False Colours

‘She is not on the shelf! To be sure, she is twenty, which might lead you to suppose that she had never received any eligible offers, but that is not the case at all! She received several offers when her grandmama brought her out, but she refused them all, because she thought it her duty to remain with her papa. She said she had met no one she liked better than Stavely, but the fact is that she is his only child, and she has kept house for him since she was sixteen. He was used to dote on her, too.’

‘What caused him to stop doting on her?’

‘Oh, I daresay he still does so, but he would be afraid for his life to betray it! What must he do, when one would have supposed him to be past the age of such folly, but form an attachment for a female not very much older than Cressy, and marry her! Well, I never had a very high idea of his understanding – he formed a passion for me, you know, when I was first out, and behaved like a perfect moonling – but I thought he had grown to be quite rational! But to have allowed himself to be caught by Albinia Gillifoot – ! He must be about in his head! She keeps him dancing attendance on her, which will very soon make him regret his imprudence; and she’s as jealous as a cat, particularly of poor Cressy.’

‘Oh, so that’s why poor Cressy is willing to accept Evelyn, is it?’

‘Of course it is! Really, nothing could have been more providential!’

‘I hope she thinks so!’

‘No, but I do, and so does your uncle! When I mentioned Cressy to him he almost approved of me!’ Her eyes danced. ‘He said he had never looked for so much good sense in me! Unexceptionable, he called her, and one with strength of character!’

‘And what does Evelyn call her?’ inquired Kit, in a voice of polite interest.

‘Evelyn told me that he believed she might be the very thing he had in mind. You mustn’t think I urged him in any way, Kit! Indeed, I begged him not to make her an offer if he felt he could not like her; but he assured me that he does like her. He is not very well acquainted with her, for although she has frequently visited me, and I have chaperoned her to balls now and then, because I am her godmother, her mama having been a particular friend of mine, he has never paid her any extraordinary attention.’

‘Not his style, eh?’

‘If you mean she is not the style of the girls he tumbles in and out of love with, no, and a very good thing too! He believes they may deal very comfortably together, and so do I. He won’t feel leg-shackled, and she won’t fall into a grand fuss over his little affaires. She must be accustomed to such things. I could furnish you with the names of at least three of Stavely’s mistresses, and you may depend upon it that Cressy is well aware of his being quite a man of the town. Kit, I know you don’t like it, but I must tell you that Evelyn’s mind is made up: he is determined to marry. I needn’t tell you how impossible it is to turn him from his purpose when he gets that obstinate look in his face. I don’t know what passed between him and Cressy, when he popped the question, but he told me afterwards he thought himself very fortunate. Nothing was farther from his intention than to cry off! Why, he even said that he meant to return from Ravenhurst in good time to adonize himself for the encounter with old Lady Stavely! And if he doesn’t return tomorrow his tale will be told, for Lady Stavely is bound to take a pet – and small blame to her! Only think how brass-faced it would be of him! And then he would offer for some girl not nearly as suitable, and be wretchedly uncomfortable for the rest of his life! Oh, Kit, what am I to do? If he hasn’t suffered an accident, I have the most lowering fear that something has happened to put his engagement in Mount Street out of his mind. You can’t deny that he does forget things!’

Since very much the same explanation of his twin’s continued absence had long since occurred to him Mr Fancot made no attempt to deny it, merely saying, in a heartening tone: ‘Well, if he doesn’t return in time to attend this party you must inform Stavely that he has been taken ill suddenly.’

‘I thought of that myself, but it won’t do, Kit! If Evelyn could send me a message, he could send one to Mount Street as well.’

‘Too ill to write!’ he said promptly. ‘One of the servants brought the news to you!’

‘Well, of all the bird-witted suggestions!’ she exclaimed. ‘If that were the case I should be compelled to post off to Ravenhurst immediately, and I don’t mean to do any such thing! What’s more, Kit, if I were to set that story about, Evelyn would drive into London the very next day, as sure as check! Looking as bright as a button, and exchanging greetings with half-a-dozen persons, and very likely more!’

He grinned. ‘Yes, very true! That would make mice-feet of the whole business, wouldn’t it?’

‘Oh, Kit, don’t joke me! I am going distracted!’

He put his arm round her. ‘No, no, don’t go distracted, Mama! If the worst comes to the worst I can always take Evelyn’s place, can’t I?’

Three

These lighthearted words, uttered with no other purpose than to banish the woebegone expression from Lady Denville’s face, were productive of an unexpected result. She had relaxed within Kit’s arm, leaning her head on his shoulder, but his frivolous speech acted on her like a powerful restorative. She sat up suddenly, and, staring at him with widened eyes, breathed: ‘Kit! The very thing!’

Startled, he said: ‘I was only funning, Mama!’

She paid no heed to this, but embraced him warmly, saying: ‘I might have known you would come to the rescue! How could I be such a ninnyhammer as not to have thought of it myself? Dear Kit!’

Mr Fancot, realizing too late that he had committed an error of judgement, made haste to retrieve his position. ‘You didn’t think of it because it’s an absurdity. I said it only to make you laugh! Of course I couldn’t take Evelyn’s place!’

‘But you could, Kit! Why, you have frequently done so!’

‘When we were hey-go-mad boys, kicking up larks! Mama, you must surely perceive that this is a very different matter! Setting aside all other considerations, how could I hope to fob myself off as Evelyn at such a gathering?’

‘But nothing could be easier!’ she responded.

‘Mama, do, pray, consider! I apprehend this party is to be composed of the various members of the family. Well, I know Stavely, admittedly, but not another soul should I recognize – least of all the girl to whom I should be supposed to be betrothed!’

She disposed unhesitatingly of this objection. ‘You will recognize Cressy, because she will receive you, with Stavely and his new wife. As for the rest, Evelyn doesn’t know them either.’

‘And Miss Stavely herself?’ he demanded. ‘Can you believe that she wouldn’t detect the imposture?’

‘Oh, I am persuaded she won’t!’ responded her ladyship blithely. ‘Recollect that she is not closely acquainted with Evelyn! The only occasion on which they have been alone together was when he proposed to her. Then, too, she doesn’t expect to see you instead of Evelyn. That is very important!’