More Frederica, Chapters 22 - 28 (including Conclusion)

When we left Frederica, in the eponymous book by Georgette Heyer, the heroine's youngest brother Felix had stowed away in a hot air balloon and come to grief when the balloon descended into a tree.   Frederica asked Lord Alverstoke to pursue the balloon and he is now in charge of the injured Felix at a farm outside London.

Chapter 22

Alverstoke’s night at the farm minding Felix is very stressful.   At least grumpy Miss Judbrook feeds him quite adequately but Felix tosses and turns all night, feverishly moaning or calling out for Frederica.  My favorite bit is when he wakes up and asks where he is, and Alverstoke replies, “You are with me, Felix,” which he knows is silly when he utters it, but Felix is comforted.  Alverstoke is so perturbed by Felix’s condition he sends for the doctor early in the morning.   The doctor is impressed by how well Alverstoke deals with the wretched boy and asks if he has children.  “Not to my knowledge,” he replies.   He reassures his new best pal, Dr. Elcot, that Frederica is a very competent nurse.

The next morning Frederica arrives in Alverstoke’s traveling carriage with many of the things an invalid needs (such as lemons for lemonade).   She is very tactful, except sometimes with her own siblings, and admires Miss Judbrook’s new parlor carpet, which wins over that disgruntled lady.  Frederica tells Alverstoke her mother suffered from rheumatic fever (bronchitis) and Felix has inherited his deceased mother’s weak chest.  Frederica reveals that her uncle-in-law died but Miss Winsham, instead of helping the Upper Wimpole Street household, is supporting her newly widowed sister.   Frederica is also concerned about Charis’ spending too much time with Endymion back in London but has enough sense to realize that is out of her control.   She is surprised when Alverstoke says he is not returning to London but is moving to an inn at Hemel Hempstead;  she does not realize he is staying to support her and the inn is to protect her reputation.

Chapter 23

Alverstoke returns to the farm at 6 pm, refreshed, and immediately notices how much more comfortable Frederica has made the sick room.  However, Felix seems very feverish.   Together, they make him swallow his medicine, then Alverstoke makes Frederica go to bed.  He says he will drive back to the inn at midnight after she is rested.   She is grateful for his help, not questioning why.   Alverstoke admits to himself that although fond of Felix, he is there because he has “fallen deeply and reluctantly in love with” Frederica and wants to help her.  The bored leader of ton is finally thinking of someone else before himself.

He and Frederica get into a routine.   He seems to have most of the daytime shift with Felix while Frederica catches up on sleep, then she wakes up and he returns to the Inn.  On the second day, Jessamy arrives with a valise full of books, the Waverley novels to read aloud to Felix, plus books for him to study.   Feverish though Felix is, he recognizes Jessamy and is pleased to see him, although Jessamy is shocked by his appearance.   Jessamy also tells Alverstoke that Harry and Miss Winsham quarreled, and Miss Winsham packed her trunk and moved in with her widowed sister, leaving Charis unchaperoned.   Frederica admits to Alverstoke that this concerns her and he decides he will intervene with Endymion, if necessary, to save her worry.   Alverstoke admits to himself he will sacrifice anyone to reduce her stress, except Felix or Jessamy: “he had become fond of the infernal brats – though he was damned if he knew why.”    At the end of the chapter, Frederica shares with him that Felix’s fever has broken and we know (if we had doubted) that the boy will recover.

Chapter 24

As Felix continues to improve, life at Monk’s Farm becomes almost normal.  Alverstoke’s very proper valet Knapp feels out of the action over at the Sun so offers to help tend to Felix.  This frees Frederica to spend a little time away from the sickroom so Alverstoke takes her on short rides in his phaeton or go on walks with him.  They chat about everything but he realizes she shows no sign of recognizing his feelings or reciprocating them but Alverstoke is now sure how he feels:

His own doubts were at an end.  The more he saw of her the more he loved her, and as he had never loved any woman before.  Not the most beautiful of his mistresses had inspired him with a desire to shield her from every adverse wind; he had never pictured the most amusing of his well-born flirts presiding over his several establishments; and far less had he contemplated a permanent relationship with any of these ladies.  But after knowing her for little more than two months Frederica had so seriously disturbed the pattern of his life that he had been cast into a state of indecision: a novel experience which had not been at all agreeable.  When he was pitchforked into her little brother’s fantastic adventure he had still been in a state of uncertainty; since then he had spent more than a week in close companionship with her, and under conditions as unromantic as they were uncomfortable, and all his doubts were resolved: he wished to spend the rest of his life with her, because she was the perfect woman he had never expected to encounter. 

His lordship, in fact, had fallen deeply in love.  He was also undergoing yet another new experience: Frederica showed no sign of returning his regard.  He knew that she liked him; once or twice he had dared to hope that the feeling she had for him was more than fondness, but he could never be sure of this, or forget that on the only occasion when he had given her the faintest reason to suspect him of gallantry she had instantly set him at a distance.  

