* * *
After luncheon, with Jimmy as her groom, Julia went for a long ride towards the coast. She noticed out at sea, the white sails of a ship plying her way down the coast and shortly afterwards, around a headland, a trim craft appeared, its sails spread to the wind. Shielding her eyes from the sun, she turned to Jimmy who pulled up beside her.
‘That’s the revenue men’s cutter, the Glorious,’ remarked the boy. ‘I think she’s going to have a look at that lugger,’ and he pointed to the vessel with the four-cornered sails that she had first spied.
Julia looked fondly at the ship, remembering the recent happy day she had spent at sea on board her.
Sure enough, as they walked the horses with the gulls circling them overhead, they could see the Glorious gaining steadily on the other ship. With the hoisting of flags, it wasn’t long before the lugger hove to and waited for the revenue craft to come alongside and board her. Obviously, this was just a routine inspection that happened regularly in these waters, but Julia found it interesting to watch.
As they trotted homewards, another rider appeared on the horizon. Soon, Julia recognised the broad-shouldered figure of Gerald Hamilton. A series of emotions ran through her, but by the time they drew up together, her composure had returned.
He saluted her smartly and his eyes took in every detail of her appearance, and the presence of Jimmy.
‘I trust I see you well, Miss Farraday?’ His eyes were questioning.
‘Indeed yes, thank you, Mr Hamilton.’
The tone of her voice matched his. He turned his horse around alongside and proceeded to accompany her. Jimmy instinctively dropped back.
‘I had hoped I would see you out riding today. I have missed our afternoon rides, Julia.’
The lady said nothing. Leaning slightly forward, he looked at her intently.
‘I do mean what I said, you know.’
She still said nothing. With a sigh he changed tack.
‘I really do not see why my guest should change our friendship, Julia.’
At that, Julia looked thunderstruck, and seeing her face he hastily tried to make amends.
‘Because I have a guest, a female admittedly, who as a widow I have been trying to assist, should not…’
‘ Do you think me a complete fool? Your lovely Lenore told me everything yesterday, exactly.’
‘What do you mean? What did she tell you yesterday?’
‘Did she not tell you that she very kindly gave me a lift home when I was caught in the rain after visiting the Wentworth family?’
‘No,’ his voice was grim. ‘She did not.’
‘And she came in and had some refreshments.’ Julia steadied Athene with trembling hands. ‘We had quite a tête à tête.’
His face looked even grimmer. ‘Go on.’
‘No. I don’t believe I shall.’
Eyes momentarily locked together, and with just the sound of the horses’ hooves on the turf, they simultaneously turned away and rode in total silence, flushed fury on her face, white cold anger on his. Behind them, Jimmy began to whistle.
They parted with stiff formality at the Farraday driveway and for the rest of the day Julia felt distracted, unable to apply herself to anything constructive. Thursday arrived with the happy anticipation of the dinner party at Wentworth Hall.
‘Hmm, I’m not really sure, Smithers. What do you think?’
There were three dresses lined up for inspection; a black silk with matching lace flounces, a lavender sprigged muslin with deeper silk bands over a matching petticoat, and a grey crape with black trim.
‘The black is most becoming although the grey is smart,’ said the maid, watching Julia carefully. ‘It is quite warm though, almost humid.’
‘The black is too formal for what is the celebration of an engagement, and the grey is… No, the lavender would be the coolest,’ Julia declared.
Smithers smiled. It was certainly damp and mild. The sprigged muslin was the prettiest of the three mourning dresses and the one she’d been sure that Julia would wear. With a pearl-grey embroidered shawl around her shoulders, a matching reticule in her gloved hands and her mother’s pearls around her throat and in her ears, Julia, in lavender, entered the Wentworth coach.
Having arrived a little later than the intended time, most of her fellow dinner guests were already present; Susan looking bridal in silver gauze and Toby in his regimental dress uniform looked heroic. The proud parents were beaming cordiality, and Caroline, with her hair up and modestly attired in pink muslin, was on her very best behaviour.
Someone else was also on their very best behaviour. Gerald Hamilton, resplendent in evening dress, seemed to dominate the room with his presence and the smile he gave her exuded charm as he bowed over her hand.
‘My dear, Miss Farraday, this evening has turned into perfection with your arrival.’ His smile became even broader.
