CHAPTER XV
AFTER dinner that night, Lee and Lady Mary Gifford, instead of following the other women, strolled along the corridors for a quiet chat. They were not intimate, for they had too little in common, but they admired each other and Lee had seen something more of Lady Mary than of any of the Englishwomen whom she received in her little drawing-room on Tuesdays or maintained a community of interests with during that division of the year allotted to house-parties.
“I like your cousin, or whatever he is,” announced Lady Mary, clasping her hands behind her. “He doesn’t talk through his nose and he’s quite at his ease. As a rule I detest American men as much as I like the women. Of course he’s rich—you can always tell.”
“He’s very rich.”
“Now don’t jump—I’d like you to marry me to him.”
Lee did jump. “Really?” she said dryly.
“I’d rather never marry: if I had a talent I’d go and set up a studio in Kensington, or take chambers and write a popular novel. Of course I could make hats or open a florist’s shop, but neither is to my taste; and I really can’t hang on any longer—twenty-sevenand my ninth season—it’s positively sickening. I have had one or two good offers—in the long ago—but I hated the thought of marrying then more than I do now—when a thing has to be it never seems quite so bad. Of course I could get any numbers of parvenus, and I’d almost made up my mind to Mr. Pix, but I should feel quite reconciled to Mr. Montgomery.”
“That is very amiable of you, but I don’t see what you are offering to Mr. Montgomery; and as he is almost my oldest friend I have his happiness to consider. He would not care a rap for your title——”
“Wouldn’t he? How very odd. But I’d make him quite happy. You know I am fascinating. Some men have gone quite off their heads about me.”
“If you send Randolph off his head he’ll undoubtedly propose to you. You will have plenty of opportunity.”
“I see you don’t like the idea——”
“You are quite mistaken. I have had no time to think it over. Of course if I thought you would be happy together——”
“Oh, I’m sure we’d arrange everything quite amicably. I have immense tact, you know, and American men are said to make such indulgent husbands; and he’s really distinguished-looking. And of course he’d be quite sure of me. I’d scorn to do the things most women do. That’s one reason why I like you so much—you haven’t a lover.”
Lee laughed. “I can’t see the superior virtue of selling oneself.”
“My dear, we must each do what is best for ourselves, whether it is money we want or love. Standards have never insured happiness yet. We must do our own thinking and try for what we most want. Here is a secret for you to keep—until a year ago I expected my godmother’s fortune. She had all but promised it to me and that is the real reason I never married. She died without a will. Ican’tbe a stranded old maid living off my alternate relations. And perhaps you can imagine what it would mean to me to marry a man like Mr. Pix.”
Lady Mary had drawn in her wide voice, and it vibrated slightly. It was the first time Lee had known her to display anything like feeling, and she softened at once.
“I’ll do what I can,” she said. “Randolph is a gentleman, and very clever. Try to fall in love with him, and make him fall in love with you.”
“Youaregood. And Emmy can keep her Pix and welcome; by the way, I suppose you have noticed, there’s not so smart a crowd here this year as usual—except the Beaumanoirs, and Larry Monmouth and the other single men.”
“I had not—there is not, come to think of it.”
“The Launcesters and Regents can be got by anybody that will feed them——”
“What are you driving at?”
“I mean that Emmy has been a little too careless this last year. People simply won’t swallow Pix—themen hate him so. There was a little doubt before, but of course there’s none now. She let him go to the Riviera with her.”
“Are you trying to make me believe that Mr. Pix is Emmy’s lover?”
“You don’t mean to say you are an infant in arms?”
“Of course I’m well enough used to women and their lovers, by this time; but somehow one never thinks that sort of thing can happen in one’s own family. It is plain enough, I suppose. She might at least have chosen a gentleman.”
“She might indeed; that’s her crime. Pick up with the wrong man, and Society is on its hind legs in no time. I’ve seen it coming for an age. She certainly must know that she’s got off the track as well as any one can tell her, and considering the way she’s worked for one thing for five-and-twenty years, it’s rather surprising; but the trouble is, she’s in love with him, I fancy.”
“I don’t think there’s any doubt about it; but if her original commonness demanded a mate she certainly could have found a bounder with a little more gilding. There are one or two with the title she adores.”
Lee spoke with heat and bitterness. She had the indifference of familiarity to many things that had horrified her youthful ideals, but a lover under the family roof filled her with protest.
“Emmy’s a curious contradiction——” began Lady Mary.
“What’s to be done? Of course it can’t go on.Lord Barnstaple or Cecil could put a stop to it, but I can’t tattle on any woman——”
“My dear, I don’t advise you to put a stop to it unless you want to see the Abbey put up at public auction.”
“Mary Gifford!”
“Now don’t shriek out; but I have more than one reason to think that I’m right.”
“And perhaps we’re eating his bread?”
“I don’t know that it’s as bad as that, but I am positive that she borrowed from him first and mortgaged her properties heavily—he was over in America last year. Now, he is certainly in love with her. He would marry me, of course, because I could give him what Emmy cannot—but—however! Better not say anything, my child. Lord Barnstaple has always been too indifferent to give two thoughts to his wife’s private affections; but if he were made to know anything, of course he’d have to kick the man out. And he and Cecil would have to break the entail, and the Abbey would go to the highest bidder—who would probably be one of the Pixes. Victoria the Silent has never stopped wanting it from the day she first saw it; nor Cecil Maundrell either, for that matter.”
“Well, she won’t get it. What a ghastly business! I wish you hadn’t told me.”
“I wish I hadn’t, but it never occurred to me that you couldn’t see the length of your nose.”
“Something has to be done; it’s a horrible position for Lord Barnstaple and Cecil.”
“What they don’t know won’t hurt them—it isthough. What’s the use of platitudinising? Everybody else knows—or guesses, and itisrough on them. But let things drift along for a little. Who knows what may happen?”
“If you don’t mind, and if you will make an excuse for me, I’ll go up to my room. I’m tired out, and I’d like to be alone.”
“Do go, that’s a dear; and don’t bother too much about other people. Almost everybody’s too selfish to be worth it!”
She returned to the great drawing-room of the Abbey, where people were hovering about many little tables, smiled brilliantly on Randolph, and marched him off to a charming boudoir where she detained him agreeably for the rest of the evening. Her young blue eyes were very keen and she took pains at once to assure him that Lee would be visible no more that night.