Ch 1 cont. - Aldace at last

As he approached, Lady Adeline stood up, and her children followed her example. The gentleman spread his arms, widened his smile to show worn, yellowed teeth and said with great affability, 'My very dear Adeline! So you have come home to us at last, have you?' He embraced his sister as he spoke.

The lady was very touched at being welcomed where she had feared repulsion, and managed to utter chokingly, 'Oh John - how good you are,' before being obliged to search her reticule for her handkerchief.

Giving his sister an awkward little pat on her shoulder, he comforted her with a brusque, 'Well, well now,' and turned to face the younger members of the party. He sized Kit up at a glance and then turned his attention to Iphigenia, who curtsied modestly under the scrutiny. His teeth reappeared, and with bluff good-humour requested the pleasure of being presented to his sister's friends.

Handkerchief away, she replied with pride, 'These are my two youngest children, John. Mr Christopher Ffouldes and Miss Iphigenia Ffouldes. My eldest, Augden, is serving on the Continent in the Army of Occupation.'

Lord Wynleigh seemed interested at the information. 'Another military man in the family, eh? Although the navy will always have my preference, I think,' he added, in the nature of a joke, by which neither Kit nor Iphigenia were amused, but at which they found themselves politely grinning nonetheless.

His lordship extended a hand for Kit to shake, saying, 'A Ffouldes by name perhaps, but an Augden by countenance, sir! Pleased to meet you.' Kit mumbled something polite in return, and their uncle extended his hand to Iphigenia.

She was expecting a shake, but with an air of both playfulness and condescension, his lordship gave the hand a kiss in the manner that had been fashionable in his youth, and he made a bow as deep as his years and his groaning corsetry would allow.

Retaining her hand, he said, quizzingly, 'Ah but you are surely more a Helen to launch a thousand ships than an Iphigenia to be dedicated to virginity and sacrifice, my dear.'

Pleased with this effort, he stood looking at his niece, who briefly repeated her curtsy, and he smiled again, before making a great show of releasing Iphigenia's hand. 'You have a very fine daughter, there, Adeline. Very fine children,' he amended.

Lady Adeline was full of appreciation for this compliment. His lordship waved off her gratitude in what seemed to Kit a most proper way, and offered his arm to his sister. 'I was just entertaining a young friend of mine in my book room. I shall introduce him to you, and you will take refreshments.'

He began to lead the way back down the corridor from which he had originated, and the two younger members of the party followed. As Lord Wynleigh's attention was given in inconsequential chatter with Lady Adeline, Iphigenia and Kit were able to look around as they passed, and whisper between themselves.

With a low whistle of appreciation, Kit remarked, 'Never saw so many columns and pilasters and rubbish like that anywhere other than in illustrations in a Latin text from my school days! Someone must have been willing to drop the devil of a lot of blunt to bring this place up to scratch.'

Iphigenia smiled out of one corner of her mouth. 'Yes, I imagine they must have, but don't let Mama hear you using such vulgar expressions, whatever else you do!' As her brother rolled his eyes, she added with thought, 'I have no recollection of Mama describing Wynleigh as being decorated in the Classical style. I had somehow formed the impression that it was more a Jacobean place.' This last was almost a question.

Kit turned the matter over in his mind for a moment. 'You know, you're right. I think,' he added, uncertainly.

Iphigenia prompted him, 'Yes, yes I am, because don't you remember that story she was so fond of telling about that silly priests' hole in the dining room that her father had decided to use as his secret wine cellar because he suspected the butler of being secretly fond of imbibing?'

Recollection dawned. 'Oh yes, I do remember that! I also remember thinking that if that was what passed for a joke at Wynleigh then I was deucedly well pleased not to be expected to go there for my entertainment.' He thought a hideous thought. 'You don't suppose that with our grandfather dead the standards of fun here might have improved?'

Smiling and giving his shoulder a quick squeeze, Iphigenia replied consolingly, 'Considering all of that rot about me being "a Helen", I would advise you against raising your hopes, Kit.' He shook his head in thoughtful disbelief at what he envisioned befalling him. Iphigenia continued, 'Let's look on the bright side. If renovations have been made here at Wynleigh recently, perhaps our uncle has extended himself as far as his assets will allow, and mama will see little point in remaining long where there is nothing for her to gain.'

