CHAPTER IX.
It was the night after the drawing-room. Lord Cadurcis was at Brookes'dining at midnight, having risen since only a few hours. Being amalcontent, he had ceased to attend the Court, where his originalreception had been most gracious, which he had returned by somefactious votes, and a caustic lampoon.
A party of young men entered, from the Court Ball, which in those daysalways terminated at midnight, whence the guests generally proceededto Ranelagh; one or two of them seated themselves at the table atwhich Cadurcis was sitting. They were full of a new beauty who hadbeen presented. Their violent and even extravagant encomiums excitedhis curiosity. Such a creature had never been seen, she was peerless,the most radiant of acknowledged charms had been dimmed before her.Their Majesties had accorded to her the most marked reception. APrince of the blood had honoured her with his hand. Then they began toexpatiate with fresh enthusiasm on her unparalleled loveliness.
'O Cadurcis,' said a young noble, who was one of his extreme admirers,'she is the only creature I ever beheld worthy of being one of yourheroines.'
'Whom are you talking about?' asked Cadurcis in a rather listlesstone.
'The new beauty, of course.'
'And who may she be?'
'Miss Herbert, to be sure. Who speaks or thinks of any one else?'
'What, Ve----, I mean Miss Herbert?' exclaimed Cadurcis, with nolittle energy.
'Yes. Do you know her?'
'Do you mean to say--' and Cadurcis stopped and rose from the table,and joined the party round the fire. 'What Miss Herbert is it?' headded, after a short pause.
'Why _the_ Miss Herbert; Herbert's daughter, to be sure. She waspresented to-day by her mother.
'Lady Annabel?'
'The same.'
'Presented to-day!' said Cadurcis audibly, yet speaking as it were tohimself. 'Presented to-day! Presented! How strange!'
'So every one thinks; one of the strangest things that ever happened,'remarked a bystander.
'And I did not even know they were in town,' continued Cadurcis, for,from his irregular hours, he had not seen his cousin since the partyof yesterday. He began walking up and down the room, muttering,'Masham, Weymouth, London, presented at Court, and I know nothing. Howlife changes! Venetia at Court, my Venetia!' Then turning round andaddressing the young nobleman who had first spoken to him, he asked'if the ball were over.'
'Yes; all the world are going to Ranelagh. Are you inclined to take around?'
'I have a strange fancy,' said Cadurcis, 'and if you will go with me,I will take you in my vis-a-vis. It is here.'
This was an irresistible invitation, and in a few minutes thecompanions were on their way; Cadurcis, apparently with no peculiarinterest in the subject, leading the conversation very artfully tothe presentation of Miss Herbert. His friend was heartily inclined togratify his curiosity. He gave him ample details of Miss Herbert'sperson: even of her costume, and the sensation both produced; how shewas presented by her mother, who, after so long an estrangement fromthe world, scarcely excited less impression, and the remarkablecordiality with which both mother and daughter were greeted by thesovereign and his royal consort.
The two young noblemen found Ranelagh crowded, but the presence ofLord Cadurcis occasioned a sensation the moment he was recognised.Everywhere the whisper went round, and many parties crowded near tocatch a glimpse of the hero of the day. 'Which is he? That fair,tall young man? No, the other to be sure. Is it really he? Howdistinguished! How melancholy! Quite the poet. Do you think he isreally so unhappy as he looks? I would sooner see him than the Kingand Queen. He seems very young, but then he has seen so much of theworld! Fine eyes, beautiful hair! I wonder who is his friend? Howproud he must be! Who is that lady he bowed to? That is the Dukeof ---- speaking to him,' Such were the remarks that might be caught inthe vicinity of Lord Cadurcis as he took his round, gazed at by theassembled crowd, of whom many knew him only by fame, for the charm ofRanelagh was that it was rather a popular than a merely fashionableassembly. Society at large blended with the Court, which maintainedand renewed its influence by being witnessed under the most gracefulauspices. The personal authority of the aristocracy has decreased withthe disappearance of Ranelagh and similar places of amusement, whererank was not exclusive, and luxury by the gratification it occasionedothers seemed robbed of half its selfism.
In his second round, Lord Cadurcis recognised the approach of theHerberts. They formed the portion of a large party. Lady Annabel wasleaning on her brother, whom Cadurcis knew by sight; Venetia was atthe side of her aunt, and several gentlemen were hovering about them;among them, to his surprise, his cousin, George Cadurcis, in hisuniform, for he had been to Court and to the Court Ball. Venetia wastalking with animation. She was in her Court dress and in powder. Herappearance was strange to him. He could scarcely recognise thefriend of his childhood; but without any doubt in all that assembly,unrivalled in the whole world for beauty, grace, and splendour, shewas without a parallel; a cynosure on which all eyes were fixed.
So occupied were the ladies of the Herbert party by the conversationof their numerous and brilliant attendants, that the approach of anyone else but Lord Cadurcis might have been unnoticed by them, buta hundred tongues before he drew nigh had prepared Venetia for hisappearance. She was indeed most anxious to behold him, and though shewas aware that her heart fluttered not slightly as the moment was athand, she commanded her gaze, and her eyes met his, although she wasdoubtful whether he might choose or care to recognise her. He bowedalmost to the ground; and when Venetia had raised her responsive headhe had passed by.
