the_comfortable_courtesan

There was no breath of scandal

Rosamund, Lady Trembourne, was no longer wakened in the mornings to fits of queasiness. No, these days, was woken earlier than she would have liked by very definite evidence that there was Gillie’s child nestling within her womb, wakeful and restless at that hour, and thus she might lie there until one of the maids brought in morning tea, turning over and over what she might do in this predicament.

Had come sadly behindhand to a realization of the matter that was afoot – had supposed all the travails of the journey had – it was a wonted thing – upset the usual effects of the bodily oeconomy. And then gone wonder whether she came about to that time of change in a woman’s life? Had at first attributed any uneasiness of the stomach to the change of diet on English soil.

So here she was, a-counting on her fingers, and making reckonings, and desperate calculations, and wondering what should she do, for 'twas far too late to grit her teeth and entice her husband to her bed – that she was by no means sure was a thing even possible after so many years.

Was whispered there were things might be done – but she did not have such friends that she might interrogate – one heard there were those had lady’s maids knew such things –

And – o, she was foolish, had heard that breeding women grew vapourish, had never seemed so to her before, but this was Gillie’s child –

Did not know what Gillie was doing – occasional mentions from Sir Vernon – had been frolicking on Rozovsky’s estate, and she had tormented herself with wondering whether he had daughters there – apart from Verena Imbremere! – or whether there were lovely Cossack maidens in the vicinity. And the latest intelligence was, why, young Beaufoyle’s orders were to return by way of St Petersburg – spend some little time there – then visit the Baltic capitals –

She saw that all this spoke of the esteem in which Gillie was already held, but she so longed for him.

One heard that there were doctors, or mayhap midwives, that were in the business of discreet delivery – could she find some excuse to go away – perchance she might have some reason to take the waters somewhere? – but how did one find 'em?

Was there any of her acquaintance she might open these questions to? Even was it in the form, I have a friend who – But thinking of it, could not think of one of her former set that would not go gossip over the matter did she disclose it.

Her tea had already come and was growing cold undrunk in the cup as she sat up against the pillows, when came in Grissie in a most unwonted state of agitation.

Mother! I do not like to disturb you, so early in the day, but I think you should know as soon as possible, and I am very like to suppose it may already have got into the newspapers –

What?

Grissie plumped down upon the edge of the bed and sighed deeply. There is a policeman come to the house – an officer – that says there was a fellow found dead in St Giles last night and 'tis thought 'tis Father.

Rosamund could quite imagine what he was about in those sordid parts, but did not say so to Grissie.

So, said Grissie, Jimsie and Greg have gone to identify the body, but indeed Father did not come home last night – bed not slept in –

Rosamund reached out to clutch Grissie’s hand. She could not cry out in relief at this news.

Grissie gave a small groan. Is it Father – o, she cried, this is a sad matter for Jimsie and Myo, that are barely out of their honeymoon!

Rosamund was like to think that Grissie was only prevented by a consideration of proper ton in the face of bereavement from saying, is this not entirely like Father’s tiresomeness? But for Rosamund, nothing in his life became him like the leaving of it.

Greg says, that if 'tis Father, doubts not that there will have to be an inquest, all very embarrassing – no likelihood that it may be hushed up – fears that there will be wild speculations –

Rosamund, most unwonted, patted Grissie on the shoulder, and said, try not to agitate herself, for the sake of little Adelaide. Grissie blew her nose, and said, quite so. She leant over to kiss her mother’s cheek, and rose to depart.

Rosamund rose, and went about her morning toilette, and decided that as they were not yet sure whether the corpse was her husband, might be premature to put on anything that resembled mourning, so merely desired to be clad in somewhat sombre.

They were a sad and fretful little party at breakfast, and no-one had much appetite. Afterwards they all went to sit in the China salon, with workboxes or the newspapers, until such time as Greg and Jimsie should return.

It seemed an age, but was still only mid-morn, when they came in, looking exceeding gloomy.

