by Claudy Conn
“Aye, two gentlemen,” Dilly dimpled. “One for each of ye.” This sent the young woman off onto a peal of giggles.
“Who are they?” Georgina found she was intrigued in spite of herself.
“That very pleasant Mr. Stamford and a stranger…a Sir Edward and coo…is he ever a looker! Dashing he is.”
“Where are they?”
“In the library,” Dilly said and nodded with her chin. “And that happy, Miss Star will be for your company…so go on, then.”
Georgina made her way down the hallway giving herself a silent lecture regarding Jules Stamford. She must not, would not, think about him. It just wouldn’t do.
In her usual forthright manner she walked into the library and pulled up short when she saw him. As always whenever she saw Jules, he completely took her breath away.
“Georgie!” Star declared as she crossed the room in a rush and took her friend’s hands. “How wonderful…”
Georgie was pulled along and was thankful for Star’s low combustion personality as it allowed her to recoup after looking at Jules Stamford which had made her brain turn into gruel.
Star pulled at the strings of her friends’ hat and flipped the straw bonnet over to a chair as she said, “Look at you, all windblown and lovely.” She stood back, “Oh, I don’t ordinarily like brown, but you look beautiful in this shade.”
“I hope I am not intruding,” Georgina said glancing once more at Jules. What was wrong with her? Why did he make her feel like a silly school girl? She was not. She was a twenty year old woman with a mind of her own and he was not the sort she had imagined might take her fancy. He was fashionable, he was a pink of the ton and she thought probably not very bookish. She was not fashionable, though Star was forever telling her she knew how to put clothes together. She was certainly not one of the haute ton and had no wish to be and she was most certainly bookish!
Jules stepped toward her, obvious pleasure written on his face as he said, “Miss Madison. What an unexpected delight,” he turned to Sir Edward. “I should like to introduce my very good friend to you, Sir Edward Danton.”
She nodded at Sir Edward as Jules went through the introductions, but Star was yanking on her sleeve, “Where have you been these past few days?”
“Buried in a new author’s work. It was written anonymously, but I have heard that a young woman by the name of Jane Austin wrote it.”
“Yes, yes, Pride & Prejudice, or some such title. I wondered who it was who wrote it. She is very daring, isn’t she? It is quite a naughty and delightful book. Vern brought it home for me last week and I devoured it!” Star said as she tugged her friend along with her to the sofa, plopped down and pulled Georgina beside her.
Out of the corner of her eye Georgina noticed Sir Edward looking at Star with what appeared to be undisguised fascination. She didn’t look away in time and Sir Edward’s gaze found her own and he smiled.
“How is Vern?” Georgina asked and was rewarded with a warning look from Star, which set her mind busily trying to figure out what that could mean.
“Coming along,” Star said vaguely, again giving her friend a meaningful look that clearly said drop the subject.
Sir Edward turned to listen to Jules who was saying something about the family crest hanging just to the left of him.
Georgina glanced at Sir Edward and politely inquired, “What brings you to Rye, sir?” When Sir Edward had not answered, she repeated the question.
He turned to her, “What? Oh yes! Jules of course,” he managed glibly.
“Doing it rather too brown, ain’t you?” Jules bantered devilishly. He turned to the ladies and inclined his head. “The truth is… our Edward is here recovering from a broken heart.”
* * *
Star looked at Sir Edward, surprised and intrigued and saw the look that came over him as his eyes turned into glinting steel pointed in his friend’s direction. She nearly broke out giggling as she thought everyone was casting one another ‘meaningful looks’. Sir Edward looked as though he could easily strangle his very good friend and Star did in fact, release a short laugh.
“Oh, I am not joking,” Jules continued unaffected by glaring glances. “He really is suffering the woes of unrequited love.”
“I can’t imagine anything much sadder than that,” Georgina said sympathetically.
