Mr Tarleton assured her she need have no fear of this. Sherry’s slightly rakish air, coupled with Hero’s words, conjured up an abominable vision of attempted seduction, rapine, and violence. He felt a burning desire to protect Hero, and, had Sherry attempted to pursue her, would undoubtedly have done his best to have knocked him down.
But Sherry was fully alive to the consequences of forcing an issue in public, and he did not pursue her. Instead, he turned to Lady Saltash, and asked her to inform him when he might have the honour of calling upon her. Lady Saltash, hugely tickled by the whole situation, said affably that he might call at any hour which suited him, only they were such gadabouts, she and Miss Wantage, that she could not promise that they would be at home. The Viscount, no fool, bowed formally, and registered a grim resolve to be even with her ladyship one day before he was much older. He then retired to his mother’s side, and asked her if she was ready to go. It had occurred to him that it might be as well to put her in possession of the facts of the case.
She received them much as might have been expected, exclaiming against Hero’s effrontery, and taking care to point out to her son that the designing hussy had lost no time in attaching another unfortunate victim to her apron strings. She professed herself to be more than willing to speak of her as Miss Wantage, adding that she had never thought of her as anything else.
Shortly after they had reached the Royal Crescent, Miss Milborne joined them, having been escorted to the door by Sir Montagu. Lady Sheringham greeted her with a sort of moan, begging her to say at once if she had seen ‘that shameless creature’ flaunting herself before their eyes in the Pump Room.
Miss Milborne replied: “Dear Ma’am, she was hardly flaunting herself! I did indeed see her, and I own I was excessively shocked to think of you and Sherry being put into so awkward a situation! I wonder Hero should do such a thing! What everyone must think — !”
“It’s no such thing!” snapped Sherry. “She is known here as Miss Wantage, and in any event I care nothing for what a parcel of Bath nobodies may think! What makes me as mad as bedlam is that George, and Gil, and Ferdy all knew she was here! Have known it from the outset!”
“We guessed as much, did we not?” said Miss Milborne coldly. “Lord Wrotham appears to be so assiduous in his attentions that I am sure I should not wonder at anything I heard. Dear Lady Sheringham, if you do not dislike it, I own I have a great fancy to see Wells. The scheme is that we should go in three carriages — a party of six, you know — to see the cathedral tomorrow, while this mild weather continues. Miss Chalfont assures me that we may do it easily in the daylight, and be back again in Bath in excellent time for dinner. Sir Montagu Revesby has been so obliging as to offer me a seat in his curricle; Mr Chalfont will be of the party, with a friend of his; and both his sisters, of course.”
“If you take my advice, Bella,” struck in the Viscount, “you will not go jauntering about the country with Revesby!”
“Thank you, Sherry, you are very good, but since my Mama sees no objection to Sir Montagu, I do not know why you should.”
“I am sure Sir Montagu is everything that is most unexceptionable,” said the dowager. “Only if you are set on going, my love, I wish I might prevail upon Anthony to escort you, for I am sure you would be more comfortable with him.”