(We suspect she is not indifferent because of the way she reacted in Chapter 16 when Harry said the Marquis was old and Frederica said he was in the prime of life)

When Alverstoke decides to test the waters, it is nearly disastrous because Frederica is obsessed with Felix’s recovery and is thinking about Dr. Ratcliffes’s Restorative Pork Jelly!  Well, pork jelly, such as Dr. Ratcliffe’s (or Ratteliff’s) Restorative Pork Jelly, was highly recommended for loss of appetite or any sort of consumptive complaint, per author Lauren Gilbert.  Still, maybe not worth missing a proposal for a mere jelly!   Alverstoke laughs at the situation and prudently decides to bide his time.

Next, Harry posts down to visit, which is a mixed blessing.   It is good to see him supporting Frederica but he overreacts to Felix’s appearance, demands a specialist, and when Frederica says he could help by finding them lodgings where Felix can recover outside London, he doesn’t feel up to it. Harry also tries to get Alverstoke to tell him exactly how much has been expended on Felix’s behalf.   It is amusing that Alverstoke at the beginning of the book was determined not to pay a grouse towards any of the Merrivilles but now feels very differently.   Still, he is respectful of Harry’s pride and promises to give him a Dutch reckoning later on.

See http://www.uvm.edu/~hag/regency/tips/

It is clear to Frederica that in her and Miss Winsham’s absence, Charis is spending all her time with "that blockhead" Endymion (clearly, his military duties are very light).  When she mentions it to Alverstoke, he brings up Charles Trevor and Chloe, and asks her if that romance will endure.  She thinks so, and suggests that when Chloe’s younger sister Diana is ready to make her debut, Alverstoke may be able to persuade Mrs. Dauntry to agree to the match (some feel the elder sister should be married before the next one is launched).   Alverstoke is amused by the machinations of her mind and asks why she cares.

“Do you mean that it’s no concern of mine?  It isn’t, of course, but I like them both so much – and one can’t but care for what becomes of persons one holds in affection, and try to help them.” 

As Alverstoke thinks about this, he supposes he must care about very few people, primarily Frederica, but then he realizes he cares about Felix and Jessamy as well, independent of their sister.    

Next to sally forth to Monk’s Farm is Lord Buxted, with the best of intentions but arousing no enthusiasm from those in attendance on Felix.   He is not allowed to see Felix or bring him a puzzle, and Alverstoke has to muzzle Jessamy to prevent him from being disrespectful.  Buxted is amazed Alverstoke is on the scene (both because it seems against his frivolous/detached nature and because of the implied intimacy he observes.   Alverstoke makes a big deal of the fact that he is staying at the nearby inn and implies he is just waiting for his valet to be spared from Felix’s bedside.   Then, Alverstoke ensures Buxted has special alone time with Frederica; Buxted proposes again, and she declines again.  Later, she scolds Alverstoke for setting her up like that and says how inconsiderate it was for Buxted to propose at a time like that when she is so concerned about Felix.   Alverstoke has a twisted smile as he knows he came very close to making the same mistake.

Chapter 25

Alverstoke announces he is returning to London and Frederica hides her regret, instead trying to thank him for his support. He brushes that off,  and says he heard from Dr. Elcot that she is planning to take the family to a resort for Felix’s health but that she may have difficulty finding something suitable. Rather, he suggests the Merrivilles visit his estate, Alver Park (somewhere in Somerset within a 12 mile radius of Bath) and enjoy country pursuits. He offers to install a female relative to chaperone. Frederica worries about being too obligated to him but accepts gratefully. At the same time, she regrets leaving London with her mission of finding Charis a suitable husband unaccomplished. Alverstoke also

suggests that the boys need a tutor and, most fortunately, finds one in Charles Trevor’s younger brother. Once back in London, Alverstoke visits Charis, where he finds her most improperly alone with Endymion:

The discomfiture of the young couple was patent, and in no way lessened by

the rising of his lordship’s quizzing-glass. Endymion, red to the roots of

his hair stammered: “I came to inquire after – after Felix, sir! And to

have a word with Harry!”

“Only Harry has just stepped out,” said Charis, courageously supporting

him. “But only for a moment, so I begged C-cousin Endymion to wait for his

return!”

His lordship, suppressing a desire to laugh, responded with an amiability

the stricken pair thought sinister in the extreme: “How fortunate, then,

that I should have arrived in time to relieve you of your suspense,

Endymion! I am glad to be able to tell you that Felix is on the mend, and

will, I trust, shortly be well enough to return to London. So now you need

not wait any longer!”

After sending Endymion on his way, Alverstoke tells Charis it is not at all the thing to entertain young men without a chaperone. She mews and whimpers, which bores him. He assumes Endymion is not serious about Charis; otherwise, why wouldn’t he have sought Alverstoke’s support for the

match? Concerned that a broken-hearted Charis would add to Frederica’s woes, he drops a hint to Endymion to nip the affair in the bud. Endymion reports this intervention to Charis and Harry, and admits he is worried about his mother’s overreaction as well, as she takes to her sickbed whenever she doesn’t get her way. They agree an elopement would be improper but cannot figure out a way forward if Frederica opposes the match.

