all.”
“Insolent woman!” Lady Beauchamp said, annoyed. “I always thought that female had a distinct lack of breeding. Shabby-genteel. That’s what she is, Alexandra. The Squire made a very poor choice when he married her. His first wife was a charming woman, you know — it was such a tragedy when she died in childbirth.” Lady Beauchamp sighed and shook her head, but after a moment she continued, “However, be that as it may, my love, do you realise that this could mean social ruin for you? Why — if the Duke allows it to be known that you are interested in book learning, the gentlemen will not be at all interested in courting you!”
“So Aunt Eliza said,” Alexandra said, shrugging her shoulders. “But I am not concerned.”
“Not concerned!” Lady Beauchamp said in rising tones. “My dear child, you don’t know what you are saying! I personally admire you for your intellectual leanings, and I am proud of your intelligence, but it is not at all modish for a young lady to appear interested in anything but the latest popular work in poetry. You may admire Lord Byron’s “Child Harolde’s Pilgrimage”, and even recite a few lines from it, but to profess an interest in works such as the “Odyssey” and the “Iliad” for example, would be akin to inviting social disaster. My dear, this could make your London Season unbearable!”
Alexandra looked contemplatively at her distraught Grandmother, wondering whether she ought to tell her about what had just passed between her and the Duke. Deciding that it would be prudent to confide in that worldly wise lady, she gave Lady Beauchamp an edited account of her recent meeting with Stanford. “And he told me, Grandmama, that he has decided to make me the rage,” Alexandra finished quietly.
Lady Beauchamp took a full minute to assimilate all that her granddaughter had said. In truth she found it difficult to believe. She had known Robert Beaumont since his infancy, being a close friend of his mother, the Dowager Duchess, and knowing her friend’s son as she did, she found his actions highly suspicious. Finally, coming out of her reverie, she said in a puzzled voice, “I wonder why Robert has decided to bring you into fashion, my dear? Usually he does not pay any attention to the Season’s débutantes. He has said on numerous occasions that he considers simpering young ladies to be a dead bore, and that they should not be inflicted on the rest of the ton .”
“To recall his exact words, he told me that he wanted to make the high sticklers of Society accept such an unconventional creature as myself,” Alexandra explained. “You see, Grandmama, I have given him good reason to believe that I am not a — er — simpering female.”
“That sounds just like Robert! He always enjoys stirring up the old tabbies,” Lady Beauchamp said in an exasperated voice.
“Does the Duke really wield so much power, Grandmama?” Alexandra asked, frowning slightly.
Lady Beauchamp nodded her head. “Indeed, he does. If he has decided to give you his seal of approval, my dear, you will be an immense success. Stanford is acknowledged as one of the arbiters of fashion, and as the leader of Society. You did very well to tell me about his plans for you, Alexandra. But, I must warn you, my dear, that I totally endorse what he said about respecting the conventions of Society. It is remarkably foolish of you, my love, to disregard them. Your Aunt should be stricter with you than she is. But knowing you, my dear, she probably does not have much say in the matter, does she?” Lady Beauchamp continued, looking shrewdly at her errant granddaughter, who had the grace to blush. “However, Alexandra, be that as it may, when you are under my aegis, you must have a care to appearances, you know.”
Alexandra nodded. “His grace has told me that, Grandmama.”
“Yes — well I hope that you have the sense to take our advice, my dear. And now, I think I should go and see how
“Insolent woman!” Lady Beauchamp said, annoyed. “I always thought that female had a distinct lack of breeding. Shabby-genteel. That’s what she is, Alexandra. The Squire made a very poor choice when he married her. His first wife was a charming woman, you know — it was such a tragedy when she died in childbirth.” Lady Beauchamp sighed and shook her head, but after a moment she continued, “However, be that as it may, my love, do you realise that this could mean social ruin for you? Why — if the Duke allows it to be known that you are interested in book learning, the gentlemen will not be at all interested in courting you!”
“So Aunt Eliza said,” Alexandra said, shrugging her shoulders. “But I am not concerned.”
“Not concerned!” Lady Beauchamp said in rising tones. “My dear child, you don’t know what you are saying! I personally admire you for your intellectual leanings, and I am proud of your intelligence, but it is not at all modish for a young lady to appear interested in anything but the latest popular work in poetry. You may admire Lord Byron’s “Child Harolde’s Pilgrimage”, and even recite a few lines from it, but to profess an interest in works such as the “Odyssey” and the “Iliad” for example, would be akin to inviting social disaster. My dear, this could make your London Season unbearable!”
Alexandra looked contemplatively at her distraught Grandmother, wondering whether she ought to tell her about what had just passed between her and the Duke. Deciding that it would be prudent to confide in that worldly wise lady, she gave Lady Beauchamp an edited account of her recent meeting with Stanford. “And he told me, Grandmama, that he has decided to make me the rage,” Alexandra finished quietly.
Lady Beauchamp took a full minute to assimilate all that her granddaughter had said. In truth she found it difficult to believe. She had known Robert Beaumont since his infancy, being a close friend of his mother, the Dowager Duchess, and knowing her friend’s son as she did, she found his actions highly suspicious. Finally, coming out of her reverie, she said in a puzzled voice, “I wonder why Robert has decided to bring you into fashion, my dear? Usually he does not pay any attention to the Season’s débutantes. He has said on numerous occasions that he considers simpering young ladies to be a dead bore, and that they should not be inflicted on the rest of the ton .”
“To recall his exact words, he told me that he wanted to make the high sticklers of Society accept such an unconventional creature as myself,” Alexandra explained. “You see, Grandmama, I have given him good reason to believe that I am not a — er — simpering female.”
“That sounds just like Robert! He always enjoys stirring up the old tabbies,” Lady Beauchamp said in an exasperated voice.
“Does the Duke really wield so much power, Grandmama?” Alexandra asked, frowning slightly.
Lady Beauchamp nodded her head. “Indeed, he does. If he has decided to give you his seal of approval, my dear, you will be an immense success. Stanford is acknowledged as one of the arbiters of fashion, and as the leader of Society. You did very well to tell me about his plans for you, Alexandra. But, I must warn you, my dear, that I totally endorse what he said about respecting the conventions of Society. It is remarkably foolish of you, my love, to disregard them. Your Aunt should be stricter with you than she is. But knowing you, my dear, she probably does not have much say in the matter, does she?” Lady Beauchamp continued, looking shrewdly at her errant granddaughter, who had the grace to blush. “However, Alexandra, be that as it may, when you are under my aegis, you must have a care to appearances, you know.”
Alexandra nodded. “His grace has told me that, Grandmama.”
“Yes — well I hope that you have the sense to take our advice, my dear. And now, I think I should go and see how
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