A Magnificent Match (16 page)

“Oh, miss, it is good to have you returned!” blurted the porter.

Megan regarded the man with surprise. “What is it, Geoffrey? What is wrong?”

“Such a rumpus we have had, miss! But I should be letting Mr. Digby tell you,” said the porter, shutting the door. “If ye’ll wait a moment, miss, I’ll be getting Mr. Digby directly, miss.”

Megan walked into the drawing room, her brows contracted. She had scarcely had time to put off her bonnet and gloves when the butler entered. As he closed the door, she inquired, “Digby, whatever has happened? I have never seen Geoffrey thrown into such a fluster.”

“It is her ladyship, miss. She has discovered that Miss Simpkins is in the house and is in your employ,” said the butler.

“I see.” Megan drew a breath. She looked at the butler and put a blunt question. “Is her ladyship greatly agitated, Digby?”

“For the last hour and a half, miss,” said the butler. He covered a discreet cough. “I may add that Miss Simpkins is at present closeted with the housekeeper, having suffered mild hysterics.”

“Oh, dear! Poor Simpkins. I must do something at once,” said Megan. She stood for a moment, thinking. Then she started moving toward the door. “Thank you, Digby. I shall go up to her ladyship. Is she in her own apartments?”

“Yes, miss,” said the butler, bowing and opening the door for her.

Megan passed through the doorway, then paused. “Digby, pray be kind enough to convey a message to Simpkins from me. Tell her that I shall require her services as usual this evening.”

“Yes, miss,” said the butler, his wooden expression easing just a fraction. “I will be happy to do so, miss.”

Megan crossed the marble-tiled hall and started up the stairs, catching up the hem of her pelisse in one hand. She did not pause at her own bedroom, but passed on down the hall. Before she ever reached her mother’s door, she could hear Lady O’Connell’s shrill voice. Megan lifted her hand and knocked firmly on the door, before turning the knob and going inside.

Megan gained a singular victory with her mother. When it was explained to Lady O’Connell that it would scarcely rebound to her credit for it to become known that her daughter had removed herself to the protection of Mrs. O’Connell’s house because she did not want to give up her dresser, Lady O’Connell managed to control her spleen. She could well imagine that Mrs. O’Connell would delight in making such a ridiculous story known all over London.

Lady O’Connell abandoned her demand that the dresser be immediately turned off. Her ladyship even went so far as to try to cajole Simpkins back into her own service. The dresser politely declined. This so piqued Lady O’Connell’s temper that she thereafter uttered catty remarks about the dresser’s waning talents. Her ladyship laid the blame at her daughter’s door, for if it had not been for Megan’s effrontery in making use of Simpkins’s services in the first place, there would have been none of this unpleasantness.

Lady O’Connell retaliated by adopting a distant and chilly civility toward Megan in the mistaken belief that she was punishing her daughter. Her ladyship went about her own affairs, avoiding her daughter as much as possible. While she was out making her courtesy calls or taking tea with various of her friends or shopping, she assumed that Megan was languishing at the town house with only Mrs. Tyler for company.

Of course, Lady O’Connell had no choice but to lend her countenance to Megan’s appearance at Lady Bishop’s soiree and Mrs. Hadcombe’s ball and supper. It was quite an inconvenience, but at least Mrs. Tyler was present, as well, and could be trusted to chaperone Megan properly so that she herself was freed to enjoy the entertainments.

Lady O’Connell begged off from Lady Stallcroft’s alfresco party and sent Mrs. Tyler in her stead. “For I know that you will not mind going, Gwyneth. It is more your style of thing,” she had said.

“I do not mind in the least, my lady,” said Mrs. Tyler quietly.

“I knew that you would oblige me,” said Lady O’Connell with a nod. “It is a pity that I am so engaged or otherwise I might see more of Megan. I trust that you are keeping her tolerably well entertained.”

“We enjoy one another’s company, my lady,” said Mrs. Tyler.

Lady O’Connell had smiled and dismissed her cousin, thinking that, really, she must do something to reward Mrs. Tyler for her loyalty. The next instant she had forgotten the vague thought and was absorbed in choosing her toilette for that evening.

Mrs. Tyler had gone away with the comfortable conviction that they might never have to confess to Lady O’Connell that they were remaining in London. As long as Lady O’Connell continued to go off and leave them to their own affairs, they would do very well. She and Megan had formed the habit of walking in the park each afternoon and it was amazing how much one was able to intermingle with society by taking one’s exercise. They also made morning calls on everyone who was kind enough to acknowledge them and soon became prime favorites with several hostesses.

