The Painter by Mary Kingswood

Author:Mary Kingswood [Kingswood, Mary]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Sutors Publishing
Published: 2020-03-13T05:00:00+00:00

16: A Day In Derby

A day was settled upon for the outing to Derby, and although the party had grown to encompass Fin, Drusilla and Giles as well as Felicia and Miss Claypole, Fin thought that all concerned would regard it as an improvement. Felicia would surely be happy to have some additional chaperonage to protect her from the smooth-talking Buckley, and his attentions towards her would look less particular in a larger grouping. Naturally, with Drusilla involved, there was some dispute as to the best equipage for their transportation, and whether the Bell or the King’s Head was the superior inn, but Buckley gave way gracefully on all points, which was always the best way with Drusilla.

On the day there was steady rain, so the barouche was abandoned for a closed carriage to convey the three ladies and Giles. Rather than ride, however, Buckley insisted on taking his curricle.

“The rain is not so great, and we shall be more comfortable than on horseback,” he said cheerfully.

Fin doubted it, but was not prepared to argue the point, although he hardly relished an hour of such close company with Buckley. In the event, however, he found him an amusing companion and reassuringly competent with the reins, so the time passed pleasantly enough despite the dampness. While the ladies explored the shops with Giles in attendance, Fin and Buckley dried off in a private parlour and refreshed themselves with a glass or two of Madeira.

“That was not so bad, now was it?” Buckley said cheerily, standing with his back to the fire to dry his buckskins.

“Apart from being soaked to the skin, not bad at all.”

Buckley only laughed. “I daresay you can squeeze in with the ladies for the journey home, but for myself I would sooner be in the fresh air, even when it is rather fresher — and wetter — than I might prefer. This is a very cosy room, is it not? I have not been here before, having always used the Bell, but it is very well appointed, and the Madeira is not at all bad. All in all, I believe this was an excellent idea of mine.”

“Excellent indeed if you had wished to accompany the ladies to the shops, yet here you sit.”

“They will get on better without me,” he said, not at all discomfited.

“Yet I do not quite see what you achieve by your excellent idea. If your object is Miss Oakes—”

“I have no object, apart from providing the ladies with a little pleasure,” Buckley said quickly. “The life of a governess is an uncomfortable one in general, and although both Miss Oakes and Miss Claypole are treated kindly, still they are in an awkward position, neither servant nor family. It must be a lonely life, and who would not wish to bring a little gaiety into it?”

Fin said nothing. The sentiments were admirable, and he saw nothing of insincerity in Buckley, yet he could not shake the unsettling feeling that there was more to his interest in Felicia than benevolence towards a governess.

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