Aftermath (26)

Sometimes there were ghostly presences

Leda looked up from arranging packs of cards and piles of counters on the gaming-table to glance at the portrait of naughty Abby, at her most roguish and décolletée. She smirked at Clorinda and said, wished she might match her wits across the cards with that lady!

La, said Clorinda, tapping her lightly with her fan, that would be a sight to see! And I fancy there would be a deal of side-bets laid! Though I wonder does the respectable Mrs Thorne – but did she convey such remarkable talents to Tommie, must suppose she still has those skills entirely at her fingertips, the dear creature.

She sighed.

Do you greatly miss her? enquired Leda.

We were girls together, learning our trade under Madame Zelide – o, 'tis the way of the world that friends are parted, but sometimes it strikes me, even must I attribute my mournful air to concern that she is in danger from the Tsar and the severe climate of Siberia.

Came in Sandy and Josh. The latter remarked that Lord Stephen had lately remarked to him that mayhap his brother Gillie might have means of discovering intelligence concerning the quondam Miss Gowing?

Clorinda gave a little snort and said, hoped he did not feel moved to venture that to Lord Gilbert, that one understood was in quite enough trouble as it was, fighting duels &C (for one could not disclose that he was one of Sir Vernon’s young – and not so young – men – and women too! – surreptitious about the business of the nation). And o, pander of parrots, how was that ornithological courtship coming along?

Josh grinned and said, quite the love-birds! I must hope that Xanthippe does not learn any of Tom’s Poll’s exceeding vulgar vocabulary.

And here was Hector showing in Lyddie Marshall and Franz Hahn – Clorinda went make civil and to ascertain that they had been made welcome below-stairs, and that all had been set up in proper order for 'em. Meg and her party would be along shortly.

Next to arrive was the party from Yeomans, Flora and Hannah, with dear Verrie and Ellen and Gordon.

The Wallaces, with the Lowndes hot on their heels, bringing with them that fine medical man Abbott of Firlbrough.

William and one of his students commenced upon circulating with glasses of wine and fruit-cup, as guests began to arrive in considerable number.

Yes – here were the Raxdells with the di Serrantes – oh, and they had brought La Signora Umberti, how very charming! – Nardo and Miss Emma looking in an ecstatic daze of mutual infatuation, very pretty and proper – no Mr Peter? – hoped he was well? –

Lady Raxdell sighed and said, had been off with a party to the races, only just returned, will certainly be coming later, the wretched boy, has not yet even met our new family. One saw that dearest do-thee-call-me-Priscie had quite won over that shy nervous creature, from the doating look she shot her.

Oh, but Bianca was the image of what the Contessa must have been in her youth – quite Clorinda’s imaginings in Lady of the Vespers stepped forth from the page! O, there would be hearts at her feet!

Clorinda felt a little shiver down her spine. Sometimes there were ghostly presences at these soirées that she had been holding these so many years, since she first began 'em in order to promote beloved Josiah Ferraby’s interests in Town Society. Jos, the dear Grand Turk, himself, of course – especially sometimes when she would catch a glimpse of some particular turn of Harry’s head – her wild girl Eliza, that sometimes she would see in Bess or Meg, or even in Chloe – Milord – dear old Hacker, going to the card-table and distracting the other players with horrid accounts of operations at Barts – the dear Admiral –

Perhaps one did not miss Pargiter’s sour face and harsh critical opinions!

And those that though still in life no longer came – Mary Theresa O’Callaghan, that was now Sister Benedict – Sir Zoffany, too invalid to make the journey from Richmond – Hywel Jenkins, that would not appear in company with his speech slurred, that used to fill theatres to the furthest gallery –

But though one missed them sorely, there were, still, fine old friends – here was Hattie Nixon, queen of gossips, with her husband leaning on her arm, ready to bore any he could entrap –

Even though there were several that could not be present because of mourning for the Admiral.

As well as new ones. How, Clorinda wondered, was it that she found such an excellent fine new young friend in Grissie Undersedge? All might wonder that she made such an intimate of Lady Trembourne’s daughter! But also the granddaughter of the dear previous Lady Trembourne for whom she was named. Had inherited that exquisite taste though manifested in different ways – had the nicest touch in furbishing up rooms –

Though of course dear Rachel Demington, that had become such a promising apprentice in matters of philanthropy, was about recruiting her health in Harrogate, and her husband at present accompanied her.

Oh, but as ghosts went – this was a spectre of one that had never walked in person in this pretty little house, called up at the entrance of the Bexbury party and a chance lift of Phil Bexbury’s head and shoulder as he greeted other guests, bringing a resemblance to her late husband that he was otherwise not greatly like. Aubrey Dabney, Marquess of Bexbury, that had wrought such a change in her circumstances with their brief strange marriage, had been already dying – obliged to hoard his strength so that he might complete all those matters he wished to set in order – had remained at Raxdell House. But since there had been fears that his heir presumptive had suborned one there to act against her for fear she went with child, after her wedding-night masquerade, she had come here, her safe refuge, until summoned to his deathbed.

Darling Cathy had insisted that their latest infant be christened Aubrey, entirely fitting.

It was strange – two ghosts that did not haunt her – she glanced at Raoul de Clérault’s painting of her in Neapolitan peasant garb, with Vesuvius in the background – the Junker and Osgood. It had not been here that that Prussian monster had endeavoured to murder her – but since one might consider his startlement at her apparition at a ridotto in Naples had caused him to fall to his death, that might have led him to become a revenant? –

She went make introductions between the Bexbury party and the di Serrantes.

