by Anne Herries
Amanda pealed with laughter. ‘Oh, Mama, I do love you,’ she said. ‘I know you want the best for me—and I am sure that one day I shall receive an offer I can accept with equanimity, if not with ecstasy.’
‘Well, there is no hurry after all,’ Mama said and patted her gloved hand. ‘I suppose Susanna and I must give up our dream, but that does not mean we cannot enjoy our stay with her.’
Her mother was incorrigible! Amanda believed that Mama would go to any lengths to see her well suited.
‘No, of course not. I liked the countess very well,’ Amanda said. ‘But will Papa mind going home alone?’
‘Your papa never minds if something makes me happy,’ Mama said, a little smile curving her mouth. ‘If I were you, dearest, I should choose an amiable man as your husband when the time comes—for I think you have too much spirit to be dominated.’
Amanda smiled and nodded, but made no reply. She was relieved that Mama was not set on a match between her and her friend’s son, for she was certain such a plan was doomed to disappointment.
‘I do hope Miss Langton will have recovered from her chill tomorrow,’ she said. ‘I shall visit her in the morning to see how she goes on.’
* * *
Lady Langton was hesitant when Amanda called the next morning, but took her into a small sitting room and made a full confession.
‘We have given it out that Cynthia has a chill,’ she explained, ‘but the truth is much worse—she has contracted chicken pox and the rash has come out all over her this morning.’
‘Oh, that is awful for her,’ Amanda said. ‘She will miss the picnic tomorrow—and that will disappoint several people.’
‘Yes, I believe it will.’ Cynthia’s mother smiled complacently. ‘However, it cannot be helped. I shall be taking her down to the country as soon as she is able to travel—but she does not wish it to be generally known that she has chicken pox. I know I may rely on you to keep the true reason for her illness private.’
‘Yes, of course, ma’am. I should not dream of speaking of it. May I go up to see her?’
‘Are you not afraid of taking the infection?’
‘My brother brought it home when I was but six years old, ma’am. I am unlikely to catch it again.’
The marchioness nodded thoughtfully. ‘I think her too unwell today—but perhaps you will call after the picnic to tell her of it?’
‘Yes, certainly,’ Amanda said and took her leave.
She was walking home with her maid when she saw someone she knew coming towards her. Lieutenant Phipps was bearing a posy of flowers and, since they were but one street from Miss Langton’s house, Amanda guessed the tribute was for Cynthia.
‘Miss Hamilton,’ Phipps said and took his hat off to her. ‘Have you been to visit Miss Langton? How is she?’
‘Still quite unwell, I believe,’ Amanda replied. ‘I believe she will not be able to accompany us to the picnic tomorrow, sir.’
‘How unfortunate for her. I hope you will not let it spoil your pleasure in the outing?’
‘I had already invited Miss Field,’ Amanda said. ‘It would be a shame to disappoint her—and indeed, I am looking forward to it.’
‘Then I shall not cry off,’ Phipps said gallantly. ‘I fear Shearne will be a little put out, but he can hardly cancel the affair when so many have been invited.’
‘No, indeed. I am convinced that Miss Langton would not like to think that her friends had been disappointed simply because she could not attend,’ Amanda said. ‘Are you taking her that lovely posy? I should think it must cheer her up.’
‘It is but a poor tribute,’ Phipps said, looking conscious. ‘But I thought it right to visit and enquire how she goes on.’
‘Yes, I believe her mama must be pleased to see all Miss Langton’s friends make such a gesture.’ Amanda inclined her head. ‘We shall see you tomorrow then, sir?’
‘Of course. I shall call for you, as we had decided,’ he murmured. ‘I believe we shall have a pleasant day.’
Amanda agreed and they parted. She was thoughtful as she walked home, because although the lieutenant was always charmingly polite to her, she could not bring herself to believe that he had any intention of asking her to marry him. As yet she was not sure what he intended for Cynthia—he had not given her any indication that a proposal from him was imminent. Amanda knew that her friend had received any number of flattering offers, some from determined fortune-hunters, but some from very acceptable gentlemen.
