by Jayne Bamber
Caroline coughed to conceal her laughter at this notion. It would certainly serve her right, for all of her mischief!
Caroline was eventually entreated to dance by the object of her speculation, who was full of praise for her own young ward as well as the other debutantes, declaring himself to be of a mind for marriage. He was certainly not alone in such thinking. The reconciliation of Mary Crawford and Mr. Bertram had resulted in an invitation for her friend to accompany Mr. Bertram on his travels north, and an engagement between them seemed imminent. With so many eligible suitors brought into her acquaintance just as her young ward was making enough progress to recommend herself to them, Caroline began to suspect that another successful turn at matchmaking might be just the thing to launch her to still greater heights.
Lady Lydia Elliot of Kellynch Hall, and her intimate friend, the wealthy widow Sutton, how well that sounds. Or perhaps, Mrs. Lydia Rushworth, of Sotherton Court, and her intimate friend…. Yes indeed, there were distinct social possibilities for her, should she and Lydia play their cards right.
9
“Fred, you made it!”
Frederick Wentworth looked around him in awe as he made his way through the receiving line. He certainly had made it. Nine years ago he would never have imagined himself to be a welcome guest in the home of an Earl, though he was not exactly acquainted with the Earl himself, only one of the Earl’s distant relations by marriage.
Sam Sutton came forward eagerly to shake hands with him as Wentworth made his way into the expansive ballroom of what was undoubtedly the most fashionable London townhouse he had ever seen. Then again, he had not spent much time in London; he had returned to England more than a year ago after eight years in the navy, and though the fortune he had made at sea rendered him a most eligible bachelor, he had been nursing his wounds for the last year, having had his heart broken twice by the same woman.
A summer in Bath, autumn in Shropshire with his brother, and Christmas in Town with the family of his sister’s husband, Admiral Croft, should’ve been pleasant distractions, but Wentworth still felt dejected. At least he had made friends in Town. The Audleys, who were connected to the Crofts by marriage, had been pleasant enough company; they had recently departed for their country estate, to which Wentworth had been invited, ostensibly for the benefit of Mrs. Audley’s unmarried sister. Wentworth, however, had found himself more interested in remaining in Town with the younger Audley brother and his friend, Sam Sutton, who always seemed to welcome him like an enthusiastic puppy.
“Sam, it is good to see you,” Wentworth said, following his new friend through the ballroom. “You left Town in all haste last month – tell me, how is your wife?”
“Delivered of a healthy baby boy, christened after his grandfather. Gerald Carmichael Sutton! Emily thinks he sounds rather like a scholar, though I hope he will be more of a sportsman, like myself.”
“Well, either way, you have my congratulations. I only wonder at your leaving your lovely family so soon.”
“How could I resist, when I have acquired another new family member? In truth, I would not have left Emily for all the world, but she insisted I come and see my new sister for myself. She finds it quite thrilling; I daresay we all do.”
“Yes, I suppose it is not every day one gains a new mother and a new sister all in the same week.”
Smiling as he always did, Sam leaned in as if confiding some great secret, though it was information everybody knew. “It is quite shocking, is it not? Apparently she is actually my father’s natural daughter, and Lady Catherine’s. I wonder why it took them so long to wed, after – I suppose he wished to honor my poor mother. But I am glad for the girl. I was eager to set eyes on her myself, and of course Emily will be expecting me to write to her with a detailed description of everything.”
Wentworth could hardly account for his friend’s good cheer. It was certainly shocking for Sir Gerald to acknowledge a child he had sired while married to another, and bring her out to society. He had heard the gossip, of course – everybody had. Given Lady Catherine’s reputation, he could not but wonder how she could tolerate all the speculation, though he knew all too well that love could make one do strange things, indeed.
“Well,” he searched for something to say, as Sam was apparently determined not to acknowledge his father’s flagrant indiscretion. “What is your impression of your new relations?”
