Rupert was intrigued. "And who might Mr. Cope be?"
"A gentleman as green as Mr. Mellish is white. Mind you, Mr. Cope's eccentricities verged on the alarmingly odd."
Greville raised his eyes to the pelmet, thinking that those last two words might occasionally apply to his aunt herself.
Evangeline glanced at Edward. "You may go now."
"My lady." The footman bowed and withdrew, closing the dining room door behind him.
Evangeline then elaborated upon the green man. "Mr. Cope wore only green, right down to green seals at his fob. His house was furnished in green, he only ate green vegetables, his wigs were powdered in green, and he even attempted to have his horses dyed green, but it all washed out in the first downpour. He was much given to studying ladies with his quizzing glass, and examined complete strangers as if under a microscope. He alarmed more than one gentle soul, I can tell you. As you can imagine, he brought the Steine to a halt when he appeared, not that he will appear again for the time being. In October he jumped out of his bedroom window because he heard noises and thought he had to escape a riot. Fortunately, he wasn't badly hurt, but his friends deemed it best to take him somewhere quiet to, er, recover."
"An asylum, perchance?" Rupert suggested.
"Most likely." Evangeline looked at him. "By the way, have you and Greville entered your name at Donaldson's?"
Rupert nodded. "Well, not yet. I intend to do so this morning, but I can't speak for Greville."
She turned to Greville. "Sir?"
That gentleman stirred himself to answer. "Aunt E, the circulating library is the very last place you will find me. To go there is tantamount to informing the town crier."
"You surely don't imagine your presence here is going to pass unnoticed? You will be observed the moment you sally forth for your ride."
Greville shrugged. "I intend to turn my collar up and pull my hat low, and since we are going to make for the Downs, I doubt if I will see all that many. Word can get around if it pleases, but I do not have to oblige Brighton by flinging myself into the thick of society. I wish to be quiet, and quiet I will be."
"Well, that makes things a little awkward. You see, now that you, Rupert, and I are here in Brighton after all, I had planned for us to attend tomorrow night's Christmas bal masque at the Old Ship Hotel. I presume you will not be coming?"
"That is correct."
Evangeline sighed. "Oh, well, I suppose it will even things out conveniently if you are not present."
"What do you mean?"
"Sir Jocelyn and Chloe are bound to be there, which means Mr. March will be with them. Rupert and I will join their party, and Miss Mortimer will bring the number up to a perfect six."
There was silence, and the playing of the German band seemed suddenly more intrusive. Megan lost what little appetite she had; indeed she felt quite sick. Wear fine clothes, eat at this awful table, face Cousin Oliver, and go to a fashionable ball? It was too much. She couldn't do it, she simply couldn't!
Evangeline beamed at them all. "An excellent balance, don't you think?"
Greville's cool gray eyes swung toward Megan. "Perhaps I'll attend the ball after all, Aunt E," he said, and Megan was sure he had changed his mind simply to be at hand to deny her any hope of enjoying herself. He need not have troubled, for enjoyment was the very last thing she would experience!
Evangeline frowned at him. "Oh, do make up your mind, sir. Am I to take it now that you are definitely going to join us?"
"Yes, so it's an uneven seven after all, I fear."
"It cannot be helped. Now, then, Greville, I have a favor to ask of you."
"A favor?"
Evangeline nodded. "I find myself with so much to do today that I really do not have the time to fit everything in. What with overseeing the Christmas decorations, sorting out the costumes for the play, and summoning my dressmaker to bring the new jester's costume I ordered before leaving for Bath, there really isn't time to go to Mrs. Fiske's in St. James's Street as well. Mrs. Fiske herself is only in attendance between twelve and five, and Miss Mortimer is expected there at twelve, so would you be an angel and take her for me? After your ride, of course."
"If something you've ordered requires collection, surely a footman can do it?" Greville suggested, thinking it odd to send Megan.
"It isn't anything for me, sir. Mrs. Fiske is to provide Miss Mortimer with suitable new togs, including, I trust, a gown that will do for tomorrow night."
Greville stared. His aunt had finally taken leave of her senses! An evening gown for a companion? Oh, feline Miss Mortimer had indeed fallen on her feet!
"Well, Greville?" Evangeline eyed him.
"If you wish me to take Miss Mortimer, I will do so."
Megan's heart sank, for she had been silently praying he had something else to do, but Evangeline beamed with satisfaction. "Excellent. Now, if Miss Mortimer finds the things to her liking, you are to instruct Mrs. Fiske to have them delivered here without delay. The bill is to be sent to me, naturally."
"Naturally."
"By the way, I have invited Sir Jocelyn and Chloe to join us tonight to discuss Twelfth Night." Evangeline placed her napkin by her plate. "Rupert, I expect you to conduct yourself with dignity where Chloe's friendship with Mr. March is concerned."
"Yes, Aunt E."
"Miss Mortimer, I shall not require you until this afternoon, when I wish you to read through Feste with me."
"Yes, Lady Evangeline."
Rollo murmured from the window seat. " 'Well, God give them wisdom that have it; and those that are fools, let them use their talents.' "
Evangeline hesitated, then went on speaking to Megan. "In the meantime you may do as you please, just be sure to make arrangements with Greville before he goes off on his ride."
"Yes, Lady Evangeline."
"Oh, dear, it's beginning to get very hot in here. I think I will stroll in the garden a while." Evangeline got up hastily, for her face was beginning to go a familiar red. Greville opened the door for her, but as he began to close it again he almost trapped Rollo, who was following her.
The ghost was most indignant. "Ye gods and small fishes! Thou art plaguey impatient, sirrah! Canst thou not allow a person time to pass through in peace?"
But Greville's ear was unhearing.
Chapter 11
Having reluctantly agreed with Greville that she would be ready in the entrance hall at a quarter to twelve precisely, Megan decided to use the intervening free time to walk the half mile or so to St. Nicholas's. Wearing her maroon cloak, mustard gown, and little hat, she set out directly after breakfast, before Greville and Rupert had left for their ride on the Downs. Her hands were thrust deep into a warm fur muff that Evangeline had kindly insisted she take, and she was glad of her little ankle boots, for there was quite a bite in the sea air.
Her route took her away from the Steine, across another fairly open area and the remnants of the very end of Great East Street into Church Street, which led past an army barracks, then steeply up toward the church on the hill. The sun had melted the frost and a light breeze had picked up, and during a lull in the demolition she heard the German band again. It was playing "The Holly and the Ivy."
There were side streets and courtyards along Church Street, as well as a number of houses and other buildings, but they became fewer the farther up the hill she walked until by the time she reached the churchyard wall, she seemed almost in open country. From here the view was wonderful. Brighton was spread out below, and she could clearly see Radcliffe House and the Marine Pavilion. The sea glittered bright green-blue, with many sails dotted out toward the horizon, and it was so clear that in the western distance, some sixty miles away, she could make out the Isle of Wight. It was a lovely day, and could not have been further removed from the storm of less than a week ago, when parts of southern England had suffered damage and flood.