Grand Sophy Read online

  ‘No, and we must remember that Charles stipulates that you should find some respectable employment before the engagement is announced.’

  ‘That quite settles it, then,’ said Mr Fawnhope. ‘The question is how far one might, with propriety, employ the methods of the Greek dramatists to overcome the difficulty.’

  ‘Augustus!’ said Cecilia, in a despairing voice. ‘Is your play more to you than I am?’

  He looked at her in surprise, perceived that she was in earnest, and at once took her hand, and kissed it, and said, smiling at her: ‘How absurd you are, my beautiful angel! How could anything or anyone be more to me than my Saint Cecilia? It is for your sake that I am writing the play. Should you dislike the notion of a chorus, in the Greek style?’

  Lord Charlbury, finding that his rival continued, even without the excuse of enquiring after Amabel’s condition, to visit in Berkeley Square, took fright and demanded an explanation of his preceptress. He was driving her down to Merton in his curricle at the time, and when she told him frankly what had occurred, he kept his eyes fixed on the road ahead, and for several moments said nothing. At last, with a palpable effort, he produced: ‘I see. When may I expect to see the announcement?’

  ‘Never,’ replied Sophy. ‘Don’t look so hagged, my dear Charlbury! I assure you, there is no need. Poor Cecy has discovered these many weeks that she mistook her own heart!’

  At that he turned his head quickly to look at her. ‘Is this so indeed? Sophy, don’t trifle with me! I own, I had thought – I had hoped – Then I shall try my fortune once more, before it is too late!’

  ‘Charlbury, for a sensible man you say the stupidest things!’ Sophy told him. ‘Pray, what do you imagine must be her answer in this predicament?’

  ‘But if she no longer loves Fawnhope – if she perhaps regrets turning me off – ?’

  ‘She does, of course, but it is one of those things which appear to be so easy until one considers a little more deeply. Do so! If your situations were reversed – you the impoverished poet, Augustus, the man of fortune – perhaps she might be brought to listen to you. But it is not so! Here is her poet, whom she has declared she will marry in despite of all her family – and you will allow that he has been uncommonly faithful to her!’

  ‘He – ! If he has a thought to spare for anything beyond his trumpery verses I will own myself astonished!’

  ‘He has not, of course, but you will scarcely expect my cousin to believe that! He has attached himself to her to the exclusion of every other female since before I came to England, and that, you know, must rank in the eyes of the world as devotion of no common order! You, my poor Charlbury, labour under all the disadvantages of rank and fortune! How heartless Cecilia must be to cast off her poet to wed you! You may depend upon it that this circumstance weighs with her! Her disposition is tender: she will not, without good reason, inflict pain upon one whom she believes loves her with all his heart. There is only one thing to be done: we must give her good reason for doing so.’

  He knew her well enough to feel a considerable degree of uneasiness. ‘For God’s sake, Sophy, what now do you mean to do?’

  ‘Why, make her feel that it is you who are to be pitied, to be sure!’

  Uneasiness changed to the deepest foreboding. ‘Good God! How?’

  She laughed. ‘I daresay it will suit you better not to know, Charlbury!’

  ‘Now, Sophy, listen to me!’

  ‘No, why should I? You say nothing to the point, and, besides, here we are already, and there is no time to enter upon a discussion! You must continue to trust me, if you please!’

  The curricle was already bowling up the sweep to the Marquesa’s door. ‘The lord knows I don’t, and never have!’ he retorted.

  They found the Marquesa alone, and surprisingly wide-awake. She welcomed Sophy affectionately, yet with a little constraint, and soon disclosed that she had only returned two days since from Brighton, where she had been sojourning for a fortnight.

  ‘Brighton!’ exclaimed Sophy. ‘You told me nothing of this, Sancia! Pray, what took you there so suddenly?’

  ‘But, Sophie, how should I tell you anything when you shut yourself up in a sickroom, and do not visit me any more?’ complained the Marquesa. ‘To remain always in one place – majadero!’

  ‘Very true, but you had the intention of living retired until Sir Horace’s return. I daresay you may have had tidings of him –’

  ‘No, I assure you! Not one word!’

