The Marriage Market (7 page)

Victoria looked up and extended her hand.  James crossed round the table to take it.  She said, “You will always be welcome in our home, James.  Let us never speak of this again – to anyone.”

Wovington lowered his gaze and said nothing for a moment.  Then he looked at her with a rueful smile and said, “Thank you for your generosity, Victoria.  David is a lucky devil to have you, and he knows it.  Truthfully, if it had been any man but him, I would have tried my damnedest to steal you away before it was too late.  But if there is any man who deserves you more than I, it is David.  And now I think that I had better leave you.  Bless you, my dear.”

Victoria watched him leave the room and heard the front door close behind him.  She felt badly about poor James, but she had handled the situation as well as she could.  She sighed, and went upstairs to prepare for her meeting with Mr. Scott.

Chapter Seven – Miss Rose Pursing

Extract of a letter from Mrs. David Ladbrook to Mrs. Joseph Greene:

January 20, _____

“Dearest Jemma,

I hope that you are well and enjoyed the holidays.  Mother already wrote to thank me for the shawl which you so kindly delivered.  Thank you again for doing so.  We had a magical Christmas here, complete with snow, and one which I will always treasure since it was my first with David.   We went to Mother Ladbrook’s house for a three-day visit over Christmas.  Mother Ladbrook said that my husband was stingy because he would not extend our visit, but David would not relent.  I will not repeat the disgraceful comment he made to me privately about a longer visit, but I, too, feel very greedy about the time I have to spend alone with my new husband.  We attended a service in the cathedral on Christmas Eve night and again on Christmas morning.  The building is so lofty and magnificent.  I will never forget the thrill of seeing it by candlelight.  My new sister and her husband were visiting with the children, of course, and it was enchanting watching their excitement as they opened their gifts.  The only thing that was missing was your company, and that of Mama, Papa, and Tricia’s.  Please write and let me know how work progresses on your two new dresses, and if Tricia has any new beaux. 

We held a small ball at the beginning of the New Year.  David invited a mix of town and country friends.  Our mutual friend, Mr. Wovington, attended.  He danced with a number of ladies, but did not seem to favour anyone in particular.  I think that he looks a little melancholy these days.  It would be delightful if he were to become attached to one of the agreeable young women of the parish.  David laughed when I shared that opinion with him and said that Wovington is not ready to be tied to a wife yet, but I disagree.  As a matter of fact, there is a sweet young neighbour of ours who just might suit the gentleman.  I will write to you if anything interesting develops.”

__________

Rose Pursing was the youngest and only unmarried daughter of a neighbouring family.  She was a vivacious girl, dainty and pretty, and Victoria thought her delightful.  She wondered if James might also appreciate Miss Pursing, and determined to introduce them as soon as the opportunity presented itself.

“David, my love, what news do you hear from James these days?” Victoria asked as they sat together in the drawing room one evening.  “We have not heard from him in almost a month.  I remember thinking that he appeared rather drawn the last time we saw him.  Perhaps he is working too hard?  I think that a few days in the country would be restful for him.”

David looked up from where he was playing with their new beagle puppy on the carpet.   Victoria’s innocent face was bent over the embroidery in her lap.  “I will ask him to come if you like, darling, although it might be difficult to persuade him to visit with the weather so cold and rainy.  James gets restless when he is cooped up indoors with nothing to do.”

“Oh, I will manage some sort of entertainment for him, never fear,” replied his wife.  An invitation was dispatched the very next day.

Wovington dutifully arrived a week later and was welcomed at the front door by both of the Ladbrooks.  Victoria tucked her hand into his arm and took James on a tour of the house, pointing out the alterations that the couple had affected.  When they had returned to the drawing room and were sipping coffee before the fireplace with David, Victoria told Wovington of her plans for his visit.

“Have no fear that we will be too dull for you, James.  I have invited our neighbours, a Mr. and Mrs. Pursing and their daughter, to dine with us tonight, and later we shall have a little musical entertainment.  Miss Pursing plays the pianoforte very well.”

