Sussex Summer Read online

  The viscount was indeed in his study, where he sat behind his satinwood desk frowning in concentration at his account books.

  “May I disturb you a moment sir?” Edward asked, coming into the room and going to stand before his father’s desk. “I wished to ask your advice about the matter of clearing Sir John’s name.”

  Lord Tremaine set his accounts aside and looked thoughtfully at his son, motioning him to be seated.

  “I take it, then, that that part of your journey was not successful?”

  “No,” Edward replied, relaxing thankfully into a comfortable chair, “and I do not know what to do next. Castlereagh and Canning were the highest-ranking politicians I could appeal to. Where can I go from there? Colonel Wentworth did promise to write if he was able to find anything out for me, but I have had no word yet.”

  The viscount rubbed his forehead in concentration. “It’s evident that you must either find a better spokesman or a person of higher rank to whom you could appeal.”

  “Who?” Edward asked pessimistically. “The Prince is the only person higher up, since the King has little to do with affairs of state anymore. I do not know HRH, and he is notoriously capricious.”

  Edward’s father was silent a minute, thinking, and then shook his head solemnly. “I have never regretted my country life until this moment,” he said. “I have chosen to stay out of politics and pay the price of isolation. But now when you need them, I have no influence or friends in high positions. I know it is difficult Edward, but I fear that all you can do at this point is wait and see if Colonel Wentworth comes through with something.” Lord Tremaine looked at Edward regretfully, deploring his inability to aid his son in a matter that was of such import to him.

  Reluctantly, Edward agreed with his father. He could do no more until he had additional information. Perhaps he would hear from Colonel Wentworth this next week. He allowed the subject to drop, and he and his father became involved in a discussion of estate matters that lasted until Edward’s presence was once again demanded by his guests.

  Jane and Fanny dressed carefully the next Monday afternoon in preparation for the picnic, asking Mrs. Reid, with her unerring eye to help them make their choices. The older woman selected a frock of pink spotted cambric for Jane, adding a Venetian bonnet trimmed in yellow ribbons and a yellow parasol fringed in pink. For Fanny Mrs. Reid chose a high-waisted white muslin gown trimmed in peach with peach and green accessories. “Mind you show a care for the white gown, Miss Fanny,” Mrs. Reid warned. “Don’t you be up to any hoydenish tricks.”

  Captain Tremaine collected them in a large open carriage in the early afternoon for the drive to Bramleigh, Jamie following in his phaeton. Lady Juliette was in excellent looks and spirits, charmingly outfitted in a high-necked frock of yellow muslin with long lace-trimmed sleeves and carrying a matching leaf-green parasol fringed in yellow. But for once Jane did not feel outshone by Lady Juliette, for Lord Blackwood rode alongside the open carriage, giving Jane unmistakable looks of admiration.

  Christopher and Marianne Archer had been invited to join the party, and were waiting outside with Lord Staplefield when the Tremaine’s party arrived. The friends greeted each other merrily, and began the walk to the spot Lord Staplefield had selected for the picnic.

  Jane looked forward to a pleasurable day, despite the presence of Lady Juliette. The Bramleigh grounds were beautiful, having been planned by Capability Brown, the popular landscape artist of the mid-eighteenth century, who specialised in making estate grounds look “natural” with hills, streams, ponds, groves, and even grazing sheep.

  Lord Staplefield had selected a delightful spot for the picnic under a gracefully drooping willow by a small stream. Servants had already put down rugs and hampers of food, and while the food was being set out, the party split into smaller groups and settled onto the rugs. Jane found herself sitting next Lord Blackwood; Fanny sat in a larger group with Marianne, Chris and Jamie, and Edward sat with Lady Juliette. The earl, as a polite host, was attentive to all his guests, but it seemed to Jane he was particularly solicitous of Lady Juliette. Of course, she thought fairly, it could just be that Lady Juliette was demanding a lot of his attention.

  Jane glanced at Fanny and Edward to see if either of them seemed to notice the care Lord Staplefield was lavishing on Lady Juliette, finding her a comfortable spot, filling her plate with delicacies and fanning her when the breezes died. Jane had had the feeling that Fanny particularly liked the earl, and thought her sister might be disturbed by his attentions to Lady Juliette, but Fanny seemed content with the attentions of Christopher and Jamie. Captain Tremaine appeared a little stiff, but was smilingly amiable to Lady Juliette.

