These Old Shades (Alastair-Audley Tetralogy 1)

‘Oh no!’ Léonie was surprised. ‘Why he is quite an old man!’

‘Alas, poor Armand!’ said his Grace. ‘Don’t tell him so, infant, I implore you.’

‘Nor anyone, my love,’ said her ladyship. ‘It would fly round Paris! He would be so chagrined!’

‘Well, who did make love to you?’ asked Rupert. ‘Besides Condé.’

‘He didn’t, Rupert! No one did.’ Léonie looked round innocently. ‘He only said I was a Fairy Princess. Yes, and he said that about my eyes.’

‘If that’s not making –’ Rupert encountered a glance from his brother, and broke off. ‘Oh ay! I’m dumb, never fear!’

‘Monseigneur,’ Léonie said. ‘I kept thinking it was a dream! If they knew I had been a page I do not think they would have been so kind to me. They would have thought I was not enough respectable!’

Twenty-six

The Presentation of Léonie

After the ball invitations came swiftly to the Hôtel Avon. More than one lady begged that Miladi Fanny would forgive the shortness of the notice and honour her on such-and-such a night, at ball, or rout, or card-party. Fanny went carefully through the pile of little cards, and was triumphant.

‘My dearest Justin!’ she cried. ‘We shall not be above three nights at home, I give you my word! Here is a card from Madame du Deffand, for next month – a soirée. This is from the Comtesse de Meuilly – a ball. And here we have one from my dear Madame de Follermartin, for Saturday! And this one –’

‘Spare us, Fanny!’ said his Grace. ‘Accept and decline as you will, but let us have no lists. Infant, what have you there?’

Léonie had come dancing in with a bouquet in her hand, to which a card was attached.

‘Monseigneur, are they not pretty? They come from the Prince de Condé. I think he is very kind to me!’

Fanny looked at her brother.

‘So we begin,’ she said. ‘Where are we like to end, I wonder?’

‘I shall end in a debtor’s prison, never fear!’ said Rupert, from the depths of an arm-chair. ‘Two hundred cool guineas last night, and –’

‘Rupert, it’s wanton!’ exclaimed Marling. ‘Why do you play so high?’

Rupert deigned no reply, deeming the question beneath contempt. It was Davenant who filled the breach.

‘I believe it’s in the family,’ he said. ‘Rupert, of course, is a scamp.’

‘Oh no!’ said Léonie. ‘He is very silly, but he is not a scamp! Monseigneur, tell me what I am to wear at Versailles to-morrow! Madame says blue, but I want to wear my white dress again.’

‘No, infant. To wear the same frock twice running would create almost a scandal. You shall wear gold, and dull yellow, and the sapphires I once gave you. And your hair shall be unpowdered.’

‘Oh?’ said my lady. ‘Why, Justin?’

Hugh walked to the fireplace.

‘Is it, Justin, because Titian hair has always been one of your ruling passions?’

‘Exactly,’ bowed his Grace. ‘What an excellent memory you have, my dear!’

‘I don’t understand,’ complained Fanny. ‘What do you mean?’

‘I am not quite sure,’ said Avon. ‘I suggest you ask Hugh. He is omniscient.’

‘Now you are being disagreeable!’ Fanny pouted. ‘Dull yellow – ay, ’twill do. Léonie, my love, we must order a petticoat of gold net from Cerise; they are quite the rage now, I hear.’ She became absorbed in modes and fashions.

She and Avon and Rupert accompanied Léonie to Versailles. Marling and Davenant were alike in their distaste for courts, and they refused to join the party, preferring to spend a quiet evening playing at piquet, and perusing the latest copy of the Adventurer which had come that day from London.