Frederica

‘Very likely. Unfortunately, she had met Endymion, and it appears that from that moment her mind was made up.’

‘Fiddle! If you knew how many times she has fallen out of love as quickly as she fell into it – !’

‘I’ll take your word for it. But I would point out to you, my child, that with I don’t know how many sprigs of fashion with far more address than Endymion paying court to her, she did not fall out of love with Endymion. So perhaps this marriage won’t prove to be as disastrous as you imagine. The manner of it is – to put it mildly! – regrettable, and that is all that now concerns us. It must be wrapped up in clean linen.’

‘If it can be,’ said Eliza doubtfully.

‘It can’t. Only consider the circumstances!’ said Frederica. ‘There has been no advertisement of an engagement; no guests were invited to the wedding; and it has taken place two days before we leave London! How could such a scandal be scotched?’

Alverstoke flicked open his snuff-box, and inhaled a delicate pinch. ‘Difficult, I admit, but not impossible. I don’t immediately perceive how to get over the omission of the engagement-notice – unless we sacrifice Lucretia? What do you say, Eliza? I am perfectly willing to do it, if you think it would answer.’

Frederica could not help smiling. ‘You are quite odious,’ she informed him. ‘Besides, how?’

‘Oh, by making her the bar to the marriage! She became so alarmingly ill at the very mention of it – she would, too! – that it was thought the effect of seeing the announcement in print might carry her off.’

‘Whereas the news that Endymion was secretly married would have restored her to health!’ said Eliza sarcastically.

‘What a good thing it is that you came with me!’ remarked his lordship affably. ‘You have your uses! Try if you can discover why the engagement was kept secret: I can tell you why only the immediate relations were present at the wedding.’ He flicked a few grains of snuff from his sleeve. ‘Owing to a bereavement in the bride’s family, the ceremony was private. We’ll put that in the notice.’

Lady Elizabeth said reluctantly: ‘Yes, that could be done. But why wasn’t Lucretia present??

??

‘She was.’

‘You will never induce her to say so!’

A derisive smile curled his lips. ‘Would you care to bet against the chance?’

‘No!’ said Frederica forcefully. ‘You mean you would try to – to bribe her, and I won’t have it! Besides, it wouldn’t answer: you know it wouldn’t! You must forget I was so stupid as to have applied to you: I can’t think what made me do so, for it is no concern of yours, and I had no business to embroil you in it!’ She put up her chin. ‘I must make the best of it myself, for I know it was my fault. If only she doesn’t regret it – and people don’t – don’t refuse to receive her –’ She faltered and stopped, dashing a hand across her eyes.

The door opened. In a voice of deep disapproval, Buddle said: ‘Mr Trevor, ma’am!’

Twenty-eight

Frederica said instinctively: ‘No, no! I’m not receiving visitors!’

But Mr Trevor was already over the threshold. He bowed slightly to Lady Elizabeth, and then, as Buddle withdrew, advanced towards Frederica, saying, with his pleasant smile: ‘You mustn’t blame your butler, ma’am. He told me that you were not at home, but I overbore him.’

The Marquis raised his quizzing-glass, the better to survey him. ‘It seems strangely unlike you, Charles. No doubt you had your reasons.’

‘Yes, sir, I had,’ responded Trevor, unabashed. He looked closely at Frederica, as he shook her hand. ‘I came – in case you should have found that letter, which I think you have – to tell you that you need not regard it: all’s well, I promise you!’

She was so much astonished that she could only stare at him. He pressed her hand reassuringly before he released it, repeating: ‘I promise you!’

She found her voice. ‘Not married? Not, Mr Trevor?’

‘No, no! It – er – came to nothing!’

‘Oh, thank God!’ she cried. ‘Where is she?’

‘She’s with Mrs Dauntry at present, but I trust she will be able to return here tomorrow. I thought, since she had a valise, that it would be best for her not to come home tonight. On account of the servants, you know.’

‘With Mrs Dauntry?’ she said, quite bemused. ‘But how – why – ?’

‘Charles, how the devil do you come to be mixed up in the affair?’ demanded Alverstoke.

‘Well, it’s rather a long story, sir!’