A Lady's Point of View Read Free Page A

of strength
within herself.
    So it must be now. Only she knew
the truly threadbare state of the family finances. She had refrained from
baring the whole sad situation even to her elder daughter, but there would be
no season the next year, for either of the girls, unless one of them found a
wealthy husband this summer.
    It was only sensible that Angela
be given a chance. As Meg said, after a written apology and the offender’s
retirement from London, the ton would soon forget this tempest in a
teacup. And within a few weeks, Angela might take her place in society.
    Meg would rub on well enough with the Barkers, Lady
Mary reflected, and if Angela made a good match, it would pave the way for
Meg’s return to society next year. It was the best one could hope for under the
circumstances.
     
     
     

Chapter Two
     
     
    The following afternoon, there
was no question of making calls, for the Linleys knew that no one would be at
home to them.
    “It’s monstrous!” cried Angela as
the three of them sat in the parlour in funereal gloom. “I don’t want to be
accepted by the ton if they’re so cruel and petty, Mother. Why don’t we
all leave?”
    “That wouldn’t serve,” her parent
responded coldly. “We’ll hear no more talk of that sort, miss.”
    Angela turned to Meg for help,
but her older sister shook her head. “It’s for the best,” she said. “I shall be
just as happy in Derby as here, save that I’ll miss my family. One and a half
seasons of Venetian breakfasts and card parties are enough for me.”
    At that moment, the three were
surprised to hear a carriage stopping outside in the street. Angela would have
run to the window but for her mother’s restraining hand. “You might be seen,
dear,” cautioned Lady Mary.
    When the butler entered a moment
later to announce Helen Cockerell, the sisters were delighted.
    “Oh, Helen, I knew you wouldn’t
desert us!” Angela sprang up to greet the older girl.
    After the usual fuss of settling
into place and pouring tea, the Linleys took turns informing Miss Cockerell of
Meg’s impending departure from London. “I sent round the note to Mr. Brummell
this morning,” Meg concluded. “I received no response, but I hardly expected
one.”
    “Oh, that fop!” With a wave of
the hand, Helen dismissed the second most powerful man in London, at least so
far as the social lives of its younger set were concerned. “There’s talk that
he’s given offence to Prinny more than once, and there’ll be a falling-out
before this time next year, you mark my words.’’
    Everyone knew that Brummell’s
success depended on his close friendship with the Prince of Wales, who had
become Regent in February. That Brummell might fall from grace hadn’t occurred
to Meg, but in any event it was sure to come too late to help her.
    Angela was more optimistic, her
blue eyes widening. “Then perhaps Meg might stay—”
    “I think not,” said Lady Mary.
    Reluctantly Helen concurred. “For
myself, I shall miss her terribly, and write every day. But even my own
brother, Edward, professes himself horrified at Meg’s conduct—you know what a
stiff cheese he is! I’ve no doubt he’d have forbidden even my coming today if
he’d known of it.”
    Edward, being a good ten years older
than his sister, had become her guardian after their parents’ death. Despite
his fair colouring and generally admired appearance, Meg regarded him as little
warmer than a block of ice. Stiff cheese indeed!
    The sisters bade a tearful
farewell to Helen, who embraced Meg lovingly and renewed her promise to
correspond faithfully.
    Welcome though the visit had
been, it left behind an even gloomier atmosphere than before, as if the last
hope were removed.
    It was decided that Meg should
take the mail coach to Manchester. Although that meant journeying a bit beyond
her destination and paying a stiff fee, the journey could be accomplished in
eighteen hours instead of several days, thus saving the expense of