The house in Brook Street had been empty for the best part of the year, as indeed had been the case for the past decade, with the shutters closed and the knocker taken down, its owner, one Mr. Frencham, preferring the seclusion of his country estates to life in town. When it was known that this gentleman had died, however, there was much speculation as to what his heir would do with such a desirable residence.
It was not long before an army of workmen could be seen at the house, and this was taken as a sign that the new owner intended to occupy it.
"For, my dear Miss Trancher," as one elderly lady pointed out to her companion, "no-one would spend quite so much on refurbishing a house only to sell it."
It was with great interest therefore that these worthy ladies watched the arrival of an elegant travelling carriage one frosty morning the following spring. If the lady who descended from this vehicle noticed the twitch of the drapes from the neighbouring dwelling she gave no sign, merely looking up at the freshly painted property with a slight smile, and giving any interested parties ample time to study her. She was a tall woman, who looked to be about five and twenty, although she was in fact some years older. She was dressed in a modish three-quarter pelisse of olive green, matched by a stylish bonnet of the same colour covering most of her luxuriant dark hair. She turned from her contemplation of the building as another woman descended from the carriage. She was seen to be considerably older than her companion and neatly attired in dove grey, which proclaimed the widow.
"Well, Amelia, will you like my new home, do you think?"
"It is very grand, is it not?" replied the widow doubtfully.
The younger woman laughed and trod briskly up to the door.
"Come along, my dear, let us see how well my instructions have been carried out. Good morning, Potton, is everything in readiness for us?"
The butler, holding open the door for his mistress, bowed, assuring my lady that everything had been attended to and uttering the hope that my lady had enjoyed a good trip.
"Tolerable, Potton, no more. The roads into London are not as good as I remember them, but perhaps my long absence had given my memory a rosier view." She turned once more to her companion, who had followed her into the hall. "This is Potton, my butler, Amelia. He was my cousin's first footman at Dowrings and since he was about to wed the housekeeper on a neighbouring estate, it suited me very well to employ them both."
"And very grateful Mrs. Potton and myself are to you, Lady Rosalyn," put in the young man earnestly. "We could not have managed so well without your help."
"Nonsense, Lord Dowring would have found a post for Mrs. Potton if I had not been in need of staff. As it is, things have worked out for the best. Now, I trust a room has been prepared for Mrs. Windhurst, as I ordered?"
"Yes, my lady." The butler turned with a slight bow to the widow. "If Madam would care to inspect the Pink Chamber?"
Mrs. Windhurst, escorted by a servant, set off up the wide staircase to her room, where her abigail, who had arrived some time before with the trunks and baggage, was busy unpacking. Meanwhile, Lady Rosalyn made a brief tour of inspection accompanied by her housekeeper, expressing her satisfaction at the way her orders had been carried out. Their tour ended in the large drawing-room, an elegant apartment at the front of the house. The room was freshly decorated, with new drapes at the window. The furniture was in the main that which Mr. Frencham had purchased many years ago, for, as Lady Rosalyn later informed Mrs. Windhurst, she found the style of Mr. Hepplewhite perfectly satisfactory, and saw no reason to replace it with the current fashion, which she did not like half so well.
"No indeed," agreed Mrs. Windhurst warmly, "I do not think that I should rest easily in my bed if I were surrounded by beasts' heads and feet, which seem so popular now—I am sure it would be no wonder if I were to wake up in the night screaming that I was being pursued by one of the chairs! "
Lady Rosalyn was much struck by this point of view, and said in a voice quivering with laughter, "That settles the matter, Amelia! I shall on no account allow such a thing to happen to you!"
The result of Lady Rosalyn's decision was a charming mixture of old and new, creating an impression of quiet elegance to the house. Casting a look around the drawing-room, Lady Rosalyn turned to her housekeeper, anxiously awaiting her verdict. "I think we shall go on very nicely. I can see that you have already added a more homely touch to this room." She glanced at an arrangement of fresh flowers on one of the side tables.
Mrs. Potton flushed a little, pleased with this tribute.
"I hoped it might make you feel a little more at home, ma'am."
"And so it does. After living for so long in other people's homes, it is so comfortable to have a place of one's own."
Lady Rosalyn repeated this sentiment to her cousin when they retired to the drawing-room after dinner and found that her feelings were shared.