  ‘Oh!’ said Sophy, slightly disconcerted. ‘Well, he had a prosperous voyage, and I daresay he will be with us again at any time now. For it is not likely that at this time of year they will encounter any very unfavourable weather, you know. Has the Duke of York been staying with his brother?’

  The Marquesa opened her sleepy eyes wide. ‘But, Sophie, how should I know? They are alike, the royal princes: gross and – what is it? – embotado! I do not know one from the other.’

  Sophy was obliged to be satisfied. Her escort, when they drove away, asked curiously: ‘Why were you put out, Sophy? Must not the Marquesa follow the rest of the world to Brighton?’

  She sighed. ‘Not if Sir Vincent Talgarth was there also, which is what I fear. I never saw her so animated!’

  ‘Disappointing! She won my heart originally by falling asleep under my eyes!’

  She laughed, and said no more, a slight abstraction possessing her until she was set down in Berkeley Square, and found Mr Rivenhall awaiting her return in considerable ill-humour. This instantly revived her, and she had no hesitation in informing him, upon demand, where she had been.

  ‘You did not go alone!’

  ‘By no means: Charlbury drove me there.’

  ‘I see? First you must set the town talking with Talgarth, and now with Charlbury! Famous!’

  ‘I do not perfectly understand you,’ said Sophy, as one innocently seeking enlightenment. ‘I thought your objection to Sir Vincent was that he has the name for being a great rake. Surely you do not suspect Charlbury of this! Why, you were even desirous at one time of wedding your sister to him.’

  ‘I am even more desirous that my cousin should not earn for herself the reputation of being fast!’

  ‘Why?’ asked Sophy, looking him in the eye. He made her no answer, and, after a moment, she said: ‘What right have you, Charles, to take exception to what I may choose to do?’

  ‘If your own good taste –’

  ‘What right, Charles?’

  ‘None!’ he said. ‘Do as you please! It can be of no consequence to me! You have an easy conquest in Everard! I had not thought him so fickle. Take care you do not lose your other suitor through encouraging this flirtation – for that is all I believe it to be!’

  ‘Bromford? Now, what a shocking thing that would be! You do right to put me on my guard! Charlbury lives in dread of being called out by him.’

  ‘I might have known I should meet with nothing but levity in you!’

  ‘If you will scold me so absurdly. I am not always so.’

  ‘Sophy – !’ He took a hasty step towards her, his hand going out, but almost immediately dropping to his side again. ‘I wish you had never come amongst us!’ he said, and turned away, to lean his arm along the mantelpiece, and stare down at the empty grate.

  ‘That is not kind, Charles.’

  He was silent.

  ‘Well, you will be rid of me soon, I daresay. I depend upon seeing Sir Horace at any time now. You will be glad!’

  ‘I must be glad.’ The words were uttered almost inaudibly, and he did not raise his head, or make any movement to prevent her leaving the room.

  The exchange had taken place in the library. She stepped out into the hall just as Dassett opened the front door to admit Mr Wychbold, very natty in a driving-coat of innumerable capes, shining Hessians, and an enormous nosegay stuck into his buttonhole. He was in the act of laying his tall beaver-hat down upon a marble-topped table, but at the sight of Sophy he used it to lend flourish to
his bow. ‘Miss Stanton-Lacy! Very obedient servant, ma’am!’

  She was surprised to see him, for he had been out of town for some weeks. As she shook hands, she said: ‘How delightful this is! I did not know you were in London! How do you do?’

  ‘Only reached town today, ma’am. Heard of your troubles from Charlbury: never more shocked in my life! Came at once to enquire!’

  ‘That is like you! Thank you, she is almost well now, although dreadfully thin, poor little dear, and languid still! You are the very person I wished to see! Are you driving yourself ? Must you instantly see my cousin, or will you take me for a turn round the Park?’

  He was driving his phaeton, and there could be only one answer to her request. With the greatest gallantry he bowed her out of the house, warning her, however, that she would encounter none but cits in the Park at this season.

  ‘And what, sir, would you have me say to Mr Rivenhall?’ asked Dassett, fixing his disapproving eye on a point above Mr Wychbold’s left shoulder.

  ‘Oh, tell him I called, and was sorry to find him from home!’ replied Mr Wychbold, with an insouciance the butler found offensive.

