‘How much longer, sir?’
‘You will know all before the week is out.’
‘Can you at least tell me if my birth is...respectable?’
Mr Pridham walked over to the fireplace. He appeared to be wrestling with his conscience and Natalya waited in silence. At last he spoke.
‘A vast amount of money has been spent upon your education and your upbringing, Natalya. You may be assured that would not have been the case if it was not expected to yield a significant return.’
Her brows drew together. ‘You make me sound like an investment.’
He did not smile, nor did he deny it. He said in his usual, measured tones, ‘Mrs Pridham and I value you greatly, my dear. You know we were unable to have children of our own and we have tried to give you every advantage under our care. I hope you appreciate that, Natalya.’
‘Yes, sir, and it is not that I am ungrateful, but—’
‘Good, good.’ He cut her short. ‘Now, I promised you should decide if you wished to continue with your education, so tell me—am I to send a note to your dancing master, asking him not to call this morning?’
The interview was over. Natalya knew she would learn nothing more from her aunt or uncle now. Tantrums and hysterics would avail her nothing, so she gathered up her pride and made herself respond calmly to his question.
‘Yes, if you please. I have already informed Monsieur Cordonnier that I will not require more drawing lessons from him. Nor do I wish for further instruction in Italian from Signor Merino. As to my music lessons, perhaps they should continue, for a while at least.’
‘An excellent idea.’ Uncle Pridham was clearly relieved that she had not made a scene and he continued with ponderous humour, ‘We would not wish you to grow bored in Bath, would we? Very well, very well. Off you go, my dear. If you have nothing else to do, then I am sure Mrs Pridham would appreciate your help in preparing the house for your party this evening.’
‘I would indeed,’ said her aunt. ‘There is a great deal to be done, but you will need to put an apron over your gown, Natalya.’
‘I will go and fetch one, ma’am.’
Natalya left the room, disappointment weighing heavily upon her spirits. It was useless to protest further; her aunt and uncle would only remind her again that they had looked after her very well for the past four years and that she owed them a very great deal. They had given her everything.
‘Except love,’ she muttered as she made her way to her room. ‘Except love.’
Chapter Nine
Natalya spent the rest of the morning helping her aunt with the arrangements for the party, but when Mrs Pridham suggested she should spend the afternoon resting she begged to be allowed to go out.
‘I am far too excited to sleep,’ she explained. ‘It is such a lovely day that I am sure a walk in Sydney Gardens would do me no harm. I shall take Aggie with me, for propriety.’
It took her a little while to persuade her aunt to agree, but finally she was allowed to fetch her wrap and her parasol and to sally forth with her maid in attendance. However, after strolling under the trees for a few minutes, Natalya left the gardens and set off at a brisk pace along Great Pulteney Street, much to the consternation of her maid.
‘Miss, miss wherever are you going?’ cried Aggie, hurrying along beside Natalya. ‘The mistress won’t like it.’
‘My aunt will never know,’ declared Natalya, ‘unless you tell her.’ She heard the maid’s frightened gasp and added reassuringly, ‘We are going to call upon Mrs Ancrum. There can be no objections to such a visit.’
Her maid continued to lament all the way to Pulteney Bridge, where Natalya stopped and turned on her.
‘If you are so set against it, you may go back if you wish, Aggie, but I am going on to see Mrs Ancrum.’
‘But what if the mistress asks me where you’ve been?’
‘There is no reason why she should do so,’ replied Natalya. ‘And if she does, you may tell her you could not prevent me.’
‘Which is true enough,’ muttered her maid. She looked at Natalya’s determined face and heaved a loud sigh. ‘The mistress has told me often and often that I am not to let you go out alone.’
‘There you are then.’ Natalya set off again. ‘Come along!’
She arrived at the Paragon just as Mrs Ancrum was returning from the Pump Room in a chair. When she saw Natalya hovering on the pavement, she called out to her.
‘Miss Fairchild, what a pleasant surprise! Go on into the house, my dear and these capital fellows will follow.’
Natalya went indoors and watched as the carriers brought the chair up the steps and into the hall. One of them carefully helped their passenger to alight and she rewarded them generously for their efforts.
After the ladies had divested themselves of their coats, Natalya followed her hostess to the drawing room while Aggie was despatched to the nether regions of the house, where she could while away the time drinking tea and gossiping with Mrs Ancrum’s servants.
When they were both settled comfortably in the drawing room with the tea tray and a plate of small fancy cakes before them, Mrs Ancrum gave her young friend a wide smile.
‘Well, this is a pleasure I did not expect today! How are you enjoying your day, my dear?’
‘It has been sadly disappointing,’ Natalya told her bluntly. ‘I had hoped that I would learn something of my family, but my uncle says I must wait even longer. Mrs Ancrum, from remarks you have made I believe you know something of my history. Dear ma’am, I should be very much obliged if you would tell me.’ She read a refusal in the old lady’s countenance and went
