Page 19 of Enslaved
“You can beg ’til your hair dye tarnishes,” Diana said blandly.
“Do you know who this is?” Vivian spluttered, indicating the nobleman who accompanied her.
“Indeed I do,” Diana drawled. “The Earl of Bath and I are old adversaries. Do you know who I am, by the way?”
“No, I do not!” Vivian shouted.
“I,” said Diana, a delicious smile curving her lips, “am the owner of the jade gown.”
Madame Madeleine was wise enough to hold her silence when two bitches fought over the same bone.
Hardwick’s countenance was grave, though he did not miss the humor of the situation.
Vivian turned to him for aid. “Mark, do something!”
“I’ll buy youtwogowns to replace the jade one,” he soothed.
Lady Diana turned to the redhead and said confidentially, “Have a care, his lordship likes to get his money’s worth.”
The earl was no longer amused, but he could see by the light in Diana’s amethyst eyes that she was thoroughly enjoying herself.
The Countess of Belgrave turned upon her heel and flounced from the shop. Hardwick picked up his hat and cane, having no alternative but to follow her.
“I’m sorry if I’ve ruinedanotherevening for you, m’lord,” Diana said sweetly.
Chapter 6
“So many people are in town, I vow, London must be deserted,” Prudence declared at breakfast.
As Diana glanced through the calling cards, she saw that Peter Hardwick’s was among them. It wasn’t Peter’s face who sprang full-blown to her mind, however; it was his brother the earl’s. He had been ready to throttle her yesterday in the dress shop. She had given him an eyeful and he had certainly looked his fill. Diana had the satisfaction of knowing her looks put those of the older woman with him in the shade.
“Peter was most disappointed that you were not at home when he called. I must say I was quite put out by your behavior, Diana. A respectable lady does not go out walking alone, even in a pedestrian town like Bath.”
Diana quickly changed the subject. She realized Prudence would monopolize every moment if she didn’t devise a plan to outwit her. “Prudence, I’ve been thinking, why don’t I get you one of these marvelous things they call a Bath chair? I’ll push you everywhere and then you won’t have to walk.”
“Bath chairs are for old people! I wouldn’t be caught dead in one. I’m not an invalid, I’m not decrepit. I’m perfectly capable of walking about Bath. In fact, my hip feels better already.”
“There must be something in the air, it is most salubrious,” Diana said with a straight face. “Well, are we off for a dip this morning?” Diana said briskly.
Prudence hesitated briefly, then squared her shoulders and declared just as briskly, “We most certainly are. Doctors’ orders cannot be ignored.”
As they made their way across Westgate Street, they were an odd-looking couple. Prudence sailed along in Bishop’s blue bombazine, which wasn’t blue at all, but a peculiar shade of purple, while Diana wore jonquil brocade. Prudence had insisted they both wear their powdered wigs and large bonnets with ostrich plumes. Since Diana knew they would be removing their clothes at the baths, she had not dared wear the delicious red corset, but had donned an old-fashioned one instead.
Diana was looking forward to visiting the rectangular Cross Bath, where stone faces of Roman gods lined the walls and statues of Apollo and Coronis gazed at the bathers from alcoves set in the walls. Prudence, however, had made up her mind that they would visit the Queen’s Bath, and that was that.
She maneuvered the steep narrow steps leading down to the chalybeate springs with amazing dexterity. “Faugh! What is that noxious odor?” she demanded as they walked through a cloud of vapor.
“That is sulphur you can smell,” Diana explained.
“Why on earth haven’t they done something to purify the water of the stenching stuff?” Prudence demanded.
“It is the sulphur and other minerals in the water that make them medicinal,” Diana explained as if to a child.
A female bath guide led them down a covered passage into a room with fireplaces and told them this was where they could leave their clothes. When she brought them long, high-waisted shifts of brownish linen with elbow-length sleeves, the corners of Prudence’s mouth turned down. The thought of removing her hat and wig in public was anathema to her, but the attendant assured her all the ladies kept their usual head gear intact. Diana, on the other hand, felt totally ridiculous in powdered wig and ostrich feathers and fervently prayed she would not bump into Peter Hardwick, or worse, his brother the earl.
Prudence shuddered as Diana helped her into the tepid water. Her face had taken on the expression of a gargoyle and the distaste she felt at the whole exercise of a medicinal bath was indelibly stamped upon her countenance for all the world to see.
Diana was willing to bet this would be the fastest cure on record. In fact, Prudence would likely insist it was a miracle. Diana could hardly wait until her aunt visited the Pump Room and tasted the iron in the chalybeate spring water. After today Diana was sure Prudence would divide her time between the Parades and the Assembly Rooms, and to get time alone, all Diana would need say was that she was going to the baths!