  ‘Have you been out in your own phaeton, ma’am?’ Mr Wychbold asked, as he handed Sophy in the carriage. ‘How do your bays go on?’

  ‘Very well. I have not been driving them today, however, but have been to Merton with Charlbury.’

  ‘Oh – ah!’ he said, with a slight cough and a sidelong look.

  ‘Yes, making myself the talk of the town!’ Sophy said merrily. ‘Who told you so? The arch-enemy?’

  He set his pair in motion, nodding gloomily. ‘Came smash up to her in Bond Street on my way here. Felt obliged to stop. She has put off her black ribands!’

  ‘And means to marry Charles next month!’ said Sophy, who, having reached habits of easy intercourse with Mr Wychbold, never stood upon ceremony with him.

  ‘Told you so,’ he pointed out, with a certain melancholy satisfaction.

  ‘So you did, and I replied that I might need your good offices. Do you make a prolonged stay in town, or are you off again immediately?’

  ‘Next week. But, y’know, ma’am, there ain’t anything to be done! Pity, but there it is.’

  ‘We shall see. What do you think would happen if you were to tell Charles one day that you had seen me driving off in a post-chaise and four with Charlbury?’

  ‘He would plant me a facer,’ responded Mr Wychbold, without hesitation. ‘What’s more: shouldn’t blame him!’

  ‘Oh!’ said Sophy, disconcerted. ‘Well, I am sure I don’t wish him to do that. But if it were true?’

  ‘Wouldn’t believe me. No need for you to go off with Charlbury. Not the kind of fellow to engage in such freaks, either.’

  ‘I know that, but it might be contrived. He would not plant you a facer if you only asked him why I was leaving town with Charlbury for my escort, would he?’

  After giving this his consideration, Mr Wychbold admitted that he might be spared the facer on these terms.

  ‘Will you do it?’ Sophy asked him. ‘If I were to send you word to your lodgings, would you make certain that Charles knows of it? Is he not always at White’s in the afternoon?’

  ‘Well, you may generally find him there, but I would not say always,’ replied Mr Wychbold cautiously. ‘Besides, I shan’t see you driving off !’

  ‘You may, if you choose to give yourself the trouble of walking round to Berkeley Square!’ she retorted. ‘If you have word from me, you will know it to be true, and may tell Charles with a clear conscience. I’ll take care he knows of it when he comes home, but sometimes he does not come in to dinner. And that would ruin everything! Well, no! not everything, perhaps, but I have always found it to be an excellent scheme to kill two birds with one stone whenever it may be possible!’

  Mr Wychbold gave this his profound consideration. Having turned all the implications of Sophy’s words over in his brain, he said suddenly: ‘Know what I think?’

  ‘No, tell me!’

  ‘No wish to throw a rub in the way, mind!’ Mr Wychbold said. ‘Not a particular friend of mine, Charlbury. Very good sort of a fellow, I believe, but he don’t happen to have come much in my way.’

  ‘But what do you think?’ demanded Sophy, impatient of this divagation.

  ‘Think Charles may very likely call him out,’ said Mr Wychbold, ‘Come to think of it, bound to! Devilish fine shot, Charles! Just thought I would mention it!’ he added apologetically.

  ‘You are right, and I am very much obliged to you for putting me in mind of such a possibility!’ said Sophy warmly. ‘I would not for the world place Charlbury in jeopardy! But there will not be the least need for such a measure, you know.’

  ‘Ah, well!’ said Mr Wychbold comfortably. ‘Daresay he won’t do more than drop him a few times, then! Draw his claret, I mean!’

  ‘Fisticuffs? Oh no! surely he would not!’

  ‘Well, he will,’ said Mr Wychbold, without hesitation. ‘Last time I saw Charles, don’t scruple to tell you he was in such a miff with Charlbury he said it would be wonderful if he did not plant him a flush hit one of these days! Devil of a fellow with his fives, is Charles! Don’t know how Charlbury displays: shouldn’t think he would be a match for Charles, though.’ Waxing enthusiastic, he added: ‘Prettiest fighter, for an amateur, I ever saw in my life! Excellent science and bottom, never any trifling or shifting! No mere flourishing, and very rarely abroad!’ he recollected himself suddenly, and broke off in some confusion, and begged pardon.

