Page 26 of The Book of Lost Stories

‘I believe they were sewers built by the Romans, who had expertise in such things that we have not. Their hygienic arrangements were far superior to ours. The passages cover many miles and a man may stand upright in parts of them.’

Alys, the picture of demure prettiness in an embroidered cambric dress in a becoming old-rose colour, said longingly, ‘Oh, how much I should like to see those tunnels!’

‘Their construction is certainly worthy of close scrutiny, but I am afraid that would be quite impossible for a young lady,’ he said.

‘In fact, I should be ashamed of myself, boring on about things of no possible interest to the fairer sex and, indeed, possibly of too unsavoury a character for their ears.’

‘Not at all. I assure you I am quite fascinated,’ Alys said encouragingly, for it seemed that all the interesting or exciting things in life were to be denied to her by reason of her sex.

That some should be denied to her by reason of her encumbering skirts – well, that she could understand, for she had often found them a nuisance while clambering through the caverns in Yorkshire.

But why being female should in itself preclude her from these delights, she could not fathom.

Lord Rayven, who had arrived late and, having made his way through the room, was now standing unnoticed directly behind her said, ‘Ah, Stevens, but Miss Weston is not your usual delicate and swooning young lady, for she delights in dark underground places.’

Alys started and turned round as he added, ‘She explored my very own cellars at Priory Chase quite thoroughly when she visited some years ago with her aunt and, I am told, penetrated even to their furthest damp and crumbling reaches. She is quite intrepid.’

‘Explored your cellars , my lord?’ began Mr Stevens, uncertain as to whether he was serious or not.

‘Indeed I did,’ Alys said, her eyes lighting up. ‘The older parts, where they run under the abbey, are quite delightful. I used a description—’

‘Yes?’ Rayven said intently, as she broke off, his dark blue eyes fixed on her face.

‘I used a description of them in a letter to my companion, Miss Grimshaw,’ Alys continued smoothly, aghast at how easily she had almost given herself away. ‘She said it made her feel that she had been there with me, although she was very glad she had not.’

‘You are singular indeed, Miss Weston,’ Mr Stevens said, looking equally divided between admiration and disapproval; then he bowed and moved off.

Alys gazed after him wistfully: surely, with a little more persuasion, he might have been worked on to enable her to take just a glimpse of this fascinating underground labyrinth?

‘You will not prevail on him to show you the Roman sewers, Miss Weston,’ Rayven said sympathetically. ‘I am afraid Stevens is a very correct young man, who would fear for your delicate sensibilities should he do so.’

‘I don’t think I have any delicate sensibilities,’ Alys said absently.

‘I dare say ladylike airs and susceptibilities have to be schooled into you from childhood. Besides, when you have a household to run and an invalid father demanding your constant attention, there is no time for such airs and graces.’

‘I suppose not,’ Lord Rayven agreed, thinking how well a pretty dress and a new way of arranging her dark chestnut hair had transformed Alys from the last time they had met.

‘Do you know, Miss Weston, although you always contrive to look the part of a demure young lady, I suspect you have hidden depths … a bit like Stevens’ underground waterways. ’

Alys stared at him suspiciously. ‘Likening me to a sewer can hardly be said to be a compliment, my lord.’

‘I thought in your case the analogy might please you, given your interests. Tell me, do you make a long stay with Mrs Rivers?’

‘She has invited me to spend the whole season with her.’

‘Then I suppose that this will be only the first of many engagements.’

‘Yes, for several friends of Mrs Rivers have already included me in their invitations, and though I did not come to London intending her to launch me into society, she most earnestly wishes for my company.’

‘Your interests do seem to differ a little from those of Mrs Rivers. Harry Stavely tells me that you venture forth most mornings to see the sights. But you really should not be driving around London with just a page for company, you know!’

‘It is kind of you to concern yourself in my affairs, but that is a great nonsense, for at my age it cannot be thought improper.’

‘You are very unwise and will find this great age you profess no protection, for let me tell you, you are still a very green girl.’

‘I have long done with girlhood, and I believe I am the best judge of my own actions, my lord.’

‘Then at least think of the ill light any mishap must cast upon your friend’s care of you while you are residing under her roof.’

Alys glared at him in exasperation. ‘There will be no mishap and I will soon have exhausted those things that interest me that are still extant, for my guidebook is sadly out of date. But I have yet to visit Westminster Abbey, or the Egyptian Hall, and I am very sure Nell will not wish to go with me, for she has no interest in antiquities and curiosities.’

‘Then pray allow me to offer myself as your escort,’ he heard himself saying, without in the least meaning to.

‘What?’ She stared at him, wondering if she had heard aright.

‘My curricle – and myself – will be at your command each morning.’