"After dear Mr. Windhurst was taken, I lived for some time with my sister Lady Ashley, but I was so glad to get back to my own home, where I could order everything just as I liked."
"Then I am sorry to have dragged you away, Amelia. I beg that you will tell me the moment you wish to return, for I would not keep you here unwillingly."
"Nonsense, Ros. You know I am only too happy to spend a few months with you in London. It is such an age since I was here that I shall positively enjoy escorting you to all the balls and parties, as well as shopping in all the most fashionable places. I am pleased you invited me."
"It was the least I could do after your kindness to me. If you had not come to my rescue I am sure I would have come to blows with my cousin!"
"It must have been very upsetting for you to see Harvey and Caroline in your old home," replied Mrs. Windhurst, with ready sympathy.
"Oh no, dearest. I had already spent some months with my cousin after Papa died, if you remember, when I passed over the reins of the estate and helped them to settle in, although I did not think they were very grateful for my help. But that is understandable, for they had their own ideas of how they wished to go on at Dowrings. I think we were all very thankful when my Aunt Farradae offered to take me to Vienna, when my Uncle was posted there on some diplomatic mission. And then of course on to Brussels. When we had to return, I had nowhere else to go but to Harvey, although I made it clear that I would set about looking for an establishment of my own."
"But were you not alarmed with that Monster loose in Europe again, Ros? Your letters were always so full of gaiety and social calls that I thought you must be in a different world. The reports in Town were always so alarming."
"We were well behind the lines of battle, cousin, and with the Duke in command we knew that he would take great care to send us all home should there be any danger, so we were able to carry on as if we were back in London."
"Well, whatever you say, I cannot but be glad that you are back with us now and I swear, Rosalyn, that you do not look a day older than when you went away! "exclaimed Mrs. Windhurst, admiringly.
Indeed, Lady Rosalyn was becomingly attired that evening, having decided to honour the occasion by wearing a new gown of jonquil silk, a string of fine pearls clasped about her slender neck and a shawl of Norwich silk draped elegantly over her arms. At her cousin's comment, however, she laughed, but replied primly, "Why, Amelia, now that I am a wealthy woman, you have become a shocking toad-eater! "
"Rosalyn! I am nothing of the sort!" was the indignant reply, "and if you continue to laugh at me for speaking the truth I shall pack my bags and leave this instant."
"Oh, Amelia, I beg you not to do that. Harvey would almost certainly insist that I take that tiresome relation of his as a companion if you leave me," exclaimed my lady in mock horror.
"Well I would not wish that old tabby on you," Mrs. Windhurst replied with unusual asperity. "I know Harvey is your cousin and I do not wish to cause you pain, my love, but Avis Mitchell has been his pensioner for years, and since she is suffering from one ailment or another whenever one meets her, one cannot suppose that she would make a satisfactory companion."
"It was only your promise to accompany me to Town that prevented him from foisting her on to me in the first place, and your assurance that you would escort me to all the most distinguished parties, which I have no wish to attend."
"What an absurd idea! A girl of your age will positively enjoy ton parties."
Lady Rosalyn looked a little wistful.
"You forget, Amelia, I am eight-and-twenty."
"I do not, my love. You have convinced yourself that you are past praying for; when the truth is that you will beat most of the Town beauties to flinders! I have no doubt that it will not be long before you will be receiving any number of offers for your hand."
"I doubt I shall ever marry."
This was stated without emotion, and it slightly shocked Mrs. Windhurst, who said hastily, "Now, Rosalyn, I beg you will not say so. You do not know whom you might meet, and it is not as if you are a nobody, after all. Besides, your journeys abroad brought you into contact with the most influential people."
"If they will accept me in Town. I am a jilt, you know," was the somewhat bitter reply.
"That was ten years ago, my love. The ton has a short memory, and a fortune has always been a great help in overcoming prejudice," she added frankly.
Lady Rosalyn rose from her chair.
"It will make little difference, Amelia. I have my independence, which means a great deal to me, and I am looking forward to going to the theatres, visiting the sights and historical places far more than I am to attending the balls and parties you seem determined I should enjoy. It came to me while I was abroad that I know more about the capitals of Europe than I do of London; I intend to remedy that as soon as may be." She saw her cousin was looking dismayed, and stopped to plant a kiss on her brow. "Please do not worry, Amelia. I shall not turn into an eccentric, I assure you. Tomorrow morning I will send off a few notes to those friends I know to be in Town, and I have no doubt I shall receive one from my sister in the next few days."