‘I have not yet found the right person,’ Cynthia had confided to her once, but that had been before the Marquis of Shearne had joined her court. It must be frustrating for her friend to be forced to retire to the sickroom at such a moment.
Some people found Miss Langton proud and cold, but Amanda knew that she could be charming and considerate to people she liked—it was only that she had perhaps been reared to remember her position. Amanda herself had received nothing but kindness from Cynthia and her sympathy was all with her at this time.
Amanda felt for her, because it was unlikely that the marquis would dance attendance on her in the country and Lady Langton was determined to carry her off there as soon as she was well enough.
She could only call to see her friend as soon as she was well enough and hope that her admirers would not be put off should there be a few blemishes from the illness. Amanda had one or two small scars on her body, but she did not regard them; she’d been lucky that only one tiny one had marked her face at her right temple and hoped that Cynthia would be as fortunate. She was so beautiful that she would be distressed should the illness leave her scarred, especially on her face.
* * *
‘I have been so looking forward to this,’ Jane Field said when she arrived at Amanda’s house the following morning. ‘When I heard that Miss Langton had a chill I was afraid the picnic would be called off.’
‘Oh, no, I am certain it could not,’ Amanda soothed her. ‘Lieutenant Phipps assured me that it would go ahead—and the marquis could not disappoint so many people, of course.’
Amanda was certain she must be speaking the truth, but she could not know how close the expedition had been to being cancelled. Had Phipps not insisted that it must go ahead when he spoke to Shearne the previous evening, the ladies might indeed have found themselves disappointed. However, his offer to take over the arrangements if the marquis should feel it too much trouble reminded that gentleman of his social duties, and to all appearances he was the gracious host when the company assembled in the park later that morning.
Phipps had arrived punctually and driven them to meet up with Brock’s carriage, and that of the Misses Ramsden, cousins to the beautiful Miss Langton. Lord Johnston, having taken up Lady Hamilton, drove behind Phipps and Amanda, looking glum, for he had hoped to drive her himself.
However, once the party had assembled and the carriages were removed by servants, leaving the ladies and gentlemen to enjoy their picnic, he attached himself to Amanda’s side and would not yield to any other’s claims.
The gentlemen had decided on a spot close to the river, a pretty place close to a bend where the willows hung down to caress the water. While the ladies sat in the shade of a tree, some of the gentlemen indulged in an impromptu game of cricket.
A stray ball chancing to fly Amanda’s way, she shot up her hand and caught it, to cheers from the bowler who declared that Shearne was fairly caught and out. He glared in Amanda’s direction, for she was not officially playing.
‘Perhaps Miss Hamilton would care to take my place in the field since I have no aptitude for catching and she is clearly proficient.’
Amanda ignored the veiled sarcasm and got to her feet, declaring herself willing to take his place. She was used to such games, having played with her brother for years, and soon proved herself worthy, preventing the new batsman from running as often as he might have wished.
‘I say, Miss Hamilton...’ Major Brockley applauded her as she once again made a splendid catch and Phipp
s was also out ‘...you should play for our team at home.’
Laughing at the compliment, she shook her head and was ready to retire, but when she turned to look she saw that one of Cynthia’s cousins had come forward and was claiming that she was good with a bat. The gentleman handed it over to her and then proceeded to bowl a gentle underarm ball, which was contemptuously sent flying into the river and lost.
A few groans went up, because no one had thought to bring a replacement, and the game broke up.
‘It’s time we had our picnic.’ Lady Hamilton beckoned to them. ‘Come, gentlemen, the food is ready...’
Amanda rejoined the party of ladies under the sheltering tree, as did most of the gentlemen. It was only as she reached for a small pastry that Amanda realised that Jane Field was not with the other ladies. Looking round for her, she saw that the young girl had wandered some distance from the others—and, to her dismay, Jane was not alone.
