My lady April online

MY

LADY

APRIL



OF CALIF. LIBRARY, LOS ANGELES



MY LADY APRIL



BY JOHN OVERTON




A. L. BURT COMPANY

Publishers New York

Published by arrangement with Frederick A. Stokes Company
Printed in U. S. A.



Printed in the United States of America



CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAQH

I. CASSILLIS CLEARS THE STAGE i

II. LADY FORREST AT HOME . 10

III. INTRODUCING THE HERO 23

IV. THE DECOY 32

V. BETWEEN TWILIGHT AND DAWN . . 41

VI. THE PRIZE FIGHTER 56

VII. LARRY CAVANAGH 72

VIII. TRAGEDY IN THE AIR 91

IX. SPIDER AND FLY 97

X. THE PAPER DOLL 109

XI. SUSPICION . . 115

XII. THE WATCHER ON THE HILL . . . .122

XIII. LURCHED 132

XIV. AT THE SIGN OF THE GOAT AND COM-

PASSES 136

XV. ALARUMS 149

XVI. EXCURSIONS ...... 158

XVII. YOUNG CAREW ACCEPTS A CHALLENGE 183

XVIII. NEWS 199



2131871



CONTENTS

CHAPTEE PAGE

XIX. MAY DAY AT HAZELHURST .... 205

XX. YOUNG CAREW SEEKS ADVICE . . . 218

XXI. THE ROAD TO ASH HOLT 231

XXII. ASH HOLT GRANGE 242

XXIII. T'OTHER DEAR CHARMER" . . .248

XXIV. IN THE WEST WING 256



MY LADY APRIL

CHAPTER I

CASSILLIS CLEARS THE STAGE

GLAD in yellow linen drawers and jacket,
and up to his armpits in the steaming waters
of the King's Bath, Sir George Forrest
hooked his wrist through an iron ring in the wall,
and yawned with no attempt to disguise his bore-
dom.

Beaux, almost unrecognizable in the hideous cos-
tume that custom demanded, lounged through the
water, cropped heads tied in silk kerchiefs or
crowned with the fashionable tricorn. Belles, half-
hid beneath chip hats, controlled their water-logged
dresses with some difficulty and kept watchful eyes
upon the little wooden trays that bobbed in front
of them, precariously carrying handkerchief, patch-
box and nosegay.

Habitues idled at the windows of the Pump-
Room and the air was full of shouted conversa-
tion; sally and repartee; compliment and laughing
banter.

Somewhere near, a band played noisily, and



2 MY LADY APRIL

April sunshine, reflected from the troubled waters,
rippled and splashed in a thousand jack-o'-lanterns
upon the gray buildings.

Through the bottom of his empty glass Mr. Cas-
sillis caught sight of Sir George and leaned out of a
window to hail him.

Sir George was not enthusiastic. "Hello, Cas-
sillis," he yawned. "How d'e do?"

"Didn't know you bathed!" bawled Mr. Cassillis.

"I don't," returned Forrest. "That is, not as a
rule, y'know. Got a headache this morning.
Thought it might do good."

"Aha! Too many libations to the rosy god, eh?"
Mr. Cassillis went through a suggestive pantomime.

Sir George scowled. "Demmed popinjay!" he
muttered, and, loosing his hold upon the ring, waded
through the crowd of bathers toward the dark steps
that led to The Slips.

Craning a long neck Mr. Cassillis watched his
progress, and presently beckoned to a seedy-16oking
individual behind him.

"You were asking for Sir George Forrest?
Look, yonder he goes to dress. You'll catch him
as he comes out if you go round to the entrance."

The fellow nodded, laid a finger to his nose and
pouched a shilling.

Mr. Cassillis, sniffing at a pomander, minced away
to breakfast in Spring Gardens with my Lady Gil-
lespie, whose portrait he had just completed; and
emerging into the sunny day a little later, Sir
George found himself tapped smartly on the shoul-



CASSILLIS CLEARS THE STAGE 3

der by a dirty hand holding a folded paper.

"What's this?" said he, recoiling instinctively.

The man grinned. "I've served ye, right enough.
Sir George Forrest, an't it? To the suit o' Mrs.
Deykin. Eight hundred an' forty odd."

