ould have the heart to use it; so this subterfuge was agreed upon, and Harry went off to bed, recommending her not to get into one of her worries.
She was terribly nervous next day, but fortune favoured her. When it was time to set out for Kensington Gardens, and she went to take leave of Frederica, she found that she was entertaining a morning visitor, in the person of Lord Buxted.
Her entrance created a welcome interruption. His evil genius had prompted his lordship, as soon as he had shaken hands with Felix, who was lying on the sofa, to express the hope that he would never again cause his sister to suffer so much anxiety. Frederica intervened, but to no avail. Lord Buxted had decided long since that she was by far too indulgent, and he said, with a smile which instantly set up the hackles of all three Merrivilles: ‘You have a very forgiving sister, Felix! I am afraid I think you deserved all that happened to you! I’ll say no more, but –’
‘I wouldn’t listen to you, whatever you said!’ Felix burst out, his cheeks scarlet, and his blue eyes flaming. ‘You’ve no right! You aren’t my guardian!’
‘Felix, hold your tongue!’ Jessamy said sharply, pressing him back against the cushions. He glanced at Buxted, and said, carefully choosing his words: ‘It is quite unnecessary to scold my brother, sir, I assure you.’
‘It isn’t his business to scold me!’ declared Felix furiously. ‘It’s Cousin Alverstoke’s business, and he did! And it wasn’t a – bear-garden jaw, because he’s a right one, and he knew I was as sorry as I could be, and if he chooses to make me regret I was ever born if I do it again he may!’
Since it was obvious that Felix was fast working himself into a state of undesirable excitement, and even more obvious that an attempt to wring an apology from him would be violently rebuffed, Frederica greeted her sister’s entrance with heartfelt relief.
She did not for a moment believe that Harry was going to escort Charis on a shopping expedition, but she accepted the story, merely saying: ‘Are you taking Lufra? I shouldn’t, if I were you!’
‘Oh, no!’ Charis said, releasing her hold on Lufra’s collar. ‘Only he knows we are going out, and he’s bound to try to get out the instant the door is opened, so I brought him to you, Jessamy.’
He nodded, and snapped his fingers at Lufra, who was sniffing at Buxted’s well-polished boots; and Charis went away, thankful to have escaped questioning.
Buxted’s presence must have precluded suspicious enquiries, but Frederica would not, in any event, have made any. She was not a gaoler, nor did she wish Charis to feel that she was being kept under surveillance. There was little doubt that she had an assignation with Endymion, and deplorable though this was it would be needlessly unkind to prevent what would probably be their last meeting for some months. And at least she was taking Harry with her.
She dismissed the matter from her thoughts, and set herself to divert Lord Buxted, who was annoying Jessamy by commenting humorously on the astonishment visitors must feel to find such a monster as Lufra in Frederica’s drawing-room.
But none of the three visitors who were presently ushered into the room evinced any astonishment. The first was Darcy Moreton, whom Buxted eyed with hostility; and within a few minutes Lady Elizabeth Kentmere and Lord Alverstoke were announced.
The effect of this was electric, and was observed by Mr Moreton rather ruefully. There was no misreading the smile in Frederica’s eyes, and no doubt whatsoever that Alverstoke was on the best of terms with his wards. Felix shouted joyfully: ‘Cousin Alverstoke!’ and struggled to his feet; and Jessamy, pausing only to bow to Lady Elizabeth, began instantly to tell him of something that had happened at Monk’s Farm after his departure. As Felix also had something to tell him, and Lufra, catching the spirit of these demonstrations, uttered some yelping barks, pandemonium reigned for several minutes. Lady Elizabeth was laughing, and said, as she shook hands with Frederica: ‘I knew that they liked him, but not that his arrival would cause a riot!’
‘No, and I apologise for them!’ said Frederica, smiling. ‘You would suppose them to have been reared in a back-slum!’
‘Hardly that!’ said Buxted. ‘But surely it cannot be good for Felix to be so much excited? Would it not be as well if Jessamy took him into another room?’
‘Oh, no!’ replied Frederica. ‘Alverstoke knows exactly how to handle him.’
This was soon seen to be true. His lordship quelled the riot without the smallest difficulty, ordering Felix back to the sofa, requesting Jessamy to call off the Baluchistan hound, and adding that when he felt a desire to be deafened by a couple of gabble-mongers he would inform them of it. These trenchant words were received with the utmost good-humour: a circumstance which Buxted observed with some surprise, and considerable disfavour. Nor was he better pleased when Alverstoke went over to sit beside Frederica, and engaged her in what appeared to be an intimate discussion. Since Eliza, who was talking to Mr Moreton, good-naturedly drew her nephew into the conversation, he was obliged to give his attention to her, instead of trying jealously to hear what Alverstoke was saying, in a lowered voice, to Frederica.
It could scarcely have been more innocuous. ‘A marked improvement!’ Alverstoke said.
‘I think so. He was a little tired after the journey, and this hot weather seems to bring back some aches and pains.’
‘The sooner you can get him to Alver the better. Have you written to Knighton?’
‘This morning. I mentioned your name, as you bade me, and enclosed the letter Dr Elcot gave me for him.’
He nodded. ‘I shall hope to see you off before the end of the week. By-the-by, in the matter of a tutor I fear I have exceeded your instructions.’
‘You don’t mean to tell me you’ve discovered one?’ she exclaimed.
‘No, Charles did. He offered me his brother, Septimus, and I engaged him. He is staying in Berkeley Square now: a pleasing young man, and one whom the boys will like. I only trust you may!’
‘Oh, there can be no doubt! A brother of Mr Trevor’s must be acceptable to me! Pray tell Mr Trevor how grateful I am!’
‘Certainly, but the arrangement will be as much to Septimus’s advantage as yours. He was already seeking a post as coach during the Long Vacation, and this one – if you will be content to remain at Alver for the summer – will enable him to continue living at home. The Rectory is only a few miles from Alver. Tell me when it will be convenient for him to call to see you, and I’ll send him round!’
‘At any time: I don’t go out at present, or only for a few minutes.’ She paused, as a thought occurred to her. ‘I wonder if I should ask Harry to conduct the interview? I think he might wish to do so.’
‘Are you? I am tolerably certain that he wouldn’t! He would be extremely embarrassed – if he could be persuaded to undertake the task of enquiring into Septimus’s scholarship, which I strongly doubt! Septimus is a Fourth Year man, my dear, at present working for a Fellowship. I don’t see Harry, by the way, or Charis: is he still virtuously doing his duty by her?’
She smiled, but answered, with a touch of constraint: ‘Why, yes! I believe he has taken her out to do some shopping.’