Revenants (15)

Expound about this commedia

Arthur, Lord Demington, looked about the riders in the Park. At this dwindling end of the Season the Row was a deal less crowded than it was at its height, but there was still enough of a bustle and flurry that he could not immediate pick out the riders they had come to meet. As if quite by chance.

He sighed. Sure matters were coming about very adverse for his intentions! And now the scattering about the country for the summer impended and who knew when they might be remet. Not to mention, that there was this talk of going visit at Fendersham Hall, and he knew what that imported!

Look lively, there! said Bobbie Wallace. I spy our quarry. Now, I have a quite licit reason for drawing off Mrs Merrett – Mama wishes to convoke with Mr Merrett over some matter of the law for a piece she is writing, and wonders when they leave Town, and if they linger might they come to dine, or if not might they encounter them at some house-party &C&C – so 'twill not look in the least particular for you to converse with Lady Rachel –

You are a good friend, said Artie.

Why, you have done me excellent service in conveying notes to Scilla, and generally advancing my suit, I think the balance is even!

So they rode up to the two ladies, and lifted their hats, and greeted them, and Bobbie remarked upon how exceeding well-met they were –

And as he drew off Janey Merrett, Artie rode closer to Lady Rachel and hoped she was well, and saw her colour brighten and her dimpling smile, and he could not be anything but happy to see her even was his news so little in the way of encouraging.

My mama, he said, is most exceeding prepossessed with your practical capacities in this matter of helping out with her charities –

Rachel snorted a little and said, 'twas only commonsense, but 'twas gratifying to have the approbation of Lady Pockinford – ?

– but, alas, sure this time falls very unhappy for putting my position to my parents.

Rachel made a little unhappy noise.

Was bad enough this business with Aggie – sure she is my sister, and I wish her happy, but it caused a deal of brangling and dissension and Papa having of his megrim in the household afore it all came about to agreeing that, why, Hughie is an exemplary young fellow and Papa dares say that this running after the Tractarians is in the way of being a folly of youth and at least does he wed 'tis a sound precaution against following in the footsteps of Newman.

So, I was in hopes that once that was over, I might put it to him, as a first step, that though Scilla Fendersham is a very fine and estimable young woman, we do not feel towards one another those emotions that would lead to matrimony. But what must come about then, but that my aunt and uncle Trembourne, that fled the country in disgrace two years since, come sneaking back to Town for fear of being caught up in revolutionary violence in some German spaw where my uncle went quack himself.

And come stay with us for of course Trembourne House has been shut up this age and is in no state to be inhabited, and I daresay the like at Carlefore Castle –

Rachel groaned and said, had already heard somewhat of the matter. Her mama had made her debut at the same time as Lady Rosamund Saxorby as was, and they were both being took about by the Duchess of Mulcaster, and she was not at all liked in their set, made herself very offensive to Mama and to Miss Perrott, that is now the Dowager Duchess of Humpleforth, and the lady that is now Lady Vinwich.

Also said that of latter years had a reputation for wit that was based entirely upon malice and spitefulness, and had a coterie about her that clung in fears of being the target of her shafts, and abandoned her at once when she was disgraced.

Artie sighed, and remarked that their cousins had ever been very happy to come stay with 'em, and seemed gloomy at the prospect of returning to their parents. And cousin Grissie was entirely put about at present.

So there was Mama a-wringing of her hands, and Papa a-having of his megrim, and at least they were in no state to be urging on a match: but 'twas not the time to be arguing the case for his heart.

O, Artie! cried Rachel, with an expression of such loving tenderness that it almost brought tears to his eyes.

How now, my dears!