"A writ?" groaned Sir George. "O demmit!"

Much too upset to walk he hailed a chair and
was carried home, floundering into his wife's room
to find her at her dressing-table sipping chocolate
and dawdling over an elaborate toilet.

"O lud, George!" said she. "What need have
you to burst in upon me like a bull in a china shop?
What's the matter?"

The waiting-woman discreetly vanished.

He flung the paper into her lap and himself on
to a settee, threw hat and wig across the floor and
swore till he was hoarse.

"A writ!" Lavinia opened the paper and read
it hurriedly, biting her lower lip.

"A writ, thanks to your extravagance. I told
you 'twould come to it, but you never heeded.
You'll land me in the Fleet 'fore you've done. You
suggested taking this house and running a faro
table. Deuced risky undertaking. I said as much,
but you'll never listen to reason. You would try
it."

"What else could I have done, sir? We had
to have money "

"And now comes a writ, just as our tables begin
to be fashionable. What need had you to run into
debt?"



4 MY LADY APRIL

"Great heavens, sir ! I must be clothed !"

On the subject of his wife's wardrobe Sir George
expressed himself with more force than politeness;
v_2d Lavinia was pondering the choice between a
swoon or hysterics when her woman tapped at the
door.

"Mr. Cassillis to wait upon you, m'lady."

"Demmit, we're not at home!" cried Sir George.

Janet looked at her mistress.

"Beg him to walk upstairs," said Lavinia, and
as the maid went, "George, don't be a fool. He
may be able to help."

"Gad, he owes us a debt of gratitude!" George
brightened, retrieved his wig, and donned it before
the mirror. "After all, 'twas I took him up and
made him the rage. Why, he'd not one shilling to
rub against another when we brought him to Win-
terbourne and let him paint our portraits. And now
half Bath crowds his studio." He turned as the
tap of high heels approached along the polished
landing. Lavinia had a prejudice against carpets
which deadened the sound of feet. "Hello,
Cassillis," cried Forrest. "Here's sad news !"

"Take these books back to the library, Janet,"
said her mistress. "And call at Mrs. Wells' and ask
if my red petticoat is scoured. Bring it with you.
You may have to wait. And get a yard of blue
sarcenet at the shop in Green Street. And leave
these notes in The Circus. And as you come back
call at Mrs. Darbey's for that pattern I lent her.



And then come finish me. Don't loiter, child. I'm
in a hurry."

Annoyed that she was given no opportunity of
listening at the door, Janet collected an armful of
novels and took herself off. Lavinia fidgeted with
the silver-topped jars upon her table; Sir George
gloomily surveyed his boots ; Mr. Cassillis, glancing
from one to the other, murmured something about
calling later at a more convenient hour.

"No, don't go," said Forrest without looking up.
"We're in the deuce of a mess, Cassillis. Give
him the demmed thing, Lawy."

The artist's pale eyes met Lady Forrest's for a
moment. He took the paper from her hand, read
it, pursed his lips into a silent whistle. "Eight
forty-two. Phew ! The woman's done you, some-
how. Sure, you can't owe all that for clothes !"

Lavinia's indignant rejoinder died in her throat as
she met his glance.

Sir George got up and began to pace to and fro,
airing his grievances, relieved that this painter fel-
low took his view of the matter. He had been
half afraid that Cassillis would side with Lavinia.
A puppy, always hanging on to some woman's
skirts !

"Well, 'tis deuced unpleasant, but nothing worse,"
said Cassillis at length. "You've a week."

"O lud, I can't pay it!"

"No? Hum." Mr. Cassillis meditated, sucking
the head of his clouded cane. "Of all God-forsaken



6 MY LADY APRIL

holes, a sponging house is the most abhorrent.
I know. I've tried em!"

"The bad old days 'fore you met us, eh?" sug-
gested Sir George hopefully.

"Exactly."

Sir George pondered the question of how much
he might reasonably expect to borrow from Mr.
Cassillis, and was dashed by the other's next words.

"The only alternative," mused Mr. Cassillis, "is
ah flight." For the fraction of a second his
pale eyes rested on Lavinia.

