Chapter 8: Eavesdropping
Rachel stared out from the window of her carriage glumly. Tonight, they would be attending a soiree and she was hardly in the mood for it. She had been forced to spend hours with the governess this morning, going over history, her least favourite subject. She would rather do a thousand mathematical sums than memorise the many wives of each King Henry. And now a string quartet, the dullest musical ensemble possible. She sighed gustily.
George rolled his eyes "Really Rachel, anybody would think we were taking you to have teeth pulled. Surely the prospect of seeing your friends and listening to delightful music isn't that terrible?"
"It is a string ensemble George" she said darkly. George laughed and shook his head at her. He looked very handsome tonight, he had clearly taken a little more care to groom himself tonight and Rachel had no doubt who it was for.
As they walked into the music hall Rachel quickly spied her friends and hurried over to them.
"Is everybody else as excited for this as I am" she exclaimed when she got there. The girls laughed, well used to her sarcasm.
"Unlike you Rachel, some of us appreciate the finer things" said Helen provokingly, her nose pointed in the air.
"Oh Helen, I would never deny that you appreciate the finer things, but surely you couldn't count a string quartet in their number!". Helen pretended thoughtfulness before saying
"I do find the wailing of a violin is wonderful for the constitution, practice for when one has a husband you know." the girls giggled.
"Or for children, I daresay violins will sound like heaven by the time we are settled with wailing babes." Continued Pen.
"Oh how depressing! All of us with our husbands and children, I for one would rather be travelling the world!" exclaimed Rachel.
"Really Rachel? I can't think of anything more wonderful than all of us holding our chubby little children and having picnics by the lake.." Maggie put in.
"I quite agree Maggie" Pen said, squeezing her hand.
"Well looks like it is just you and I on our overseas adventure Helen!" said Rachel.
"Oh no, you are on your own Rachel. I don't mind travelling within the country, but on a boat! No thank you. Besides, where's the time for such jaunts when we I have to catch myself a fine husband?" Helen laughed.
"You had better head to London then, I hear the best men can be found there." replied Rachel
"Some aren't so bad here" said Maggie quietly. And immediately regretted it as all three girls turned to look at her with interest. "Forget I said that!" she exclaimed.
"Oh no, there's no forgetting such a telling remark Maggie… but who is the lucky gentleman?" asked Rachel curiously. Maggie blushed and shook her head shyly.
"No doubt we will find out soon" smiled Pen. The girls started as they heard the bell indicating that they should take their places. Rachel quickly moved ahead of the crowd to secure seats enough for the four of them and was alarmed when she noticed the only available option was next to Lissa and her mother. Well, sitting next to Lissa certainly wasn't going to stop her from securing seats for her friends.
"Good evening Lissa" she said, feigning cheer "you are not reserving these seats are you?". Lissa raised her eyebrows, evidently thrown by the warm reception before glancing back at the crowd of people.
"Oh Rachel… I had been hoping" she focused back on Rachel's smiling countenance "but no, of course, you may sit down."
"Lovely, I am very much obliged." Rachel smiled before quickly turning away and beckoning her friends over. Pen settled on the furthest seat from Rachel, not even deigning to acknowledge Lissa, although the others were polite enough. Fortunately, the quartet soon began playing, and, as much as Rachel may have denied it, she sat entertained throughout the performance.
As the music came to a close, she noticed that Lissa seemed awfully fidgety. Lissa kept glancing towards the back of the room and was sharing tense whispers with her mother. Rachel carefully looked back and saw the silhouette of a man standing in the shadows. Her interest piqued she continued to watch Lissa and decided that something decidedly suspicious was going on. As people began leaving, instead of following her friends, Rachel walked a discrete distance behind Lissa who had chosen to separate from her mother. Lissa made a beeline away from the shadowed gentleman towards another exit, moving against the flow of bodies. Rachel continued doggedly in pursuit and had almost reached Lissa when she disappeared around the corner through the exit. Rachel hesitated for just a second before walking on but halted abruptly as she heard angry voices.
