by Lucy Muir
“But you must remain for dinner, Miss Hampton,” Lady Tremaine protested. “I shall send a note to Mr. Hampton that he will know you are staying.”
“Thank you, Lady Tremaine, but we could not possibly stay for dinner in these untidy clothes,” Jane protested, glancing over at Lady Juliette, who had changed into a fresh gown and appeared cool and beautiful.
“That is not a difficulty,” Lady Tremaine countered. “You and I are of a size, Miss Hampton, and you may borrow a gown from me.” Lady Tremaine then looked at Lady Juliette, who could not fail to offer one of hers to Fanny without looking churlish, since they were both of a slight build.
“I suppose I can find you something you could wear, Miss Fanny,” Lady Juliette said rather ungraciously, rising to lead Fanny upstairs to her dressing room.
Juliette searched quickly and impatiently through her wardrobe, tossing favoured gowns aside. At last she spied a fawn-coloured silk trimmed in red that had never flattered her, and thrust it at Fanny.
“Here, this should fit. Perkins will help you dress,” she said with a nod to her lady’s maid, and left Fanny to go back downstairs.
Fanny washed her face and hands at the washstand, and then allowed the maid to assist her into the gown. Fanny suspected why Lady Juliette had chosen that particular gown and was relieved when it proved to be quite attractive on her. After fixing her hair with the help of Lady Juliette’s maid, Fanny started back downstairs, but was waylaid by Jamie near the landing.
“I say, Fan, will you come in the library a moment? I wish to speak to you.”
Reluctantly Fanny agreed and followed Jamie into the library, an impressive room filled with volumes bound in leather and stamped with the Tremaine crest. She seated herself in a comfortable chair by the window and waited for Jamie to speak.
“Look here, Fan, why won’t you reinstate our betrothal?” he asked, sitting down next to her, his expression full of entreaty.
“I told you why before,” Fanny replied steadily, although she felt a moment’s regret as she looked at the handsome young man she had once loved. His red-gold hair glinted in the afternoon sunlight that filtered into the room, and his hazel eyes regarded her appealingly. But when Fanny did not relent, Jamie jumped up and began pacing back and forth angrily.
“I do not accept your reason. I know the real one and you may as well give it up. The earl is not interested in you. He prefers Lady Juliette.”
“Everyone must admire Lady Juliette’s beauty,” Fanny said calmly. “Jamie, can you not see that we should make each other unhappy?”
“No, I don’t see that,” Jamie objected, coming to sit by her again. “You thought we should make each other happy before. How has it changed?”
“It changed when my beauty changed,” Fanny said, her voice tinged with a trace of hurt as she remembered his rejection of her as she lay on her sickbed. She rose. There was no point in discussing it further with Jamie; he would not listen.
As Fanny walked past Jamie towards the door without another word, he grabbed her by the arm and tried to embrace her, hoping a kiss would rekindle Fanny’s feelings, but she pushed him away so strongly he stumbled and fell against the bookshelves.
“Stop that, James Tremaine. I want this betrothal ended. If you will not do it, I will,” Fanny stormed angrily, slamming the heavy door behind her as she left the library and hurried downstairs to rejoin the others.
During dinner Edward watched the various guests enjoying themselves and wished he were seated next to Jane or Fanny instead of Lady Juliette, who was still in a sour temper from the day’s earlier happenings and scowled blackly at Fanny. Edward followed Juliette’s glance, recognising the fawn-coloured silk Fanny was wearing as one that was not flattering to Lady Juliette, and smiled. He gathered Juliette had chosen it purposely for that reason and was glad her plan had failed.
His eyes moved to Jane, who was looking especially fine in a striped silk gown of his mother’s, and felt a renewed sense of gratitude for her efforts to put him in contact with someone who could aid him in his efforts to clear his former general of opprobrium. He remembered he had not yet told his father of the letter that Mr. Hampton had written to the Bishop of Salisbury at Jane’s urging, or of the promising letter he had received from Colonel Fisher as a result. At the next lull in the conversation, Edward made sure to rectify the omission.
“How thoughtful of you, Miss Hampton,” Lord Tremaine said gratefully, as Edward finished his story. “The situation has been very disturbing to Edward. I appreciate what you have done to aid him.”
