Growing Good (11)

Seasonal Celebration (2)

Juliet – Lady Allder, wife of Sir Godfrey Allder – took the letter out from its place of concealment in her jewelry box so that she might peruse it again.

She smiled. It said Burn this but she was very unwilling to do so. Why should she? 'Twas not as if it was an exhortation to fly with Lord Blatchett, or even do somewhat that, was it discovered, might be deleterious to her reputation.

No, 'twas merely an epistle that expressed his admiration – that expatiated upon her charms – surely there could not be the least objection? Desiring that she might accord him a dance or so were they at the same balls – where could be any harm in that?

After all, she did not have a husband that was give to jealous scenes –

Sometimes, with a little inward pout, she wished Sir Godfrey did manifest a little more in the way of passionate attachment even was it demonstrated thus.

She heard a clock chime the quarter-hour: nearly time to go down, preliminary to dining. She sighed. A gathering of her husband’s dull middle-aged friends, 'twould be entirely tedious, but she should not dally.

She returned the letter to its hiding place. She looked at herself in the mirror. That was a pleasing sight, now she could go to really good dressmakers and have her maid schooled in hairdressing by Lady Bexbury’s Sophy.

She locked the jewelry case.

***

Perchance the most proper thing would have been to go to Carlefour Castle over the Yuletide season, and then come to dear Worblewood, but they had decided that they might plead that would not wish to cast a shadow by their mourning condition upon the revelries that Mr Grilsinger and his sister would doubtless be holding.

Also, Myo continued, I apprehend that Grigson and Cretia will be going there at New Year, after celebrating Christmas at Anclewer –

And it would be most exceedingly pleasant to be in that dear place, so bound up in their hearts, just the two of 'em and the household, very quiet and private –

Jimsie grinned and said, had not Lady Balstrup said somewhat of going to visit her son at this festive season at Morlangerton? along with La Signora? So we need not anticipate a call from her.

Myo added that she did not anticipate any calling to and fro from Roughton Arching – possibly one call of civility from her father, but 'twill be some hunting and shooting party – making Talshaw acquainted among his set –

They looked at one another and grimaced a little and remarked that sure, being in mourning was extremely convenient! For they could not look with any pleasure on doing the polite in that set.

So, here they were, having left the Undersedges at Trembourne House – Thea gone to stay with her sister Aggie at Hughie’s vicarage – darling Mama wrote from Harrogate that she was not in the least solitary – besides the company of the Demingtons were a deal of other ladies with whom she could enjoy a little society, and felt her health constantly improving –

Apart from this burden of rank that had fallen upon 'em, all was very well indeed.

There had been a fine ride through the frosty countryside – they had brought down Hengist and Rowena – of course, Jimsie had remarked, 'twould be improper to go out with the hounds at the Boxing Day meet, but I cannot say I am particularly desolated, I am sure we may find somewhat else to entertain us. Now they were in Myo’s Dutch salon, that was fine and cozy with a fire blazing in the hearth and the curtains drawn, and a very substantial tea brought to 'em.

And 'twas very pleasant to snuggle together upon the sopha, in a gently amorous fashion –

When came Tilbury to say, here were two gentlemen came calling – Her Ladyship’s brothers –

They disentangled themselves and desired him to show 'em in, and bring fresh tea and more cakes &C –

To Myo’s exceeding relief, 'twas just Peregrine and Lucius that appeared. No sign of Talshaw!

Made very civil, explaining that 'twas quite immense tedious at Roughton Arching, Father’s awful old relics that seemed to suppose we were still in the days of the Georges, and would not cease from prating on about these dreadful modern times.

Jimsie and Myo looked at one another and Myo rang for Tilbury and said, they would be four to dine the e’en, had no doubt that that Mrs Apcott could contrive –

Fancied Mrs Apcott would be entirely offended at the supposition that she might not!

That is excellent good of you! cried Lucius. Sure we are tired of sitting and hearkening to those pompous old bores, that do they notice us at all will be about advizing us – watching Talshaw in his cups –

O dear, said Myo.

Jimsie said, had no doubt that Lord Peregrine – Lord, we are now relatives, do you call me Grinnie – had the acquaintance of young men of learning at Oxford, that were not mired in benighted notions and had been meaning to enquire did he know of any that looked about for a post as political secretary?

