Francesca Shaw - The Unconventional Miss Dane Read online

  "Yes," Marcus replied shortly, then seeing her stricken face, relented and explained~ "He is the younger brother of Sparrow, my head keeper.

  He works in the stables now, for his sight is quite poor at night."

  Antonia remembered Sparrow's rough grasp. "No wonder Sparrow is so hard on poachers."

  "Indeed, Miss Dane. It is as well to remember that not every picture is painted in black and white."

  She stooped to snip off 'some greenery, averting her face from his. "I accept, your reproof, my lord. I acknowledge that I become so passionately engaged sometimes that I fail to see the shades of grey."

  Marcus put one hand under her elbow to help her upright. Even through her gown and the leather of his glove she could feel the warmth of him.

  "I would not wish to see you any less passionate about anything, Antonia," he murmured.

  She could not meet his eye, glancing away in confusion, to encounter instead the rheumy regard of the old gardener. This was no place to engage in . whatever was occurring between her and Marcus. Was he flirting with her, or merely teasing her? She could hardly tell, and her growing partiality for him was eiouding her own judgement.

  "I have filled my basket as full as I dare," Antonia said lightly, nodding to Johnson as she led the way out of the garden. "Donna will be wondering what has become of me, for she wanted to fill the vases in the hall."

  Marcus took the basket from her and they strolled back towards the house in companionable silence. At the front door he handed her the flowers and remarked, "I had almost forgot the purpose of my call. I am assembling a houseparty at Brightshill next weekml believe I mentioned it before--and I hope Miss Donaldson and yourself will do me the honour of joining us for dinner on Tuesday evening."

  "I would be delighted, my lord, as, i am sure, will be Miss Donaldson."

  Antonia spoke calmly but inside her heart had leapt at the thought of mixing with society again after so many months. And to see Marcus in his own setting, to see Brightshill in all its glory, filled with people. But those people, she suddenly realised, would be of the height of London Society, fashionably dressed, aufait with the latest gossip and news. She had neither the gowns nor the gossip to mix comfortably with such a set; what would Marcus think when he saw her in such a company? He might find her amusingly unconventional now, but what appeared refreshing as a country diversion would seem gauche and soon lose its charm set against Town polish.

  "Antonia? Is anything wrong?" Marcus appeared preternaturally alert to her mood today.

  "Oh, no,..I was merely woolgathering."

  "FOrgive me, you must have much to be doing and thinking about. I shall leave you to your housekeeping and look forward to your company next Tuesday."

  Antonia held out her hand to shake his and was startled to find him bending over it to brush the back of her knuckles with his lips.

  "Adieu, Antonia."

  She watched him, unconscious of bringing her hand up to her cheek as she did so. Saye came up with the horses and the two men were trotting off down the driveway before she recalled herself.

  "Donna, Donna!" she called, running up the steps. "There you are with the flowers." Miss Donaldson emerged from the salon, a vase in each hand. "What an age you have been, Antonia, I could not imagine what was detaining you."

  Antonia recognised the teasing note in her voice. "You know full well Lord Arlington called! Oh, Donna, he has invited us to dinner at Brightshillnext Tuesday. His house party will be assembled--what are we to wear?"

  "I shall wear my garnet silk, of course~' Donna replied composedly. "

  It is perfectly suitable, and my attire will not in any case signify, No, my dear, the real question is, what are you to wear? "

  Antonia dumped the flower basket unceremoniously on the side table and wailed, '1 have not a notion! I do not even know what is the latest mode--although you may be certain that not a garment that I own will be in it! ~

  "Then we must set to work immediately. Anna can arrange these flowers; we must review our wardrobes and see what will pass muster. Now," she began, ticking items off on her fingers as she ascended the stairs.

  "Gowns, those must be new, then there are your stockings, gloves, slippers... Anna! Where is that girl? We must see if there are any of your old gowns that will cut up..."

  Antonia hurried after her companion, bemused that for once Miss Donaldson was not taking the opportunity for fern arks on the folly of fashion and the impropriety of a mind set upon adornment.

  An afternoon spent in turning out both their wardrobes swiftly passed.

  At length, they sank down gratefully with a cup of tea and reviewed their findings.

  "It is as I feared," Antonia said gloomily. "We each have one pair of respectable evening gloves, there is enough ribbon to furbish up your gown and your slippers are presentable. But our stockings are woeful, my evening slippers unwearable and not a single gown of mine is in such a condition that I could either wear it or cut it up to make another with any pretensions to style."

  "None ofthis'is insurmountable," Miss Donaldson said firmly, setting down her cup and raising her voice. "Anna!" The girl hurried in, only to be dispatched to find Jem and order his presence with the gig the next morning. "We can try what Berkhamsted has to offer and go further afield if necessary."

  "But, Donna," Antonia protested, 'we' cannot afford to shop for any of this! " She was utterly bewildered by Miss Donaldson's enthusiasm.

  "Nonsense! You have money left from the loan; look upon this as an investment."

  "You cannot be suggesting that I use that money for husband-hunting!"

