Emily Goes to Exeter

‘Why did you both not recognize each other?’ asked Hannah.

‘Because we had never met,’ said Emily. ‘My family want his money and title. They are not interested in finding out if we might care for each other.’

‘Put your mind at rest, child,’ said Lord Harley in a bored voice, ‘and stop enacting Haymarket tragedies before the interested public of this inn. I was given to understand you wished the marriage. Now I have seen you, I do not wish to be married to you any more than you wish to be married to me. You will return to London with me and marry this Mr Williams if you wish.’

There was a long silence again.

The landlord cleared his throat. ‘What a coil,’ he said. ‘Is there anyone else here who isn’t a miss or a man or who ain’t married or who’s running away? Or can I get you all off to bed?’

‘You shall come with me,’ said Hannah firmly to Emily.

Overwrought, Emily burst into tears. Hannah helped her to her feet and led her from the room. ‘Blue Room,’ shouted the landlord. ‘Top o’ the stairs and turn right.’

Hannah Pym thought she would die from curiosity. So many complications! But, like bad knitting, surely all that was needed was for them to be unravelled by an expert and made up again in the right way.

3

I have heard with admiring submission the experience of the lady who declared that the sense of being well-dressed gives a feeling of inward tranquillity which religion is powerless to bestow.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

The Blue Room was comfortable and well appointed, with low rafters, chintz curtains at the window, and cheerful chintz hangings on the bed. A fire burnt brightly in the small hearth. There were two easy chairs in front of the fire, and it was into one of these chairs that Hannah thrust Emily. She then took off her cloak and hung it on a peg behind the door, along with her hat, before sitting down opposite the girl.

‘Now, what is all this about?’ said Hannah, trying to keep her vulgar gossipy eagerness in check. The girl was so very beautiful with those large violet eyes and auburn hair. Her face was a well-shaped oval with a small straight nose.

‘I think I should know to whom I am talking,’ said Emily with a pathetic attempt at hauteur.

‘I am Miss Hannah Pym, gentlewoman of Kensington,’ said Hannah firmly. Her servant days were behind her now, and she was determined not to stifle any confidences by revealing she had lately been in service.

‘And do you have relatives in Exeter, Miss Pym?’

‘No, I am simply travelling for the sake of travel.’

Despite her distress, Emily gave a reluctant laugh. What an odd lady this Miss Pym was with her strange eyes and crooked nose. ‘I cannot possibly imagine anyone travelling on the stage for fun,’ she said.

‘But I have already had a great many adventures,’ said Hannah, her eyes glowing gold in the firelight. ‘Just think. A real highwayman. A widow who is not the captain’s wife. And now you, not a boy but a pretty lady running away from a man who does not seem to want her after all.’

‘I do not believe him,’ said Emily. ‘It is a trick.’

‘Who is this Lord Harley?’

‘Lord Ranger Harley,’ said Emily in a clear voice, ‘is a rake and a libertine.’

‘How so?’

‘I happen to know, for my governess told me, that he has an opera dancer in keeping.’

‘Do you still have a governess?’ asked Miss Pym, momentarily diverted. ‘I would have thought you too old.’

‘I am eighteen,’ said Emily haughtily. ‘But Miss Cudlipp, that is my governess’s name, is dear to me. She stays as a sort of companion. She is very wise.’

Hannah sniffed. She thought that Miss Cudlipp was downright disloyal to her employers to pour scandal about Emily’s intended into the girl’s ears. ‘But this business about the opera dancer,’ said Hannah. ‘That is merely gossip. She cannot know for sure.’

‘Miss Cudlipp knows everything,’ said Emily. ‘Oh, what am I to do? He will force me to go back with him and marry him.’

‘Really, Miss Freemantle, if you will forgive me, he did not look at all the sort of man who would have to force any woman to marry him. He is very handsome and he is a lord. Is he rich?’

‘Very,’ said Emily in a hollow voice.

‘Then there you are. He cannot possibly want to marry you.’

‘He does not like to be thwarted. Miss Cudlipp said so.’

Hannah mentally sent Miss Cudlipp and all her sayings to the devil. ‘So who is Mr Peregrine Williams?’

Emily turned a delicate shade of pink. ‘He is charming, so very fair and beautiful. He has hair like gold and the bluest eyes you have ever seen. He writes poetry to me which Miss Cudlipp says rivals Mr Wordsworth.’

‘And did your parents introduce you to this paragon?’

‘Oh, no. It transpires that they had set their hearts on my marrying Harley a long time ago. I have not even made my come-out. I met Mr Williams when I was walking in the Park with Miss Cudlipp. I would not have noticed him, but Miss Cudlipp said, “Regard that beautiful young man who watches you so closely.” I looked across and he was standing under a tree, a book in his hand. He looked at me so intently, I began to tremble. But Miss Cudlipp with great bravery approached him and asked him why he was staring, and he said … do you know what he said?’

‘“Your beauty has pierced my heart,” or some such thing?’ suggested Hannah.

‘Well … not exactly, but he said, “The fair maiden yonder has struck my heart a blow. I am blinded by her beauty.”’

‘Fiddlesticks,’ muttered Miss Pym.

‘What did you say?’

‘I said “Fiddlesticks” because I thought the fire was dying down,’ said Hannah. ‘Go on about Mr Williams.’

‘He begged permission to call, and so I gave him my direction,’ said Emily. ‘But when he called, my parents refused to have him admitted. They then asked around the town about him and found that although of gentle birth, he has little money, and so I received a terrible punishment.’

‘They beat you?’

‘No, they took my novels.’

Very proper, thought Hannah. Aloud she said, ‘So you never saw him again?’

‘Of course I did! Miss Cudlipp saw to that.’

‘Yes, of course she would,’ said Hannah. ‘But, believe me, as we are going to be trapped in this hostelry for a few days, I would suggest you make a friend of this Lord Harley. You will find that not only does he not want to marry you, but that he might break that sad news very tactfully to your parents.’

Emily’s beautiful face took on a mulish look. ‘He will not change his mind.’

‘Why?’

‘Because I am very beautiful.’

Hannah was thoroughly shocked. ‘You must not say such a thing, my dear Miss Freemantle.’

‘Why not?’

‘Because anyone who praises her own looks immediately appears vain and shabby.’

‘Miss Cudlipp says—’

‘Never mind what Miss Cudlipp says. Did that governess encourage you to flee?’

‘Oh, yes. ’Twas most exciting. I climbed down from my bedroom window and she lowered the trunks down to me.’

‘And where did you get the men’s clothes?’