up.
‘You are distressed!’ he challenged her, concern writ large upon his face. ‘Where is Davenham? If he has done aught to –’
‘No, no, ‘tis nothing serious, I promise you.’ She hastened to reassure him, ‘It –it has nothing to do with Lord Davenham. I have a slight headache this evening, and it has spoiled my enjoyment. This thundery weather, I fear,’ she ended lamely.
‘Then let me call your carriage – I will escort you home at once.’ He scooped up his guineas from the table and guided Elinor downstairs. As they waited in the grand hall for her carriage, a flurry of activity announced a late arrival. A young gentleman entered with a lady whom Elinor guessed to be at least twice his age. His lover-like demeanour dispelled any thoughts that he might be escorting his parent to the Templeshams’ rout, and Elinor turned her attention back to the lady. She had an uneasy feeling that she had seen her before, and her suspicion was strengthened when the woman glanced across, hesitated, then turned from the stairs to approach Elinor. Despite the powdered hair and rouged cheeks, the woman still held some remnants of beauty, with her finely-boned features and sea-green eyes that sparkled beneath heavily darkened brows. A sumptuous silk gown in the latest fashion and a jewel-encrusted aigrette set amongst the powdered curls suggested a woman of some consequence. Elinor looked a question at Rowsell, who muttered an oath under his breath before bowing to the lady as she came up to them.
‘Lady Thurleigh, your servant, ma’am. May I present to you Madame de Sange?’
Elinor felt a shock of surprise, but she concealed this behind a smile and gave a small curtsy. The marchioness acknowledged Rowsell with a slight nod, but her green eyes remained fixed upon Elinor’s face.
‘Madame de Sange… you are a Frenchwoman, perhaps?’
‘My husband was French, Lady Thurleigh.’
‘I do not think I have seen you in London before.’
‘This is my first visit, ma’am.’
Lady Thurleigh stared at her. ‘But you are English?’
‘My family moved to France when I was but a child.’
Lady Thurleigh looked as if she would say more, but at that moment a servant announced that Madame de Sange’s carriage was at the door and the marchioness turned away and carried on up the stairs with her escort.
‘Pray, Madame, do not concern yourself over Lady Thurleigh,’ remarked Rowsell, leading her out to the carriage. ‘Her manners are a little odd, to be sure, but in the wife of so powerful a man as the marquis such things are overlooked.’
‘Oh. And – and is Lord Thurleigh in Town?’
‘I don’t think he can be, or his wife wouldn’t have that young pup as her escort. It’s common knowledge that my lady is very free with her favours, but she don’t usually flaunt her paramours under her husband’s nose.’ He handed Elinor into the coach. ‘Will you not let me come with you, Elinor? I do not like you to be alone.’
‘I have Hannah – Mrs Grisson. She will attend to my needs.’
The door closed upon her but she leaned out of the window, holding out her hand for him to kiss.
‘But ‘tis a man’s attentions you need, Madame,’ he told her, retaining her fingers. ‘You are no innocent young maiden, who has never known a man’s caresses – your eyes tell me you want me – how much longer will you make me wait for you?’
She shook her head at him, casting a warning glance towards the coachman.
‘Not now, sir. I cannot talk of such things here I…’ She broke off, searching for words.
‘You have promised to join my party for Drury Lane on Friday,’ he said urgently. ‘I will be denied no longer. My own carriage shall call for you. If you decline to come with me I shall have my answer and trouble you no further.’ He kissed her fingers once more before releasing them, and gave the word to the coachman to move off.
‘Until Friday,
‘You are distressed!’ he challenged her, concern writ large upon his face. ‘Where is Davenham? If he has done aught to –’
‘No, no, ‘tis nothing serious, I promise you.’ She hastened to reassure him, ‘It –it has nothing to do with Lord Davenham. I have a slight headache this evening, and it has spoiled my enjoyment. This thundery weather, I fear,’ she ended lamely.
‘Then let me call your carriage – I will escort you home at once.’ He scooped up his guineas from the table and guided Elinor downstairs. As they waited in the grand hall for her carriage, a flurry of activity announced a late arrival. A young gentleman entered with a lady whom Elinor guessed to be at least twice his age. His lover-like demeanour dispelled any thoughts that he might be escorting his parent to the Templeshams’ rout, and Elinor turned her attention back to the lady. She had an uneasy feeling that she had seen her before, and her suspicion was strengthened when the woman glanced across, hesitated, then turned from the stairs to approach Elinor. Despite the powdered hair and rouged cheeks, the woman still held some remnants of beauty, with her finely-boned features and sea-green eyes that sparkled beneath heavily darkened brows. A sumptuous silk gown in the latest fashion and a jewel-encrusted aigrette set amongst the powdered curls suggested a woman of some consequence. Elinor looked a question at Rowsell, who muttered an oath under his breath before bowing to the lady as she came up to them.
‘Lady Thurleigh, your servant, ma’am. May I present to you Madame de Sange?’
Elinor felt a shock of surprise, but she concealed this behind a smile and gave a small curtsy. The marchioness acknowledged Rowsell with a slight nod, but her green eyes remained fixed upon Elinor’s face.
‘Madame de Sange… you are a Frenchwoman, perhaps?’
‘My husband was French, Lady Thurleigh.’
‘I do not think I have seen you in London before.’
‘This is my first visit, ma’am.’
Lady Thurleigh stared at her. ‘But you are English?’
‘My family moved to France when I was but a child.’
Lady Thurleigh looked as if she would say more, but at that moment a servant announced that Madame de Sange’s carriage was at the door and the marchioness turned away and carried on up the stairs with her escort.
‘Pray, Madame, do not concern yourself over Lady Thurleigh,’ remarked Rowsell, leading her out to the carriage. ‘Her manners are a little odd, to be sure, but in the wife of so powerful a man as the marquis such things are overlooked.’
‘Oh. And – and is Lord Thurleigh in Town?’
‘I don’t think he can be, or his wife wouldn’t have that young pup as her escort. It’s common knowledge that my lady is very free with her favours, but she don’t usually flaunt her paramours under her husband’s nose.’ He handed Elinor into the coach. ‘Will you not let me come with you, Elinor? I do not like you to be alone.’
‘I have Hannah – Mrs Grisson. She will attend to my needs.’
The door closed upon her but she leaned out of the window, holding out her hand for him to kiss.
‘But ‘tis a man’s attentions you need, Madame,’ he told her, retaining her fingers. ‘You are no innocent young maiden, who has never known a man’s caresses – your eyes tell me you want me – how much longer will you make me wait for you?’
She shook her head at him, casting a warning glance towards the coachman.
‘Not now, sir. I cannot talk of such things here I…’ She broke off, searching for words.
‘You have promised to join my party for Drury Lane on Friday,’ he said urgently. ‘I will be denied no longer. My own carriage shall call for you. If you decline to come with me I shall have my answer and trouble you no further.’ He kissed her fingers once more before releasing them, and gave the word to the coachman to move off.
‘Until Friday,
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