'Tis indeed Father, said Jimsie, that was very pale. What they say is, there are no marks of violence, and may be that was natural causes, but 'tis certain he was robbed, and there are some signs that the body had been moved –

Nora clapped a hand to her mouth and rushed from the room, followed by Thea.

– but there will certainly have to be an inquest.

We took the thought, said Greg, talking it over in the carriage, that one might ask Asterley was there any real condition the matter – persuade him to testify if so –

They all looked about at one another. Even in this short time Myo had come to apprehend the degree to which the Earl had complained about his health but had not seemed to be in particular invalid and very generally considered within the family and their set as a malade imaginaire.

Lord, but there was a deal of business came upon hand with this sudden decease! Here was Jimsie that had not anticipated to succeed this age, supposed, as they all had, his father a creaking gate, beset with men of law and the stewards from the various estates, and the matter of the Writ of Summoning for the House of Lords –

And the ordering of a hatchment for Trembourne House, and mourning for the family, and the sending out of notices &C&C&C.

But they must, at least, be entirely gratified at the results of the inquest. O, did not entire redound to her late husband’s credit, but could have been a great deal worse! It had indeed been found natural causes – somewhat to do with the heart. And Dr Asterley had given evidence that he had diagnosed some weakness of that organ, and cautioned His Lordship against undue excitement or sudden shocks. But, he gave a somewhat tetchy sigh, Lord Trembourne – the late Lord Trembourne – had been very susceptible to the wild promises of quacks, and in particular lately had been desiring his physician’s opinion of galvanic treatment.

That, declared Asterley, would be quite the worst thing in his condition. But alas, I would not rule it out of probability that he went seek out some practitioner, was electrified and it had this effect. And then the culprit had the body conveyed from his premises. 'Tis a surmize, but 'twould be in keeping with his medical history.

The coroner, one might see, and the police surgeon, were entirely glad of an explanation for the body of a peer of the realm being found in such a low quarter that, while somewhat discreditable – gullible belief in quackery and refusal to take his physician’s sound counsel! – was not disgraceful. Had been hinted that might have been the startlement on being accosted by a robber – but that would leave open the question, what was he doing there?

So they could proceed to a funeral and there was no breath of scandal. Rosamund was like to suppose that there had been undue excitement of a different nature but was that not revealed, was all to the good.

But what should she do now?

She could not sit about wringing her hands for very long, she must come to some plan.

Of course, she could, now, go delude her family and Society that she had a final remembrance of her husband and carry on as if that were the case? She shuddered.

Came to the conclusion that she should go abroad – might use the excuse of the blow of sudden widowhood having affected her health, and some particular spaw being most suited to recruit – and could find some refuge there to bear the child. Had more friends, or friendly acquaintance, on the Continent than in Town. But what then?

She had to talk to someone.

To her astonishment, she found herself telling Grissie – her good, responsible, kind, dutiful daughter – the image of her mother-in-law – the antithesis of herself. Did not reveal the actual paternity of the child she was carrying, but it was fortunate that Grissie already had that suspicion that there was a lover somewhere in foreign parts –

Grissie blinked a little, and said, did she feel that she would find refuge abroad, why, perchance 'twas the prudent course. Then cast her eyes down at the papers she had been perusing, getting various matters in order to take some of the burden from Jimsie’s shoulders, and cleared her throat, and said, of course, her mother might already have plans for the child –

Surely she was not going to suggest that it should come reside in the Trembourne House nursery!

– but 'tis rumoured that the children that are being brought up and educated upon modern principles by Miss Ferraby and Miss Roberts at Yeomans House are by no means all the orphans that they are given out –

Oh. One thought of Miss Ferraby’s fiery preachings on the iniquities of the position of women and the laws of legitimacy &C.

I daresay Lady Bexbury might have further intelligence – Flora Ferraby being her god-daughter –

Now, why had she not thought to consult Lady Bexbury? When that lady, that surely might have done her any ill-turn, had instead put her on a path she found herself greatly suited to as one of Sir Vernon’s agents abroad?

She leant over to kiss Grissie. What a wise creature you are, she said, as her daughter blushed.