you can manage Helena?’ It was a large role and might be beyond Constance, but so far Lavinia could think of no one else to fill it.
‘If it is a big part, I would as lief you found someone else and let me stay in the background.’
‘I know you are not one to put yourself forward, Miss Graham,’ James said, with a gentle smile. ‘But I am quite sure you are equal to the challenge.’
Constance blushed crimson, but could find nothing to say except to thank him without daring to look at him.
‘Corringham, I did not know you were coming to town or I would have sent you an invitation to the ball with all the others,’ Lady Graham said, tapping him on the arm with her fan. ‘You will be able to come, won’t you? It is to be on Wednesday, the fifth of July.’
He bowed. ‘I shall look forward to it. Now, if you will excuse me, I shall take my leave. I have some business to attend to.’ He was reluctant to go while Wincote remained but he had undertaken to look over a couple of horses at Tattersall’s and was expected. There were to be some races on Hampstead Heath in a couple of weeks’ time and he had been foolish enough to enter and make a wager on the outcome. The stakes were minimal; he had no intention of falling back into his old ways; it was more a question of pride, but he needed a prime mount to win.
It was only after he had left that Constance drew her mother to one side and whispered in her ear, which resulted in Lady Graham finding an opportunity of speaking to Frances when Edmund was engaged in being pleasant to Mrs Butterworth. ‘What do you know of Wincote’s background, my lady? Is he a proper kind of person to invite to a gathering like our ball? Constance seems to think we should include him…’
‘I really know nothing about him, except that he is known to James. Perhaps you should have taken the opportunity to ask James while he was here.’
‘Oh, I could not do that. It would have looked so obvious that I was checking on him. But he has delightful manners, has he not? And I can see no harm coming from it. And Mount Street is a respectable address, don’t you think?’ Without waiting for a reply, she went on. ‘I think I shall go and ask his exact direction so that I can send him an invitation. Poor Constance is so anxious…’
‘No more anxious than her mama,’ Lavinia whispered, as the lady hurried away in the direction of Lord Wincote. ‘I do feel sorry for Constance. Lady Graham sets her sights so high, is it any wonder she is constantly disappointed? James said it is because Lord Graham is in dun territory and must have a wealthy son-in-law.’
‘James does not know everything, Vinny, and it is unwise of you to repeat it.’
‘I only said it to you, I would not dream of repeating it to anyone else.’ She stopped speaking as Edmund, having stayed the customary time, approached to take his leave. The other ladies, having heard Lady Graham extending her invitation, had decided that he must be acceptable in Society and had besieged him with their own offerings, which he had accepted with great politeness and due gratitude.
‘Your Grace.’ He bowed. ‘I cannot remember when I spent so agreeable an afternoon. And to be received by your friends is indeed an honour. I shall perhaps see you at Lady Willoughby’s on Friday evening?’
‘I shall look forward to it,’ her ladyship said, offering him her hand, which he took and bowed over, before affording Lavinia the same courtesy. And then, smiling, he was gone, leaving a babble of conversation behind him.
‘Such a pleasant young gentleman.’
‘And so handsome.’
‘Perfect manners,’ Lady Graham added. ‘He may have come from the north country, but his address cannot be faulted.’
‘How did James come to know him?’ Percy asked Lavinia.
‘He did not say. I imagined they were at school together.’
‘But James is at least three years older than he is. I would hardly have expected them to be associates.’
‘Well, I do not know. If you are so curious, why didn’t you ask him?’
‘Not polite to quiz him in your mama’s drawing room, don’t you know?’
‘No, but it does not stop people from talking about him behind his back. Just listen to them!’
It seemed the whole room was buzzing with talk of the new arrival and Lavinia felt a certain sense of triumph that she had seen him first. The faint mystery about him served only to intrigue and excite her. That James did not like him she was well aware, but put it down to the fact that the man was young and handsome and everyone was falling over themselves to be agreeable to him. James’s nose had been quite put out of joint, though why he should care she could not fathom. He had always been laconically indifferent to what others thought of him.
‘Yes, and I think it is time the party broke up,’ he said. ‘Fanny, I shall set a good example and take my leave.’ He bowed to the Duchess and left. Very soon everyone else drifted away, leaving Lavinia and her stepmother to dress for dinner and await the arrival of the Duke.
Lord Wincote appeared at Lady Willoughby’s soirée on Friday, his dress and manners as impeccable as before, though the day had been hotter than ever. Having been greeted by his hostess and exchanged pleasantries with the Duchess, he made a beeline for Lavinia and stayed by her side most of the evening, engaging her in small talk and pretty compliments.
‘The last three days have certainly been worth the effort of making the journey to London,’ he told her. ‘Such pleasant acquaintances I have made since my arrival and none more agreeable than your good self. I am overwhelmed by your kindness to me.’
‘I have not been particularly kind,’ she said. Unable to meet his gaze, she was pretending to look about her at the company, though the tension in her body was enough to tell him she was not indifferent to him.
‘Allow me to disagree, my lady. For someone who is a stranger to the capital with nothing but my good name to commend me, I have been made most welcome. And it is all down to you.’
‘Fustian!’ She turned then and smiled at him. ‘Please do not be so formal. I shall begin to think you are as stiff as James.’
‘The Earl of Corringham,’ he said thoughtfully. ‘A very agreeable gentleman, though I collect he likes to tease.’
‘Yes, but I take no note of it. He is like a dear brother, though of course we are not related.’
‘Oh, are you not?’
She looked sharply at him. ‘No. The Duchess was his stepmother before she was mine. I am surprised you did not know that.’
‘I must have done, but I had forgot. Living so far from London, I am not up to date with events, you understand. My grandfather was something of a recluse.’
‘Then where and when did you meet James?’
‘My brother introduced us when I went up to Cambridge, seven years ago now. Henry, like the Earl, was three years older than me and they were almost at the end of their time there. They were friends, but so far above me as to be indifferent to my presence. I was surprised his lordship even remembered me. Henry died the following year, which made me my grandfather’s heir; after Henry’s funeral, I did not return to my studies but stayed at Grandfather’s side until I came into my inheritance earlier this year.’
‘I see. And you never came to London while you were at Cambridge?’
‘No, as I said, I was not there very long. My last visit to the capital must have been…goodness, I have forgotten the date, it was so long ago.’
‘You must find it much changed.’
‘Oh, yes, indeed. There are so many new buildings and more being built; whole streets have disappeared and new ones put in their place, all in excellent taste. I particularly like the use of trees to line the roads and the gas lighting which makes moving about at night so much safer.’