The Regency Read Online Free PDF Page B

know,' Héloïse said with a calm good humour, ‘but I shall tell my groom about it.'
    ‘ Told him myself, when I drove into it,' Crosby said, and laughed loudly at his own wit. 'Should think he knows now, all right.'
    ‘ Mr Shawe, do you mean you damaged Lady Moriand's phaeton?'
    ‘ Not my fault,' he said sulkily. 'Damn stupid place for Brunty to put it, just inside the archway like that. Came round the corner at a hell of a lick and smashed — I mean,' he corrected himself fumblingly, 'I turned my tilbury in just as I always do, expecting the yard to be empty, and there was — this —' He paused again, looking owlishly round at them, aware that he was not shewing himself to advantage. 'S'only the one wheel. Got locked in mine, you see, and m'horse got in a panic, and wouldn't stand still.'
    ‘ I'm so sorry, Lady Morland,' Valentina said. 'You must send us the bill for the repair. I'm afraid our stableman is very stupid, and must have left your carriage in a very awk ward place.’
    In the irrational way of the drunkard, Crosby now grew angry with his wife for defending him. 'Yes, all right, I am a trifle foxed!' he said loudly, glaring at Valentina. 'Why not? I went to the club for breakfast, and it's a cold morning. A man has to have something to keep the cold out, doesn't he?'
    ‘Mr Shawe, I'm sure our guests don't want to know —'
    ‘ Don't want to know? I'll bet they do know, though. Arthur was there, anyway, Lizzie, so you see — and it isn't so long since Mr James Bloody Perfect Morland had his armchair by the fire every night. Founder member of the Maccabbees, Mr James Newly-Wed Morland!’
    Héloïse, more in pity for the women than in shock at his behaviour, stood up, and said, 'I think, Mrs Shawe, that I ought to be going. I like Thomas to sleep in the afternoon —’
    Crosby saw that he had gone too far, and became contrite. 'No, wait, don't go yet. I've got something to tell you.' He shook his head stupidly, trying to clear it. 'Wonder why I'm a little bit under the weather? Not foundered, you know — just a little windy! It's good news! Good news — heard it at the club — had to drink a toast, didn't we? It's just come up from London — Boney's been beaten!’
    He stared at them hopefully, his dull and doggy eyes wan dering a little. Héloïse heard the words with shock, and looked from Mrs Shawe's white face to Lady Fussell's. It was Valentina who took charge. She stood up and faced her hus band, and her voice took on a ring of command which no-one but he had ever heard before.
    ‘ Beaten? What do you mean? Crosby, look at me, and tell me immediately exactly what you heard.'
    ‘ S'true!' he pleaded. 'Beaten to flinders, and some place called —' He screwed up his eyes with the effort, and then shook his head. 'Some jawbreaker of a name, in Prussia, any way. Boney was in winter quarters, and the Russians attacked, and beat him completely. So we had some cham pagne — well, who wouldn't? And then Arthur said, he said, this is damn dull work without a drop of brandy to warm it up. Arthur said that!' His eyes swivelled round to Lizzie. 'It was the brandy that did the damage. All Arthur's fault!'
    ‘ Is it true? Crosby, look at me! Is it true? Is Bonaparte beaten?'
    ‘ Swear to God! Wiped out! The Cossacks hunted the Frenchies through the snow like rabbits! Thousands killed! Boney rubbed off to save his skin!'
    ‘Thank God!' Lizzie said. 'Now perhaps the war will be over.’
    Héloïse shook her head. 'Forgive me, but I cannot be so hopeful. Even if it is true, one defeat is not the end for a man like Bonaparte. If he is not dead, it is not all over.'
    ‘ Well, you may be right,' Valentina said briskly, 'but at all events, it shews he can be beaten, and that's something worth knowing. You did very right to come and tell us about it, Mr Shawe. And now perhaps you ought to go and change your necktie — it is a little crumpled, no doubt after your driving accident.’
    She coaxed him to the