Shrewdly Kit rejoined, 'Or, more likely, our uncle has only spent a small part of his total fortune and our mother will not be happy until he has transferred a substantial part of the remainder into her keeping.'

Iphigenia was much struck by this perspective. However, her notions of proper sisterly guidance prompted her to say, 'Perhaps. But if you keep on talking in that vein, you will have everyone persuaded that our mother is some kind of Card Sharp.'

They had reached a doorway into which their uncle went, gesturing the rest of them to follow. As they entered the door, Kit hissed a last aside, 'Not a card one, I grant you. But our mother certainly ain't a flat!'

This obliged Iphigenia to exert a great deal of effort to appropriately school her features upon entry of the book room.

She glanced around and noticed that it was a snug little apartment, the walls lined with leather-bound volumes in their dustless shelves, some of the tomes beginning to crack and fray with age. The crimson-draped windows looked out over the park, and despite the sunlight streaming in, a branch of candles was lit on a small side table near a chaise-lounge and some easy chairs. She also noted that the table supported a decanter of wine that was all but empty and two glasses. Iphigenia congratulated herself on having taken her uncle's measure upon meeting him.

A small fire was alight in the grate and leaning one arm on the marble mantle and warming his feet one by one in their top boots was a tall gentleman, slender and broad shouldered, his back to the door. The new arrivals were afforded only a view of his thick, dark hair, pulled back and secured with a modest black lace, and of the good cut of his well-fitting dark blue coat.

In his loudly jovial tone, Lord Wynleigh threw out a greeting, 'Look lively there, Aldace! I want to present you to my youngest sister.' He smiled expectantly at the Ffouldes, as if in the middle of a wonderfully amusing practical joke, waiting for them to share it with him. Unable even to smile, Iphigenia quickly averted her eyes from her uncle and laid them again on the stranger.

He turned around at the sound of his name, momentarily discomposed. For just that instant, Iphigenia saw unhappiness flicker on his face before he irritably pushed his fringe back from his brow, schooled his expression, and stood ready for the introductions.

Iphigenia was intrigued by what she had perceived in that unguarded moment. She studied the stranger further to determine what else she might discover, and although she noted that he had a pleasing countenance ... was, perhaps, even good-looking with his chiseled cheekbones and strong jawline ... and was controlled almost to the point of reserve, she was rewarded with no further insights.

Lord Wynleigh strode forward with exuberance. 'Adeline, my dear, may I present to you Commander Anthony Aldace of his Majesty's Ship Wind Lass? I find his company at present invaluable to me.'

Iphigenia was not certain, but it seemed to her that Aldace's features acquired an even stonier aspect at these words.

Her uncle continued, 'And Aldace, this is my long-estranged sister, Lady Adeline, er, Ffouldes. Yes.'

Lady Adeline extended a hand politely and curtsied as the commander took it and made his curt bow, murmuring, 'Servant, ma'am,' before quickly releasing her.

Lord Wynleigh next gestured to Kit, who stood with his hands be4hind his back. 'And over here we have my, why my nephew, so we do!' He laughed heartily at the thought of how amusing it was to discover new relations. 'That's right, that's right,' he encouraged as they shook hands, 'We approve of easy ways here! Christopher Ffouldes, there, Aldace, of course,' he added, as an afterthought.

Directing the Commander towards Iphigenia, he said with an air of relish, 'And this is Miss Iphigenia Ffouldes,' Montroy's face was as unreadable as a statue's, which disinclined Iphigenia to display any friendlier aspect herself. She found this fact mildly irritating. They shook hands firmly and without eye contact.

Wynleigh added in a stage-whisper, 'No doubt Miss ffouldes here will meet with your approval, eh Aldace?' He barely suppressed a chuckle.

Aldace replied blightingly, 'No doubt, sir,' in a tone calculated to allow much room for doubt.

Although Iphigenia was no more desirous of being approved by Aldace than she would any other new acquaintance, she felt a certain amount of pique at being snubbed by him. She found that, without thinking, she had drawn herself up a little taller. Looking at Aldace, standing there with all his discipline and haughteur, she began to wonder how she could earlier have made the mistake of thinking his looks anything other than displeasing.