Venetia Read online

  Sir Lambert chuckled. ‘Yes, yes, I see how it is! You would like to have it out with me at dawn! That’s the dandy! I like to see a young fellow ready to sport his canvas! Lord, I was the devil of a fire-eater myself in my day, but that was before you were born, my boy! You can’t call me out, you know! Well, well, it’s too bad of me to roast you! Do you go along with us to the top of the street, and then, if my pretty little daughter likes, you may take her the rest of the way by yourself.’

  Edward nearly choked. Before he could utter whatever rash words surged to his tongue Venetia intervened, saying in a tone of cool amusement: ‘Oswald Denny to the life! My dear Edward, do not you make a cake of yourself, I beg!’

  ‘And who,’ demanded Sir Lambert, pleasantly intrigued, ‘is Oswald Denny, eh? Oh, you may look demurely, but you don’t bamboozle me, puss! Yes, yes, I can see what a twinkle you have in your eye! I’ll be bound you have all the cockerels in Yorkshire squaring up to each other!’

  She laughed, but turned it off, directing the conversation into channels less exacerbating to Edward. He, determined not to leave her with Sir Lambert and unable to wrest her forcibly away from that elderly buck, had nothing to do but to fall in beside her, and to reply, in stiff monosyllables, to such remarks as were from time to time addressed to him.

  Arrived at the top of the street, Venetia stopped, and, withdrawing her hand from Sir Lambert’s arm, turned to face him, saying, with her friendliest smile: ‘Thank you, sir. You are a great deal too good to have come so far with me, and it would be quite infamous of me to drag you any farther. I am so very much obliged to you – and you were perfectly right: the Indian muslin will make up much better than the sprig!’

  She held out her hand to him, and he clasped it warmly, sweeping off his curly-brimmed and shining beaver with an air many a budding dandy would have envied. She found that he was pressing into her hand the smaller of the two jeweller’s cases, and was for a moment bewildered. ‘But, sir – !’

  He closed her fingers over the little box. ‘There, it’s nothing! A trumpery thing, but you seemed to like it the best! You will let me give you a little present – a trifle from your father-in-law!’

  ‘Oh, no!’ she exclaimed. ‘Indeed, sir, you mustn’t! Pray – !’

  ‘No, no, take it, my dear! You will oblige me very much by taking it! I never had a daughter, you know, but if I had I should have wished for one like you, with your sweet face, and your pretty ways!’

  She was very much touched, and regardless alike of the passers-by and Edward’s speechless anger stood on tiptoe to kiss Sir Lambert’s cheek, one hand on his broad shoulder. ‘And I wish very much that you had been my father, sir,’ she said. ‘I should have loved you much more than ever I loved my own, for you are a great deal kinder! Thank you! indeed I will take it, and remember you whenever I wear it, I promise you!’

  He returned her embrace, putting his arm round her, and giving her a hug. ‘That’s a good gal!’ he said. He then dug Edward in the ribs with the head of his cane, and said, with a slight lapse from his parental mood: ‘Well, you young dog, you may take her now, but if I were ten years younger damme if I wouldn’t cut you out!’

  After that he executed another of his practised bows, settled the beaver on his head again, and sauntered off down the street, keeping a weather eye cocked for any personable female who might come within his orbit.

  ‘You know, he may be a sad rip, but he’s the dearest creature!’ Venetia said, forgetting that Edward’s mood was scarcely in harmony with hers.

  ‘I can only suppose you to have taken leave of your senses!’ he said.

  She had been watching, with a little smile of appreciative amusement, Sir Lambert’s progress down the street, but she turned her head at this, and said with considerable asperity: ‘I certainly supposed you to have taken leave of yours! What can have possessed you to behave with such a want of conduct? I was never more mortified!’

  ‘You were never more mortified!’ he said. ‘I do not know how you can stand there, Venetia, speaking in such a manner!’

  ‘I don’t mean to stand here speaking in any manner at all,’ she interrupted, stepping off the flagway in the wake of the urchin who was zealously sweeping the crossing for her. ‘Stop looking as sulky as a bear, and give that boy a penny!’

