Caught in a Cornish Scandal by Eleanor Webster (top novels of all time .txt) 📗

Lil was the most excited of the company, pressing her face against the pane, much like a child. Indeed, it amused Millie to see the façade of the sophisticated woman slip, if only for a moment. Lil had little recollection of London and had made up for this with all manner of fanciful ideas, gleaned from Mother’s descriptions and a variety of women’s journals.

Millie was glad for her happy ebullience. It was contagious and she noted Frances smiling several times. For herself, Millie peered at London’s congested, cobbled streets with interest, but found it held little appeal. The houses were very close and the sour smell of garbage and sewage was detectable even within the carriage. The streets were so crowded with people, conveyances and stray dogs that she was surprised there were not more accidents and she longed for wide open spaces. On occasions, she would catch quick glimpses of the Thames’s slow-moving, muddy waters.

She wrinkled her nose.

‘It is better at my aunt’s house,’ Frances said.

This proved accurate. Eventually, the carriage left the crowded dirtiness and the streets widened, the houses becoming larger and more prestigious. Millie noted several green parks and nannies walking children or pushing huge perambulators.

At last they pulled up in front of an impressive building of several floors with a black-lacquered door. Millie smoothed her serviceable black dress, stretching her stiff limbs as she prepared, somewhat nervously, to exit the carriage. The air smelled fresher here, although still slightly tainted with the city’s smell. The weather had changed again and, while not actively raining, rivulets of dirty water wound through the gutters.

She approached the front entrance with little enthusiasm and that familiar feeling of not quite belonging.

The door was opened almost immediately by a stooped and elderly butler. This individual ushered Frances, Millie and Lil into a spacious front hall and, after relieving them of their travelling cloaks, led them into an elegant salon. Meanwhile, the servants set about unloading the carriage while the nursemaid was led upstairs to ensure Noah’s comfort.

Lady Wyburn’s home was not huge, but everything about it spoke of wealth, comfort and an understated elegance. A fire flickered invitingly from within a marble fireplace, gold trim glittered about the ceiling, long mirrors lined the walls and a red Indian carpet dominated the room’s centre.

‘Do not worry,’ Frances said, catching Millie’s expression. ‘My aunt isn’t anything like her house.’

Millie smiled but was sceptical. While she did not have a vast acquaintance with the aristocracy, she was quite certain they would not appreciate a travel-stained slip of a girl with a dress several years out of fashion and made of a rather cheap cloth in the first place.

Frances was correct in one thing: her aunt was not anything like the house. Indeed, Millie later concluded that Lady Wyburn defied description. She bustled into the salon moments after their arrival wearing a gown of a deep burgundy shade and, despite her obvious age, moved fluidly and with surprising energy. Indeed, she brought with her an eager, almost girlish enthusiasm, her face wreathed in smiles, while a profusion of grey ringlets peaked out from under her bonnet.

‘I am so very happy that you have come to visit,’ she said, pressing a kiss to Frances’s cheek while greeting both Millie and Lil with genuine enthusiasm. ‘We live rather a boring life. Indeed, I am always in search of diversion and poor Merryweather is not a great conversationalist. He is greatly hampered by the fact that he is almost entirely deaf.’

Millie glanced in the direction of the butler, but his face remained impassive.

‘Now, first things first,’ Lady Wyburn continued. ‘Should we have tea now or would you like to freshen up first?’

‘I would just like to ensure that Noah is comfortable,’ Frances said immediately, her forehead already wrinkled, and Millie noted a nervous jumpiness about her.

‘An excellent idea, although I usually find infants travel remarkable well. I think it is because of their size. Lying comfortably in a bassinet seems so much better than bouncing on a seat.’ She paused, looking towards the butler and adding in strident tones, ‘Merryweather, we will have tea in half an hour.’

‘Thank you, that would be lovely,’ Millie said as Merryweather departed.

‘I am glad we decided to delay tea,’ Lady Wyburn confided as she led them through the front hallway. ‘It will take Merryweather at least half an hour to even order tea as he suffers from the most dreadful arthritis, but he insists on working and one doesn’t want to hurt his feelings. Anyway, it will provide me with ample time to show you to your rooms so that you can get settled.’

Lady Wyburn led them upstairs while still talking, her grey ringlets bobbing every now and again for emphasis.

‘Now your bedchamber, Frances dear, is attached to the nursery, which may be unusual but quite convenient. I made up beds for the maid as well. I always feel that the nursery is quite the best place in the whole house and nursery teas are so much nicer than the things one has to eat as an adult.’

They left Frances with Noah and the nursemaid, and Lady Wyburn led Lil and Millie to two adjoining bedchambers which shared a very comfortable sitting area. ‘I hope you will have everything you need but, if not, we will purchase it. I always enjoy shopping and find a spree so uplifting if I am in the least bit despondent. I do hope someone will come with me; the only thing better than shopping alone is to shop with a companion. In fact, I have been experiencing the strong feeling that I am greatly in need of a new bonnet.’

‘I would love to come,’ Lil said with enthusiasm.

‘And we could organise a soirée or tea party. Do you enjoy such events?’

‘I do,’ Lil said.

Millie nodded somewhat vaguely as Lady Wyburn seemed so kind that she hated to discourage her. Besides, maybe Lady Wyburn’s friends might be pleasant. She had to admit that, while somewhat eccentric,