Sir Philip's Folly (The Poor Relation Series Book 4) (8 page)

The only thing that brightened her days was the fact that Mr. Davy’s clothes had been made at great speed and he was to arrive in his new guise the next day. Lady Fortescue had decided it would get him closer to Mrs. Budge if, instead of staying in the hotel, he stayed at the apartment next door, which would also underline the fact that he was the son of a friend of the colonel’s.

The following evening, Arabella wistfully watched her mother getting ready to go out. Arabella was going to go up to the “staff” sitting-room the moment her mother disappeared to judge how well Mr. Davy was playing his part. It had been decided to let him keep his own name, as Sir Philip never went to the theatre and Mr. Davy had not trodden the boards for some time. Sir Philip, she knew, had gone off with Mrs. Budge to her flat which she had rented out because the tenant was behind with his payments, but Lady Fortescue had left a note for him telling him to be in the sitting-room at ten o’clock.

As soon as her mother had left, Arabella put her hair up and took a fashionable gown out of her mother’s wardrobe and put it on. She would look like a young woman for this one evening, although the only people to appreciate the result would be the poor relations.

The gown she had chosen was of thin white muslin ornamented with sprigs of forget-me-nots. It showed off her excellent figure to advantage, although it was slightly tight across the bosom. She had a Norfolk shawl draped around her shoulders and some of her mother’s perfume behind her ears. She had been modestly pleased with her reflection in the glass, and as she left the room she wistfully thought that it would be wonderful if the earl could meet her and see her in all her grown-up glory.

She walked to the main staircase and met the earl, who was dressed to go out in black evening dress, sculptured cravat and hair pomaded so that it shone like gold.

He automatically bowed and then his eyes widened. “Miss Carruthers! You look so very charming. You will break all hearts tonight.”

Arabella laughed. “You mean Sir Philip might transfer his attentions to me?”

He frowned. “But I understood that you were to attend Mrs. Sinclair’s musicale. In fact, Mrs. Sinclair told me that she would send a note to Lady Carruthers suggesting you attend.”

Arabella gave a rueful little shrug. “I found that note crumpled in the fireplace and Mama said nothing of it to me, so here I am, but looking forward to the first meeting of Mr. Davy and Sir Philip.”

He felt a sudden spasm of anger against the absent Lady Carruthers and then found he was not looking forward to the evening at all. On impulse, he said, “I would like to attend the first act of this play. Do you think Lady Fortescue would mind?”

Her eyes lit up. “No, for Miss Tonks has already told her that you know of the plan. But Mama will be expecting to see you.”

His blue eyes danced and he held out his arm. “I think you deserve to enjoy yourself thinking about her disappointment. Shall we go?”

She put her hand on his arm and he led her up the stairs.

When they entered the sitting-room, Arabella’s eyes immediately searched the room for Mr. Davy. “He is not here yet,” said Lady Fortescue. “Why, my lord, to what do we owe the pleasure of your visit?”

“I was anxious to see Mr. Davy’s performance and Miss Carruthers was sure you would not mind.”

“Delighted to have your company, my lord,” said Lady Fortescue smoothly, although her shrewd black eyes fastened on the transformed Arabella. The girl was a trifle young for Denby, she reflected, but Miss Tonks was looking as happy as if she had created this new Arabella herself and Lady Fortescue reflected that anything that made Miss Tonks happy these days was worth her indulgence. Not that she wanted to see anything of a romance between Miss Tonks and Sir Philip should the dreadful Budge creature disappear. Sir Philip had certain… em… appetites, thought Lady Fortescue, which might shock a genteel virgin.

The door opened and Mr. Davy came in. “Splendid! Oh, how splendid!” said Miss Tonks, clapping her hands.

Clothes had transformed the actor from a shabby player into a smooth and elegant gentleman. From his well-tailored evening coat to his silk breeches and clocked stockings to his new and fashionable Brutus crop, he looked like a wealthy man without a care in the world.

“Your servant,” he said, bowing low before the colonel.

“Jewels,” said the earl. “You must have jewels, Mr. Davy. That will attract Mrs. Budge’s greedy eyes. I will fetch something.”

He left the room and returned some minutes later with a diamond stickpin, a large ruby ring and diamond studs. “The studs in your shirt,” ordered the earl. “Quickly now. Perhaps you would be so good as to help him, Miss Tonks; your assistance would be welcome.”

Mr. Davy was bedecked just in time. Sir Philip entered with Mrs. Budge, holding her hand high above his head, as if the pair were about to perform a minuet.

