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Page 5


  The girls were sitting primly on the sofa in the drawing room while Lady Fanny rehearsed her speech.

  “My lords, ladies and—cough, cough—gentlemen… Oh, dear, I would get a cough at a time like this. What—cough, cough, garrrh—am I to—cough—do? It is nearly time to go.”

  Molly looked at Mary and Mary looked at Molly.

  “I know you said we weren’t to mention it,” said Molly, “but you have got a terrible cough and we have got a bottle of Maguires’ Leprechaun Dew in our trunk upstairs.”

  “I’ll—cough—try anything,” said Lady Fanny weakly.

  Molly reappeared a few minutes later, holding a bottle. The leprechaun looked evilly at Lady Fanny and Lady Fanny looked doubtfully back. She was about to refuse when she was overtaken by another fit of coughing. She looked at her reflection in the mirror and straightened her smart military shako. She must be all right for the parade. Lady Ann Abbott, her dearest rival, was to be present. She picked up the bottle of Maguires’ Leprechaun Dew and after eyeing it for a few seconds with all the enthusiasm of Juliet viewing Friar Lawrence’s phial, she swallowed half the contents.

  “Dear, goodness me!” she exclaimed. “That was unexpectedly pleasant. Come, girls, let us go. Chins up and best foots forward… I mean feets… feet. Oh, dear!” she ended with a surprisingly girlish giggle. “I feel simply marvelous.”

  Molly stood nervously behind Lady Fanny on the rostrum and wondered what to do. Should she risk the Maguire fortunes by informing Lady Fanny that Maguires’ Leprechaun Dew was 140 proof? Surely they had enough money already. Lady Fanny was sitting with her hands on her knees and a vacant smile on her face, rather like the end man at a minstrel show waiting for Rastus to elucidate.

  Molly took a tentative step forward. But it was then that she heard the first strains of the band. Molly cried listening to bands the way other women cry at weddings. To her, the sound of a marching band was all the essence of lost summers and lost childhood rolled into one. Lady Fanny, the rostrum, the dignitaries, the mayor, the Boy Scouts, and Hadsea all faded away to be replaced by the smells and noises of childhood New York. Her ears rang with the rattle of the elevated trains, the shrill cries of the street vendors, the fox-trots of the forties, and the shrill squeals of her friends of the Brooklyn playgrounds. Molly Maguire stood with a lump in her throat and the tears of homesickness rolling down her cheeks, unaware that Lady Fanny had risen to her feet and, instead of taking the salute, was waving merrily and shouting “coo-ee” to the ranks of startled Boy Scouts.

  Molly recovered just as the first scout mounted the platform to receive his prize. “James Benson,” she whispered in Lady Fanny’s ear. “Prize for tracking.”

  “Darling, darling, boy,” cooed Lady Fanny, stroking the startled Boy Scout’s arm. He was a tall, attractive-looking boy with an unruly thatch of thick brown hair. Lady Fanny’s hand had moved from his arm and was now tenderly ruffling James’s hair. “We won a prize for tracking, did we?” she murmured. “Such a dear, clever boy.” James Benson retreated hurriedly and almost fell down the steps. “Next!” shouted Lady Fanny with a joyful, predatory eye. There was an anxious rustling movement among the dignitaries. All was not well. Lady Fanny Holden, the model of upright behavior and strict discipline, was behaving very strangely indeed.

  Molly felt that she must do something, but Mary was already handing Lady Fanny the next prize and murmuring, “Joseph Willicombe, sports prize.”

  Joseph was the smallest of the scouts, with a face like a cherub. He had rosy cheeks and black curly hair and a surprisingly red and sensuous mouth for one so young.

  “My dear boy,” trilled Lady Fanny. “And you are our best at sports. And so small. Are you small, boy?”

  “Yes, my lady. Please, my lady,” said Joseph with wide-eyed wonder.

  “Marvelous,” breathed Lady Fanny, staring at Joseph’s red mouth. “Now, Joseph, you will give Lady Fanny a nice big kiss, won’t you?”

  The boy looked wildly around at his scout master for help but the scout master’s face was like wood. Lady Fanny swooped down and kissed the horribly embarrassed boy on the mouth.

  A ripple of shock ran through the crowd. Lady Ann Abbott gave tongue. “What’s the matter with you, Fanny?” she hissed.

  “Nothing,” said Lady Fanny, turning one pale, cold eye on her rival. “You’re just jealous because of my smart suit.” This was said in such accents of concentrated venom that the rest of the dignitaries could not find the courage to stop her ladyship. But Lady Fanny’s pink cloud had dwindled away, leaving her with a nagging ache behind the eyes and a sudden hatred of the whole world.

