by Gay, Gloria
“Yes,” Simon agreed, “It seems so long ago, doesn’t it?
“Bernie’s family organized a family weekend such as this, but it was just for their family and the families of Amby and me, as we were to leave for the Peninsula together.”
“It was a semi-sweet weekend, as I recall,” said his aunt, Lady Cecily, “for the specter of the war lurked throughout, but we enjoyed the weekend, in spite of it, since we were so aware that it was to be a long time before we saw you boys again.”
“Thank the Lord that they returned without mishap, years later, for other families were not as lucky,” said his uncle.
“Let us not think of days that were so sad for other families,” Lady Sandvel interposed with a sigh.
“We have plans for today, too,” she added with a broad smile. “This afternoon we may go to Gunters for ices and then come back to prepare for the Matthews musicale in the evening, where there is also to be dancing.”
The girls all agreed with happy exclamations.
Lydia smiled sweetly at her aunt and when Lady Sandvel asked her if she liked the plan, she said it was a wonderful plan.
Chapter 25
Sitting at Gunters, enjoying the wide variety of ices that were offered, the girls crowded one table while Lady Sandvel and Lady Cecily Grant sat at another.
“Hennister’s parents could not have formed a better plan for the girls’ enjoyment than this three-day weekend they have invited us to,” Lady Sandvel said, as she glanced out the wide window at Gunters that Sir Harold and Lady Sandvel and Lady Cecily had secured.
“It is nice to sit here in this cozy manner, away from that traffic outside,” said Lady Esther, the girls’ aunt and sponsor.
After Gunters the girls and the aunts went on a small shopping spree, to obtain last minute accessories for their jaunt.
Back at the Sandvel house the group settled once more for what they laughingly called their well-deserved tea.
“I have never before been so exhausted from shopping for ribbons and reticules,” said Edwina.
“I would not have become so exhausted if I had been shopping for a new saddle,” said her sister, Cassie.
“Why should you be shopping for a saddle,” asked Edwina. “The one you have is well enough.”
“It’s ragged, if that’s what you call ‘well enough.”
“Well you cannot dance with a saddle and it is your ballgown that should concern you more because that is what looms ahead, two balls—the small one on our first day at Daven Hall and then the larger one on our second day at the estate.”
“I’ll concern myself with whatever I please, Miss Governess,” replied Cassie.
“Girls, girls—you agreed to no bickering, remember?” asked Lady Esther.
“What time should we leave tomorrow?” asked Lady Cecily, as she walked into the room.
“Hennister told me that their estate, near Croydon, is only six or seven miles from London,” Simon said. “He suggested we leave early in the morning, around eight, so that we will arrive in time for brunch and then have our morning ride through the estate—a tour Hennister is anxious to give for I have heard it is a beautiful place with a picturesque lake.
“He and his sister, Lucy, as well as Lucy’s chaperone, will join us here and we will all leave together. We will be comfortable in two carriages the few miles to his estate, while we men will ride our horses alongside the carriages.”
“Hennister told me they have many activities planned for our enjoyment,” said Lady Sandvel.
“They are looking forward to having the families together once again, as are we. It has been many years since we saw the three boys off on that sad day on the eve of their departure for the war,” said Lady Cecily.
“It will be a reunion of sorts for the families, after all that has happened since that day. They were so young then,” Lady Cecily added.
“Well, girls,” said Lady Sandvel, “we could not have designed a better way to spend this weekend that is brimming with sunshine and good weather.”
“Thank you, Simon,” she said, smiling widely at him.”
“Thank Hennison, instead, my lady,” Simon said with a laugh. “He thinks of everything. He has advised that the two carriages leave together, so that he will guide us, and we will not lose our way. He told me there is a tricky crossing where we are to make the turn and that people often lose their way there when it is their first visit. He has had to rescue a few guests in the past.”
The girls’ sponsor, Lady Esther, walked in just then and she was told of the plan and Lady Sandvel advised her that she and the girls should include riding habits in their portmanteau, for there was to be riding at the estate.
Lady Esther agreed enthusiastically and expressed that it would be a wonderful experience for her nieces and that she would see that the riding habits were included.
“Yes, Winston?” Lady Sandvel turned to her butler as the man walked into the breakfast room, stood before her and bowed.
“I would not have interrupted you, my lady, but I thought this message might be important.”
“Thank you, Winston, I trust your judgment.”
Lady Sandvel took the missive and stared at it for a minute. She sighed and broke the seal.
“From Jalenta,” she said.
Anything from that woman was bad news, indeed, she thought.
She ran her eyes hurriedly through the note. She then folded it slowly and turned to the girls, who were all silent, expectantly waiting to hear what the Lady Sandvel had to say.
“Apparently,” she said. “Jalenta is well enough to attend the next ball, at Almacks.
“She demands to join our party as your companion, Lydia. She gives her direction so that our driver may collect her the night of the ball. Apparently, she is aware that the ball is to be held in a week’s time.
Neither of the four girls expressed their reactions to this news.
