Mary Brendan - Regency High Society Vol 1 - A Hasty Betrothal / A Scandalous Marriage / The Count's Charade / The Rake and the Rebel

At the footman’s announcement, Judith rose gracefully and came towards them, hands outstretched.

‘Oh, you came! I’m so pleased. Look, Mother. Robert has brought Miss Cordell to visit us—and what a stunning outfit, I do declare. Do sit down, won’t you? Shall I have Finchley bring in some tea—or would you prefer coffee?’

Sandford was already engaged in the game with his niece and nephew and declined refreshment. Harriet, having accepted a glass of lemonade, seated herself opposite the elderly Lady Butler and asked her politely how she did.

‘I must not complain,’ said her ladyship, pulling her copious shawls about her ample shoulders more snugly, although the day was warm and humid. ‘One is beset by so many aches and pains. But I have learned to bear my discomforts with fortitude.’

She leaned forward, peering closely at Harriet. ‘You are very young, to be sure. Just out of the schoolroom, I suppose. Do your parents allow you to travel about the countryside without a chaperon? In my day it would have been unheard of.’

Harriet laughed. ‘I am not as young as I look, ma’am,’ she said, ‘and I disremember ever having been in a schoolroom. And as for a chaperon, you must agree that Sandford will serve?’

The old lady sniffed. ‘I’m told you met Robert while he was off fighting—a camp-follower, or some such, I hear.’

Sandford stiffened and raised his startled eyes to meet Harriet’s. She, however, smiled and nodded her head at Lady Butler.

‘We certainly had to follow the camp, ma’am, but we were in excellent company. Several of their lordships’ wives and daughters were with us, you know, and it was not fun and frolics quite all of the time!’

The viscount’s eyes gleamed with amusement, then became more serious as he intervened.

‘Hardly any of the time, actually,’ he said, getting up from the floor, ‘and as for camp-followers, ma’am, we would have been hard pressed, at times, to manage without their assistance. I must inform you, ma’am, that Miss Cordell’s father was a courageous comrade of mine and her mother was well respected for her voluntary tending of the wounded.’

‘Oh, do not start to discuss these unsavoury matters again, I beg you.’ Lady Butler shuddered, reaching for her vinaigrette and breathing in some of its heady contents. ‘Tell me instead of your father. First we are told he is at death’s door and now he is quite recovered, I hear? I would that I were blessed with such stamina! What a pity Hurst did not have his father’s constitution!’

Sandford winced as he answered, ‘Beldale is getting stronger by the hour. Sir Basil hopes that he will be able to come downstairs in a few days but I am afraid that he will be unable to attend Judith’s party next week. We are looking forward to it, of course,’ he finished, gamely attempting a show of enthusiasm.

‘Well, it will be a great deal of trouble to arrange, you know, at such short notice, but I am sure we shall try to put on a creditable show. Why it cannot have waited until Lady Caroline could see to it herself, I cannot imagine.’

She folded her untouched Berlin-work and rose to her feet.

‘Now, if you will excuse me, I suppose I must see Mrs Walters about the menus.’ She trod majestically across the room and left.

There was a moment’s silence then Judith laughed, a little self-consciously.

‘I hope she does not do such a thing! Mrs Walters would faint from astonishment! Take no notice, Robert, dear. You know how Mama is. I am sure that she means no harm.’

Sandford doubted this, but let it go. ‘If this party affair is going to cause you a lot of trouble …’ he said hopefully, but Judith looked shocked.

‘Trouble? I’m looking forward to it. I have been in mourning for a whole year now, Robert, and this is the first time we will have had any sort of gathering at Westpark since Philip’s—funeral—and you know he would not have wanted it so!’

Gathering up the skirts of her black bombazine gown, she began to pirouette around the room, much to little Elspeth’s delight.

‘Shall we have dancing, do you think? A few country reels, perhaps?’ She stopped, flushed prettily and sat down once more beside Harriet. ‘What shall you wear, Miss Cordell—oh! Do say I may call you Harriet! I have a gown I have never yet worn. I think it may be just the occasion to bring it out!’

Having only recently come out of mourning herself, Harriet could sympathise with the young widow’s feelings and, happy to defer to her hostess’s obvious knowledge of what was fashionable and what was not, she was quite amenable to hear Judith’s suggestions. She could see that Sandford seemed perfectly content to be entertained by the two children. He pored over Christopher’s snail-shell collection with apparent fascination and even helped his little niece to fasten a miniature cape around her beloved doll, with no sign of the self-conscious reticence she expected from most members of his sex when confronted with young children. She noticed, too, that Judith was viewing the scene with a certain fondness and wondered if, perhaps, her own unexpected appearance had interrupted a blossoming relationship between Sandford and his sister-in-law. Judith’s words, however, dispelled that thought.

‘He is so like Philip,’ she said tremulously, bright tears shining in her eyes. ‘They do miss him so. Robert has been absolutely marvellous with them and given them so much of his time.’

‘I’m sure he loves them dearly.’ Harriet laid her hand on Judith’s. ‘And who would not. They are such sweetly behaved children. Lady Caroline has said that they are a credit to both their parents. She dotes on Elspeth, as you must know.’

Judith nodded, composing herself. ‘We were very happy together, Philip and I. I do so wish the same joy for you and Robert. I was afraid he would never meet anyone. He was always so involved with his regiment that it seemed to me that he had no sort of social life at all. You should have known him when he was a boy—he was quite the young tearaway!’

‘Do I hear my character being demolished over there?’ came Sandford’s amused voice. ‘I hope you are not about to apprise Miss Cordell of my youthful misdemeanours, Judith. I have worked very hard to gain her approbation, I assure you, and if you are set on ruining all my efforts …’

Both ladies burst out laughing and, seeing Sandford reach for his hat and gloves, Judith rose to see them to the door. Elspeth curtsied shyly to Harriet while Christopher begged his uncle to ‘come again soon'. The viscount assured him that he would be over to take him riding the following day and the little boy was allowed to lead the visitors back to the rear exit.

‘Grandmama says you shouldn’t use this door,’ he confided, as they walked out into the stableyard, ‘but Papa and

I always did and, as I am now the man of this house, I give you both my permission.’

Sandford took his nephew’s proffered hand and inclined his head. ‘We are pleased to be so honoured, Christopher,’ he said gravely.

Harriet nodded smilingly, adding, ‘And thank you for including me.’

The little boy was puzzled. ‘But you are to be one of the family now, aren’t you? Mama said …’ He looked from one to the other.

Sandford laughed and clapped him gently on the shoulder. ‘Absolutely right, dear fellow!’ he breezed. ‘And do you approve of your new aunt? She’s a cracking good rider, let me tell you!’

Christopher was suitably impressed. In his opinion girls couldn’t really ride, having such stupid saddles to contend with but, if his Uncle Robert said his fiancée was good then, by golly, she must be and that made her fine by him. He watched as Sandford helped Harriet mount, then ran, waving farewell to them as they rode off.