Chapter 26

Frederica and the boys return to London, where Frederica is surprised to see Charis looking as exhausted as she feels. She tells her sister about the planned summer in Alver Park but Charis freaks at the idea of leaving Endymion (even suggesting she stay with the neglected/widowed aunt). Losing her patience, Frederica says she knows Charis just wants to stay in London to carry on with Endymion. Charis tries to say Endymion is The One but only manages to sound like a love-sick teen (which she is) and Frederica doesn’t have the patience to read between the lines. Charis runs to Harry for sympathy, and he complains to Frederica about accepting hospitality from Alverstoke. Frederica loses her temper and points out that Harry did nothing about helping her find lodgings. A quarrel with someone who usually agrees with one is upsetting, especially when, as with Harry, he knows he could do more to assist her. Although Frederica apologized, Harry is bitter, and thus – like an adolescent - ready to defy

her. He helps Charis plan an assignation with Endymion, so they can complain about being separated for the summer, or for two years, until Charis is of age. Endymion says it would be ramshackle for them to elope to Gretna Green but then Harry recollects that he, not Frederica, is Charis’ guardian and he can thus provide permission for her marriage.

Chapter 27

Frederica is looking forward to Alver Park, although admits it will be a bit lonely after a busy London season and the chaos at Monk’s Farm. Jessamy and Felix seem to like Septimus Trevor, their new tutor, and her one last worry is Felix’s doctor’s appointment with a London specialist, Sir William Knighton. Just as the doctor is about to arrive, her housekeeper appears with a note from Charis announcing her elopement! Only Alverstoke can help her deal with this crisis so she sends him a few words, begging him to come at once. The doctor examines Felix as Frederica tries to calm herself, and says he is on the road to recovery. Alverstoke rushes to Upper Wimpole Street with Lady Elizabeth, who is also eager to help. He finds Frederica trying to decipher Charis’ note. He reads it and finds a mention of a special license, and tells Frederica if the two are married, they need to come up with a convincing backstory. He

reminds Frederica that Charis never wanted a brilliant alliance and the marriage with Endymion “must be wrapped up in clean linen.” At this point, Charles Trevor is announced.

Chapter 28

Frederica tries to deny herself but Charles has urgent news – that the marriage did not take place! Doing an errand for Alverstoke, he happened to be walking by St. Clement Danes church (Oranges and lemons, Say the bells of St. Clement's) when he saw Charis emerge from a hack with Harry. He wasn’t sure he should interfere but he knew Frederica opposed the match with Endymion, and when he realized the marriage service had begun, he decided to wait for the “just cause or impediment” part to object.

Endymion and Harry loudly object to his interference but Charis has hysterics so the curate refuses to continue the service. Charles explains that Endymion knows a secret marriage was improper but was afraid Alverstoke, as well as Frederica, would try to separate them:

“Then, if he was ready to face having his allowance stopped, what was he

afraid of? What the devil did he think I could do to stop his marriage?”

“He appeared to think,” said Mr. Trevor, his countenance wooden, “that you

would contrive to get him sent abroad on a diplomatic mission.

There was a moment’s stunned silence, before both ladies fell into gusts of

merriment.

Charles explains he was going to bring the duo to Alverstoke House because he didn’t know where else to bring them when Endymion remembered he had written to his mother about the marriage. They rushed to Mrs. Dauntry who had read the letter and was hysterical. When she exclaims about his

“fatal marriage” she finds out that Charles actually prevented it and she is very grateful to him.  Endymion finally rebels and says if she criticizes Charis he will never speak to her again.   Charis, despite her misery, feels sorry for Mrs. Dauntry, who is recovering from influenza, and starts tending to her.   Charles realizes this new alliance will facilitate Mrs. Dauntry’s acceptance of the match, so drags Endymion away.

LadyElizabeth points out that if Mrs. Dauntry agrees, Frederica must give in as well.  Then Lady Elizabeth, going where no man dares, looks at her brother and Frederica and says their betrothal – and their marriage – should come before Charis and Endymion’s!    Frederica says there is no question of such a thing.   Having precipitated the proposal, Eliza and Charles leave in a hurry.  Alverstoke, although cursing them, is able to make a graceful proposal that makes it clear he will welcome the boys into his life and loves Frederica: “It is merely that I find I cannot live without you, my adorable Frederica!”    When he kisses Frederica, she realizes she does indeed love him too.   The story ends, naturally, with the boys bursting in and Felix begging for a workshop for experiments at Alver . . .

One of Heyer’s best order out of chaos conclusions, don’t you think?

For those who find Frederica too managing, doesn’t Alverstoke’s near-perfection make up for everything?

And aren’t you a little jealous of Chloe Dauntry? Charles is a delightful young man.