The Ironmaster's Tale (55)

[the_comfortable_courtesan]

A footman came in to say that Her Ladyship wished to remind His Grace that a light collation had been laid in the Gold Room, and Her Grace had returned from the dressmakers.

You’ll join us? asked the Duke.

Josiah felt he could not refuse the kind invitation, although a nuncheon taken under Lady Jane’s disapproving eye was not like to be entirely agreeable. But had not Eliza said that she had brought that lady about to some understanding of the position – not the entire matter, of course, but that 'twas a matter of kindness to spare her further increase that he patronized Madame Clorinda to satisfy his manly needs. That Lady Jane considered entire proper, would that more gentlemen were so thoughtful towards their wives. They had laughed somewhat over it, but did it make matters easier, could only be beneficial. And perchance, was it as 'twas give out that Lady Jane made a great pet of Miss Addington, that acclaimed actress that was so very admiring of Madame Clorinda might perchance soften Lady Jane’s views towards her.

And indeed, Lady Jane made most exceeding civil towards him, spoke very highly of Eliza, sure it must be greatly reassuring to Lady Wallace, married to that fribble Sir Barton, to have a lady of such sense and maternal experience about her at such a time.

Fie, said the Duchess, I do not think Sir Barton is such a fribble as that: mayhap he used to be, but he becomes quite dedicated to his responsibilities.

Lady Jane raised her eyebrows somewhat. I am glad to hear it, she said, now that he goes become a father.

Josiah would perchance have desired to linger a little longer in Town in Clorinda’s company – it had been such a while since he had enjoyed it – but he minded that he should be about going into Somerset and convoking over the matter of the quarry with Sir Barton. 'Twould, he confided to Clorinda, very likely to come to an entire mutually beneficial arrangement for improving the workings – had been let slide for many years. Will not bore you with the detail of the business, my dear, but a good supply of limestone is entire requisite to the making of iron, besides all the other matters for which it is of great utility.

Say you so! Well, my dear, I should advize you to consult with Lady Wallace, for you will have no decision from Sir Barton until he has done the like – Lady Wallace, that has had the command of her own fortune since she came of age, has a very good head for business besides, I am give to apprehend, having the most remarkable understanding of politics. Though I daresay at the moment she will be somewhat preoccupied by other matters – Mr Hacker says he has his bag packed and his instruments in order daily awaiting the call to go post-haste to her lying-in.

He kissed her very warmly. Clorinda – dearest love – I beg you, should you come to be in any trouble, that you will let us know. I know you are well-provided, and have good friends, but we would entirely wish to stand by you in any difficulty you might encounter.

She looked up at him with a little moistness in her lovely blue eyes. O, Mr Ferraby, 'tis most exceeding kind of you. But, indeed, I should not wish to be a trouble to you and to Mrs Ferraby.

He kissed her again, with somewhat of an inward sigh. And wondered whether he might desire Hector to let him know was there any bother come to the household, though he could not entire like the thought that 'twas rather of the character of setting a lady’s own servants to spy upon her.

When he approached Hector in the matter, Hector said, rather stiff, that he hoped he knew what was proper. That was an answer one might take in what way one would.

So he took the stage to Somerset, and it was entirely delightful to see Eliza again, and to be greeted exceeding hearty by Sir Barton, and most hospitable by Lady Wallace, that was most exceeding great with child, and with the greatest friendship by the Samuels, and with moderate civility by Old Lady Wallace, that did, indeed, most remarkably resemble a crocodile.

One could see that there was an entire pressing need to keep Sir Barton from hovering over his lady and fretting her nerves, so there was somewhat of a conspiracy 'twixt himself and Jacob Samuels to draw him off to go look at the quarry, and to consider over how one might go develop its capabilities, and clamber around in it, and have Samuels point out fossils, and talk of the arguments there were among savants concerning 'em. And in the evenings after dinner they would suggest a game at billiards so that Eliza might go rub Lady Wallace’s feet for her in the drawing-room without Sir Barton hanging over her and asking did she feel quite well, was there anything he could get her?

They went on in this fashion quite for a fortnight, during which Eliza took the opportunity to go up to Town to look over the governesses and came back saying, sure, she thought little Miss Netherne would entirely answer for the girls, those other two entirely daunted her, she was like to suppose they would be a-quizzing her upon Mangnall’s Questions over the dinner-table and finding her a very ill-informed creature.

Sir Barton’s cousin Major Wallace arrived, complaining that they now had orders for Upper Canada such that they would, he confided, arrive quite at the dead of winter. But he had a few weeks to pass upon this visit before sailing with his regiment. It was entirely beneficial: he exhorted his cousin to riding, and to going out shooting, and while at first looked somewhat askance at Jacob Samuels, soon became entirely prepossessed by his skill at billiards and his daring exploits in the quarry.

And then there was the most dramatic occurrence of the arrival of Martha Samuels’ brother and sister, Sebastian and Viola Knowles, that had run away from the parental home because of their parents’ considerable favour towards the suit of the Earl of Erringe to young Viola: a well-grown young woman that looked somewhat older than her years, could surely be only just out of the schoolroom was Martha to be believed.

Really, said Lady Wallace, fanning herself, can they consider three dead wives any recommendation in a prospective husband? Before they even look at the fellow, that is entirely like unto something out of a Gothic novel, and consider that he is nigh on old enough to be her great-grandfather as well as could form the subject of a lecture upon diseases by Mr Hacker? Nasty creature. I know the Duke of Mulcaster slipped through their fingers, but this is really the worst kind of desire to see one’s daughter in a coronet, with no regard at all for her own happiness or indeed her health.

Martha came back into the room. The poor dear creature, she said with a sigh, clung to me sobbing and begged me not to tell Papa that she was here, in the greatest taking. Well, I do not wish to betray her, but I also take the consideration that he and her mama must be entire distraught, a child of her years run away with only her brother to protect her –

'Tis a delicate matter, agreed Eliza. Let us all go sleep upon it and see whether that brings wisdom.

One might know, said Lady Wallace, that you would bring a deal of sense to the matter.

Fie, said Eliza, do you never find that some tangle that looks knotted beyond untangling at night will look a deal less of a snarl the morn?

Comments

[kore]

(OMG, Viola.)

[brokenallbroken]

I'd forgotten for how much of the early story Jos and Eliza were out of Town.