“No, no, of course I don’t want it in detail, sir!” Harry exclaimed, ludicrously disconcerted. “I only meant — that is to say, you won’t forget, will you?”
“If I do, you must remind me,” said the Marquis.
With this Harry had to be content; but he took care to tell Frederica that she must instruct Dr Elcot not to present his bill to Alverstoke. “I’ve brought you a roll of flimsies,” he said, “and if you should need any more of the ready, mind you write to me for it, for I won’t have Alverstoke standing the nonsense! A pretty fellow I should be not to look after my own brothers and sisters!”
She agreed, but said: “I wish you had not been obliged to — and you ought not!”
“Gammon!”
“No, it’s the truth. I should be more beforehand with the world. I thought, you know, that Graynard would have paid for everything, but living in London, and going to so many ton-parties, has cost much more than I was prepared for.”
“Oh, pooh! Who cares?”
“I do — indeed, I am dreadfully mortified! I never meant to be a charge on you, Harry! I shall pay it back to you, but I fear I may be forced to draw on you.”
“Freddy, will you stop talking such flummery? Anyone would suppose I was on the rocks!”
“No, I know it’s not as bad as that, but I’m very sure it isn’t high tide with you. I daresay you may have debts, too.”
“Nothing to signify!” he said, with a betraying flush. “You needn’t worry your head over that! As for your expenses, I can always raise the wind, you know: Salcombe will manage it for me.”
“Do you mean, sell you out of the Funds? No, that he shan’t!”
“Oh, you may depend upon it Salcombe will know of some other way! What’s the figure?”
“My dear, I’m not yet on the rocks either! I was looking ahead — merely warning you that I might be obliged to demand your assistance! The thing is that I must not keep Felix in London, and I hired the house there for six months. I thought we might have stayed there during the summer, living very economically, which we could well do, when the season is over. But I have been talking to Dr Elcot, and he advises me to take Felix out of town until he is perfectly recovered. The racket and all the excitements of London won’t do for him: I shall have to take the greatest care of him, you see, not letting him tax his strength. He is going on very prosperously, but rheumatic fever, as we know, can sometimes leave certain weaknesses behind it.”
“Mama!” he exclaimed. “Good God, Freddy, he must and shall be seen by a London doctor! One who is bang up to the hub!”
“Yes, that’s what I feel, too. Indeed, Dr Elcot has himself recommended me to do so, before I leave London. So we will ask Sir William Knighton to call in Upper Wimpole Street as soon as Felix is well enough to travel, which won’t, I hope, be long now — particularly in Alverstoke’s carriage, which is the most luxurious one I ever was in! And then, if Sir William approves the scheme, I mean to remove to some quiet, unfashionable place — perhaps by the sea? Only I must take Charis and Jessamy as well, of course, and I am afraid it may cost a good deal, even if we can find a cheap lodging. Harry, will you discover which of the seaside resorts would be the best, and go there to find a eligible lodging-house for us? Or hire a furnished house, if you think none of the lodgings suitable?”
But this Harry did not feel himself competent to do. He thought it would be better for Frederica to choose the lodgings herself, handsomely offering to escort her on this exploratory trip.
She did not press the matter, reflecting that it might indeed be unwise, not to say foolhardy, to leave the choice of lodgings to his uninstructed judgment. She asked him instead for news of Charis. He said she was not to tease herself, for Charis was going on tolerably well; but he admitted that her spirits were not high. She was wearing black gloves, of course, and had excused herself from attending any of the parties to which she and Frederica had been invited. No: he did not think she was moped precisely; and as for being lonely, much cause there was for that! Lord, the knocker was never still! Which reminded him that he had meant to ask her who the devil was the queer touch who was for ever on the doorstep, enquiring after Felix, handing Buddle flowers and billets for Charis, and in general making a curst cake of himself? A regular counter-coxcomb: Nutley, or some such name.
“Oh, dear! Our neighbour,” said Frederica despairingly. “A very respectable young man, but — but encroaching! Not that I altogether blame him, because I know very well that Charis — not in the least meaning to do so, but because she is such a soft-hearted goose — did encourage him! I have tried to hint him away — ”
“Well, I’ve done more than that!” interrupted Harry callously. “What a jackstraw to be making up to a sister of mine! When it came to his saying that he wished to serve her in this time of affliction — such impudence! — I told him to his head that she needed no services from him, or from anyone other than myself! Which put him in the bag, I’m happy to say!”
“Poor Mr Nutley! and Mr Navenby? Has he called?”
“Oh, yes! Brought his mother with him. She was much inclined to laugh at the affair, but he wasn’t! He didn’t seem able to believe it at first, and then he sat staring. It was all in the papers, you know — not very much, thank the lord, but enough!”
“I suppose it must have been,” she sighed. “Has it shocked everyone?”
“I shouldn’t think so. Well, Lady Elizabeth wasn’t shocked, was she? And I can tell you of two others who aren’t: Barny, and Dauntry! They think Felix is as game as a pebble — but I’ve told ’em not to put that notion into his head!”
“So I should hope! Harry, I do hope Endymion Dauntry isn’t haunting the house?”
“No such thing! Haunting it, indeed! But why you should prefer that fribble, Navenby, to Endymion I’m dashed if I know! If I were you, Freddy, I’d give him my blessing! I don’t say it’s a brilliant match, but it’s perfectly eligible. And if Charis don’t care for his being a nodcock why should you? At least he’s a right one, and not a man-milliner!”
“And if he were removed from her sight she would forget him within the month,” Frederica answered. “Don’t let us fall into a dispute! We shall never agree on that subject. Tell me instead what Charis is doing today! Is she with Lady Elizabeth?”
“No, but she’s not alone. Chloë Dauntry is spending the day with her, and they were going to walk in the park this morning. I daresay they have been pittle-pattling all the afternoon!”
“And I wish your idiotish cousin may not have been their escort!” Frederica said, later, when recounting this to Alverstoke.
He was amused. “I imagine that their escort — if they had one — may quite as well have been my far from idiotish secretary. Is that affair likely to prove lasting?”
She glanced quickly up at him, “Are you opposed to it?”
“My dear girl, what possible concern is it of mine? I own I think Charles might do much better for himself, and I am very sure that he will meet with formidable opposition from Chloë’s fond momma. I am even of the opinion that he would be well-advised not to rivet himself before his feet are firmly set on his particular ladder; but I haven’t the remotest intention of meddling.”
“I’m glad. I agree with you, too — and Chloë is too young to be thinking of marriage — except, of course, that she is thinking of it! Too young for a formal engagement. But I fancy that their attachment will prove to be lasting. As for Mrs Dauntry, I know exactly how she may be brought to consent to the marriage. In fact, I have an excellent scheme in my head!”
The Marquis eyed her with foreboding. “If your scheme involves me, Frederica, — ”
“Well, it does, but only a very little! How long is it since you saw Diana?”