Belgrave Square - Anne Perry [24]
“I doubt it,” Vespasia said dryly. “She is as deaf as a post, poor thing—but it may save her the malicious whisperings that would otherwise be bound to wound.”
“Yes indeed,” said another woman, in pink, who nodded her head and set her tiara blazing in the light. “It is fearful what people will say. What with her husband keeping mistresses quite openly for all the world to see—Lillie Langtry—I ask you! The woman is nothing better than a—” She shrugged and refused to speak the word. “And her son a complete wastrel, of which she can hardly be unaware. Do you know I even heard that the Duke of Clarence was creeping out of the palace at night and visiting women of the streets. Can you believe it?”
“I heard it was one particular woman.” The sapphire lady raised her eyebrows very high and her face took on an expression of great knowledge. “And that the affaire was far beyond the mere satisfaction of one of the less forgivable appetites.” She lowered her voice confidentially. “Of course it is only speculation, but some say that it had to do with those fearful murders in Whitechapel last year. The Ripper, you know.” She avoided Vespasia’s eyes and her tone became critical.
“Of course I was always dubious about the value of a police force. My grandfather was irrevocably against it.” She shrugged. “He said they would be expensive, intrude into a man’s dignity and independence, interfere where they had no business, and do very little good. Which seems to be the case.” She looked from one to another of them. “If such a thing could go on in the heart of London and six months later they have caught no one at all, it rather proves my point, does it not?”
Vespasia kicked Charlotte just as she was about to explode in defense of Pitt in particular, and the police in general.
“Your logic is impeccable,” Vespasia said with a wry smile. “I should do away with doctors also. They are clearly quite useless. They could not even save the Prince Consort. In fact when I come to think of it, absolutely everyone I ever knew of died in the end.”
They all turned to stare at her, none of them except Charlotte quite sure how to take this last, totally ridiculous remark.
Vespasia’s face was marvelous. Not a muscle moved and there was not even a glimmer of humor in her beautiful silvergray eyes.
Charlotte waited with her breath held. She would not spoil the delicious moment.
“Ah … er,” the sapphire lady began, then stopped. Everyone looked at her hopefully, but she had exhausted her aplomb for the moment and fell silent.
The pink lady fidgeted, opened her mouth then changed her remark into a cough.
At last Vespasia took mercy on them.
“It is a hard world,” she said sententiously. “The surgeons and physicians cannot prevent mortality, they can only ease pain and help a few accidents and diseases here and there; and the police cannot get rid of human iniquity, they can only apprehend some of the perpetrators and see they are punished, which discourages the rest.” She avoided meeting Charlotte’s eyes. “Even the Church has not got rid of private sin. The pity of it is I cannot think of a better idea.”
“I … er … I—” Again the sapphire lady did not know what to say.
“Has anyone seen Gilbert and Sullivan’s latest opera?” Charlotte came to the rescue, but did not dare look at Vespasia.
“Ah indeed, Ruddigore,” the pink lady said gratefully. “A little sad I think, don’t you? I much preferred the Pirates of Penzance. And I didn’t understand Princess Ida. I am not sure whether they are for women’s education or against it!”
“Women should be educated in the gentilities, nothing more,” the sapphire lady said decidedly. “Academic subjects are of no use and only disturb the mind. We are not designed for such things, either by God or by nature!”
“Are they not the same?” Charlotte inquired.
“I beg your pardon?”
“God and nature,” Charlotte explained.
The sapphire lady’s eyebrows