‘With good reason,’ put in Phyllida, a touch of bitterness entering her voice. ‘Nothing I did ever pleased Mama and Papa. Save for marrying Tatham, and even then they made it very plain how fortunate I was to find anyone to offer for me.’
‘Yes, well, your lack of looks did not matter to Sir Evelyn. He wanted a good bloodline and I must say he was always very generous, considering you never produced the son he wanted.’
Phyllida flinched at her sister’s bluntness, but she could not deny it. Sir Evelyn had married her for an heir, but when their union failed to bear fruit he had accepted the situation with grace, behaving with more forbearance than Phyllida’s parents, who considered her failure to conceive a personal slight upon their family and continued to rebuke her for her undutiful behaviour until their deaths some four years ago, when a sudden chill carried them off within weeks of each other.
‘No,’ continued Olivia, blithely oblivious of her sister’s sombre thoughts. ‘You are looking very well. Of course, you are tall and your figure shows to advantage in these high-waisted fashions.’
The unaccustomed wistful note in her sister’s voice was not lost on Phyllida, who said quickly, ‘As the mother of a large family, Olivia, it is no wonder if your figure is not so, er, willowy as it was.’
‘That is true. And speaking of children brings me to another thing I meant to say to you, Phyllida. It has taken me only a few hours in Ellen’s company to realise that she has lost none of her liveliness! From everything I heard at dinner she is leading you a merry dance, with parties and outings every day.’
‘And I am enjoying it immensely,’ replied Phyllida, with perfect sincerity. ‘I have never been so busy, nor felt so happy. You have said yourself I am looking very well.’
Lady Olivia shook her head, saying ominously, ‘She will run you ragged, mark my words.’
‘No, no. Ellen is certainly spirited, but she means no harm.’
‘But?’ Olivia prompted her. ‘I can tell from your voice that something is worrying you.’
Phyllida sighed.
‘I had not expected her to be so, so courted.’ She paused, her brow furrowed as she sought to explain. ‘I know she is an heiress, but gentlemen are positively falling over themselves to befriend her, and not all of them unmarried, which is not at all what I expected.’
‘Men are always susceptible to a pretty face, married or not.’
‘And Ellen is undoubtedly very pretty.’ Phyllida sighed again. ‘I wonder, sometimes...however, Ellen is very good. Her head does not appear to be turned one jot by all the attention she receives. But I confess I had not thought Bath would be so full of dangers. She must be accompanied everywhere.’
‘I thought you had brought her maid with you.’
‘Matlock? Yes, she is here and I do, often, send her out with Ellen.’
‘But you prefer to be with her yourself, is that it? So you have exchanged looking after a husband for caring for his daughter. You should pack her off to her uncle. Tatham would have her, would he not?’
‘Yes, but Walter and Bridget are so, so...’
‘Stuffy?’ suggested Olivia. ‘Outmoded? Boring?’
Phyllida laughed. ‘Yes! They would put Ellen in the schoolroom with their own children and that dragon of a governess until her come-out next year, which would be disastrous. I am sure she would run away. No, I am her mama—’
‘Her stepmama.’
‘Very well, her stepmama, but it is my duty to look after her.’
Olivia snorted. ‘You are not old enough to be anyone’s mama.’
‘I am four-and-twenty.’
‘Yes, and you should be enjoying your freedom now that Tatham is dead. A rich widow is a very attractive prospect for a man, you know. Well, there is no point in being coy, Philly,’ she continued, when Phyllida made a quiet protest. ‘Tatham only married you to get an heir.’
‘And I failed him miserably.’
‘That is not your fault,’ said Olivia robustly. ‘Sir Evelyn’s health was poor when he married you and you must admit he behaved very handsomely to you. I have no doubt you would find yourself a dozen suitors if you did not have Ellen constantly by your side. I cannot lie to you, Phyllida, she does rather put you in the shade,’ said Olivia, crushingly frank. ‘If you would but send her to her relatives you could have a very pleasant life.’
‘But how could I do that to her? She has never liked her Tatham relatives and having lost her father how could I turn her off?