"Flight? Demmit, I can borrow "

Mr. Cassillis looked sideways. "On what se-
curity? No, my dear fellow. You don't borrow,
you abscond." He waved airy fingers. "Ab-
scond. Ride to Southampton. Take boat to
Folkstone. Once there, any smuggling lugger will
put you ashore in France and no questions asked."

"Od rot you, man, you've got it pat!" said Sir
George suspiciously. "One'd think you'd planned
it all out."

"La, no !" Mr. Cassillis giggled. " 'Tis mon-
strous simple. I'll put it about that you've taken the
London road. Once in Paris you can start another
gaming house and come back in a couple o' years'
time positively rolling in money."

"Gad, that's not a bad notion!" Sir George
glanced at the mirror and preened himself. At
forty-two he was still a personable fellow. "Paris !
What a life! Where's Doll? Let's have her in
and tell"



CASSILLIS CLEARS THE STAGE 7

"Dorothy's visiting Miss Abrams for a day or
two," interposed Lavinia. "There's no need to dis-
tress her "

"Distress?" echoed Sir George. "We'll tell her
nothing of all this. I'll take Charles and go to
Paris on business. You wind up affairs here and
follow with Dolly and your woman. What's sim-
pler? Let her stay on at the Jewess's by all means.
She's well out on't. Cassillis, you'll be discreet?
Well, I'll see my man about the horses. The sooner
I'm off the better." Amazingly cheered by the pros-
pect of Paris, Forrest nodded his farewell and strode
off whistling.

Mr. Cassillis flourished through a bow, straight-
ened up, and as the door closed, tossed hat and cane
upon the couch and crossed to Lavinia.

"Well, what now ?" said she, rising.

With his hands at his hips and feet apart, he
stood regarding her with a curious smile.

She looked up : met his eyes : stiffened into
immobility.

"To be brutal, you owe me close upon two thou-
sand pounds already, Vinny," said he. "Did you
believe I should be such a fool as to lend you more ?"

She remained silent, stone-cold, staring at him
with dilated eyes.

"You and I together could make more out of
faro than do you and Sir George," said he beneath
his breath. "Your tables don't bring you in enough
to live as you do, and I know a few things about
faro that "



8 MY LADY APRIL

"Not yet, but they will," she said determinedly.
"We're just beginning to be fashionable."

"This writ'll ruin you."

"O lud, I can run the house without George !"

"But my dear creature, there'll be a sale. The
place'll be stripped. They'll leave you nothing but
what you stand in ! I dare swear you owe others be-
side your dressmaker, and when the news gets about
your tradesfolk'll come clamoring. What then?"
An unconcerned observer might have thought Mr.
Cassillis exulted.

Lady Forrest sank into a chair, still staring in a
dazed way at the man before her. "I I thought
maybe you could help," she faltered.

He dropped to his knee and took her hands.

"Gad, Vinny, I'm no philanthropist! Why
should I stir a finger to help your husband? I'm
thinking of myself and you. Here's a chance in
a million, and are we to let it slip for fear of gos-
sip? You're no child, to be frighted at such scare-
crows, and I "

"You take too much for granted, sir," she re-
buked him. "D'ye think I'm a woman to run off
with the first man that throws his kerchief ?"

Mr. Cassillis got to his feet, dusted his knees,
glanced at her, and grinned. "I take nothing for
granted, madam." He discovered her hand-glass
among the litter upon the dressing-table, and pre-
sented it, bowing. "Allow me."

Lady Forrest thrust it away. "You you devil !"
she cried below her breath. "Ah ! Cruel "



CASSILLIS CLEARS THE STAGE 9

"Madam, you amaze me. I am the soul of kind-
ness and ah generosity. I give. I lend. I de-
mand no usury. And like Lazarus, I'm content
with the leavings from another's ah table."

"Cad !" she said vehemently.

Mr. Cassillis shrugged, snuffed, and strolled to
the window where rosy chintz curtains obscured the
sun.

Lady Forrest looked helplessly after him, utterly
at a loss. Never in all her life had she experienced
such treatment. It astounded her, but she found
something of a fascination in it. Flattery would
have left her cold ; open courtship had no value what-
soever, being an everyday affair among the gallants
who crowded her rooms.

Mr. Cassillis intrigued her.

