Page 21 of The Secrets of Ashmore Castle (Ashmore Castle #1)

Mrs Schofield came, but while she must have wondered why she was there, she would not give her hostess the satisfaction of asking, which seemed to Lady Bayfield to demonstrate too sturdy an independence of mind for a female not of the ton .

Mrs Schofield had nothing of fashion about her, though her clothes were of good quality – indeed her fur was very good and her pearls looked excellent.

Her accent was quite pure, and she spoke with sense, but Lady Bayfield would have preferred some air of deference, some evidence that she understood the social distance between them.

Her manners were proper, but not ingratiating.

It gave rise to the spectre of a niece who would be too confident, too sure of herself, perhaps even – horrible thought!

– pert . Catherine needed a confident companion, but not one who would have an opinion on every subject and be unafraid of airing it.

There was nothing gentlemen liked less than being challenged .

Mrs Schofield departed and Lady Bayfield was just concluding that she need go no further in the matter, when another visitor was announced.

She was as pleased as surprised: Caroline Manningtree was an extremely elegant, wealthy woman who moved in the best circles, but they were no more than acquainted.

Lady Bayfield could not help wondering what she wanted.

She did not have a daughter she was bringing out: the Manningtrees were known to have been childless.

Could she perhaps be sponsoring a niece or other relative?

Her first words, on being shown into the drawing-room, were, ‘I beg your pardon, but was not that a Miss Sanderton I just saw leaving? She was coming down the steps from your house as my carriage drew up.’

‘It was a Mrs Schofield who was calling on me,’ Lady Bayfield corrected her, surprised by the question.

‘Ah, of course! That was her married name. She married a gentleman of letters – an interesting choice. She and I were at school together, you know, though not in the same year. She was above me, and was much admired by all, I may say. Quite the most popular of her year. A beautiful girl, but with a formidable intellect.’

‘Too much schooling,’ Lady Bayfield said cautiously, not knowing how her visitor felt about it, ‘can be a handicap to a girl’s prospects.’

‘Indeed!’ Lady Manningtree laughed. ‘You should hear my sister Stainton on the subject. I was one of three sisters, and the only one who went to school. My sisters married a prince and an earl between them, and when I married no better than a knight, they blamed my education! But mine was a happy marriage. And I don’t believe I was changed by my time at school.

I should have turned out pretty much as I am, with or without it. ’

‘I’m sure you are right,’ Lady Bayfield said. ‘With a very few exceptions, education makes little mark on females. It slips off them like—’

‘Water off a duck’s back?’ Lady Manningtree suggested.

She was easy company, and the regulation quarter-hour passed quickly.

But Lady Bayfield really wanted to know what she was doing there.

Conversation on these occasions was rather like playing whist, where you had to try to work out what your opponent’s hand contained without revealing your own.

Lady Bayfield was extremely good at whist, which was something of a passion with her.

Lady Manningtree appeared to be good at it too, and the conversation circled elegantly on hints and suggestions and effortlessly deflected probes.

Lady Bayfield suspected Lady Manningtree was concealing a queen, but it emerged that in fact it was a king she held.

And it emerged, Lady Bayfield realised afterwards, not because she was better at whist, but because Lady Manningtree had wanted it to.

Not a niece, but a nephew.

The newly succeeded Earl of Stainton was looking for a bride.

Lady Bayfield had to take several deep breaths.

What a thing that would be for Catherine!

An old title, a castle and a large estate!

But there would be competition. Lady Manningtree, she supposed, was going about whipping up interest so as to have the most lucrative possible auction when the time came.

Girls with determined mamas would be shoved to the front to display their qualities, while Catherine languished at the back, like a frightened fieldmouse.

Her mind turned again to Mrs Schofield. This visit had added a new dimension: Lady Manningtree not only knew Mrs Schofield but had admired her.

If Mrs Schofield moved in the best circles she had no need to court approval – might even be mildly eccentric without being regarded as blue .

And the girl, Miss Sanderton, might attract attention from a better circle than Lady Bayfield had supposed.

In short, it was a connection worth having.

She thought a little more, then crossed to the walnut desk in the corner and sat down to write a letter.

Aunt Schofield was no advocate of idleness.

