Sussex Summer (6 page)

"No, it cannot wait, and what I have to say would be better said privately," Edward insisted.

"Very well," James agreed sulkily, giving his neckcloth a final pull. "You may go, Blake.

"What is it?" Jamie enquired as the valet left the dressing room for the bedchamber, closing the connecting door behind him.

"It is about Miss Fanny Hampton," Edward replied, going to stand before the mirror and looking grimly into Jamie's face. Jamie apparently had no intention of facing his brother unless he were forced to do so.

Jamie’s sulkiness increased. "Wondered if you'd been told. You needn't prose at me about it. Father already did."

"I am pleased to hear it. Nevertheless, I am also warning you. You had best remember that as far as our neighbours are concerned, you are still betrothed to Miss Fanny Hampton. I expect you to behave as though you are."

"I shall," Jamie agreed grumpily, side-stepping Edward so he could once again see his reflection in the glass. He gave the neckcloth a final crease. ''Although what people will think when they see me playing up to such a fright I don't know," he said in an aggrieved tone. "I don't like it above half."

Edward's temper got the better of him at this churlish remark, and he grabbed hold of his brother by his freshly tied cravat, pulling it tightly about Jamie’s neck, his anger giving him unexpected strength.

"How can you have such a callous attitude toward a girl you supposedly loved? Or was it only her beauty you cared for?" Edward demanded. "You needn't reply—the answer is only too obvious. But if you do not dance attendance upon her tomorrow night, you will answer to me."

Edward gave the neckcloth a final twist and let go. Jamie rubbed his neck and breathed deeply.

"I say, no reason to become violent. You've ruined my cravat. I had it tied in a perfect Oriental. I'll have to start over," he whined, carefully putting distance between himself and his brother as he sidled toward the door to his bedchamber and opened it.

"Don’t fear, I'll do the pretty," he called as he jumped through the doorway and slammed the door behind him.

Edward shook his head in disgust as he left the room. What a coxcomb Jamie was turning out to be. What had happened to the wild but charming young schoolboy of five years past?

* * * *

Friday was upon the Hamptons before they knew it. Jane and Mrs. Reid had worked steadily on refurbishing the gown for Fanny, and their work was rewarded that evening when they viewed the final results. Jane had embroidered a band of white roses around the hem of the ice-blue overdress and tied the long sleeves with new white silk ribbons. A garland of white roses lay in the soft curls Mrs. Reid had coaxed into Fanny's darkened but still fair hair, white satin slippers encased her tiny feet, and a blue-and-white fan trimmed in silver dangled at her waist. It was true Fanny did not have the spectacular beauty she had had before, but Jane felt the almost fairylike picture her sister now presented was nothing to be despised.

Mrs. Reid adjusted one of the ribbons on Fanny's gown and then turned her attention to Jane. In her concern over her sister, Jane had not expended much time and effort on her own appearance. She wore a simple frock with a square décolletage and short sleeves in her favourite pink, and had completed her toilette with long silk gloves, a white sarcenet stole and a single pink rose in her hair. Mrs. Reid nodded approvingly.

"You are both in excellent looks," she proclaimed. "Don't fret about this evening, Miss Fanny. All will be well.”

Jane seconded Mrs. Reid’s pronouncement, and Fanny smiled bravely.

Mr. Hampton emerged from his study to wait for the carriage from Haverton Park with his daughters, looking unexceptional in a dark blue evening coat, breeches of cream-coloured nankin and a simply tied cravat.

"You are in excellent looks tonight, my dears," he pronounced to his daughters.

Jane and Fanny exchanged looks even as they thanked him prettily. Their father would say they looked well even if they appeared in sackcloth and ashes. But the compliment served its purpose, and when the Tremaines' comfortable carriage arrived the sisters climbed into it with bolstered confidence.

* * * *

When the Hamptons were shown into the green drawing room at Haverton Park, they discovered they were the first of the guests to arrive. Jane suspected Lady Tremaine had sent the carriage early so Fanny would meet Jamie with no onlookers from outside the family, and appreciated her delicacy of thought. Lord Tremaine, dressed like Mr. Hampton in a blue coat and cream breeches, welcomed the Hamptons warmly and drew the clergyman aside for a talk. Lady Tremaine, attractive in a high-waisted gown of green-and-yellow-striped lutestring, bade the sisters sit on a green brocade sofa and took a seat across from them.