At the end of five minutes he found her at his
elbow.

"Well," said he, taking her by the shoulders, and
regarding her with twinkling eyes, "which shall it
be? Vienna? Berlin? Rome?"



CHAPTER II

LADY FORREST AT HOME

BELOW the windows of Sir Julian Carew the
Bath band serenaded that old beau upon the
attainment of his eightieth birthday. An
unwonted guggling in the performance provoked in-
quiry ; neighboring sashes were thrown up, becapped
heads thrust out; shouts and laughter mingled
with the music.

"O lud !" snapped Lady Forrest. "What ails the
creatures? Janet, go see."

Her woman stepped out upon the balcony and
looking across the street beheld the cause of the con-
fusion lounging at ease upon the sunny pavement,
eating fruit.

"Well ?" called her mistress impatiently.

Janet giggled. " 'Tis a gypsy ragamuffin suckin
lemons. La, see the flageolet a-shaking his pipe!
No wonder they can't play. Here comes Sir Ju-
lian's major-domo to tip 'em."

A pompous old servant descended the semicircular
stone steps before Sir Julian's door, distributed sil-
ver, swore genteelly at the loafer, and retired.

The discomfited musicians swore with a differ-
ence; spat, shook out their instruments, and beat a

10



LADY FORREST AT HOME n

retreat, growling; and the gray thoroughfare,
splashed with sunshine and the gay green of April,
fiighed its relief and drowsed again. A black and
white cat came up the area of the Forrest house and
began a comprehensive toilet, and the gypsy kissed
his hand to her and faded into the landscape after
the manner of nis kind.

Unaware of the cat, Janet took the salute to her-
self, tossed her curls, tweaked the curtains into place,
and collecting empty chocolate cups, flounced away.

As the door closed upon her Lavinia Forrest
turned to the woman who brooded, plump and com-
placent, upon the settee beside the hearth.

"Well, Kate," she invited. "What's this of a
new-comer? I heard the bells."

Mrs. Darbey jerked forward. "Why, my love,"
she quacked, "the town talks of no one else. Six
foot, and as handsome as Acheron or am I think-
ing of Achilles? And the favorite of his uncle,
Sir Julian, though to be sure he's not the heir un-
less his cousin should well, well, we must hope for
the best. And generous, my dear, to a fault. The
dipper told me he gave her a guinea before he'd so
much as put his lips to a glass. And he's engaged
to attend the ball to-night, I had it from the book-
shop on the walls " Mrs. Darbey paused to
breathe.

"A Carew, did you say?" Lady Forrest emptied
a trinket box into her lap and chose half a dozen
rings, fitting them abstractedly upon her thin fin-
gers.



12 MY LADY APRIL

"Ralph Carew. Sir Julian keeps his eightieth
birthday to-day. A great age. Strange, an't it,
Sir Julian, the eldest o' the family, should out-live
his brothers? Henry died at forty. Raymond at
forty-five. Carews seldom make old bones, but
they know how to enjoy life. They tell me Ray^
mond was almost a pagan, so rash, so willful. Lud,
Valerius don't take after him! Must favor his
mother, I suppose. Spaniards are so lazy, an't they?
The climate. Sir Julian don't seem to take kindly
to his heir. Dotes upon Ralph. Regards him as a
son. Sure, 'tis a monstrous pity " She relapsed
into sighs.

"What is?" inquired Lavinia. "How you do
gabble, Kate!"

"Why, my love, my thoughts run so fast I vow
I can't keep pace with 'em. What was I saying?
O lud, yes! A pity young Ralph an't the heir.
So friendly, so good-natured, and quite unattached
I have it on the best authority. And is your
daughter to be at the ball ? A sweet child. I won-
der " Mrs. Darbey's small gray eyes brooded
certain romantic possibilities.

"And the cousin," inquired Lavinia. "Is he
married?"

"Valerius? What an unfortunate name!
Sounds like a medicine! Married? O lud, no!
As well expect an oyster to fall in love. Poor
creature!"

"Deformed?" suggested Lady Forrest, smoth-
ering her exasperation.