They both started, as Lady Bexbury rode up to them on her lovely mare Melusine. Lord Demington! This comes very apt – have not had occasion to see your dear mama lately – hear your poor papa the Earl is very badly troubled with the megrim of recent months? I mind that some several years ago I advized him to consult an oculist and the provision of spectacles greatly ameliorated his trouble, and I am like to suppose that it may be some matter of requiring a different lens or such? I have the directions of several excellent oculists that provide their services to the optical dispensaries –

Artie responded that that was most exceeding thoughtful in Lady Bexbury and it would be an entire blessing was an oculist able to bring some relief to his father.

And Lady Rachel! this also falls most convenient to my purpose – I purpose holding one last drawing-room meeting afore Society entirely quits Town, for, indeed, the benefit of the optical dispensaries, and I should be entire glad of a young lady of the qualities that Lady Pockinford has lately been advancing to me –

Rachel blushed deeply.

– to assist me in the business – help make out raffle tickets &C – are you not departing most immediate for Monks Garrowby or Dambert Chase, 'twould be quite the kindest thing –

Artie and Rachel exchanged a rapid glance and he apprehended that they were quite of the same mind that it would entirely advance his mother’s esteem for Rachel was she known to be the handmaiden of Lady Bexbury’s philanthropic endeavours.

O, Lady Bexbury, I should like that of all things! cried Rachel. To have the experience of seeing how you go about arranging one of your famed drawing-room meetings –

La, my dear, 'tis not so arduous a task! but why do you young people not come take tea with me and we may convoke a little further – I may go find the cards I have of the oculists –

Rachel and Artie both looked about self-consciously, murmuring about who their companions were when they arrived in the Park, and oh, there was Bobbie still chattering to Janey!

Lady Bexbury gestured with her whip to Bobbie, that came trotting over followed by Janey, and both made effusive civil to her.

Janey sighed and said, was a great pity, should have greatly enjoyed coming to tea in such fine company, but had Mr Hackstead coming to take tea with her along with a friend of his that was also a mathematician at Cambridge, that might come undertake her instruction when Mr Hackstead departed for the antipodes with the Ollifaunts.

La, Janey, said Lady Bexbury with a smile, sure by now I should suppose you quite fit to become a preceptress in mathematics yourself in one of these proposed women’s colleges.

Janey blushed somewhat and said, that would be very fine work, but had no doubt there were those that needed it. But, she went on, she was in the capacity of a chaperone to Rachel –

Have no fears, I will dispatch her to Nuttenford House in my own carriage with a maid in attendance!

Rachel pouted a little at this, but they waved farewell to Janey, and exhorted her not to study herself into brain-fever.

And then they all rode through the Park and out into the streets of Mayfair and into the very well-kept mews that lay behind Lady Bexbury’s house, where their horses were entrusted to the care of her groom Nick Jupp, and she gave instructions about the carriage in due course. Then into the house and up the stairs into her exquisite parlour where they disposed themselves about the very comfortable chairs, while she rang for tea.

Once the famed Hector had come, saying, Euphemia had took the thought that 'twas a warm afternoon, and a cooling sherbet might be more agreeable? at which Lady Bexbury laughed and said, was not mistress in her own household, but was an excellent good thought, and he served 'em all with sherbet, and set out platters of delicious things, then departed, closing the door silently behind him, Her Ladyship looked about at the three of 'em.

Well, my dears, she said, drink up your nice cooling drink, and make free of the sandwiches and savoury patties and cakes &C, and while you do so, mayhap you might expound to me about this commedia that you three, and Miss Fendersham, go enact.

Oh. But Artie looked at Lady Bexbury and observed that her expression was, one might only say, amuzed, and did not think she was going to go chide them for deceit and unfilial behaviour.

Mama says, said Rachel, that you were most infinite kind and helpful over her courtship with Papa.

O, poo, a little assistance, 'twas naught. Compared, she said with a positively wicked grin, to the matter of Lord Offgrange’s marriage with your aunt – but enough of old tales. I fancy I have some notion of what you are about, my dears – quite like unto some play! – but I am like to think that there is some possibility you may yet come find yourselves in difficulties –

They looked about at one another and all began to speak at once.