Chapter Twenty

Jasper was confounded over the seating arrangements. Why would Lady Dudmore seat Lady Jemima with Varnay?

"I understand your scowl, Duke," the queen said.

Jasper started, as he'd been so taken up with what was occurring that he'd hardly remembered the queen was there.

"I cannot imagine Lady Dudmore made such seating arrangements," the queen said.

"Do you say that Varnay made some adjustments?" Jasper said. "That scoundrel."

He made to rise, but the queen grabbed hold of his coat and pulled him down.

She said, "I do not know what, in particular, has gone on here. However, you will not make any sort of scene. You and Varnay have already made cakes of yourselves."

"Well it is just—"

"I know what it is just. Goodness, there has not been such an interesting lady in Town in ages. Along with her originality comes a fine background and sizable dowry. I should only be surprised that there are not a dozen lords hitting each other with tennis rackets over her."

"But Varnay…"

"If Lady Jemima does not have the sense to see what Varnay is, then she is not the lady I believe her to be," the queen said. "Now, you will bide your time and find your opportunity. This evening is not the last evening in the world. There is the ball on the morrow, after all."

Jasper nodded and resigned himself to staying in his seat. At least for this moment. It would be very stupid to launch himself at Varnay just now. The queen would send them both packing and Jasper very much doubted that Lady Jemima would be impressed with his performance.

In any case, the queen was right. There was a ball on the morrow and that would be a far more suitable time for a proposal. At least, if one could look past whatever costumes they were forced to wear.

He was, however, determined to keep his eye on Varnay. If he made some sort of move, if he provided the least affront to Lady Jemima, Jasper would be out of his seat like a shot to put an end to it.

The queen rose and gave a speech about he hardly knew what. His attention was fully on Lady Jemima's table.

When the queen sat down, the Duchess of Ralston came to her side. "Your Majesty, I believe Lady Jemima is developing a headache and I would propose to take her in and have a tray sent to her room."

The queen glanced at Lady Jemima's table, and Varnay waxing on about something or other and probably trying to be amusing. Her Majesty smiled. "We think that is a rather clever idea, Duchess."

The duchess nodded. The two women had known one another long and they understood each other without long explanations.

Jasper was delighted, and he hoped Lady Jemima was agreeable. If she was not, if she preferred staying by Varnay's side, well…he did not know what he would do about that.

He watched the duchess' progress as she approached Lady Jemima's table.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Jemima had become more annoyed by the minute. She was certain Lord Varnay had meddled with the seating arrangements. She was certain that if he'd not done so, she would be sitting nearby the duke. She was certain that, if that had been the case, she might have laid her head down this night as an engaged lady.

Engaged, to the man she'd been thinking about for good and bad since she'd set foot in Town. The only man she would ever think about.

Instead, she was stuck with two elderly people who could not hear a word of the conversation and Lord Varnay, who was working hard to amuse.

His efforts would be for naught. She could not be amused just now.

Seemingly out of nowhere, the duchess was by her side. "My dear Jemima, I can see it on your face. You were afraid you were developing a headache, and I can see very well you have. Now, my dear, you've been very stoic in going forward despite it, but I will not hear of it. You must rest, and we will have a tray sent up to your room."

Jemima bounced out of her seat as if she'd been sitting on springs. The duchess was so clever. "You are very considerate, Duchess. I did not like to complain of it."

"Come, my dear Lady Jemima. Lord Varnay, I bid you goodnight."

Lord Varnay could not keep his expression neutral. He was positively furious. Though, he did not dare cross the duchess.

Before they set off, the duchess shouted, "Lord Graydon, Lady Hapsworth, very good to see you. Lady Jemima has a headache."

Both of those individuals seemed to understand the necessity of retiring over a headache, as they nodded gravely and Lord Graydon downed his glass of wine in sympathy.

Lord Varnay was set to have a very tedious evening with two people who could not hear him and would not care what he said even if they could.

Jemima and the duchess went into the house and up the stairs, telling a footman they found in the front hall to send up two trays for dinner.

After the door was closed, Jemima said, "Thank you for rescuing me. I am certain that Lord Varnay somehow managed to meddle with the seating arrangements."

"As am I," the duchess said. "I begin to like that fellow less and less. I had considered him amusing, though good for little else—now I find him a troublemaker."

Jemima did not answer, but she entirely agreed with the assessment.

Both Fleur and Aggie hurried into the room. They both sank down into curtsies and said in unison, "Your Grace, Lady Jemima."

