floor and turning to face them.
‘No, thank you,’ said Fleur, disposing herself gracefully on a chair. ‘We have come to talk to you about the people at Newlands.’
‘More especially the gentlemen,’ added Molly, taking a seat beside Fleur. ‘My sister has already hinted that they were...er...gentlemen of fashion, and I understand yours has sent you similar information.’
‘Yes, only in far less mealy-mouthed terms,’ said Nancy, not mincing matters. ‘Sir Gerald Kilburn’s set are infamous in town. Young men with too much time and too much money and spend both on flirtations, affairs and outrageous wagers.’
‘Oh, heavens,’ murmured Fleur.
‘But Newlands is a hunting lodge,’ said Molly. ‘Sir Gerald told Edwin they are here for the sport.’
Nancy gave her a pitying look. ‘Sir Gerald’s party will be made up of rakes and Corinthians. They regard pursuing women as sport. But you have met them, Molly. What is your opinion?’
‘They all appeared very amiable. Two of the gentlemen are accompanied by their wives, and Lord and Lady Claydon have also brought their daughters. Miss Kilburn acts as hostess for her brother and she has brought a companion, to give her countenance.’
Nancy shrugged. ‘Perhaps we are misinformed, then. But rich, idle men are always a threat to women. Who else is in the party, what single gentlemen are there?’
‘Apart from Sir Gerald?’ Molly tried to sound unconcerned. ‘There is Mr Flemington, Sir Joseph Aikers and Mr Russington.’
‘Kilburn’s closest cronies,’ exclaimed Nancy. ‘I remember them all from when I was in town. Flemington and Aikers were notorious womanisers even then, at least my father would not countenance them making me an offer, but that may have been more to do with their station than their reputation. He was determined that I should marry an earl at the very least.’
‘And Mr Russington?’ asked Molly, tracing a crack in the table with her finger.
‘Ah, yes, the beau.’ Nancy rested her chin on one hand, a smile on her lips and a faraway look in her eyes. ‘He is more notorious than all the rest. I remember him very well. He and Kilburn are of an age, I believe. They must be, what, eight-and-twenty now.’
‘The same age as yourself,’ put in Fleur.
Nancy nodded. ‘They came to town after my come-out. My sister tells me Russington is a friend of Brummell, although unlike Mr Brummell, he is also a noted sportsman. A Corinthian rather than a dandy.’ She cast a mischievous glance across the table. ‘We danced once, at Almack’s, you know, I remember it because he is taller than I! And so handsome. All the ladies were in love with him, but he soon earned a reputation for being dangerous, because any woman who threw her cap at him was likely to be indulged in a wild flirtation. Wise mamas keep their daughters out of his way now, but it may be that Kilburn has Russington in mind for his sister. I believe he is exceedingly wealthy.’
Fleur shuddered. ‘He sounds exceedingly dangerous, if he is so very attractive. What did you think of him, Molly?’
‘I?’ Molly gave a little laugh, playing for time. ‘I had very little to do with him.’
‘Was he one of those gentlemen you said had a roving eye?’
She did not know how to answer Fleur’s question. She had not noticed the beau’s dark eyes on anyone but herself and then with devastating effect. Just the thought of it sent a shiver along her spine.
‘I am not sure the beau needs one,’ said Nancy, meditatively. ‘From what my sister says he does not need to look about him. Women fall over themselves to gain his attention.’
Molly gave a little huff of despair. ‘Oh, how I wish Sir Gerald had never come to Newlands!’
‘Too late for that now,’ said Nancy, ‘they are here and we must deal with it. We must make sure the others are aware of the dangers.’ She began to list the girls on her fingers. ‘Daisy is hopefully too old to attract the attention of these gentlemen. She has Billy to look out for, too, which should make her wary. Elizabeth and Bridget are young and pretty, but as the daughters of gentlemen they already know what a dangerous combination that is and will be anxious to avoid repeating the mistakes that led to their being cast out of their homes. Marjorie is near her time now and her condition should make her safe from any unwelcome advances. That only leaves the two housemaids. They are still young and silly enough for anything. I shall keep an eye on them and make sure they do not step outside without Moses or one of us to accompany them. I shall also ask Moses to inspect that all the doors and windows are fastened at night.’
‘Perhaps we should get a dog.’ Fleur suggested.
‘That is a good idea.’ Nancy agreed. ‘I shall tell Moses we must have a guard dog, although knowing his soft heart he is likely to bring back the first mongrel he sees that needs a home. In the meantime we must all be vigilant to keep the girls safe from predatory men.’ She sat up straight, folding her arms across her ample bosom. ‘As for you, Fleur, you must always take one of the girls with you when you go to market, for with your golden hair and blue eyes, you are quite the prettiest of us all and the most likely to attract the attentions of a rake, especially such a noted connoisseur of women as Beau Russington.’
Molly was aware of a little stab of something that felt very much like jealousy and quickly pushed it aside. She did not want the beau’s attentions, so why should she be jealous? It made no sense at all.
‘You flatter me, Nancy,’ said Fleur, blushing. ‘And I really do not wish to attract any man’s attention, or unwelcome advances.’
‘They will not harm you, Fleur,’ said Molly, catching her friend’s hand. She frowned and added grimly, ‘I shall not allow them to harm anyone here.’
Despite her brave words, Molly came away from Prospect House knowing there was very little she could do to protect its residents. It was unlikely that any of the gentlemen would actually come to the house, but it was very possible they would see the girls when they went into town to fetch supplies or to sell produce on market day. However, when she mentioned her worries to Edwin, he was sanguine.
‘I believe your charges have little to fear from the gentlemen at Newlands,’ he told her. ‘There is enough sport to be had to keep them hunting, shooting or fishing for weeks, and apart from the assemblies there is little to bring them into Compton Parva. Why, it is quite possible they will never set eyes upon your girls, as you call them!’
With that Molly had to be satisfied. Since Edwin had no wife to help him, she took it upon herself to visit the sick and distribute clothes and food to the poor of the parish. This, combined with her role on various committees, including that of Prospect House, kept her busy most days and she was able to put her worries about the Newlands party out of her head until the following Sunday.
* * *
When she accompanied Edwin to the morning service at All Souls, Sir Gerald and some of his guests were already occupying the box pew allocated to Newlands. She spotted Mr Russington’s tall figure immediately, but Sir Joseph and Mr Flemington were absent.
The residents
