Page 39 of A Sense of Misgiving
‘Let her enjoy being courted, my lady,’ Flora said to the countess, who still awaited an answer to her original question. ‘I hear that is what most young ladies in Mary’s position secretly want. Being courted, flattered and admired, I mean. Mary’s a sensible girl and no lasting harm can come of it.’
‘What about you, Miss Latimer?’ Lord Felsham asked. ‘Are you one of the dashing captain’s admirers? You neatly avoided answering that question when I posed it earlier.’
‘Heavens, no! I know my place.’
‘Ha!’ the countess said loudly.
‘I am simply here to keep her ladyship amused,’ she said, smiling at her charge. ‘And believe me that is a full-time job.’
‘And not for the faint-hearted, I would imagine,’ he replied, also smiling at the countess.
‘Keep a civil tongue in your head, young man,’ the countess chided, no venom in her tone. She was a hopeless flirt despite her advanced years, and enjoyed the attentions of a handsome man. ‘Otherwise, I might be forced to tell the world the truth about you.’
Lord Felsham laughed. ‘I am not afraid of you.’
‘Nor is the bible-basher’s daughter here.’ The countess pouted. ‘Young people are no fun at all nowadays. I find she is almost impossible to shock. Well she pretends to be, but I dare say she falls to her knees the moment she is alone to pray for my mortal soul. A little late for that, but there you have it. Anyway, when I was your age I used to visit Vauxhall Gardens regularly. It was the greatest possible fun.’
‘So you keep insisting, ma’am,’ Flora said, sharing a smile with Lord Felsham, ‘but when pressed for details you refuse to elaborate, leaving me to conclude that you must be a fraud.’
‘Not a bit of it. I simply don’t want to make you blush.’
Flora swallowed a laugh. ‘And yet I am more than willing to risk blushing, if only to enhance my education in certain areas.’
‘You have met your match in this young lady, ma’am,’ Lord Felsham said, leaning back so that a footman could refill his wine glass. ‘No wonder you look so well.’
‘I am always well. Why will everyone insist that I am frail?’
Flora shook her head, refrained from comment and concentrated her attention upon her turtle soup.
Chapter Nine
Mary rather enjoyed being the centre of attention at the first party held in her honour, although she did wonder if that made her shallow. She especially enjoyed Captain Redfern’s society but sensed tension in the room. Lucy had disappointed her by making several unkind comments about Flora, which Mary thought both unnecessary and beneath her friend. She had tried to make Lucy understand that Flora’s circumstances were unusual, but that she was the sweetest person, wise beyond her years and the greatest possible fun. Lucy nodded, pretending to accept the explanation, but her own upbringing had been so very different to Mary’s, and it was important to her that everyone should know their place. Mary wanted to laugh at such absurdly outdated views.
‘My sister and I are thinking of taking an excursion to Swallow Hill on Monday, if the weather stays fine. It’s been years since I visited the top, but the views are extensive and the trees quite spectacular at this time of year.’ Captain Redfern smiled at Mary. ‘Can we persuade you to join our party?’
Mary’s immediate reaction was to accept with enthusiasm, but something made her hesitate. ‘I shall have to ask my brother’s permission, but if that is forthcoming, then I shall be delighted.’
‘I hope the earl will not think the invitation inappropriate.’
‘I don’t imagine he will. I’ll speak with him and send word.’
‘Excellent!’
The captain looked satisfied with that arrangement and changed the subject to literature.
‘When shall you return to your regiment?’ Mary asked, when they had exhausted the subject of the latest novel that had scandalised public opinion. Captain Redfern had thought it rather facile, but Mary had been shocked by its content and enjoyed it immensely. At one point, she would have kept that fact to herself for fear of being considered unenlightened, but Flora’s influence had taught her to have the courage of her convictions. Captain Redfern’s opinion was important to her, but if she disagreed with him, she was not about to pretend otherwise.
‘Alas, it is by no means certain that I shall continue with my career in the army. My leg has not properly healed and there are doubts that it ever will.’
‘I am very sorry to hear it,’ Mary said sympathetically. ‘That must be a torment for a man of action like yourself.’
He played with the stem of his wineglass. ‘I consider myself luckier than those who didn’t come back at all.’
‘Of course.’ She moved aside so that Woodley could remove her soup plate. ‘What shall you do with yourself instead?’
‘I must decide upon an alternative career. I cannot abide being idle. The law holds a certain appeal, but nothing is decided yet. I am still talking to various people.’
‘The law is a noble and worthwhile profession. I should imagine that it would keep you fully occupied, so idleness will not be a consideration.’