– But she had shot Osgood in this very house, determined that he should not use the secret of Flora’s birth to prevail upon her to spy upon her seditious friends – for in those days a grim tyranny lay over the nation. Yet, she thought, at least Osgood had believed that he was serving his country, however pernicious, how monomaniac, his activities: that wretch Rathe had been about serving his own interests.

She should not let her wits wander like this! – doubtless yet another of those effects of her time of life – for here came the Trembourne House party. Dear Grissie – sober Greg – young Ketterwell, that was looking a deal better for his recent rustication – their guests Lady Saythingport and her daughter Lady Hermione –

Indeed the latter was a very fine-looking young woman, a great pity that she was a cripple, otherwise quite surpassed those silly creatures her sisters. Sophy had been solicited to go dress her hair, and had come back very prepossessed: now, there is a lady would look very well in the Trembourne tiara!

Clorinda made civil – offered that Lady Hermione might care to sit down – Lady Hermione said, was that the famed Mrs Veriker? in tones of awe, so Clorinda went make an introduction – really, there could be no more kindly companion for a young woman that, one understood, had been very little in Society.

Verrie smiled and adjusted her hearing trumpet and said, la, had heard somewhat of the ladies at Roughton Arching from Julius –

Clorinda smiled and withdrew.

Looking about, it was beginning to go –

And here, in arrears of the main Raxdell party, Peter Reveley, that looked about to find his family, and spotted 'em with the di Serrantes – and halted in the doorway, mouth quite agape, as his eye lighted upon Bianca.

Well! we should see what we should see, there.

Was that a somewhat hopeful expression upon Isaac Purdew’s face? Sure there had been a passage or so at the time of the Lattimer business – one was surprized he had not found a bride among the Boston Friends –

Here was the music striking up – harp and flute, accompanied by Meg on the piano, that Clorinda fancied would be a little offended was she not expected to play –

She smiled across at Sebastian – such a good friend, and how inauspicious their first encounter! when he had been beguiled by Mary Theresa’s villain husband into devious plots. That had, indeed been the cause of her first meetings with Sandy, Milord’s prim Scottish secretary.

Ah – here came Dodo to sing – ah, some Neapolitan airs in compliment to the di Serrantes and La Signora. She must find occasion to convoke with the latter – doubtless had fine memories of the Contessa, and mayhap of the late Marquess her husband, that Clorinda would greatly like to hear.

Euphemia had demonstrated her virtuosity in the matter of Italianate cucina when preparing the supper-table, along with her other noted dishes.

There was Jimsie Ketterwell, putting up two nice little platefuls, and taking 'em over to where Verrie and Lady Hermione were sitting. Sure that young man was pulling round from the rackety ways he had been in – and had been brought up in proper manners, between the Pockinfords and his Trembourne grandparents. And there he was, taking his own supper over to 'em and conversing very civil. Most pretty-behaved!

Why, had not a great shock at where the ways he was getting into had led been the means of pulling Sebastian Knowles round? Had one not seen somewhat very similar with Artie Demington? A salutary thing perchance, could all young men not be the like of Greg Undersedge or Gussie Imbremere – or, of course, dearest Harry Ferraby.

Clorinda shook herself before she fell into a pit of memories of her first meeting with Biffle – Beaufoyle Beaufoyle, then Lord Sallington, now Duke of Mulcaster – dead drunk in a gutter outside a gaming-hell.

Might even be salutary for young ladies to have similar liberty to make mistakes – was that not what her beloved wombatt child Flora argued? – had Flora herself not done so? – but Clorinda fancied 'twould be deal of a while afore that might be generally possible in society as it was constituted.

What could, she wondered, Susannah Wallace, that opinionated political writer Aspasia, gesturing somewhat with her lorgnette, have to say to Lady Saythingport? But they seemed quite engrossed in conversation.

Sandy came up and said, sure it was going. These days one perceived that she as 'twere rode with a very light hand –

Clorinda snorted and said, had been standing here with her wits a-wander, but, true, did not need to work quite so hard these days as in earlier times –

The door opened and were ushered in by Hector Amelia Addington and several other theatricals. Clorinda went greet 'em.

The supper-table, she saw, had already been replenished!

She went make a plate for herself, and one to take to Leda at the card-table, at present deserted, having ensured that the musicians were not being neglected afore they played again.

Leda smiled and said, 'tis not a great gaming set the night.

'Tis not like former days, said Clorinda.

And then smiled. Sure there were loves and friends in the present and 'twas entire foolish in her to be ever looking backwards.

Publickation Day at last

We are delight'd to announce, after somewhat of a hiatus, the publickation of Repercussions: Deceptive Disguises, Clorinda Cathcart's Circle #17:

While certain matters have come about to be improved, there are troubles still remaining. Lilian Lotting is safe, but her cruel husband waxes vengeful. There is further evidence of the extent of Rathe’s devious plots, that extend further than previously supposed. While Clorinda, Lady Bexbury, does not lay down the task of contrivance, she becomes a little jaded, and is pleased to see others acquiring this art. Her beloved Leda undertakes a daring plan.

As is customary, there is also a helpfull guide to References and Allusions therein.

Should any be moved to review these, or previous volumes, or generally speak kindly of 'em, the gratyfickation would be immense.