‘I had no idea you were to be present tonight, Mr Hamilton,’ said that lady with a steely glint in her eye as she accepted a glass of negus from a footman.
‘Ah, the same cannot be said for myself for you were the temptation that induced me to come,’ and his eyes danced.
Julia could feel her cheeks colouring, very much aware of Lady Wentworth’s benign smile as she watched her, and Julia turned from Gerald to greet the other guests. Most of them she had met when they had called on her to express their condolences on her great uncle’s death, and were mainly middle-aged county people who farmed in the neighbourhood. The exception was the Barlows, he a notary from Rye.
Amid the guests whom Julia had not previously met, was Edward Walter-Hunt, a young man of twenty, down from Cambridge, who had been a playmate of Susan’s nursery days. Julia could only notice with wry amusement his immediate infatuation with the beauteous Caroline who basked happily in his admiration.
At dinner, Julia was escorted in by Gerald who was seated on her right, with quiet Mr Sanderson on her left. Conversation flowed easily and Julia made sure she did not neglect her neighbour on her left, all the time aware of Gerald who was at his charming best with Mrs Walter-Hunt.
Well, thought Julia, Lady Wentworth did plead with me to come to make her numbers even. Why, though, invite Gerald Hamilton? She looked at him in profile as he chatted animatedly across the table to Toby. How could he sit there so calmly enjoying himself, knowing that he had flirted and encouraged her while all the time back at his house…?
As if he could feel her eyes on him, he turned and gave her a seductive smile while continuing on with his conversation. Mr Sanderson gave Julia a lengthy description of his Italian tour, when he was a young man, and it was while he was refreshing himself with a sip of claret that Gerald leaned to Julia and asked, ‘Are we going riding tomorrow?’
Julia felt conflicting emotions and after a moment said quietly, ‘I think not.’
His face suddenly turned sulky. ‘Then the next day?’ he persisted.
She felt confused by his nearness and the dark intensity of his face. She desperately wanted to say, yes of course I’ll go riding with you. I’m in love with you, more so than that French courtesan you have so conveniently forgotten for the moment.
She gripped the ring on her forefinger and answered shakily, ‘I don’t know, Gerald. I must think.’
Sir Henry at that moment stood up to propose a toast to the affianced couple and with a trembling hand Julia reached for her champagne glass, all too aware of Gerald’s thunderous face, his eyes still fixed upon her. Once more their eyes met and Julia felt tears spring into her own as his suddenly softened.
‘To Toby and Susan.’
Their joint voices rang out as they all stood and drank the toast. After Toby replied in a flushed and happy state, they continued with the remainder of the meal, until Lady Wentworth gave the signal for ladies to retire, leaving the gentlemen to their port and tobacco. There was much laughter drifting in from the dining room, and the ladies smiled amiably at one another at the thought of their men folk e
njoying themselves while the ladies discussed the proposed wedding and the bride’s trousseau.
Finally, the doors opened and Sir Henry and Gerald entered the room in excellent spirits. Both being large men they filled the wide doorway. The rest of the party, led by Toby, followed behind, all having dined well.
As coffee was served, Julia could not help but notice how all the men gathered around Gerald, young Edward looking at him in particular admiration. Even the older men seemed to hang on his every word while Sir Henry treated him as an absolute equal.
Gerald paid attention to all the other women in the room, circulating with ease, causing them to laugh with merriment at his stories, and making the bride-to-be and her sister blush rosily while looking at him in adoration.
Julia was only too aware as she discussed her recent visit to Astonbury with Mr Barlow, that she was being ignored much to her chagrin. Really, she thought, he is like a spoilt child. If he cannot get his own way… and Ridges words came flooding back to her.
When the evening ended, the Sanderson’s offered her a lift home in their carriage, which she gratefully accepted.
As he said good night to her, Gerald had the effrontery to say with a completely serious demeanour, ‘I had hoped to be able to escort you home tonight, Julia.’
The blatant audacity of the man! Her jaw dropped in amazement and he gave a loud chuckle as his eyes danced again.
‘Yes, I know that would never have been permitted, but a fellow can only hope, just as I hope we may begin riding again in the very near future such as tomorrow? For now though, goodnight my dear Julia.’
Shadows in the Night Page 29