To keep Nina busy she involved her with her current scheme to open a Free Library in the East End: dictating letters to her, taking her with her when she went to drum up support and collect donations, sending her on errands to printers and estate agents.

In addition, she required Nina to read or study for several hours every day, as well as practising her drawing and music.

Nothing had been said yet about her becoming a teacher.

Nina supposed that when the library scheme was further along and she could be spared, arrangements would have to be put in hand.

For the moment, she was content to stay on at home. She was curled up on the window-seat in the morning-room with a book when her aunt came in, late one morning, with a letter in her hand.

‘Put that aside, Nina. I have something to discuss with you.’ Nina obeyed, and waited as her aunt seemed to inspect her thoroughly. At last, she began, ‘I suppose you would not have any particular objection to coming out this Season?’

Nine felt a quick rush of excitement, which showed in her face. ‘I hadn’t really thought about it,’ she said. ‘I didn’t think anything of that sort was planned for me.’

Aunt Schofield had seen the look: she had her answer.

She said neutrally, ‘It would cost a great deal of money, and I have always doubted the benefit to you would be worth the expenditure. However, there is now a possibility of doing it without great outlay, and if it would give you pleasure, I shall consider it. It is only a few weeks, after all,’ she added, as if to herself.

Nina surveyed her expression, wondering how she should answer. For all her education, she was only seventeen, and the thought of gowns and balls and parties had a certain power over her. But she believed her aunt disapproved of society and its ways. Was this a test?

While she was hesitating, her aunt went on, ‘I have here a letter from Lady Bayfield with a proposal. I called on her yesterday at her request, but she didn’t mention it then.

I suppose I was summoned on approval,’ she concluded, with disdain.

‘She seems now to have decided I am suitable to be condescended to. But her proposal is not in itself objectionable. She writes quite feelingly of her daughter Catherine—’

‘Kitty,’ Nina said, a smile breaking like sunrise on her face. ‘My best friend at school, Aunt, and the dearest, sweetest girl. You would love her if you met her.’

‘I’m glad your affection for her is all that Lady Bayfield claims. She says that Catherine – Kitty – is very shy and nervous, and would benefit from having a more confident friend to support her through the strain of what sounds like a very ton nish come-out.

To that end, she proposes that she brings you out alongside her daughter and chaperones you to all the same parties and balls.

Would you like it? Would it give you pleasure? ’

‘Oh, yes, Aunt, please !’ Nina said urgently. ‘If you don’t dislike it too much.’

‘My dear, I shall have nothing to do in the matter. Once we have acquired your clothes, you’ll stay with them at their house and go with them everywhere. I shall hardly see you until the Season ends.’

‘But you disapprove,’ Nina ventured anxiously.

‘It wasn’t something I ever wanted for you.

We do not move in those circles. But I don’t disapprove.

’ The examining gaze was back. ‘However, I do want to be sure that you won’t have your head turned by it.

You must remember that it is a holiday from reality, and not reality itself.

You will come back to the life you have always known.

Nothing will have changed. If you understand that – if you are ready to undertake it rather like a foreign expedition—’

‘To observe and make notes of all the curious customs?’ Nina suggested mischievously. ‘And not get myself eaten by cannibals.’

Her aunt smiled. ‘Especially the cannibals. The fashionable world can gobble up young women, if they are not level-headed.’

‘I shan’t have my head turned, I promise,’ Nina vowed.

‘Don’t take this warning lightly, Nina. You may be sorely tempted. But I know you are a sensible girl, and mature for your age.’

‘I want to do it for Kitty,’ Nina said. ‘Oh, I’m sure I shall enjoy it, but poor Kitty is so shy, and dreading it so much, and I do love her. If I can get her through it, and perhaps show her she doesn’t need to be afraid, isn’t that a good thing to do? A charitable thing?’

‘Very charitable,’ Aunt Schofield agreed solemnly.

‘Very well, I’ll write to Lady Bayfield, and then I suppose we had better think about clothes.

’ She started to leave, then turned back.

‘You will be in a position where some men may pay you a great deal of attention, and given that you are not of that order in society and will not have a dowry, their attentions may be mischievous. It is often the case that the worst of them are the most plausible and charming—’

‘I understand,’ said Nina. ‘I shan’t be taken in, I promise.’