  He caught up with her as she reached the opposite side of Oxford Street. ‘How came you to be in that old court-card’s company?’ he demanded roughly.

  ‘Pray remember that you are speaking of my father-in-law!’ she replied coldly. ‘I have been visiting my mother, and he was so obliging as to escort me home.’

  ‘Visiting your mother?’ he repeated, as though unable to believe his ears.

  ‘Certainly. Pray, have you any objection?’

  He replied in a resolutely controlled voice: ‘I have every objection, and you shall presently learn what they are! I do not choose to bandy words with you in public! We will be silent, if you please!’

  She returned no answer, but walked on, her countenance untroubled. He kept step beside her, his brow frowning, and his mouth grimly set. She made no attempt to speak to him until they stood on the steps of her uncle’s house, when, glancing thoughtfully at him, she said: ‘You may come in with me, if you wish, but don’t show the porter that face, if you please! You have advertised your displeasure to enough people already.’

  As she spoke, the door was opened, and she stepped into the house. It was the under-butler who had admitted her, and she paused to ask him if his mistress was in. On learning that Mrs Hendred, having suffered a disturbed night, had not yet left her bedchamber, she took Edward up to the drawing-room, and said, as she began to strip off her gloves: ‘Now say what you will, but try to recollect, Edward, that I am my own mistress! You appear to believe that you have authority over me, but you have not, and so I have told you very many times!’

  He stood looking at her gloomily, and at length replied: ‘I have been mistaken in your character. I allowed myself to believe that the levity of which I have frequently had cause to complain sprang from a natural liveliness rather than from any want of disposition in you. My eyes have been opened indeed!’

  ‘I am extremely glad to hear it, for it was certainly time they should be. Don’t accuse me, however, of deceiving you! You deceived yourself, for you would never believe that I mean the things I say. The truth is, Edward, that we are poles apart. I have a great respect for you –’

  ‘I wish I might say the same of you!’

  ‘How very uncivil of you! Come, let us shake hands, and say no more, except to wish each other happy!’

  He made no movement to take the hand stretched out to him, but said heavily: ‘My mother was right!’

  Her ready sense of the ridiculous overcame her annoyance; her eyes began to dance; she said cordially: ‘To be sure, she was!’

  ‘She begged me not to allow my judgment to be overborne by my infatuation. I wish that I had heeded her. I might then have been spared the mortification of discovering that the female whom I had intended to make my wife had neither heart nor delicacy!’

  ‘Well, I wish you had, too, but all’s well that ends well, you know! In future you will do as your mother bids you, and I expect she will find the very wife to make you comfortable. I’m sure I hope she will.’

  ‘I should have known what to expect when you did not scruple, in spite of my representations, to visit the Priory daily. You appear to have a preference for libertines!’

  The smile swept over her face, transfiguring it. ‘It’s very true, Edward: I have indeed! Now I think you had better go. You have rung a fine peal over me, and it is time I went up to see how my aunt does.’

  ‘I shall leave London by the first coach tomorrow morning!’ he announced, and on this valedictory line stalked from the room.

  Hardly had his step died away on the stair than the door opened again, this time
to admit Mrs Hendred, who came in looking very much startled, and instantly exclaimed: ‘My love, what was happened, to send Mr Yardley off in such a pucker? I was coming downstairs when he rushed out of this room with such a countenance that I declare I was quite alarmed! I spoke to him, as you may suppose, asking if anything was amiss, but he wouldn’t stop – said only that you would tell me, and was gone before I could fetch my breath! Oh, Venetia, don’t tell me you have quarrelled?’

  ‘Well, I won’t tell you, if you had rather I didn’t, dear aunt, but it is the truth, for all that!’ replied Venetia, laughing. ‘Oh, dear, what a goose he did make of himself! I could almost forgive him for it! I’m afraid you will be quite as shocked as he was, ma’am: I have been to call on Mama, and Edward met me in New Bond Street, coming home on Sir Lambert’s arm!’