Sir Philip stared in surprise at the earl and said rudely, “What’s he doing here?”

“Lord Denby,” declared Lady Fortescue repressively, “is escorting Miss Carruthers. My lord, may I present Mrs. Budge.”

“So charmed,” fluted Mrs. Budge in a crimped-up sort of voice.

“And Mr. Davy here is the son of an old friend of Colonel Sandhurst who will be residing with us. Mrs. Budge, Mr. Davy. Sir Philip, Mr. Davy. Mr. Davy, Mrs. Budge and Sir Philip Sommerville.”

To Arabella’s surprise, Mr. Davy gave Mrs. Budge a low bow but did not show any signs of being interested in her at all.

“Where are you from, Mr. Davy?” asked Sir Philip.

“I now live in Buckingham,” said Mr. Davy, “but I like to visit the City from time to time to see my man of business.”

“Business doing well?” asked Sir Philip.

“Very well. I wish Colonel Sandhurst had told me of your venture at the beginning. I would have been glad to help.”

“And why didn’t he?” demanded Sir Philip crossly, thinking the colonel had kept this rich friend well hidden.

“Colonel Sandhurst and I had become disaffected owing to my behaviour,” said Mr. Davy. “I fear I was a very wild young man. But now I have made my fortune, I had an impulse to come to beg his forgiveness.”

“Hey, sit by me,” said Sir Philip expansively, his eyes fixed on that diamond stickpin. “Any friend of Colonel Sandhurst is a friend of mine.”

“I had heard of Lady Fortescue, Miss Tonks and Sir Philip from Colonel Sandhurst,” said Mr. Davy. “Are you a partner, too, Mrs. Budge?”

Mrs. Budge had taken a place on his other side. She was reaching out one plump hand for a cake. “I am by way of being a friend of Sir Philip,” she said.

Arabella saw Mr. Davy’s lips move in a whisper and then the actor said aloud, “Allow me to hand you the plate of cakes, Mrs. Budge.” She saw how Mrs. Budge after that whisper had given Mr. Davy a gratified look and then how her piggy eyes fell from the actor’s face to the diamond nestling among the snowy folds of his cravat.

“I don’t think I will have a cake, sir,” simpered Mrs. Budge. What Mr. Davy had whispered to her when she had said she was a friend of Sir Philip had been, “Oh, my heart. What a pity. What a waste.” The import of these words had sunk into her ample bosom. Mrs. Budge was suddenly aware of her own great girth set against the elegant slimness of Mr. Davy and resolved to eat less, just a little less.

“Sir Philip!” commanded Lady Fortescue. “Join us for a moment. There appears to be a discrepancy in the accounts.”

“As Miss Tonks has been doing the accounts lately, I am not at all surprised,” said Sir Philip. “That widgeon cannot even add two plus two.”

Arabella saw anger flash in Mr. Davy’s eyes, but Miss Tonks said, “Don’t be such an old fool, Sir Philip. If there is any discrepancy in the accounts it is no doubt you, sir, trying to hide your extravagance.”

Sir Philip sat down beside Lady Fortescue, took out his quizzing-glass and examined the accounts.

“It is a while since I have been in Town,” said Mr. Davy quietly to Mrs. Budge. “I miss female company. My poor wife died some years ago. She never lived to see me make my fortune.”

Mrs. Budge looked thoughtfully at the cake plate so temptingly near and restrained herself with an effort. “Well, sir,” she said archly, “I am sure when Sir Philip is busy about his duties I could find time to accompany you, although perhaps, on second thoughts, he might not like it.”

Mr. Davy’s eyes danced wickedly and he murmured, “Then we shall not tell him, madam. Now I have rented a handsome carriage and thought to take the air at two o’clock tomorrow.”

Mrs. Budge felt like Cleopatra. Her breath began to come and go quickly. “If you was to take me up just outside Lord Nelson’s old house down the street, then that would not be offending a certain gentleman.”

“And what do you think that was all about?” whispered Arabella to the earl. She leaned close to him and he could smell her perfume.

“I think everything is going splendidly,” he whispered back.

But Miss Tonks noticed that Sir Philip, closing the accounts book with a snap, had his pale eyes fastened on the couple in a speculative way. The old man’s brain was obviously working at a great rate.

“Sir Philip,” said Miss Tonks, “have you found any error?”

“No, I haven’t, mophead.”

“Don’t be rude,” said Miss Tonks with a new confidence given by the smart crop covered with a dainty lace cap. “You must admit I do the figures very neatly. And why are you so nasty about my hair?”

