Miss Fanshawe's Fortune - Linore Rose Burkard Page 0,25
upon closer examination. How had she found him frightful at first? His sober expression wasn’t sternness, but thoughtfulness. His quiet manner of dress was not without elegance, and indeed made Edward’s exuberant modishness appear ostentatious. Overall, there was something decidedly tasteful about Mr. Arundell’s appearance. And vastly reassuring.
If only she weren’t so wholly without merit to recommend her to such a man! But now that she knew her place, she would never plague him with the slightest indication that she admired him. She would adhere to her station, such as it was. If, in time, her fortune were found and proved to be substantial, perhaps then…but no! What had he said? The Arundell name has never been attached to a scandal, and I wish to keep it that way. Sebastian Arundell would no more look at a hired companion than a scullery maid. To do otherwise would be scandalous. She must not forget it.
Mrs. Arundell received her new device eagerly, exclaiming, “Upon my word, how small ‘tis! Nothing at all like Earl Brest’s ponderous monstrosity. And he must hold it continually to his ear, at great inconvenience. Nobody can overlook it. And it did not remove the necessity of raising one’s voice to be heard by him. I own, I had a dread of using such a thing. I had rather give up society—which, you know,” she added, looking earnestly at Frannie—“I nearly did. I daresay I haven’t been out in an age!” Placing the little metal piece in one ear, she said, “Now say something, Beau, in your usual tone.”
Sebastian said, “How do you do, ma’am?”
She responded with a shriek of excitement. “I hear you! I hear you perfectly well!” She turned to Frannie and grasped both her hands. “My dear, God bless you! This answers all my prayers!” Turning to Beau, though keeping Frannie’s hands in her own, she said, “Beau, darling, I must bring Frannie to the ball. She has done me such a service!”
But he said firmly, “No, ma’am, you must not. Until we know for a certainty how to introduce her, she would be grilled mercilessly by the ape leaders. They never fail to plague a new face if it be pretty. One glimpse of Miss Fanshawe will have them arrayed for battle, and we have not the defense at present to rout it. You must not subject her to it.”
Frannie’s cheeks flushed rosily. Sebastian was telling his mama in the kindest words possible that Frannie wasn’t acceptable for the upper class. Though she knew it to be true, it stung. A week ago, no, a day ago, she had thought herself respectable. A fatherless girl was not without honour. But a child of sin—a child who knew not her father’s name—that was a different story.
Mrs. Arundell nodded with reluctant agreement. “Well, I hope you shall sort out the muddle then, dearest; for if Frannie indeed possesses a fortune, all else can be forgiven, even by the ape leaders.” Frannie comprehended instantly that her mistress must have possession of the details of her dilemma. Edward no doubt, had laid it out for her, how the winds blew, what a sinking ship was Frannie’s life unless the treasure were found. Oh, how she hoped Sebastian could indeed sort it out! The money was hardly important; only inasmuch as she could repay Mrs. Baxter’s remaining debts, buy back the house, and live independently. But even these worthy aims now paled in comparison with one that surmounted all else: to be respectable. Not so she could meet Princess Charlotte, but to be on equal footing with Sebastian—that is what her heart most desired.
That is what her heart told her she would never, ever, possess.
CHAPTER SEVEN
The following morning only the brothers appeared at breakfast. Mrs. Arundell preferred a late meal, and Frannie must accompany her mistress. Edward soon learned that Sebastian had reasonable assurance of Miss Fanshawe’s claim to a fortune, a morsel of knowledge that sent him into a silent reverie. He wore a look of contemplating most earnestly a weighty matter for a young mind. Finally he exclaimed, in a challenging tone, “I daresay, if she is an heiress, a second son might do very well by her!” His face scrunched in thought. He got as far as saying, “But we had ought to do away with this companion business. My mother can hear perfectly well with the help of that little device, and Miss Fanshawe is thoroughly genteel—”