Page 56 of Twice Shy
‘No, my lord, her cousin, Miss Elizabeth Ashling, whose papa drank himself to death and left her so nearly destitute.’
‘You don’t say! Well, that’s a bit rich.’
‘Why, sir?’ The silk thread trembled again in her arachnoid mind.
‘Why, it was he who coined her name, “the Unassailable”. Overheard Nuneaton mention it to Foxton in the club yesterday evening, though Nuneaton had broached a third bottle of burgundy and might have been wrong, I suppose. Never saw Radstock as the marrying sort, but, there.274Wonder if it took him unawares, or he’s a devilish deep’un and thought to put fellows off the scent.’ He paused, and frowned. ‘If he did it failed, for I would swear it made more prick up their ears and have a go.’
Lady Rendlesham’s eyes widened, and she turned upon the dressing stool to face him directly. ‘My lord, are you sure? Did not Nuneaton start the rumour?’
‘He advanced it, but said the idea was not his own, and only wished it had been. I wondered if it was a hum because she was largely ignored before that, you know, so it was a dashed foolish thing to say.’
‘It was Sir Lucius who invented that title.’ She was standing now, holding the back of the chair, eager.
‘I tell you that is what Nuneaton said. He is no crony of Radstock’s. What reason would he have to make such a thing up, my pretty?’
She hated it when he called her that, but her delight at learning this vital snippet of information helped her ignore it. She even went so far as to step close to her husband, place her hand upon his cheek and gently set her lips to his. His breath was heavy with brandy.
‘Thank you.’
Lord Rendlesham was not quite certain for what he was being thanked, but his wife was so rarely approachable he did not bother to enquire more closely, preferring to take advantage of the situation that presented itself. Her ladyship swiftly regretted her impetuosity.
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CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Lady Rendlesham was in a quandary, being torn between the desire to deal the masterstroke herself and see the effect, knowing that her victim would see the triumph in her eyes, and the acknowledgement that her animosity might render the blow less effective, since it might be disbelieved. She spent a happy morning imagining the look on Elizabeth Ashling’s face, the hurt, the crushing disappointment yet again. This time she would not recover. She would go and hide herself in the Sussex downland and not show her face in London again. There was also the added advantage of stripping Sir Lucius Radstock of the contented air he had been exhibiting recently. She had always thought him censorious of her, and, worse still, he had never shown theleast interest in her, even when single.
In the end, she decided on a compromise, which would involve her telling one of her friends the juicy and damning details when she knew Elizabeth Ashling was close at hand. Lady Cumnor would be the ideal third party. All it needed276was Miss Ashling’s presence at the requisite evening party, and that, alas, she knew to be out of her hands. It was, therefore, in eager anticipation mixed with a preparedness for disappointment that Aurelia Rendlesham set out to Lady Sefton’s that night. It would be an enormous squeeze, of course, since everyone wished to be seen at the party of one of the Almack’s hostesses, and that would mean she needed to ensure Lady Cumnor’s close attendance and keep her eyes open to see if the Chalford party were present. Ascertaining Miss Ashling’s presence proved surprisingly easy, since she perceived Lady Chalford early in the evening, and overheard her telling another mama how glad she was that ‘both the girls’ were in such looks this evening.
Lady Rendlesham feared, however, that she was out of luck with her plan of action, because Lady Cumnor was indisposed with a sick headache, as reported by her sister-in-law. Aurelia Rendlesham was not one to give up at the first hurdle, so cast about her for another innocent accomplice. She was almost getting desperate when she caught sight of the ideal lady. Lady Evershott was mild, myopic and deliciously deaf, so almost bound to repeat, loudly, everything she was told in order to confirm she had heard it correctly. She was not a close friend, which meant timing her ‘casual conversation’ to a nicety, just at the right moment so that Elizabeth Ashling would be close enough to hear Lady Evershott’s clear tones. The first opportunity was ruined by Lady Evershott being in conversation with the hostess, and even Aurelia Rendlesham did not think she could interrupt one so influential. She could have stamped with frustration. It was nearly midnight when they were277once again in suitable proximity, and she ‘pounced’, taking Lady Evershott by the elbow, smiling and steering her towards a small sofa as she spoke.
‘My dear Lady Evershott! I vow it is a perfect age since I had a chance to speak with you. Is this not a delightful evening. Have you seen Lady Fernilee’s rather dashing gown?’ Lady Rendlesham left no gap in which Lady Evershott might interject a remark, and nearly pressed her down to the seat. ‘What a squeeze this is. Oh, do look at Miss Ashling’s pretty gown. She does seem in good spirits, does she not?’
‘Indeed, she—’
‘And I wonder if Sir Lucius Radstock is in attendance?’ She laughed conspiratorially. ‘Of course, you will have heard he is likely to make her an offer very soon. Why, did you know’ – she dropped her voice very slightly, so as to ensure Lady Evershott would not be quite sure she heard aright – ‘he has even bought her a horse, under the guise of merely advising Lord Godmanchester upon a purchase, since he could not make her such a gift within propriety. It must have been a secret to prove his affection to her, for she is terribly keen on horses, and it must sway her decision.’
‘A horse? Did you say Sir Lucius has bought her a horse?’ Lady Evershott blinked at Lady Rendlesham, who nodded.
Lady Evershott had not been as explicit as Aurelia Rendlesham had hoped, but she was certainly loud enough, and Lady Rendlesham was mightily relieved to see Elizabeth Ashling turn her head slightly, catching the comment, though she could not see who was seated besideLady Evershott.
278‘Sir Lucius Radstock, yes.’
‘Sir Lucius Radstock, and Miss Ashling? Goodness, and him a confirmed bachelor.’
Lady Rendlesham could have clapped her hands in delight. This was much better. Miss Ashling, who had indeed looked in good spirits this evening, had paled.
‘I know. And the strangest thing is that it was he who named her “the Unassailable”, which set all the gentlemen in pursuit of her hand, as a challenge, one assumes.’
‘Unassailable? Really?’
Lady Rendlesham nodded again, and then made an excuse to withdraw and watch events unfold. Lady Evershott was bound to repeat what she had gleaned, and not sotto voce either. Just as she had hoped, no sooner had she vacated the seat than Lady Evershott beckoned one of her friends to take the seat, and began, in the carrying ‘whisper’ of the deaf, to tell her friend this juicy gossip. Aurelia Rendlesham watched her victory unfold.
Elizabeth, who had caught enough of Lady Evershott’s response to whoever was talking with her to make her stomach turn over and her head spin dizzily, began to feel positively faint as Lady Evershott regaled her new companion with the tale.
This was not history repeating itself; this was worse, far worse. Papa had shunned the grieving child and then Henry had caught a girlish fancy, bruised an immature heart with his shallow desertion, but now … Elizabeth thought for a moment that the floor was coming up to meet her, and took a gasping breath, unconsciously reaching out279and resting her hand on the arm of Lord Carbrooke, who had approached with the happy notion of describing Miss Amelia’s many virtues to one who must surely be in accord with him, and whom, he gathered from that young lady, was sympathetic to their cause. Amelia herself, in the few minutes she had dared engage him in conversation, had been at once ecstatic and fearful, convinced as she was that parental preference for the awful Lord Nuneaton might keep her from the only man with whom, she was now convinced, she might be happy.
He had barely begun when Elizabeth looked quite ill, and then laid her hand on his arm.