He crossed over to her and put his head on one side. “You look very well,” he said gruffly. “I’m old and I don’t like change of any kind.”

“No more do I,” said Miss Tonks, looking sadly at Mrs. Budge.

Sir Philip experienced a rare pang of conscience. He had no right to be so nasty to Miss Tonks when she had saved his life by shooting that highwayman on the Fosse in Warwickshire. And she
had
changed. No one could ever call her pretty, but Miss Tonks had a certain air of breeding and elegance which… He looked at Mrs. Budge and his brain snapped down on the thought. He was old and was entitled to a few pleasures. And who was this Mr. Davy who had sprung from nowhere?

“Oh, you have a pianoforte,” exclaimed Arabella. “Is that a new purchase?”

“Yes,” said Lady Fortescue. “Colonel Sandhurst bought it second-hand the other day in the fond hope that I would play to him; but it is years since I have played anything. Miss Tonks confesses to being a poor performer, and so it remains silent, which is probably just as well. It has obviously not been tuned this age and is sadly tinny.”

“What about you, Miss Carruthers?” asked the earl.

“I play very well,” said Arabella and then blushed. “I do not mean to brag, but it is the
only
thing I do well.”

“There are sheets of music on top of the piano, which came with it,” said the colonel eagerly.

Arabella crossed to the piano followed by the earl, who lit the candles in their brackets with a taper. “I will turn the music for you,” he said.

Suddenly nervous, for she was not used to an audience, Arabella chose a ballad and began to play. “I know that one,” said Sir Philip and began to sing in a surprisingly strong baritone. Miss Tonks joined in with a reedy soprano, and after an amused look back at them, the earl began to sing as well.

When that ballad was over, Mrs. Budge heaved herself to her feet. “My turn,” she said. “Do you know ‘Lizzie of the Strand’?”

“I am afraid not,” said Arabella, “but I can follow a tune very easily.”

So Mrs. Budge began to sing in a distinctly ginny voice.

“And that’s enough of that!” Lady Fortescue’s voice cut across Mrs. Budge’s singing. “If you are going to sing like that, then I suggest you get to Billingsgate, where you belong.”

“Enough of your insults,” raged Sir Philip. “Apologize.”

“My turn,” said Mr. Davy, crossing to the piano. He riffled through the sheets of music. “Ah, this one.”

He began to sing “Sweet Maiden With Your Eyes Divine” in a clear tenor. Sir Philip slowly resumed his seat. The man was a brilliant performer. The angry emotions ebbed out of the room. Miss Tonks sat with her hands clasped and her eyes shining. The earl suddenly noticed how white and fine Arabella’s hands were and how long her eyelashes. He became more determined than ever to find some means of forcing Lady Carruthers to bring her out.

Mr. Davy finished his song by sinking down on one knee in front of Mrs. Budge to loud applause.

“You are wasted in the business world, sir,” commented Sir Philip. “You should have trodden the boards.”

“How silly you are,” said Miss Tonks quickly. “A gentleman like Mr. Davy a common actor! Fie for shame!”

Sir Philip shrugged dismissively and then turned to Mrs. Budge. “I suggest we retire.”

She hesitated a moment and then decided it would be best to humour Sir Philip by removing herself from Mr. Davy or she might not be able to escape to meet him on the morrow.

When they had gone, Mr. Davy looked ruefully around the company. “I apologize for my performance. I overdid it. It will not happen again. But Mrs. Budge is to come driving with me tomorrow afternoon, so I fear you will have the expense of renting a carriage.”

“Oh, excellent,” said Lady Fortescue. “How did you manage it? I heard nothing.”

“I saw you whispering in her ear,” said Arabella, amused. “And now to my problems. Lord Denby here persuaded a Mrs. Sinclair who was giving a musicale this evening to write to Mama and ask her to bring me, but she did not, as you can see. Nor does Mama know that I am wearing one of her gowns.”

“Does not the pretend courtship of Lord Denby persuade her to take you about?” asked Lady Fortescue.

“On the contrary,” said Arabella. “Mama is now convinced that Lord Denby is courting
her
.”

The door opened and Sir Philip walked back in again. “Mrs. Budge has a headache,” he said sourly and sat down. Mrs. Budge had decided that leaving with Sir Philip was enough but letting him in her bed that night was too much. She wanted to be alone and dream about Mr. Davy, or rather, Mr. Davy’s money. “What are you lot plotting?” asked Sir Philip suspiciously.