Cotillion

He then picked up his hat, and his ebony cane, and departed, cutting short the Chevalier’s thanks and protestations.

Arrived once more in Berkeley Square, he found his sister civilly, if unenthusiastically, entertaining Miss Broughty in the drawing-room. From the wan look in one face, and the expression of long-suffering on the other, it was to be inferred that Meg’s attempts to divert her visitor’s mind had not been crowned with success. Upon Freddy’s entrance, Olivia started up, clasping her hands at her palpitating bosom, and exclaiming: ‘Oh, what have you done, sir?’

‘Fixed it all right and tight,’ responded Freddy. ‘Taking you to meet d’Evron at the Golden Cross in an hour’s time: be in Dover in time for dinner, I daresay. Packet to Calais tomorrow morning.’

This laconic explanation had the effect of momentarily stunning the ladies. Meg, the first to recover her power of speech, cried: ‘An elopement? She must not! Freddy, have you run mad?’

But Olivia, after gazing in a rapt manner at Freddy for several speechless moments, threw him into great embarrassment by seizing his hand, and kissing it. ‘Oh, Mr Standen, how can I ever thank you?’ she stammered. ‘Oh, how kind you are! Oh, I am so happy!’

‘Thought you would be,’ murmured Freddy, recovering his hand. ‘D’Evron very happy too. Means to take you to his mother immediately. Begs me to assure you—can place the utmost confidence in him! Going to be a queen, or some such thing: wasn’t attending very particularly, but got a notion that’s what he said.’

‘But, Freddy, does she know the truth?’ demanded Meg. ‘That he is not what we have believed him to be? That he is—’

‘Oh, indeed, ma’am, I know everything!’ Olivia assured her. ‘Oh, pray do not say I must not go to my Camille!’

‘But—’

‘Here, Meg, must have a word with you!’ interrupted Freddy, gripping her arm, and propelling her towards the door. Outside the room, he released her, but said in a tone of strong censure: ‘If it ain’t just like you to be trying to throw a rub in the path, the very moment we are in a way to going on like winking! You hold your tongue, now, or you’ll plunge us all back into disorder!’

‘Yes, but, Freddy, I have been thinking, and—’

‘Well, I wish you won’t, because I never knew any good to come of it when you started thinking. Very likely to find ourselves in queer stirrups if we was to listen to you.’

‘I declare you are the most odious creature alive!’ said Meg indignantly. ‘Pray, have you considered what a situation I shall be in when that horrid woman discovers that I helped her daughter to elope?’

‘Won’t discover it. Mean to warn her not to mention the matter. When Skelton tells her the girl ain’t been here—which reminds me: must remember to slip a couple of Yellow Boys into his hand!—well, when he tells her that, she’s bound to think of d’Evron. Won’t find him at his lodging. Paid his shot—at least, I hope he will—and gone! Plain as a pikestaff! Now, you be a good girl, Meg, and don’t, for the lord’s sake, try to think! Something more important to be done. Can’t let Miss Broughty go off without her nightgown! Must give her what she’ll need till she gets to Paris.’

‘What, are you expecting me to give the wretched girl my own clothes?’ demanded Meg.

‘Won’t miss a nightgown, dash it! Better give her a shawl too.’

‘If I do, will you promise never to tell Mama I had the least knowledge of this shocking business?’

‘Promise anything!’ said Freddy recklessly.

‘Oh, very well, then!’ Meg said, and went back into the drawing-room to invite Olivia to go upstairs with her to her bedchamber.

Some little time later, Freddy handed Miss Broughty into a hackney-coach, directed the coachman to drive to the Golden Cross, and took his seat beside his charge. At their feet reposed a modest valise, and over one arm Miss Broughty carried a folded shawl. Her cheeks were delicately flushed, her eyes were softly sparkling, and she appeared to be floating in some pleasurable dream. She was recalled by Freddy’s voice, addressing her, and turned towards him with a start. ‘Oh, I beg your pardon! I was not attending!’

‘Just wanted to be sure all was right,’ said Freddy. ‘M’sister give you everything you should have?’

‘Oh, yes, she was so very kind, and she packed the bag with her own hands! I was quite overcome!’

‘Did it herself, did she? Then I’ll lay a monkey she forgot something!’

‘No, I am sure she did not! Only fancy! She would have me take such a pretty dress, to wear when I reach Paris, because she says this one I have on will be sadly crushed by the journey!’

A gleam of hope shone in Mr Standen’s eye. ‘The lilac one?’ he asked.

‘No, it is not lilac, but green, and of the finest cambric!’

He sighed. ‘Thought she wouldn’t part with the lilac one,’ he said mournfully. He passed under rapid mental review such articles as he supposed must be necessary to a female setting forth on a long journey, and suddenly said: ‘Hairbrush and comb. Toothbrush.’

Miss Broughty turned a stricken gaze upon him. ‘Oh, dear! I don’t think—Whatever shall I do?’

‘Stop and purchase ’em,’ replied Freddy, with decision. ‘Good thing you told me m’sister packed the bag. Where do you commonly buy such things?’

‘I don’t know,’ faltered Olivia. ‘I have not had occasion to buy them since I came to town. Oh, I am sure they can be had at Newton’s, in Leicester Square, only I—I have only a shilling or two in my purse, and I dare not go into Newton’s in case Mama might be there!’