‘Does it change, for Lord and Lady Salisbury?’
‘Yes, for he is a marquess and she a marchioness – just so.’ He demonstrated again, and then once more, for the Sinclairs and the Burrells, mere misters.
When she was satisfied that she had committed it perfectly to memory, Miss Talbot seated herself once more.
‘And what will happen?’ she enquired next. ‘Are we seated immediately? What sort of things will we eat? Should I sit somewhere in particular? What do you talk about, and what does one wear?’
Miss Talbot was able to extract a veritable treasure trove of information from Lord Radcliffe before his mind awoke fully and he began to object to her presence in his home, so that by the time he commanded her to ‘leave now and never return’， she was quite happy to do so.
He delivered her personally to the doorstep – grimly suspicious that she might otherwise never go – and bade her a curt good day that she returned with far too much good cheer.
‘And little though you may care,’ he added severely before he shut the door, ‘in polite society, it is considered highly inappropriate for an unmarried woman to be seen visiting an unmarried man’s house, maid or no maid.’
She gave an extravagant roll of her eyes. ‘Dear lord, city dwellers are so easily scandalised. Do you think it’s the lack of fresh air?’
Radcliffe slammed the door after her violently, but Kitty skipped down the steps with Sally quite happily. She had discovered, she felt, all she needed to make a famous splash upon society. She felt prepared enough for anything.
14
‘One is never quite sure what to wear at evenings such as this. I do hope Lady Montagu isn’t overdressed,’ Lady Radcliffe said gleefully, as they stood in the drawing room awaiting their guests. Radcliffe suppressed a smile. It was quite clear that the Dowager Countess should like nothing better than for Lady Montagu to commit such a faux pas.
As the clock struck seven, the first of the guests began to arrive, and as Radcliffe bowed and murmured greetings to each of them, he was aware of feeling apprehensive waiting for the Talbots to arrive.
‘Mrs Kendall, Miss Talbot, Miss Cecily Talbot!’ Pattson announced, and the three ladies entered. They were dressed quite charmingly in the latest style: Mrs Kendall in soft mauve, and Miss Talbot and Miss Cecily in the same white gowns they had worn to Vauxhall Gardens – though with shawls of silver gauze added to make the outfits appear new.
‘Good evening, Miss Talbot,’ Radcliffe said courteously, as Mrs Kendall was greeted by his mother, and Miss Cecily by Amelia.
She inclined her head, saying in an undertone. ‘Any more regrets?’
‘Oh, many,’ he assured her.
She smiled. ‘And do you have any eligible suitors for me this evening?’ she asked, roguishly.
‘Alas, very few, but as you were the one who deemed this event so essential to you, I am afraid this is your error, rather than mine.’
‘You must say if you feel yourself unequal to the task,’ she said, unable to resist needling him.
‘Perhaps I ought to compile a suitable list,’ he said thoughtfully, ‘of gentlemen rich enough to satisfy you and yet so lacking in moral character that I feel no guilt about unleashing you upon them.’
She cut him a withering look. ‘How kind,’ she said, moving past him towards Lady Radcliffe.
‘Miss Talbot, you look wonderful! That brooch – divine! You must tell me its maker.’ This last was a rhetorical question, it appeared, as she immediately said in confidential undertone, ‘Lady Montagu is almost late now, I am beside myself with anger. It is very rude – she has no respect for me, it is quite clear.’
‘The Right Honourable the Earl of Montagu, the Most Honourable Dowager Countess of Montagu, the Lady Margaret Cavendish and the Lady Jane Cavendish,’ Pattson announced impressively from the doorway.
‘My dears!’ Lady Radcliffe called joyfully, arms outstretched in welcome. The ladies greeted each other with almost ludicrous warmth.
‘Come, you simply must meet Mrs Kendall and her nieces, the Misses Talbot, new friends of the family. Lady Montagu is a close friend of mine, and this is her son Lord Montagu – he and Archie are practically brothers. Lady Montagu, it is Miss Talbot who has been so wonderfully helpful with my most recent malaise.’
Kitty and Cecily curtseyed before her. ‘I have heard much about you all,’ Lady Montagu said, with a smiling mouth but assessing eyes.
Kitty took a deep breath in, willing herself to keep calm. It was essential that they leave this evening having ingratiated themselves with each lady present. London might be a man’s world, but it was these women who held its keys – it was they who would issue the invitations, spread the gossip and deliver the setdowns that could make or break her.