Sussex Summer (18 page)

He remembered that first day in June when he had placed the rose from Jane between its leaves. Curious, he opened the book and took out the rose, now brittle, the edges browned, the centre darkened to a deep purple. He held it gently, thinking of Jane. Now there was a woman with a kind heart, he thought as he remembered the letter to the Bishop of Salisbury, her help in entertaining his guests despite their unkindness to her and her sharing in his joys. He wished he could find someone like her to be his wife.

The thought repeated itself, and he looked up, astonished that he had been so blind. Jane was the woman for him. That was why he had been so disturbed by Lord Blackwood's attentions towards her, and Lady Martin's and Juliette's unkindness. He remembered the times he had ruthlessly suppressed a desire to take her in his arms and kiss her.

He paced back and forth across his chamber, and then rang for Ames again. He would have to change from his riding clothes, for now that he realised where his affections really lay, he wished to go to the Hampton’s cottage immediately, ask her father’s permission to pay his addresses, and place his heart at her feet.

Yet logically he realised he could not just go to Miss Hampton with such a declaration. It would not be proper while Lady Juliette was still his guest, and how could he even know that Jane would return his feelings? Perhaps she truly cared for Lord Blackwood. A fear clutched his heart as he remembered the kiss he had interrupted in the Archers' garden and the looks he had noticed Lord Blackwood giving Jane when he thought he was unobserved. Well, Edward thought, staving off the fear, he would win her from Lord Blackwood even if her affections did lie there.

The door opened and Ames came in, breathless. "My pardons, Captain Tremaine, I didn't think you would be needing my services and I was pressing your cravats."

"I do not need you after all," Edward said, absently.

Ames returned to the lower regions of the house wondering what had got into his master. He was not usually so changeable.

* * * * *

The Blackwoods and their aunt departed for Bramleigh three days later. Lord Staplefield's other guests had begun to arrive, and his aunt from Devon had come to act as his hostess. Lady Juliette took her leave of Edward quite charmingly, as though all she had ever intended was that they be friends. Edward saw Lady Juliette and Lady Martin depart with relief, but felt he might actually miss Lord Blackwood's amusing presence.

The next day his sister Mary and her family arrived. The arrival of a family with two young children and their nurse kept the Tremaines from feeling lonely at the departure of the others. For some unaccountable reason, Edward found himself more interested in his sister's children than he had been when he had first seen his nephew. He spent quite a lot of time in the nursery with Tad and Lydia, earning himself several speculative looks from his sister's green eyes.

He was playing with Tad one morning when the butler, Dawkins, searched him out in the nursery with the message that he had company below.

"Who?" Edward asked,

"A gentleman," Dawkins replied. "He preferred I not announce his name."

Curious, Edward returned Tad to the care of his nurse and went down to the green drawing room.

"Sir Howard!" Edward exclaimed as he entered the room, striding forward to clasp his hand firmly. "This is a pleasure." Dawkins, anticipating his master's order, came in with a bottle of their best claret and two crystal glasses.

"What brings you to this part of Sussex?" Edward enquired as Sir Howard gratefully drank his claret. "Do you have news on the business of Sir John?"

"As a matter of fact, I have," Sir Howard said with a smile. "I had my audience with the Prince."

Edward leaned forward in his chair. "And?"

"He was most receptive. I summarised the situation to him and he promised to look into the matter of a permanent memorial, at least."

"Do you think he will?"

"Yes. I know he is rather capricious and prone to promise more than he can deliver, but he did seem sincerely concerned about England's failure to do Sir John justice. Of course, there is little we can do about the other. We must look elsewhere to have his name cleared for posterity. Have you been in touch with James Moore?"

Edward refilled Sir Howard's glass. "Yes. He intends to publish some of Sir John's letters this year and begin work on a longer book. He plans to do extensive research for the book and doubts he will finish it for several years. I shall make a trip to see him later this year and give him what information I have. I suppose we must trust to the book to preserve the truth for posterity."

The two men sat sipping their claret in silence several minutes, thinking of what a fine man Sir John had been and how unjust it was that he should be so little valued for his contributions on the Peninsula.

