Buxton almost goggled at him “Your valet, sir? Waiting on Felix? Well, I am astonished that you could spare him!”
“I can’t,” said Alverstoke. “That’s why I’m tied by the heels.” He turned, as Frederica came into the room, and smiled at her, a satirical gleam in his eyes. “Ah, Frederica! I knew you would wish to see Buxted, who has come all this way to enquire after Felix!”
“Yes, indeed!” she responded promptly. “How very kind it is of you, cousin!”
He grasped her hand, and held it, saying: “I could not stay away!”
The Marquis, having observed this through his quizzing-glass, and with unruffled calm, recommended Frederica to furnish him with the whole history of Felix’s illness, and withdrew.
For this desertion he was taken roundly to task as soon as Buxted had departed. “How could you have left me alone with him?” demanded Frederica indignantly. “The — the shabbiest thing!”
“But you have told me a score of times that you are long past the age of needing a chaperon!”
“Chaperon! Of course I am! I didn’t mean that, and you know it! But to abandon me in that heartless way — ”
“Not at all! I take great credit to myself for not being heartless enough to deny him the solace of the tête-à-tête he so plainly desired. Poor fellow, he deserved some reward for his devotion! Did he renew his offer for your hand?”
“Yes, he did! Nothing could have been more horrid, for he put me in a flame, talking about Felix as he did, but I had to keep my tongue between my teeth, because I know he meant only to be kind, and helpful — besides bringing Felix a book, and a puzzle which would make him feverish again (if it didn’t drive him out of his mind), if I were such a ninnyhammer as to give it to him, which, of course, I shan’t, and saying how happy he would be to take my burdens on his own shoulders — as though the boys could ever be burdens to me! It was all I could do to refuse his offer civilly! And now I wish I hadn’t been civil, because he says he shall not despair! He is as stupid as Endymion!”
“No, no!” said Alverstoke soothingly. “Nobody could be as stupid as Endymion!”
“Well, if you can think of anything stupider than to make me an offer of marriage at such a time as this —!” she exclaimed. “Would you do such an idiotish thing? Of course you would not! I don’t believe even Endymion would!”
He looked at her for a moment, an oddly twisted smile on his lips. Then he said: “I can’t answer for Endymion, but for myself — no, Frederica, I would not!”
XXV
The Marquis left Hertfordshire three days later. When he announced his decision to Frederica, he thought, for an instant, that there was a flicker of dismay in her eyes; but she answered almost at once, and with composure: “Yes, indeed, sir! My conscience had begun to trouble me, for there is no longer the least need for you to kick your heels here, and however much we may enjoy your company, you must be bored to death!”
“Do you know, Frederica, the odd thing is that I am not in the least bored,” he told her.
She laughed. “To be sure, you have no time to be bored, have you? If you are not taking me for a walk or a drive, or entertaining Felix, you are being coaxed — if not bludgeoned! — into helping Jessamy with his classical studies!”
“That, I admit, is a severe trial, but I console myself with the reflection that it is doing me a great deal of good. I have become shockingly rusty! Nor, I fear, did I ever apply myself, as Jessamy does.”
“Well, I can believe that, at all events!” she said, twinkling. “You would naturally be enchanted to be granted the opportunity to rub up your scholarship! But don’t attempt to gammon me into thinking that you are equally enchanted to be obliged to emerge from your bedchamber long, long before noon!”
“Oh, I never keep town-hours in the country!” he returned.
“How detestable it is that you always have an answer!” she observed. “Now, do, pray, let us be serious for a moment! I can never hope to express to you my deep obligation for — ”
“You have now had your moment!” he said. “And as it is apparent to me that you have nothing of the smallest importance to say, I don’t scruple to interrupt you. What I have to say is very much more to the point! I have had some conversation with Elcot, and I learn from him — not, to my chagrin, from you — that you have the intention of carrying Felix off to some seaside resort. It won’t do, Frederica! At this season you would have the greatest difficulty to obtain a suitable lodging at even the most unfashionable place; and if you did obtain it you would find yourself jostled by shabby-genteels, mushrooms, and April-squires!”
“But surely there must be quiet resorts!”
“No doubt, but I don’t know of them, and nor do you! By the time we had discovered one, the summer would, be half-over. If you are thinking of Worthing, put it out of your mind! It is expensive, and all the dowdies and dowagers of the ton engage accommodation there from year to year. I have a far more eligible scheme to propose to you, which is that you should remove, with your family, to Alver, and remain there for as long as you choose.”
“To Alver?” she repeated, startled. “But — but do you mean Alver Park — which the guide books describe as your principal seat?”
“Yes, of course I do. I have had it in mind to send Felix there ever since I realized that it would be necessary to take him out of London. It is situated within twelve miles of Bath, so that he could, at need, go there to drink the waters, or to take the hot bath, or whatever is recommended. It is very much quieter than any watering-place, but will offer both him and Jessamy much more entertainment. I’ll tell my people to look after that. They will find several hacks which they may ride, and if they like to fish the trout stream they have my permission to do so.”
“Oh, how much Jessamy would love it!” she exclaimed. “Thank you, thank you! How good you are! But of course I must not accept such an offer! Don’t tempt me!”
“Why must you not accept it? Is it your custom to refuse all invitations?”
“No, no, but — but this is different! We are already too much beholden to you, and to — ”
“Don’t be commonplace, Frederica! it doesn’t become you! Do you feel that there should be a hostess at Alver? Nothing could be easier than to provide one for you! If Miss Winsham doesn’t mean to leave her sister, I have one widowed aunt, two elderly spinster ones, and a collection of cousins, any one of whom would be delighted to take up residence at Alver! Most of them have been trying to do so for years.”
She was obliged to laugh. “And then you would never be rid of them!”
“You underrate me! Failing Miss Winsham, I’m inclined to think I will install one of my aunts — or, perhaps, invite her to stay, if I should wish to visit Alver myself. Not that I think it at all necessary: my housekeeper there, who knew the place before I was born, will take excellent care of you and Charis, and cosset the boys to death. You may remain for as long or as short a time as you please — and pray don’t imagine that I am conferring a favour on you! the boot is on the other leg: I shall be glad to have the house occupied. So let us consider that settled!”
“But — ”
He sighed wearily: “If you are wondering what people may say, let me assure you the likeliest comment will be that it is just like me to rid myself of my troublesome wards by packing them all off to Alver at the earliest opportunity.”
“You always contrive to leave me without a word to say. I don’t feel I ought to yield, but I shall, because it would be just the thing for Felix, and for Jessamy, too. It is high time I made them my chief concern. I’ve neglected them for Charis, and it was very wrong of me. Quite — quite useless, as well. I hoped so much that she would have contracted an eligible alliance!”