Lady Rosalyn was in part right. She did receive news of her sister, but not by letter. She was alone the following morning in the small salon at the back of the house, writing the letters she had promised to send, when Potton announced that her brother-in-law, Lord Carfax, was awaiting her in the drawing-room. Her pen spluttered on the page, and she was obliged to give her attention to blotting this before she could reply.
"Thank you, Potton. I shall be with him directly. Please arrange for refreshments to be taken to Lord Carfax."
She rose from the table and put a hand up to her hair, which was becomingly arranged in a knot high on her head and dressed with a small spray of spring flowers. Small wisps of hair formed a charming frame for her face, which was now slightly flushed. With a perceptible straightening of her shoulders, my lady made her way to the drawing-room. As she entered, a gentleman standing by the window turned to face her. She saw before her a handsome man, not much above thirty, with golden brown hair brushed into a semblance of disorder, and falling onto his wide brow.
His eyes were blue, set well apart beneath straight brows. His features were almost classical, and he was generally considered to be a very attractive gentleman. Lady Rosalyn did not disagree with this view and she took in at a glance the impeccable morning-coat of blue superfine and the tight-fitting pantaloons that showed his graceful figure to advantage. Although the light was behind him, she noted the crease in his brow, and the rather grim set of his mouth as he looked at her.
Lady Rosalyn held out her hand to her guest and his brow cleared a little. He raised the hand to his lips before releasing it.
"I am glad to have found you at home, for I was not sure when you would arrive."
"We came to Town only yesterday, travelling direct from Mrs. Windhurst's home in Derbyshire."
His eyes never left her face and she felt a little disconcerted. To cover her confusion she turned towards a sofa at one side of the fireplace.
"Pray be seated, sir. Amelia will be sorry to have missed you. She has gone shopping this morning."
"My errand is with you in any case, ma'am. When Cynthia received your letter, she insisted we post immediately to Town, and begged me to find out today whether you had yet arrived. She would have come herself, but the journey to Town has knocked her up."
"Poor Cindy could never travel easily."
Potton entered with a tray, and Lord Carfax accepted a glass of wine. His hostess also took one, feeling a little nervous of her visitor, who was studying her intently over the rim of his glass. As the butler closed the door behind him, Carfax spoke.
"You have not changed at all, Ros."
My lady inclined her head a little. "That is very kind of you, but I am a little older," she said softly.
"Are you well? Your letters have been all too rare. You should have contacted us as soon as you returned to England."
She smiled. "My apologies, Damien. I intended to write, but you know how it is, one keeps putting things off. But that is all past, I am here now."
"Do you intend to stay in Town long? I understand old Frencham left you his entire fortune. What will you do, sell the house?"
"No, I do not think I shall sell. I have taken a great fancy to this house, and I intend to stay here for a while before deciding what to do for the future."
"You should have known that if you wanted to stay in London, Cynthia and I would have been only too pleased to have you."
"It would not have worked," she interrupted him.
Carfax set down his empty glass on a small table beside him, saying in a low voice, "Cynthia thinks you have not forgiven her."
"There is nothing to forgive. It is merely that I prefer my own establishment."
He rose and went to the window, where he stood, staring out.
"That is not what will be said. They will think that old quarrels die hard."
"Then we must be sure that Cindy and I go about together frequently, although I doubt that anyone remembers what happened ten years ago. You think too much upon the past, Damien. It is forgotten."
"I have not forgotten, Ros."
There was a pause, then Lady Rosalyn spoke in a low voice.
"It was very ill-judged of me to contract what was thought to be smallpox so soon after our engagement. Perhaps I should not have nursed Mama those last few weeks, but I cannot regret it, for I was a comfort to her."
"Please, Ros. If only you knew what it cost me."
"You were all so sure I would not recover, and that if I did, I would be hideously marked."
Carfax stared unseeingly through the window. He said in an anguished tone, "I would have married you, Rosalyn. I did not ask you to break our engagement—I would never have done so."
Lady Rosalyn rose to her feet, clutching her glass tightly in her hands. She laughed mirthlessly.