The sight of Shearne standing so close to Jane sent shivers down Amanda’s spine. There was something so predatory about his manner that she feared Jane might be in danger—especially if they disappeared round the bend and were lost to sight.
She put down the pastry and was about to rise, when she saw that Major Brockley had also noticed. He looked straight at Amanda, inclined his head and set after the others instantly.
Phipps sat down next to Amanda, leaning towards her to speak softly so that only she might hear. ‘Do not be alarmed, Miss Hamilton. Brock will see that your friend comes to no harm.’
‘Thank you. Her mother entrusted her to our care...’
‘And she ought to be safe. I fear our host is a little put out because the lady he desired to please could not come today. Miss Field would not have received a second glance had Miss Langton graced our party.’
‘Miss Langton is quite unwell. Her mama thinks she may need to take her home in a few days.’
‘That would be a pity,’ Phipps said and raised the glass of cooled wine to his lips. ‘I dare say there will be several disappointed gentlemen when they hear that she has left town.’
‘Chills can be very draining...’
‘Yes, indeed. I am sure...’
‘I am sure Miss Langton will be pleased to receive visitors in the country when she is feeling better.’
‘I imagine so. Shall you visit her?’
‘Perhaps—though we intend to stay in town a week or so longer than we had planned. Mama’s friend, the Countess of Sandown, has invited us to join her for a few days. Papa will go home, but Lord Armstrong will escort us home if need be.’
‘Pray allow me to offer my services,’ Phipps said. ‘Your home is not so far distant from my own and I shall pay my father a visit in a few weeks. I could quite easily escort you there—and take you home when your visit is done.’
Amanda looked at him steadily, trying to understand what he was thinking. His attentions were more marked today—was she wrong? Was he in fact thinking of making her an offer after all and how would she answer him?
Her heart raced for a moment, then he directed his attention to Jane Field, who was walking back to them with Major Brockley by her side. There was for the moment no sign of the marquis.
‘I am so sorry,’ Jane said, looking flustered as she came up to them. ‘I hope I have not kept anyone waiting?’
‘The picnic is quite informal,’ Major Brockley said kindly. ‘No need for embarrassment, Miss Field.’
The company had taken little notice, interested only in the delicious food being served to them by the marquis’s servants, and only Amanda seemed to be aware of the flush in the shy girl’s cheeks or the fact that the marquis did not immediately come to join them.
* * *
When he did return he studiously refused to look at either Jane Field or Major Brockley, and soon after the food was devoured the company split up to stroll by the river. Jane stayed close to Amanda’s side and Major Brock accompanied them, though Phipps had joined some of the other ladies and gentlemen.
* * *
It was not until they were on the way home that Jane confessed that the marquis had been a little too ardent in his attentions for her liking.
‘He wanted me to walk further down the bank with him and the way he looked at me—I was ready to die,’ she whispered to Amanda. ‘Truly, I was afraid he meant to—to seduce me, but then Major Brock came and the marquis went off alone.’
Since Amanda had expected something of the sort, she was not surprised. She had instinctively disliked the marquis from the start and guessed that he had turned his attention to her shy friend because he was angry that Miss Langton had not come to the picnic he had arranged especially for her.
It was perhaps as well that she had not, for if he was not to be trusted Cynthia must be warned.
Chapter Three
Much to Amanda’s surprise when she next went into society, she discovered that most of the ladies and gentlemen who had flocked to join her and Cynthia continued to pay her attention. She had taken Jane Field under her wing and the girl accompanied her to most of the balls, routs, card evenings, soirées and other diversions society was pleased to hold for the delight of its friends.
Only Shearne and one or two other gentlemen, who were particular admirers of Miss Langton’s, had deserted to the side of another rather pretty young girl freshly come to town. Moreover, Amanda found that another gentleman of some importance had joined her court. Lord Armstrong was often to be seen at the ton parties, sometimes accompanied by his mama, at others alone. He invariably spent time sitting or standing next to Amanda and danced with her at least once on every occasion, taking her into supper at one very splendid affair.