In Lydia, however, her aunt noticed a change of color in her face. When before her cheeks had been rosy, they had now turned pale.
Why couldn’t that awful woman leave Lydia alone to enjoy her season without hovering over her as she had done so all her life?
Lady Sandvel suppressed any emotion that would reveal her thoughts and instead, putting the note aside, said to the group at large.
“Well, my dears, at least we have one more week without the woman’s presence. Let us enjoy it to the fullest and let us not have a single thought given over to her. Agreed?”
“Agreed!” everyone said in unison. Then they all burst out laughing.
“It will be wonderful to have an extra day for our weekend visit,” said Lady Sandvel.
“Lady Hennison expressed in her invitation that young people from the area, as well as their parents, are to attend both the large ball, which is the day after tomorrow, and the various games and picnic they have planned for our enjoyment.”
“Oh, how very exciting,” said Edwina, with a little clap of her hands.
Her sisters, Cassie and Isobel agreed with her, and there was a twitter of exclamations as the rest of the group expressed how they looked forward to the days ahead.
“Lucy is eager to reunite with you girls, also, and to meet Lydia,” Lady Sandvel said to Willy’s sisters.
“So, we have three glorious days ahead!” said Cassie, who was the most appreciative of the invitation because it included hours of riding.
“We are invited to start our weekend at Daven Hall, Hennister’s estate near the town of Croydon, starting tomorrow, for a picnic and games, is that not so, Simon?”
“Yes,” Simon agreed and added. “But today is a beautiful sunny day that is rare for London. Let us take advantage of it, also.”
Lady Sandvel agreed and added:
“What say you, Simon, if you give Lydia a warm-up riding lesson in the park. Lydia has not ridden since the age of thirteen, when she visited us.”
“I will be most happy to do so, my lady,” Simon agreed with a wide smile.
They girls expressed that riding at a walk was good enough for them. There were a lot of games and activities planned for the following days and they did not want to get uncomfortable from riding and then not be able to dance.
So the group decided to head to Green Park as soon as they were finished with their tea.
Wide exclamations of approval filled the drawing room and when Amby came by, Lady Sandvel got him caught up with the latest developments.
“You will walk the horse only, Lydia, very tame and safe, and just for a couple of hours.” Simon assured her. “That way you will get used to riding a horse again and tomorrow you might want to speed up to a canter.”
“That sounds good,” Lydia said, with a thankful look toward Simon.
Chapter 26
The next day the group left toward the Hennister estate, in three carriages. The third one carried their ladies’ maids, as well as luggage that included two ballgowns each. The men had opted to ride their horses, since it was a short trip.
For a while all were silent in the carriage that carried the ladies.
Finally, Lady Cecily exclaimed that the day was made for a short journey.
“Just see how the sun shines on the girls’ hair,” she said happily.
“Even the sparrows have opted to join us,” said Lydia, glancing at the window of the carriage as some birds flew about.
Lydia smiled fondly at her aunt. She could not remember a day that had a nicer beginning than this one. She was glad that they had one more week free of Jalenta and she determined to follow her aunt’s advice and not think of the woman for the whole week.
“You are so thoughtful, my dear,” said her aunt, looking up from her embroidery. “Are you looking forward to our stay with the Hennisons?”
“Yes, very much so,” Lydia said, without mentioning the details of her thoughts. Mention of Jalenta would just introduce a bad thought into their midst.
“I am looking forward to my second riding lesson,” she added. “Simon assured me that since I had done so well with my walking lesson he was going to go on to the next step.”
Halfway on their way toward the Hennister estate, the group stopped at an inn along the road to water the horses and to give them a short rest on the rare sunny morning.
The men procured hot tea and scones for the ladies and once more they resumed their journey, having done the first half of it.
Lydia was dosing a bit, her head inclined against the carriage window when the shouts from the men aroused her.
They had arrived.
Lydia’s first day at Daven Hall was the most enjoyable day she had ever lived.
After a tasty brunch with the group, her next riding lesson with Simon began. She felt as in a dream in which she floated with Simon.
“Do you like your horse?” Simon intruded softly into her thoughts of him as he walked the horse, Almond, that had been saddled for her use, giving him a bit of exercise before he introduced him to Lydia.
“He’s beautiful,” Lydia said, caressing the horse’s rich brown coat. “And with such a nice name,” she added, “like roasted almonds.”
“Almond rushed through his youth and had his adventures,” Simon said with a laugh.
“Now he’s ready to lead a calm life in his middle age, or so Hennison assured me.
“You should have no fear of him.”
“Lydia,” he added when Lydia prepared to mount Almond, with Simon’s help, “your Aunt Julia and your Uncle Harold are by the paddock gate. Come here so you can see them.”
Lydia moved closer to the stable door and gazed at her aunt and uncle.
“Oh, yes, I see them! Are they going to ride with us?”
“No, my darling. They are there so that I can speak with you freely, without anyone interrupting us and at the same time guard our secret.”
“Our secret?”
“Yes, my darling. I was going to wait until we returned home but I thought it better to not wait and instead go ahead in this quiet setting to tell you that my heart belongs to you, as well as my soul, for the rest of my life and beyond.”
