The Quiet Gentleman by Georgette Heyer Page A

with you, and who may be safely fobbed off with a rout-party, or even a Public Day.’
    ‘A Public Day!’ repeated Gervase. ‘You terrify me, ma’am! What must I do upon such an occasion?’
    ‘Oh, you have merely to move about amongst the company – your tenants, you know! – saying something amiable to everyone!’ said Martin. ‘The most tedious affair! I have always contrived to be a couple of miles distant!’
    ‘What admirable good sense! Pray, into which class may Miss Morville, and her peculiar parents, fall, ma’am?’
    ‘That,’ responded the Dowager, ‘is a question that has frequently exercised my mind. There can be no denying that the Morvilles – they are able, you know, to trace their lineage back to the time of the Norman Conquest – must be thought to rank amongst those of the best blood in the country; but there can be no denying that the opinions held by Mr Hervey Morville – and, I feel compelled to say, by his lady, though she too is of excellent birth, so that one is quite in a puzzle to determine what circumstances can have prevailed upon her to turn to the pen – that these opinions, as I have observed, must cause the most liberally-minded person to hesitate before including him in any select invitation. A shocking thing for his family, you know! He was actually acquainted with Horne Tooke! However, the late Earl was used to say that he had a well-informed mind, and we have been used to invite him, and his lady, to dine with us from time to time. His daughter is quite a favourite with me; a delightful girl!’
    At this point, the eyes of the half-brothers met. The Earl was able to command his features, but Martin choked over a mouthful of cold beef. The Dowager said indulgently: ‘I do not assert that she is beautiful, but she is a very pretty-behaved young female, and one that will do very well for poor Theo. I have a great regard for Theo, and I should be happy to see him comfortably established.’
    ‘Where,’ asked Gervase, with only the slightest tremor in his voice, ‘is Miss Morville now? She does not care for a nuncheon?’
    ‘The dear child has walked through the Park to Gilbourne House,’ answered the Dowager. ‘A letter from her Mama desired her to forward some small matters to Greta Hall, for she and Mr Morville, you must know, are spending a few days as the guests of Mr and Mrs Southey – the Laureate, I need scarcely remind you. I believe he and Mr Morville were once intimate, but Mr Southey, one is thankful to say, has long since abandoned those Revolutionary tendencies which must, previously, have rendered him quite ineligible for the distinguished position which he now adorns. The Curse of Kehama ! His Life of Nelson ! I am no great reader myself, but I am sure I must have heard the late lord speak favourably of these works I daresay a dozen times!’
    ‘We must certainly invite him to dinner,’ murmured Gervase.
    ‘I believe it will be proper for us to do so,’ acknowledged the Dowager. ‘His brother, Sir James Morville, is a distinguished man; and they are related, one must remember, to the Minchinhamptons. We must wait, however, to see whether a suitable party may be arranged, though, to be sure, I have no doubt that we might, if we chose, arrange a dozen such! I should not think it marvellous if we were to receive as many as fifty visits from our neighbours this sennight.’
    ‘I sincerely trust you may be wrong, ma’am!’ said Gervase.
    The next few days, however, showed that the Dowager had not misjudged the civility, or the curiosity, of the neighbouring gentry. Chaises, barouches, curricles, and even, when old Lady Wintringham decided that it behoved her to leave cards upon the new Earl, an antiquated coach bowled up the avenue to the imposing front-doors of Stanyon, and set down passengers dressed in all the finery of silk and velvet, or the natty elegance of yellow pantaloons and best Bath suiting. The Earl found most of his visitors as tedious