  She was obliged to repeat this confession before Mrs Hendred could at all take it in, and then to support the poor lady to her favourite chair. This second disaster, following on the shock of the previous evening’s encounter, proved too much for Mrs Hendred’s shattered nerves: she burst into tears, and between her painful sobs delivered herself of a disjointed monologue which was at once a jeremiad and a diatribe. Venetia made no attempt to defend herself against the various charges levelled at her, but devoted herself to the task of soothing and petting her afflicted relative into comparative calm. Exhausted by her emotions, Mrs Hendred at last lay back in her chair with her eyes shut, merely moaning faintly, and feebly repulsing her ungrateful niece. Venetia looked doubtfully at her, decided against making any further announcement, and went away to summon Miss Bradpole. Consigning Mrs Hendred to her competent care, she once more left the house, and made her way to the hackney stand. ‘To Lombard Street, if you please!’ she told the jarvey. ‘The General Post Office!’

  The afternoon was considerably advanced when she again returned to Cavendish Square. She learned from Miss Bradpole that Mrs Hendred had retired to bed, but had declined all offers to summon the doctor to her side. She had been coaxed to toy with a light nuncheon – just a cup of broth, a morsel of chicken, and some ratafia cream – and now seemed a trifle easier, and inclined to sleep. Venetia, showing a proper concern, favoured Miss Bradpole with a glib explanation of her aunt’s collapse, and went away to her own room.

  It was not until much later that she ventured to tap gently on Mrs Hendred’s door. A failing voice bade her come in, and she entered to find her aunt reclining against a mountain of pillows, a very pretty nightcap tied under her chin, her handkerchief in one hand, her vinaigrette in the other, and on a table beside the bed a battery of sedatives and restoratives. Upon hearing Venetia’s voice, she turned reproachful eyes towards the door, and uttered a heart-rending sigh. Then she perceived that Venetia was wearing a travelling dress under a thick pelisse, and her demeanour underwent an abrupt change. She sat up with a jerk, and demanded in far from moribund accents: ‘Why are you dressed like that? Where are you going?’

  Venetia came to the bedside, and bent over her aunt, kissing her cheek affectionately: ‘Dearest aunt, I’m going home!’

  ‘No, no!’ cried Mrs Hendred, clutching her sleeve. ‘Oh, dear, I shall become perfectly distracted! I didn’t mean it! Heaven knows what’s to be done, but your uncle will think of something, depend upon it! Venetia, if I said anything –’

  ‘Of course you didn’t, ma’am!’ Venetia said, smiling at her, and patting her shoulder caressingly. ‘But you cannot hope to reestablish my credit, and I would so much rather you didn’t make the attempt. You have been too kind to me already, and I’m a wretch to make you so uncomfortable. But, you see, it’s my whole life I’m fighting for, and I can’t be sure that even now it’s not too late! Pray try to forgive me, my dear aunt, and – and understand a little!’

  ‘Venetia, only consider!’ implored Mrs Hendred. ‘Good God, you cannot throw yourself at that man’s head! What would he think of you?’

  ‘I have considered. It does seem quite shocking, doesn’t it? I hope my courage won’t fail! No, I don’t think it will, because there’s nothing I couldn’t say to him, or he not understand. Don’t be distressed! I wish I need not have disturbed you again, but I couldn’t go without bidding you goodbye, and thanking you for being so very kind to me. I’ve told Bradpole and Worting that Edward brought me bad news of Aubrey, and is to accompany me to York by the mail, so you mustn’t fret over what any of the servants will think. And I have packed my trunk, and desired Betty to cord it, and to send it to me by the carrier – when I write to tell you my direction. I can’t take more than a portmanteau on the mail, you know.’

  ‘Listen, Venetia, only wait until we can consult your uncle!’ said Mrs Hendred feverishly. ‘He will be at home by breakfasttime tomorrow – why, he may even arrive this very evening! Now, do, do –’

  ‘Not for the world!’ said Venetia, with a quiver of laughter. ‘I am very much obliged to my uncle, but the thought that he might find another way of rescuing me from my dear rake puts me in the liveliest dread!’