As no one said anything to this, Jules slapped his friend on the back and said, “Now don’t look at me like that. I am certain the ladies will award you their sympathy and I can’t think of anything better for a broken heart.”
Sir Edward was moved to refute this in fine form, but he controlled himself. “It isn’t their sympathy I seek, ‘ole friend,” he glared at Jules, “but their interest.” He inclined his head toward Georgina.
“Oh, well done,” Star said. “I for one cannot imagine you of all people suffering a ragged and torn heart. Even if it were true, tell me why would it heal any better in the wilds of Rye, than in London?”
Georgina coughed back a laugh, “An interesting point.”
Jules laughed and wagged a finger at Sir Edward, “Indeed, Miss Berkley already has your measure.”
“Does she?” Sir Edward said sweetly. He turned to Star, “As it happens, I was not far from here when…when two things occurred to stall me. I was made aware my suit was ill advised, and my hired coach broke down.”
“Well how horrid for you,” Georgina said.
“Indeed, a broken heart and a broken coach…” Star could not help but giggle.
“He only thinks he has a broken heart,” Jules put in.
“Broken heart, indeed! What utter nonsense,” Sir Edward said languidly. “I have relinquished such romantic notions to those younger and less experienced. If I have suffered anything, it has been an irritation of nerves because I am used to getting my own way and have recently been balked. The feeling…shall pass.”
“I applaud you, sir,” Georgina said with genuine approval.
“Georgie!” Star laughed. “You cannot mean that? It is no such thing. He sounds very much like one of Byron’s poetic heroes. I think Rye will enjoy him, don’t you?”
“I am nothing like Byron or his Child Harold, or any of his poetry!” Sir Edward objected.
“Now hold on a moment. Here you are a London beau…” Jules offered.
“Up to every rig,” Star interrupted to add.
“Yes, and dressed to the nines,” Georgina concurred.
“Definitely, Byronic in demeanor!” Star stuck in on a laugh. “Won’t the women of Rye swoon?”
“Yes, indeed. If he has a fortune and our Rye society discovers this? Oh my,” put in Georgina.
Both ladies began to giggle and when Jules exclaimed, “Right you are!” Sir Edward made an unintelligible sound.
“I hope you are all enjoying yourselves at my expense,” Sir Edward said as he pulled a face at the assembled company. A slow smile forced its way onto his countenance, however, and Georgie dimpled at him.
“You are a jolly good sport,” Georgina said.
“Yes, and I hope you will continue to be, when the mamas of marriageable chits have at you,” Star added.
“And the widows… let us not forget the widows!” added Georgina.
“Ah, do tell me about the widows.” Sir Edward could not resist saying and a devilish glint lit his hazel eyes as he looked directly at Star.
She met his glance and almost caught her breath. He was of course, being outrageous, but they had goaded him after all.
“And the lovely Rye debutantes,” she said softly. “Will no doubt, frighten you to death and send you flying back to London.”
“Not,” said the victim of these jibes, “if they are in any way like you, Miss Berkley,” he returned gallantly.
Star laughed and got up to move in his direction, her hands reaching for his, “Oh, that was sweet and here we have been anything but. Do not be angry, sir. We really mean no harm.” His hands had clasped hers and a shudder of sensation swept throu
gh her.
Their eyes met.
Did the world suddenly stop all around her? Had everyone ceased to exist? Was she alone in a room filled with stardust? Why, oh why did her knees feel as though they were about to crumble into dust? What, was happening?
Sir Edward released her hands so sharply that she was momentarily dumbfounded. His touch had sent rivulets of sensation scurrying through her to all nerve endings, but before she was even able to wonder about this, he had dropped her fingers as though stung by them. Devoid of the capability of logic she watched him step back with a look of confusion.
“I am very pleased to have been the one to entertain you,” he said, breaking through the moment. She looked into his warm hazel eyes and composed herself.
“One day, sir, you will find yourself in the position to do the same to me and I shall be happy to pay the bill. It is only fair after all,” Star came back to a sense of self and managed to answer him softly.
