cried.
Hugh blushed. 'Good morning,' he said, and had no idea what to do next.
He had made a serious error of etiquette. He ought not to have acknowledged Maisie while he was with his aunts, for he could not possibly introduce such a person to them. He should have snubbed her.
However, Maisie made no attempt to address the ladies. 'How do you like these ponies?' she said. She seemed to have forgotten their quarrel.
Hugh was completely thrown by this beautiful, surprising woman, her skillful driving and her careless manners. 'They're very fine,' he said without looking at them.
'They're for sale.'
Aunt Augusta said icily: 'Hugh, kindly tell this person to let us pass!'
Maisie looked at Augusta for the first time. 'Shut your gob, you old bitch,' she said casually.
Clementine gasped and Aunt Madeleine gave a small scream of horror. Hugh's mouth dropped open. Maisie's gorgeous clothes and expensive equipage had made it easy to forget that she was an urchin from the slums. Her words were so splendidly vulgar that for a moment Augusta was too stunned to reply. Nobody ever dared to speak to her this way.
Maisie did not give her time to recover. Turning back to Hugh, she said: 'Tell your cousin Edward he should buy my ponies!' Then she cracked her whip and drove away.
Augusta erupted. 'How dare you expose me to such a person!' She boiled. 'How dare you take off your hat to her!'
Hugh was staring after Maisie, watching her neat back and jaunty hat recede along the drive.
Aunt Madeleine joined in. 'How can you possibly know her, Hugh?' she said. 'No well- bred young man would be acquainted with that type! And it seems you have even introduced her to Edward!'
It was Edward who had introduced Maisie to Hugh, but Hugh was not going to try to put the blame on Edward. They would not have believed him anyway. 'I don't actually know her very well,' he said.
Clementine was intrigued. 'Where on earth did you meet her?'
'A place called the Argyll Rooms.'
Augusta frowned at Clementine and said: 'I don't wish to know such things. Hugh, tell Baxter to drive home.'
Hugh said: 'I'm going to walk for a while.' He opened the door of the carriage.
'You're going after that woman!' Augusta said. 'I forbid it!'
'Drive on, Baxter,' said Hugh as he stepped down. The coachman shook the reins, the wheels turned, and Hugh politely doffed his hat as his angry aunts were driven away.
He had not heard the last of this. There would be more trouble later. Uncle Joseph would be told, and soon all the partners would know that Hugh consorted with low women.
But it was a holiday, the sun was shining, and the park was full of people enjoying themselves, and Hugh could not get worried about his aunt's rage today.
He felt lighthearted as he strode along the path. He headed in the direction opposite to that Maisie had taken. People drove around in circles, so he might run into her again.
He was keen to talk to her more. He wanted to set her straight about his father. Oddly enough he no longer felt angry with her about what she had said. She was simply mistaken, he thought, and she would understand if it was explained to her. Anyway, just talking to her was exciting.
He reached Hyde Park Corner and turned north along Park Lane. He doffed his hat to numerous relations and acquaintances: Young William and Beatrice in a brougham, Uncle Samuel on a chestnut mare, Mr. Mulberry with his wife and children. Maisie might have stopped on the far side, or she might have left by now. He began to feel that he would not see her again.
But he did.
She was just leaving, crossing Park Lane. It was undoubtedly her, with that mushroom-colored silk tie at her throat. She did not see him.
On impulse he followed her across the road, into Mayfair, and down a mews, running to keep up with her. She pulled the victoria up to a stable and jumped down. A groom came out and began to help her with the horses.
Hugh came up beside her, breathing hard. He wondered why he had done this. 'Hello, Miss Robinson,' he said.
'Hello again!'
'I followed you,' he said superfluously.
She gave him a frank look. 'Why?'
Without thinking he blurted out: 'I was wondering if you would go out with me one night.'
She put her head to one side and frowned slightly, considering his proposal. Her expression was friendly, as if she liked the idea, and he thought she would accept. But it seemed some practical consideration was at war with her inclinations. She looked away from him, and a little frown appeared on her brow; then she appeared to make up her mind. 'You can't afford me,' she said decisively; and she turned her back on him and walked into the stable.
Section 4
Cammel Farm
Cape Colony
South Africa
14th July 1873
Dear Hugh,
Jolly nice to hear from you! One is rather isolated out here, and you can't imagine the pleasure we get out of a long, newsy letter from home. Mrs. Cammel, who used to be the Hon. Amelia Clapham until she married me, was especially amused by your account of the Lioness....
It's a bit late to say this, I know, but I was dreadfully shocked by the death of your father. Schoolboys don't write condolence notes. And your own tragedy was somewhat eclipsed by the drowning of Peter Middleton on the very same day. But believe me, many of us thought of you and talked about you after you were so abruptly taken away from school....
I'm glad you asked me about Peter. I have felt guilty ever since that day. I didn't actually see the poor chap die, but I saw enough to guess the rest.
Your cousin Edward was, as you so colourfully put it, more rotten than a dead cat. You managed to get most of your clothes out of the water and scarper, but Peter and Tonio weren't so quick.
I was over the other side, and I don't think Edward and Micky even noticed me. Or perhaps they didn't recognise me. At any rate they never spoke to me about the incident
Anyway, after you had gone Edward proceeded to torment Peter even more, pushing his head under the water and splashing his face while the poor boy struggled to retrieve his clothes.
I could see it was getting out of hand but I was a complete coward, I'm afraid. I should