The garrulous younger man hardly needed prompting. “I am already acquainted with my new stepmother, of course, as she has been our nearest neighbor all my life. Indeed, I began to suspect some peculiar attachment between her and my father last autumn, so it was little surprise when they decided to wed. But Harriet! That came as quite a shock, though my father and his wife seem very well pleased with her. I only arrived back in Town yesterday, and I plan to return to Kent at month’s end. My father means to reside with Lady Catherine at the dower house of Rosings, and give Cranbrook over to me entirely. Astonishing, is it not?”
Wentworth agreed this was most unusual, but still felt some curiosity about the new Miss Sutton. When Sam had come round that afternoon to issue him an invitation to the evening’s festivities, Wentworth had gotten the impression that Sam considered him a prospective suitor for the new Miss Sutton. Wentworth knew not how to feel about the notion. Perhaps Miss Harriet Sutton would be just the sort of woman to make him finally forget Anne.
They had made their circuit of the ballroom; he was now presented to two uncommonly pretty young girls, as well as Lady Catherine, who was the sort of woman who must be recognized first. From the civility of her greeting, Wentworth could only surmise that she was quite aware of his fortune. She presented her niece, Miss Georgiana Darcy, and her own daughter, Miss Harriet, both of whom were enjoying their first season in London.
Both girls were tall, fair, and handsome. Miss Darcy was poised and genteel, though timid, while Miss Harriet was animated and lively, though less refined, which put Wentworth more at ease. He found her open manners engaging, and solicited her hand for the first set.
He had presumed too much – she declared herself promised to her cousins for the first three dances, but her mother seemed far from disapproving, and she eagerly offered him his choice of any other dance that evening. Wentworth considered for a moment. “If you are willing to dance as well, Miss Darcy, perhaps you would give me the fourth, and Miss Harriet might promise me the supper set.” He was relieved when the girls agreed – certainly Miss Harriet would make a more entertaining dinner partner.
The two debutantes’ company appeared to be much sought after as the other guests began to arrive; Sam and Wentworth moved on, speaking to many others of Sam’s wide circle of acquaintance. Sam’s cousins by marriage, the Darcys, were very genteel, if somewhat mismatched – Mrs. Darcy was as charming and outspoken as her husband was imposing and reticent. He was next introduced to another of Sam’s sisters, Mrs. Cecily Middleton; she and her husband had recently traveled up from his estate in Devonshire.
No sooner had the introductions been performed, than Sam became animated, as if struck with a sudden idea. “I say, Jasper, Fred, I’ve just come up with the most wonderful scheme! As I am now the master of Cranbrook, what if I were to give a little house party there? My father and his new wife will likely be returning to Kent soon with Harriet, and it would be so merry if you were all to join us! I know I can count on Henry Audley and perhaps one or two others. What say you to being of the party? We have guest rooms enough at Cranbrook, and good sport all year round. Dare I hope I can lure you away from London for a month or two?”
Wentworth chuckled at Sam’s antics. Perhaps it would be a fine thing to get out of London, as he had heard that she was in Town, and lately a widow – that was more temptation than he could like. “I can think of no reason to refuse,” he admitted. “I have no present engagements to keep me in Town. I suppose I must accept.”
“Wonderful,” Mrs. Middleton said with a little bounce and a clap of her hands. “What a mer
ry party we shall be!” Her effusions continued, but the full extent of them were lost on Wentworth, as his attention was captured by the approach of a breathtakingly beautiful woman, walking arm-in-arm with the woman who had broken his heart more than once.
***
Invited to the home of the Earl of Matlock at last! Caroline could scarcely contain her excitement. Sending Lydia off to her uncle’s house in Cheapside for the evening had been a small price to pay for the opportunity to move amongst such elevated company. It was a pity that she had only finally been admitted into such a circle, one that contained such eligible gentlemen, after she herself was no longer available. Seymour would not live much longer, to be sure, but even then she must observe her year of mourning. Any new connections she formed here tonight would do her little good for the present, except in service of Lydia.