  "I did not say anything of the kind. But you cannot go into Society attired like a milkmaid. And if you are not to go into Society, pray tell me why we have been wasting so much time and money to establish ourselves in the Dower House?"

  "Oh, very well," Antonia conceded, knowing there was no gainsaying her companion in this mood. "But we only have a week in which to prepare."

  "It will suffice, If luck is with us, we shall be able to obtain copies of the Ladies' intelligencer in Berkhamsted, which will give us an inkling of the current mode. I have already found an excellent shop for haberdashery--I told you of it when ! bought the linens last month---and there are several drapers, One, at least, must have some acceptable silks."

  "But we do not know which dressmakers to trust;, Antonia protested.

  ~Dressmakers? No time, my dear--we will sew the garment ourselves.

  With my skill--for I believe I do not flatter myself--in pattern cutting, ~and your fine stitch cry We may save several pounds and no one be 'any the wiser. Now, let us have some supper and retire early: we have a busy day before us tomorrow. "

  "Now this will become you very well," Donna said with satisfaction, holding up the dull gold silk against

  Antonia's creamy skin: "That subtle counter-stripe in the weave quite picks up 'the brown of your hair." ;

  "Indeed yes, ma'am," Mrs. Mumford the linen draper hastened to add her voice. "If you intend to make this gown here--' she gestured to a striking fashion plate open on the counter '----I can think of nothing that will cut and drape better."

  "It is very expensive," Antonia demurred, wistfully fingering the soft sheen.

  "Quality will out, madam, if I may make so bold an observation."

  "Quite right," Miss Donaldson declared. "We will take a dress length of this, and the lining we had already agreed upon. Now, trimmings..."

  Another delightful half-hour was passed deciding between the rival merits of mother-of-pearl buttons or covered silk ones, floss edgings or corded ribbon and whether to add a sprig of artificial flowers at the neckline or an edging of fine lace.

  "And will you be bringing in your slippers for dying, ma'am?" Mrs.

  Mumford enquired as the girl made up the parcels. "I can recommend Thomas Hurst in the High Street for kid slippers, but his dyeing isn't all it ought to be."

  After negotiating with the shoemaker to send t
he new slippers to Mrs.

  Mumford, they retired to a private parlour overlooking the inn yard at the King's Arms and sent for coffee and biscuits. Antonia made herself comfortable in the window seat and surveyed the bustle below; "Oh, Donna, do look at Jem. He is sitting up in the gig with his arms folded, aping the groom in that curricle over there."

  "He is a good lad," Donna remarked with a smile: "I am glad we are able to give him employment. The yard is very busy, is it not? Here comes another post chaise--and I do declare, is that not Lord Arlington coming out of the inn?"

  It was, indeed. Antonia, from her vantage point, could look down on Marcus as he strolled out into the sunlight and stood waiting for the post boys to let down the steps of the chaise. Although he was wearing riding dress as usual, Antonia noticed he was more carefully attired than normal. As he lifted his tall hat, she saw he had submitted his tawny locks to the attentions of his valet, for the nape of his neck, newly shorn, showed paler against skin tanned by outdoor pursuits.

  The door of the chaise swung open as soon as the vehicle came to a halt and, without waiting for the steps to be let down, a boy of about nine years tumbled out. For a moment Antonia thought he was about to throw his arms around Marcus, then he checked himself, pulled himself to his full height and with great dignity thrust out a small hand. Lord Arlington solemnly shook it, then bent and scooped the boy into his arms.

  The lad's face broke into a huge grin which persisted as Marcus set him on his feet again just as a small blonde whirlwind threw herself at his lordship's knees. Marcus rocked slightly, then stooped again to pick up the child who snuggled her face into his neck and clung firmly.

  Antonia drew back slightly against the drapes, feeling excluded from the affectionate reunion.

  Still holding the child, Marcus stepped up to the car-dage door and. held out his hand to assist the young matron who had one foot on the steps. She was laughing up into his face as he bent and allowed his cheek to be kissed and Antonia realised, seeing the two dark blond heads together, that they must be brother and sister.

  "What an elegant ensemble," Donna remarked approvingly, her eye on the lady. "That moss-green pelisse and bonnet set against the paler green of her skirts--so tasteful and understated!"

  "And so flattering to her colouring," Antonia commented. 'l had no idea Lord Arlington had a sister---as indeed she must be, for they are so alike--and Certainly not that he was an uncle. "

  His sister was saying something to Marcus that caused him to set his little niece down and step once more to the post chaise. Another lady was hesitating prettily on the top step, almost as if the unaided descent was too much for her fragile frame.

  "Well! That is most certainly not a sister, and possibly not even a lady!" Donna remarked tartly, disliking the woman on sight.

  "She is very pretty," Antonia said, seeking to. be fair in the face of Donna's hostility.

  "Artifice, pure artifice. She owes a great deal to the arts of her modiste and coiffeuse, and no doubt to the rouge pot!"

  "Donna! We are too far away for you to know that. How uncharitable you are this morning!"

  They both fell silent as the lady allowed Marcus to hand her down, swaying towards him with one hand to her brow and a brave smile trembling on her lips. "Huh! Showing him what a dreadful headache she is suffering, but how brave she is being despite all," snorted Donna.

