‘What Lord Peterborough’s son? Oh,
dear, yes. Such a singular being!’
Lady Rowley thought that she could perceive that her
phoenix had not made himself agreeable at the embassy.
It might perhaps be that he had buried himself away
from society because of his love. ’And is
here now?’ asked Lady Rowley.
’I cannot say at all. He is sometimes here
and sometimes with his father at Naples. But
when here, he lives chiefly with the Americans.
They say he is going to marry an American girl their
minister’s niece. There are three of-them,
I think, and he is to take the eldest.’
Lady Rowley asked no more questions, and let her august
visitor go, almost without another word.
‘We shall be so poor’
Mr Glascock at that moment was not only in Florence,
but was occupying rooms in the very hotel in which
the Rowleys were staying. Lady Rowley, when she
heard that he was engaged to marry an American lady,
became suddenly very sick at heart sick with a sickness
that almost went beyond her heart. She felt ill,
and was glad to be alone. The rumour might be
untrue. Such rumours generally are untrue.
But then, as Lady Rowley knew very well, they generally
have some foundation in truth. Mr Glascock, if
he were not actually engaged to the American girl,
had probably been flirting with her and, if so, where
was that picture which Lady Rowley had been painting
for herself of a love-lorn swain to be brought back
to the pleasures and occupations of the world only
by the girl of whom he was enamoured? But still
she would not quite give up the project. Mr Glascock,
if he was in Italy, would no doubt see by the newspapers
that Sir Marmaduke and his family were in Florence
and would probably come to them. Then, if Nora
would only behave herself, the American girl might
still be conquered.
During two or three days after this nothing was seen
or heard of Mr Glascock. Had Lady Rowley thought
of mentioning the name to the waiter at the hotel,
she would have learned that he was living in the next
passage; but it did not occur to her to seek information
in that fashion. Nor did she ask direct questions
in other quarters about Mr Glascock himself.
She did, however, make inquiry about Americans living
in Florence, especially about the American Minister
and, before a week had passed overhead, had been introduced
to the Spaldings. Mrs Spalding was very civil,
and invited Lady Rowley and all the girls and Sir
Marmaduke to come to her on her ‘Fridays.’
She received her friends every Friday, and would continue
to do so till the middle of June. She had nieces
who would, she said, be so happy to make the acquaintance
of the Miss Rowleys.