  Jane gave a shrug and turned her attention back to Lord Blackwood, catching his blue eyes regarding her intently. They exchanged a smile, and quite soon, Jane was too flattered by Lord Blackwood’s attendance upon her to think any further of Lady Juliette. He fetched her a cooling glass of lemonade, filled a plate with the choicest delicacies, and after filling his own, sat down next to her.

  Jane had never been in such close proximity to an unrelated gentleman, and found herself very aware of the way Lord Blackwood’s shoulders filled out his coat, and even more so of the muscular thighs outlined by the tight-fitting buff pantaloons when he stretched out beside her. Aware of her regard, he smiled at her lazily, and Jane felt her face heat as she sensed he knew exactly what she was thinking was thinking. Perhaps Lord Staplefield was correct in what he had told Fanny, and Lord Blackwood was a rake.

  Her appreciation of Lord Blackwood’s physique made Jane feel somehow traitorous, and she glanced over at Edward again, just in time to see him place a strawberry into Lady Juliette’s inviting mouth. A sudden pain tightened her chest and Jane quickly turned back to Lord Blackwood.

  Lord Blackwood had followed Jane’s glance, and now followed Edward’s suit, dangling a ripe strawberry above Jane’s lips. His fingers touched her lips lightly as she daringly bit into the strawberry, and she felt a strange pull towards Lord Blackwood; a sense of kinship of spirit. Feeling uncomfortable, Jane turned away and concentrated on eating a venison pastry from her plate, thereby missing the expression of disapproval Captain Tremaine directed her way.

  After the party finished their leisurely lunch and the servants began repacking the hampers and clearing up, Lord Staplefield asked if they would like a tour of Bramleigh. Everyone favoured the suggestion, for Bramleigh was, without doubt, the finest house in the district and an opportunity to be shown through it by the owner was not to be missed. Jane had been in the house twice before, for two masquerades prior to the old earl’s death, and was curious to see if Lord Staplefield had changed anything.

  As they went inside the house, Jane considered how while clothes fashions from the 1770s now looked out of style, away from court, at least, buildings from the same period seemed quite modern. Bramleigh had been designed by Robert Adam, one of the premier architects of the 1770s, and as he often did, Adam had also chosen most of the interior furnishings, even to the carpets.

  As they entered the large entrance hall, Jane saw that it remained as it had been before, with its black-and-white checkered marble floor and large white marble columns surrounding three of the walls. The six tall windows were hung with draperies of blue gros de Naples that extended the length of the fourth wall. Full-size classical statues were set in niches along the walls between the columns, and several landscapes by Gainsborough hung high above the statues.

  After his guests had looked their fill in the entrance, Lord Staplefield led the party through the hall into the dining room, which was one of Jane’s favourite rooms. At each end of the dining room the walls curved outward, and the sideboards, also designed by Adam, had been curved to fit the wall. Painted a delicate apple-green, the curving walls featured sunken panels ornamented with white plasterwork of the same design as that on the ceiling. Jane could see that the entire party was impressed with Bramleigh, and she noticed a particularly avid a
nd acquisitive look in Lady Juliette’s blue eyes. Edward had better watch out, Jane thought a little unkindly. Three Haverton Parks could fit into one Bramleigh.

  A drawing room opened out from the dining room, and the earl led the group there next. This room was done in green, pink and yellow pastels, and Angelica Kauffman had been commissioned to paint a round picture in the centre of the ceiling. The painting was surrounded by plasterwork in a delicate design that was reflected below in the design of the carpet.

  Jane was standing aside from the others, admiring the drawing room’s white marble fireplace inlaid with coloured marbles of pink, green and grey, when she noticed something odd. The earl, Fanny, Edward and Lady Juliette were standing together, and Fanny appeared to be pointing out various valuable possessions of Lord Staplefield’s, calling Lady Juliette’s attention to his collection of Sevres and his paintings by Rubens and Poussin. Fanny seemed quite familiar with the house, and Jane wondered when she had been there before, for Fanny had been too young to attend the masquerades with Jane. She would have to keep a closer eye on Fanny, Jane realised. In her preoccupation with her hurt over Edward, she had neglected her duties as chaperone. A question directed to the earl from Marianne took Jane’s thoughts from her sister.

