The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 237: what you’re looking at

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220 his composure so speedily that his transient emotion ) was not observed by the Prince, he added, “ At eight o’clock we shall expect your Royal Highness.” “T shall be punctual,” responded the heir-appa- rent ;—and the Earl took his leave, in order to visit his bankers. It was about half-past four in the afternoon when the nobleman returned to his mansion in Berkeley Square; and, having ascertained that the Countess was alone in the drawing-room which she usually occupied in the winter season, he proceeded straight to that apartment. “My dearest Eleanor,” he said, rendering his voice as kind and his manner as cordial as he possibly could, “I have had occaston to call just now upon his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales ——” Lady Desborough started; and it was only by a strong effort that she suppressed the ejaculation which rose to her lips. “And his Royal Highness,” continued the Earl, who at the instant let his handkerchief fall and stooped to pick it up—so that Eleanor was relieved by the certainty that her emotion had escaped his observation,—“and his Royal Highness will con- descend to dine with us this evening. He has a little business to transact with me, of a pecuniary nature; and therefore his visit is strictly private— and he wishes to be alone with us, quite in a friendly way. The business to which I have alluded, will not occupy many minutes and can be transacted when we are over our wine together. I hope that the arrangement thus made will not interfere with any engagement previously made by you.” “T had no engagement for this evening,” answered the Countess, now more than ever convinced that her husband was altogether ignorant of what had passed between herself and the Duchess of De- vonshire on the preceding day, and that he was like- wise unaware of the feeling which the Prince enter- tained towards her: or else, she was assured, he woud not have invited his Royal Highness to the house. “I need searcely ask you to give such instruc- tions, Eleanor,” resumed the Earl, “ that the enter- tainment may be worthy of the illustrious guest who is to honour us with his presence: nor is it needful for me to intimate my desire that, although the banquet be of the most private character, it will become us to appear in fall dress.” * J should have anticipated your wishes in those respects, Francis,” said the Countess, her heart fluttering like an imprisoned bird that is frightened in its cage, and the colour coming and going on her cheeks a dozen times in a minute. The Earl then retired, aud Eleanor, not daring to trust herself alone with her reflections, rang the bell and ordered the house-steward to wait upon her. That functionary soon made his appearance ; and the Countess issued the orders for the banquet. There were but three hours left for the preparations: but money and many servants can accomplish marvels; and her ladyship felt as- sured that the entertainment would be a magni- ficent one. Having instructed the house-steward, Eleanor proceeded to her own chamber, where she issued the requisite commands to her two lady’s-maids re- specting her toilette ;—but when this was done, she found that she had stilla couple of hours to while away. She accordingly ordered the carriage, and THE MYSTERIES. paid a visit to her friend the Duchess of Devon- shire, whom she confidentially acquainted with the circumstance that his Royal Highness was to dias at Desborough House in the evening. The conver- sation, therefore, dwelt entirely upon this subject; and as a demirep is invariably anxious to make her beautifal acquaintances or companions as bad as herself, the Duchess said everything she could to inflame the imagination of Eleanor in respect to the Prince: so that when the Countess returned home to dress for dinner, her heart palpitated and her bosom heaved with pleasure at the thought of the delightful evening which she was to pass. Precisely at eight o’clock his Royal Highness made his appearance, and was conducted to the drawing-room, where he was received by the Ear! and Countess of Desborough. Eleanor was gloriously handsome. The grave bashfulness which her nobly-formed countenance wore, imparted a queen-like air to her whole ap- pearance, and contrasted charmingly with the ra- diance which the diamonds on her raven hair and the lustre of her splendid black eyes diffused around her. Sheseemed a magnificent vision too perfect for human beauty—a houri of Mahommed's para- dise, invested with all the supernal fascination of that elysian sphere. And, in spite of herself—in spite of all the com- mand which, prompted by her woman's pride and her natural virtue, she had resolved to exercise over her feelings,—in spite, we say, of the immense efforts which she had made to counteract, or rather to subdue, the influence of that insidious language which the Duchess of Devonshire had poured into her ears,—her bright eyes grew brighter beneath the impassioned gaze which the Prinoe rivetted upon her—and her hand trembied in his own, as he took it with apparent respect, but in pressed it gently—and the half-revealed bosom to which his looks then wandered and where they settled gloatingly, heaved to the sigh of pleasure which she could not control. She remembered not the insolent threat to which the royal voluptuary had dared give utter- ance on leaving her the last time she had seen him : she thought only that he was the strikingly hand- some man the Duchess of Devonshire had loved to paint him in glowing terms ; and the consciousness that she was blushing made her blush all the more deeply—while the flood of light that poured into her swimming eyes dazzled and almost bewildered the Prince as he met the glance which flashed upon him from thoee brilliant orbs. All these feelings—and emotions—and variations of countenance, which would occupy a whole chapter in order to detail them fully, passed during the few seconds that his Royal Highness held the fair soft hand of that charming lady in his own: then, as she resumed her seat upon the sofa whence she had risen to welcome him, he placed himself by her side, and began to converse in that melodious yet manly voice which possessed so irresistible a sweetness for the fair sex. Several minutes elapsed ere the Countess could so far compose her thoughts and regain her self- possession as to take part in the discourse, which her husband however sustained with all the spirit o. a fine intellect and an elegant taste; andin a short time a domestic entered to announce that dinner was served up. COMGLOO S COMM