Edward Marston - The Frost Fair

'It may be difficult. Mrs Cardinal and her son know people all over London. This visit is in the nature of a complete tour of their acquaintances. On the ride here, Mrs Cardinal never stopped boasting about the friends she has in high places.'

'Where are you staying?'

'With Lord and Lady Eames. They have a house in the Strand.'

'A mansion, more like. Only the very wealthy can afford to live there.'

'It's a fine place,' she said, 'but I much prefer a certain house in Fetter Lane.'

'You'd have been welcome to stay here.'

'Mrs Cardinal would never countenance that. She watches me like a hawk. I'd better return there now before she wakes up again or it could be very awkward.'

He reached for his cloak. 'I'll make sure you get there safely.'

'Lord and Lady Eames are generous hosts,' she said. 'They could not have been nicer to me. In honour of Mrs Cardinal and her son, they are giving a dinner party tomorrow that sounds like a veritable banquet. Everybody will be there.'

'Except me, alas.'

'Mrs Cardinal was delighted at the fuss they are making of her. The Lord Mayor has been invited, so has the Attorney General, so have many other important people, including Sir Ralph Holcroft and Judge McNeil.'

Christopher was taken aback. 'Sir Ralph Holcroft?'

'Yes. I've heard Father speak disparagingly of him but the man cannot be as bad as that. Apparently, he has a young and beautiful wife. Is that true?'

'Very true,' he said, his mind racing. 'Susan.'

'Yes?'

'I have a big favour to ask of you.'

Jack Cardinal occupied the bedchamber next to his mother so that he could be summoned instantly, if the need arose. Their hosts had assigned a maidservant to look after Mrs Cardinal but the latter preferred to rely on her son. To that end, she always carried a little bell with her and had the satisfaction of knowing that he was only a tinkle away. While he waited for the sound of the bell, Cardinal mused on the way in which he had made the acquaintance of Susan Cheever. He had liked her at once and found it possible to talk to her about subjects that most of the young ladies he knew would have found irrelevant or boring. Susan had an inquiring mind.

What struck him most about her was a sense of self-possession. She had such poise and assurance. During the visit of her neighbours, Brilliana Serle made certain that she was the centre of attention but it was her sister who had provided the main interest for Cardinal. He was too modest to assume that he had made such a favourable impression on Susan but he was reassured by the fact that she was so willing to travel with them to London. It was a hopeful sign. His mother obviously approved of her. That was an even more hopeful sign. As he recalled the events of the past twenty-four hours, Cardinal's affection for his new friend slowly increased.

He was so lost in fond meditation that he did not at first hear the tinkle of the bell. It was shaken with more urgency. Rising from his chair, he went into the adjoining room.

'How are you now, Mother?' he asked.

'I feel faint,' she said. 'Where is my medicine?'

'I'll get it for you.'

He opened the leather valise that stood on the little table and ran his eye over the selection of bottles. Choosing one of them, he poured the medicine into a tiny silver cup that nestled amid the potions. Mrs Cardinal propped herself up on the day-bed so that she could drink the liquid in some comfort. She closed her eyes tight until it began to have some effect. Her son relieved her of the silver cup.

"That's better,' she announced, opening her eyes. 'How long was I asleep?'

'Well over an hour.' 'The coach would jostle us.'

'The roads are still hard, Mother, and you wanted to make good time. Besides,' he said, 'the journey seemed much quicker than usual – thanks to our companion.'

'Yes, Susan Cheever is a most agreeable young lady.' 'And a most intelligent one.' 'It's not often that I take to anyone as easily as that.' 'Nor me, Mother. She's such pleasant company.' 'I had a feeling that you liked her, Jack,' she said, patting his hand. 'It's wrong for you to be at my beck and call all the time. You need someone like her to bring a little colour into your existence.' He became defensive. 'I hardly know Miss Cheever yet.' 'But you approve of what you do know, I take it?' 'Yes, Mother.'

'Good. That's a promising start.'

'Do not rush things, Mother. We've only just met.'

'The girl is Lancelot Serle's sister-in-law. That tells you much.'

'I agree,' he said. 'But Miss Cheever is a handsome young lady.'

'So?'

'She'll have many admirers and may already have formed an attachment.'

'Then why was she staying at Serle Court?' 'To be with her sister.'

'And why was Brilliana so eager for us to meet her? Open your eyes, Jack.'

'I do not think she had any mercenary intent.'

'I'd not blame her if she had.'

'Mother!'

'We were invited for a purpose.'

'Yes,' he said. 'To enjoy the hospitality of good friends, that was all.'

'I have a sixth sense in these matters.'

'Miss Cheever would never lend herself to what you suggest.' 'Brilliana would give her no choice in the matter.' 'I'm sorry, Mother. I disagree with you. I see no hidden meanings here.'

'You will, Jack. You will. Where is Miss Cheever now?' 'She went to her room to rest.'

'At her age?' asked Mrs Cardinal in surprise. 'Rest is for ladies of my years and my constitution. It should not be encouraged in young ladies, especially those as robust as she. Fetch her, Jack.'

'What?'

'Fetch her. I want to speak to her.'

'But she may be asleep, Mother.'

'Then wake her up. I did not bring her all the way to London so that she could go to sleep on me. Invite her in here then we'll descend together. Lord and Lady Eames will think us poor guests if we slumber throughout the whole afternoon.'

He was reluctant. 'It would be unfair to disturb her.'

'My needs take precedence over Miss Cheever's,' said his mother. 'Shame on you, Jack! Would you oppose the wishes of a sick woman?'

'I'll fetch her at once,' he promised.

Cardinal went out. He was troubled by his mother's comments. As an eligible bachelor, he was not unused to having available young ladies thrust at him by grinning parents and he had learned to avoid the situations in which that could happen. He did not have the feeling that Susan was being presented for his approval in such an obvious way. If anything, she had been a little distant with him when he first arrived at Serle Court and had made no attempt to engage him in conversation. It was only when she had been invited to join them in London that she showed any enthusiasm for their company. He did not sense that Susan was deliberately trying to ingratiate herself with him. That was what he found so attractive about her. She seemed to be very much her own woman.

He walked along the landing to a room at the far end and tapped politely on the door. When there was no response, he knocked a little harder. Getting no reply again, he rapped on the door with more purpose. There was a long silence. He inched the door open and peeped in, only to find that the room was empty. Cardinal was about to report back to his mother when he heard footsteps behind him. He turned to see Susan Cheever, wearing her cloak and hat, tripping up the backstairs.

'Where have you been?' he asked.

'Oh,' she said, startled to see him. 'There you are, Mr Cardinal.'

'We thought you were in your room.'

'Yes, I was. But I had a headache and felt that a walk in the garden would help to clear it. Have you seen the rear garden? It goes right down to the river.' Having invented an excuse, she began to embellish it. 'I enjoyed my walk so much that I lost all purchase on time. It was fascinating to look at the river now that the ice is melting. I'm rather sad that the frost fair has disappeared but it could not last. What a pity you were not able to see it, Mr Cardinal! It took my breath away.' She removed her hat. 'Have I been gone long? Have you missed me?'