LADY FORREST AT HOME 13

Mrs. Darbey snooped forward like a duck in a
gutter. "Heavens! You don't tell me," she
gasped, round eyes protruding a little. "Well now,
'tis not remarkable. He's not crippled. I saw
him but yesterday on the Parade. A lanky, lan-
guid fellow, monstrous over-dressed, and so bored
he seemed ready to fall asleep as he walked.
What's the defect?"

"Oh, nothing," replied Lady Forrest. "Don't
jump to conclusions, Kate."

"And how is dear Sir George? I han't seen
him about this age!"

It appeared that dear Sir George had posted to
London a week ago on urgent business. Skillful
questions elicited the information that Lavinia
might possibly have to follow him, and that Doro-
thy would visit in the neighborhood until her par-
ents returned.

"No bad news, I trust?" Mrs. Darbey was avid
for detail.

"O la, no!" yawned Lavinia.

"Family matters, perhaps?"

"Yes. Monstrous boring, an't they? I protest
I hardly know whether a family wedding an't worse
than a family funeral. And how I detest wearing
black."

"Ah!" Mrs. Darbey hit the trail at last and
beamed her satisfaction. "Well, I hope 'tis a
legacy."

Lavinia allowed her to hope but changed the sub-
ject adroitly, and various reputations in Bath were



i 4 MY LADY APRIL

under dissection when the maid appeared, wide-
eyed.

"Mr. Everett, m'lady," said she, plaiting the
hem of her pinner.

Lady Forrest turned sharply and recognized a
danger signal. "Lud, how tiresome men are!
Did you tell him I was engaged?"

"Most particular, m'lady. But he said 'twas
important."

"What's o'clock, child?"

" 'Tis close on twelve, m'lady."

"O lud!" quacked Mrs. Darbey, rising hastily.
"And I vowed I'd meet Lady Sue at noon!" She
collected her fan, her muff and her silk bag ; preened
herself and made her adieu, explaining at great
length that she had missed half a dozen appoint-
ments in order to visit her sweet Lavvy.

Her sweet Lavvy pecked at her, smiled mechan-
ically, and nodded to her woman.

Janet reappeared a moment later.

"Who is it?" asked her mistress.

"A rough-looking fellow, m'lady. He got his
foot in the door 'fore I could slam it. He's a-
sitting in the dining-room."

"Did Mrs. Darbey see him?"

"La, no, m'lady. I took good care o' that!"

Lady Forrest exchanged her wrapper for a gown
and descended to make acquaintance with the genus
bailiff. It was not a pleasant experience. Barthol-
omew Griggs prided himself on his manners with
women.



LADY FORREST AT HOME 15

Revolted, Lavinia ' escaped to her boudoir and
summoned Janet, but when the maid came her
mistress for once found nothing to say.

The two women looked at one another.

"If quite convenient to you, m'lady, I should
wish to leave, not being accustomed to having the
bumbailey a-sitting in my dining-room, as it were."
She was prepared for reproaches.

"It's very well," assented Lady Forrest, out-
wardly composed. "Be good enough to lay my
pink taffety ready for to-night. And Janet, say
nothing to Miss Dorothy. I'll not have her dis-
turbed. She'll sleep till five, and then you may
dress her for the ball. Order a chair for six
o'clock."

She turned to her desk and chose a pen, trying
the nib upon a finger-nail.

"But, m'lady, do we open the rooms to-night as
usual?" gasped Janet, never able to understand her
mistress's self-control, and invariably losing her
head before Lavinia's icy restraint.

"Of course."

"But the"

"He can sit in the pantry. See that he has a
good supper and plenty of ale, and Janet you may
lock him in. I'll not have him coming upstairs
among my guests."

Impressed, Janet retired; dusted the gaming-
rooms upon the first floor, replenished the candle-
sticks, and descending, set glass and china ready
in the dining-room.



1 6 MY LADY APRIL

Bartholomew Griggs, writing laboriously in a
dirty pocket-book, dogged her steps.

"Get out from under my feet, I tell ye!" said
Janet at length. "You'll get trod on. What are
you at?"

"Tottin' up the furniture, missie," rejoined
Griggs. "What's the lay? Party to-night?"

"Ho, no more'n usual!" said Janet, breathing
on a spoon and rubbing it vigorously.

