fifty-year-old draper!” I shot back angrily. “I am going to London—for the culture.”
Lord Marndale considered all this a moment in silence, then said, “About London, would you not be wiser to write to an estate agent outlining your requirements and have him find you a place before you proceed to town?”
“What? Go all the way back to Bath?” Mrs. Irvine demanded, as though he were insane. I thought it a bizarre idea, too.
“No, no. I meant stay here. The fact is, till I can find a lady to tend Victoria, I am in something of a bind. You would be doing me a great favor to stay a week or two.”
My first reaction was shock at the idea. My second was interest verging on delight. My third was dismay. Mrs. Irvine was right; he was up to something, and what I had to decide was whether it was a good thing for us. It would do us no harm to have spent a fortnight in a noble home. To arrive in London with an apartment already hired and waiting had its advantages. What mainly deterred me was plain impatience to reach the city. As I sat, mentally chewing over these conflicting factors, Lord Marndale continued talking.
I was not listening too closely, but it managed to get through to me that we might find ourselves putting up at a hotel in London for two weeks while waiting to find an apartment. That would obviously cost a fortune. He continued his persuasions.
“You will not want for company here. The neighbors are sociable and have not all left for London for the Season by any means. As to culture, the gallery has pictures, the library has books, and the stable can supply you with whatever mounts or carriages you require. My staff will look after all your needs as if you were family.”
The more he talked, the better I liked it. “What would our duties be?” I asked.
“Why, just to bear Victoria company and see she does not get into mischief. If you can lead her to read an occasional book and see that she takes some exercise, it is all to the good. As I said, I must spend some time in London, but I shall be home as much as possible.”
Better and better.
“While I am in London, I shall inquire of friends and relatives to see if I can find a suitable companion. I will be eternally in your debt if you oblige me in this manner.”
This was best of all! Lord Marndale eternally in our debt. Peeling away the obvious hyperbole, it still suggested a continuing friendship. He could open any door for us in London.
“But why us?” I asked. “You don’t even know us.”
“You forget,” he said with a dashing, confiding smile. “I have seen you under fire. I admire your spirit and your intelligence. You brooked no nonsense from me, and I am sure you would brook none from Vickie. You are accustomed to handling girls; you are an educated, cultured lady who would serve as an excellent example to her.”
“We could kidnap her and hold her to ransom for all you know,” Mrs. Irvine pointed out.
He turned his charm in her direction. “I am not quite so negligent a father as that. Miss Robsjohn was recognized at the inn last night by a Mr. and Mrs. Shipley. Before you joined me in the parlor for breakfast, they informed me in no uncertain terms that I was traducing the character of a very superior lady. Had you not been defending yourself so superbly, they would have come to your defense. You taught their daughter at Bath. Emily was her name.”
“The Shipleys! Did they see me in my disgrace!”
“No, they saw me in mine. Will you at least consider what I have asked? Sleep on it, and let me know in the morning.”
His eagerness was writ large on his face. I looked a question at Mrs. Irvine. She shrugged, and I agreed to think about it. Actually, I could think of nothing else after we retired. This was not at all the way I had planned to begin my search for excitement and a husband, but it seemed an excellent way. After a few minor objections Mrs. Irvine was brought to appreciate at least the momentary
Lord Marndale considered all this a moment in silence, then said, “About London, would you not be wiser to write to an estate agent outlining your requirements and have him find you a place before you proceed to town?”
“What? Go all the way back to Bath?” Mrs. Irvine demanded, as though he were insane. I thought it a bizarre idea, too.
“No, no. I meant stay here. The fact is, till I can find a lady to tend Victoria, I am in something of a bind. You would be doing me a great favor to stay a week or two.”
My first reaction was shock at the idea. My second was interest verging on delight. My third was dismay. Mrs. Irvine was right; he was up to something, and what I had to decide was whether it was a good thing for us. It would do us no harm to have spent a fortnight in a noble home. To arrive in London with an apartment already hired and waiting had its advantages. What mainly deterred me was plain impatience to reach the city. As I sat, mentally chewing over these conflicting factors, Lord Marndale continued talking.
I was not listening too closely, but it managed to get through to me that we might find ourselves putting up at a hotel in London for two weeks while waiting to find an apartment. That would obviously cost a fortune. He continued his persuasions.
“You will not want for company here. The neighbors are sociable and have not all left for London for the Season by any means. As to culture, the gallery has pictures, the library has books, and the stable can supply you with whatever mounts or carriages you require. My staff will look after all your needs as if you were family.”
The more he talked, the better I liked it. “What would our duties be?” I asked.
“Why, just to bear Victoria company and see she does not get into mischief. If you can lead her to read an occasional book and see that she takes some exercise, it is all to the good. As I said, I must spend some time in London, but I shall be home as much as possible.”
Better and better.
“While I am in London, I shall inquire of friends and relatives to see if I can find a suitable companion. I will be eternally in your debt if you oblige me in this manner.”
This was best of all! Lord Marndale eternally in our debt. Peeling away the obvious hyperbole, it still suggested a continuing friendship. He could open any door for us in London.
“But why us?” I asked. “You don’t even know us.”
“You forget,” he said with a dashing, confiding smile. “I have seen you under fire. I admire your spirit and your intelligence. You brooked no nonsense from me, and I am sure you would brook none from Vickie. You are accustomed to handling girls; you are an educated, cultured lady who would serve as an excellent example to her.”
“We could kidnap her and hold her to ransom for all you know,” Mrs. Irvine pointed out.
He turned his charm in her direction. “I am not quite so negligent a father as that. Miss Robsjohn was recognized at the inn last night by a Mr. and Mrs. Shipley. Before you joined me in the parlor for breakfast, they informed me in no uncertain terms that I was traducing the character of a very superior lady. Had you not been defending yourself so superbly, they would have come to your defense. You taught their daughter at Bath. Emily was her name.”
“The Shipleys! Did they see me in my disgrace!”
“No, they saw me in mine. Will you at least consider what I have asked? Sleep on it, and let me know in the morning.”
His eagerness was writ large on his face. I looked a question at Mrs. Irvine. She shrugged, and I agreed to think about it. Actually, I could think of nothing else after we retired. This was not at all the way I had planned to begin my search for excitement and a husband, but it seemed an excellent way. After a few minor objections Mrs. Irvine was brought to appreciate at least the momentary
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