Repercussions (11)

Minded to ask a favour

Certainly this party was a deal livelier than the pack of relations they had been obliged to host at Ammerpark over Christmas! Even did one also suspect that there were some matters of marriage in consideration were a younger set of guests invited, oh, along with their parents, all entirely proper.

His father, Viscount Raxdell, had indeed hinted to Peter Reveley that perchance 'twas time he gave thought to choosing a bride, a prospect he faced with very little enthusiasm. He supposed he had no outright objection to, say, Zipsie Parry-Lloyd or Fanfan Osberton – fine enough young women, entirely the thing, good families, fathers that had been in the late Lord Raxdell’s set – but sure he was in no disposition yet to settle down.

Furthermore, one observed that the young women foregathered at Ammerpark had no eyes for any fellow but that heroic explorer, Josiah Ferraby, FRS! One must concede that he did not go about boasting upon his exploits – had to be greatly encouraged before would speak of 'em – took no great advantage of the feminine devotion that he aroused – indeed, spent a deal of time with Lady Raxdell advizing her concerning Muffet’s health.

Lord Raxdell had offered to mount him for the New Year’s Day hunt, but Ferraby had declined in very civil fashion. The general feeling was that he must find foxes small beer when he had lately been, one imagined, hunting tigers, probably mounted upon elephants. Had, however, declared that would very much appreciate the opportunity to hack over the country hereabouts – that he had done in company with his relative Lady Bexbury, to the envy of the younger ladies.

Peter had ventured into the small drawing-room, in hopes of a fine gossip with Bert Edwards and Leda Hacker, to find them very much occupied with the matter of writing up place-cards and menus for the night’s dinner and not in a mood to be disturbed.

The large drawing-room, he ascertained, was a gathering of the ladies, young and older, of the party, although he did not see, glancing through the door, Lady Bexbury among 'em. Mayhap she was seeking a little solitude in the library?

No: she was not in the library, but venturing along the gallery, he heard voices in the cabinet of curiosities, and entered there to discover Lady Bexbury saying to Mr Ferraby, had it of Polly Fendersham, warrants it entire effective – then turning with a delighted smile to say, why, Mr Reveley, Josh was just renewing acquaintance with the curiosities –

Ferraby smiled and said, was in some surprize to observe the survival of those taxidermy specimens – had supposed that the moth would have took 'em off by now –

O fie! cried Lady Bexbury, smiting him with her fan, do you not recall, put Mrs Dilmer in the way of Phoebe’s fine powders and sachets against moth and beetles &C this entire age ago?

Peter looked at the specimens in question and remarked that his ancestor displayed no great talent in the art of taxidermy – that albino stoat was positive horrid, had he seen it as a boy sure 'twould have give him nightmares.

Ferraby and Lady Bexbury exchanged glances, and Ferraby said, those eyes, though most certain the correct shade of red, were of far too great a size and wrongly placed. And were stoats of that colouring at all common about these parts, or was it a sport?

Peter said, fancied Arkin, that was the head keeper would be able to advize on that.

Why, I might walk down to his cottage, then, to convoke, and ask a few further questions about the fauna hereabouts – I daresay, since the meet is not here the morrow, he will not be undue occupied?

After he had gone, Peter enquired whether Lady Bexbury, even was she not following hounds the morn, would be going to Wrattesby Hall for the hunt breakfast?

Lady Bexbury sighed, and, although the cabinet was unheated, fanned herself a little. Alas, I confide I am what is deemed persona non grata with the Munnetts – members of the Dabney connexion that persist in considering me Satan’s sister on account of my marriage to the late Marquess, though I hear that now they bring themselves to make up to the present Marquess. 'Tis fortunate, she went on, that the present Marchioness has, I fancy, all her father’s talents for diplomacy.

She stared in an unseeing fashion at the horrid stuffed stoat for a moment or so and then said, but this private encounter comes very apt, Mr Reveley, for I was minded to ask a favour of you that I did not want to open within a great press of company.

Flattered at the thought, he desired her to speak on.

There is a young man – son of neighbours of mine in Shropshire – perfectly good family but seldom come to Town – like me doing very well in lead, and also have come about – a relative that returns from the California goldfields having done very well, but somewhat knocked up in health – to have a little extra upon hand. So they feel it would be desirable to send young Leo – Leopold Harper – to spend some time in Town, gain a little polish, mayhap sow a wild oat or so – may run to a Grand Tour in due course. And they say to me that they know that I know a deal of young fellows in Society, and they take some concern about Leo falling into the wrong company, and could I make him introductions into a good set, that would know what’s what and be able to warn him of the tricks and traps that lie in wait, would be a neighbourly kind thing. An entirely eligible young fellow – not at all provincial in his manners – could you take him about a little I should be exceeding grateful.

Why, cried Peter, that would be an entire pleasure. Your recommendation must grant him the entrée to several circles. Indeed, he rather liked the notion of himself as the mentor to a young fellow newly come to Town.

In return, he begged that Lady Bexbury would honour him with the supper dance at the Ball the e’en.

O, poo. Surely there is some younger blossom takes your fancy.

He gave a little groan and said, must confess, feared that did he take particular notice of any of the young ladies 'twould be taken as the opening salvo towards an offer.

She laughed considerable and said, she would be his defensive square.

One did notice among the company at the ball that the Munnetts’ party, while not going so far as to administer the cut, displayed a cool reserve towards Lady Bexbury. But that could hardly be material to one that was so much a favourite with the rest of the guests – sure his ribs were quite sore from the elbow-nudges of several of the older fellows saying he was a sly fox to cut 'em out, and then Abertyldd and Vinwich sighing a little and saying, but do you not think he has something of a look of our late friend? and exchanging glances.

Ferraby entirely doing the civil – danced perfectly well – careful to show no particular preference to any one of the young ladies among his admirers – took Peter’s mother into supper, most diplomatic, Lady Bexbury remarked.

In spite of these what one might consider undercurrents – Peter occasionally recreated himself with a silver-fork novel along with more sensational literature – the ball must be counted a great success.

That could not be said for the hunt the following morn: in spite of hounds finding and to all appearances on a good scent, everything giving fine augury for a prime run, something must have crossed the trail, or somehow they lost the scent and picked up some old one that led nowhere.