  A small, thin, cross-eyed scout was standing waiting. “Henry Beddings. Fire-making,” said Molly desperately.

  Lady Fanny stared down at the scout with hatred. “Fire-making!” she exclaimed bitterly.

  “Of all the stupid things to give a prize for. I know you. You’re the one who tried to set fire to my hedge last autumn. I’ll fire-make you, you little pyromaniac.” She tried to swipe Henry with his prize and missed. The boy scuttled down from the platform, and Lady Fanny threw his prize after him. Then suddenly feeling very weak, she collapsed into her chair and fell sound asleep.

  Molly realized that she must do something to save Lady Fanny’s reputation. She moved quickly to the front of the platform.

  “My lords, ladies, and gentlemen,” she cried. The unexpected American accents caught everyone’s attention. “Lady Holden is suffering from a very bad cough. She should have stayed in bed. But she is very conscious of her duty and took some very strong medicine so that she would be able to perform the prize-giving. The medicine is extremely strong and, as you can see, Lady Holden is suffering from its effects. It takes great dedication to duty and to the welfare of Hadsea to attempt to speak despite the influence of a strong drug. I suggest we give three hearty cheers for Lady Holden.”

  Molly had never looked more beautiful. The crowd, glad to have a little excitement, and the dignitaries, glad to be relieved of embarrassment, cheered wildly.

  Molly held up her hands for silence. “And now,” she cried, “I would like James Benson, Joseph Willicombe, and Henry Beddings to receive three cheers for behaving like true Boy Scouts in unusual and embarrassing circumstances.” More wild cheers.

  Then Molly delivered her master stroke. “We are, however, fortunate in having with us today Lady Holden’s dear friend who, I feel sure, will be glad to stand in for her. Lady Ann Abbott.”

  Lady Ann Abbott sailed to the front of the platform, her bosom heaving with gratification. She pulled down the front of her sensible tweed jacket, casting a pitying look at her fallen rival. She, Ann, had been looking forward to telling Fanny exactly how badly she, Fanny, had behaved. But enough was enough. Lady Abbott was having her moment of triumph and could afford to be magnanimous. Poor, dear Fanny should never hear of her disgrace from her. Which was exactly what the clever Miss Molly Maguire had planned.

  Lord David and his friend, Roddy, Marquess of Leamouth, walked thoughtfully away from the prize-giving.

  “She’s divine, you know. Absolutely divine,” said Roddy. “I wouldn’t do anything to upset her for the world.”

  “She’s a militant baggage,” snapped Lord David. “Didn’t you see the way she stood up and made that speech? Not a feminine nerve in her whole body.”

  “Oh, not that one,” said Roddy. “Her sister. The quiet one who stood at the back. What’s her name?”

  “Mary,” replied Lord David, who had made it his business to find out as much as possible about the Maguire sisters.

  “Mary,” breathed Roddy.

  Lord David smiled at him indulgently. “You’re always falling head over heels in love with unsuitable females.”

  “This one’s not unsuitable,” said Roddy. “She’s an angel.”

  “An angel who sounds as if she hailed from one of the less salubrious parts of New York,” said his friend dryly.

  “Snob,” said Roddy, turni
ng back for a last look at Mary. “I’ll lay siege to Miss Mary Maguire, David, but my intentions will be honorable.”

  Lord David smiled to himself. Roddy’s intentions were always honorable. That was part of his charm.

  “And,” Roddy was going on, “when do we get a chance to get close to the girls?”

  “After today,” replied Lord David, “I think that Lady Ann will send them a hurried last-minute invitation to her daughter’s ball. She had no intention of asking them, you know, but after Miss Molly’s performance today I have no doubt she will be all over them.”

  Roddy looked slyly at his friend. “Don’t you think you’re going to have a bit of a hard time with the fair Molly?”

  “Oh, she’ll come around,” said his lordship with maddening assurance. “I’ve never had any difficulty before.”

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Despite all his much-vaunted assurance, Lord David found himself strangely nervous as he stood at the edge of the Abbotts’ ballroom and waited for the arrival of the Maguire sisters.

  The long French windows of the ballroom were open onto the gardens. Brightly colored lanterns were strung through the trees. Vincent and His Melody Makers, specially imported from London, were playing a Viennese waltz with gusto. Great banks of hothouse flowers bloomed against the walls of the ballroom. All the most elegant members of the county were present and even a few sprigs of the nobility had traveled in from other summer parts, drawn by Lady Ann’s well-deserved reputation for lavish hospitality.