‘ You? But I assure you I do not need an escort, and besides—’

‘I insist, Miss Weston. I am sure your grandfather would not wish you to go alone, were he to hear of it.’

‘ I am the only arbiter of my behaviour, Lord Rayven, and I will do as I please.’

‘Then I hope it will please you to accept my escort.’ He flicked open a small engraved silver box and took a pinch of snuff before looking up and adding, ‘For if you do not, you will find me following you about Town in a way that may draw even more unwelcome attention to your actions.’

Indignant grey eyes met dark blue in a long, measuring exchange. What the outcome might have been was in the balance, for at this interesting point Miss Agnes Berry interrupted them.

She had brought a dandified youth with her, whom she introduced as Mr Daniel Coalport. ‘I know you will be interested, Miss Weston, for you are a great reader of the Gothic, and Mr Coalport has a particular interest in the works of Orlando Browne.’

The young man bowed over Alys’s hand and with mock modesty lisped, ‘Oh, Mith Agnes, you should not tease me on that subject, for you know my lipth are sealed.’

‘Long may they remain so!’ Alys said tartly, snatching her hand back, and the young man, caught off balance, nearly fell over.

‘I do not … get your meaning, Mith Weston?’

Lord Rayven, who had watched with fascination the swift play of emotions across Alys’s mobile face, said kindly to the disconcerted youth, ‘I believe Miss Weston means that she adores a mystery so much, that she prefers to imagine the author of such gems as The Travails of Lady Malvina as immured in some antique fortress, pen in hand. Pray, do not disillusion her.’

‘Oh, of course not,’ stammered the youth, and backed himself away.

‘Naughty!’ chided Miss Agnes with a chuckle, following suit.

‘You … like to read novels?’ Alys said cautiously, staring at Lord Rayven much as she had done at the hungry lions pacing the Tower.

‘Occasionally. I am quite fascinated by the works of Mr Browne, and he, it would seem, with me, for many acquaintances have pointed out the singular parity in the appearance of that author’s villains and myself.’

‘I-indeed?’ Alys stammered, then, catching sight of Nell waving a gloved hand at her, added with relief, ‘Pray excuse me, sir, I believe Mrs Rivers is ready to leave now.’

‘Then until tomorrow morning, Miss Weston,’ he said, and she was so keen to get away that she protested no more.

*

‘Nell, the most annoying thing!’ she said, once they were seated in the carriage.

‘Mr Stavely told Lord Rayven that I go out alone every morning, and now he insists on escorting me. But surely it must be even more improper to do so with a man not related to me, and one, moreover, that I know to be a libertine, for only remember the nature of the offer he made me in Knaresborough.’

‘But that was a mistake, Alys, and I do not think you could call Lord Rayven a libertine, precisely. I dare say he may have a mistress in keeping, for many men do so, but I have heard no worse of him than that.’

‘I think that is bad enough,’ Alys said primly.

‘His character is in general held to be good,’ Nell assured her. ‘Grandfather told me that he has made many improvements to his estates and is well regarded by his tenants, and George says he is a first-rate horseman, and can drive to the inch.’

‘Oh? Then I do not suppose he will overturn me, at least, which I was once or twice concerned about with my cousin. But surely it is not the thing to drive about alone with him?’

‘It will be perfectly respectable in an open carriage, and I expect he will have his groom up behind, too. How kind it is of him to offer.’

‘I am not sure that kindness enters into it. In fact, I am starting to think that he delights in teasing me and perhaps only means to pay me back for pushing him into the river!’

‘Or perhaps he is trying to make amends for his gross misreading of your character?’

‘Well, whatever his reasoning, I expect he will soon be heartily bored and wish he had not offered himself as my escort.’ She paused reflectively.

‘You know, Nell, it is the oddest thing, but although he did not look as if he needed two strong men to put him into his coat, and his neckcloth was no more than moderate, yet he appeared more truly the gentleman than Nat, who struck me at first as the acme of perfection.’ She yawned.

‘This has been a day of surprises and revelations, and I must go to bed as soon as we are home.’

‘I too,’ agreed Nell. ‘I-I am glad that Mr Stavely did not accompany his friend tonight.’

‘Did you expect him to? I thought you had agreed that it would be best if you avoided each other’s company as much as possible.’

‘Yes …’

‘It is for the best, Nell.’

‘By the by,’ Nell said, after a moment’s silence, ‘did I mention that Miss Chibberly and I have got up a little plan to teach you the quadrille and the waltz tomorrow? Her sister, Sophia, is to play the music.’

‘That is kind, but I do not imagine I need such skills.’

‘Bella Hartwood’s ball: we have received invitations for it, and you must surely mean to go?’

‘Oh Lord!’ Alys said. ‘I suppose I must.’