Lord U- already displays a deal of address

[the_comfortable_courtesan]

'Twas indeed exceeding civil of the L- P-s to invite me to their small party yestere’en, but at a small party 'tis nigh on impossible to avoid any other guest that one particular desires no converse with. Sure I came home with a quite raging headache from being bleat’d at by Sir V- P- 'til I was like to go transform into a wolf.

I am feeling a deal better the morn, but go a little ride in the Park upon dear Jezebel to clear my head. There is not a deal of company about at this unfashionable hour and in particular at this drear season, but indeed, I am not looking for company, I am looking to let my Jezzie-girl stretch out in a fine canter instead of being quite constant halt’d by some fellow that wishes engage my attention.

I am just bringing her back to a sedate trot, when I observe a fellow upon horseback that appears endeavouring attract my attention. Upon looking more attentive, I see that 'tis Lord U-, so I wave him over with my whip.

He says he knows 'tis quite shocking bad ton to keep calling upon Lady B-‘s good offices, but indeed there are matters that he knows not who else he may consult.

Why, says I, I have quite the greatest fondness towards your dear mama and her fine offspring, and may I do you any service I should be entire happy, does it lye within my capacity.

He says that is entire more than civil, and may he call upon me some time?

I say that he may as well come breakfast with me, unless he has other business to be about.

So he comes home with me and when we are come to my pretty parlour we both go stand by the fire for a while to warm ourselves.

Come Euphemia and Celeste to lay the table, bring coffee and muffins, and say that there will be more very shortly.

We sit down and I pour coffee.

I look at him and consider that altho’ he is yet still young, I apprehend he must be of age, and he is a pleasing-looking well-set-up young fellow, as are his brothers. In spite of Lord Geoffrey’s waistcoat I do not think they have any great aspirations to the dandy-set, and they look like fellows that pursue the usual manly sports, but do not spend their nights over card-tables or in heavy drinking, or not more than very occasional.

Euphemia and Celeste return with dishes of kedgeree, bacon and eggs, grill’d mushrooms, mutton chops in the fashion of General Y-'s cook, and more muffins.

Lord U- comments that altho’ one of the domestic matters that is not stint’d at N- House or Monks’ G- is the table, still, the food is never as good as this.

I say, those are both fine large houses and I daresay the food has a deal of a journey to make 'twixt kitchen and dining-room (for most houses lack that excellent contrivance that I discover’d in my fine Surrey house), and thus is a little cool’d by the time it gets there. My house is a small house and thus the dishes come very expeditious to my table.

Perchance that is it, he says, but one hears that your cook is quite out of the common.

Indeed she is, I says, and that minds me, I meant to send your dear mama a few pots of her preserves, for she has an exceeding nice hand in the matter.

That would be exceeding kind, he says. Mama is so much better of late – that is, her spirits are better, for her physicians are agreed that she is never like to recover full health and strength.

I daresay, says I, that it greatly chears her to have you home after your travels.

He blushes and mumbles somewhat, and then says, but what he want’d to talk to me about, one thing, was this matter of Nan and the Marquess.

Oh? says I.

Well, says he, she has confesst all to me, and indeed, 'twas a business where I could quite comprehend the desire to tweak the Earl our father. But this matter of clandestine meetings - sure I wonder what the Marquess can have been thinking.

I fancy, says I, that he spent so little time in Society prior to his elevation that he is little acquaint’d with les convenances, and indeed, has led a life in which such concerns may seem somewhat petty.

Indeed he has told us a little, but 'twas of the kind that implies a great deal more. Would it not be a fine thing did he write up somewhat of his exploits, rather than the tedious matter on plants that I have caught Nan poring over?

Why, says I, I confide that to an English gentleman might look a deal like boasting.

But about this business of morning meetings, I fear Papa may hear some rumour around the clubs about the Marquess’ assignations.

'Twould be unfortunate, I agree, but I do not immediate see any way forward to prevent that. I indeed mention’d the matter to His Lordship before he went down to D- Chase. But I will take the matter under advizance.