“You both look charmingly,” the viscountess complimented them, and her obvious sincerity appeared to lessen Fanny's nervousness.

"Edward and James will join us shortly," Lady Tremaine continued as Fanny glanced about the room, obviously looking for the Tremaine’s sons.

Even as Lady Tremaine spoke, the two brothers entered the room, and Jane felt Fanny tense beside her. While Edward and James paid their respects to Mr. Hampton, Jane regarded them critically. Edward was looking much better in one of the new suits made to fit his newly-slim figure, but the tailoring was obviously country—a coat, waistcoat, and breeches all of plain olive green. Jamie, in contrast, was complete to a shade in a bright yellow coat, skin-tight cerulean blue nankin pantaloons, a red neckcloth, and striped waistcoat. As he and Edward turned from Mr. Hampton to greet the sisters, Jane noticed that Jamie appeared quite ill-at-ease. As well he might, thought Jane indignantly.

"Good evening, Miss Hampton, Miss Fanny," Edward said easily. "I am pleased you were able to come this evening."

As Jane and Fanny responded to Edward's greeting, Jane saw Jamie start when he finally directed his gaze at Fanny. Jane could tell by his expression that Jamie was surprised to see Fanny looking so well, and she felt easier for her sister.

"Good evening, Miss Hampton, Miss Fanny,” James muttered, repeating his brother's words. "Must say you're looking well. Pleased to see you at Haverton Park again, Fan."

"Thank you," Fanny said briefly, a trace of irony in her voice evident to Jane's ear.

The other guests began to arrive, and Fanny was spared a long conversation with Jamie. Baron Archer and his family were the first. Lady Archer was a handsome woman of middle age who was a close friend of Lady Tremaine's. Her son, Christopher, was of the same age as Jamie, and they also were close friends. Marianne, the Archer’s only daughter, was a shy girl of seventeen, not yet out.

The Archers all expressed their pleasure at seeing Fanny back in society, and Fanny’s apprehension appeared to lessen. Marianne, who had always admired the older girl, immediately took a seat by her side; Fanny's changed appearance had evidently not caused her to go down in the younger girl’s esteem. Christopher, too, stayed near Fanny and engaged her in conversation. The hunted expression Fanny had had when she first entered the drawing room vanished, and Jane began to relax.

The vicar of the parish, Mr. Fairchild, and his wife arrived soon after the Archers, along with Squire Shirley and his lady. The children of these couples were too young to attend a dinner, and had been left at home. The Archers and Shirleys also expressed their pleasure at seeing Fanny in society again, but Fanny was not the centre of curiosity and speculation she, and Jane too, if she were honest, had feared. Most of the speculation was about the new earl as they waited expectantly for his arrival, curious to see what their new neighbour was like.

"Charles Grandville, the Earl of Staplefield," Dawkins finally announced with a flourish.

Everyone looked to the door of the drawing room and conversation ceased. The new earl paused a moment at the door before advancing into the room. Jane sensed he knew of the curiosity surrounding him and was purposely making a slightly late entrance.

The new Lord Staplefield was much younger than Jane had expected he would be, appearing to be only a little older than she, perhaps about four-and-twenty. The new earl was clearly fulfilling the terms of his great-uncle's will, for he was undoubtedly clad in the fashion of the year 1773. His semiformal suit of corded red silk had the deep velvet cuffs of that year, and he wore a powdered wig tied in the back with a black silk ribbon, striped silk stockings, and high-heeled shoes with elaborate silver buckles.

Jane wondered a moment why Lord Staplefield looked so odd in his old-style clothes. It was not at all unusual to see older men who preferred the styles of their youth. That was it, she realised, it was his youth. One never saw a
young
man in the older styles, except at court, and then only in the very formal full evening dress.

When it came turn for Jane and Fanny to be introduced, Jane thought she saw a spark of mischief in the earl's black eyes as he bowed over her hand and kissed it. She sensed he fully enjoyed his new role as the local eccentric and was playing it to the hilt. But as he turned to Fanny, and Jane saw the mischief in the earl’s eyes turn to admiration.

