sincerely, Serena.’
‘Thank you.’
‘The stupid way things have been left, too!’ pursued the lady. ‘Most thoughtless and awkward! I can’t think what Spenborough could have been about! If I have been asked once, I have been asked a dozen times if you and Rotherham mean to make it up. You need not fear! I have told everyone there is no question of that. People are so impertinent!’
‘As you say!’ Rotherham struck in.
‘Oh, you mean I am, I suppose!’ she said, quite unmoved. ‘You need not glare at me in that murdering way: I hope I know Serena well enough not to stand on ceremony with her.’
‘Certainly you do!’ replied Serena, amused. ‘Do scotch the rumour! There’s not a word of truth in it.’
‘So Rotherham has been telling me. I’m very glad to know it. Not that I’m not fond of you, my dear, but it would never have done! You have a great deal too much spirit for Rotherham. Lady Spenborough and I were saying only a few minutes ago that nothing but a meek little mouse will do for him.’
‘I am obliged to you both!’ said Rotherham.
Scarlet with confusion, Fanny said, ‘Oh, no! I didn’t – that is, it was Lady Silchester who –’
She was mercifully interrupted by the entrance of a servant, and got up, saying: ‘Oh, to be sure – ! Lady Silchester, you’ll take a nuncheon! Shall we remove into the breakfast-parlour?’
Serena, who was shaking with laughter, said, as the embarrassing guest was shepherded out of the room: ‘I should be sorry for the mouse!’
He grinned ruefully. ‘So should I, indeed! Augusta is abominable!’
They joined the other two in the breakfast-parlour, where a noonday repast of cold meat and fruit had been set on the table; but they had hardly taken their seats when the sound of carriage wheels was heard; and in another few minutes the butler came in to inform Fanny that Lady Laleham and Miss Laleham were in the drawing-room.
Fanny was obliged to excuse herself to her guests. She was surprised that Lybster, in general fully to be relied on, should not have denied her; and when he had closed the parlour door behind her, administered a gentle reproof. But it seemed that he had done his best to exclude the unwanted visitors, saying that he believed my lady to be engaged. He had been overborne. Lady Laleham had begged that a message might be carried to my lady: she would not detain her above a minute. With a sinking heart, Fanny entered the drawing-room.
It was as she had foreseen it would be. Lady Laleham, a handsome, fashionably dressed woman, with very correct manners, and an air of great assurance, had plainly no intention of making her visit a brief one. She came forward, full of apologies and protestations. There was a recipe for pickling pears which she had promised quite a fortnight ago to give to dear Lady Spenborough’s housekeeper. She dared not guess what Lady Spenborough must have been thinking of her. ‘Only, from one cause and another, it went out of my head. I believe you desired to have it immediately, too, which quite covers me with shame! I have it with me here, but felt that a word of explanation was due to you.’
Fanny had no recollection of having expressed a desire to be given the recipe; but she accepted it, with a civil thank-you.
‘I so much dislike persons who make promises only to break them. But I must not keep you! I collect you have friends with you. Did I not see the Rotherham carriage in your yard?’
There was nothing for it but to admit it, and to invite the two ladies to join the party in the breakfast parlour. With only a little show of reluctance, Lady Laleham allowed herself to be persuaded. Fanny believed she had come for no other purpose.
Nothing could have exceeded the lady’s aplomb when she reached the parlour. It was quite unnecessary for Fanny to introduce her.
‘Yes, indeed I am acquainted with Lady Silchester! How do you do? I believe the last time we met was at the Ormesbys’ ball: such a
‘Thank you.’
‘The stupid way things have been left, too!’ pursued the lady. ‘Most thoughtless and awkward! I can’t think what Spenborough could have been about! If I have been asked once, I have been asked a dozen times if you and Rotherham mean to make it up. You need not fear! I have told everyone there is no question of that. People are so impertinent!’
‘As you say!’ Rotherham struck in.
‘Oh, you mean I am, I suppose!’ she said, quite unmoved. ‘You need not glare at me in that murdering way: I hope I know Serena well enough not to stand on ceremony with her.’
‘Certainly you do!’ replied Serena, amused. ‘Do scotch the rumour! There’s not a word of truth in it.’
‘So Rotherham has been telling me. I’m very glad to know it. Not that I’m not fond of you, my dear, but it would never have done! You have a great deal too much spirit for Rotherham. Lady Spenborough and I were saying only a few minutes ago that nothing but a meek little mouse will do for him.’
‘I am obliged to you both!’ said Rotherham.
Scarlet with confusion, Fanny said, ‘Oh, no! I didn’t – that is, it was Lady Silchester who –’
She was mercifully interrupted by the entrance of a servant, and got up, saying: ‘Oh, to be sure – ! Lady Silchester, you’ll take a nuncheon! Shall we remove into the breakfast-parlour?’
Serena, who was shaking with laughter, said, as the embarrassing guest was shepherded out of the room: ‘I should be sorry for the mouse!’
He grinned ruefully. ‘So should I, indeed! Augusta is abominable!’
They joined the other two in the breakfast-parlour, where a noonday repast of cold meat and fruit had been set on the table; but they had hardly taken their seats when the sound of carriage wheels was heard; and in another few minutes the butler came in to inform Fanny that Lady Laleham and Miss Laleham were in the drawing-room.
Fanny was obliged to excuse herself to her guests. She was surprised that Lybster, in general fully to be relied on, should not have denied her; and when he had closed the parlour door behind her, administered a gentle reproof. But it seemed that he had done his best to exclude the unwanted visitors, saying that he believed my lady to be engaged. He had been overborne. Lady Laleham had begged that a message might be carried to my lady: she would not detain her above a minute. With a sinking heart, Fanny entered the drawing-room.
It was as she had foreseen it would be. Lady Laleham, a handsome, fashionably dressed woman, with very correct manners, and an air of great assurance, had plainly no intention of making her visit a brief one. She came forward, full of apologies and protestations. There was a recipe for pickling pears which she had promised quite a fortnight ago to give to dear Lady Spenborough’s housekeeper. She dared not guess what Lady Spenborough must have been thinking of her. ‘Only, from one cause and another, it went out of my head. I believe you desired to have it immediately, too, which quite covers me with shame! I have it with me here, but felt that a word of explanation was due to you.’
Fanny had no recollection of having expressed a desire to be given the recipe; but she accepted it, with a civil thank-you.
‘I so much dislike persons who make promises only to break them. But I must not keep you! I collect you have friends with you. Did I not see the Rotherham carriage in your yard?’
There was nothing for it but to admit it, and to invite the two ladies to join the party in the breakfast parlour. With only a little show of reluctance, Lady Laleham allowed herself to be persuaded. Fanny believed she had come for no other purpose.
Nothing could have exceeded the lady’s aplomb when she reached the parlour. It was quite unnecessary for Fanny to introduce her.
‘Yes, indeed I am acquainted with Lady Silchester! How do you do? I believe the last time we met was at the Ormesbys’ ball: such a
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