Sussex Summer (21 page)

As Jamie ran forward to claim his prize there was more applause, and the crowd waited expectantly for Lord Staplefield to motion the musicians to resume playing. Instead, he held up his hand again for silence.

"I have one more announcement I wish to make before the dancing is resumed," he declared. He held out his hand and was joined by Fanny.

"I am pleased to take the occasion of the Bramleigh masquerade to announce my betrothal to Miss Fanny Hampton," he announced.

Jane felt her shock echoed in the other guests around her. Fanny's engagement to Jamie had never been officially declared over, although it had probably been evident to all that it was. The guests were silent for a long moment, and then began to applaud.

Jane stood stock-still, deeply hurt that Fanny had not confided in her, and wondered if their father had been aware of the betrothal. Of course he must have been, she realised. Even Lord Staplefield could not be that lost to propriety. Jane concluded the announcement tonight was Fanny's way of calling off the betrothal with Jamie since he would not cooperate. She also knew that if Fanny had confided in her she would have tried to dissuade her from the plan, but her exclusion hurt nonetheless.

Lord Staplefield signalled the musicians to begin, and he and Fanny led off the minuet. Jane knew then what Fanny had been doing at Bramleigh. Learning the minuet was extremely difficult, and they must have practiced many days to have so perfected the dance. Numb, Jane watched as Fanny performed the glides, toe points, bows and dainty steps with exquisite perfection.

Marianne nudged her and nodded in the direction of Lady Juliette, who was standing not far away. She stood viewing Lord Staplefield and Fanny with a look of barely concealed fury on her face. Jane felt compassion for the woman for a moment, but it vanished when Edward went to Lady Juliette's side and remained there, talking to her.

After the minuet, some of the guests left the ballroom to go to the card room, and others wandered through the open doors to the beautifully lit grounds. Fanny rejoined the Archers in company with the earl, looking at Jane a little hesitantly.

“I am sorry, Jane,” Fanny said, “but I dared not tell you. You would not have approved and would have tried to dissuade us.”

“If I had not been so immersed in my own affairs I would have seen it for myself,” Jane admitted.  “I only hope you will be happy, Fan, and I believe you will be,” she added, seeing the protective manner in which Lord Staplefield held Fanny arm.

A cotillion began, and Jane was swept off by the minstrel, whom Jane finally identified as the vicar, Mr. Fairchild. After the cotillion she was claimed by the chimney sweep, a shepherd and Paris in succession, before being taken to supper by Lord Blackwood.

The earl had not stinted on refreshments, and after a rich meal of sautéed segments of pheasant with truffles, larks in patty cases, ham in Madeira sauce and lemon sponge, Jane did not feel like dancing again immediately.

By mutual consent, she and Lord Blackwood strolled slowly out onto the grounds of Bramleigh. The glowing lights hanging in the trees gave a feeling of enchantment to the night, and before long Jane and Lord Blackwood had wandered quite a way into a grove of trees. Jane stumbled over a fallen branch, and Lord Blackwood reached out to steady her, his hands warm on her flesh through the thin draperies of her costume. His hand tightened, and instead of releasing Jane, he turned her in his arms and kissed her softly on the lips.

The events of the evening had made Jane receptive to romance, and she returned the kiss, thinking,
This is a man who finds me attractive for myself, not because another has refused him.
Her lips parted beneath his, and his lips became more demanding. Soon, without quite knowing how, Jane found that her quiver had been removed and she was lying on the grass beneath Lord Blackwood, being thoroughly kissed. His body was warm and hard against hers, and as a strange misty, languorous sensation began to make her limbs heavy and her will weak, Jane began to feel a little frightened.

"Jane," Lord Blackwood breathed, "I cannot do without you any longer."

Jane felt the flimsy draperies of her skirt being pushed aside, and now felt real fear. She attempted to push Lord Blackwood away, but could not fight his superior strength. He held her easily to the ground, his form hard and pulsing against hers. She would have called out, but he kept her silent with a demanding kiss that made it difficult for her to breathe.

