The Bartered Bride by Elizabeth Mansfield

Author:Elizabeth Mansfield [Mansfield, Elizabeth]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781101568453
Publisher: Penguin Group
Published: 2012-04-10T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty

When Cassie asked him, Loesby admitted that he cared little for butlering. He’d never considered himself a proper butler and had no aspirations in that direction. He therefore encouraged Cassie to keep Dickle on. “I know ’e’s a toplofty sprag,” the valet said with cocky assurance, “but don’t ye fret about ’im, me lady. I’ll take the fellow down if ’e gets too ’igh in the instep.”

Kittridge made a face when Cassie told him what had been decided, but since he’d left the staffing of the house in her hands, he accepted her decision. Eunice, however, was delighted. She considered a “proper butler” de rigueur in a well-run household, and Dickle was just the style she liked. To show her appreciation for Cassie’s concession to her wishes, she had the portrait of the first viscount removed from the Great Hall and the Constable landscape rehung, a detail that Kittridge, when he’d ordered the sitting room restored, had forgotten.

A few contented days passed, marred only by the fact that little Greta’s cough persisted. But since the child was not feverish, no one was particularly alarmed. The days were busy, and in the evenings the four adults found many ways to amuse themselves. They played hearts and silver-loo until cards began to pall; they spent a few delightful hours in the music room when Cassie was discovered to be quite adept at the piano and was able to accompany Eunice, who sang the most enjoyable ditties in a praiseworthy contralto; they repaired once or twice to the billiard room where the ladies watched the gentlemen compete; and they made companionable conversation in front of the sitting room fire. It soon became apparent that Sandy had more than a friendly interest in Eunice, and when, one morning, she put aside her half-mourning and came downstairs in a dress of grey-green muslin, he took it as a most encouraging sign. With Kittridge treating Cassie with what seemed a growing affection, and Eunice and Sandy smelling of April and May, the house was a happy place indeed.

The atmosphere took an abrupt turn, however, when a messenger arrived from town. He’d been sent by the dowager Lady Kittridge to deliver a package of letters that had been posted to the viscount’s London address. Kittridge rifled through the pile while all four were seated at the dinner table. Cassie noticed with concern that his mouth suddenly tightened at the sight of two of the same distinctive, square, buff-colored envelopes that had disturbed him the last time he’d received letters from London. As soon as his eyes lit on them, he excused himself from the table and, taking the letters away with him, disappeared into his study for the rest of the evening. He didn’t emerge even to say good night to his guests.

The next morning, when he appeared at breakfast, it was apparent to Cassie, if not to anyone else, that his smiles and polite demeanor were forced. And the morning greeting he gave his wife was much cooler and more remote than it had been all week.

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