‘Do join us,’ Lady Radcliffe instructed. ‘James, the Marbles were just as magnificent as you said they would be. And we were so pleased to stumble upon the Misses Talbot there too!’
‘What a lovely … coincidence.’ Radcliffe’s eyes rested for a moment on the elder Miss Talbot, who raised her chin.
‘By George, isn’t it just?’ Archie said, rather struck by this – entirely forgetting that it was he who had informed Miss Talbot of his mother and sister’s plans by letter this morning. The addition of the Misses Talbot to his already top-drawer day had sent him quite giddy with joy. Remembering his manners, he bowed to the ladies so deeply that they might be duchesses, rather than – as Radcliffe was beginning to appreciate – villainous barnacles. They seated themselves, Archie predictably settling himself down next to his beloved, appearing to commit himself to the task of pleasing her.
‘Miss Talbot, it has been an age,’ he declared. Stricken with the realisation that the fault lay with him, he stammered out an apology for the cancellations. ‘You see, I have been at White’s,’ he explained reverently, with the earnest enthusiasm of the young. ‘It’s the most wonderful place.’
Radcliffe, ignoring Archie, regarded Miss Talbot directly. She did not look like a villain, he supposed, but then was that not the devil’s way? She had dressed herself – much as the wolf does – to blend in, in the latest style of diaphanous skirts and feathered ringlets intended to give young ladies an air of intense fragility. She wore them well, he could admit, though he detected a strong sense of vitality – even sturdiness – about Miss Talbot that did not at all fit in with this fashionable sensibility. One could not say that one expected Miss Talbot to, as was à la mode, faint dead away at any moment, that was for certain.
It was clear, by the undisguised adoration in Archie’s eyes – reminding Radcliffe very much of a small dog waiting on a treat – that none of this had been noticed by his brother. It was not only embarrassing but impolite, too, for Archie was patently paying no attention to Miss Cecily’s description of the Marbles. Though Radcliffe did not entirely blame him, given how very dull it was. It was the elder Miss Talbot, in the end, who rescued them all from the tedium, though with less than altruistic motivations.
‘My lady,’ she began, ‘I must tell you of a most interesting book I was reading this morning. It spoke at length of the fortifying remedy of exercise upon the brain. Lady Amelia tells me you are an able horsewoman, and I am persuaded that a ride might in fact be the cure to your current malady.’
‘Top idea!’ Archie said immediately, before his mother could respond. ‘Mama, let us all ride out tomorrow!’
‘I am not quite sure,’ his mother demurred. ‘You children ride with such energy; I feel quite overcome with fatigue already.’
‘Oh,’ sighed Miss Talbot, eyes downcast. ‘If only I had a mount in the city, I would be quite happy to accompany you, Lady Radcliffe, at a comfortable pace.’
‘Why, you must make use of our stable,’ Lady Amelia piped up, horrified that one should not at all times have a horse at one’s disposal.
‘Yes, quite! In fact, let us all go,’ Archie declared. ‘Make a party of it, ride out to Wimbledon! Tomorrow! Miss Talbot, you can ride Peregrine.’
Kitty let out a dramatic gasp, hand clutching her heart. ‘You should not tease me so,’ she pleaded in mock distress. She turned to Lady Radcliffe. ‘If it would not be an imposition?’ she said, with pretty deference. But it was Lord Radcliffe who answered.
‘Not at all,’ he said smoothly. ‘In fact, I will play escort.’
‘Famous!’ said Archie.
‘Yes … delightful,’ Miss Talbot agreed.
Radcliffe wondered if her teeth were gritted and fought the urge to bare his own.
The chatter of Archie and Amelia took over, as they planned the expedition with some excitement, but little awareness that they had been played as easily as if they were common puppets. Radcliffe had been foolish to consider the matter finished, he could see that now. Quite foolish indeed. The Misses Talbot did not linger for long after that – why would they, Radcliffe thought darkly, now that they had entirely achieved their object in visiting. They exchanged jolly farewells, pretty curtseys and fervent promises to meet early in the morning for their adventure.
It was in a state of introspection that Lord Radcliffe arrived at his London home, only a few streets over – and so it was not an entirely welcome surprise to find his friend, Captain Hinsley, ensconced in his study and availing himself liberally of his most expensive brandy.