United States or Cambodia ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
By-and-by, when the days of mourning were ended, Lady Essendine came out of her strict retirement to present Mrs. McKay at Court; and the handsome Spanish girl with the strange romantic history was one of the greatest successes of the next London season. Ere long the future succession of the Essendine title was assured beyond doubt.
"What have you to lose?" "All this." She waved her hand round the prettily-furnished room. "Lord Essendine has been very kind to me, and if there were any suspicions if any rumour got about that I was employed by or for you he would certainly withdraw the income he gives me." Mr. Hobson laughed quietly.
"Are you mocking me, Lord Essendine?" "I am in sober earnest. I will do what I say, but only on one condition." "And that is?" "That you give up the child, absolutely, and forever." "What! part with the only thing left me to love and cherish " "One moment, madam," interposed the lawyers "before your emotion overpowers you.
"From that charming woman, Mrs. Wilders, my cousin, or rather Stanny's cousin; but his relations are mine. I am his uncle; some day, if he lives, I shall be uncle to an earl. They will treat me better perhaps when I have all the Essendine interest at my back. Whippersnappers like this Fothergill will scarcely dare to snub me then. A good lad Stanislas; I always liked him.
"You, Lord Essendine my husband's relative and friend, one of the richest and proudest men in this purse-proud land how chivalrous, how brave of you, to bring me here to load me with vile aspersions, to rob me of my character; my child, my little friendless orphan boy, of the inheritance which is his by right of birth!"
Lady Essendine was at home to her friends, and seemingly she had plenty of them, for the place was thronged.
Unless I am much mistaken, she won't drop Cousin Bill." Lord Essendine, who was, perhaps, behind the scenes, was not wrong in his estimate of the influence Madame Cyprienne exercised. Before six months were out, Colonel Wilders came, with rather a sheepish air, to the head of the house, and informed him of his approaching marriage to the Countess de Saint Clair. "That's a new title to me, Bill.
"Do not let us get into recriminations, madam," said Lord Essendine, speaking for the first time. "It is to speak of your boy, mainly, that I wished for this interview." "Poor child!" "Whatever blot may stain his birth, I cannot forget that he has Wilders's blood in his veins. He is Cousin Bill's son still." "You admit so much? Many thanks," she sneered.
Lady Essendine frowned at Cousin Bill when he brought back her singer; but whether it was at the length of the talk, or the withdrawal of her protégée from the duties for which she was paid, her ladyship did not condescend to explain. It was a little of both. She was pleased to have hindered her son from paying marked attention to a person in Madame Cyprienne's doubtful position.
He spoke first of the offer to go on the headquarter-staff which he had refused. Then of the strange accidents by which he had become heir presumptive to the earldom of Essendine. Last of all, of the narrow escape he had of his life. Hyde pressed him on this point. "You fell overboard lost your balance, eh? Entirely your own doing? Mrs. Wilders did not help you at all?"
Word Of The Day