Regency Masquerade

Chapter Twenty Eight

The following afternoon, Lord Carleton, dressed in a dark blue coat and cream pantaloons, presented himself at the door of Lady Murray's house and sent in his card. He was uncertain how he would be received but what he had not expected was to be left standing at the door and told by the butler, "I am afraid Her Ladyship is not at home. She is not receiving anyone, good day to you, my lord."

He was turning away, still bemused by the rudeness of his reception when the door opened and a small elderly woman ventured out. "I am most sorry, my lord, my mistress is a little blue-devilled at the moment. Were you wanting anything in particular? We so rarely have any gentleman callers."

Carleton stopped and looked at her, "My apologies, ma'am, I am afraid I do not remember if we have met before," he said politely.

The little woman looked flustered but answered, certain that he must be here because of Frances. "I am Mrs Pearson, my lord, I am Lady Murray's companion. I was nurse to Lady Amanda," she added.

"Ah, I see," murmured Carleton. "To be honest, I was hoping to see Miss Frances Metcalf. I understand she is staying here."

Mrs Pearson looked back nervously at the door. "I am afraid I cannot stay out here talking to you any longer, my lord, but if you should happen to be in Regent Street's lending library later this afternoon at about 4 o'clock, I might see you then."

"I shall hope to see you there," he replied and bowed his head. "Good day, ma'am."

Mrs Pearson went back inside.

"What were you doing out there?" demanded Lady Murray.

"Apologising!" she answered resolutely. "Hanson was so rude to that poor man."

Lady Murray curled her lip, "That poor man as you call him was the rake who debauched Frances!" she exclaimed crudely.

Her companion stared at her in disbelief, she could not credit it, he had been so polite, so very much the gentleman. She thought she would still go to the library later that afternoon.

Lord Carleton was inside waiting for her when she reached the library, and he came over to the same shelf she was looking at and picked up a book.

"Can you tell me what has happened?" he murmured in a low voice.

"You know that Miss Frances is her granddaughter?" she replied quietly. He nodded. "Everything was going along famously, until my lady received a report from her solicitor, Mr Pilkington, that Frances had been ... had been ..." she faltered. "It mentioned a place called Chatswood, my lord. Are you familiar with it?"

Carleton drew in his breath. "That is my home, ma'am. Let me reassure you that whatever you have heard, Frances has not done anything to be ashamed of, but, in any case ... well, the long and the short of it is I wish her to be my wife. I would marry her tomorrow if she wills it."

"Oh! My lord, I had hoped as much when you came to visit today. But my lady has taken against her and will not let anyone see her. She says she has lost her senses and has locked her in the old nursery and put a guard outside her door. I do not know what is to be done!"

"Can you meet me again tomorrow? I would think on this."

"Let me see," she thought. "I will borrow a book she has already read, then I can return it tomorrow. I will try to be here around the same time, my lord."

They separated and Carleton went off to keep his appointment with John Hopgood at the Regent Hotel. The two men took a couple of mugs of ale over to a table in a quiet corner of the taproom, and sat down while Carleton told John what had happened that afternoon. The manservant nodded, "I guessed it must be summat like that, my lord. What do you reckon we should do next?"