“Fair-minded, are we?” he inclined his head. “We shall see if that is so, when the time comes.”
She laughed and the conversation moved on to other things. All this while Star was all too conscious of everything he said and everything he did. It was as though no other person in the room existed—only him. With his prominent masculinity and that particular look that came into his eyes when he happened to glance her way, with…oh gracious, she thought, what was happening to her?
At some point Star and Georgina fell into feminine conversation. With all of Georgina’s modern and controversial opinions, she actually enjoyed clothing and fashion. They put their heads together as Lady Sefton’s Ball was coming up and they had to plan their wardrobe.
The gentlemen obviously took this as their cue to leave. The ladies watched them exit and waited for the sound of the front door closing, before grabbing one another’s hands and squealing.
Star was the first to actually speak, “What do you think of them?”
“What I thought when you first introduced me to Jules Stamford,” Georgina replied with a soft sigh that sounded wistful to Star. “He is a dear man and quite an exceptional gentleman.” She eyed Star, “He seems quite taken with you.”
“Does he? I can’t agree with you there. I am not at all his type. Perhaps he is momentarily diverted because I am so different than what he is used to. I would never be able to make him happy. Never mind Jules, what of Sir Edward? What do you think of him?”
“Ah, now there is a very dashing, handsome man, but I don’t have his measure yet.”
“He is intriguing though…isn’t he? And all that stuff about having his heart broken is interesting, isn’t it? I would have thought he would be the heartbreaker.”
“Hmmm, I do agree with you on that, but it doesn’t matter. Does it?” She touched her friend’s hand, “Star, don’t be making him out to be some knight in shining armor, because I am fairly certain, he is not that.”
“Oh Georgie, when did I ever give you the impression that I was holding out for a knight in shining armor, for I am not. I am holding out for love…wherever that might take me.”
“Widgeon,” pronounced her friend with a musical laugh.
While the ladies went on about beaus, clothing, the waltz and the cotillion, the gentlemen made their way to the stables.
With his hands clasped behind his back, Jules turned to Sir Edward and asked, “Was she not the most beautiful creature you have ever seen? So lively, so easy at conversation.”
“Jules, how can you come out of your blue devils for a woman you claimed to be in love with and jump right into the fire for a chip of a girl?”
“Oh well,” Jules shrugged. “I wasn’t in love, was I? Stands to reason I wasn’t for I didn’t pine overly long, did I? And Miss Berkley is not a chip of a girl. She is…” he frowned and stared at his friend.
“Yes, I know, the most beautiful creature in the world,” Sir Edward said with resignation.
“Don’t you think so? Tell me, Edward, just what do you think of Miss Berkley?” Jules asked doubtfully.
“You don’t want to know.”
“But I do,” Jules answered on a frown. “I value your opinion.”
“First of all, you shouldn’t be asking. A man in love shouldn’t give a fig what another man thinks. Sometimes, to their detriment. I should have listened to my inner voice and when I didn’t, I made a terrible mistake and crossed the line, Jules. I crossed the line.”
Jules eyed him for a moment, “Yes, you did, but it is over and done with. Now, tell me your true opinion.”
“Right, my opinion shouldn’t matter if she is who you want. However, since you have asked, I will tell you, I don’t think she is the sort to make you comfortable. She will lead you a tiring dance. Yes, she is a beauty, possibly an incomparable beauty. Her features are perfection, her eyes most…but she is an imp of a woman, full of mischief. I repeat, you Jules, you would never be content with such a wife. You say you don’t know yet if you shall enter Parliament, but I think you shall. You need someone who shares your interests, for there will be political functions and you will need a woman who will enjoy being your hostess. You need a woman who will be pleased to be part of that world. From what I can tell, Star has no interest in politics.” He saw his friend about to answer back and put up his hand, “Hold, you asked me, I answered and I will tell you another thing, I like Miss Madison. She is a lovely creature…very full of mystery and elegance, don’t you agree?”
