"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 dead-heading 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.
"Thank you for your concern, Miss Hampton, but I feel I shall be able to travel if I go by carriage and take the journey in easy stages," Edward assured her. He stood up, eager to go now that he had a plan of action.
"What would I do without your wise counsel Miss Hampton?" he asked, and bent down, taking her hand between his and drawing her up. “I cannot thank you enough,” he added, pressing her fingers warmly.
Jane’s breath caught in her throat at the tender expression on Edward’s face. Her quiet life as a vicar’s daughter had brought her in contact with few eligible suitors, and most of those few had shown more interest in her beautiful younger sister. But Jane had still dreamed, and now at last, most unexpectedly, it seemed those dreams might turn into reality.
"Please excuse me if I go without paying my respects to your father and sister. I must organise my journey and be on my way as soon as possible,” the captain continued. “I shall come to see you the moment I return."
Jane walked to the gate with Edward, giving up her hand with reluctance when he reached Ariel. She waved him on his way and then returned to the garden bench where she sat for a long time, feeling strangely bereft. A moment ago her heart had been full, now it was empty. What had she done, sending Edward away from her? A feeling of foreboding enveloped her, foreboding that Captain Tremaine was leaving not only the vicinity of Staplefield, but her life. She felt a strange cold certainty that if he left on this journey he would never come back to her. Jane tried to shake the feeling off. It was nonsense; she was just feeling lonely at the thought of not having the captain’s company for a fortnight or so. What could possibly happen to him on a short trip to London?
Chapter Five
The couples on the dance floor made their final bow as the strains of the boulanger faded into the London night. Edward knew he should leave his half-hidden position by the windows and solicit the hand of one of the young ladies for the next dance, but he was reluctant to enjoy the gaiety. His health was much improved, but he still lacked the stamina to dance for long without it tiring him. He wished he might return to his hotel, but after Colonel Wentworth's kindness in assisting him in his efforts to clear Sir John Moore's name, he could not leave Mrs. Wentworth's ball so early.
A frown marred Edward's expression as he thought of his futile attempts on Sir John's behalf. Colonel Wentworth had obtained audiences for him with Canning and Castlereagh, but his appeals to them had been to no avail. Castlereagh, the war secretary, had listened politely but had been unhelpful, and as for Canning! Edward had thought, since Castlereagh and Canning, the war minister, were rivals, that Canning would assist him if Castlereagh would not. But Canning seemed to have an actual hatred for Moore. Remembering Sir John's impatience with inept politicians, Edward imagined that some of the pointed comments in the dispatches sent to London had been directed at the war minister. It would seem Grandville was correct—Sir John had been made a scapegoat for errors of politicians safe at home in London. His frown deepened as he thought of the wrongful blame foisted on as fine a man as his former commander had been.
“You're looking blue-devilled, Tremaine. Can't have that. Permit me to introduce you to a partner for the next dance."
Edward erased his frown and turned to his host with a pleasant smile. Colonel Wentworth was in the Household Cavalry, and presented a fine figure in his blue-trimmed red coat, grey trousers, and shining black boots.
“Forgive me, Colonel. I was thinking of my problems regarding the matter of Sir John.”
“We'll work on that later," the colonel said, taking him by the arm. "Tonight you need to forget your troubles, and I have just the lady to help you accomplish that. Come with me."
Edward allowed his host to lead him across the ballroom, concealing his reluctance and bracing himself to do the pretty with whatever insipid young lady to whom he was introduced. The colonel escorted him to a group of chairs by the wall where a young dark-haired woman in yellow sat with an older woman in purple silk.
"Lady Juliette Blackwood, I should like to present Captain Edward Tremaine, an old acquaintance of mine, as a suitable partner for the next dance," Colonel Wentworth said with the air of one bestowing a great favour.
Edward's reluctance to dance vanished as Lady Juliette Blackwood smiled up at him. She was breathtakingly beautiful—gleaming black hair hung in curls about a delicate oval face, and her pale yellow muslin dress clung to her limbs and outlined a slender figure that was perfection. Long black eyelashes fluttered briefly over deep blue eyes, and her red lips continued to smile as she acknowledged the introduction.
"Captain Tremaine," she said, "I am pleased to make your acquaintance. May I present you to my brother, Lord Adrian Blackwood, and my aunt, Lady Martin."
Edward bowed to Lord Blackwood, a male version of Lady Juliette standing behind her chair, and kissed the hand of the stern-looking older woman sitting next to Lady Juliette, but he barely saw them and did not register their replies. In a daze, he led Lady Juliette out onto the floor. As they lined up for the country dance, he was suddenly glad he had ordered new coats from Weston upon arriving in Town, and was looking at least passable in new silk knee breeches and a well-fitted coat of claret kerseymere.
The figures of the dance allowed them little time to converse, and after the dance Edward was reluctant to leave Lady Juliette's presence without learning more about her. He asked if he could procure some lemonade for the two women, planning to stay and talk while they drank it.
Lady Juliette was quite willing to converse, and as she sipped her lemonade she asked Edward many questions about his family and their estate in Sussex. He answered her questions gladly, staying with Lady Juliette and her aunt until another partner claimed the younger woman for a country dance. Then, reluctantly recognizing that he had been monopolising Lady Juliette, Edward took his leave, but not before obtaining a promise from her to go for a walk in the Park the next morning.
The anticipation of seeing Lady Juliette again the next day acted as a tonic on Edward, and he spent the rest of the evening dancing every dance, impervious to fatigue. Mrs. Wentworth declared her husband's friend was the perfect guest, for he willingly led out even the most unattractive of the young women, and no one languished by the wall.
In the early hours of the morning Edward returned happily to Stephen's Hotel in Bond Street, still thinking of the Lady Juliette. She was the kind of woman a man dreamed of but never really thought to meet: beautiful, charming, witty, and, he felt sure, talented in many ways. Now he was sorry he had planned to return to the country next week. Perhaps he could delay his departure.
* * * *
At their marginally fashionable address in Marylebone the next morning, Lord Adrian Blackwood spoke with his sister as she waited for Captain Tremaine to collect her for a walk in the Park.
"Why are you wasting time on a mere Captain Tremaine, my dear?" drawled Adrian, leaning negligently against the fireplace and tapping his gleaming Hessians with his whip. "He is not even well-favoured."
Lady Juliette frowned at her brother with irritation.
"He is heir to a viscountcy, and I have not seen anything better," she replied, the calculating expression in her eyes looking oddly incongruous with the innocent picture she presented in her fresh white muslin. "His appearance is regrettable, but beggars cannot be choosers." She looked around the room, viewing the frayed and worn upholstery of the furniture in their rented town house with distaste.