The Darcy Connection by Elizabeth Aston

Author:Elizabeth Aston
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Touchstone
Published: 2008-08-23T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-one

Lady Warren sent a note round to George, a triumphant note. She had for years cultivated Lord Montblaine, well aware that she stood to become a marchioness when he moved on to the next world—an event she eagerly awaited, although the man was odiously fit, never a cough leading on to an inflammation of the lungs, such as might carry the halest of men off, never a hint of gout or apoplexy.

His lordship treated her with the cold courtesy that was normal with him, but he did make use of her services on such occasions as he wanted to entertain a party at his country seat. She would act as hostess, revelling in every stone and silk hanging of the immense house that she hoped one day to be mistress of.

To be supplanted by a clergyman’s daughter—a bishop was no more than that, after all—was not to be tolerated. So she received with pleasure Lord Montblaine’s imperious command that she assemble a party for a long weekend at the end of the month, and her scheming mind at once set to work.

He appended a list of guests to be invited; she might also invite those of her acquaintance as she considered would be acceptable to those named.

“Naturally,” she said to George, “that includes you. And this is your chance, there you will be, day and night in that pile, with all the corridors and hidden places. If you cannot take advantage of Miss Collins, then I despair of you. She is attracted by you, I am sure of it, and you know, these reserved young women are often the very ones to abandon all sense of discretion when their fancy is finally caught. Her passions may well overcome her head, it is up to you that they do.”

“I see Miss Eliza Collins’s name is there,” said George, putting up his quizzing glass and running an eye down the list. “I’ve only met her the once, and I didn’t take to her, she fancies herself a wit, to make up for her lack of beauty, I suppose. And her ladyship, that is a great nuisance, the woman is an oppressive guardian.”

“She will have her guard down there, we are not to be such a large party, I shall see to that. She loves to play at cards, I will draw her off, as the hunting men would say, to leave you with a clear field. As to the sister, she is of no consequence, she will find herself so overawed by her surroundings that she will probably retire with the headache.”

“I see he asks you to invite his banker, Mr. Bruton,” said George Warren. “Hardly a suitable guest for Montblaine, unless he comes in by the tradesman’s entrance. And forsooth, Lady Sarah and that odious fellow Bartholomew Bruton as well, who needs taking down a peg or two if ever any man does.”

Bartholomew Bruton had ruthlessly turned down Warren’s application for a loan when he was in difficulties the year before, even though the king himself had requested that Bruton’s help his crony.

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