  The apparition was swathed in madder rose silk with a velvet pelisse, cut with fluttering edges, each trimmed with a gold tassel. She was poised carefully on the cobbles. as if reluctant to place her dainty kid boots on the horse-trampled ground.

  "She is tiny," Antonia observed, and indeed, as she stood, one hand firmly on Marcus's arm, the stranger stood no higher than his shoulder.

  "No doubt another member of the houseparty, yet if I am not mistaken, Marcus is surprised to see her."

  "Do you think so? Well, you know him better than I, my dear,"

  It might not be apparent to Donna, but to Antonia, whose mind's eye was so often full of every nuance of Marcus,s tall figure, a certain rigidity in his shoulders and an expression of bland politeness showed a change of mood.

  The party was returning to the carriage, the post boys in their big boots swinging up on to the horses' backs, and Saye was leading out Marcus's mount. In a flurry of hooves the carriage and the two riders turned and were out of the yard, leaving it strangely empty to Antonia? s watching eyes.

  Donna got to her feet and summoned the parlour maid giving her instructions to carry their parcels down to Jem. "Tell him we will be 'at least another hour," she ordered, 'and send him out some bread and cheese and ale,"

  "Donna? Why are ~we not returning home?" Antonia demanded as she found herself being hustled down the stairs and into the High Street once again.

  "We are going back to Mrs. Mumford's shop" her companion announced firmly. "We are going to buy several ells of ribbon to furbish up your russet walking dress, some velvet for a new pelisse, a new bonnet and," her gaze fixed on Antonia's sensible walking shoes, 'some kid boots.

  ~

  "That is dreadfully extravagant!" Antonia protested as they passed St.

  Peter's church.

  "No more than you deserve," Donna riposted,

  "This is not a competition," Antonia said drily, recognising the source of her companion's sudden burst of extravagance.

  "Is it not?" Miss Donaldson's lips compressed with finality.

  Mrs. Mumford was almost overcome to receive further patronage from the ladies of Rye End Hall. She was commenting effusively on the elegance of taste shown by their selections while the assistant tied the parcels, when the shop bell jangled and in walked Mr. Jeremy Blake.

  "Ladies!" He doffed his hat and bowed politely, an expression of pleasure on his amiable features~ "I trust ! find you well?" Although, looking at Miss Dane's glowing complexion and sparkling eyes, he could not doubt it. "May I be of assistance to you with your parcels? I have only a small commission-some cravats, if they can be furnished--and then I am at your disposal."

  The ladies accepted gratefully--Donna, because she could never reconcile herself to her charge going out without a footman to carry her parcels, Antonia simply because she found Mr. Blake's company so congenial.

  The cravats were soon added to the pile of purchases and the party made its way back along the High Street towards the King's Arms.

  '1 was intending to call upon you tomorrow," Jeremy observed as they crossed the street. " But as we have happily encountered one another, ! wonder if I might raise the matter now. "

  "Please do so Mr, Blake. Have you heard from Sir Josiah?"

  "Indeed I have, ma'am. ! would find it most helpful to know when I may order the paperhangers to begin.

  But," he added hastily, " I would not want to inc or venience you in the slightest. "

  "Thank you for your consideration. It must be an obje, with us to oblige Sir Josiah and Lady Finch in any way that we can." Antonia turned to Miss Donaldson. believe we can undertake to have vacated Rye End Ha by today week, could we not, Donna? "

  "The Dower House is already cleaned and aired. A we need to do is remove our personal possessions, an~ that is but the work of a day. I am sure we can oblig Lady Finch."

  '1 am most grateful. Is there any assistance I can len, you in your removal? "

  The ladies assured him that they had matters well i hand and thus they parted, Mr. Blake on some fur the errand in the town, the ladies to rejoin Jem,an, drive home.

  "We!!" my dear," Donna said briskly as the gig bowie past the castle ruins, 'we shall be busy indeed! Wh~ with establishing ourselves in the Dower House an undertaking all that dressmaking, we shall scarce have minute to spare. But we will prevail!"

  "You are enjoying the prospect, are you not, Donna? Antonia enquired drily.

  "I am, indeed, We have the prospect of a change o scene, of congenial company in Sir Josiah and Lad.~ Finch and the house party. at Brightshill, and some hard but rewarding work ahe
ad, How far we have come from our first dismay at seeing Rye End Hall in March!"

  "How far, indeed," Antonia agreed, musing that he life had indeed changed greatly since that first, singular encounter with Marcus.

  Chapter Seven

  Lord Arlington leaned negligently against the frame of the pa dour door at the Dower House and crossed his booted feet at the ankles. Having found the front door. standing open and no servant to announce him, he had strolled through, tossing his hat and riding crop on to the hall chest, before beating the sound of a chair being scraped across wooden boards in the front par lout

  Antonia was standing upon the chair before the window, stretching up to catch a length of muslin on hooks. She was so absorbed in her endear ours to achieve a pleasing drape she was quite unconscious of being observed from the doorway.