The Paper Princess

Chapter Ten

Felicity was roused early the next morning by Spinks, the butler.

“An urgent message from Lord Arthur Bessamy,” he said sonorously. “We are to bar the door, close the shutters, and lock the windows.”

“Good heavens! What has happened? Has Napoleon invaded?”

“Vengeance is mine, sayeth the lord.”

“Pull yourself together, Spinks. Did not my lord explain the reason for his warning?”

“No, Your Royal Highness. But the end is nigh.”

“Don't be silly. Rouse Miss Chubb immediately, and bring me the morning papers.”

“I do not think that is a very good idea.”

“Do as you are told, Spinks,” said Felicity sharply. “And you may now address me as Miss Channing. The masquerade is over.”

“Everything is over,” said Spinks in a hollow voice.

The minute he had left, Felicity jumped from her bed and made a hasty toilet. Miss Chubb came in just as Felicity was finishing dressing.

“What is all this?” asked the governess. “Has Spinks gone mad?”

“Something awful is about to happen or Lord Arthur would not have sent a message.”

There came a scratching at the door, and the tutor, Mr. Silver, came in, carrying the morning papers and with an expression on his face as gloomy as that of the butler.

“Is it war?” asked Felicity nervously. “Have the French come?”

“Worse than that,” said the tutor. He silently handed Felicity the newspapers and told her to look at the social columns.

Each paper carried a full account of the Queen's drawing room, and each damned this upstart, Felicity Channing, who had dared to masquerade as a royal princess and play a trick on “our beloved Queen Charlotte.” There was not a word of Mr. Palfrey's perfidy. Tricking her out of her inheritance and nearly murdering a maid was small beer in the eyes of the press compared to Felicity's audacity in tricking London society. “We had long noted,” said theMorning Post, “a sad want of any royal traits in this paper princess.”

PAPER PRINCESS screamed all the other journals. Miss Barchester had had her revenge after all.

“He will not want to marry me after this disgrace,” whispered Felicity. “Lord Arthur's father, the duke, is very powerful and will stop the marriage.”

“Listen!” said Mr. Silver. There were howls and cries outside, growing closer.

They sat staring at one another. Soon an angry mob was below the windows.

“You wouldn't think they would be able to read the newspapers,” said Felicity.

“They don't need to,” said Mr. Silver. A stone rattled against the shutters. “I am afraid, dear lady, that lampoons of you will be in all the print shops by now. The speed of the satirical artists of Grub Street never fails to amaze me.”

More stones began to strike the house and the roaring outside grew louder.

“If Lord Arthur guessed this was about to happen,” said Mr. Silver impatiently, “then he should have arranged to protect us.”

“Listen!” said Miss Chubb. “Someone is shouting something.”

Despite anguished cries from Miss Chubb to be careful, Felicity opened the shutters and looked down.

Lord Arthur Bessamy stood facing the mob. He was making a speech. They listened to him in silence, and then a great roar went up.

“Come away from the window,” shouted Miss Chubb. “They have seen you.”

“No,” said Felicity slowly. “Lord Arthur is below. He made a speech, they all listened and cheered, and now they are going away as quietly as lambs.”

She turned from the window and ran out of the room and down the stairs to where John Tremayne was stationed by the door, holding a shotgun.

“Open the door,” cried Felicity. “It is Lord Arthur.”

John drew back the bolts and bars and opened the door. Felicity flew into Lord Arthur's arms, crying, “They are calling me the paper princess. Your father, the duke, he will never let you marry me.”

“Don't clutch my cravat,” said Lord Arthur amiably. “Quite spoils the shape. My dearest, by next week they will all have forgotten you exist.”

“How did you get rid of them?”

“I told them about Palfrey. I told them I was going to marry you. But I think it was when I told them that I had arranged for free beer at the pub in Shepherd Market, for them to drink your health, that started them cheering.”

“I was so afraid you would not want to marry me.”

“Idiot. But remember: It is to be our wedding, and only ours.”

“I do not understand.”

“Miss Chubb and Mr. Silver may marry when they please, but not at the same time as us.”

Felicity laughed. “Poor Miss Chubb. Of course she is not going to marry Mr. Silver.”

“I fear you are blind to love,” said Lord Arthur. “Why do you think Mr. Silver was so angry with poor Dolph? Now, do you want that wretch, Palfrey, arrested? After I left you last night, I went to call on Mr. Clough. He told me that Bessie is quite reformed and never wants to leave America.”

“No, I would rather let all the scandal die down.”

“Do you know the name of the bank where the Channing money is lodged?”

“It is Coutts in the Strand, I believe.”

“Then, I had better go there directly or Palfrey will flee the country with all the Channing money.”

He bowed and left, and Felicity went back upstairs to look at Miss Chubb and Mr. Silver with new eyes.

Lord Arthur was too late. He could only be glad that Mr. Palfrey had only drawn out ten thousand pounds. The estates, properly managed, would soon recover the loss.