‘Easily. She is not you, Phyllida, she is far more robust and could survive a few months with Walter and Bridget, I am sure. And although I am very fond of Ellen I must say that she is very forward. The sooner she is married off the better.’
‘No, not at seventeen,’ said Phyllida quickly. ‘It is far too young. Why, even Papa—’
She broke off but Olivia finished for her, saying in her blunt fashion, ‘Papa waited until you were eighteen before he married you to a man old enough to be your father. But you are not Ellen, that school she attended has made her far more independent than is proper for a gel. I have never been in favour of educating young women but I know her father was adamant about it. No, at eighteen you were far too young to be married, and far too innocent. But then, that is what Tatham wanted, a young bride he could keep to himself, no hint of scandal.’
Phyllida could not deny it. Sir Evelyn had looked after her very well, making it plain to any young buck and even to the married men of his acquaintance that any attempt to dally with his young bride would not be tolerated.
‘You have no idea how to keep the rakes at bay,’ Olivia told her.
Phyllida put up her chin.
‘I am learning,’ she said quietly.
Olivia pursed her lips.
‘Yes, well, I shall come out and about with you while I am here and see for myself just how well you go on. It is a pity that Hapton needs me with him next week or I would remain in Bath with you. But if Addington can be made to see that the peace will not hold then I may be able to come back here very soon.’
After that dire warning no more was said on the subject and the two ladies soon retired to their beds, the one with her head full of plans to bring down the government, the other hoping for nothing more than to get through the next few days without mishap.
Lady Olivia might stigmatise Bath as a slow, unfashionable place, but she was not unknown amongst its residents. When they visited the Pump Room the following morning it seemed to Phyllida that her sister was acquainted with almost everyone present, and of the remainder she knew some relative and thus claimed a connection. Consequently, their progress around the room was very slow. Ellen had already gone off to talk to Penelope Desborough, and as Olivia showed a propensity to take over every conversation, Phyllida found herself with little to do. She was happy to stand back and watch, thinking with an inward smile that with her talent for remembering everyone’s name and family connections, her sister was the ideal political hostess.
‘My dear, I can see that you are very well regarded in Bath,’ murmured Olivia, as they moved on from the latest introductions.
‘I am glad to have earned your approval, Sister,’ Phyllida replied drily. ‘I—’
‘But that does not meet with my approval!’ Olivia interrupted her, staring fixedly across the room.
Following her gaze, Phyllida observed that Richard Arrandale was now part of a small group gathered about Ellen and the Desboroughs. Olivia gripped her arm and began to propel her through the crowds.
‘I do not know what brought Arrandale to Bath but he is not the sort of man to be allowed anywhere near Ellen. His reputation is most unsavoury.’
‘I know all about his reputation,’ retorted Phyllida, bridling, ‘but I assure you he—’
‘Oh.’ Olivia’s pace slackened as they drew nearer and the whole group came into view. ‘So he is here with Lady Hune. I suppose in that case you are obliged to acknowledge the connection.’
There was no time for Phyllida to reply. Mrs Desborough had spotted her and was even now smiling and making room for them to come up. More introductions followed. Olivia might not approve of Mr Richard Arrandale but there was no sign of it in her greeting, and if, in the course of their brief conversation, she gave the impression that Miss Tatham was under her especial protection and would not be allowed to fall into the clutches of a known womaniser, it was done so subtly that no one could take offence.
Phyllida glanced surreptitiously at Ellen, hoping she would not resent her aunt’s interference and was relieved to see that she and Penelope Desborough had their heads together and were paying no heed to anyone else. When Olivia claimed Lady Hune’s attention Richard had moved to stand beside Phyllida.
‘I am impressed,’ he murmured. ‘I have never been warned off in such an elegant manner before.’
She fought down the urge to apologise.
‘Your reputation precedes you, sir. You cannot blame my sister for disliking the acquaintance.’
‘I do not blame her. I am impressed by her eloquence.’
‘But it is unnecessary, is it not?’ She raised her eyes to his face. ‘You have already assured me you have no interest in Ellen.’