James raised an eyebrow at David, who smiled and shrugged.  Turning back to Victoria, James said, “I look forward to meeting your neighbours, my dear.  I am sure that any plans you have made for the evening will prove diverting.”

The Pursings arrived at the appointed hour.  David made the introductions, and James shook hands with Mr. Pursing and bowed to the ladies. 

“Happy to meet you, Mr. Wovington,” Pursing said, a slight, balding man who fidgeted.  Mrs. Pursing was a tall, placid woman who gazed slowly around the room before smiling and nodding at the company.  She seated herself in the most comfortable chair and drew some knitting from her bag.

“I am very pleased to meet your acquaintance, sir,” Miss Pursing remarked with a smile and a pert curtsy.  She looked very well, the pink ribbon in her golden curls complementing the pink tint of her cheeks.  Victoria led her to the sofa, and the gentlemen sat down in adjacent chairs.  They chatted about the weather and of Mr. Pursing’s recent acquisition of a new mare until Morton announced that dinner was served.  David escorted Mrs. Pursing into the dining room while Victoria claimed Mr. Pursing.  James offered his arm to Miss Pursing, and she rested her hand on it as light as a butterfly as he conducted her into the dining room.

They dined in grand style with Victoria and David at either end of the table, Mr. and Mrs. Pursing on one side, and James and Miss Pursing on the other.  Victoria chatted about a concert that she and David were looking forward to on the following Sunday while the soup was being served. 

“Would you care to join us, James?” Victoria said.  “A wonderful soprano, Mrs. Eugenia Edwards, will be performing.  She received high praise for a concert she gave in London before Christmas.  What do you think, Mr. and Mrs. Pursing?  It is not every day that we get someone of Mrs. Edwards' calibre in Salisbury.”

Mr. Pursing shook his head without interrupting the flow of food from the bowl to his mouth.  “Mrs. Pursing and I are otherwise occupied, Mrs. Ladbrook.  We’re staying at Willow Farm next weekend to purchase some of Masters’ herd.  He has some fine dairy stock that will make a welcome addition to my herd.”

“And will Miss Pursing be going with you, Mr. Pursing?”

“Oh, I doubt it.  Rose is not much interested in cows, are you, girl?”

“Not very, Father,” Miss Pursing responded with downcast eyes.

“But it is a shame that Miss Pursing will not be going to the concert,” Victoria said.  “She has such fine musical taste.  I am sure that she would enjoy herself greatly.  Wouldn’t she David?” Victoria asked, enlisting her husband’s help.

David nodded.  “We would be more than happy to take your daughter with us, if that would be agreeable?”

Mr. Pursing jumped into the conversation before his wife could empty her mouth.  “That would be capital, Ladbrook.  Rose would probably be dull all by herself next weekend.  A concert would be just the thing to cheer her up.  What do you say, Rose?”

“Thank you, Mr. Ladbrook.  I would be delighted to accompany you and Mrs. Ladbrook, if you are sure it is no imposition,” the young woman said with a grateful smile.

“Not at all, Miss Pursing, we would love to have you join us,” Victoria replied.  “Mr. Wovington has recommended an inn near the concert hall.  Perhaps we could eat supper there?  What was the name of the inn, James?”

“It’s the Crown, Victoria, on Duke Street.  The food is plain, but good, and their ale has made it a popular spot.”

“I’ve never eaten at an inn before, Mrs. Ladbrook,” said Miss Pursing with a little frown.  “Is it safe?”

“Oh yes, perfectly safe.  Have no worries on that score, Mrs. Pursing,” she added, turning her attention to the mother.  The lady nodded and continued to masticate her food.  “And with David and James there to look after us, I’m sure that we’ll be entirely comfortable.  Don’t you agree, James?” 

James crossed his eyes at Victoria, an expression that only she could see from her position at the table, and Victoria smothered a giggle.  “Yes indeed, Miss Pursing, the inn is highly respectable, and with Mr. and Mrs. Ladbrook and myself there to chaperone you, you will be as safe as if you were dining at home,” he replied.

“Exactly,” Victoria said.  “Do have some roast, Mr. Pursing.”

