An Unsuspected Condition of the Heart

Now and again you may call me a rattlepate and tell me I don’t know what’s o’clock, Charles, but even you will account me a man who can handle the ribbons. And a dashed good thing it is that I am able to drive to an inch-or I’d have bowled your cousin Harry over right there in the middle of the road. I daresay running him over is no less than he deserved, for he’d overturned as beautiful a phaeton as I’d ever seen, which was a thing as nearly as bad as wearing that floral waistcoat of his in public-upon my oath, Charles, even the horses took exception to it.

“Oh, thank heaven,” he cried, even before I’d settled the grays, “it’s dear old Rossiter!”

Two days earlier, the fellow had all but given me the cut direct at Lady Fanshawe’s rout, and here he was, addressing me as if I were an angel come down the road just to save him.

“Dallingham!” I replied. “What on earth has happened? I trust you’ve taken no hurt?”

“Nothing that signifies,” he said, dabbing at a little cut above his left brow. “But I am in the devil’s own hurry and here this phaeton has lost a wheel and broken an axle!”

“Let me take you up, then,” I said. “Will your groom be able to manage those bays?”

“Yes, yes,” he said, already climbing up next to me. “I’d just instructed him to take them back to that inn we passed-five miles back or so, and to see about repairs. May I trouble you take me there? I must see if they’ve something I can hire-”

“Nonsense, Dallingham, can’t imagine they’d have so much as a horsecart to hire. I’m on my way to Ollington-to see my Aunt Lavinia. I’ll take you along as far that, and if you need-”

“Ollington! Why, I’m to dine at Bingsley Hall this evening, and-”

“Bingsley Hall?” I said. “Well, that is on my way. No trouble at all.”

“My thanks, Rossiter!”

The grays were restive, and I put them to. A moment later, he said, “Perhaps you can save me from disgrace.”

I doubted there was any possibility of such a thing, but I said, “Oh?” (Just like that, you know-“Oh?” I believe I raised a brow, but I can’t swear to it.)

“Have you met Lord and Lady Bingsley?” he asked.

“Never had the pleasure. They do not go about much in society. I believe my aunt has some acquaintance with them.”

“Damned recluses, the pair of them.”

“I beg your pardon? Did you not just say you were invited to dine there?”

He smiled. “Oh no, I’m to stay there a fortnight!”

“A fortnight! With the Bingsleys!”

“Well, yes, as it turns out, we’re related!”

“You are related to Miss Bannister’s aunt and uncle?”

He laughed. “Wish me happy, Rossiter! I’m newly married!”

“Married!” I could not hide my shock.

“Yes, as of yesterday. And in future you must refer to Miss Bannister as Lady Dallingham. We were married by special license. She’s gone on to Bingsley to-er, prepare my welcome.”

Charles, I own I was left speechless. The grays took advantage of my lack of concentration, and a rather difficult moment passed before both my horses and my composure were back in hand.

“Well, then,” I said, rather bravely, really, “I do wish you happy. Miss-er, Lady Dallingham is a lovely young woman.”

“Oh, I suppose the chit’s well enough,” he said, “but there can be no doubt that her fortune’s mighty handsome.”

As you can imagine, this blunt speech left me appalled. Of course, all the world knew that Dallingham was hanging out for an heiress, and that he had followed in his father’s footsteps-meaning that his gaming had finally destroyed whatever portion of the family fortune the old man had not already lost at faro and dicing.

I know you’ll not take offense at my putting it so baldly, Charles-after all, neither your cousin Dallingham nor his father could be ranked among your favorites, and your father was estranged from his late brother for many years. I recall that Dallingham applied to your esteemed parent for assistance with his debts on more than one occasion, and that your father-quite rightly-showed him the door.

Of course, even as I took him up that night, I knew that Dallingham was not without friends. He could make himself charming when need be. I will own that Dallingham’s handsome face made him agreeable to the ladies, but most matchmaking mama’s steered their chicks clear of him, knowing he hadn’t a feather to fly with, and that his reputation as a rake was not unearned.

I fear Miss Bannister was easy prey to such a man. She was an orphan. Her guardian was a half-brother who gave little thought to her; he gave her over to the care of her aunt and uncle, Lord and Lady Bingsley-Lord Bingsley also serving as the trustee of the large fortune that will come to her a few years hence.

But the Bingsleys, as I have said, do not go about much, and have not been seen in Town for some years. When Miss Bannister was old enough to make her come-out, therefore, her half-brother arranged that she would spend the season with her godmother, a most foolish woman, who could by no means be accounted a suitable chaperone.

I soon had it from Dallingham that her half-brother-undoubtedly mislead by Dallingham’s charm-had granted his consent to this hasty wedding.

“You think it unseemly, high stickler that you are!” Dallingham accused me now.

“I? A high stickler?” I said. “Oh no. One only wonders, what brought about a need for such haste?”

“Tradesmen and others,” he replied, quite honestly.

“Forgive me if I speak of matters which do not closely concern me, Dallingham,” I said, “but you find me all curiosity. Miss Bannister’s godmother has bandied it about that Miss Bannister does not come into her fortune upon marriage. She must reach the age of twenty.”

“Ah, and you wonder that I could wait so long? The expectation, my dear. The tradesmen foresee a day in the not-so-distant future when I shall be a very wealthy man. They are willing to forestall pressing me until that day. In fact, they are quite willing to extend my credit.”

We turned to idle chitchat for a time, during which he let fall that the lovely phaeton he had so recently overturned was yours-I am so sorry, Charles!

I changed horses at Merriton, and we were well on our way again when he said, “Sorry to have cut you out where the Bannister was concerned old boy. But I daresay my need was the more pressing. From all I hear, Rossiter, you’re as rich as Golden Ball.”

“No such thing,” I said coolly.

He chuckled. “No need to cut up stiff with me,” he said. “You’ve had your eye on her, haven’t you?”

“My dear Dallingham,” I said, “she is your wife. It would be most improper in me to respond to such a comment.”

In truth, Charles, she had come to my notice. However, unlike most women-who are drawn to me by my fortune and rank-she had no need of either. This being the case, I was sure I held no attraction to Miss Bannister. While I don’t suppose a great many children have been frightened by my visage, or told by their nursemaids that I shall come to steal them if they don’t mind their manners, I’ve not Dallingham’s handsome face.

I did not blame the ladies of the ton for being taken in by him, for I too readily remembered one beauty who flattered me into believing that all mirrors lie, and ’twas a heady experience. That was long after I’d had my town bronze, so what chance does a chit fresh from the schoolroom have against the influence of a handsome face?

By the time we arrived at Bingsley Hall, my spirits were quite low. These were by no means lifted when Dallingham, at the moment we passed the gatekeeper’s lodge, announced with a covetous eye, “She’s to inherit all this, too, you know! Bingsley dotes on her.”

I had every intention of leaving at the first possible moment, but Lord Bingsley would not hear of it. For my part, I could not help but like the old fellow and his lady, who proffered every kindness imaginable-the upshot of this being my acquiescence to the Bingsleys’ insistence that I stay the night. My relative was not expecting me at any certain date, and so I agreed to break my journey with them.