  ‘Wait, dear child! I have had a very good notion! If you find your affections don’t change when you have had time to see more of the world – no, no, do but listen! – I won’t say a word against this dreadful marriage! But Lord Damerel would tell you himself that it’s far too soon for you to commit yourself! Your uncle shall think of a way to overcome what happened today, and I shall put off Theresa’s coming-out in the spring, and bring you out instead!’

  ‘Oh, poor Theresa!’ exclaimed Venetia, laughing outright. ‘When she is counting the days!’

  ‘She may very well wait for another year,’ said Mrs Hendred resolutely. ‘Indeed, I am much inclined to think she should, for I noticed a spot on her face the other evening, and you know, my dear, if she is going to fall into the vexatious way young girls have of throwing out a spot whenever one particularly wishes them to be in their best looks, it would be useless to bring her out next year! Now, what do you say to that?’

  ‘Horrid!’ replied Venetia, rubbing her cheek lightly against her aunt’s before disengaging herself from the clutch on her sleeve, and going to the door. ‘Long before the season ended – if not before it started! – Damerel would be heaven knows where, strewing rose-leaves about for some abandoned female to tread on! Well, one thing at least I’m determined on! If he must indulge in such wasteful habits he shall strew his rose-leaves for me to tread upon, not one of his ridiculous Paphians!’ She blew a kiss to her aunt, and the next instant was gone.

  Twenty

  Venetia reached York midway through the afternoon of the following day, the mail having been considerably delayed by fog in and around London. If she was in very much better spirits than on her previous journey she was far more exhausted. She alighted from the coach feeling battered and tousled, and instead of immediately hiring a chaise and pair to convey her to the Priory, which had been her intention, bespoke a bedchamber, some hot water, and some tea. Anxious to reach her journey’s end though she might be she had no desire to arrive at the Priory in a crumpled dress, her face unwashed, and her hair unbrushed. When the chambermaid at the inn led her up to an empty bedchamber, one glance at the looking-glass was enough to confirm her in the belief that no lady, however handsome, could drive for two hundred miles in a mail-coach carrying its full complement of six inside passengers without emerging at her destination in an unbecoming travel-worn condition.

  She had been fortunate to have succeeded in booking a seat at such short notice; it was naturally not one of the corner seats; and she had very soon discovered that between a private post-chaise and a mail coach there was a world of difference. Unlike two of her fellow passengers, who snored hideously throughout the night, she was quite unable to sleep; and when a respite of twenty minutes was allowed the travellers at breakfast-time she was able only to swallow two sips of scalding coffee before being summoned to resume her place in the coach, because she was obliged to wait for fifteen minutes before the
over-driven waiter slapped the coffee-pot down on the table in front of her.

  A wash and a cup of tea revived her a little; and she thought that if she lay down on the large fourposter bed for half an hour her headache might go off. That was her undoing, for hardly had she drawn the coverlet over herself than she fell asleep.

  She awoke in darkness, and to hear the Minster clock chiming the threequarters, and started up in dismay, groping for the bell rope that hung beside the bed. When the chambermaid appeared, bearing a candle, she was somewhat relieved to learn that the hour was not quite so far advanced as she had feared. It wanted ten minutes to seven. The chambermaid, a kindly soul, said that she had taken a look-in at her at four o’clock, but had thought it would be a shame to rouse her. She suggested that Miss must be ready for her dinner, which was now being served in the coffee-room; but Venetia, though ravenously hungry, merely begged her, as she scrambled into the clean dress she had earlier unpacked from her portmanteau, to run downstairs to the landlord, and to bespeak on her behalf a chaise-and-pair, or any other available vehicle, to convey her immediately to Elliston Priory.

  It had been her intention, after the refreshment of half an hour on that treacherous bed, to have stepped round to Mr Mytchett’s place of business, for after buying her ticket on the mail, paying for the breakfast she had had no time to eat, and tipping the guard, her resources had dwindled to no more than would enable her to defray the charges at the inn. She was just able to do that; and presently climbed up into the job-chaise in reduced circumstances, but heartened by the reflection that someone at the Priory – Aubrey, or Damerel, or Imber – could defray the postboy’s charges.