Tea and Scandal (7 page)

He did come to the rescue, but in a manner that Jane feared would pitch her from the frying pan into the fire.

“
You have not met Miss Lonsdale, Phoebe,
”
he said, during a break in the insults. Jane cast one angry glare on him before rising.

She curtsied to Lady Sykes and said,
“
I am happy to meet you, ma
’
am.
”

She was amazed to receive a gloating smile in return. Lady Sykes indicated the chair beside her and said,
“
Do sit over here where we can become acquainted, my dear. I have been hearing so much about you.
”

“
Really?
”
Jane asked in surprise. She darted a questioning look at Fenwick, then sat beside Lady Sykes.

“So you are a schoolmistress,” Phoebe said, examining the girl for any resemblance to Pargeter. She soon thought she discerned a certain something in the conformation of the face bones. Whether she was Pargeter’s bastard or not, it was clear Miss Emily—what
was
the woman
’
s name?
—
had convinced Pargeter she was, and the chit would end up mistress of Wildercliffe.

“
Yes, ma
’
am, I was teaching in Bath until a few days ago, when Aunt Fay invited me to stay with her.
”

“
At Miss Prism
’
s, I understand.
”
Jane nodded.
“
A very select school. You must have had someone very important to vouch for you, to secure a post there.
”

“
The dean of Bath Abbey gave me a character. He knew my papa.
”

“
Ah!
”

“
Papa was a vicar at Radstock, near Bath,
”
Jane added, as her questioner seemed so curious.

“
And is your papa still alive?
”

“
No, he was ill
—
dying really
—
when he spoke to the dean about finding me a position.
”

“
You must have received a formidable education to be hired by Miss Prism. She demands French and Italian, I believe.
”

“
She teaches French and Italian, but I taught only English. I don
’
t speak Italian, and my French, I fear, is not good enough to teach.
”

“
Such modesty!
”
Phoebe said, smiling in approval.
“
Was your mama also from Radstock?
”

“
Mama was from Bath.
”

Lady Sykes said, “Ah!” but she said it in a way that suggested
Aha!
A smile of satisfaction twitched at her pursed lips.
“
Was her Christian name, by any chance, Emily? The reason I ask
—”

“
No, ma
’
am. It was Patricia. Patricia Rampling. I am Fay
—
Lady Pargeter
’
s
—
niece on my mama
’
s side, you see.
”

Jane found it odd that her origins should be of such interest to Lady Sykes, but as it kept her from pestering Fay, she was content to answer questions. She noticed that Fenwick was listening quite as eagerly as her questioner. She had nothing to hide, as the inquisition didn
’
t touch on her reason for leaving Miss Prism
’
s Academy. Nor did Lady Sykes have much more to ask. She now had names, dates, and locations. Belton would look into it, and see if Miss Jane Lonsdale was not adopted. Phoebe
’
s success put her in good humor. When the tea tray arrived, she released Jane.

“
Come here and sit beside me, Swann,
”
she ordered.
“
Let Horace entertain Lady Pargeter.
”

Horace was not loath to slide onto the chair so close to the wine decanter.

“
None of that milksop for me,
”
he said, declining tea and reaching for the wine.
“
We have missed you, Miss
—
Dear me, I keep forgetting you are a fine lady now. How do you like it?
”

“
I like it fine, Mr. Gurney,
”
Lady Pargeter replied. As he was being friendly, she said,
“
What possessed your sister to call, after all this time?
”

“
We felt it was time to make it up.
”

“
She seems mighty interested in my niece.
”

“
Has her eye on Miss Lonsdale for Nigel, I believe.
”

This was the best joke Lady Pargeter had heard in some time. Phoebe would no more let Nigel marry a penniless vicar
’
s daughter than she
’
d let him join the army.
“
And you have your eye on me, no doubt,
”
she said, with a burst of laughter. She was amazed to see a guilty flush suffuse his wan cheeks.

He gave her a roguish look.
“
I won
’
t say it hasn
’
t occurred to me,
”
he riposted.

So
that’s what the vixen is up to!
Fay said to herself.
She thinks to plant old Gurney on me. The woman is mad as a hatter.
She went along with the flirtation, however, to amuse herself.

Fenwick noticed that Miss Lonsdale was at loose ends, and moved to join her, where she sat primly sipping her tea. Jane had been acutely conscious of his presence ever since the company
’
s arrival. Despite his less than exemplary behavior the day before, she had been hoping for a few moments alone with him. Her heart thumped nervously as he took the chair beside her and gave her a quizzing smile.

“
As we have been exchanging secret glances for quite ten minutes, the next step is for us to exchange a few words,
”
he said.

She flushed when she realized that she had indeed been exchanging secret glances with this dashing lord. In her discomfort she spoke more bluntly than she liked.
“
Why did you draw Lady Sykes
’
s attention to me?
”
she asked.

“
Why did you look at me in that pleading way? I thought you were uncomfortable with the conversation, if one can call two cats hissing conversation. I was merely trying to divert the talk to less violent channels.
”

“
I was uncomfortable, but I didn
’
t mean for you to draw Lady Sykes
’
s attention to me.
”

“
I
’
m sure you were already the cynosure of all eyes, ma
’
am. It is the inevitable fate of the youngest, prettiest lady in the room.
”
Jane gave a little snort of derision.

