April Lady

So off Nell went to Chelsea. No sooner did Mr Tubbs, greeting her ladyship with flattering deference, grasp the purpose of her visit than he became an enthusiastic supporter of it, summoning up his chief minions, and rapidly devising several alternative plans for the tasteful decoration of her ballroom. They differed in many respects, but in one they were alike: they were all extremely costly. But since Cardross had said Nell might do anything she chose, provided she didn’t drape his ballroom in pink calico, this consideration was of no moment. In choosing the flowers and the ferns, and discussing with Mr Tubbs the rival merits of garlands, hanging-baskets, and a trellis-work set against the walls and covered with greenery, out of which flowers could be made to appear as if growing, she passed an agreeable hour, her cares for the time being forgotten. She parted from Mr Tubbs on the most cordial terms, that excellent horticulturist begging her to do him the honour of accepting a bouquet composed of all the choice blooms she had particularly admired during her tour of the garden. It was such a large bouquet that it had to be laid on the floor of the barouche, but Mr Tubbs did not grudge a single bloom in it: it was not every day of the week that he received so magnificent an order as Lady Cardross had given him. He assured her ladyship that she might repose the fullest confidence in his ability to achieve a result that would hold her guests spellbound with admiration; and no sooner had her barouche driven away than he took his foreman apart, and exhorted him to put forth his best endeavours. ‘For mark my words, Andy,’ he said earnestly, ‘if this does not set a fashion! I shouldn’t wonder at it if we were soon turning orders away!’

Nell was rather hopeful, too, that she might be starting a new mode. There had been a number of parties at Cardross House since her marriage, but this would be the first grand ball she had held, and she wanted people to say something more of it than that it had been a dreadful squeeze.

Letty had not returned from Bryanston Square when she reached home again, so after putting off her hat and her gloves she occupied herself with the arrangement of her bouquet in several bowls and vases. She was trying the effect of one of these on a pie-crust table in a corner of the drawing-room when a voice said behind her: ‘Charming!’

It was fortunate that she was not holding the bowl, for she must certainly have dropped it, so convulsive was the start she gave. She gasped sharply, and turned, to find that Cardross had come quietly into the room, and was standing by the door, quizzically regarding her. He had shed his driving-coat, but he had plainly but that instant arrived in town, for he was still wearing a country habit of frock-coat, buckskins, and top-boots.

The shock of hearing his voice when she had believed him to be a hundred miles away was severe, and her first sensation was of consternation. She made a quick recovery, but not before he had seen the fright in her eyes. The quizzical look faded, to be replaced by one of searching enquiry. She exclaimed a little faintly: ‘Cardross! Oh, how much you startled me!’

‘I appear, rather, to have dismayed you,’ he said, making no movement to approach her, but continuing to watch her face with hard, narrowed eyes.

‘No, no! How can you say so?’ she protested, with a nervous laugh, and reddening cheeks. ‘I am so glad – I did not expect to see you until Monday, and hearing you speak suddenly – made me jump out of my skin!’

‘I beg your pardon,’ he replied, unsmilingly. ‘I should, of course, have warned you of my arrival. You must try to forgive my want of tact.’

‘Giles, how absurd!’ she said, holding out her hand.

He strolled forward, and took it, bowing formally, and just touching it with his lips. He released it immediately, saying: ‘Yes, in the manner of the farce we saw at Covent Garden, and thought so stupid. I shall stop short of searching behind the curtains and under the furniture for the hidden lover.’

The chilly salute he had bestowed on her hand had both alarmed and distressed her, but this speech fell so wide of the mark that she laughed. ‘In the expectation of finding your cousin Felix? It is a most improper notion, but how very funny it would be to discover him in such a situation!’

He smiled slightly, and some of the suspicion left his eyes. He still kept them on her face, and she found it hard to meet them. ‘What is it, Nell?’ he asked, after a moment.

‘But indeed it is nothing! I – I don’t understand what you can mean! Are you offended with me for having jumped so? But that was quite your own fault, you know!’

He did not answer for a moment, and when he did at last speak it was in a colourless voice. ‘As you say. Which of your many admirers bestowed that handsome bouquet on you? You have arranged it delightfully.’

‘None of them! At least, I don’t flatter myself that he admires me precisely!’ she replied, thankful for the change of subject. ‘I had it – but this is only a part of it! – from Tubbs, the nursery-man! I have been there today, to order the flowers for our dress-ball, and at parting he begged me to accept the most enormous bouquet imaginable!’

‘Did he indeed? Then it seems safe to assume that you’ve lodged a very handsome order with him.’

She looked a little anxious. ‘Well, yes,’ she admitted. ‘But it will be the prettiest ball of the season, and – and you did tell me I might spend as much as I

wished on it!’

‘Certainly. I wasn’t criticizing you, my love.’

She felt impelled to justify herself, for in spite of this assurance there was an alarming want of cordiality in his voice. ‘It is the first ball we have held here – the first grand ball,’ she reminded him apologetically. ‘You wouldn’t wish it to be talked of as just another jam – nothing out of the common style!’

‘My dear Nell, you have no need to excuse yourself! By all means let it be of the first stare. Shall we give our guests pink champagne?’

‘Are you joking me?’ she asked cautiously. ‘It sounds excessively elegant, but I think I never heard of it before.’

‘Oh, no, I’m not joking you! I assure you it will lend a great cachet to the party.’

‘More than pink calico?’ she ventured, a gleam of fun in the glance she cast at him.

That did draw a laugh from him. ‘Yes – or even pink silk! Where is Letty, by the by?’

‘She has gone to visit Mrs Thorne. She will be back directly, I daresay.’ She fancied there was a frown in his eyes, and added: ‘You don’t like that, but indeed, Giles, it would not be right to encourage her to neglect Mrs Thorne.’

‘Very true. Tell me, Nell, what does my aunt Chudleigh mean by writing to inform me that Letty’s conduct at that masquerade you took her to set everyone in a bustle?’

‘If your aunt Chudleigh would be a little less busy we should go on very well!’ cried Nell, flushing with wrath. ‘She is never happy but when she is making mischief! Pray, has she any animadversions to pass on me?’

‘No, she exonerates you from all blame.’

‘Obliging of her! I hope with all my heart that you will give her a sharp set-down, Cardross!’