The misty feeling was completely gone now, and Jane felt very clear-headed as she fully realised the danger she was in. She had been playing with fire to flirt as she had with Lord Blackwood. She was trying desperately to think how to get away when suddenly his weight was pulled off her and Lord Blackwood lay on the ground a few feet away. Edward stood above him, his face suffused with fury.

"Name your seconds," he demanded.

Lord Blackwood stood up slowly. "There is no need for such barbarism," he said calmly. "This may be settled honourably. Please leave us. I assure you that you may safely do so."

Edward made no move to leave, but knelt next to Jane and, after seeing she was uninjured, helped her up.

"Do you wish to intrude upon a proposal of marriage?" Lord Blackwood added.

Edward still hesitated, and Jane, aware that her uninhibited flirting had contributed to Lord Blackwood's behaviour this evening, seconded Lord Blackwood's request.

"Please, Captain Tremaine. I shall be quite safe now with Lord Blackwood," she said somewhat shakily, brushing off her skirts and trying to return the draperies to their original folds.

Edward looked at her closely, an unfathomable expression in his eyes.

"I shall be within distance of your call," he said, with a meaningful glance at Lord Blackwood.

When he had gone, Lord Blackwood stepped forward and took Jane's hand, holding it between both of his.

"Please forgive my unconscionable behaviour this night, Miss Hampton. I can only say in my defense that I was truly overcome by your beauty. I offer you my hand in marriage. Please do not feel I only offer because of my reprehensible actions. I truly hold you in great affection and would have made an offer before if I had felt I could give you the life you deserve. I have no money and a great many bad habits and can only offer you my love. Please marry me and we shall go to the Continent together."

Jane said nothing for several moments after Lord Blackwood’s long speech, trying to think what to do. Should she accept this man? He was charming, handsome, and although he had frightened her tonight, until now he had exhibited nothing but kindness towards her, whatever his past may have been. But if she were to accept Lord Blackwood, she would be condemning him to the very thing she would not accept from Edward—a marriage in which he would be second best.

"I am deeply honoured, Lord Blackwood," she replied slowly, making her decision, "but I must refuse your offer."

Lord Blackwood did not seem surprised.

"You love Captain Tremaine, do you not?"

Jane blushed to find her emotions were so easily read by everyone. "Yes," she admitted.

"Forgive me for asking, but why do you not marry him? It is obvious he cares for you," he added, rubbing his jaw ruefully where it had recently been in contact with Edward's fist. "I would wager he has offered."

"I would not be second best after your sister," Jane answered honestly. "That is why I will not accept
you.
You also deserve better than second best."

"I would take you, regardless, even knowing that," Lord Blackwood said gently. "You are a rare combination of goodness and quality. A man would be honoured to have you as a wife under any circumstances."

Jane knew she was being given a sincere and rare compliment, and it hurt her to cause him such pain. For a moment she was half-tempted to accept him, but did not give way to the impulse.

"Thank you, Lord Blackwood," she said. "You will always hold a special place in my affections, but I cannot accept your gracious offer."

"Would you like me to order a groom to get a carriage for you?" he asked, honouring her decision, and knowing she would prefer to go directly home rather than cause speculation among the guests due to the deshabille of her costume.

"Thank you," Jane said gratefully. "And would you have the kindness to inform my sister and father that I have been overcome by the headache and returned home early?"

"Of course," Lord Blackwood said. "Wait here a few minutes until I can inform the groom, and then go around to the front of the house where the carriage will be waiting."

He stood close to Jane in the dim light, and took his leave of her with an unexpected kiss on her cheek.

* * * *

Edward stood by a tree near the path leading back to the house, watching in the direction where he had left Jane with Lord Blackwood. Following the two figures into the grove this evening had been a fortunate impulse. He had sensed somehow that the couple was Jane and Lord Blackwood, and he had not trusted the rakish young peer.

He heard someone coming down the path and saw Lord Blackwood striding towards him without Jane.

"Where is Jane?" Edward demanded, accosting Lord Blackwood.

"Miss Hampton is quite safe," Lord Blackwood replied, attempting to pass Edward.

"Did she accept your offer?" Edward asked urgently, placing his hand on Lord Blackwood's arm to detain him.