Fleur said, "Trays are coming up. I told Cook to prepare them and then I say they must be very good and then I give him a terrible look. He understood me."

The duchess rolled her eyes. Rather than question Fleur about her terrible looks she said, "It occurs to me, Lady Jemima, that after we dine we might douse the candles and watch what goes on out of doors."

"Watch the blindfolded lawn bowling?"

"Just so. The lawn they will use is directly next to where the tables are set up." The duchess crossed the room and peered out the window. "Yes. Goodness we will have a better view of it here than most of the spectators will."

Not a quarter hour later, maids brought in trays for Jemima and the duchess, and a small table was set for them in front of the windows. They ate in relative silence, as they were too diverted by listening to what went on next door in Jemima's room.

Jemima supposed Aggie and Fleur did not imagine they could be heard from that location, but they could be heard perfectly well.

Aggie had inquired of Fleur what sort of terrible look she'd given the cook to ensure a good dinner would be sent up, as she was interested in acquiring such a look for herself.

Fleur took that opportunity to show Aggie all sorts of terrible looks. Though Jemima and the duchess could not view these various expressions, they were most amused at their descriptions. There was the one that told the queen's lady's maids that they were nothing. There was one for the cook. There was one to deliver to a footman who dared to make eyes at her. There was even one for any butler who might think he could boss about a lady's maid. Then there was the everyday terrible look one might employ on the street or in the shops.

It was to be presumed that Aggie worked hard to accomplish these terrible looks, as Fleur was heard to give various directions to narrow her eyes or purse her lips or look down her nose.

As the maids went on with their nonsense next door, Jemima could not help but note that the duke was often looking in the direction of her window. And, annoyingly, Lord Varnay too.

"Ah, two gentlemen in the throws of vying for a prize they cannot yet attain," the duchess said.

Jemima avoided looking anywhere near Lord Varnay. "I am not sure what aim one of them actually has."

"Varnay? Oh I expect he's after your dowry," the duchess said matter-of-factly. "The man gambles over his means—a story as old as time."

"Poor Miss Pickering!" Jemima said. "I would imagine a sister would be consumed with worry over such circumstances."

"Hm, Miss Pickering. I have not made up my mind about her. She seems a gentle and respectable young lady on the one hand. But on the other hand, I am rather sure she reeked of brandy at tennis this morning. Rather early and rather a strong drink for a lady, I thought."

Jemima was taken aback. She could not quite imagine Miss Pickering drinking brandy at all, never mind in the morning. Surely, the duchess was mistaken.

"Oh dear, now I am amused," the duchess said suddenly. "Mrs. Ventriss has taken the liberty of relocating herself to Lord Varnay's table. If I can read his demeanor from here, he is positively stricken."

"I hope he has a terrible dinner," Jemima said.

"I believe that wish has been granted," the duchess said laughing.

Jemima put her attention back on looking at the duke.

The duchess changed the subject and they talked of this or that, Jemima all the while stealing glances at the duke and as he stole glances at her. It was as if they were speaking without speaking.

Not long after, the duchess snuffed the candles, and they were plunged into darkness.

The lady had been right. Footmen were running round, moving the torches to the lawn bowling greens. They would have a very good view.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Though Jasper had been discontented with the seating arrangements at dinner, he regained his spirits when the duchess took Lady Jemima away. He'd overheard the duchess claim the lady must certainly have a headache and the queen had agreed.

Varnay's plan, whatever it had been, was foiled.

This night would not be the night of a proposal, but on a happier note, Varnay would get nowhere and the ball was on the morrow. Also on a happier note, he was able to view Lady Jemima at her window as she dined with the duchess by candlelight. She was often looking at him too, he noticed. It was a very good sign.

All that must be accomplished between now and the ball, or rather got through, was the last of Lady Dudmore's ridiculous sports.

Blindfolded lawn bowling, of all things. Naturally, it made no sense whatsoever. How was anyone to know the location of the jack if they could not see it?

The queen had led them all to the green, which was hard by where they'd just dined. There were two courts shaped in the usual square convex with alleys running round them.

"Now," Her Majesty said, "unlike regular lawn bowling, where the competitors can see the jack, blindfolded lawn bowling will be conducted very differently. Our brave gentlemen who enter the pitch will have other eyes to guide them. Each gentleman will be supplied with a footman who will describe the jack's location and where the other balls on the green have stopped in relation to it. That is right—sight will not win this sport, hearing will."

