Regency Masquerade

Chapter Thirty

Back in Devonshire Street, Mrs Pearson did not have such a long wait to be rescued as she had feared. Tom was a hefty young man and after a lot of ramming his shoulder against the door and even kicking it with his foot, he managed to break the lock. The old nurse tottered out behind him as he burst into the passage.

"Oh well done, Tom! I don't think we should wake Lady Murray, do you? After all, there is little to be done until morning in any case. I shall break the news to her first thing ... or perhaps after breakfast? Dear me, I wonder which would be less upsetting?"

Tom was very happy to leave the job of breaking the news to Lady Murray, to Mrs Pearson. At least her ladyship was more likely to have calmed down a little by the time she saw him.

Lady Murray was coldly furious when told the news after breakfast. "Why was I not informed of this immediately?" she demanded harshly.

"I did not want to disturb you," faltered Mrs Pearson. "What could you have done in any case? She must be half way to Dover by now."

Lady Murray stared at her with an arrested expression. "Dover? Yes, I suppose so, it is not as if she has any friends in London who would shelter her! Although I shall send Tom over to the Regent Hotel later today, just to make sure she has not gone back there. It is very aggravating, not to know where she is for certain." She turned to glare at Mrs Pearson, even though she could not actually see her. "I never thought you would be such a fool, Maria, to be taken in by her," she said coldly.

"No, my lady," murmured her companion apologetically.

The next morning, Frances, still dressed as Peter, wrote a letter for John to take to Mrs Pearson, advising her that she was going to marry Lord Carleton by special licence and asking her whether it was possible for her to accompany them on their trip to Brasted; and in addition, whether she would be able to bring all or some of her clothes with her. She added a rider to the effect that if this last was too difficult to do secretly, then not to worry herself about it. She included an invitation for her to spend a few weeks with them at Chatswood and in fact, if she liked, to leave Lady Murray entirely and stay there permanently with them.

John set off to Devonshire Street with the letter, hoping to get a chance to speak to Mrs Pearson alone. However, the butler refused him permission to enter and wait while he summoned the nurse, and John was not willing to entrust the letter to him, so they were at a standstill. He slipped around to the back of the house and hung about until eventually a maidservant came out to empty some slops. A few moments later and a shilling poorer, John was left trying to look as if he had business at the neighbouring house, while he waited for Mrs Pearson to come down to him.

She came out looking flustered and called him over speaking loudly, "I am sorry, my good man, but we do not need a coachman's services here." She bent nearer to whisper to him, "Meet me at the end of the street around four today, I will give you my answer then. Good day to you," she added in her normal voice and turned quickly back to the house. Feeling he had done all he could, John went back to Grosvenor Place.

Carleton returned to the house later that day with the special licence in his hand. He grabbed Frances round the waist and spun her about, "Not long now! Tomorrow we will be off to Brasted! Do you have anything with you to wear as a wedding gown?"

She laughed and looked hastily around to make sure they were not being observed. "I have one gown with me, that will have to do!"

John waited at the end of Devonshire Street for some time before he spotted Mrs Pearson hurrying towards him with a small carpet bag.

"Here." She said, handing it to him. "This was all I could save from Miss Frances' room. Lady Murray has given the rest to the maids or the poor house! Please tell her I cannot accompany her - I would have been very happy to see her wed, but I can think of no reason to give Lady Murray, to explain my disappearance for several days. I do not think it at all wise to tell her the truth!"