  “Why is all the furniture arranged around the walls, Lord Staplefield?”

  “Odds hoops and panniers,” he replied, “there’s no room for ladies to walk if one places furniture in the centre of the room.”

  “Some of the skirts were over six feet wide,” Fanny elaborated. “It is only since hoops went out of fashion that one began placing furniture in the middle of the room.”

  Marianne admitted the sense of this, and Lord Staplefield led his guests back into the entrance hall. From there they climbed up the beautiful curving stairway of wrought iron to the music room. Like the other rooms, the ceiling and walls, here painted in a delicate blue, were decorated with stucco ornament, the designs reflected in a specially woven carpet beneath. The room contained a harpsichord, harp and pianoforte in addition to several chairs and settees. Jane was surprised to see the pianoforte, which was a new addition, and went to look at it closely. It was a beautiful square instrument of mahogany inlaid with bands of lighter wood. Lord Staplefield noticed Jane inspecting the instrument and came to join her.

  “Are you not cheating, Lord Staplefield?” Jane asked with a smile.

  Lord Staplefield smiled in return. “No, Miss Hampton. I must inform you that this is a 1773 pianoforte by Shudi and Broadwood.”

  Lady Juliette, seeing Lord Staplefield talking to Jane, joined them at the pianoforte. The earl begged Lady Juliette to play a selection, to which request she acceded quite willingly. I might have known, Jane thought as she and the others listened, Lady Juliette is a talented musician on top of all her other accomplishments. When Lady Juliette finished the Haydn sonata, they all complimented her playing effusively, and when the earl asked if anyone else cared to play, no one was willing to follow Lady Juliette’s expert performance.

  The last room on their tour was an unusual circular drawing room decorated in yellow and white. The ceiling curved as well, giving the room a feeling of spaciousness. The furniture Jane thought was exceptionally beautiful, for it was all pale yellow painted with delicate flowers. The earl explained that the furniture had been designed by Kauffman, the same artist who had done the round painting on the ceiling of the ground-floor drawing room. The earl bade them all rest a moment while he ordered tea to be served before they journeyed home.

  “Lord Staplefield, are you going to continue the custom of the August masquerade?” Christopher Archer dared to ask the question many of them were wishing to ask as they waited for their tea.

  “Faith, yes! Although m’uncle did not specifically request that I do so, by the mass, I believe the neighbourhood would miss it sorely if I did not.”

  The others agreed wholeheartedly, and Lady Juliette, unfamiliar with the balls, asked about the masquerades.

  “M’great-uncle began the tradition to show gentlefolk of modern times how a ball should be conducted. Odds feathers and furbelows, they don’t have entertainments like Mrs. Cornely’s of Soho Square anymore.” Lord Staplefield shook his head sadly.

  “How did they differ from the ones held today?” Lady Juliette asked, forgetting the earl was not old enough to have attended any of Mrs. Cornely’s masquerades.

  Lord Staplefield thought a moment.

  “It was in the imagination. Aye. Today it’s all shepherds and shepherdesses. Why, m’uncle once saw Lord Atworth attend a masquerade as Adam—clad only in flesh-coloured tights and a small apron with an embroidered fig leaf.”

  Marianne Archer and the Hampton sisters blushed at the picture the description conjured up, but Lady Juliette looked intrigued.

  “The masquerades are of all things wonderful, Lady Juliette,” Christopher added enthusiastically. “You will enjoy it excessively.”

  “I say, Lord Staplefield,” suggested Jamie, forgetting for once to be bored and superior, “why don’t you offer a prize to the most imaginative or daring costume?”

  “What a grand idea!” Christopher seconded.

  Lord Staplefield, looking at Jamie as though surprised he had any ideas, agreed it was worth considering, although such things were usually not done in the fashionable world.

  “Captain Tremaine,” Lady Juliette cried, “why did you not tell me of the masquerade? I brought no costume.”

  “I am sorry, Lady Juliette, I did not think of it,” Edward apologised.

  “There is a seamstress in the village who is quite skilled with her needle,” Fanny said. “You may order a costume there.”