Simon knelt on one knee, and taking her hand he said: “Will you marry me, my love, and spend the rest of your life with me? You will make me the happiest man on earth.”
“Yes! I will. With all my heart I will, Simon.” Lydia pressed Simons hands, which he had extended to her, and kissed them both.
From the pocket of his coat Simon took out a beautiful diamond ring around which were rubies and slipped it on Lydia’s third finger.
“It’s the family engagement ring, my love. Mama sent it to me, for it was in her possession until now.
“It’s the most beautiful ring I have ever seen,” Lydia said.
She turned to Simon, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Simon kissed her tears and then her lovely mouth.
Lydia gasped at the wonder of his kiss. She had not known that one could feel a kiss clear down to one’s toes.
“Again, please,” she said to Simon. Simon smiled as he kissed her again, this time with his heart and soul.
“Simon helped Lydia up on the saddle and they went to greet her Aunt and Uncle Sandvel who were smiling broadly as they met up with them.
“The betrothal is now a fact?” asked Sir Howard.
“Yes, Sir Howard, Lydia and I are now betrothed. Thank you for your help.”
As they pulled away from the aunt and uncle and headed to the marked trails around the edges of a small forested area, Simon turned to Lydia:
“You look beautiful, my darling,” he said. “I was so nervous I hardly noticed what you were wearing until now. That dark green habit looks wonderful on you.”
Lydia smiled and reached for his hand across the horses, as Simon reached for hers.
Lydia then glanced up across a small field.
“Look, there’s Lucy Hennison and her brother,” she said and added: “The Hennisons are all wonderful riders, including Lucy.
“Although I think few can compete with you, Simon, having led the Cavalry, as you did.
“I wish I could have seen you riding in triumph at the head of it.”
“It is not as romantic as you imagine it,” Simon responded. “Sometimes, a horse bolted or broke a leg and its fall made many of the horses and riders in back of it to fall in a horribly violent mess.”
“Almond would not bolt for any reason, would he?” Lydia asked, sorry that her words had brought back unhappy memories to Simon, and wanting, instead, to change the subject.
“You never have a guarantee that a horse will not bolt. Even the most placid of them.
“A bee might bite its ear or a rabbit slam against one of his legs and then off he goes,” he said, motioning with his arm at the riding trail in the distance. “But I shall be by your side should such a thing happen.”
“That’s hardly reassuring,” Lydia said nervously. “What if at that exact moment you are distracted, Simon, and Almond takes off at a gallop? How then shall I stop him if you cannot reach me right away?”
“That is the first thing I am going to teach you, my dear, how to slow down a galloping horse. Just remember, I shall be right behind you, trying to catch up with you. I would place my horse side by side to yours and grab you away from your bolting horse.”
“But let us not stay too much on that subject, or you will be so spooked you won’t want to learn.
“Just remember, Almond is not going to bolt. I just gave you an extreme example. Besides, as I told you, he’s in his middle age and probably would ignore a bee.”
“I hope so,” Lydia laughed nervously.
“My sweet sweet Lydia. I promise to be there by your side should such a thing happen and rescue you like a knight of yore.”
“Thank you for the reassurance,” Lydia said. A frisson trembled through her at his address of her.
Even though several of the girls riding were neophytes, the morning went smoothly, and no horse bolted.
Cushions a
nd spreads for the ladies had been provided and at noon the group rested under shade trees and enjoyed a wonderful picnic meal that was spread on tablecloths by the servants.
The group went on to enjoy games among the wildflowers while the servants took their own meal.
In late afternoon, tired but happy, the group returned to the mansion and while the ladies retired to their rooms for a restful nap some of the men went to the library to catch up on events, for they were all friends that had shared experiences in the war.
Several of their friends had left their lives on the bloodied fields and they were remembered fondly with warm anecdotes and clinks of brandy glasses in honor of them.
After about a half hour, Simon left his friends to their drinks and conversation for he had agreed to meet Lydia in the folly.
He rushed his step when he caught sight of her skirt, being teased by a breeze.
He kissed her hand and they went down the walk, under an avenue of elms. Lydia held on to Simon’s arm and for a while they walked in silence, not needing anything but each other’s company to be happy.
When they reached a tree bench they sat down, close together.
“I waited to find you again and my wish was granted,” Simon said.
“Do you wish the banns to be published or do you wish our marriage to be by special license, Lydia?” Simon asked.
“It’s up to you. I know that you are worried Jalenta might try to separate us. She would not succeed but it is you who will decide if you want to marry with our friends and family around us or marry in haste.”
“What is it to be, darling?” he asked when Lydia only looked silently into his eyes.
“Marry in haste, Simon,” she responded in a barely audible voice. “But if it is possible, I would like Aunt Julia, Uncle Harold, your aunt Lady Cecily and your Uncle Robert to be at our wedding.”
“I will attend to the special license when we return to London,” Simon said with a wide smile, “and let our aunts and uncles know how we wish to proceed.