"Why must you follow me wherever I go cousin!" she heard Lissa hiss angrily.
"It is simple Lissa, I was asked to keep an eye on you and that is what I will do. The family will not allow you to break this betrothal, no matter how much you might like to."
"And it appears I have no say in the matter, and you, my own cousin, would send me off to some brute in Scotland because of a ridiculous betrothal when I was but a baby." Rachel heard the cousin sigh in exasperation.
"Our word is iron clad Lissa and you do not know whether he is a brute of a perfect gentleman. Yes, you will be away from the family but he is extremely wealthy, it is a very advantageous match, won by your father."
"I could make an advantageous match here! I have plenty of suitors, all of whom are perfectly eligible. And perhaps I will..."
"You would not do that to your family!" her cousin interrupted her sharply. "Your mother, my wife and I have kept the betrothal quiet, allowed you to have your fun. But it is time to stop playing with these boys and take up your responsibilities, your father would never have allowed you to run so wild."
"You said I had until the end of this year."
"Yes I did, I am just reminding you.."
"Then at least leave me in peace until then!" Lissa hissed, before storming off. Rachel froze, hoping the cousin would not move towards her. At last he followed Lissa and Rachel breathed a sigh of relief. And then she wiggled with excitement. Well! What a story she had for the girls!
As Rachel re-entered the entrance hall her eyes went straight to George's tall figure and she hurried over.
"Ready to leave are we Rachel?" asked George.
"Oh well I had hoped to catch Pen…"
"I for one am quite exhausted so if your goodbyes could be kept brief?" Rachel looked at him balefully. "You will see them in two days Rachel!" he exclaimed. Rachel thought on it. She supported she could keep her news for two days, it certainly couldn't be blurted out. No, no she would hint an let them stew, and then she would have a truly enthralled audience.
"Very well" she said hautily as she moved off, but George had already started turning in another direction.
"Pen, Maggie, Helen – you will not believe what I just heard!" the three girls turned to Rachel with interest.
"Do tell" responded Helen excitedly.
"I wish I could, but George said we must leave immediately and I need to relate the entire circumstances for you to truly appreciate my story …"
"Rachel! You cannot just leave us on tenterhooks!" exclaimed Pen
"I thought of all people, you would refrain from toying with us, your friends!" laughed Maggie.
"It certainly doesn't look like George is in all that much of a rush to leave" said Helen, nodding at the far doors. Rachel turned to see George exchanging warm conversation with Lissa, who stood a little too close to him for her liking. She narrowed her eyes and then laughed.
"Oh that, that is nothing." She turned back to her friends "and I'll tell you why soon, I promise, but looks like I must rescue poor George first." She spun and made a beeline for George who was leaning closer to Lissa to hear what she was saying.
The girls looked on. "I very much doubt George wants to be rescued at the moment" said Helen. Pen nodded and added
"A few days ago witnessing that little scene would have had Rachel seeing red… but to laugh... this news must be very good"
"And let us hope, not too harmful" put in Maggie.
"Hmph I hardly care, if the harm is to Lissa" responded Pen, ignoring Maggie's reproachful look. Meanwhile Rachel had sidled up to stand next to George and Lissa.
"Good evening Lissa" she said innocently, unable to hide a knowing little smile "I thought you were in a rush to leave George?" she continued. George narrowed his eyes at her.
"What can I say, conversation with a lovely women can cure any man of fatigue." Rachel rolled her eyes while Lissa giggled delightedly.
"Well at your request I have already bid goodbye to my friends…"
"Very well Rachel." George turned abruptly away from her and turned to face Lissa "I am terribly sorry to have to leave so soon Lissa, but, I trust I will see you this weekend at the Johnsons' party?"
"Of course, I look forward to seeing you there."
"Save me a dance or two?" he asked softly laying his hand on hers. Lissa blushed prettily
"It would be my pleasure" she replied. George nodded before leaving abruptly, forcing Rachel to follow, scowling.