The Folly Read Online Free PDF Page A

does Lady Evans go on?”
    “Very well, Miss Trumble, and desirous of a call from you.”
    “It would hardly be fitting,” said Miss Trumbleequably, “for a woman in my position to call on Lady Evans.”
    “Lady Evans appeared to think very highly of you.”
    She bowed her head.
    “Warned us against those Beverley girls,” put in the general bluntly.
    “Oh, dear. Lady Evans has reason. She was desirous to make a marriage between a young lady, a Prudence Makepeace, and Lord Burfield, but Lord Burfield married Abigail Beverley.”
    “This is awkward,” said Charles. “But Lady Evans did alarm us by telling us about how that proposal was brought about.”
    “Did she also tell you that Lord Burfield was and is deeply in love with Abigail? No, I thought not. Sirs, you must have heard the scandal. Prudence Makepeace had to flee the country after conspiring with Harry Devers to abduct Abigail on the day of her wedding to Lord Burfield.”
    “We must have been abroad at the time,” said Charles.
    “You were also not told,” went on Miss Trumble, “that burning ambition to reclaim Mannerling was at the root of the Beverleys’ schemes. They no longer harbour such ambitions. But do you blame them?”
    “Well, yes,” said the general, amazed. “Very unwomanly.”
    “Exactly. Had they been men, you would have found their ambition laudable. Think on it, gentlemen. How many men do you know in society who have married heiresses to save their estates and not one breath of scandal sticks to their name?You must not be anxious. There will be nothing in their behaviour to alarm you. I promise you that. If, on the other hand, you do not trust me, then you must take your children away.”
    A burst of happy laughter sounded from the garden.
    “No,” said Charles slowly. “I am too old for any of the Beverleys in any case. Is Lady Beverley not at home?”
    “My mistress is indisposed. Lady Beverley is often indisposed.”
    “I was going to invite the Beverleys to Mannerling, but if Lady Beverley is unwell…”
    A gleam of mischief shone in the governess’s eyes. “Should you issue such an invitation, then it would go a long way to restoring her ladyship to health.”
    Charles smiled. “Shall we say tomorrow? You could all come to Mannerling in the carriage with the children.”
    “I am sure they will accept. If you will excuse me, gentlemen, I shall go to see if Lady Beverley considers herself fit.”
    “Fine lady, that,” said the general when the door closed behind Miss Trumble.
    “Very fine,” agreed his son. “Too fine to be a governess. Miss Trumble has the air of a duchess.”
    “And what must we think of the girls now?”
    “Harmless. Only dangerous if my heart was in danger, and you alone know that is hardly ever to be the case again.”
    “Poor Sarah,” said the general. Sarah was the late Mrs. Blackwood. “She seemed such a merry little thing.”
    “Too merry to confine her attentions to her husband,” said Charles harshly.
    “Well, well, I always did have a soft spot for little Sarah. And she is dead now. Water under the bridge.”
    Charles reflected that “water under the bridge” was too trite a phrase to describe his fury and heartache when he found his wife had been unfaithful to him with the first footman.
    “Shh,” he admonished. “I hear our governess returning.” Both men stood up.
    Miss Trumble entered and said demurely that Lady Beverley thanked them for their invitation and would be pleased to attend.
    “Restored to health, hey?” demanded the general with a twinkle in his eye.
    “Oh, yes, your kind invitation was very beneficial.”
    “I say,” said the general as they moved to the door, “come as well.”
    Miss Trumble curtsied with grace. “You are too kind.”
    “There now,” said the general in high good humour, “got to keep my grandchildren in line, what?”
    Miss Trumble smiled and led the way out to the garden.
    Charles paused for a moment on the threshold.