It was strange to arrive alone; she was accustomed to be attended by her brother or sister at such occasions, and surely now it must be her husband’s role to escort her. She smoothed her gown nervously, hoping she was in fine looks. After what had threatened to become an unseemly incident at the modiste with Lydia the week before, she had been told in no uncertain terms by her obstinate young charge that her taste in fashion did not merit Lydia’s consideration. Caroline’s proclivity for orange, feathers, and many other of her favorite ornaments had been disparaged by Lydia, so severely that Caroline had agreed to something different, if only to encourage Lydia to do the same. Of course, in Lydia’s case, a more modest neckline had been the order of the day.
Thus Caroline was attired more simply this evening than she might otherwise have been. Modest pearl pins, rather than feathers, adorned her thick red hair. Her gown was well-fitting and made from the finest blue silk, with shimmering translucent long sleeves and only the smallest amount of French lace at her bodice and hem. Lydia had come in to see her before they had gone their separate ways for the evening, and declared that shade of blue – periwinkle, she called it – looked very well indeed with Caroline’s complexion, and it had warmed her heart that her difficult young ward had spared a kind word for her, despite her displeasure at being excluded from the event.
Hoping she looked as well as Lydia had claimed, Caroline began to look about the room for some of her acquaintance before she became too uncomfortable in her solitude. She spied Elizabeth and her husband in conversation at the back of the room, and the two were soon joined by another lady she recognized all too well; Caroline hastened in their direction.
“Mr. Darcy, Lizzy, it is wonderful to see you. I cannot tell you how very much I have been enjoying your company of late. And Mrs. Elliot, how happy to meet with you again so unexpectedly!”
“I am only just making Mrs. Elliot’s acquaintance; you have the advantage over me,” Elizabeth teased.
“Miss Bingley,” Mrs. Elliot replied with a proper curtsey. “It is indeed an unexpected pleasure, but certainly a pleasure nonetheless. Miss Bingley and I became acquainted about a year ago, in Bath,” Mrs. Elliot explained to Elizabeth, and Caroline blanched. She would certainly prefer not to revisit the unfortunate circumstance of having lured Charles away from Elizabeth, to Bath, where it had been her fervent hope that he would take an interest in Anne Elliot, who was unfortunately soon affianced to a distant cousin, under rather curious circumstances.
“And now I suppose I have some advantage over you,” Elizabeth said with a characteristic smirk. “I must inform you that Miss Bingley has become Mrs. Seymour Sutton, though I understand her husband is not to join us tonight, despite being brother to Miss Harriet Sutton, the guest of honor.”
It was certainly a barb, though gently delivered, and Caroline knew she deserved it. It was becoming increasingly difficult to explain away her husband’s absence at such a time when it made so little sense. Even her brother by marriage, Samuel Sutton, had come up to Town to meet the girl, despite his wife having recently delivered a son.
“You have my congratulations,” Mrs. Elliot replied with a serene smile. Despite Caroline‘s hopes that her brother might become attached to Anne Elliot, the two women had remained on cordial terms even after the announcement of her engagement, which seemed not to bother Charles at all, unfortunately. Mrs. Elliot remained unaware of Caroline’s aspirations, which was certainly for the best.
The first strains of music had begun, and Mr. Darcy offered Caroline and Mrs. Elliott a polite nod before soliciting his wife’s hand for the opening set.
“I am sorry to abandon you,” Elizabeth teased, “but fear not, for my husband is under strict instructions that he is to dance every dance tonight, if he wishes to return to Darcy House safely with me. Certainly we shall speak again.”
With that she was off, and Caroline suggested that she and Mrs. Elliot take a turn about the room together, as she herself was married, and Mrs. Elliot was lately a widow; they could neither of them expect to dance much this evening.
“I was not aware you were in Town, Mrs. Elliot,” Caroline said, “or I should have called upon you sooner to offer my condolences. Your father and sister dined with me a week and a half ago, and made no mention of it, or I would have included you in the invitation.”