Lady Tremaine added her thanks, but Lady Juliette and Lady Martin did not appear impressed.
“One must appreciate the thought, but ladies should not involve themselves in matters of war and politics,” Lady Martin admonished. “Of course, in one of your background it may be forgiven, Miss Hampton,” she added condescendingly.
Jane only smiled at Lady Martin’s statement. Tonight the woman’s supercilious attitude had no power to wound her.
Lady Juliette, still angry at having been overshadowed first by Fanny and now by Jane, nevertheless felt a twinge of guilt at the thought of the letter resting under the lining of her jewellery box. Well, thanks to Miss Hampton’s interference, Edward would be able to resolve his problem, and without leaving Sussex, so it was of little moment anyhow, Lady Juliette excused herself. She wondered why a dead general’s reputation mattered so much to Edward, anyway.
Chapter Ten
To Jane and Fanny’s displeasure, they found when the carriage came to collect them Monday for the excursion to Brighton that they were to travel in a carriage with Lady Martin, while Edward, Juliette and her maid rode in another. The earl, Jamie and Lord Blackwood rode horseback.
As the sisters feared, Lady Martin proved to be a very dampening presence, indicating by her expression that she did not care to be travelling with them anymore than they wished to be with her. She sat unsmilingly and made several acidulous comments about young women who did not have a maid before they had left the environs of their own village.
After exchanging a quick look, Jane and Fanny responded mildly and tried to converse between themselves. But Lady Martin’s dark, looming presence inhibited even quiet conversation, and Jane soon gave up and passed the time looking out the windows at the countryside. Lord Blackwood, who rode alongside the carriage, looked in and gave Jane a commiserating smile. The only bright spots in the long day’s journey were the stops at posting inns to change horses, for there at least the sisters had a few moments to escape Lady Martin and converse with the others. By the time they arrived in Brighton late that evening Jane and Fanny were more than ready to relax in the congenial atmosphere of Lord Staplefield’s home.
Lord Staplefield’s residence in Brighton was a very large modern town house. The staff had been notified of their impending arrival and their chambers were ready for the travel-weary party. Jane and Fanny were shown to adjoining rooms on the first floor, furnished identically in painted Sheraton-style furniture, but with Jane’s chamber decorated in shades of rose and Fanny’s in blue.
As the sisters admired their impressive accommodations, a young maid appeared to offer her services during their stay. With the maid’s help they removed the stains of travel and dressed for dinner, finding it quite a luxury to have someone to style their hair and help them dress. Mrs. Reid only did so on special occasions. Jane reflected that it would be very easy to become accustomed to having such service as she looked at her image in the cheval glass with satisfaction. The maid had done her hair in a new style, with curls dangling from a knot on the top, and Jane felt it was very becoming.
When the maid pronounced herself satisfied with their appearance, the sisters went down to the ground floor drawing room to wait for dinner to be announced. Lady Juliette and her aunt were not yet down, but the gentlemen had already gathered there. As Jane’s gaze scanned the room she thought at first there was a strange man in the room, but then realised the modishly clad yo
ung man with dark brown hair in a Brutus crop was none other than the earl, Lord Staplefield. The modish close-fitting fashions outlined a trim and muscular form that had not been enhanced by the older styles he had worn in the Sussex countryside. Jane looked at Fanny in surprise, and then remembered the terms of the will were not in effect at Brighton and that Lord Staplefield could dress in whatever fashion he chose.
Lady Juliette and her aunt came in shortly after, the younger woman clad in a gown of white sarcenet trimmed in Spanish-style ornament that enhanced the hint of Gypsy in her looks. She, too, looked at the earl in surprise.
“I did not recognise you for a moment, Lord Staplefield,” Lady Juliette said, her eyes travelling up and down his fashionably clad form.
“I must confess I was pleased to find my valet still remembered how to tie a cravat in the current style,” Lord Staplefield replied, speaking to Lady Juliette for the first time without using phrases in vogue in the 1770s.
“Do you not get weary of wearing those old-fashioned clothes?” Lady Juliette dared to ask as she took a seat on a low sofa. “Did you never think of contesting your uncle’s will?”