Instead of kissing the back of Fanny's hand, Lord Staplefield gracefully raised her fingers to his lips and then extended his other arm down in an arc toward Fanny in an inexpressibly beautiful gesture. Fanny blushed and lowered her eyes, and Jane caught Jamie watching, clearly looking at Fanny with new respect and no little jealousy.

Dinner was announced soon afterwards the guest of honour’s arrival, and the guests went through the double doors into the handsome dining room that adjoined the drawing room. The last rays of the late summer sun, softened by transparent ivory draperies, shone through the tall windows and warmed the pale blue room. The chairs surrounding the warmly glowing mahogany table were of a shield design, carved with the stylised feathers that symbolised of the Prince of Wales's Crest. A matching sideboard stood against the wall.

Jane was pleased to be escorted in by Captain Tremaine, and she was seated between him and young Christopher Archer. Fanny sat across from Jane, between Lord Staplefield and Jamie. When they were all seated, the vicar was asked to say grace, and Jane began enjoying a delicious Madeira-flavoured mushroom soup.

Conversation became general and, as sometimes happened at informal country parties, was not confined to the persons on either side of the diners, but went across and around the table. Perhaps because of the number of gentlemen present, the conversation began to centre on the conflict on the Continent, although ordinarily such subjects were left for after dinner when the gentlemen remained behind to enjoy their port and cigars. Baron Archer, a heavyset man of Lord Tremaine's age, began praising Wellesley, the young lieutenant-general who was beginning to make a name for himself on the Continent. Suddenly he addressed Edward.

"Too bad you didn't have the opportunity to serve under Wellesley instead of Moore. Why, the reports coming back on Moore are quite shocking. It appears he wouldn't even let his troops stand and fight, but forced them to flee the French in disgrace." He shook his grey head in amazement and disgust.

Jane saw Captain Tremaine stiffen beside her. After he had told her of his experiences on the Peninsula, she realised how much the baron's comment must have upset Edward, but he was bound by good manners not to disagree too strenuously with a guest in his father's house.

"Read just the other day that he made a shambles of the whole campaign by not being able to control his troops," Squire Shirley chimed in. "Would have defeated Bonaparte already if it hadn't been for his bungling."

Jane saw Edward's hand clench tightly on his knife as he cut the slice of mutton on his plate, but fortunately he was saved the necessity of an immediate reply by Lord Staplefield. The earl, seated directly across from Edward, had apparently noticed his agitation.

"I believe it is a common enough failing for one to blame another for one's own mistakes. Sir John makes a good scapegoat since he is no longer alive to defend himself," the earl commented diplomatically.

Lord Staplefield’s comment gave Edward time to master his emotions, and he replied politely but firmly.

"Yes. I agree, Lord Staplefield. In my experiences serving under Sir John, he always made the best decisions possible under the conditions. I hold his memory in the greatest respect."

The squire and Lord Archer looked dubious, but to press the subject when they saw Edward was prepared to defend his former commander would have been in bad taste, and they said no more.

Lord Tremaine changed the subject and Jane relaxed and helped herself to the dish of  salmon which Christopher had passed to her. She then placed it before Edward, who took some with a grateful smile as conversation returned to more congenial subjects.

Jane kept an eye on Fanny to see how she was coping with her first night back in society, and was amused to notice that the attention Fanny was receiving from the earl was causing Jamie to become competitive. Seeing the woman he had rejected admired by others evidently made Jamie wonder if he had been precipitate in ending the betrothal. He quite exerted himself to be charming. Jane noted that Fanny responded graciously, since the other guests presumed she and Jamie were still betrothed, but Jane was also relieved to see that Fanny was cautious. She would not wish her sister to become enamoured of young Jamie Tremaine again.

After the fruit was served, Lady Tremaine rose and the women retired to the drawing room. Marianne Archer again attached herself to Fanny, and Jane talked quietly to the vicar's wife, Elizabeth, about parish matters. She soon noticed, however, that Fanny was beginning to tire, and soon after they were rejoined by the men she signaled to her father that they should leave. Mr. Hampton and Jane made their excuses to Lady Tremaine, and the three left.

Fanny relaxed into the soft squabs of the Tremaines' carriage on the drive back and sighed. "The night was not as difficult as I feared it would be," she admitted.