Rake's Progress by MC Beaton Page A

Guy had received a sharp setback to his own plans.
    A middle-aged cousin he only vaguely remembered arrived on his doorstep, complete with luggage, carrying a letter from his father, the Earl of Cramworth. Her name was Miss Ruth Fipps. She was fat, pleasant and faded, and sure of her welcome.
    â€˜Your father will explain everything,’ she said. ‘That nice housekeeper, Mrs Middleton, suggests I should take the large bedroom next to the dining room while you and Mr Roger share the bedrooms on the next floor.’
    â€˜She did, did she?’ said Lord Guy pleasantly, although he was wishing Miss Fipps would disappear. He waited until Alice had served his cousin with tea and left the room, and then he opened the letter from his father.
    The earl wrote that he had received Guy’s letter from Portugal giving his proposed address in London. He went on to give a great deal of rambling gossip about the estate, and ended, ‘I am sending you Miss Fipps, your cousin, and one of our poor relations. I have had her with me this age, and feel it is time you shared some of theresponsibility of looking after the family incumbents. If you are still suffering from the effects of the fever, she can help to nurse you. I may also be sending you your Great Aunt Josephine. If, however, you have decided to please me by taking a wife – and I do not mean someone else’s wife – I shall send for Miss Fipps and spare you Great Aunt Josephine’s presence.’
    Lord Guy put down the letter and smiled bleakly at Miss Fipps, who nodded vaguely and smiled back.
    Rainbird entered the room. ‘May I beg a word with you in private, my lord?’ he said.
    Sure it was more news of his beloved, Lord Guy made his excuses to his cousin and drew Rainbird out into the hall.
    â€˜My lord,’ said Rainbird in a low voice. ‘Miss Jones has once again asked my advice.’
    â€˜On what?’
    â€˜Miss Jones wishes to launch herself on society and is in need of a genteel female companion.’ Rainbird looked meaningfully at the closed parlour door. ‘And you, my lord, have an unexpected visit from a cousin.’
    â€˜Have you heard of Machiavelli, Rainbird?’
    â€˜Yes, my lord. Some Italian, was he not?’
    â€˜Yes, he was. Wait here.’
    Lord Guy pinned a winning smile on his face and went back into the parlour. ‘My dear Miss Fipps,’ he said. ‘My very dear Miss Fipps. I wish you to perform a service for me which will enable you to earn a comfortable sum of money . . .’

SIX

    They laugh, and are glad, and are terrible.
    HEBRIDEAN FOLK SONG

    The day of Esther’s children’s party dawned cold and bright.
    Rainbird, Angus, and Joseph were at Berkeley Square early in the morning to begin the preparations. As well as confections for the children, cakes, ratafia, champagne, and negus had to be set out for their mothers.
    The party would take place in the downstairs saloon. The mothers were expected to retire and take refreshment in the upstairs drawing room. The party was to begin at two and end at four. Lord Guy was to stroll past the house at two-thirty precisely.
    Miss Fipps, hired as companion to Esther, was not in on the plot. She had been told to conceal her relationship to Lord Guy. To enable her to remember this vital fact, Lord Guy had paid her a substantial sum of money. Esther, who normallywould not have dreamt of engaging anyone without demanding and checking references thoroughly, was so anxious to begin her début and too grateful to Rainbird for having produced such a suitable lady at such short notice, that she had hired Miss Fipps after questioning her only for some ten minutes.
    So Lord Guy’s cousin found herself in comfortable circumstances and with money in her reticule for the first time in her life. She was placid and undemanding, but she loved food in great quantities and had found the Earl of Cramworth’s table too stingy for her