Cards that came to the town house for Megan and her companion were discreetly tunneled directly into their hands by the obliging staff. Lady O’Connell never saw them and for a fortnight remained in happy ignorance of her daughter’s burgeoning social life. Acquaintances were made aware that Miss O’Connell and Mrs. Tyler could be found at home only on certain days, and those days were carefully chosen to coincide with Lady O’Connell’s own absences.

Megan and Mrs. Tyler accepted those invitations that might conceivably be thought by Lady O’Connell to be too stuffy or too beneath her notice to attend. There was also Megan’s entree to Almack’s to put to good use. Lady O’Connell rarely attended the assemblies at the exclusive club. If she had done so that week, she would have seen her daughter enter the very cream of the
ton
and receive the nod from no less a personage than Countess Lieven for permission to waltz.

As for the sort of entertainments which Lady O’Connell always attended, Megan said nothing to her mother about them. She simply appeared at the functions with Mrs. Tyler and Mrs. O’Connell. Without argument or cajoling, Megan had made her debut.

If it was wondered at that Megan was seen in her sister-in-law’s train rather than her mother’s, the question was dismissed rather easily. Lady O’Connell’s character was well known. It was widely assumed that her ladyship preferred to leave her daughter’s come-out to Mrs. O’Connell’s management.

“Depend upon it, Agatha did not wish to be tied down by the responsibility of bringing the girl out. That is why she is taking full advantage of Mrs. O’Connell’s good nature,” said Mrs. Hadcombe.

“Oh, undoubtedly! Though I hardly think it is such a burden upon Sophronia O’Connell’s shoulders. Miss O’Connell has taken to society quite well,” said Lady Bishop, watching the young lady in question waltzing with a gallant gentleman. “I am very impressed with her poise and grace.”

“Are you thinking of her for your son?” asked Mrs. Hadcombe with a glance. “She hasn’t anything but a small portion, as I understand it.”

“True, but I would prefer Miss O’Connell over that twitty Henrietta Beaseley. My word! What Eugene sees in her is beyond my comprehension. It is enough to send me into palpitations, I assure you,” said Lady Bishop.

Mrs. Hadcombe laughed. It was well known that the Honorable Mister Eugene Bishop was making up to that confirmed bluestocking, Miss Henrietta Beaseley. Of course, Mister Bishop was also of a scholarly bent; but that did not excuse his unfortunate passion for a lady who had the bad taste of actually quoting Plato in company.

Lady O’Connell came up to the two ladies. There was an agitated expression on her face. “My dears! I cannot begin to tell you of my mortification. It is enough that Sophronia is so lost to propriety as to bring Megan and Mrs. Tyler tonight. But Megan to dance the waltz! It is bizarre behavior, indeed! Whatever shall I do?”

Mrs. Hadcombe stared. “My dear Agatha, what can you mean? Miss O’Connell’s manner is quite unexceptional, I assure you.”

Lady O’Connell practically wrung her hands. “You do not understand! I never gave her permission to dance, nor indeed did I sanction this appearance tonight!”

“Come, Agatha! These are the merest qualms of the nerves. Countess Lieven herself has conveyed her approval on your daughter. What more can you desire?” asked Lady Bishop, who had been at Almack’s with her son and seen the honor conferred on Miss O’Connell.

“Countess Lieven!” Lady O’Connell looked from one to the other of her friends. Their surprised expressions were beginning to turn to curiosity. Her ladyship saw the danger of confiding too much and sharply turned about. Hastily, she said, “Oh well, then! What can I have to be anxious about?” She gave an unconvincing laugh.

“You surprise me, Agatha. I had not thought you to be such an anxious parent,” said Lady Bishop, regarding her with an amused smile. “Surely Miss O’Connell’s debut into society is coming along just as it ought. Of course, she has had the advantage of having been brought out already in St. Petersburg. That was wise of you, Agatha. It has given Miss O’Connell a confidence that I feel certain she might not have had otherwise.”

Lady O’Connell felt herself momentarily bereft of speech. Her stunned mind grasped two facts, however. One was that she must speak to her daughter. The other, and far more important at that moment, was that she must at all costs preserve her dignity. “I did not realize—that is, I am just so overwhelmed! One does not appreciate these things until one is faced with them.”

