Elizabeth flushed, but Horatia said: “You can’t blame P-Pel. It’s in the blood. One of us must m-marry Rule. Lizzie’s the eldest and the p-prettiest, but Charlotte would do very well. Lizzie’s promised to Edward Heron.”
“Not “promised”, dearest,” Elizabeth said in a low voice. “We only—hoped, if he could but get his Captaincy, perhaps Mama would consent.”
“Even supposing it, my love,” said Mrs Maulfrey with great good sense, “what—what, I ask of you, is a Captain of a Line Regiment when compared with the Earl of Rule? And from all I hear the young man has the most meagre of fortunes, and who, pray, is to buy his promotion?”
Horatia said, quite undaunted: “Edward t-told me that if he had the good fortune to be in another engagement there might be a ch-chance.”
Miss Winwood gave a slight shudder, and lifted one hand. “ will say I am unfeeling, my dear Lizzie, but it would not do at all. Why, how would you contrive on the young man’s pay? It is all horribly sad, but only think of the position you will fill, the jewels you will have!”
The prospect appeared to affect Miss Winwood with repulsion, but she said nothing. It was left to Horatia to express the sentiments of all three sisters. “Vulgar!” she said, “You are, you know, Theresa.”
Mrs Maulfrey blushed, and made a business of arranging her stiff skirts. “Of course I know that would not weigh with Lizzie, but you can’t deny it is a brilliant match. What does my Aunt feel?”
“Deeply thankful,” said Charlotte. “As indeed we must all be, when we consider the straits Pelham has placed us in.”
“Where is Pelham?” demanded Mrs Maulfrey.
“We are not quite certain,” answered Elizabeth. “We think perhaps in Rome now. Poor Pel is but an indifferent correspondent. But I feel sure we shall hear from him quite soon.”
“Well, he will have to come home for your wedding, I suppose,” said Mrs Maulfrey. “But, Lizzie, you must tell me! Has Rule paid his addresses? I had not the least idea of anything of the kind, though, naturally, I had heard that it was in a way arranged. But he has been so very—” She apparently thought better of what she had been about to say, and broke off. “But that’s neither here nor there, and I daresay he will be a charming husband. Have you given him your answer, Lizzie?”
“Not yet,” said Elizabeth almost inaudibly. “I—I too had no notion of it, Theresa. I have met him, of course. He stood up with me for the first two dances at the subscription-ball at Almack’s, when Pelham was at home. He was—he has always been—all that is amiable, but that he intended offering for my hand I never dreamed. He waited on Mama yesterday only to—to solicit her permission to pay his addresses to me. There is nothing announced yet, you must understand.”
“Everything of the most correct!” approved Mrs Maulfrey. “Oh, my love, I cannot help it if you say I have no sensibility, but only conceive of having Rule paying his addresses to one! I declare I would give my eyes—or, I would have,” she corrected herself, “had I not married Mr Maulfrey. And so,” she added, “would every other young lady in town! Why, my dears, you would not believe the caps that have been set at him!”
“Theresa, I must, I must request you not to talk in that odious way!” said Charlotte.
Horatia was looking at her cousin with interest. “Why do you say “only c-conceive of Rule paying his addresses to one”? I thought he was quite old.”
“Old?” said Mrs Maulfrey. “Rule? Nothing of the sort, my dear! Not a day above thirty-five, I’ll stake my reputation. And what a leg! What an air! The most engaging smile!”
“I c-call that old,” said Horatia calmly. “Edward is only t-twenty-two.”
There did not seem to be much to say after that. Mrs Maulfrey, perceiving that she had culled all the news that her cousins could at this present impart, began to think of taking her leave of them. Though sorry for Elizabeth’s evident distress at the magnificent prospect ahead of her, she could not in the least understand it, and considered that the sooner Lieutenant Heron was posted back to his regiment the better it would be. Therefore, when the door opened to admit a spare female of uncertain age, who informed Elizabeth with a flutter in her voice that Mr Heron was below and begged the favour of a word with her, she pursed her lips, and looked as disapproving as she could.
Elizabeth’s colour fluctuated, but she rose up from the sopha, and said quietly: “Thank you, Laney.”
Miss Lane seemed to share a little of Mrs Maulfrey’s disapproval. She regarded Elizabeth in a deprecating way, and suggested: “My dear Miss Winwood, do you think you should? Do you think your Mama would like it?”
Elizabeth replied with her gentle air of dignity: “I have Mama’s permission, dear Laney, to—to tell Mr Heron of the approaching change in my estate. Theresa, you won’t, I know, speak of Lord Rule’s obliging offer until—until it is formally announced.”
“Too noble creature!” Charlotte sighed, as the door closed softly behind Miss Winwood. “How very lowering it is to reflect upon the trials that afflict the Female Sex!”
“Edward is afflicted too,” said Horatia practically. Her penetrating eyes rested on her cousin. “Theresa, if you ch-chatter about this you will be sorry. Something must be d-done.”
“What can be done, when our sweetest Lizzie goes a Willing Sacrifice to the Altar?” said Charlotte in a hollow voice.
“Trials! Sacrifice!” exclaimed Mrs Maulfrey. “Lord, one would think Rule an ogre to listen to you! You put me out of all patience, Charlotte. A house in Grosvenor Square, and Meering, which I am told is quite superb, the park seven miles about, and three lodge-gates!”
It will be a great position,” said the little governess in her breathless way. “But who should fill it better than dear Miss Winwood? One has always felt that she was destined for a high place.”
“Pho!” said Horatia scornfully, and snapped her fingers. “That for Rule’s great p-position!”
“Miss Horatia, I beg of you, not that ungenteel gesture!”
Charlotte came to the support of her sister. “You should not snap your fingers, Horry, but you are quite in the right. Lord Rule does very well for himself in getting a Winwood for his bride.”
Meanwhile Miss Winwood, pausing only for a moment on the staircase to calm the agitation which the news of Mr Heron’s arrival had induced, went down to the library on the ground floor of the house.
Here there awaited her a young man in a state of greater agitation than her own.
Mr Edward Heron, of the 10th Foot, at present in America, was stationed in England on Recruiting Service. He had been wounded at the Battle of Bunker’s Hill, and sent home shortly afterwards, his wound being of a serious enough nature to preclude his taking further part—for a time at least—in the hostilities abroad. Upon his recovery he was gazetted, greatly to his chagrin, for Home Service.
The acquaintance between himself and Miss Winwood was of long standing. The younger son of a country gentleman whose estates marched with Viscount Winwood’s, he had known the Misses Winwood almost from the hour of his birth. He was of excellent if impoverished family, and had he been the possessor of a rather large fortune might have been deemed an eligible though not brilliant match for Elizabeth.
When Miss Winwood entered the library he arose from a seat by the window, and came towards her with an anxious look of inquiry upon his countenance. He was a personable young man, and looked very well in his scarlet regimentals. He had height, and good shoulders, and a frank, open countenance, rather pale still from prolonged suffering. He carried his left arm a little stiffly, but declared himself to be in perfect health, and very ready to rejoin his regiment.
A glance at Miss Winwood’s face informed him that the anxiety occasioned by her brief note had not been misplaced. Taking her hands in a strong clasp he said urgently: “What has occurred? Elizabeth! Something terrible?”