The Notorious Lord Havergal Read Free

establish himself in London instead and take up politics.
    They were exceedingly proud of him and agreed that it was only a matter of time till he was a member of the Cabinet, possibly even the prime minister. The only disappointment was that they would see so little of Tom. Still, they would have the pleasure of reading about him in the journals, entertaining his company when he came to the hall, and of course visiting him in London.
    One incidental effect of Tom’s decision was that Lettie was no longer concerned about making a match. Her ten-thousand-pound dowry did not permit her to set up and run a creditable establishment. She had not liked to think of living with Tom and his wife, when Tom married, but now she would continue to be mistress of Laurel Hall indefinitely.
    They drove into Ashford and did their business at the bank, then spent a very enjoyable hour selecting a shawl and a few gewgaws for the spring assembly. Lettie had planned to have new white kid gloves as well, but Tom’s waistcoats took precedence. The gloves would be reduced in price after the assembly, and she would have new ones for the autumn assembly instead. They rounded off the visit by taking lunch at the Royal Crown and enjoying a stroll through its famous gardens before returning home.
     

Chapter Two
     
    A week passed, bringing neither thanks from Tom for the gift nor further requests from Lord Havergal for money, but bringing a ten-pound leg of pork from Mr. Norton and, most importantly of all, bringing the spring assembly a week closer. Only two days away now, it colored every hour of every day. The days were not long enough for all the unguents Violet and Lettie wished to apply to their faces, the new hairdos to be tried, the washing of stockings, and the pressing of gowns.
    They had other important matters to fill their hours as well. It was the custom at Laurel Hall to entertain a small party to dinner before the assembly. Due to Mr. Beddoes’s death, the custom had lapsed last year, but this year Lettie was reinstituting it. To leave every servant free for the grand affair on Friday, she moved washing day up to Wednesday. On that Wednesday afternoon, Violet and Lettie sat in the gold saloon, fatigued at four o’clock from the exertions of preparing for the dinner party and checking up on the washing.
    The washing was nominally in Cook’s charge, who took all household matters under her capable hands. Mrs. Siddons (wife of the butler) ought, by rights, to be called a housekeeper, but as she ruled from the kitchen and refused to dress for the grander role, she maintained her more humble title of Cook. Up to her elbows in advance preparations for the dinner party, she told Lettie she would be serving cold ham and bread pudding for dinner. Lettie told her that was fine.
    Emboldened by success, Cook next informed her mistress that she must keep an eye on Bess with the laundry, and Miss Beddoes did as she was told. It was best not to vex this irreplaceable jewel, especially when her cooperation was required for the important dinner party. Lettie had made half a dozen trips downstairs to see Bess wasn’t letting the new washing dolly “eat” her sheets and tablecloths. This new cannibal contrivance possessed two sturdy wooden paddles, which Bess moved by an attached handle. If she was not careful, the laundry wedged its way under the paddles and was stirred into rags.
    Lettie had just returned to the saloon when there was a rattle of wheels on the driveway. “Mr. Norton!” Violet exclaimed, patting her brown curls in pleasure. Lettie arranged a lukewarm smile to greet him. Before Siddons could shuffle to the door, the knock came, loud and importunate. “He sounds strangely perturbed,” Violet said. “I hope nothing is amiss.”
    “Oh Lord, I hope his pigs haven’t got into the roadway again. They upset a dung cart last time.”
    Siddons was surprised at the vehemence of the knocker, too, and shuffled faster to open the