“You are fortunate that you have Mrs. O’Connell to help you take her around,” said Mrs. Hadcombe. “I understand that she has introduced your daughter as widely as possible.”

“Of course! Of course!” said Lady O’Connell, reflecting that was another lady that she very much wanted to have a word with. In fact, there was nothing to prevent her from taking her daughter-in-law to task that very moment. “Pray excuse me. I wish to—to
consult
with Sophronia on a certain matter. You will understand, I know!”

A few moments later, it could be observed that Lady O’Connell and Mrs. O’Connell were in the midst of a difference of opinion. Lady O’Connell’s glacial expression was in direct contrast to Mrs. O’Connell’s heightened color.

Mrs. Tyler was one of those who witnessed the ladies’ meeting, and that it was an unhappy one was all too obvious. “Oh, dear! I knew that it was too comfortable to last,” she murmured.

“What was that you said, Mrs. Tyler?” asked Lady Mansfield.

“I was just reminded of something that I wished to ask Megan. Pray excuse me, my lady,” said Mrs. Tyler, hastily taking her leave. She made her way at once over to Megan, who was just returning from the dance floor. Mrs. Tyler nodded to the gentleman who was escorting Megan back to her chair and as soon as he bowed himself off, she said, “Megan, there is trouble! Lady O’Connell and Sophronia are exchanging words.”

Megan turned around and at once perceived the accuracy of Mrs. Tyler’s warning. “I shall go over at once. Poor Sophronia! I know that she is catching cold at my expense.”

With Mrs. Tyler following her, Megan quickly went over to join her mother and sister-in-law. Before she ever reached them, she overheard enough to have her suspicions confirmed. Lady O’Connell was indeed accusing Mrs. O’Connell of overstepping her bounds where Megan herself was concerned. She interrupted without ceremony. “Nonsense, Mother! Pray do not say another word against Sophronia. You are quite out, you know.”

“Megan!” Mrs. O’Connell turned to her with relief. Her blue eyes were ablaze with anger. “I am so glad that you are here.”

“Exactly where she should not be!” exclaimed Lady O’Connell. “I take extreme exception to—”

“Mother, pray suspend this wrangling until we have departed. I cannot imagine that any of us wishes to make any more of a spectacle of ourselves than we already have,” said Megan.

“I for one shall be happy to leave this unfortunate scene!” exclaimed Mrs. O’Connell. “I am sorry for you, Megan. But I shall not remain another instant in her ladyship’s presence, for fear of what I might say!” She swept away.

“Well! I have never known such rude treatment at anyone’s hands,” said Lady O’Connell. She turned a rigid countenance to her daughter. “As for you, Megan, I should like an explanation, if you please!”

“With my goodwill, Mother. However, I think not here,” said Megan, quite unflustered. “Gwyneth, let us collect our wraps. We will not be returning home in Sophronia’s carriage, of course. I hope you do not mind that we ride with you, Mother.”

Lady O’Connell gobbled a furious rebuke. Her ladyship was not attended to either by her daughter or Mrs. Tyler, since those ladies actually had the effrontery to walk away from her in the most unfeeling way imaginable. Lady O’Connell had no choice but to follow hurriedly after them. She put as good a face on as possible as Megan and Mrs. Tyler took leave of their hostess, and added her own short and untruthful praises for the evening.

However, once the carriage had been called and the ladies had embarked in it, the tirade broke over their heads. Megan preserved silence during the drive home. Lady O’Connell scolded and accused and complained all the way to the town house.

Megan and Mrs. Tyler descended from the carriage. Lady O’Connell got out, exclaiming, “It is beyond anything when you do not stand still as I am speaking to you, Megan! Yes, and you also, Gwyneth. I am of half a mind of letting you go, for you have proven yourself to be unfit for your position!”

Megan turned suddenly, her eyes blazing. “Do not dare to threaten Gwyneth!” While Lady O’Connell stared at her, quite taken aback, she said, “We shall discuss everything once we are inside, Mother!”

The ladies were admitted to the town house by the porter. The manservant took one look at her ladyship’s face and prudently faded out of the hall. The butler met the ladies and asked if there was anything that they required.

“Yes, Digby, we shall have tea in the drawing room,” said Megan, beginning to pull off her gloves.

“You make yourself mightily free in my house, daughter!” said Lady O’Connell.

Megan looked at her mother, slightly raising her brows. “Would you prefer something else, ma’am?”