Page 53 of Lady Controversial
Lawson nodded and stood up, the discussion having reached an end. He left the room, closing the door quietly behind him but Ellery was not left to his own devices for long. The door opened again almost immediately and his mother stormed through it like a ship under full sail, clearly highly incensed. She was closely followed by his sister Sally, and both women wore identical expressions of outrage. Jemima trailed in their wake and sent Ellery a sympathetic look. She, at least, would support him in the battle of wills that he had been anticipating all morning.
‘What’s this nonsense I hear about the Misses Crawley taking up residence on our estate?’ his mother demanded. ‘Obviously, it cannot possibly be true. Even you would not go so far as to presume, but even so…’
‘If you are so convinced that it’s moonshine,’ Ellery replied calmly, ‘why did you bother coming to me in such a high dudgeon.’
‘To hear you deny it, naturally, and tell you to give a trimming to the servants who have spread such scurrilous gossip.’ His mother puffed out her chest. ‘Really, they must not have enough duties to perform if they can find the time to make up such Banbury tales.’
‘It is not idle gossip, Mother. It was brought to my attention that their cottage roof had collapsed, making their home temporarily uninhabitable until such time as the necessary repairs can be affected.’
‘That is nothing to do with us.’
‘As a matter of Christian charity, I believe that it is. I could not permit two young ladies to suffer when it was within my power to resolve their problem. They are safely tucked away in the north gatehouse, where they will not inconvenience you.’
‘Not inconvenience?’ It was Sally who responded. ‘Their father put a bullet through his own head because he could not pay his debts. The girls must suffer their share of shame and ought not to be accepted in decent society.’
‘Well, Sally, since you find their presence here so unpalatable,’ Ellery said, striving to hold on to his temper, ‘do not let me prevent you and your husband from seeking alternative lodgings.’ Ellery paused to fix his arrogant sister with a reproving look. ‘My hospitality is not limitless, and neither is my patience.’
Sally’s expression turned even more sour but she looked away, no doubt aware that she was on the point of pushing Ellery too far. She and her husband would not live nearly so comfortably if they were obliged to leave Finchdean Hall. His mother was possessed of no such finer feelings, however, and raised her voice along with her objections.
‘You have gone too far this time, Ellery, and turned us into a laughing stock.’
‘I fail to see how, Mother, but rest assured, I shall not mind if you prefer to return to London where there is less likelihood of your sensibilities being so offended.’
‘How could you be so uncaring?’ The countess fell into the nearest chair, raising a hand to her brow in dramatic fashion but failing to look feeble, as was undoubtedly her intention. ‘You have no consideration for my finer feelings.’
‘Don’t distress yourself, Mama,’ Sally said, kneeling at their mother’s side and taking her hand. ‘At least we will not have to see the wretched females.’
‘On the contrary, I have invited them to dine this evening and expect you to extend them every courtesy,’ Ellery said, his tone silk on steel.
‘That is completely out of the question!’ His mother swooned dramatically, causing Ellery and Jemima to exchange an amused glance. It was a ploy she had fallen back on once too often, and it had long since lost its ability to influence Ellery in any way, other than to reinforce his determination to be the master of his own home.
‘Since you appear to be ailing, Mother, perhaps you would be best advised to take dinner in your room. I dare say Sally will be glad to bear you company while Jemima acts as my hostess. She, I feel persuaded, will not feel insulted by the presence of two harmless young ladies.’
‘Not at all,’ Jemima said, clearly enjoying herself. ‘I look forward to making their acquaintance. Felix has already been singing the praises of Miss Jane Crawley. She is quite remarkably pretty it seems and comes out this year alongside me, so we shall have a great deal to talk about.’
Their mother let out a squawk of indignation and then appeared to faint.
‘Fetch the smelling salts, Sally, there’s a dear,’ Ellery said dismissively.
It had the desired effect and their mother regained her senses, such as they were, with a speed that made her ever having lost them a matter of debate.
‘I hope I know my duty,’ the countess said stiffly. ‘I might be ailing but that will not prevent me from being in my own drawing room this evening, where I will show your guests every civility, which is more than you have done to me, your own mother. Come, Sally, I need to lie down.’
‘She will make them feel uncomfortable in her own unique manner,’ Jemima warned in an undertone as she turned to leave the room in her mother’s wake.
Ellery chuckled. ‘I rather think she will have met her match in the elder Miss Crawley,’ he replied. ‘Call on them in the gatehouse today if you can find the time and put them at their ease. I want them to know there is one female in this family who will be pleased to see them.’
‘Of course I will. I have never met anyone quite so controversial before.’
Ellery smiled and tugged at one of his sister’s curls. ‘Thank you,’ he said. ‘I think you will enjoy Miss Crawley’s company.’
Jemima sent Ellery a speculative glance. ‘It is already clear to me that you do,’ she remarked.
‘But why?’
If Jane asked that question one more time, Isolda would scream. ‘Does it matter?’ she asked wearily. ‘Lord Finchdean, for reasons he has yet to share with me, requires us to quit Rose Cottage for a short time. Something to do with the repair to the roof, I gather, which is unsatisfactory and unsafe.’
‘But we are not his responsibility.’
