'So do I, sirrah, for I have some information that will surely pay you back for your sharp tongue. I happened upon Lady Garsington at the circulating library recently, and she informed me that Sigismund and Sybil are returning to Brighton for Christmas. So if you imagine that by scuttling here you have eluded her, I'm afraid you are very much mistaken.' For Megan's sake, Evangeline omitted to add that Lady Garsington had also said that her other daughter, Sophia might be coming as well, together with her husband, Ralph Strickland.
Greville closed his eyes for a moment. 'Please assure me this is a tease,' he begged faintly.
'It is the plain, unadulterated truth. She will soon be upon us, harp and all.' Evangeline glanced pointedly at her little jeweled fob watch. 'It is almost time for dinner, gentlemen, so I suggest you go to your rooms to change,' she declared, thus bringing the conversation to an end.
Chapter 8
When Greville and Rupert had withdrawn, Evangeline turned to Megan. 'I am sorry about Greville, my dear, but I am sure he will come around. Now, then, I realize you do not have the sort of wardrobe necessary for taking your place among us, but from tomorrow I trust that particular situation will be rectified.'
'Rectified? I-I don't understand.' Megan was alarmed. Her small income would not stretch to the purchase of a modish wardrobe!
'I have sent a footman to Mrs. Fiske, the dressmaker and milliner in St. James's Street. She has long had premises in Mayfair but has now opened a repository in Brighton as well, specializing in Parisian dresses, trimmings, pelisses, oh, everything that a lady could require. To my certain knowledge, she almost always has uncollected items of which she is anxious to dispose.'
Megan's misgivings increased. Clothes of style and fashion for a
'I have informed her that I estimate you to be the same height and size as Miss Holcroft,' Evangeline continued, 'so if she has anything suitable, she will have it waiting.'
'Miss Holcroft?'
'Chloe Holcroft. She is the dear, sweet, kind daughter of my good friend, Admiral Sir Jocelyn Holcroft, and if Rupert had any sense at all, he would be betrothed to her by now. Instead she seems set to slip into the unpleasant grasp of Mr. Oliver March.'
Megan was transfixed with shock on hearing Mr. March's first name. 'Have-have you met Mr. March, Lady Evangeline?'
'Why, yes, not that I took to him at all.'
'Does he have chestnut hair and a rather pointed nose?'
'Chestnut? I would not dignify it with such a name, for it is more carrot, but his nose definitely seems well suited to poking in where it has no business to be. Why do you ask?'
'Oh, it's nothing really. I just think I may have met him once.' Yes, Megan certainly had met him, for Mr. Oliver March was the cousin who had inherited her family's estates and thrown her penniless into the world!
Evangeline looked curiously at her. 'What is it, my dear? You have gone quite pale.'
'I-I think I am just tired after the journey.'
'I fancy we will both sleep like tops tonight,' Evangeline replied, still studying her. 'May I ask where did you and Mr. March meet?'
'I really don't recall, for it was a long time ago now.' Megan wanted to tell her the truth, but did not feel in a position to do so. After all, Oliver seemed on the point of becoming the son-in-law of one of Evangeline's dearest friends, so even though Evangeline herself clearly disliked him, it wouldn't do at all for her companion to presume to reveal distasteful facts about him.
Evangeline smiled. 'Well, I will leave you now, or you will not have time to change before dinner.'
'Lady Evangeline, I-I really appreciate your kindness in providing me with new clothes, but…' Megan didn't quite know how to express her worries without giving offense.
Evangeline smiled. 'Do not feel awkward, my dear. I wish you to look your best when you are with me, which you cannot do if you are drably clad.'
'Then, of course I gratefully accept your generosity, Lady Evangeline, but for meals surely my proper place is with the other servants?'
'I will not hear of it, Miss Mortimer. What use is a companion who isn't with me? I like conversation at the table to be properly balanced, which it will hardly be with only Rupert and Greville. Another lady is required, and that means you, my dear.'
'But, Sir Greville-'
'Sir Greville has no say in the matter! He is my guest here, and as such will mind his p's and q's. I am afraid it is time he learned that he cannot allow his personal feelings to intrude upon everyone else. I spoke the truth when I said that he and his mother were better off without his philandering father, so if anything, the companion was to be thanked not vilified.'
'I do not think Sir Greville will ever see it that way.'
The folded fan touched Megan's cheek kindly. 'Don't let him upset you, my dear, for he is just being a stubborn bear. The trouble is that the most vivid memory he retains of that time is of his mother weeping one day when she took him to St. Nicholas's here in Brighton, not long after the scandal had broken. St. Nicholas's was the church where she and Greville's father were married, where she was laid to rest, and where Greville himself was baptized. You will be able to see it from your window in the morning, for it stands on a hill at the western edge of the town.'
'Have Sir Greville's family been in this part of Sussex for long?' Megan asked.
'Oh, yes, there were Setons here in Brighton before Prinny made it a la mode. Their seat was east of the town, but when Greville inherited a fine estate in Oxfordshire, he decided to sell up here. He still spends a great deal of time in Brighton, however, for he visits me a great deal.' Evangeline smiled fondly. 'Anyway, where was I? Oh, yes, his feckless father. It all happened just before Christmas, which did not help at all, and as it is Christmas again now, I suppose it still doesn't help. At the time it was understandable enough that his mother wept so, for what woman does not feel sad for happiness lost? But Greville does not understand that this particular happiness was lost a long time
'Yes, Lady Evangeline.'
As the door closed, Megan sighed unhappily. Sir Greville Seton, fine clothes, and dining with the family were bad enough, but the presence of cousin Oliver in Brighton was even worse. He was an unscrupulous, heartless knave who would not wish to be faced with the relation he so cruelly abandoned, especially now he was dancing attendance upon Chloe Holcroft. Chloe sounded far too nice a person for him, maybe even nice enough to send him packing if she found out what he had done.
Megan knew it would be wise to keep out of his way if possible, although it would be too much to hope that she could avoid him entirely. With a heavy sigh, she took off her cloak, and began to look through her luggage for the green gown.
Meanwhile in the mauve chamber at the other end of the house, Greville and Rupert were discussing Megan. Rupert spread his hands. 'Look, Greville, I can't believe Strickland. Miss Mortimer just isn't the sort to do what he claims.'
'Because she looks as if butter wouldn't melt in her mouth?'
'No, because Ralph Strickland wouldn't know the truth if it jumped up and bit him on the backside!'
Greville gave a cynical laugh. 'It is clear you are taken in by Miss Mortimer's air of angelic innocence.'
'And it is equally clear that you are guided by your preconceptions about companions. Aunt E isn't a fool, Greville. Do you imagine she would have engaged Miss Mortimer without first making inquiries of Lady Jane? No, of course not; so I dismiss Strickland's lies out of hand.'
'I believe that on this occasion he was speaking the truth,' Greville replied a little annoyedly.
'Well, with all due respect, that's because it suits you to believe him. You know him for a slippery toad who