Shocked at Lady Juliette’s presumption in asking such a personal question, Jane’s glance flicked ventured to the earl. However, he seemed to take no offence at the impertinence, although the smile on his lips did not reach his eyes.
“No, Lady Juliette. The money was my great-uncle’s. I had no part in amassing it, and little expectation of inheriting, since he made no secret of the fact he might leave the money apart from the title. I am grateful to him and feel the least I can do is to honour his wishes to the fullest of my ability. The terms are no hardship on me, particularly when they are only in effect when I am in residence at Bramleigh. In fact, I find I have quite enjoyed my introduction into the customs of the last century.”
Sensing the earl’s disapproval of her enquiry, Lady Juliette subsided and her aunt changed the subject with an admonitory look at her niece.
Soon afterward the butler announced dinner, and, following the earl and Lady Juliette, Lord Blackwood escorted Jane into the dining room, seating her with care at the gleaming mahogany table.
“You look very charmingly, Miss Hampton,” he complimented her. “I trust you did not find the journey too tedious?” he added with a meaningful glance at his aunt.
Jane was never quite certain how to reply to Lord Blackwood’s ironical comments, and contented herself with a smile and slight shake of her head. He smiled back and they applied themselves to the savoury-smelling dishes being placed upon the table.
Jane ate her dinner with appreciation, for Mrs. Reid’s cooking, while good, was simple, and Jane had never tasted anything like the salad of pike fillets with oysters. It was just as well, she thought, or she would soon be as fat as butter.
After the fruit was served, Lord Staplefield asked Lady Martin if she would serve as hostess that evening, and the older woman graciously led the women into the drawing room while the men stayed at the table for their port. They did not linger over their port long but soon joined the women to make plans for the next day. Since Jane and Fanny had never been to Brighton, it was decided they would spend the next day exploring the town for the sisters’ benefit. Lady Juliette did not look too happy about delaying her shopping, but did not gainsay the others.
The next morning the maid helped Jane and Fanny into their walking dresses. Jane’s was one of her most modish outfits, of soft yellow muslin with contrasting sleeves of orange. Fanny’s dress was of apricot jaconet with a skirt hem bordered with tucks, and both wore matching boots and carried saucy parasols.
The sisters were quite satisfied with the appearance they presented until they went downstairs and saw Lady Juliette, who looked ravishing in a striped blue silk walking dress with a gathered flounce, the darkest of the stripes matching the blue of her eyes. Jane looked at Fanny and gave an almost imperceptible shrug. They could never hope to rival Lady Juliette’s beauty and style.
However, Lord Blackwood and Jamie seemed to find nothing wrong with the appearance of the sisters, and complimented them sincerely on their looks. Lord Blackwood was looking quite elegant himself, in fawn-coloured pantaloons and blue coat. Jamie, as always, was dressed to the nines, this time in pantaloons with a military braid down the side and a tight canary coat.
The group left the house and walked down to the Steyne, where they joined the other fashionables in their daily promenade. It was quite a colourful parade, particularly with all the military uniforms in evidence, their bright blues, yellows, reds with the plumed helmets and shakos adding an exotic touch.
After they had walked a short way down the Steyne, they came to a view of the east facade of the Royal Pavilion, the Prince’s preferred home.
“How beautiful!” Fanny exclaimed involuntarily, stopping to admire the unusual building, and Jane silently agreed. The Pavilion stretched across an expanse of lawn, looking, with its ornate decoration, like something straight out of a fairy tale. Delicate spires, minarets and onion domes rose into the sky, and the rounded archways below were surrounded with filigreed arabesques.
A tinkling laugh interrupted Jane’s contemplation of the Pavilion.
“How charming Miss Fanny is,” Lady Juliette said, her tone implying the opposite. “Such freshness to be so impressed by the Pavilion.”
Lady Martin sniffed, turning to look in the other direction as if the very existence of the building offended her. “It can only be impressive to those from the provinces who have not an educated taste. It is far too overdone.”
Fanny flushed and Jane looked at Lady Martin angrily, as did Jamie and Christopher. Jane wondered, not for the first time, why Edward seemed not to notice the acid comments of Lady Martin. He seemed not to notice, at any rate, for he never said anything in their defense.