  The band hit a triumphant last chord and the voice of the majordomo could be heard announcing, “Miss Molly Maguire and Miss Mary Maguire.” He looked eagerly around.

  The Maguire sisters were coming slowly down the red-carpeted stairs. They were dressed in ball gowns of white and silver gauze, and real white rosebuds were threaded through the glossy black curls of their hair. With their startling blue eyes, creamy complexions, and high cheekbones, they looked strangely exotic—two foreign birds come to ruffle the plumage of the gray English doves. They made every other woman look colorless.

  Roddy was already hurrying to the foot of the stairs to meet them. Lord Toby and Lady Fanny followed behind. Lady Fanny was wearing a ball gown of heavy crimson satin, which vaguely hinted at military discipline by having things like epaulets on the hips. She carried a lorgnette with a very long handle, which she brandished like a swagger stick, and her feathered headdress suggested more the scarlet crest of a warlike Roman than a feminine adornment for the dance.

  For once, however, Fanny was looking as hunted as her husband. She could not remember one thing about the prize-giving, although everyone had informed her in such kind and sympathetic tones that she had done very well.

  Lady Ann had been particularly sugary. Lady Fanny had been on the point of refusing the invitation to the ball but the stupendous news that none other than Lord David Manley was to be present had forced her to change her mind. The Maguire girls were looking enchanting and Lady Fanny knew where her duty lay. If only Molly would curb her sense of humor and if only Mary would learn to keep her mouth shut, then they might be married before the summer ended. Mary had quickly adopted the English accent and manners of the aristocracy but the context of her conversation was still pure Brooklynese.

  Roddy gloomily retired from the Maguires’ crowd of admirers. “I only managed to get two dances,” he said to Lord David. “All these other damned chappies are scribbling away in the girls’ dance cards. How did you get on?”

  “Not any better than you,” said Lord David. “Don’t worry. I have a plan. Before the next dance starts, plunge in there, laddie, and ask to see their dance cards. Tease, you know. Say you can’t believe they’re fully booked. Make a note in that brain of yours of the names of the chappies who have them signed up for the supper dance. Then we’ll take it from there.”

  The marquess plunged back into the crowd of admirers. He started chatting and laughing. Lord David noticed that Mary looked at the marquess with glowing eyes and that Molly was even smiling at him with open friendliness. The young Americans had not yet learned to school their expressions.

  Vincent and His Melody Makers struck up once again and Lord David was joined by Roddy. “Cuthbert Postlethwaite has got yours,” he said, “and Alfred Bingham has mine.”

  “Oh, good,” said Lord David matter-of-factly. “I hate Postlethwaite. I’ll go and get rid of him directly.”

  “Hey, what about me?” cried Roddy. “I like old Bingham.”

  “Appeal to his better nature,” laughed Lord David, striding off.

  Refreshments were being served under various marquees on the lawns. Beneath one, draped inside in great swathes of pink silk, only champagne was being served, and it was into this one that Lord David saw Cuthbert Postlethwaite’s broad back disappearing.

  Cuthbert had his large face in a silver tankard. Lord David slapped him heartily on the back and said cheerfully, “And how are you, you silly little man?”

  “Quite well, you old turd,” said Cuthbert amiably. Ladies were not present.

  “Last time I saw you was at Cannes,” said Lord David, staring at Cuthbert’s frilled shirt. “That gigolo at the hotel must have been a damned decent chap.”

  “Why?”

  “I see he gave you his shirt,” said Lord David, helping himself to champagne.

  Cuthbert’s broad face became puce. “If your lungs weren’t rotting in your chest, you’d answer for that,” he said wrathfully.

  “I got the all clear from the hospital. Everyone knows that,” said Lord David. “Of course, a lot of chaps pretend not to know it. You know the sort. Frightened they’ll get hurt.”

  Cuthbert was smaller in height than Lord David but he was powerfully built. He put down his tankard and stared at his lordship in blank amazement.

  “Are you calling me a c-coward?” he stammered.

  “Y-yes,” mimicked Lord David. “I am calling you a c-coward.”

  “Outside,” said Cuthbert. “I’ve wanted to smash your face in for years and now I’m going to do it.”

  They marched outside the tent and into the shrubbery while the band played on.