Jasper supposed a footman describing things was at least better than nothing. But really, could not Lady Dudmore spend her time more wisely?

"Four on each green," Lady Dudmore said, "else we'll be out here all night. And here is another difference—the jack will begin by being placed dead center on the green and our players will each take a side of the square. This way, one cannot overhear what another's footman is saying. So, that means the gentlemen will know where the jack is at the outset. Where it will go from there is anybody's guess."

What a palaver. Jasper could not care less who won, there would be little skill involved in it. The regatta had been one thing, but this was entirely another.

"Twenty-one points wins the game," Lady Dudmore said. "My butler will place the jacks on the two greens and the footmen will organize you to your places and help you don your blindfolds."

Jasper sighed. The sooner this was concluded, the better. If he could, he'd help somebody along to victory if that would hurry things along.

A young footman approached him and looked very sorry to be doing so. "Your Grace, if you would follow me."

Jasper did as he was asked and was led to the right-hand side of the green. The young fellow showed the blindfold and whispered, "I am sorry, Your Grace."

"I do not know why you should be," Jasper said, "unless it was you who thought up this entertainment."

"No, Your Grace!" the boy said, looking horrified to be implicated.

"I am sure not," Jasper said. "As you are to be my eyes, I'd better know your name."

"Gregory, Your Grace."

"Gregory. Well Gregory, it is not necessary to address me as Your Grace in everything you say."

"Yes, Your Grace."

Jasper did not comment on it further, as poor Gregory seemed rather nervous. He suspected the boy had not been long at the footman game and probably worried he was to have his head torn off by a temperamental duke.

He would see differently though. For all of Jasper's over-seriousness and grimaces and formality, he had never abused his own servants or anybody else's.

Jasper looked round the green and swore under his breath. Varnay was directly across from him. The fellow was determinedly staring in his direction as if to issue some sort of challenge. Jasper made a guess that the rogue was set on winning the game as some sort of redemption after falling out of his boat at the regatta.

Jasper did not particularly care if Varnay won or lost. That scoundrel had lost the only important thing in Lady Dudmore's house, and it was not the regatta. It was Lady Jemima.

He glanced up at her window, but it had gone dark. He supposed Lady Jemima was no more interested in blindfolded lawn bowling than he was himself.

Lady Dudmore's butler took his time to locate what he decreed the exact center of the green and gingerly placed the jack.

"Gentlemen," Lady Dudmore said, "put on your blindfolds."

Jasper donned his blindfold and was thrown into pitch darkness. It was really disconcerting, like waking in the middle of the night and wondering where one might locate a candle.

"I'm right by you, Your Grace," Gregory said.

"Good man," Jasper said. He supposed it was Gregory who would win or lose the match. He would just follow his directions.

From there, Gregory gave him a minute by minute of the play. Lord Robins was at the top of the green and had bowled first. He came wide of the mark and his bowl rolled past the jack by three feet. Then it was on to Varnay.

As Jasper waited to hear where Varnay's bowl had landed, Gregory suddenly said, "Watch out!"

As he did not have the ability to watch for anything, he stayed motionless. Then a searing pain shot through his foot.

"Lord Varnay has hit you with his bowl, Your Grace," Gregory said, his voice shaking.

"Yes, I did notice."

Jasper controlled his impulse to grab hold of his foot and hop around. Perhaps he could not see anything, but everybody else could. He suspected that at least one of his toes was broken. The pain seared through him, but he stayed still, knowing it would dull itself down if he did not move it.

"Was it on purpose, do you think, Gregory," he said with a clenched jaw.

"It looks like it," Gregory said.

"Is his ball in the ditch?"

"Yes, Your Grace."

"And what is Lord Varnay's expression just now?"

"Uh…well.."

"Out with it, your honest opinion."

"He seems rather pleased. Though mind you, Andrew, that's his footman, he don't look pleased. He looks terrified."

"Andrew may put his mind at ease. The only person who will pay for Lord Varnay's effrontery is the man himself. Standby, Gregory."

Lord Talbot took his turn and Gregory whispered, "Lord Talbot's bowl has come very close. It sits just to the right side of the jack by about a foot."

"I see. And where is the location of Lord Varnay?"

"Lord Varnay? Oh, well he is just across from you. Straight ahead."

"Excellent," Jasper said. "Signal to your friend Andrew to stand aside."

In a moment, Gregory said, "I did it. He got my drift and he's stepped well to the left of Lord Varnay.