  ‘Yes, never mind that!’ said Sophy, her brow creased. ‘I must think of this, for it won’t do at all. If I make Charles angry, which, I own, I wish to do –’

  ‘No difficulty in that,’ interpolated Mr Wychbold encouragingly. ‘Very quick temper! Always has had!’

  She nodded. ‘And would be only too glad of an excuse to hit someone, I have no doubt. Of course, I see how I could prevent him doing Charlbury a mischief.’ She drew a breath. ‘Resolution is all that is needed!’ she said. ‘One should never shrink from the performance of unpleasant tasks to obtain a laudable object, after all! Mr Wychbold, I am very much obliged to you! I now see just what I must do, and I should not be at all surprised if it answered both purposes to admiration!’

  Sixteen

  Miss Wraxton, learning of Mr Rivenhall’s consent to his sister’s marriage to Mr Fawnhope, was so genuinely shocked that she could not forbear remonstrating with him. With her customary good sense, she pointed out the evil consequences of such a match, begging him to consider well before he abetted Cecilia in her folly. He heard her in silence, but when she had talked herself out of arguments he said bluntly: ‘I have given my word. I cannot but agree with much of what you have said. I do not like the match, but I will have no hand in forcing my sister into a marriage she does not desire. I believed that she must soon recover from what seemed to me a mere infatuation. She has not done so. I am forced to acknowledge that her heart is engaged: not her fancy only.’

  She raised her brows, her expression one of faint distaste. ‘My dear Charles! This is not like you! I daresay I have not far to seek for the influence which prompts you to utter such a speech, but I own that I scarcely expected you to repeat sentiments so much at variance with your disposition, and (I must add) your breeding.’

  ‘Indeed! You will have to explain your meaning more fully, if I am to understand you, Eugenia, for I am quite abroad!’

  She said gently: ‘Surely not! We have so often conversed on this head! Are we not agreed that there is something very unbecoming in a daughter’s setting up her will in opposition to her parents?’

  ‘In general, yes.’

  ‘And in particular, Charles, when it comes to be a question of her marriage. Her parents must be the best judges of what will be most proper for her. There is something very forward and disagreeable in a girl’s falling in love, as the common phrase is. No doubt underbred persons make quite a practice of it, but I fancy a man of birth an
d upbringing would prefer to see rather more restraint in the lady he marries. The language you have adopted – forgive me, dear Charles! – surely belongs more to the stage than to your mother’s drawing-room!’

  ‘Does it?’ he said. ‘Tell me, Eugenia! Had I offered for your hand without the consent of your father, would you have entertained my suit?’

  She smiled. ‘We need not consider absurdities! You, of all men, would not have done so!’

  ‘But if I had?’

  ‘Certainly not,’ she replied, with composure.

  ‘I am obliged to you!’ he said satirically.

  ‘You should be,’ she said. ‘You could scarcely have wished the future Lady Ombersley to have been a female without reserve or filial obedience!’

  His eyes were very hard and keen. ‘I begin to understand you,’ he said.

  ‘I knew you would, for you are a man of sense. I am no advocate, I need scarcely say, for a marriage where there is no mutual esteem. That could hardly prosper! Certainly, if Cecilia holds Charlbury in distaste, it would have been wrong to have compelled her to marry him.’

  ‘Generous!’

  ‘I hope so,’ she said gravely. ‘I should not wish to be other than generous towards your sisters – towards all your family! It must be one of my chief objects to promote their welfare, and I assure you I mean to do so!’

  ‘Thank you,’ he said, in a colourless tone.

  She turned a bracelet upon her arm. ‘You are inclined to regard Miss Stanton-Lacy with indulgence, I know, but I think you will allow that her influence in this house has not been a happy one, in many respects. Without her encouragement, I venture to think that Cecilia would not have behaved as she has.’

  ‘I don’t know that. You would not say that her influence was not a happy one had you seen her nursing Amabel, supporting both my mother and Cecilia in their anxiety! That is something I can never forget.’

  ‘I am sure no one could wish you to. One is glad to be able to praise her conduct in that emergency without reserve.’

  ‘I owe it to her also that I stand now upon such easy terms with Hubert. There she has done nothing but good.’