"Very noble of you, sir, with Cynthia enacting a Cheltenham tragedy on one side, and you willing to be a martyr on the other. No, thank you! I had no wish for an unwilling husband!" She drew a breath, fighting down the anger and bitterness that had been suppressed for years. She continued quietly, "But that was ten years ago, Damien. You are now the father of a hopeful family, and I doubt not that you are happy."
He turned, rubbing a hand over his eyes.
"Sometimes, I think—" He looked searchingly at her. "And you, Rosalyn, are you happy?"
She turned away to place her glass beside his on the table.
"I am content." She looked up, trying for a lighter note. "Will you convey my love to my sister? Tell her I shall call on her tomorrow, if it is convenient."
She tugged at the bell-rope, and held out her hand. "Goodbye, Damien. We are brother and sister, you know; it is time we began to act as such. Ah, Potton, Lord Carfax is leaving. Will you show him out?"
Carfax took her hand, holding it for just a fraction longer than was necessary before departing without another word.
As the door closed behind him, Lady Rosalyn sank back in a chair. She found that she was shaking, and closed her eyes for a moment, until the feeling of faintness had passed.
When Mrs. Windhurst entered the drawing-room some time later, she found her cousin sitting motionless, staring into space.
"Oh, Ros, I have had such an interesting morning! Only wait until you hear—Rosalyn my love! Whatever is the matter, have you been crying?" asked the widow, alarmed at the sight of teardrops on my lady's cheek.
"What? Oh—no; just a silly dream, dearest, no more."
* * * *
The following morning, Lady Rosalyn arrived at Carfax House to find her sister eagerly awaiting her in the Blue Salon. After a swift glance around the room, Rosalyn detected her sister's unerring eye for colour. The salon was decorated in pale blue and gilt, with everything in the first style of elegance. Lady Carfax was seated upon one of the small gilded sofas that were placed about the room. Lady Rosalyn smiled inwardly with appreciation. Her sister certainly had not forgotten how to show herself to advantage; she was dressed in a morning-gown of the palest blue, which matched her surroundings. Upon seeing her sister, Cynthia jumped up to embrace her.
"Oh, Rosalyn! Such a long time! How lovely you look."
Lady Carfax hugged her sister ruthlessly.
"Come and sit beside me, my love, and let me look at you."
Lady Rosalyn allowed herself to be guided to a sofa, and while she and Lady Carfax made themselves comfortable, a footman arrived with a tray.
"You will take a dish of tea with me, will you not, Rosalyn? You were used to be quite fond of it, and I ordered it especially for you."
Touched by this kindness, Lady Rosalyn accepted the offer, saying, "How thoughtful of you, Cindy, thank you."
Lady Carfax looked searchingly at her sister.
"Damien told me you had not changed, Rosalyn, but you have. You are more beautiful than ever. In fact you look younger than I do, although you are more than a year older! "
Lady Rosalyn hid a smile at the note of petulance in her voice.
"Nonsense! You are still as pretty as ever!" she replied bracingly.
"But my figure!" wailed Lady Carfax comically. "Of course, after almost nine years of marriage and two children, one cannot expect to be as trim as one was, but I pride myself I am not an antidote! But enough of me: tell me your plans. Carfax tells me you intend to keep the house in Brook Street?"
"For the present, at least. I have not yet decided whether I would like to set up home here permanently. I am selling the country properties, with the exception of Larchwood, which is one of the smaller estates and in need of attention, my man of business informs me. He thinks I shall get a good price for the rest."
"If you had informed me of your intention to visit Town, I would have invited you to stay with me."
"I did not know myself. It was clear that I could not remain with Harvey and Caroline forever. Lord, what a bore he is turning out to be, Cindy. I thought I should die at times, for wanting to box his ears."
Cynthia giggled. "I know, my love! I felt the same when they were in Town last year. I do not know how Caroline can tolerate him."
"Well, she is even worse, always preaching propriety. When Mr. Frencham died, and left everything to me, it gave me just the excuse I needed to set up my own establishment without wounding their feelings. Do you know, Cynthia, Harvey was so pleased when he heard of the inheritance. I might find him a slow-top, but I must admit that he has my interests at heart."
"But the house is so large, surely you will not live there alone, it will look so odd."