"That is none of your affair unless Miss Hampton chooses to make it so," Lord Blackwood replied. "Now if you will excuse me, I have a message to deliver to her father."

Reluctantly Edward stepped back and Lord Blackwood continued on his way to the house. Edward, wishing to assure himself of Jane's welfare, went in search of her, and found her leaning against a tree in the same place he had left her minutes ago. She looked up at him, but said nothing.

"Did you accept Lord Blackwood?" Edward asked, his voice rough with anxiety.

"It is no concern of yours," she replied, unconsciously echoing Lord Blackwood's reply, and inflaming Edward's temper.

"I would say it is a concern of mine since I saved you from his importunate embraces not fifteen minutes past," Edward said angrily. "But perhaps you did not wish to be rescued. Perhaps those are the kind of embraces you prefer. If so, I can accommodate you as well as Adrian Blackwood," he finished, pulling her to him and bearing her down as he gave her a punishing kiss.

Jane again found herself on the ground being kissed demandingly. But this time her response was not fear but something new. She desired him to be closer, much closer. Her arms crept about his back, and she pressed against him.

"Jane," he said, lifting his lips from hers, "you do care for me. Marry me, not Lord Blackwood."

Edward’s words brought Jane to her senses. "No," she cried, pushing him away as she remembered Edward dancing with Lady Juliette earlier that evening. Not wanting to be humiliated by being forced to admit she loved someone who did not love her, Jane remained mute after her one-word refusal.

Edward stood up, pulling Jane with him. His face had lost its passion, and in the dim light Jane could see he was very angry.

"I am not going to grovel to you and apologise for the rest of my life because I made a mistake and did not realise I loved you sooner, Jane Hampton. Yes, I thought I loved Lady Juliette. She is a very beautiful and charming woman. It took me time to realise that there are other things that are more valuable. But I never asked her to marry me.

“If your pride makes you refuse to accept me, you may take it to your bed."

Abruptly he released her and went back towards the house, leaving Jane alone.  Shaken, wondering what she had done, Jane walked slowly around to the front of Bramleigh where the carriage waited for her. The footman's face was inscrutable as he handed her into the carriage, but as he closed the door, Jane noted the speculative glint in his eye. No doubt she and Fanny would be the topic of much gossip throughout Sussex by morning.

Chapter Thirteen

The August sun rose hot and bright, and Jane opened the windows of her bedchamber as wide as possible to let in some fresh air, but she was reluctant to go downstairs and face the day. After she had returned home from the masquerade the night before, she had gone directly to her room and sobbed quietly beneath the covers, feeling lonely and unwanted, except perhaps by Lord Adrian Blackwood. Thomas had jumped upon the bed and meowed inquisitively, wondering what ailed his mistress. Many hours later she had fallen asleep, holding the cat close, deriving comfort from his warm and undemanding presence.

A light tap sounded at her door, and reluctantly Jane bade her sister enter.

"What is amiss, Jane?" Fanny asked, going to stand beside her. "Why haven't you come down for breakfast yet? I hope you are not angry with me for not telling you of my betrothal to Lord Staplefield before it was announced last night."

Jane embraced her sister lightly. "No, I am not angry about that, although I was rather hurt," she admitted. "I realise you felt the only way to end the situation with Jamie was to present him with a
fait accompli,
and perhaps it was."

"Then what is disturbing you?" Fanny persisted. "I know something is amiss, so don't try to fob me off with excuses."

"Nothing," Jane insisted. "It is just that a trace of my headache from last night is lingering."

Fanny looked at Jane skeptically, but did not probe further. "Come downstairs and let me talk to you while you have something to eat," she said by way of persuasion. "I want to tell you how my betrothal to Charles came about."

As Jane looked at Fanny's happy face, she knew she could not be so churlish as to ruin her sister's joy by wallowing in her own pain. She accompanied Fanny downstairs and ate some bread and rashers while Fanny confided to her that she had been secretly betrothed to Lord Staplefield for six weeks. Jane listened with half an ear, trying to be happy for her sister, but Fanny's very joy contrasted so sharply with her own misery that it was difficult to bear.