‘Mama is so looking forward to your company,’ he told her one evening when the countess had not appeared. ‘She has been dining with friends most evenings and was too tired to come tonight—as she says, balls make her long to dance and it is a little sad only to watch when one was accounted good at something.’
‘Yes, sad indeed,’ Amanda agreed warmly. ‘I think her very brave to attempt this visit to London, for it must be so much easier to stay at home and have everyone come to you.’
‘Yes, though a little boring. Mama was a lively person until her accident.’
‘I imagine so. It is unfortunate for her.’
‘She does not speak of it, but is often in pain. One of her main reasons for coming was to see a doctor she had heard of who may be able to help relieve at least some of her discomfort.’
‘Then I hope she has good news from him.’
‘You are truly a kind girl,’ Lord Armstrong said. ‘As an heiress in your own right, and widely admired, you might have become spoiled or selfish, but you retain a pleasant manner and seem to show true interest in your friends. I have noticed your kindness to Miss Field.’
‘Jane is a little shy,’ Amanda replied. ‘I do not think I betray a secret if I tell you that she was not at first invited everywhere—but that is no longer the case. Now she has several admirers and friends of her own.’
‘Due to your generosity in taking her everywhere with you, I dare say.’
‘Oh...’ Amanda blushed. ‘Until recently, it was I who was taken everywhere in Miss Langton’s train. However, she has been unwell and her mama takes her home the day after tomorrow.’
‘Miss Langton is your particular friend?’
‘We are good friends,’ Amanda agreed. ‘I shall visit her tomorrow to take my leave of her—and I believe she may wish me to visit her at her home in a few weeks.’
‘After your visit with my mother, I dare say?’
‘Perhaps, though I must go home first. Papa will not wish me to be lost to all sense of duty. At home there are people—cousins and friends—who will wish to hear all about my trip to town. To keep them waiting too long would be unfair. I visit some of our dependants most weeks to take them comfits and keep them company for an hour or so; Papa would think me lost to anything but pleasure if I neglected them too long.’
‘As I said before, you are a generous girl—but these people will have to learn to do without you when you marry, you know.’
‘Yes, of course. Mama or my cousins will take over my duties then—but if and when I marry, I shall pay proper farewell visits and so satisfy their wish to say goodbye.’
Lord Armstrong inclined his head and said no more on the subject, but he had a small smile on his lips and, when Amanda was asked to dance next, she saw him seek out Jane Field. The thought crossed her mind that if he were looking for a companion for his mama, he could not do better than Jane—but she was not certain how the girl would feel, for he was a very strong-willed man.
* * *
Amanda danced almost every dance that evening and it was not until supper that she had a chance to talk to Jane.
‘Are you enjoying yourself? I saw you dancing with Lord Armstrong, Mr Pearson and Major Brockley. I do not think you have often sat out this evening.’
‘Oh, no, everyone has been so kind, especially Lord Armstrong,’ Jane said. ‘He admires you so much, Amanda, and talked to me of you in such tones that I think he is falling in love with you.’
‘Oh, no,’ Amanda denied, her cheeks heating. ‘I am sure it is not so, Jane. He speaks of me because he knows we are friends. You would make him a much better wife than I should.’
‘No...’ Jane’s cheeks went hot. ‘I am sure he would not look at me. I am such a little mouse...and you are so clever and bright, and pretty too,’ she added loyally.
Amanda pealed with laughter. ‘Jane, you must not tell fibs! I may have a quick mind, but I am not pretty. You cannot truly think it?’
‘Oh, I know that beside Miss Langton you may appear merely attractive,’ Jane replied earnestly. ‘She is a diamond of the first water, of course, and few ladies can compare to her. When she is not here you are as pretty as most other girls.’
‘If I were not quite as plump, or a little taller, I suppose I might be thought quite attractive,’ Amanda said with devastating frankness. ‘I am trying not to eat quite as much.’