“My son and I are staying with my friend Lady Russell; I am sure you remember her from Bath.”
“Indeed, I enjoyed her company very much.”
“It seems her old friend Lady Catherine is enjoying her company very much at present – I fear she will monopolize my companion’s time this evening, and I shall be quite alone. However, it has been four months, and given the circumstances of my becoming a widow, Lady Russell has urged me to come out in society once again. Still, it will be good to get away from London.”
“Are you to go away so soon? I do hope we have another opportunity to visit more, before you are gone away.”
“We shall remain another fortnight, perhaps. I shall be most happy to receive you at Lady Russell’s home in Belgrave Square – I understand it is very near the Darcys’ home, and Mrs. Darcy has promised to visit me there, as well. I am glad you and she are friends; I think she is a very interesting lady.”
“That she is,” Caroline agreed. Searching for something else to say, she added, “Her youngest sister, Miss Lydia Bennet, has lately come to stay with me in Grosvenor Street – my brother is traveling, and has given me the use of his townhouse, as my husband is still in Scotland, and I wished for some company.”
“Oh my goodness,” Mrs. Elliot replied. “Where are my manners? I ought to have asked after your brother. I hope he is well?”
Caroline stifled a sigh and merely nodded. “He was married last September, though his wife was unfortunately taken from us a couple of months ago. I tried to give him what comfort I could, but his spirits are much depressed, and he has set out to travel the continent. I do hope his travels will do him some good.”
“Oh dear, I am so very sorry to hear that. I can well sympathize with the dilemma of losing one’s marriage partner after such a brief space of time.” Mrs. Elliot paused, seeming suddenly troubled, and shook her head in some confusion. “Forgive me, Mrs. Sutton, I find I am not myself tonight. I have seen something rather upsetting – that is, I think I must brave Lady Catherine’s displeasure and seek out Lady Russell.” Mrs. Elliot had halted her progress across the room, and Caroline was obliged to do the same, though she had been heading in the direction of her sister-in-law Cecily Middleton, who was speaking with her husband, brother, and an uncommonly handsome gentleman.
Gazing down at the floor, Mrs. Elliot appeared deeply flustered, and wrung her hands with no little agitation. “Forgive me,” she muttered, breaking away from Caroline as the handsome gentleman speaking to the Middletons cast a nervous glance at Caroline before pursuing Mrs. Elliot.
***
With every step he took, Wentworth knew it was wrong to pursue her like this, and yet to do otherwise was impossible for him. They were both here, certainly they must speak – better to get it over with. “Mrs. Elliot, my old friend, will you not
oblige me?”
Anne stopped in her tracks, and a moment later she slowly turned around to face him. She acknowledged him with a slight nod of her head. A few short steps brought him face-to-face with her, as close as he dared get. She was wearing half-mourning, the widow of a man who had forsaken her for another while she was heavy with his child. It was not the fate he had imagined for either of them, and had he arrived in Bath but a few days sooner, he might have spared her the ignominy and public scandal.
He began to reach for her hands, but a moment later drew back. It was too much. “How can I begin to make amends,” he breathed.
“That is hardly necessary, sir,” she whispered.
She does not wish to speak to me. Her averted eyes and the tension in her shoulders signified her disquiet, and yet he could not resist her. “Anne, I…. Mrs. Elliot….” He paused, and cleared his throat, casting a quick glance around them – the room was beginning to fill up with other guests, and he gestured for her to take a few steps away from the growing crowd, lest they be overheard. “I only wish to say,” he began again, “I should not wish any awkwardness between us, if we meet again so unexpectedly. I thought it best to speak now, so that we might both be at ease.”
“Surely you must know,” she whispered, “that shall not be easily done, after all that has happened. In truth, I do not know why it matters anymore. There is no need to belabor the matter. That chapter of our lives is closed.”