Babe Read Free Page A

stayed in for the purpose, but he did not come, nor did Lady Withers. On the third day, he sent a note that his carriage would call at Portland Place the next morning to remove her to his custody. She waited at the window, planning a sharp remark at his cavalier treatment. When it was only a footman who came to the door, she was not only disappointed, but furiously angry. How dare he treat her so poorly? Not a call, not a note, not even coming in person to convey her to Lady Withers’ home. And Lady Withers no better. Why had not she come?
    She turned to Fannie with a certain sparkle in her eye.
    “I’ve changed my mind, Fannie. I’m not going,” she said, and sat down, folding her arms on her heaving bosom.
    “Not going! Babe—it is too late for not going. The papers are signed. You must go.”
    “I will not. If he thinks to treat me like this . . .”
    “But I go to Burrells’ house party, my dear, and you are not expected. Indeed, it is not a place I would take a young lady at all.”
    “You planned to take me four days ago!”
    “Well, I didn’t like it. The papers are all signed. He is your guardian. You must go.”
    “I don’t have to do anything I don’t want to.”
    “To be sure, you do not, Babe, only Clivedon will create a wicked row if I take you to Burrells’. He mentioned they are not the sort of people . . . Not to say . . .”
    Barbara fixed her with a challenging eye. “What did he say? You don’t mean to sit there and tell me he had the insolence to criticize your—our friends, and you didn’t tell me.”
    “Not in the least. He was very civil. I daresay he didn’t mean to be so bossy at all, but it is always Clivedon’s way, you must know. Oh, do go on, Babe, you are giving me the headache, and Bagstorff is coming in ten minutes.”
    “All right. All right, I’ll go, but . . .”
    She looked to Fannie, dear Fannie, whom she thought loved her, but all she saw on the face was distress, and an eagerness to be rid of her. Nothing would be the same once she married Bagstorff. “Good-bye, Fannie,” she said, in a rather tight voice. “Thank you for everything. It’s been nice. I’ll come to see you soon. When do you return from Burrells’?”
    “Nothing is decided, dear. Clivedon thought it would be nice to be married in the country, and I rather think it would.”
    “Will you not be back before your wedding? Oh, Fannie, I must attend your wedding!”
    “We’ll be in touch, love,” Fannie said impatiently, and took her elbow to pilot her to the door, close it after her, and go back to the sofa, feeling strangely guilty and lonesome. She liked Babe, but Clivedon was quite right. A newly married lady would be too busy to handle her. Her thoughts wandered more happily to Count Bagstorff.
     
    Chapter Three
     
    Lady Barbara would not have been at all surprised had she been required to wait while her trunks were strapped onto the carriage, but this indignity, at least, was spared her. The carriage moved forward as soon as the footman had closed the door and resumed his position. Lady Withers’ house was close by on Cavendish Square. When the carriage crossed Oxford Street, Barbara realized this was not where she was being taken. It proceeded straight to Grosvenor Square, to Clivedon’s own handsome residence. She settled down somewhat then, imagining a sort of welcome party awaited her at the home of her new guardian. That was well done of him. She had only been in his house twice, attending two large balls two years ago, before he had turned chilly towards her.
    She had never been one of the intimate circle of Clivedon’s friends. It was generally considered the toniest circle in town. Not so dashing as the old Devonshire House set, where Barbara had been a sort of pet in her very youth. The duchess, Georgiana, had doted on her, but she was long dead. Nor did she enjoy any favor with Caroline Lamb after competing with her for a few beaux. Nothing lingered from those old days