  “A village dressmaker would not have the materials I require,” Lady Juliette objected. “I would need to go to London, or at least Brighton.”

  “Odds life,” the earl interposed. “Allow me to come to your rescue, Fair Lady. I have a town house in Brighton. We’ll get up an excursion.”

  The earl’s idea was quickly endorsed by the Blackwoods and Tremaines, but the Archers and Hamptons hesitated.

  “My sister and I have no maid to accompany us,” Jane said, “and it would not be proper for us to travel without one.”

  “That is no problem,” Lady Juliette offered generously. “My aunt will act as your chaperone as well as mine.”

  Fanny looked at Jane pleadingly, and Jane capitulated.

  “Very well, if Father agrees,” she qualified.

  “I do not think Mama will allow me to go, and I have a maid,” Marianne said wistfully.

  “I shall go, anyway,” Christopher said unfeelingly, earning a mutinous look from his sister.

  The excursion was set for a week hence, and the day’s outing at Bramleigh ended with all except Marianne in high spirits.

  The day after the picnic, Lady Juliette wandered absently about the entrance hall of Haverton Park, waiting for her aunt and Lady Tremaine, who were to join her on a drive to Staplefield. How dull Sussex was turning out to be, Lady Juliette thought with a sense of oppression. No routs, assemblies, opera or theatre, only country balls and dinners. And as for the company! Lady Tremaine was as prosy as Edward had turned out to be, and the Hampton sisters were hopelessly provincial. She was quite bored out of all patience.

  Well, she thought, yawning delicately, as soon as she could bring Edward to the point she would return to London. Or perhaps she should think of transferring her affections to Lord Staplefield—he appeared to be interested in her.

  Juliette paused in front of a gilt-framed mirror to adjust the tilt of her gypsy hat and tie the ribbons in a more flattering bow. As she adjusted the hat, she noticed some letters lying on a salver on the table beneath the mirror. The top letter caught her eye, and glancing about quickly to see if anyone was looking, she picked it up. From Colonel Wentworth, she noticed. Was that not the officer Edward had been asking to look into the matter of Sir John? Impulsively she stuck the letter into the bosom of her gown and went back up to her b
edchamber, passing Dawkins at the base of the stairs.

  Safe in her room, Juliette dismissed Perkins and took the letter from her bosom, fingering it thoughtfully. She wondered what it said. Edward had gone to London to see Colonel Wentworth before. What if he were being asked to do so again? If he were to absent himself from Sussex for a long period of time, she would be forced to leave herself. It would appear odd for her to remain if the person who had invited her was no longer in residence. Or if she did remain, who knew how long it would be before Edward returned? She could not bear to remain in Sussex too long.

  Quashing a momentary feeling of guilt, Juliette opened the letter and scanned it quickly. Colonel Wentworth did want Edward to come to London, to see the brother of Sir John Moore. She folded the letter up slowly. No, it would not do if Edward were to read this letter. Much as she disliked Sussex, she could not afford to leave now, not without being engaged, and not with the interest Lord Staplefield was beginning to show in her. Juliette carefully slipped the letter under the lining of her jewel box and returned downstairs to wait for her aunt and Lady Tremaine.

  Chapter Eight

  That Wednesday evening, the Archers held one of the country dinners Lady Juliette so despised for their lack of interesting guests. And indeed the company at the dinner was the same as that which had been at the Tremaines’ ball. Except when one family or another had guests, the company was always the same in country society, but it did not lessen their enjoyment of the entertainments.

  Jane had been looking forward to the dinner, hoping she would again have the attention of Lady Juliette’s charming brother. Therefore, she was rather disappointed to be escorted into dinner by Christopher Archer and to be seated between him and her father. She looked wistfully down the table where Lord Blackwood and Captain Tremaine were seated, and then scolded herself for being uncharitable. Christopher might be an aspiring dandy such as Jamie, with his high shirt points and outrageously tight and brightly coloured coats and pantaloons, but he was a polite and engaging young man and she should not neglect her neighbour. As the vegetable soup was taken away and the dishes of the second remove placed on the table, Jane turned to Christopher with a compliment on his coat, and the young gentleman’s face pinked with pleasure.