"At least the Prince's promise is a step forward," Edward said. "I cannot thank you enough for bringing me the news personally. You will stay a few days, surely."

Sir Howard shook his head regretfully. "No, I am sorry, but I must be on my way today. I have urgent business in London."

"You will at least stay to lunch, will you not?" Edward persisted.

"Yes, thank you," Sir Howard agreed, "I shall be pleased to join you for lunch."

Edward sent Dawkins to ask his father to join them, and the three men became engrossed in a conversation on politics as they waited for lunch to be served.

* * * *

The next morning Edward decided to begin his campaign to win Jane's affections. The departure of the Blackwoods for Bramleigh had removed any awkwardness he might have felt if Lady Juliette had still been in residence at Haverton Park, and he did not wish to delay too long. Memories of the kiss between Jane and Lord Blackwood still made him uneasy and he did not want to give Lord Blackwood time to make more progress in gaining Jane's affections.

Edward had thought a great deal about how to approach Jane, and he decided the best way would be to reestablish the custom of the comfortable morning visits they had enjoyed before his trip to London and his meeting Lady Juliette. Once he had restored the close friendship with. Jane, he could move to capture her affections and declare himself.

He prepared for this first meeting since his realisation of his feelings for Jane with care, changing his breeches and coat several times, almost driving Ames to distraction. Edward finally decided on buff pantaloons, a white waistcoat, green morning coat of superfine and glossy-top boots. As he viewed himself for perhaps the fortieth time that morning in the mirror, Edward realised sheepishly that he was displaying as much concern about his appearance as Jamie would. Yet he could not help but feel satisfaction that the image presented to him in the glass showed such a great change from that which had confronted him the day he had arrived at Haverton Park from hospital. He gave his cravat a final tug and decided it was time to leave for the Hamptons' or the morning would be past.

Edward arrived at the Hamptons' cottage shortly and was pleased to see Jane in the garden, although she was not at work, but sitting on the bench with her cat in her lap. She seemed to sense his presence, and turned her head towards him, smiling in welcome and moving to rise.

"No, please do not get up, Miss Hampton," Edward begged, as he let himself in the gate. "Thomas would never forgive me," he said as he looked at the contented cat, whose eyes had opened slightly at Jane's movement. "I am surprised not to find you at work among your flowers."

"No, I am taking a break from helping my father," Jane explained as she stroked Thomas, coaxing him to go back to sleep. "As Father nears the completion of his book he demands my assistance more frequently."

"Your garden does not seem to be suffering for lack of attention," Edward commented, looking about, appreciating the riot of midsummer colour it presented.

"No, Fanny has helped me occasionally, and I work in it when I can. How is your family?" she enquired. "I hope your sister and her family are recovered from their journey?"

"Yes. The journey did not seem to tire my sister and her husband much, and the children not at all. I trust your father and Miss Fanny are also well?"

"Father is as usual. Fanny is well, too, although she is not here now. I do not know where she went—perhaps to Bramleigh."

As soon as she said the words, Jane wondered if she had touched a tender spot by mentioning Bramleigh to Captain Tremaine. Fanny had told her of the removal of the Blackwoods to Bramleigh several days ago. Poor Captain Tremaine—Lady Juliette had made it very clear whom she preferred. Jane supposed there was really nothing wrong with the move—Haverton Park
was
small, and there was room for dozens of guests at Bramleigh. But somehow she did not believe this would have influenced Lady Juliette if she had not wished it to.

"What makes you look so serious?" Edward asked teasingly, and Jane turned from her thoughts guiltily.

"Nothing," she said. "Forgive me if I am a little abstracted, it is just that I am worried about Fanny," she temporised, realising as she spoke the words that there was some truth in them. "She has been going somewhere almost every day and always manages to avoid telling anyone
where
she has been."

"I think you need not be concerned about your sister. She is a young woman of sense. Be happy that she is going about now, after being confined to the house so long," Edward advised, reaching to pet Thomas as he slept in Jane's lap.