“The Prince would be flattered by your admiration, Miss Fanny,” Lord Staplefield said with a smile. “Would you care to see the inside?”
“Oh, yes, may we?” Fanny breathed, Lady Martin’s unkind comment forgotten. “Do you know the Prince?”
“I am not one of his intimates, but as I have been living here in Brighton the past year, I know him well enough. I had arranged for all of us to tour the Pavilion, but as Lady Juliette and Lady Martin don’t care for it, I am certain Lord Blackwood and Mr. Tremaine or Mr. Archer will stay and bear them company.”
Lord Blackwood, Christopher, and Jamie agreed to stay with Lady Juliette and her aunt while the other four toured the Pavilion. Jamie and Chris had no real interest in it, being far more fascinated with the fashions exhibited by the gentlemen parading by, and Lady Juliette let her brother know, by the look she sent in his direction, that she expected him to remain and bear her company.
Jane and Fanny took their leave from the others and began to stroll up the curving drive to the Pavilion with Lord Staplefield and Captain Tremaine.
“It is not yet finished, you know,” Lord Staplefield said as they walked up the expanse of lawn past beds of brightly coloured flowers. “The Prince keeps coming up with new ideas for decorating it, and I rather doubt it will ever be done to his complete satisfaction, but I think you will enjoy it.”
Once inside the Pavilion, Lord Staplefield spoke to the Prince’s secretary, and they were allowed to wander through many of the rooms at will. Jane and Fanny were fascinated, finding the interior even more enchanting than the outside. The Prince had given his imagination free rein, and had furnished the rooms in various styles, from the French to the Oriental.
Jane was particularly impressed with a corridor decorated in the Chinese style. The walls were covered in exquisite hand-painted Chinese wallpaper, the colours of which were also found in the thick Oriental carpet beneath their feet. Large niches in the walls held statues of Chinese gentlemen clad in long robes and displaying sweeping mustaches. Beautifully carved benches upholstered in silk brocade lined the hall, and gaily coloured tasselled lamps hung from the ceiling.
“It is li
ke travelling to China without the trouble and expense,” Jane said as she inspected one of the statues with interest. “I think it is most wonderful.”
Edward, who also had not been inside Brighton Pavilion before, agreed. “The Prince has an unmatched imagination and an artist’s eye,” he declared.
“Yes, and something else, more rare, which is an ability to recognise talent in others,” Lord Staplefield added as they left the Chinese corridor and passed into a large room with pillars in the shape of palm leaves and marble stairs flanked by wrought-iron balustrades in the shape of bamboo. “The architect, John Nash, is assisting the Prince in carrying out his ideas for the design and decoration of the Pavilion. Mr. Nash was a relatively unknown architect when Mr. Repton, the landscape artist the Prince had hired to design the Pavilion gardens, had him design a conservatory for the Pavilion. The Prince was very impressed with Mr. Nash’s design, and made his interest in the architect known. Now Mr. Nash is not only assisting the Prince here at the Pavilion, but is also helping him with other architectural plans the Prince hopes to carry out.”
“I have heard the Prince also encourages artists by giving them his patronage,” Fanny commented.
“Not only artists, but also writers and musicians,” Lord Staplefield corroborated. “So often a talented person is jealous of others with greater talent, but the Prince has no such meanness of spirit.”
Jane was sorry when they completed their tour and exited into the breezy weather to find the rest of their party. The outing was much more enjoyable without the presence of Lady Juliette and her aunt. Jane hoped they might miss the others and be able to continue as they were, but she was not in luck, for they discovered the rest of the party not far from the Pavilion.
Jane wondered if Fanny regretted finding the others as much as she did. During the tour of the Pavilion both Edward and Lord Staplefield had been attentive to Jane and Fanny, but now the attention of both shifted subtly to Lady Juliette. Jane was certain Fanny liked the earl, and was puzzled as to why his attentions to Lady Juliette never seemed to trouble her. It certainly upset her to see Edward so attentive to Lady Juliette, but Fanny hardly seemed aware of the earl’s notice of Lady Juliette.