7 Mayfair Square, London, 1821
Sir Septimus Spivey here:
"It's not easy being a ghost.
"One must put up with being overlooked, ignored, forgotten,
or worse yet, spoken of with heartless disrespect as if one
weren't there.
"Well, yes, of course I'm not there anyway, but in light of
who I am--was--surely my name should evoke nothing short of
reverence.
"I have suffered too much, for too long, and this must
stop.
"I should have listened to my father. He warned me that my
generous spirit would bring nothing but disappointment.
"Hmm. Of course, my father never reached, or even
approached, the level of my own successes in life.
Nevertheless, he was right in this instance. I built a
beautiful house for my family--and only for my family. The
fact that circumstances have forced me to take up residence
elsewhere--in a manner of speaking--is no excuse for the
way in which my granddaughter and her nephew now abuse the
jewel in my professional crown.
"I was knighted for my accomplishments as an architect.
Number 7 Mayfair Square is the best of my extraordinary
designs. Hester and her nephew, young Hunter Lloyd, are
despoiling their inheritance. They have jeopardized their
own reputations, their own standing in society, and thus
tainted the very air that touches the face of my precious
creation. More importantly, they have sullied a peerless
man's memory--mine.
"In Mayfair Square, address of addresses, golden carrot
before the noses
of the most ambitious of well-bred noses, the stuff of
dreams for those who look longingly but know they are
unfit: in this square, at the triumph that is Number
Seven--there are lodgers!
"Hester and Hunter are letting rooms.
"I am as angry as I can be and I refuse to tolerate this
state of affairs any longer.
"This is insupportable, you know. I have reached a stage at
which I should need to do nothing but occupy my favorite
vantage point in the fabulously carved staircase I myself
sketched for the craftsmen. The faces of members of my
family are depicted there in great detail, and so is mine.
That is where I retire to rest, and where I should be left
in peace to admire what I have accomplished. But, no, no,
thanks to my ungrateful relations it's not yet to be. No
matter, I shall prevail.
"And I have a plan.
"Meg and Sibyl Smiles live at 7B. They are sisters, orphans
of some country clergyman. I cannot even remember the name
of the village. Somewhere forgettable in the Cotswolds, I
believe. Oh, the shame of it all. They try to disguise the
truth that Number 7 is being used like a lowly rooming
house by speaking of Lady Hester's "resident protegees" if
you can imagine such foolishness. Since when have protegees
paid their champions? And who, may I ask, champions
seamstresses and pianoforte teachers--or shopkeepers--or
failed painters? Oh, we have them all at Number 7 Mayfair
Square, my friends.
"Meg Smiles has certain troubles, I understand. For these I
am profoundly sorry. I wish life were treating her better.
Regardless, I intend to assist in her removal from my house
for other parts. Sibyl will accompany her. Toward that end,
this is what I intend:
"There's a new fellow at Number 17, name of Count Etranger--
Jean-Marc. Fancies himself more English than . . . than
whatever they call people from Mont Nuages. Country about
the size of Hyde Park on the border between France and
Italy. Anyway, Etranger wants a home away from home, I
should think, so he's brought his sister to London for the
Season. Intends to marry her off to the wealthiest, most
elevated contender and use the resulting connections to
weasel his way into the best places, don't you know. Good
luck to him, that's what I say.
"The sister is Princess DΓ©sirΓ©e. She understands fiddle-all
of the ins and outs of going about in Town, and Etranger
knows this is so. He needs absolutely trustworthy
assistance with the girl's preparation. Someone, or more
than one, who can guide the young lady in basic areas
without having any pretensions of their own. Who better to
fill the post--posts--than the sisters Smiles?
"They will do well enough as companions expert in questions
of style (although they have none), elocution, voice
training and mastery of the pianoforte. After all, how much
experience could be necessary to fill such posts?
"Of course, companions are also for the purpose of keeping
their charge company. To this end they must move to Number
17. My task will be to ensure Meg and Sibyl do not return
to Number 7.
"Trust me. They won't"
© 2003-2026