The group re-assembled in the drawing room after dinner.  Miss Pursing sat down at the pianoforte and played a lively piece while Victoria turned the pages for her.  The girl’s slender fingers flew skilfully over the keys, and when she had finished, the company complimented her.  After the applause had died down, Victoria coaxed David into singing one of their favourite duets.

“If you are not too fatigued, would you mind playing for us, Miss Pursing?  Your playing is much more proficient than mine, and my performance will be better if I have only to concentrate on the singing,” Victoria said.

“I am not at all tired, Mrs. Ladbrook.  Sometimes I play for Mother and Father an hour at a time,” the girl replied.

“James, perhaps you would be kind enough to turn the pages for Miss Pursing?”

“Delighted,” he responded, rising with alacrity from his place beside Mrs. Pursing where he was having a hard time making conversation with the lady.  He took a seat on the bench beside her daughter and waited to be of assistance.

“One, two, three . . .,” Miss Pursing counted, and the couple began.  The song spoke of the courtship between a shepherd and his reluctant lady.  David, getting into the spirit of the piece, sang his part lustily, and Victoria responded with enthusiasm.  At the end of the song, David bowed over his wife’s hand and kissed it.  The others applauded.

“Excellently done, Mr.
and Mrs. Ladbrook,” enthused Mr. Pursing.  “Watching you two reminds me of my own courting days with Mrs. Pursing.  What was that song that had the birds in it, Mrs. Pursing?”  The two embarked upon a discussion of the song, Mrs. Pursing remarking that the song had doves in it, while her husband insisted that the birds had been nightingales.

“How lovely, Mr. and Mrs. Ladbrook.  Do sing another.  What about you, Mr. Wovington?  Do you sing?” Miss Pursing asked, talking over her parents’ conversation.

“I do not sing at all, Miss Pursing.  In fact, I contribute to the enjoyment of the evening by abstaining.  Besides, someone must play the part of the appreciative audience, which I do very gladly.”  He added in a low tone to the young lady, “You play with such feeling, Miss Pursing.”

“Thank you, sir,” she responded with glittering eyes.  “Tonight is such a treat.  I do not often have the opportunity to play for people who appreciate music as much as I.  Mother and Father are so occupied with the farm.  And I am so excited about Mrs. Edward’s concert next week – are you not, Mr. Wovington?  I am sure that Mrs. Edwards must be a very sophisticated lady if she has performed in London.  What will she wear, I wonder?  Oh my, I wonder what I should wear?  Have you attended many concerts, Mr. Wovington?  Perhaps you could advise me on what ladies wear to such events?  Or perhaps Mrs. Ladbrook would know better?”  She waited breathlessly for a response, looking from James to Victoria. 

Victoria smiled.  “My dear Miss Pursing, I would be happy to advise you on what to wear, if you think that I would be a better judge than your mother.”

“Oh yes.  Mother does not attend many concerts or theatricals.  She prefers to sit at home most evenings, do you not, Mother?”

Mrs. Pursing, who had fallen silent again, smiled and said, “Aye.”

“Well then, Miss Pursing, I will take you upstairs to my room before you leave and show you some possibilities from amongst my wardrobe.”

Miss Pursing said, “Oh that is most kind of you, Mrs. Ladbrook.  You are very good to me.  Now, will you and Mr. Ladbrook sing for us again, or would you like to hear a new piece that I learnt just last week?” 

Two hours later, Victoria and David finally escorted their neighbours to the door while James waved farewell from the foot of the staircase.  By the time Victoria and David rejoined him in the drawing room, James was sprawled on a comfortable chair in front of the fire.

“Would you care for a brandy before bed, James?” David asked, detouring to a drinks tray containing a decanter and some glasses.

“I would love one,” James responded. 

Victoria sank into a chair across from her guest and slipped off her shoes beneath the edge of her gown.  “Thank you, darling,” she murmured as David handed her a glass before passing one to James.  “Well, I think that we made some fine music tonight, if I say it myself.  Miss Pursing plays very well, does she not?”

“Yes indeed, Victoria.  She fairly flew through her music.  Between her playing and her conversation, I am truly exhausted.”