimpeachable partners. She relaxed, and retired a little to one side, where several of the older matrons were enjoying a comfortable gossip away from their progeny. It was not her intention to listen in upon their conversation, and indeed what she heard made her feel a little dizzy.
‘Goodness, yes. “Roving Rothley”. How often one has heard that name and pitied the object of his affections.’
‘“Rake Rothley” is the appellation I recall. You would think his past would make all wary, but did you ever hear of a case where he failed?’
‘No, and just think, not all were silly misses.’
Sophy moved away, not wishing to hear more. Her mouth was dry, and she took a glass from a passing waiter with a hand that shook very slightly. She had, like it or not, persuaded herself that Mama had been mistaken in Lord Rothley. She so wanted her to be mistaken. After all, he was received everywhere, and Sir Esmond Fawley, whom she saw as a very reliable gentleman, acknowledged him as a friend. Yet honesty made her accept that men took a very different view of things than ladies. Lord Pinkney was a gamester, and clearly despised by Sir Esmond. Perhaps a man who toyed with women was seen in another light as long as he was not too obvious. The ‘tabbies’ she had overheard had no doubt about their view of Lord Rothley; he was charming but dangerous, and he did not fail in his objectives. That was quite disturbing, and her evening ruined. When Susan returned to her, she drew her apart and begged her, most sincerely, to have a care in his presence. Susan nodded, but Sophy saw the smile play about her lips and worried. Harriet was in company with several other young ladies and there seemed little chance of warning her. Besides, Sophy thought her sister impervious, for some reason, to his lordship’s charms. She therefore spent the next half hour brooding upon her own foolishness, since his charms were all too obvious to herself. However, concern about the dangerous viscount was cast from her mind in an instant when she was confronted by Lady Jersey, almost rigid with anger.
It was not Lord Rothley’s habit to frequent Almack’s, and he tended to appear there but once or twice a Season, but those who noticed such things, and among the matrons and patronesses there were many that did, ears were pricked. What eluded everyone was which young lady had inspired this change of habit. There were those convinced that Miss Tyneham was his object, and shook their heads over it, for he was well enough liked and Miss Tyneham was gaining a reputation, of the wrong sort. Sympathies were with her cousins, but if things continued they would, everyone agreed, suffer to a lesser extent. A smaller number thought that it was with the tall Lady Sophronia that his ambitions lay, and these ladies sighed, for it would be so nice for ‘that poor girl’ who had reached the point of being on the shelf.
‘That poor girl’ was currently attempting to placate a highly incensed Lady Jersey, who had actually overheard Susan complaining to another debutante that she was being held back from dancing the waltz out of spite. Since this was entirely in the remit of the patronesses, it was against these ladies that a slip of a girl had lashed out in a tantrum, and merely because she had seen another young lady given permission to do so before her.
That Sally Jersey was a friend of her mama was a small help; but that she had been the very patroness who had supplied their vouchers for Almack’s added to the insult. Sophy was mortally ashamed.
‘There is nothing that I can say, ma’am, except to apologise for my cousin’s intemperate and wholly unacceptable behaviour.’
‘Easily said,’ snapped Lady Jersey, unappeased.
‘My mama will be most distressed to hear of it, and on top of her current worries …’ Sophy hoped that reminding Lady Jersey of the circumstances of Lady Chelmarsh’s disappearance from London might reduce Lady Jersey’s ire, though it would make her seem inadequate as a controlling force. The truth was that Lady Chelmarsh had feared that Susan would overstep the mark even whilst directly under her eye.
‘It is only out of respect for my friend, Lady Chelmarsh, that I do not forbid entry for Miss Tyneham, since it would also preclude you and your sister attending whilst you are nominally in charge of her.’
Sophy bit her lip, and felt a constriction in her chest.
‘I do try, ma’am. The only thing that I can say about my cousin is that she has never been “with people”, never been taught to think of others. It makes suddenly being in the midst of Society difficult for her, as well as … us.’
Lady Jersey, relented, a little.
‘As I said, my friendship with your mama, and the difficult time she must be having, means that this will go no further. However, I suggest, most strongly, that you take your cousin to one side and explain … realities to her. Had Mrs Drummond-Burrell or the Countess Lieven overheard her …’ Lady Jersey did not need to say more. Had either of those high sticklers become aware of Susan’s behaviour, the doors of Almack’s would have closed firmly in their faces. Sophy felt rather sick. She murmured a further apology and withdrew to regain her composure and then to take Susan to one side as carefully as she could. She was looking down, trying phrases in her head, when she almost collided with Lord Rothley.
‘Oh, I am sorry …’ she began, and then looked up. There was such a stricken look in her eyes and her face was so pale, he thought she must have received terrible news. His hand went out to steady her.
‘Lady Sophy, you are unwell.’
‘No, my lord, it is just …’ Her voice became suspended for a moment, and he led her, unresisting, to a quiet alcove, and pressed her into a seat, sitting beside her. Whatever his reputation, just at this moment he seemed the one firm thing in her maelstrom of emotion. For one moment his reputation was forgotten.
‘Do you want me to fetch your sister, ma’am? Should you go home?’
‘No, oh no please, do not ruin Harriet’s evening also.’ She looked away. The urge to be weak and cry, now the shock of how close they had come to ruin sank in, was so very nearly overwhelming.
He had not let go of her hand.
‘Have you received bad news, ma’am?’ he asked, quietly. ‘Your sister …’
She shook her head.
‘You must think me foolish, sir. Nothing of that magnitude has overset me but …’ She confided in him, without knowing why, other than that the grasp of his hand anchored her to calm, and his voice was sympathetic. Sophy explained the last ten minutes. The hand hold tightened and if she had not been looking at that hand and her own, Sophy would have seen his expression grow grim.
‘The wretch. Has she no notion at all how Society works?’
