Revenants (13)

Not given to showing humble deference 

Marie Allard kissed her relatives Dorcas Chapman and Prue Brown, and said, had been a most in particular edifying prayer-meeting and Bible-reading, did the heart good. Dorcas patted her on the arm, and Prue clasped her hand, and they smiled at one another – her virtuous relatives that came bring the benefits of religion to the residents of Dolly Mutton’s, and any others about Covent Garden that cared attend, and Whipping Marie! – and she made her way downstairs into the coffee-house below.

Indeed, did the heart good, more than going to church and hearing some fellow pontificate from the pulpit, while wondering what he – and all the other fellows seated there so respectable – were like o’weekdays. Sometimes she had to laugh: were even patrons that would of a sudden take concern for her soul. And what would they do then, did she become penitent?

Molly Binns was already behind the counter in the coffee-shop, and said, would be obliged would Marie step into her parlour a while –

Marie supposed this must be to do with the hat Molly was trimming for her, for Molly still had a very nice hand at that business, and would undertake the matter for certain favoured old customers.

But when she went into the parlour she found a lady – o, quite definitely so a lady! a-sitting there.

Marie made a curtsey – she was not given to showing humble deference, but Lady Bexbury was an exception. One had to honour one that had begun – 'twas said – a child running about backstage at the theatre, fatherless brat of the wardrobe mistress, then become a most noted courtesan, done very well at that trade, married into rank, and – most unusual of all, Marie would suppose – had become entire accepted within Society as the widowed Marchioness of Bexbury, noted for her philanthropy.

And also for her most exquisite taste. One observed that to come to these parts Her Ladyship had taken the prudent precaution to dress in the style of one that, perchance, came seek out some fallen female relative, or mayhap distribute improving tracts, that must have greatly put about cousin Sophy!

Molly bustled in with coffee, and said, would close the door and leave 'em to their private discourse, as she apprehended there was some family matter upon hand.

Marie sat down vis-à-vis Her Ladyship, raising her eyebrows, as the latter poured coffee.

Her Ladyship looked at Marie over the rim of her cup and said, hoped she found Miss Allard well? and business prospering?

Marie gave a somewhat ungenteel snort and said, why, the financial troubles of the nation did not seem greatly to have afflicted her trade –

Her Ladyship grinned knowingly and said O, I have been a bad boy and made very foolish investments, do you punish me severely?

Much about the like!

Why, in former days I had occasional to deal with fellows desiring special pleasures – and to come to business, that is the matter that I would speak of. As I daresay you know, Mary-Theresa O’Callaghan has retired from practising her art – 

Marie smiled and said, had acquired several patrons that had been quite in despair over losing her services.

–  sure she had a very fine touch! and I am give to understand quite shortly goes take her final vows as a nun.

Her Ladyship paused for a moment. Now, there is lately returned to Town a certain gentleman of rank, that had been traveling for his health upon the Continent, and had a not entirely unjustified fear of getting caught up in some matter of revolutionary riot or the putting down of such, so came quite pell-mell back to these shores –

La, said Marie, is he not in fear of Chartists?

'Tis quite possible, for I think a hare would consider him undue timid, but perchance he has more confidence in our institutions to protect him. But anyway, to proceed, he was for many years a most remunerative patron to Mrs O’Callaghan. Now, I daresay you already have a deal of patrons and are by no means in want –

Marie smiled complacently and said, 'twas entirely so. But, she went on, 'tis with me as 'tis with Maurice, I cannot like to turn away good business. Remunerative, you say?

O, indeed: paid exceeding well for his pleasures, that I did not go interrogate very exact about the nature of, and of course Mrs O’Callaghan maintained a very proper discretion about the tastes of her patrons. But – Her Ladyship sighed.

In days bygone, she said, I would find that there were fellows that, after one had undertaken whatever was their particular freak, one might have agreeable converse with over a cup or a glass – why, there was one, in my younger years, had the most extreme lust for feet – she glanced at Marie, that nodded. Sure she had come across the like! – but a most agreeable person to talk with, went about to advance my interest in various ways, entire charming. But this gentleman is a sad tiresome bore, and I fancy will wish to entertain you with accounts of his health that only a physician would find of interest, and only was he being fee’d to listen.

Why, said Marie, does he pay very generous, I am sure I may smile, and nod, and sigh, and say, how terrible, &C, while thinking my own thoughts –

Precisely, my dear!

Is he, enquired Marie, a married gentleman?

Why, yes – I am sure you find that a deal of your patrons are thus, cannot ask their wives to gratify their freaks – and in this particular instance, I fancy his wife would be exceeding grateful to you and mayhap even consider paying you herself out of her pin-money to be relieved of his company.

O, the like of that, is it?

Her Ladyship sighed and looked down into her empty cup and said, would wish she had been able to prevent the match years ago. But we cannot undo time. Then blinked a moment, put her cup down upon the table, and said, so I may put your name and direction into play? Of course I cannot make the recommendation myself, but I fancy I have stratagems whereby it may be suggested that does he seek Mary-Theresa’s true successor, why, you are she.

Well, she said, rising to her feet, I must be about my ways.

Marie stood and dipped another curtsey as Lady Bexbury left.

Well! she thought. Excellent fine business.

She closed her eyes. She was fortunate, she knew – matters had come round remarkable since their young days. O, there had been hard times after Sophy’s Mama had died, but even then, would have been a deal harder had their father still been in life. No, she could not regret having seen him lying in the gutter and thinking, let him lie there in his drunken state! – could not have known was going to come on heavy rain and he too stuporous to rouse and thus drowned. How could she – still a slight girl not yet come to her full growth – even have managed to get him up, convey him home?

It had been hard to look sober when they had been informed. Sure Ma had cried when they buried him - but Ma cried a great deal in those days for a deal of reasons - leaning on Sophy’s Mama, her sister.

But now she was in a fine way of business – Maurice too in a fine way of business and most unlike to be took up for a capital crime contrary to the laws of nature, positively respectable – Hortense in this fine position at Dolly Mutton’s by the sea, quite the haven for Ma –

However, she should not linger here, a-wool-gathering, should be off and about her business.