Sussex Summer Read online

  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 dis
grace.” 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.

  “Things rarely are,” Mr. Hampton commented mildly. He had been concerned about his younger daughter, but saw now that she would be fine and he could go back to his books without undue distress.

  “The new earl quite singled you out for attention,” Jane added. “I was surprised to see how young he is. He does not seem to object to the terms of the will at all. I wonder if he will continue the custom of the August masquerade?”

  “I predict that he will,” Fanny said. “I thought Lord Staplefield looked quite elegant in his clothing. More so than some dressed in modish styles.”

  Jane looked sharply at Fanny. The earl had evidently made an impression on her sister, as well. She hoped Fanny would not lose her heart again too soon, although it was good to know that Fanny was not pining after Jamie.

  The day after the dinner Jane knew that they would be welcomed back into society with open arms. Lady Archer and Marianne called in the early afternoon, as did Mrs. Fairchild and Captain Tremaine. For once the captain did not stay long, and Jane could see he was preoccupied. She wished she could speak to him in privacy and learn what was troubling him, but the presence of so many other callers prevented it. Nor could she leave her guests to accompany Edward outside when he left, as had become their custom after his calls. She hoped he would call earlier the next morning, and give her the chance to learn what was distressing him.

  Late afternoon brought several more callers, including, to Jane’s surprise, Jamie and Christopher. Fanny, although she did not appear particularly pleased to see her supposed fiancé, did not seem to be upset by his call either, and Jane felt with relief that her sister was truly on the mend. While the two dandies argued about the respective merits of their gigs, mistakenly thinking that Fanny would find their conversation of interest, a basket of fruit was delivered from Bramleigh. As Jane and Fanny exclaimed over the beautiful glass-house fruits in the basket Mrs. Reid brought in to show her mistress, Jamie looked at Fanny suspiciously.

  “It’s only a basket of fruit,” he muttered ungraciously.

  “But such delectable fruit,” Fanny said sweetly, holding out a hot-house orange. “Please, try some, Mr. Archer, Mr. Jamie.”

  Christopher and Jamie left soon afterwards, and Jane teased Fanny as she coaxed her sister to rest lest she overdo.

  “You see, you were worried about nothing, Fan. Your beauty cannot have changed that much when you already have three suitors the first day after you ventured back into society. Jamie looked quite put out by the arrival of young Mr. Archer and even more so by the basket from the earl.”

  Fanny smiled. “The basket of fruit was sent to us all,” she said, although the half-smile on her lips told Jane she knew it was especially for her benefit. “Do you know, I begin to wonder what I ever saw in Jamie. He behaves like a petulant child.”

  Jane smiled her agreement as she left the drawing room to prepare to assist her father for the afternoon, immeasurably pleased to see the difference in her sister the past week had made. Fanny was not quite back to herself, but Jane now had confidence she soon would be.

  However, Jane did not forget her concern about Captain Tremaine in her pleasure over Fanny. It had been very evident from his abstraction during his call. She must make an opportunity for him to unburden himself to her again, if he wished. The captain had been accustomed to stop by their cottage late mornings and speak to her if she were outside. She would make a point of being outside tomorrow.

  The next morning Jane began clipping deadheads in her garden quite early in the event that Captain Tremaine would come by.

  Her hopes were realised. Not long after she finished deadheading and began weeding the alyssum, Edward arrived. As he tied Ariel by the gate, Jane left her task and joined her caller as he entered the garden gate. Looking tired, the captain took a seat on the stone bench in the shade of an old apple tree, and Jane sat beside him.

  “What is it that is troubling you, Captain Tremaine?” she asked gently. “I can see that something is disturbing your peace of mind.”

  Edward smiled ruefully. “I know I should not burden you with my problems again, but somehow it is so easy to talk to you that I find myself tempted to do so.”

  “Please.”

  “It is what Lord Archer and Squire Shirley said about Sir John Moore at the dinner. Yesterday I made a point of reading some recent newspapers through, and I am sad to confirm that there are terrible things being reported of Sir John.”

  The captain stopped a moment and ran his fingers through his fair hair, staring unseeingly into the distance.

  “I feel so helpless,” he resumed after a moment. “People who did not know Sir John and were not there are spreading scurrilous lies, ruining his reputation and affecting how he will be remembered by posterity. I allow that Sir John was never one to tolerate incompetent politicians, and he made a practice of including quite pointed remarks in the dispatches he sent back to London. Now I fear he must have made some very powerful enemies.”

  Jane sensed how very upset Edward was and thought for a moment. “Captain Tremaine, is there no one you could ask to help clear his reputation?
Someone in London who has influence and could see that the truth be printed?”

  Edward brightened. “Of course. I should have thought of that myself. Perhaps one of my superior officers would know what I could do.”

  His forehead creased as he tried to remember if any of his former commanding officers who might have the influence to help him in his efforts were in England.

  “I believe Colonel Wentworth is in London,” he said thoughtfully. “He has some influence in political circles, as I recall. If he cannot do anything himself, I am sure he would be able to arrange meetings for me with someone who could.”

  Jane smiled at Edward encouragingly. “You see, there is some hope yet. I am certain you will be able to clear Sir John’s name.”

  Edward did not reply to her optimistic statement, seeming hardly aware of Jane’s existence as he stared off into the distance, planning the journey before him.

  “I must arrange to leave immediately,” he mused, more to himself than to Jane.

  Jane regarded him with reservation. Although there was no doubt the captain’s health was greatly improved since she had first met him, he was still thin, and she had observed that he tired easily.

  “Are you certain you are feeling well enough to make the journey at once? Perhaps you should wait until you have recovered more of your strength,” she ventured to advise.

  Her words recalled Edward to Jane’s presence, and he looked at her with an affectionate smile. Jane felt her heart quicken at the tenderness evident in his expression.