“Considering the competition, there is not much compliment in that comparison,” he added. “I shall improve on my compliments as we go on. How was I to know Phoebe would subject you to such a barrage of questions? It seems you attract interrogators, Miss Lonsdale,
”
he said, smiling ruefully.

She replied,
“
I cannot imagine why I have suddenly incited so much curiosity, unless it is my relationship to Aunt Fay.
”

“
I fancy you
’
ve hit the nail on the head.
”

“
It
’
s a pity the ladies cannot rub along better. Aunt Fay is lonesome here.
”

“
She has you now. Such charming company must go a long way toward alleviating the situation.
”
He sketched a small bow to accompany his compliment. Then he peered at her archly.
“
Was that better?
”

Jane assumed this sort of flirtation was the accepted mode amongst fine lords and ladies, and smiled her approval.
“
Aunt Fay has no one of her own age. I think she misses Lizzie
—
Lady Pargeter, I should say.
”

“
And not her late husband, Lord Pargeter?
”

Jane found herself being examined by a pair of brightly curious eyes.
“
And Pargeter, of course, but a lady likes to have a female of her own age to discuss those things that are of interest only to ladies.
”

“
I should think you
’
re missing your friends as well, Miss Lonsdale. I am obviously not a female, and a decade older than you, but if you would like to discuss those things you imagine only ladies are interested in, I should be happy to try to oblige you.
”

“
Oh, I am not lonesome yet.
”

“I am,” he said bluntly. “Let us comfort and console each other with a good scandal broth. Now, where shall we begin our gossip? What do you think of Phoebe
’
s bonnet? Did you ever see such a quiz?
”

Jane
’
s eyes widened in astonishment to hear such nonsense from Lord Fenwick. Her notion of him had been formed on his first visit when he had questioned her so brusquely, almost rudely. He hardly seemed to be the same man today.

Undeterred by her lack of response, Fenwick chatted on.
“
It would do well enough for a widow, but for a distant cousin to be donning such a load of crape is doing it too brown
—
or in this case, too black. Much good it will do her, unless Pargeter is looking down on her from above. And even then, he can hardly change his will.
”

He was rewarded by a small gurgle of laughter.
“
What is of more interest to me is Mr. Gurney
’
s setting up a flirtation with my aunt,
”
she said.

“
Your wits are gone begging, ma
’
am. He
’
s planning to root you out, limb and branch, and replace you as Lady Pargeter
’
s companion. A curious notion of horticulture to be sure, to replace a healthy young rose with a withered stump of yew, but you will find no excess of intelligence at Swann Hall.
”
He noticed that, instead of being flattered at being called a rose, she was regarding him with narrowed eyes.
“
Why are you looking at me like that?
”
he asked bluntly.

“
I hadn
’
t realized I was looking at you in an objectionable way, but as you ask, I wondered why you continue your visit at Swann Hall if the company does not please you. Mr. Swann mentioned yesterday that you were on your way to your hunting box. It is close by, I believe?
”

“
To tell the truth, I always enjoy a good family squabble. Having stumbled into a prime one, I am loath to leave until it is settled, one way or the other
—
by trick or by treaty.
”

“
It is settled, Lord Fenwick. My aunt was legally married. She is Pargeter
’
s heir. Or does Lady Sykes plan to take the matter to court?
”

“
I believe I
’
ve talked her out of that folly. You can thank me later. But if you think the matter is settled, ma
’
am, I take leave to tell you, you are hopelessly naive. It has only begun. There is an exceedingly wealthy widow and her charming niece to be married off, preferably to obliging relatives of Lady Sykes.
”

She stared in confusion.
“
I expect Aunt Fay will receive offers, but I am not wealthy. I
’
m a working lady, and in my experience, poverty has always proved a sovereign prevention against marriage.
”

“
But you are speaking of arranged marriages,
”
he pointed out.
“
Your modern lad and lass have been known to flout common sense and marry where their hearts dictate, with the somewhat dimwitted notion of living on love.
”

“
With the cold pudding of poverty for dessert.
”

“
No, no! You were supposed to disagree with that cynical
‘
dimwitted,
’
Miss Lonsdale. How can we enjoy a good argument if you go agreeing with my antique notions? It is your duty as a penniless orphan to push for marriages of love. A cat may look at a king, and a dowerless lady may hope for an offer from a prince.
”

“
The only offer I look forward to is one of employment, if Fay does marry, that is. Certainly she would not do so in the near future. She
’
s still in mourning.
”

Fenwick cocked his head to one side and directed a knowing look at her.
“
Well, if you insist on talking common sense, mourning did not prove a deterrent against marriage for your aunt
—
nor did poverty, come to that. I believe it is Lady Pargeter I should be having this conversation with.
”

“
There were special circumstances,
”
Jane pointed out.

Having lulled her suspicions by his nonsense, Fenwick began to work the conversation around to Miss Prism
’
s Academy, hoping to learn Miss Lonsdale
’
s secret, for he felt there was some secret lurking there. Whether it was her illegitimacy or a matter relating to misdoing on her own part, he was curious to discover.

“
Do you miss your students, Miss Lonsdale?
”
he asked.

“
One always has a few pets, but in general, I own I am happier here than at the academy.
”