Page 2 of The Chaperone
‘Oh, it will be such fun having Susan with us. She is so lively and exuberant.’
‘Harry, our cousin Susan is wild. She does not know the meaning of the word decorum.’ On the other hand, Sophy thought it quite likely that she would have had no need to ask a governess what ‘in flagrante’ meant. ‘If you wish to fulfil Mama’s expectations, and to be admired by gentlemen who might make you an offer, you will not ape her manners. Aunt Clarissa indulged her far too much from an early age, and she never had the benefit of a governess who remained as a steady influence, as Miss Welling did with us.’
‘I remember when we met the year before last, just before Aunt Clarissa died, Susan said she had “survived” eight different governesses.’
‘She probably meant literally. Trying to educate her would easily have driven any governess possessing nerves to an early grave. It must have been quite traumatic.’
‘She did say that she got rid of her first one by putting a frog in her soup and a dead mouse in her bed.’ Harriet giggled, and Sophy gave her a look so repressive that she said it rivalled Mama’s.
‘I am being serious, Harry. I have this dread of Susan landing in all sorts of scrapes, and the danger is that her behaviour will reflect on us, on you, and damage your chances.’ Sophy took her youngest sister’s hand. ‘You will be like Frances, Harry, and make a very good match.’
‘Sophy,’ Harriet avoided looking her eldest sister in the eye, ‘does Frances love Lord Tattersett?’
‘What sort of a question is that?’
‘An honest one. When we visited her before Christmas, and she said she was increasing, she looked more worried than radiant.’
‘It is her first time, Harry, and I expect she is nervous, and at that time she was still feeling sickly. That is why Mama is going to her in April, to help her prepare. She was certainly exceedingly fond of Tattersett when they married, and her letters to me have never indicated that her feelings have changed at all.’
‘I do not want to marry a man I do not love. Would Mama make me do so?’ Harriet looked at Sophy, a little uncertainly.
‘No. I am sure she would not, Harry, at least not a man whom you could not love. I have seen a great many young ladies marry men of whom they were merely very fond, and when they have got to know them better, after marriage, they have learnt to love them. I think the idea that love hits one as acoup de foudreis a myth perpetuated in those lurid romances which Miss Welling forbade you to read, and which you borrowed from Eliza Sapperton and hid under your bed.’
‘You knew? And did not tell?’
‘I knew. And I am not a sneak. I trusted that you would read them, but be a sensible girl and see them for what they were, nonsensical fairy tales with no relation to reality.’
‘Oh, of course not. I mean, there are no such things as headless monks, and young ladies are not chained in dungeons full of bats.’ Harriet frowned. ‘At least, not in England. But some of the heroes were very brave and dashing.’
‘There is not much call for gentlemen to be brave and dashing at Almack’s or in Hyde Park. One has to content oneself with polite and thoughtful.’
‘But would it not be wonderful to be rescued by a hero, Sophy?’
‘No, because in order to do so, one would have to be in peril, which would undoubtedly be most unpleasant.’
‘I fear you are not a romantic, Sophy.’
‘Which is also a good thing, since if I were I would be a very disappointed one.’
She saw Harriet’s face fall, and smiled.
‘I am sorry, Harry, do I depress you? It is not my intention. You will have a very enjoyable time in London, except that you will learn what it is to have feet that ache from dancing, and if you do not turn heads you may call me …’
‘Sophronia.’
‘Hmm.’
It was later that afternoon when she knocked upon the study door, and was invited to enter by her sire. Lord Chelmarsh was reading correspondence, and looked up with a smile.
‘Sophy, my dear.’ He saw her expression. ‘You wish to unburden yourself, I see.’
‘Am I that transparent, Papa?’ She smiled, wryly.
‘To me, yes.’
Sophy was deeply attached to her father, and looked up to him, not only in respect but literally. She had, she supposed, always found it reassuring that she had one member of her family who remained taller than she was.
‘London, Papa.’ She sighed. ‘I really do not want to go.’