  Molly swayed elegantly in the arms of her partner and assured herself that she was glad that that horrible Lord David had chosen to disappear. Perhaps he would stay away and not turn up to claim his two dances after supper. She was conscious of a faint sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. She put it down to worrying about her sister. Mary was floating in Roddy’s arms, looking like a child at Christmas. Molly distrusted Roddy. First, of course, because of his friendship with Lord David. Secondly, because he seemed somehow insincere. It was rather like watching someone flirting in a play, Molly decided.

  She whirled to a stop and gave her partner an abstracted smile and refused his offer of refreshment. She wandered over in the direction of the chaperons, meaning to have a word with Lady Fanny. Then she saw a young girl sitting forlornly on her own beside a pillar. She was dressed in a very dashing Paris gown that was much too old for her and much too daring for her obviously retiring manner. She had a very young, freckled face that bore the traces of tears. Molly’s warm heart was touched. She plumped herself down beside the girl, ignoring the fact that her next partner would be searching for her, and asked, sympathetically, “Are you all right?”

  ”Yes, thank you,” said the girl in a faint voice.

  “I guess we haven’t been introduced, and you British set such store by introductions so I’ll introduce myself. I’m Molly Maguire, and the one out on the floor that looks like me is my sister, Mary.”

  “I know who you are,” said the girl in a low voice. “He’s done nothing but look at you all evening.”

  “He? Who?” asked Molly somewhat incoherently.

  “Lord David.”

  “That bully,” scoffed Molly. “Oh, here, for land sakes don’t start crying again. Tell me all about it. Start by telling me your name. Come on. I’m not going to eat you.”

  “My name
is Jennifer Strange,” said the girl, speaking in such a low whisper that Molly had to bend to hear. “I have been sent down here to stay with my Aunt Matilda, only because Lord David is here. My—my mother is very ambitious and—and—persuaded my aunt that there was a good chance of me marrying Lord David so they bought me a dashing new wardrobe and—and—sent me here—and—and he won’t even l-look at me.”

  “But your mother can’t force you to marry just anyone,” exclaimed Molly.

  “N-no one is f-forcing me,” said Jennifer, hiccuping. “I love him. He’s s-so strong and masterful.”

  At first Molly thought this a bit theatrical but then she put it down to the British attitude.

  “Well, you won’t attract his attention sitting behind this pillar,” Molly couldn’t help pointing out.

  “H-he won’t even see me with you and your sister around. And—and—my aunt’s so furious, I’m hiding from her.”

  Another bully! Another dragon to fight. Molly’s blue eyes gleamed. “You just relax,” she said, laying a comforting hand on the girl’s knee. “Leave everything to Molly.”

  Jennifer raised adoring eyes to this new, strong personality in her life. Molly smiled down at her. She was really very engaging. Rather like a small Pekingese. Resisting an impulse to pat her on the head, Molly returned to the floor just as the supper dance was being announced and found herself looking up into the tanned and somewhat battered features of Lord David.

  She forgot her dislike of him as she stared at his face. “You look as if you have been in a prize fight,” she exclaimed as he led her unresistingly into the steps of the waltz. And then, “Say, isn’t this someone else’s dance?” She tried to tug her hand free to look at her dance card but he kept her hand in a strong clasp.

 

