Bad Miss Bennet by Jean Burnett Page A

playing havoc with my toilette and my constitution. Unfortunately, the contrast of the cold air outside was so great that we were soon shivering and retreating inside once more.
    By this time my patron was so overcome with anxiety and depression that he spoke of retiring to Bath for a while. I realised that the Von Mecks affair must have affected him profoundly if he was contemplating such a drastic step. I had it on good authority that Bath had become dreary beyond measure in recent times. He appeared to want me to accompany him. Jerry would not like that at all.
    â€˜How long do you intend to remain in Bath, sir? Is it possible for the bank to manage without your presence?’ At the mention of the bank Getheridge’s face fell even more. He passed a hand across his eyes and murmured to himself, ‘The affairs of the world are pressing upon me. I need to get away for while; I must rest, perhaps take the waters.’ I recoiled in horror. To be in Bath would be ghastly enough after London and Brighton, but to take the vile tasting waters in the company of the elderly, scrofulous, broken down dregs of society was too awful to contemplate.
    I gave an unenthusiastic nod in answer to his remarks. It occurred to me that the inestimable Adelaide might have heard something concerning l’affaire Von Mecks and my patron’s part in it. I had a sudden yearning to be back in my bed, alone, if possible. The surroundings of the Royal Pavilion and my delightful gown notwithstanding, I was fatigued in the extreme. At least I had fifty guineas to show for the evening.
    â€˜I find that I have an excruciating headache,’ I told him. In truth, I was wilting like one of Careme’s carved celery sticks at the end of the evening. Mr Getheridge agreed to summon the coach and seemed happy enough to deposit me at the door of the inn. He again complained of feeling unwell and I left him contemplating the mournful pleasures of the Bath spa waters.

Chapter Nine
    I found Selena and Miles ensconced in my chamber, being served refreshments by Adelaide despite the late hour. As I sank down on the bed I noticed that my friend was in a state of great excitement which she was endeavouring to suppress with little success. I was mortified that she did not enquire about my evening. It is not every day that one is invited to a royal levée .
    â€˜You will never guess what has happened in your absence, Lydia,’ she burst out.
    â€˜Never guess,’ echoed Miles.
    â€˜It’s true, madam, you’ll never guess,’ chorused Adelaide. I felt peeved and tired.
    â€˜Have you all gone mad?’ I raised my voice in an unladylike manner. ‘Of course I cannot guess. I was elsewhere at the time – in the Royal Pavilion as a guest of the Prince Regent,’ I added for good measure. They brushed this aside.
    â€˜We have solved the mystery of the cellar,’ Selena rushed on. ‘It is droll beyond words. There is a secret passage from the inn to somewhere, I don’t know where as yet. During the evening, just as we were having supper, a great noise came from under our feet.’
    â€˜The innkeeper turned the colour of old liver sausage,’ Miles contributed. ‘He rushed off to investigate and came back with this queer old party in fancy dress, knee breeches and such, all covered in dust and in a fine temper. The innkeeper sent him off in a carriage and pretended it was nothing out of the ordinary.’
    â€˜I know all about that,’ I said, watching their faces fall. ‘Now if you will excuse me I am exhausted and must go to my rest.’
    On the following morning we were so preoccupied with moving our belongings into Halfcrown House that I did not have an opportunity to speak to anyone until lunchtime. We assembled in the dining room and ate a picnic lunch obtained from a nearby hostelry and pie shop.
    As we ate I told my friends about my evening at the Royal Pavilion. Selena was agog