The Love Child

“Of late it has become increasingly hard to amuse you. Don’t grow old before your time, Priscilla.”

“I’m worried about Carlotta and that man. I want to go back home. She is my daughter and I want you to help me as you did before.”

“Of course I’ll help you. But really, Priscilla, you are like one of those fearsome Puritans. It’s good for Carlotta to have this little flutter. It is preparing her for life.”

“I don’t want that man to have a hand in the preparations. He’s dangerous. I don’t like him.”

“You’ve made that obvious.”

“I thought you wanted her to have Benjie.”

“Of course, she’s going to have Benjie, but she has to grow up a little more. Stop fretting, Priscilla. Everything will be all right.”

I could see that I should get little help from Harriet, but something would have to be done. What?

An impulse came to me. I had to discover what his plans regarding Carlotta were, and I had an idea that he might tell me, out of bravado. He was so sure of himself and already he was weaning her from me. I had always been impulsive, and no sooner had the idea occurred to me that I must talk to him than I began making my preparations to do so.

I left Harriet, and within an hour had put on my cloak and hood and was walking the short distance between our houses.

I was admitted by one of the servants I had seen the previous night. He showed no surprise at the sight of me. I supposed he was accustomed to women calling on his master.

I was shown into a small room leading from the hall and asked to wait.

He came almost immediately-exquisitely dressed as ever-his square-cut, mulberry-coloured velvet coat open to show his very fine waistcoat; his knee-length breeches were of the same shade of mulberry; his shoes had high red heels, which made him taller than he actually was; and he carried a jewelled snuffbox in his hand. I don’t know why I should have noticed his clothes at such a time, but the manner in which he wore them always made one notice. He was one of the leaders of fashion and well known for it throughout Court circles.

He bowed, holding the snuffbox in his left hand, and taking my hand in his right, kissed it. I shrank visibly.

“What a pleasure!” he murmured. “Once you came to visit me hi Dorchester. Now you come to London … of your own ardent wish in both cases.”

“I have come to talk to you,” I said.

“Dear lady, I had not the temerity to imagine that you had come for any other reason this time.”

“What is your object hi making yourself so agreeable to my family?”

“I am always agreeable,” he answered, “and my object is to extract as much enjoyment from life as it will offer.”

“And what does this particular enjoyment involve?”

“Pray be seated.” He laid the snuffbox on the table, and brought out a gilded chair for me. He sat on another close to the table. “It is a very interesting situation,” he went on. “It is all very clear to me. So the delightful Carlotta is the result of that peccadillo of yours. A most delightful result, I must say. And her father was Jocelyn Frinton. That is most interesting. Poor fellow, came to a bad end through that low-born monster, Titus Gates. But not before he gave us this delightful creature.”

“Us?” I said.

It was then I realized the extreme cruelty in him. He knew how tormented I had been and he gloated on it… just as he had on my shame and humiliation on that other occasion.

“You will not be allowed to be greedy, dear lady, and keep all that sweetness to yourself.”

“Please explain.”

“I find her enchanting.”

“She is a child.”

“Some of us love children.”

“Depraved people like yourself, you mean.”

“You could say that, I suppose.”

“Then you must turn your eyes elsewhere.”

“My dear Priscilla … I always loved the name. It sounds so prim. Remember I told you that during that ecstatic night we spent together. You haven’t forgotten? I never did. I often wanted to remind you of it. You are not really in a position, are you, to tell me what I should do about your daughter? I have a charming picture of you.

You didn’t see it completed, did you? You must come to Dorchester sometime. It is the kind of picture only a lover could produce. Now listen to me. I have a great fondness for your daughter. My intentions are absolutely honourable.”

“Good heavens! You mean you want to marry her! This is too foolish for words.”

“By no means foolish. It is very sensible. The whole of London is talking about the Frinton fortune. Our delightful, beautiful, desirable Carlotta is not only a beauty, she is a considerable heiress.”

“You’re monstrous.”

“I enjoy revealing myself to you as I did on that night … that memorable night.

I kept my word, did I not? Were you not surprised? What a gamble you took! You should be grateful to me really. But for me your father would have been long since dead.

To seduce a woman is a venial sin, but to save a life is a great virtue.

For what I did that night, surely I will have a place in heaven.”

“I would be ready to gamble on the fact that it will be hell for you.”