Now, that is a prime thing! Here is Averdale, has some reluctance to take orders, excellent fellow – or Thornton –

Myo looked at them and considered how very agreeable this was.

Lucius put down his plate – this anchovy toast is uncommon good – and said, did they not have a collection of Roman antiquities?

They conceded that there was, indeed, a small case of items that had been thrown up while ploughing &C, and they purposed a proper archaeological excavation once the season was more favourable – had a Mr Chilfer, that was an archaeologist of great experience, coming to advize 'em –

Myo added that, did not think she had mentioned to Jimsie, had only arrived the day, he had very kindly sent some very superior mourning stationery – being in the paper business –

Might, begged Lucius, he view the antiquities?

Jimsie said, of course, the corridor would be a little chill – mayhap Myo would prefer to remain here? – she nodded –

Grinnie said mayhap he would remain as well.

After Jimsie and Lucius had gone out, he looked across the hearth to Myo and said, 'tis all well in this marriage of yours?

O, entirely – apart from this sudden shock of elevation – had not in the least anticipated it – all supposed the late Earl a creaking gate that for all his complaining upon his health would outlive us all.

And Cretia seems happy?

Indeed! Grigson most amiable and generous – would not say doating, but a considerable contrast to Iffling –

Grinnie snorted. Well, we must hope that Rina does not come to figure in a crim. con. suit, have heard murmurs but may be merely spiteful gossip –

O dear –

And here is Talshaw being an entire oaf, one is very sorry for any lady that is persuaded to a match – that excellent man of his has left, developed a taste for travel, picked up several languages while they were abroad, sets up as a courier –

Myo reached over and clasped his hand. Most distressing, she said, and one supposes Father takes no measures to pull him up?

Exactly so, one supposes in his youth such behaviour was entire the mode.

Returned Jimsie and Lucius, the latter expressing most enthusiastic about the Roman relics and a desire to join in any excavations.

Myo looked at Jimsie, cleared her throat and said, my dear, I think Grinnie and Lucie would find it far more agreeable here than with the party at present at Roughton Arching –

Jimsie nodded. Had something of the same thought myself. I am sure Mrs Tilbury can readily make up bedchambers –

O, prime! cried Lucius, and Grinnie looked very pleased.

***

Grissie – Griselda, Lady Undersedge – looked contentedly around the little family group in the firelight. Indeed there was more of a cheerful Yuletide spirit among 'em than the sombre feeling that their deep mourning garb might suggest. But it was really exceedingly hard to feel anything like genuine grief over her father’s untimely demise.

Even before her parents had fled into what all knew was exile on the continent, rather than merely the hypochondriacal pursuit of health among spaws there, after narrowly escaping a suit for slander by publishing an apology in the newspapers, her father had not been a warm paternal presence. When he had shown any concern with his offspring it had been to fuss over what they were eating as unwholesome according to the latest of his fads in the matter; or at what they were wearing as over-heating or certain to result in a cold or worse from chill; the weather itself too hot, too cold, too wet, too windy for any proposed excursion.

While to her great surprize, she had latterly – since her parents’ previous return to Town to avoid the upheavals of '48 – begun to have somewhat of a more, one might call it friendly rather than maternal, relation with her mother, there had never been any approach to a closer feeling with her father.

They had, indeed, been in somewhat eager anticipation of his return to whatever spaw had lately took his fancy….

She hoped her mother was doing well in Delft. Seemed the most answerable thing in her predicament –

Little Edmund drowsed on Grissie’s lap, thumb in mouth, the darling. Nora held sweet Adelaide, that she entirely doated upon, and that was a very amiable infant, took all this admiration as entirely her due. Lewis sat in an easy chair with a low table beside him, engaged in his most recent occupation of tying artificial flies, having heard Jimsie expatiate on the excellence of the trout-stream at Worblewood.

Dearest Greg sat in his wonted armchair, a lamp on the table behind him casting a light over his shoulder upon the book in his hands. This had become quite the Yuletide tradition these past few years –

He cleared his throat and commenced to read. Marley was dead, to begin with.