Regency Masquerade

Chapter Twenty Five

Frances followed Mrs Pearson upstairs to a delightful room, furnished in pale blue. A young girl followed them silently. "This is Annie, she will be your maid until you find someone yourself," advised the older woman. "I will leave you to get settled; then, when you are ready, Annie will bring you down to the parlour for tea. Oh I am so glad to see you here, I was your mother's nurse you know."

"You must tell me all about her," responded Frances, "I would love to hear your stories, in fact I know very little about this side of my family at all."

"I am sure the two of us will have lots of opportunities for a comfortable cose. Lady Murray does not like to remember the past," she explained carefully.

Annie was young, with light brown hair tucked under a cap, and slightly blotchy skin. Deftly she unpacked Frances' bags and put things away, without saying a word. "Thank you, Annie," said Frances, and she dipped her head and smiled shyly.

"Can you show me the parlour, please?" The maid led her downstairs to a small room decorated with white and gold panelling and delicately carved chairs. Lady Murray was already seated and called for the tea tray when Frances arrived. Expecting to give an account of how she had spent her life, Frances was taken aback when Lady Murray's first question was, "What accomplishments do you have girl? Maria, Mrs Pearson that is, says you have the look of a lady, and your voice is acceptable, but what are your accomplishments?"

"I am afraid I do not have many, your ladyship. I sew a little of course but I do not play an instrument, or sketch. However, I speak French and Italian fluently, and German, a little." Frances answered honestly. She resisted the temptation to add that she could also fence a little and out shoot most men, though it would almost have been worth it to wipe the condescending smile off Lady Murray's face.

"I feared as much. What about dancing?"

"I am familiar with some country dances, but a few lessons to teach me the current steps would be helpful." She replied, trying hard not to let her offense show.

Lady Murray smiled suddenly, "You will forgive me if I do not introduce you to society just yet. You will need proper clothes and dancing lessons at least before we present you. I am sure you will feel more comfortable with that, rather than to be thrust into a round of activities too soon."

Frances had rather been looking forward to engaging in a round of social activities, but she could hardly gainsay her grandmother, and murmured a polite "Thank you, my lady." A small spark of rebellion prompted her to add innocently, "Should I call you Grandmere, or Grandmama, my lady?"

Lady Murray suppressed a wince. "You may call me Grandmother," she conceded reluctantly, she could hardly insist the girl keep calling her Lady Murray! "Maria has a good eye for fashion, she can take you to my dressmaker tomorrow. I will ask her to look through your wardrobe and see if anything you have is suitable for your new station."

Frances bit her lip, there was no point in taking umbrage. She would just have to pretend she was undertaking a new masquerade for the period of her visit, that of demure young lady. She wondered how soon she could lay hands on her ten thousand pounds and set up her own establishment. Fortunately Lady Murray retired to her room shortly afterwards for a rest, and Frances went upstairs with Mrs Pearson to look through her wardrobe and discuss what new clothes she would need to purchase tomorrow.

Lord Carleton was beginning to think he was the victim of a malicious fate. No sooner had his plan succeeded, and Frances been located by his agent's clerk at the Regent Hotel, than she disappeared again before he could talk to her. He arrived home feeling discouraged, to find a letter had been left for him in his absence. He unfolded it half heartedly, then drew in his breath as he recognised who it was from. Eagerly he scanned the short missive.