"We entertain lavish, don't we?" chuckled
Griggs. "Let's see. Cut glass aypernay badly
chipped on foot. Four, eight, twelve, sixteen
ecod! how many o' them long-legged glasses?"
He sucked his pencil and eyed the table apprais-
ingly.

"Keep your fingers off 'em!" snapped Janet, os-
tentatiously polishing.

"Oh, bless your heart, I an't doin' no damage.
But anything to obleege a lady." He smirked at
her and pottered round the room, examining the
gilded mirrors and muttering to himself. Janet,
watching him sidelong, was suddenly concerned
about her wages. It became imperative to know
what would happen in the course of the next few
days.

"Well," said she more amicably. "I'm for the
town."

"Shopping?" queried Griggs.

"Ordering the supper," she told him. "What's
your fancy?"

Bartholomew owned to a passion for trillibub.



LADY FORREST AT HOME 17

Janet sneered. "We'd have the gentry take this
for a tripe house! Choose something that don't
stink, man! Onions, indeed!"

"Most things as is tasty smells," mused Griggs,
scratching one eai. "And I do love something
tasty. What about oysters, miss?"

Janet signified approval and invited him to come
carry her basket.

"Can't leave, me dear," Griggs wagged a shabby
head. "I'm in possession, an' here I stays till the
sale's over. Nothing's to be took away, d'ye see.
I'm responsible. I doubt I should let ye take a
basket strictly speakin' "

"Don't be a fool!" snapped Janet. "D'ye ex-
pect me to carry oysters in my apron?" She
flounced off, donned cloak and hood and hurried
in to the town, where passing an apothecary's, she
developed a raging toothache and dived down three
steps into the little shop.

"Something to make you sleep?" said the as-
sistant, leaning solicitously over the counter. "Bet-
ter let me draw it, miss, and ha' done with it."

"Oh, 'tis but a cold," said Janet, her hand to
her cheek. "I'll take two powders, please. Do
they taste badly?"

"Put 'em in your supper beer and you'll never
know you've had 'em," he assured her.

Dressed, perfumed and painted, Lady Forrest
went on a tour of inspection through morning-room
and dining room, where refreshments were spread



1 8 MY LADY APRIL

upon long tables, and servants, hired only for a
few hours each night, waited napkin in hand.

The rooms set aside for gaming occupied the
whole of the first floor. Lavinia glanced in and
found Janet distributing new packs of cards.

^Where's that man?" she inquired.

The abigail looked up. "He's had his supper
and he's asleep in the butler's pantry, m'lady."

"Did you lock him in?"

"No, m'lady. I did better. He'd ha' kicked
the door down and raised a monstrous racket. I
put a sleeping powder in his ale. He's safe till
morning."

Lady Forrest stopped suddenly, a finger at her
lip.

"You're certain he'll not wake?"

"Oh la, yes!" returned Janet. "The pottecary
vowed one would ensure a good night's rest. I
gave him two."

" 'Tis very well. I shall close the rooms early
to-night, child. My head aches. You needn't sit
up for me."

"Thank you, m'lady."

Lavinia idly picked up a pack of cards, cut, and
glanced at the result. The Queen of Hearts. Her
fate was sealed.

Oddly at ease now that her decision was made,
she left the gaming-rooms, and climbing the stair
to an attic bedchamber, entered without ceremony.

Her daughter Dorothy stood upon a chair before
the toilet-table, examining her slippered feet in a



LADY FORREST AT HOME 19

small mirror, and turned pettishly as Lady Forrest
came in.

"What on earth ?" began Lavinia.

Dorothy shrugged and descended. "If I am to
be your decoy you might at least give me a long
glass," she pouted. "For all I know my petti-
coat's inches below my gown, and half the urchins
in Bath will be shouting that my father loves me
better than my mother."

Lavinia winced a little. "Janet should dress
you."

"Janet neglects me shamefully. When can I
have a woman of my own.

' 'Tis too costly, child," said her mother, eyeing
her. "You're exquisite. Come, control your tem-
per, or you'll ruin your mouth. There's nothing
lines a face like ill-humor. Remember that, miss !"

The young girl lifted a candle in each hand and
gazed into the mirror, scrutinizing herself as though
her reflection had been the picture of a third per-