in a hackney.'
‘ Yes, my lady,' Parslow said impassively, but with a hidden smile of satisfaction. It was a long time since his mistress had shewn any interest in clothes, and the change could only be for the better. Inwardly he blessed Mr Brummell not only for a kind and loyal, but an intelligent friend.
*
At the beginning of June, Héloïse arrived at Chelmsford House in Pall Mall and found it covered in scaffolding and thronging with workmen, inside and out. Her old friend Roberta, the widowed Lady Chelmsford, was no less hospit able on that account.
‘ You have come to stay, I hope? We can make you comfort able, never fear, in spite of all this turmoil. Did you come straight here?'
‘ I called at Upper Grosvenor Street, but Lucy was not there, so I left my card and then came here. Dear Roberta, you are looking very well! What is it you are doing to this handsome house?'
‘ The roof to begin with — it was in a sad state. Athersuch tells me some of the lead was stolen during the time we lived in Ebury Street, and the thieves must have loosened some of the slates. And then the outside is to be repainted, and we are having all the principal rooms redecorated, too. Mr. Firth's idea is that if we confine the decorators to one end of the house at a time, we may manage to survive without being driven to distraction, but already I wonder if he is right. The smell of paint gets into one's food so.'
‘Does all this work mean something special?'
‘No, it was what was needed, that's all. I can't let Bobbie's inheritance go to rack and ruin during his minority. This is a fine old house, and I want it to be fit for him to inherit when he comes of age.'
‘Well, it means at least that the war is not pressing on your finances,' Héloïse said practically. 'I am glad to hear it. James tells me that Bonaparte's embargo on our ships is already beginning to cause bankruptcies.'
‘ Oh, the Berlin Decrees! Mr Firth explained it all to me,' Roberta said. 'But the Chelmsford fortune is very widely invested. The fifth Earl — my late husband's father — had interests all over the world. I think we even own a munitions factory in Russia! So Mr Firth thinks the embargo isn't likely to affect us seriously.'
‘ James says it is the iron and textile trades which will suffer the most, for they export a great deal to Europe. I know Fanny's grandpapa, Mr Hobsbawn, says the demand for his cotton has fallen in the last few months. He writes to Edward about it.'
‘Not to James?’
Héloïse shrugged. 'He still finds it hard to forgive James for marrying me so soon after his daughter's death. But it could not be helped — we could not have waited any longer, not for anything in the world! And he will probably be even more vexed with James when he learns of my condition.’
Roberta stared. 'Héloïse, my dear — you don't mean —!’
Héloïse laughed, her eyes shining. 'Yes, I do mean,' she laughed. 'Dear Roberta, I know you will rejoice with me when I tell you that I am with child.'
‘ You sly thing, why didn't you say so at once? Oh my dear! I am so happy for you! But when?'
‘In January. I am only just sure about it.'
‘ Does James know? And he let you travel all this way alone, the villain!'
‘ I wasn't alone, I had Marie with me. He would have come too, but he is very busy at the moment, and I told him I did not need him. It would not quite have suited me to have him here, because apart from wanting to buy things for the baby, I wanted to consult you and your wise Mr Firth about Fanny.'
‘ Ah yes, Fanny!' Roberta said thoughtfully. 'I must say I did wonder when you and James got married, whether you would have trouble with her. Has she settled down at all?’
Héloïse made a face. 'I wish I could say she has, but I believe she hates me more than ever. Is that a terrible thing to say about a child?'
‘ I expect she's jealous,' Roberta said briskly. 'She was always allowed too much freedom, and James spoiled
‘ Yes, my lady,' Parslow said impassively, but with a hidden smile of satisfaction. It was a long time since his mistress had shewn any interest in clothes, and the change could only be for the better. Inwardly he blessed Mr Brummell not only for a kind and loyal, but an intelligent friend.
*
At the beginning of June, Héloïse arrived at Chelmsford House in Pall Mall and found it covered in scaffolding and thronging with workmen, inside and out. Her old friend Roberta, the widowed Lady Chelmsford, was no less hospit able on that account.
‘ You have come to stay, I hope? We can make you comfort able, never fear, in spite of all this turmoil. Did you come straight here?'
‘ I called at Upper Grosvenor Street, but Lucy was not there, so I left my card and then came here. Dear Roberta, you are looking very well! What is it you are doing to this handsome house?'
‘ The roof to begin with — it was in a sad state. Athersuch tells me some of the lead was stolen during the time we lived in Ebury Street, and the thieves must have loosened some of the slates. And then the outside is to be repainted, and we are having all the principal rooms redecorated, too. Mr. Firth's idea is that if we confine the decorators to one end of the house at a time, we may manage to survive without being driven to distraction, but already I wonder if he is right. The smell of paint gets into one's food so.'
‘Does all this work mean something special?'
‘No, it was what was needed, that's all. I can't let Bobbie's inheritance go to rack and ruin during his minority. This is a fine old house, and I want it to be fit for him to inherit when he comes of age.'
‘Well, it means at least that the war is not pressing on your finances,' Héloïse said practically. 'I am glad to hear it. James tells me that Bonaparte's embargo on our ships is already beginning to cause bankruptcies.'
‘ Oh, the Berlin Decrees! Mr Firth explained it all to me,' Roberta said. 'But the Chelmsford fortune is very widely invested. The fifth Earl — my late husband's father — had interests all over the world. I think we even own a munitions factory in Russia! So Mr Firth thinks the embargo isn't likely to affect us seriously.'
‘ James says it is the iron and textile trades which will suffer the most, for they export a great deal to Europe. I know Fanny's grandpapa, Mr Hobsbawn, says the demand for his cotton has fallen in the last few months. He writes to Edward about it.'
‘Not to James?’
Héloïse shrugged. 'He still finds it hard to forgive James for marrying me so soon after his daughter's death. But it could not be helped — we could not have waited any longer, not for anything in the world! And he will probably be even more vexed with James when he learns of my condition.’
Roberta stared. 'Héloïse, my dear — you don't mean —!’
Héloïse laughed, her eyes shining. 'Yes, I do mean,' she laughed. 'Dear Roberta, I know you will rejoice with me when I tell you that I am with child.'
‘ You sly thing, why didn't you say so at once? Oh my dear! I am so happy for you! But when?'
‘In January. I am only just sure about it.'
‘ Does James know? And he let you travel all this way alone, the villain!'
‘ I wasn't alone, I had Marie with me. He would have come too, but he is very busy at the moment, and I told him I did not need him. It would not quite have suited me to have him here, because apart from wanting to buy things for the baby, I wanted to consult you and your wise Mr Firth about Fanny.'
‘ Ah yes, Fanny!' Roberta said thoughtfully. 'I must say I did wonder when you and James got married, whether you would have trouble with her. Has she settled down at all?’
Héloïse made a face. 'I wish I could say she has, but I believe she hates me more than ever. Is that a terrible thing to say about a child?'
‘ I expect she's jealous,' Roberta said briskly. 'She was always allowed too much freedom, and James spoiled
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