"But I am not alone. Amelia Windhurst is with me, and I do not doubt that Caroline will descend upon me, should she wish to come to Town." Noting that Lady Carfax was looking rather anxious, she added, "I cannot see that anyone should object: there must be dozens of single gentlemen living in the same way, and no one minds in the least about them."
"Yes, but they live in their family homes, knowing that one day they will marry and bring their—" Cynthia broke off in confusion, waves of colour rushing to her cheeks.
There was an awkward silence before Lady Rosalyn spoke with an attempt at lightness.
"Well, who knows? It is not inconceivable that I should marry, even at my advanced age, although that is not my reason for coming to Town."
"Oh, Rosalyn, I am so sorry, I would not for the world—"
"Now, do you imagine me to be nursing a broken heart, or are you trying to convey the fact that I am much too old for marriage?" Rosalyn quizzed her gently. "I am sorry to disappoint you, Cindy, but my heart is quite intact, and if I remain single, it is through choice, not necessity, you know."
"But all these years! We have received so few letters from you."
"I am a very poor correspondent, my love, for that I apologise, but I beg you will not take it to mean that I bear you any grudge."
Lady Carfax dabbed at her eyes with a lace handkerchief, and exclaimed, "But you cannot deny that you loved him, Ros!"
"Perhaps I did, once, but that was so very long ago, and if I have not seen you since then it is partly because I have been abroad for so long. When I returned to England—" she hesitated—"I admit I did not wish to descend upon you." Lady Rosalyn smiled a little wistfully at her sister. "It is quite an awkward situation, Cindy. Perhaps if we had seen more of each other after your marriage we could now be easy together. As it is—there will be talk of course. Old rumours will be unearthed, but once it is seen that we are all the best of friends, they will die quickly enough. It was ten years ago, and the fact that Carfax and I were once engaged can have no interest for the ton today."
Lady Carfax listened in silence, tugging at her handkerchief. At last she spoke, saying somewhat defiantly, "He did love me, Ros, I could not give him up."
"I never asked you to, love. Perhaps that was because I never loved him so well as you. Are you afraid I have come back to stir up the coals? I assure you I have not, but I see no reason why I should be an exile from London."
"Oh no, of course not." Lady Carfax looked a little more cheerful. "It will be entertaining to introduce you to London again, my dear. You cannot conceive how things have changed since you were last here. Carfax and I are going to the Coldridges tomorrow evening, and I will write them a note begging that I might bring you. Lady Coldridge is a good friend of mine, and I know she will not object."
"But Cynthia, I cannot possibly attend a ball so soon! I need to order more gowns and find my way around a little," replied Lady Rosalyn, laughing.
"I will furnish you with the addresses of all the best milliners and modistes in Town, Rosalyn, but for the Coldridges ball I am sure you have a suitable gown, for you have been to Brussels, and I am sure that the attire suitable for such august company as you kept there will not disgrace you here. Besides," added Lady Carfax naively, "it is very early in the season, and most of the Ton have not yet returned. It is to be quite a small affair, so you need not worry."
Lady Rosalyn was amused by her sister's conversation, and they spent a comfortable hour talking of the best warehouses to supply Lady Rosalyn with the materials for the many gowns she would need for the coming season. My lady left Carfax House with plenty to occupy her mind. It was obvious to her that Cynthia was worried. She smiled to herself a little. Had she looked older, a little more haggard, Cindy would have been less concerned, but it was apparent to Rosalyn that her sister, who had always had more hair than wit, was morbidly afraid that Damien, finding his first love unchanged by time, would also find her irresistible, especially as Lady Carfax had lost her girlhood bloom.
She did not think that her sister had much to fear. From her brief and somewhat emotional meeting with Damien, she was fairly sure that his feelings for her were little more than a memory of what had been. For herself, well, time would tell, but Carfax had a wife and family to occupy him, and she would have to make certain that she gave him no opportunity to develop anything warmer for her than brotherly affection.
The thought crossed her mind that it would be much easier to retire to the country, but she shook this off quickly. Why should she hide herself away from the world? The worst the Ton knew of her was that she had disobeyed her family and cried off from her engagement to Carfax, preferring to remain single. That was no crime, and her proud spirit rebelled from acting as if it were. No, Cynthia and Carfax would have to grow accustomed to her presence, for she would no longer give up her place in society for them.