'Why, Cadurcis, you know Miss Herbert?' said his friend in a tone ofsome astonishment.
'Well; but it is a long time since I have seen her.'
'Is she not beautiful?'
'I never doubted on that subject; I tell you, Scrope, we must contriveto join her party. I wish we had some of our friends among them. Herecomes the Monteagle; aid me to escape her.'
The most fascinating smile failed in arresting the progress ofCadurcis; fortunately, the lady was the centre of a brilliant band;all that he had to do, therefore, was boldly to proceed.
'Do you think my cousin is altered since you knew him?' inquiredGeorge Cadurcis of Venetia.
'I scarcely had time to observe him,' she replied.
'I wish you would let me bring him to you. He did not know until thismoment you were in town. I have not seen him since we met yesterday.'
'Oh, no,' said Venetia. 'Do not disturb him.'
In time, however, Lord Cadurcis was again in sight; and now withoutany hesitation he stopped, and falling into the line by Miss Herbert,he addressed her: 'I am proud of being remembered by Miss Herbert,' hesaid.
'I am most happy to meet you,' replied Venetia, with unaffectedsincerity.
'And Lady Annabel, I have not been able to catch her eye: is she quitewell? I was ignorant that you were in London until I heard of yourtriumph this night.'
The Countess whispered her niece, and Venetia accordingly presentedLord Cadurcis to her aunt. This was a most gratifying circumstance tohim. He was anxious, by some means or other, to effect his entranceinto her circle; and he had an irresistible suspicion that LadyAnnabel no longer looked upon him with eyes of favour. So he resolvedto enlist the aunt as his friend. Few persons could be more winningthan Cadurcis, when he willed it; and every attempt to please from onewhom all emulated to gratify and honour, was sure to be successful.The Countess, who, in spite of politics, was a secret votary of his,was quite prepared to be enchanted. She congratulated herselfon forming, as she had long wished, an acquaintance with one socelebrated. She longed to pass Lady Monteagle in triumph. Cadurcisimproved his opportunity to the utmost. It was impossible for anyone to be more engaging; lively, yet at the same time gentle, anddeferential with all his originality. He spoke, indeed, more to theaunt than to Venetia, but when he addressed the latter, there wasa melting, almost a mournful tenderness in his tones, that alikeaffected her heart and charmed her imagination.
Nor could she beinsensible to the gratification she experienced as she witnessed,every instant, the emotion his presence excited among the passers-by,and of which Cadurcis himself seemed so properly and so utterlyunconscious. And this was Plantagenet!
Lord Cadurcis spoke of his cousin, who, on his joining the party, hadassisted the arrangement by moving to the other side; and he spoke ofhim with a regard which pleased Venetia, though Cadurcis envied himhis good fortune in having the advantage of a prior acquaintancewith Miss Herbert in town; 'but then we are old acquaintances in thecountry,' he added, half in a playful, half in a melancholy tone, 'arewe not?'
'It is a long time that we have known each other, and it is a longtime since we have met,' replied Venetia.
'A delicate reproach,' said Cadurcis; 'but perhaps rather mymisfortune than my fault. My thoughts have been often, I might sayever, at Cherbury.'
'And the abbey; have you forgotten the abbey?'
'I have never been near it since a morning you perhaps remember,' saidhis lordship in a low voice. 'Ah! Miss Herbert,' he continued, witha sigh, 'I was young then; I have lived to change many opinions, andsome of which you then disapproved.'
The party stopped at a box just vacant, and in which the ladies seatedthemselves while their carriages were inquired for. Lord Cadurcis,with a rather faltering heart, went up to pay his respects toVenetia's mother. Lady Annabel received him with a courtesy, thathowever was scarcely cordial, but the Countess instantly presentedhim to her husband with an unction which a little astonished hersister-in-law. Then a whisper, but unobserved, passed between the Earland his lady, and in a minute Lord Cadurcis had been invited to dinewith them on the next day, and meet his old friends from the country.Cadurcis was previously engaged, but hesitated not a moment inaccepting the invitation. The Monteagle party now passed by; thelady looked a little surprised at the company in which she found herfavourite, and not a little mortified by his neglect. What businesshad Cadurcis to be speaking to that Miss Herbert? Was it not enoughthat the whole day not another name had scarcely crossed her ear, butthe night must even witness the conquest of Lord Cadurcis by thenew beauty? It was such bad ton, it was so unlike him, it was sounderbred, for a person of his position immediately to bow before thenew idol of the hour, and a Tory girl too! It was the last thingshe could have expected from him. She should, on the contrary,have thought that the universal admiration which this Miss Herbertcommanded, would have been exactly the reason why a man like Cadurciswould have seemed almost unconscious of her existence. She determinedto remonstrate with him; and she was sure of a speedy opportunity, forhe was to dine with her on the morrow.