Page 28 of The Book of Lost Stories

But in her own case, of course, no one could desire her death. It had been an unfortunate accident and the driver had been too afraid of what he might have done to turn back.

*

The Misses Chibberly were both sad romps and had brought their lively younger brother with them to be her partner.

Alys found the dancing practice somewhat exhausting, especially since she was already conscious of stiffness and bruising in places a lady was not supposed to mention, from her sudden contact with the hard road that morning.

But by the end of it she thought she had a reasonable grasp of the complicated steps of the quadrille and even the rudiments of the waltz. However, she did not think herself likely ever to be confident enough to take to the floor in that dance, even had she the opportunity.

She arrived at the Hartwood mansion just as a gentleman strangely attired in striped pantaloons of voluminous cut, caught in at the ankle, was coming out.

When she was shown up to her grandfather’s room, she found him brooding over a fine ivory chess set.

‘I do not suppose you play chess? Lord Petersham has just given me a game, but his play is damned erratic!’

‘Oh, is that who it was I saw leaving the house?’ Alys had heard of the rather eccentric peer.

‘Yes, I do know the rudiments of chess, for my cousin James Basset taught me, although he would play no more once I achieved proficiency at the game and always won. It was unfortunate, for I enjoyed it. I tried to teach it to Miss Grimshaw, my companion, but she could never quite grasp it. Papa had not the patience for it.’

‘Then you may give me a game,’ Titus said, beginning to set out the pieces.

‘Very well, although I warn you I am very out of practice,’ Alys replied, casting her bonnet on to a chair and sitting down opposite him.

She started with caution, finding him as hard and wily an opponent as she would have expected, but soon began to gain enough confidence to give him a run for his money.

He had the final victory, but it was hard fought.

‘You play well – for a girl.’

‘Thank you,’ she said drily. ‘That is a compliment indeed. I hope, if you will give me a little more practice, to play even better.’

‘You can come back tomorrow.’

‘I am afraid I cannot; I am driving out to Kew with Mrs Rivers. She interests herself in a charitable house run by an evangelical group of ladies, designed to take poor children and fit them for respectable occupations as servants, and I am looking forward to the visit.’

‘Then the day after. I do not suppose that your days are yet so full of engagements that you cannot spare your grandfather an occasional hour of your time?’

‘No, and of course if you wish it, I will come.’

‘I hear that Rayven was squiring you about Town this morning.’

She stared at him in astonishment. ‘How quickly news travels, but I should not be surprised when the very day after we met, half of London seemed to know of our relationship. But you must know that I am the most complete country bumpkin and wish to see all the sights of London, and Lord Rayven insists on going with me, although I have no need of an escort.’

‘Yes, he wrote to me himself to say he was to do so, for he knew I would not like you to go alone. But your cousin Nat would do the same office.’

‘Perhaps, but Nat strikes me as a man of such fashion that he would not thank you for the suggestion that he rise hours before his usual time in order to look at a lot of old tombs, buildings and museums.’

‘ls that what you do?’

‘Yes. This morning I much enjoyed myself in Westminster Abbey, and tomorrow—’

They were interrupted by a tap on the door and a soft voice calling, ‘Uncle Titus? May I come in?’

‘Ah, Bella, my dear, you see Alys is here, giving me a game of chess.’

Bella pouted. ‘Oh, chess. I do not understand it in the least. But my cousin is so clever, it does not surprise me that she can play. In fact I suspect she is quite a bluestocking.’

‘So you have said before, but I am not any such thing, unfortunately.’

‘I came to thank dear Uncle for his generosity. I expect you have a mind above such things as new gowns, Cousin, but I am in transports, for I am to have the most wonderful ball dress of white satin with a pink net overdress for my come-out, and wear a blush-pink rose garland in my hair.’

‘You need not thank me, for I told your mother to get what you needed and send the bills to me.’ His eye fell on Alys, who was neat, if not bang up to the nines, in a striped cambric gown she had had made for her by an inexpensive dressmaker found by the invaluable Jane, from materials purchased at the bazaar.

‘I suppose you might as well do the same, Alys, for you will need a ball gown to wear for Bella’s party. ’

‘I thank you, Grandfather, but I already have a ball gown, one rather more suited to my years than pink net and rosebuds.’

‘Well, run along, both of you. I grow tired of such frippery talk,’ he said, rather unfairly, Alys thought, since she had not introduced the topic of fashion in the first place.

‘Nat is in the drawing room, waiting to drive you home, Cousin,’ Bella said, as soon as the doors were closed behind them.

Alys noted that her fluffily girlish manner rather dropped away as soon as she was out of her uncle’s sight, and thought it sad that she felt she must put on those airs in order to gain his affection.

‘That is very kind, but I believe I must not trouble him again,’ Alys said hastily.

‘Oh, but he has already sent away your carriage, for he insists on having the pleasure of your company.’

‘How … delightful,’ Alys said, earnestly hoping that today he might at least be driving horses over which he had some control.