Unhistoric Acts (24)

How very close to the Border you are

Beauf looked across the breakfast table at Bobbie Wallace and said, was this wise? For he had the direst suspicions that Bobbie had notions of skulking around – mayhap in disguise? – in order to contrive meetings with Scilla Fendersham.

Beauf, said Bobbie, has it never occurred to you how very close to the Border you are here?

Beauf groaned. Bobbie, please tell me you do not intend some young Lochinvar exploit of taking Miss Fendersham up on your steed and galloping away for Gretna.

Really, Beauf, snorted Bobbie, why would I do such an outmoded thing when there is now a very eligible railway connexion from Carlisle? One need not even be married over the anvil by the blacksmith at Gretna, but proceed in comfort to one of the fine Scottish cities and be wed there.

Beauf leaned back in his chair and stared. This was Bobbie being positively practical and sensible, sure he was changed!

No, 'tis entirely a question of finding out how to manage –

Came in Travers saying that Lady Fendersham had come to call

'Tis rather early in the day, said Beauf with a little frown, I hope there is nothing wrong at Fendersham Hall – send her in, and bring up fresh coffee.

Entered Polly Fendersham in somewhat of a fluster, that she immediately concealed upon seeing that Beauf had company.

Polly – permit me to introduce Mr Robert Wallace – Bobbie bowed very civil indeed over her hand – Bobbie, Dowager Baroness Fendersham.

Bobbie said had already heard a deal about her, that was entire a relative in affection if not in blood of his dearest Scilla.

Polly blushed a little and sat down at the table. Well, 'tis mayhap just as well that you are here, for the matter is to do with Scilla. Has had a letter from her friend Lady Rachel Merrett, that has been persuaded to go visit the Pockinfords, Lady Pockinford had entirely besought her assistance over some matter of one or other of her philanthropies –

That was either strategically brilliant or portended disaster.

– and Lord Pockinford purposes invite Lord Fendersham and Scilla to join 'em, 'twill be a family gathering, no great house-party, there can be no objection over the matter of the Trembournes, he continues to quack himself at Malvern, while she remains at Dambert Chase as Lady Griselda becomes affianced to Undersedge.

Beauf and Bobbie both whistled, and Bobbie then groaned. But, he said, looking up, the invitation cannot yet have arrived.

Not yet, said Polly, but I thought it best to come convoke.

Is Flora – Miss Ferraby – still with you?

Indeed, said Polly with a little frown.

Bobbie grinned and said, indeed let 'em have Flora come assist in plotting.

So, that afternoon, there were seated in the very fine library of Nitherholme, glowered upon by the portrait of the late Grace Billston at her piano, Beauf, Bobbie, Julius, Flora, Scilla, and Polly – the latter said, had very fortunate fallen out that Drew had been invited to go see some wrestling.

Flora said that was Scilla supposed to be departing for Shropshire – Scilla groaned – no, do not groan, it means that you may leave with your luggage, an entirely good thing – she might quit Fendersham Hall and then change her destination at some point. Provided that some temporary distraction might be supplied to prevent Lord Fendersham from traveling with her –

Why, said Beauf, have been intending getting up a local committee to consider upon preparations should the cholera come – Rollo has been writing to me very agitated on the subject – 'tis a matter I fancy might detain Lord Fendersham a day or so –

But Scilla could not travel alone, Polly pointed out, and I am not sure that there is any of the maids in whom we would repose entire confidence.

Fie, said Flora, I may say that 'tis entirely time that I made my congé, and will happily go somewhat out of my way in order to chaperone Miss Fendersham as far as the Pockinfords.

Julius made a spluttering noise and they all turned to look at him. He endeavoured to become sober. Only – he said – and went off into laughter again – I mind hearing Sir Josiah say to Lady Ferraby, many and many a time, that she had her Wellington face on when she was about organizing some matter – what’s bred in the bone –

O, poo! said Flora, wrinkling her nose at him. But indeed – Beauf, I fancy you will have a Bradshaw about the place –

So they put their heads together over that volume for a while, and Beauf saw that Bobbie was quite correct that there was now a most eligible connexion by rail to Scotland, and Julius looked thoughtful and murmured of certain savants in Glasgow and Edinburgh had been in correspondence with that might now very convenably go visit –

Then Polly said, would have to wait a little upon the invitation to put plans in motion, she supposed.

O, indeed, said Beauf, but I fancy I might go about the neighbourhood sounding out feeling about preparation for cholera – that I should do anyway, from the tone of Rollo’s communications, has sent me a package of pamphlets, he added, growing serious, for he could tell that his brother was greatly perturbed by the reports of the progress of the epidemic across the Continent.

He leaned back in his chair and stretched and met the disapproving gaze of Miss Billston, and said, such a fine afternoon – let them have tea on the lawn, or mayhap lemonade – shrub – had a notion that when she was here Hannah had conveyed a receipt for sherbet to the kitchens.

Flora said, their excuse for coming here had been to go see the gardens in their glory – she nodded at Julius – so indeed we should go look about 'em,  and be able to expatiate upon the wonders therein.

Julius said that, alas, 'twas past the best time for the rhododendrons, but he had a certain vanity over the dahlias this year.

They trooped out into the gardens, and cooling drinks and cucumber sandwiches were brought, and Polly reposed herself upon a reclining chair and said that she hazarded that there might be some requirement of a ladies’ committee as well?

Beauf sighed, as he watched Julius displaying the splendours of the garden to Flora, and Bobbie walking off with Scilla, no doubt to find a hedge or shrubbery to kiss her in concealment, and said that he was like to think that, did the cholera come, and we must pray it did not, there would be a great need for general relief efforts – those that recover remain very weakly for a long while, and then there are the bereaved that may have been cast into destitution.

Polly looked sober, and nodded. Would, she said, there was somewhat like vaccination against it. They both sighed. My father, she went on, being a doctor – Jenner was quite his greatest hero – grew up supposing I should marry a medical man that mayhap might make further remarkable discoveries. But, she said with a wistful smile, could not sit about in hopes that a new Jenner or mayhap Wakley might come about in search of a bride – had a widowed mother to think of –

One could think of few men less like unto a passionate medical reformer than the late Lord Fendersham! But what might a young woman do? teaching, whether as a governess or in a school, was seldom well-rewarded. And he observed that Polly had made contentment in her lot.

Hannah, he remarked, informed me that 'twas a lady, and no physician, that first brought the knowledge of variolation to these shores from Turkey, in the time of the first George.

Say you so! – and how is Miss Roberts? is there any hope that we may have her company in these parts?

That would indeed be pleasant, thought Beauf, that found himself missing Hannah’s conversation.