He sees that there is one muffin left and after civilly asking should I like it, takes it and butters it and adds a deal of bramble preserve.

I sit back and sip my coffee and ask was there any other matter he wisht to open?

He finishes his mouthfull of muffin and says, he is in some hopes that 'Bastian, that is, Mr K-, will be able to introduce him into that very good set about his brother-in-law the Duke. He late met Lord D- at their club – they are not precisely in the same set there, but feel a certain sympathy as heirs to fathers that are perchance not all they might be about the responsibilities of their position -

Why, says I, sure I think 'tis most beneficial to the nation to go breed excellent fine cows that give a deal of most remarkable milk.

He chuckles, and says he confides 'tis a deal more use than fiddle-faddling in hothouses.

- but, anyway, Lord D- was speaking very highly of that set as having both exceeding fine principles and practickal schemes of reform: they are not just dreaming idealists but sound men of business. He is most extreme prepossesst by the schemes of improvement Mr F- and Mr O- B- have put in hand in their industrial districts, even tho’ he is in some doubt about their theologickal principles -

Sure, says I, Lord D- would have doubts about the theologickal principles of the Archangel Gabriel -

'Tis unfortunate that Lord U- has just took a mouthfull of coffee.

After we have gone wipe up after this, he goes on to say that he wonder might one not go do somewhat similar in their mining villages.

Sure, says I, 'tis both a humane concern and one that will, in due course, prove entire profitable. But indeed, I am an uneducat’d creature that knows little of these matters and there are gentlemen that might advize you.

He says he would not be so lacking in ton as to contradict a lady, but altho’ he has heard that there are those go calling Lady B- a pretty featherwit, there are a deal of others consider her to have quite exceptional judgement.

O fie! says I, sure does one listen to a gentleman and appear to agree with his sentiments he will be most prepossesst with one’s judgement.

Lord U- smiles somewhat and remarks that 'twixt his godfather and 'Bastian had heard a deal about me even before Geoff told him of this goddess.

Sure, Your Lordship, you will put me to the blush.

He sighs a little and says he must be about going back to N- House –

Why, says I, if does not offend your dignity, I will send a few matters to Lady N-by you.

He expresses himself entire my servant in the matter, and I ring for Hector to go desire a few pots of preserves from Euphemia.

After His Lordship has depart’d – there is a young fellow already displays a deal of address - and Celeste has gone clear away the breakfast things, I go with a little sigh to my desk so that I may attack my correspondence.

I am about this task when Euphemia comes and desires a word with My Ladyship.

I cannot help looking her up and down to see if this is like to be about her going with child.

She says that does My Ladyship continue making gifts of preserves there will soon be none in the store cupboard for the household.

Sure, says I, I will be mindfull of that matter in future, for we do not want to be reduc’d to buying such things.

However, she does not leave but remains, winding her hands in her apron, and says, she lately went drink tea with Seraphine, and Phoebe was also there, 'twas most agreeable even did they ask impertinent questions at first –

- and Phoebe had been visit the factory in Southwark that makes up her receipts for cleaning and polishing, and was most extreme prepossesst with the business –

- I am exceeding glad to hear so, says I –

- and then I mind’d you telling me about what Mrs N- said about the jams she had from the grocers, and indeed we know how very poor those things may be, and Seraphine was remarking on the gentlemen that will quite beg the favour of a jar or so of the pickles she makes up, and we all lookt about at one another and said, would there not be a business proposition in our pickles and preserves?

Why, says I, I daresay there would be, for they are most exceeding fine. Sure I think you should go convoke with Mr F- about the matter.

Comments

[davidgillon]

Sure, says I, Lord D- would have doubts about the theologickal principles of the Archangel Gabriel -

'Tis unfortunate that Lord U- has just took a mouthfull of coffee.

Fortunately I had not, for the effect would have been the same.

[sharpiefan]

Words.

:D

[nenya_kanadka]

Likewise :D

[entirelydisregardablelout]

there is a young fellow already displays a deal of address

Given her thought that he's "pleasing-looking well-set-up young fellow", she might like to make his address her poste restante.