Jasper grasped the bowl and hurled it in Varnay's direction. It was not more than a moment before he heard a squeal.

Blindfolded or not, his aim was true.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Jemima woke early to Aggie creeping in with a heavily loaded tray for breakfast.

She hardly knew what had happened last evening. Had the duke and Lord Varnay been sent away by the queen? It was hard to say.

Aggie poured her a cup of tea as she reviewed everything she'd seen.

The lawn bowling had begun quite usual. At least, usual for when the players were blindfolded and standing on different sides. But then, it had all changed.

Jemima had leaned closer to the window. It did not seem possible that she was seeing what she was seeing.

"Sadly, your eyes do not deceive you," the duchess had said.

First, Lord Varnay had most clearly aimed for the duke. As far as Jemima could tell, the bowl had landed on his foot and then rolled into the ditch. Then, the duke had very purposefully aimed for Lord Varnay and struck him in his midsection.

Then, Lord Varnay had sent his footman after the duke's ball. The duke's footman had obviously noted it, relayed that information, and been sent to retrieve Lord Varnay's ball from the ditch.

Balls were hurled back and forth and the other two players were left blindly looking about and having no idea what was going on.

The queen had halted the play and sent everybody inside. Everybody, that was, except the duke and Lord Varnay.

Jemima could not hear what was said except for the occasional thing said very loudly. Among those were: Idiot. Temper. Outrageous.

And then one of the last things she said in nearly a shout: "If I were Queen Elizabeth, I would have you jailed."

"You will not believe it," Aggie said, "but word is that the queen has not sent them two battling gentlemen away."

"I had wondered. I thought she would, but then I stayed awake late, listening for horses and I never heard anybody," Jemima said, very glad to hear the news from Aggie. She had been hoping, but it seemed a farfetched sort of hope.

Now, the duke would be at the ball. Certainly, he would propose then. Maybe even before then. She had no idea what was planned for the daytime.

There was a soft knock on the door. Jemima looked questioningly at Aggie, as she could not imagine who would come to her room.

Aggie went to the door and poked her head out. Jemima heard what she thought was the housekeeper's voice say, "Every lady gets a card."

Then there was some further whispering between Aggie and the housekeeper before Aggie closed it again.

She tripped over to Jemima and said, "This is for you and I've found out what happened to the duke and Lord Varnay."

Jemima took the card, which promptly fluttered from her hands.

Aggie said, "They are still here and they will be allowed to attend the ball. But, they have been confined to their rooms. The queen wishes them to reflect on their behavior." Her maid laughed and said, "It's as if they have been naughty schoolboys."

"They have been naughty schoolboys," Jemima said. Though, she was well-pleased to hear the duke would attend the ball.

"Further, Mrs. Redkin tells me that they will be the last to choose their costumes and must wear whatever is left, which will be dreadful."

"That is no matter," Jemima said. "I do not care what he wears. If all goes well, we will be married, and then he will not be wearing anything at all."

Aggie turned various shades of pink over that suggestion and began to beat the pillows that were not currently behind Jemima's head.

Jemima picked up the card that lay on her bed.

Ladies—

The gentlemen will be taken off to the village to occupy themselves as they may for the day. This will give you plenty of time to select your costumes for the ball. Three rooms have been put aside in the north wing and are filled with everything you will need to compose an outfit. Everyone will come as animals, so think carefully how you wish to present yourself. The doors to the accoutrements for costumes will be thrown open at eleven o'clock.

Maria Dudmore

Jemima jumped from bed. "I must be dressed at once, Aggie. Then I will go see the duchess and with any luck she will give me leave to run ahead and be at those doors in the north wing before any other lady. I have a notion of what I want to be."

"Or," Aggie said, "why don't you just tell me and I'll go see what I can arrange before the doors open. Mrs. Redkin has a key and she's grown very fond of me. I'm the only maid in the place who tries to lower the temperature between Fleur and the queen's maids. She says I'd make a fine housekeeper, as I've got the sense for it."

Jemima laughed at this new idea of Aggie. "She has not noticed the pertness that put off Mr. Gamon?"

"Gracious no," Aggie said. "The queen is in the house, so I left my pertness in London."

"I see. I did not even know you could do that. Well, I do not know if Mrs. Redkin will be agreeable, but if she is…"

Jemima outlined precisely what she was looking for and Aggie skipped out of the room.

After the door closed, she hopped out of bed and donned a robe. She would see the duchess and then, should Aggie be unsuccessful in her venture, she would dress and be running toward the north wing like a shot.