possibility of the match. It was not long either before her dissatisfaction with the duchess rose to the surface.
"She is a shatterbrain," Lady Westbury said. "It is no wonder that poor Lady Pamela has been left to grow-up quite wild. Not that I fault the child in the least! No, she is a charming gel— Westbury said so himself upon meeting her — and it will please me to have the governing of her. I almost begin to think it will be a love match. A mother notices these things, and I must say there is rather an air about him— "
She gave herself a brisk shake and continued stiffly, "But I do not approve of such things, as I told Westbury. I am simply content that he saw fit to heed my advice, for I have to admit that he has not always. And I have advised him not to let it worry him that the gel's mother is such an eccentric. The old duke was one, so it's to be expected that his relic would be."
Lady Westbury's nostrils flared with distaste. "Still, one cannot but wonder why she insists upon carrying on as if the polite world were not a fit place for her existence."
Mrs. Puckeridge allowed Lady Westbury to rattle on while she stored away her bits of gossip. Though her ladyship had denied her the full pleasure of imparting her news, she still had the satisfaction of learning the true state of affairs from Lady Westbury herself.
Who would have thought that a gentleman of Lord Westbury's stature would marry a girl over such a small piece of land?
* * * *
News of the Duchess of Upavon's proposed rout swept through the neighbourhood so rapidly, that it was generally known long before the actual invitations were sent out. Many bets on the likelihood of its really occurring had even been placed
William heard the news with interest. He received it almost simultaneously with discovering a change in Mattie's policy for receiving visitors.
He had made it his practice to call at the house before searching for Mattie in her garden. Barlow's attempts to dissuade him were so blatant that William had at once perceived their usefulness as a weathervane to gauge his progress, and he was gratified one morning to find that the door was no longer barred to him.
He had called alone and been subjected to a painful half hour of nursery chat, with Pamela's governess, Miss Fotheringill, in attendance. But after this one success, he made sure to take Gerald along and, following a scheme of his own, advanced the notion of Gerald's riding on a daily basis with Pamela.
Since he contrived to make Gerald issue the invitation, and he himself made no attempt to join in their party, neither Mattie nor Pamela's governess raised the least objection.
William observed all this with a secret smile.
It was on a morning soon thereafter that he and Gerald called upon the ladies and interrupted them in the middle of a dancing lesson.
Barlow, a long-suffering expression upon his face, showed them into the small saloon, where the ladies were assembled. Miss Fotheringill was seated at the pianoforte, picking out the accompaniment to a country dance. An elderly Monsieur Le Gros, powdered and bewigged, the waist of his knee breeches held in by tight corseting, stood in the corner, clapping out a rhythm while Pamela and Mattie executed their steps.
William watched for a few moments in amusement as Mattie stiffly acted out the part of gentleman to Pamela's less-than-graceful lady. Then, Monsieur Le Gros perceived the intruders and, with an exclamation of delight, informed the ladies that aid had arrived.
Mattie, who, at this precise moment, was executing a low bow that showed the delightful roundness of her hips, gave a squeak. She spun around to face William, one hand flying to her lips.
Pamela reddened under Gerald's wicked grin. Miss Fotheringill stopped playing and nodded graciously to William's bow.
"But this is excellent!" Monsieur Le Gros said, nearly hopping with excitement. "If messieurs would oblige, we could now form two couples to learn the more
"She is a shatterbrain," Lady Westbury said. "It is no wonder that poor Lady Pamela has been left to grow-up quite wild. Not that I fault the child in the least! No, she is a charming gel— Westbury said so himself upon meeting her — and it will please me to have the governing of her. I almost begin to think it will be a love match. A mother notices these things, and I must say there is rather an air about him— "
She gave herself a brisk shake and continued stiffly, "But I do not approve of such things, as I told Westbury. I am simply content that he saw fit to heed my advice, for I have to admit that he has not always. And I have advised him not to let it worry him that the gel's mother is such an eccentric. The old duke was one, so it's to be expected that his relic would be."
Lady Westbury's nostrils flared with distaste. "Still, one cannot but wonder why she insists upon carrying on as if the polite world were not a fit place for her existence."
Mrs. Puckeridge allowed Lady Westbury to rattle on while she stored away her bits of gossip. Though her ladyship had denied her the full pleasure of imparting her news, she still had the satisfaction of learning the true state of affairs from Lady Westbury herself.
Who would have thought that a gentleman of Lord Westbury's stature would marry a girl over such a small piece of land?
* * * *
News of the Duchess of Upavon's proposed rout swept through the neighbourhood so rapidly, that it was generally known long before the actual invitations were sent out. Many bets on the likelihood of its really occurring had even been placed
William heard the news with interest. He received it almost simultaneously with discovering a change in Mattie's policy for receiving visitors.
He had made it his practice to call at the house before searching for Mattie in her garden. Barlow's attempts to dissuade him were so blatant that William had at once perceived their usefulness as a weathervane to gauge his progress, and he was gratified one morning to find that the door was no longer barred to him.
He had called alone and been subjected to a painful half hour of nursery chat, with Pamela's governess, Miss Fotheringill, in attendance. But after this one success, he made sure to take Gerald along and, following a scheme of his own, advanced the notion of Gerald's riding on a daily basis with Pamela.
Since he contrived to make Gerald issue the invitation, and he himself made no attempt to join in their party, neither Mattie nor Pamela's governess raised the least objection.
William observed all this with a secret smile.
It was on a morning soon thereafter that he and Gerald called upon the ladies and interrupted them in the middle of a dancing lesson.
Barlow, a long-suffering expression upon his face, showed them into the small saloon, where the ladies were assembled. Miss Fotheringill was seated at the pianoforte, picking out the accompaniment to a country dance. An elderly Monsieur Le Gros, powdered and bewigged, the waist of his knee breeches held in by tight corseting, stood in the corner, clapping out a rhythm while Pamela and Mattie executed their steps.
William watched for a few moments in amusement as Mattie stiffly acted out the part of gentleman to Pamela's less-than-graceful lady. Then, Monsieur Le Gros perceived the intruders and, with an exclamation of delight, informed the ladies that aid had arrived.
Mattie, who, at this precise moment, was executing a low bow that showed the delightful roundness of her hips, gave a squeak. She spun around to face William, one hand flying to her lips.
Pamela reddened under Gerald's wicked grin. Miss Fotheringill stopped playing and nodded graciously to William's bow.
"But this is excellent!" Monsieur Le Gros said, nearly hopping with excitement. "If messieurs would oblige, we could now form two couples to learn the more
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