Dumbfounded, Jules did not deem to answer. Instead, he stalked off toward the stables putting distance between himself and his friend. Sir Edward looked after him and shook his head. Jules was making another mistake if he thought Star Berkley would make him a good wife. The wayward Berkley chit, lovely to be sure, was not for such as a man as Jules. Why couldn’t Jules see that? For the same reason you thought the Lady Babs wanted you to abduct her and run off…because a man often forgets to think with his brain when the hard rod in his breeches tries to do the thinking for him.
Chapter Six
A DAY HAD passed and Vern, though better, was still not up and about. His sister had entered his room to find him propped up against his pillows, looking glum. He eyed her as she smiled at him and ruefully put down his book and told her, “If I was just a bit stronger, I think I would hurl this piece of boring nonsense across the room.”
She laughed, “You should read the book you gave me…” She pointed, “I left it there for you on your nightstand. It is funny and romantic and naughty.”
“Female nonsense,” he grimaced with a wink.
“Not at all. I think you would like it,” she returned and sighed.
He eyed her for a moment. His sister for all her country ways and easy style was looking lovelier than ever. She was his baby sister. It was his duty to see that she had something of a season, even if it was only here in the country and not in London as he had hoped. He was inadequate to the task of truly providing for her and he felt like a fiend. A frown descended over his face.
“What is it, darling?” she asked for she immediately saw the change of mood flit over his features.
“The Sefton Ball. I had hoped I would be well enough and… I see that I am not, but I won’t have you missing it because I am sick in bed. Can you not go with Georgie and enjoy yourselves without a chaperone? After all, it is ludicrous that you two should have to miss it just because you don’t have a chaperone.”
“Never mind,” Star shook her head, “You know it would be frowned upon and Georgie’s mother is not up to the task. We shall stay here with you, play at cards and bother you to give us a lively time.” She had taken a place on the edge of his bed and bent forward to touch his arm, “Stop worrying yourself over it. There will be other balls.”
A breeze soft and warm wafted through his open window and she said, “Ah, isn’t that lovely—has all the scents of summer.”
He nodded absently and said, “But Star, what if…”
“You know, I think I will take my old Butch and rid
e over to visit with Georgie and her mother.” She cocked a brow at him and her dark eyes twinkled. “If you can spare me?”
“I am heartily sick of your ministrations. Off with you!” he rallied and once again was struck with how dear she was to him.
“You will miss me,” she countered on a laugh.
“I shall thank the heavens for a few moments to myself.”
“Then lad, so be it.”
“Yes, but Star, I may have a solution…”
“Later,” she answered and was off.
He watched her go and silently grumbled. He did not have a solution. He tried getting up and out of bed once more. He was able as he had before, to stand and take a tour of the room, but it swam before his eyes. He wasn’t right yet. Could he somehow just manage to get to the ball, find a chair and sit? He had to find a way to get his sister and Georgie to the ball—he simply had to.
* * *
It didn’t take long for Star to don an old but pretty pale green riding ensemble, plop a light straw chip bonnet on her waves of cornsilk hair and make her way to the stables. It was warm, but her clothes were lightweight and the breeze was lovely.
Jeffries helped her tack up her horse and a few moments later saw her taking a shortcut through the woods. It was a glorious summer day and the air, sweetly scented with honeysuckle and wild roses was seductive. Star’s imagination was always at work and she found herself daydreaming happily.
She loved riding and Butch was a reliable old chestnut gelding who knew exactly where they were going. She didn’t even have to guide him. He took the deer path through the woods with ease. She slowed as she approached an oval-shaped pond ornamented with rich ferns and wildflowers and smiled to herself.
Beautiful, it was all so beautiful, like something out of a painting. She watched a mother duck lead her ducklings into the pond when something, she didn’t know what, made her turn in her saddle.