Still, it was so simple to get carried away when the champagne flowed freely, and every man in the room wanted to stand up with her.
Every man except Jonathan. He seemed suddenly to always be engaged with another woman in their party, or a pretty young miss fluttering her fan at the handsome young chap. Most of the time they shied off when they discovered he was a man of the cloth, but some continued to express admiration for him.
He began to disappear on occasion, and Thomas's replies as to where he had gone seemed most evasive. Even when he was with Pamela, the intimacy she felt sure had been developing between them seemed to have vanished, though she knew not why. They had been so close. Why then did he seem to be slipping away from her?
One night at home, when they were all assembled for coffee, Jonathan asked if they would care to try another play.
"The last one was such a huge success, my dear chap. Why not?" Thomas, the Duke of Ellesmere said with a smile.
"What did you have in mind?" Charlotte asked. "Not The Recruiting Officer."
"Ah, so you heard about one of my recent sermons, did you?"
"It was the talk of the County," she said. "I'm sorry we were up to Town and missed it."
"I was thinking of something a bit lighter. The School for Scandal, perhaps?"
"Let me guess. You want to be Charles, or Joseph?" Clifford said with a grin.
"No, for now, I shall just be Snake. And you, Miss Ashton, can be my Lady Sneerwell."
She sat up in surprise. "What, me? But-"
"Please, do not display such false modesty. I have heard you read very well. You certainly have a remarkable speaking voice, which carries very well in a crowd."
He pressed the book into her hand, and told her to begin.
She blushed, but could do nothing else but comply when everyone in the room was looking at her so pointedly.
"Start at the first line, please."
Pamela took a deep breath. "The paragraphs, you say, Mr. Snake, were all inserted?"
"They were, madam; and, as I copied them myself in a feigned hand, there can be no suspicion whence they came."
"Did you circulate the report of Lady Brittle's intrigue with Captain Boastall?"
"That's in as fine a train as your ladyship could wish. In the common course of things, I think it must reach Mrs. Clackitt's ears within four-and-twenty hours; and then, you know, the business is as good as done."
"Why, truly, Mrs. Clackitt has a very pretty talent, and a great deal of industry."
"True, madam," Jonathan said in an enthusiastic tone as Snake, "and has been tolerably successful in her day. To my knowledge, she has been the cause of six matches being broken off, and three sons being disinherited; of four forced elopements, and as many close confinements; nine separate maintenances, and two divorces. Nay, I have more than once traced her causing a tête à tête in the 'Town and County Magazine,' when the parties, perhaps, had never seen each other's face before in the course of their lives."
"She certainly has talents, but her manner is gross."
"'Tis very true. She generally designs well, has a free tongue and a bold invention; but her colouring is too dark, and her outlines often extravagant. She wants that delicacy of tint, and mellowness of sneer, which distinguish your ladyship's scandal."
"You are partial, Snake."
"Not in the least; everybody allows that Lady Sneerwell can do more with a word or look than many can with the most laboured detail, even when they happen to have a little truth on their side to support it."
Pamela stopped there. She could no longer bring herself to read any further. What had seemed an amusing and witty comedy was now not quite so humorous.
"You are silent, Miss Ashton. Is the play not to your liking? I assure you, you have performed your part admirably," Jonathan said in a cool tone.
Pamela's back went ramrod stiff. She could not fail to see how she was being singled out, though she was not sure what had provoked such ire on the normally mild-mannered vicar's part. "I find my throat is sore, sir, and shall retire to my room. If you will all excuse me."
She bowed to everyone, and fled the chamber, hot tears of mortification bursting forth as soon as she was safely out in the hall.
Or so she thought, for the door opened after her, and Jonathan emerged and took her hand, staying her flight.
"I'm sorry, I did not mean to distress you so."
Pamela turned to face him head on, daring to stand up for herself, though she had yet to know precisely what the nature of her offense had been. "You most certainly did! You wanted me to see the error of my ways. I have, and can only be ashamed of the manner in which I have conducted myself upon coming to Bath."