Read Online Althea by Madeleine E. Robins - Free Book Online

sister has kept me to the
house almost since the moment of my arrival in town, and despite my pleas has
done little more than to ride me around Hyde Park once and take me to a
subscription library. Now that I am become a social creature, I do not believe
that ever I shall see more than the outsides of people’s doorways!”
    “No, that is too bad! If you care to ride, I would give
myself the honor of introducing you to the Park, for it cannot be properly
appreciated from a carriage.”
    “Certainly not,” Althea agreed demurely.
    “Perhaps I could devise some sightseeing excursion for you,
as well, for you must certainly see the Houses of Parliament and the Tower.”
    “Precisely what I have told Maria! I should dearly love to.”
    “Suppose we begin tomorrow, then? If I arrive to take you
riding tomorrow morning, will you be able, after tonight’s festivity, to
accompany me? I believe that the best time to see the Park is in the early
morning, before the crowds are come into it. Perhaps after that I could arrange
some party for sightseeing. I have some friends who would be delighted to
accompany us, I’m sure.”
    “I look forward to tomorrow. At what o’clock shall I look
for you in Grosvenor Square? I will not balk at a little early rising.” Mr.
Pendarly took her hand for a brief moment.
    “Ma’am, I should never think of you as so poor creature as
that.” He released her hand and continued. “At the hour of nine-thirty, if that
suits you? You will bring new life to the jaded sights of Hyde Park.” Althea,
who had thought herself far beyond the age of blushing, discovered, to her
horror, that she was doing just that and was almost relieved to see Maria and
Francis, both looking remarkably grim, heading toward them. Maria seemed out of
patience with even the smallest civility, which demanded that Althea take her
leave of Mr. Pendarly. Once away from him, she turned to her sister and told
her they must leave.
    “I hate to drag you away from the ball when you are so
enjoying yourself, Ally,” (the merest emphasis upon the you ) “but I have
one of my dreadful headaches and I must get home. Perhaps it is better that you
not tax your strength all in one night, dearest,” she said guiltily. “You will
be fagged out indeed for tomorrow, and I should hate to have you wear yourself
thin at the beginning of your Season.”
    Althea agreed meekly, and Francis went off to procure their
wraps while they waited in the hall. Maria quizzed Althea halfheartedly about
her conquests, but when Francis reappeared, became silent altogether. Their
quarrel, Althea guessed, must have been quite fierce to have brought on this
reaction. Whatever it was, the silence, which lasted all the way back to
Grosvenor Square, was so chilling that Althea could have sworn she could feel
it through her shawl.
    Once within doors Maria announced her intention of going
directly to bed with a glass of hartshorn and water, and straightway marched up
the stairs. Althea and Francis were left staring helplessly after her. When
Maria had disappeared on the landing, Francis smiled weakly and told Althea he
was off to a club, bidding her a good night’s rest. Althea nodded absently and
controlled the desire to ask what the matter was between them, since she could
think of no way to do so but in the most officious manner. She sighed and
retired to her room.
    It was not in Althea’s nature to remain glum, and after the
success she had enjoyed that night, even a more depressive nature would have
found it hard to refrain from smiling. It was only by main force, when finally
in her bed, that she stopped herself from repeating bits of conversation in her
head like a child of seventeen. If she was to be ready for Mr. Pendarly’s call
at nine-thirty, she would have to calm her overwrought mind and rest. This
sensible but entirely impractical reasoning did not help her to sleep, however,
and long into the night she stared, unseeing but quite happy, at the