Edward's arm brushed Jane's as he stroked the cat, causing a shiver to go down her spine. To cover her reaction to the accidental contact, she changed the subject.

"Have you heard anything about your attempts on behalf of Sir John?"

"Yes, that is one of the things I wished to tell you. Sir Howard came yesterday and informed me that he had spoken to the Prince. He said the Prince was sympathetic and has promised to see about the matter of a monument, at least."

"I am pleased to hear that, but it is less than you had hoped for, is it not?" Jane questioned shrewdly.

Edward stopped stroking Thomas and ran his fingers through his hair, disturbing the carefully arranged locks. "Yes. 1 had hoped something could be done about clearing his name to the citizenry, but I suppose that would take the cooperation of the press, and the Prince does not have any influence there," he said, thinking of the unflattering light in which the Prince himself was portrayed in the newspapers. "I fear there is a great struggle ahead of me if I persist in trying to clear Sir John's name. Perhaps the book his brother plans to write will accomplish what I have been unable to achieve.'*

"I never thought about how the writers for newspapers and the authors of books affect the way we think of a public figure," Jane said thoughtfully. "I suppose it is not the first time a man has been unjustly portrayed. It makes one wonder how true the history we learn is."

They sat in silence a moment, reflecting on human nature, until Edward, hoping for a more cheerful discussion, changed the subject.

"My sister, Mary, hopes to see you and your family soon, and wishes to know if you would dine with us at Haverton Park three nights hence."

"We shall be pleased to do so," Jane accepted, and went on to question Edward about his niece and nephew.

As Edward answered her enquiries, he wondered how he was faring in his attempt to regain Jane's friendship and trust. She was responding to his overtures, but he sensed some reserve—a caution which had not been there before. It was not going to be easy to reinstate himself, he thought ruefully, but he persevered. After he estimated a half-hour had passed, he took his leave, declaring his intention of returning the next morning.

When Edward had left, Jane stayed in the garden, wondering why Captain Tremaine had evidently decided to restore their morning visits in the garden. She supposed it must have been because Lady Juliette had deserted him and he felt lonely. The idea of being a substitute for Lady Juliette disturbed Jane, yet she could not be sorry for any reason that caused Edward to seek her out. She thought how well he had looked this morning, his shoulders filling out his coat, muscular legs outlined by tight pantaloons, and his blond hair shining healthily in the sunlight. How could any woman have willingly left Captain Tremaine?

* * * *

That afternoon Jane had another caller. Lord Blackwood stopped by, and Mrs. Reid showed him into the parlour where Jane and Fanny sat mending linens, Jane having escaped her father's study for the day.

"I have missed our morning rides together," Lord Blackwood said, as Jane rang for refreshments, "so I have sought out your company here. They ride at Bramleigh, of course, but it was your presence that made the rides enjoyable."

His words included Fanny, yet Jane had the feeling he was speaking directly to her. Flattered, she blushed, and Lord Blackwood smiled his devilish smile.

"I have missed your company also," Jane said honestly, looking into his blue eyes. She reflected idly that while he was wearing clothes very similar to the ones Captain Tremaine had worn that morning, they looked very different. One would never mistake Lord Blackwood for a country gentleman, nor could Captain Tremaine pass for a man of fashion.

"Then we must remedy the situation," Lord Blackwood replied to her admission. "Would you come for a drive with me tomorrow afternoon? Lord Staplefield has offered me the use of his curricle since he cannot use it while he is in residence at Bramleigh, it being built after 1773."

"I should enjoy that." Jane accepted, as Mrs. Reid brought in refreshments.

Lord Blackwood accepted a glass of claret, and they spoke of less personal things, Fanny joining the conversation, as well.

After Lord Blackwood left, Fanny examined her sister’s countenance. “Do you remember, Jane, when you told me I had three suitors? I think you have two. I saw Captain Tremaine in the garden with you this morning, and now Lord Blackwood calls upon you.”

 Jane made no answer, and her sister continued. “But I must confess I wonder which of the two you are most interested in, sister.”