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Death of a Gossip hm-1 Read onlineHamish Macbeth 01; Death of a Gossip hm-1Love and Lady Lovelace (The Changing Fortunes Series, Vol. 8) Read onlineLove and Lady Lovelace (The Changing Fortunes Series, Vol. 8)Death of an Honest Man Read onlineDeath of an Honest ManThe Desirable Duchess Read onlineThe Desirable DuchessDeception (Daughters of Mannerling 3) Read onlineDeception (Daughters of Mannerling 3)A Highland Christmas hm-16 Read onlineA Highland Christmas hm-16Polly Read onlinePollyThe Savage Marquess Read onlineThe Savage MarquessAgatha Raisin 03 (1994) - The Potted Gardener Read onlineAgatha Raisin 03 (1994) - The Potted GardenerPushing Up Daisies Read onlinePushing Up DaisiesDeath Of An Addict Read onlineDeath Of An AddictBanishment (Daughters of Mannerling 1) Read onlineBanishment (Daughters of Mannerling 1)Amaryllis Read onlineAmaryllisHamish MacBeth 06 (1991) - Death of a Snob Read onlineHamish MacBeth 06 (1991) - Death of a SnobThe Paper Princess Read onlineThe Paper PrincessHamish Macbeth 06; Death of a Snob hm-6 Read onlineHamish Macbeth 06; Death of a Snob hm-6The Dreadful Debutante Read onlineThe Dreadful DebutanteAgatha Raisin and the Fairies of Fryfam Read onlineAgatha Raisin and the Fairies of FryfamHamish Macbeth 22 (2006) - Death of a Dreamer Read onlineHamish Macbeth 22 (2006) - Death of a DreamerDishing the Dirt Read onlineDishing the DirtMinerva Read onlineMinervaDeath of a Nag hm-11 Read onlineDeath of a Nag hm-11Hamish Macbeth 18 (2002) - Death of a Celebrity Read onlineHamish Macbeth 18 (2002) - Death of a CelebrityQuadrille (The Love and Temptation Series Book 5) Read onlineQuadrille (The Love and Temptation Series Book 5)Death of a Glutton hm-8 Read onlineDeath of a Glutton hm-8The Westerby Sisters (Changing Fortunes Series) Read onlineThe Westerby Sisters (Changing Fortunes Series)The Scandalous Marriage (The Dukes and Desires Series Book 7) Read onlineThe Scandalous Marriage (The Dukes and Desires Series Book 7)The Adventuress: HFTS5 Read onlineThe Adventuress: HFTS5Death of a Valentine Read onlineDeath of a ValentineDeath of a Nag Read onlineDeath of a NagDeath of a Dustman hm-17 Read onlineDeath of a Dustman hm-17Hamish Macbeth 09 (1993) - Death of a Travelling Man Read onlineHamish Macbeth 09 (1993) - Death of a Travelling ManThe Loves of Lord Granton (The Changing Fortunes Series, Vol. 2) Read onlineThe Loves of Lord Granton (The Changing Fortunes Series, Vol. 2)Agatha Raisin and a Spoonful of Poison ar-19 Read onlineAgatha Raisin and a Spoonful of Poison ar-19To Dream of Love Read onlineTo Dream of LoveAgatha Raisin 04 (1995) - The Walkers of Dembley Read onlineAgatha Raisin 04 (1995) - The Walkers of DembleyHamish MacBeth 01 (1985) - Death of a Gossip Read onlineHamish MacBeth 01 (1985) - Death of a GossipDeath of a Maid hm-23 Read onlineDeath of a Maid hm-23Belinda Goes to Bath Read onlineBelinda Goes to BathDeath of a Kingfisher Read onlineDeath of a KingfisherDeath of a Charming Man hm-10 Read onlineDeath of a Charming Man hm-10Death of a Prankster hm-7 Read onlineDeath of a Prankster hm-7The Miser of Mayfair: HFTS1 Read onlineThe Miser of Mayfair: HFTS1Hamish Macbeth 05; Death of a Hussy hm-5 Read onlineHamish Macbeth 05; Death of a Hussy hm-5A Governess of Distinction (Endearing Young Charms Book 6) Read onlineA Governess of Distinction (Endearing Young Charms Book 6)The Westerby Inheritance Read onlineThe Westerby InheritanceDeath of a Hussy Read onlineDeath of a HussyHamish MacBeth 07 (1998) - Death of a Prankster Read onlineHamish MacBeth 07 (1998) - Death of a PranksterHamish Macbeth 20 (2004) - Death of a Poison Pen Read onlineHamish Macbeth 20 (2004) - Death of a Poison PenMiss Tonks Turns to Crime Read onlineMiss Tonks Turns to CrimeEdwardian Murder Mystery 01; Snobbery with Violence emm-1 Read onlineEdwardian Murder Mystery 01; Snobbery with Violence emm-1Agatha Raisin and the Wizard of Evesham Read onlineAgatha Raisin and the Wizard of EveshamHamish Macbeth 12 (1996) - Death of a Macho Man Read onlineHamish Macbeth 12 (1996) - Death of a Macho ManYvonne Goes to York Read onlineYvonne Goes to YorkA Highland Christmas Read onlineA Highland ChristmasSweet Masquerade (The Love and Temptation Series Book 4) Read onlineSweet Masquerade (The Love and Temptation Series Book 4)Agatha Raisin and the Witch of Wykhadden Read onlineAgatha Raisin and the Witch of WykhaddenThe Dead Ringer Read onlineThe Dead RingerAgatha Raisin 05 (1996) - The Murderous Marriage Read onlineAgatha Raisin 05 (1996) - The Murderous MarriageAgatha Raisin 07 (1998) - The Wellspring of Death Read onlineAgatha Raisin 07 (1998) - The Wellspring of DeathAgatha Raisin: As the Pig Turns ar-22 Read onlineAgatha Raisin: As the Pig Turns ar-22