Twenty-three

The next three weeks were a whirlwind of activity. Elisabeth never remembered them later without a shudder. From the evening of her party to the day of the wedding, her life was an endless round of details and crises. When the day of the ceremony dawned bright and warm, she felt only a mixture of fatigue and relief.

By nine thirty, they were all ready and gathered in the drawing room together for the last time. Belinda looked resplendent in her gown of white satin with an overdress of Belgian lace, and her eyes sparkled excitedly. Tony was also looking well in a new coat of dark blue, his linen snowy and his boots polished to an extraordinary high gloss. Though his shoulder was still a little stiff, this hardly showed in the way he held it.

Elisabeth’s blue-violet gown became her, and Lavinia was very dignified in dove gray silk. The flowers had just arrived, white roses for Belinda and violets for Elisabeth. As they stood there chatting a little nervously, Ames came in to announce the carriage. Elisabeth looked at the others and smiled, “Well, shall we go, then?” she asked.

St. George’s in Hanover Square was very busy when they arrived and went through a back entrance. Guests were pulling up to the front in carriages that jostled for position and a chance to add to the crowd filling the interior pews. Elisabeth herself took a deep breath; the occasion was rather impressive when it finally came.

Of the ceremony, she remembered only a sea of faces in the church and Belinda’s radiant look as she walked up the aisle toward her. Elisabeth felt almost the proud mama at that moment, and the beginning of tears stung her eyes.

The wedding breakfast went smoothly, to Elisabeth’s profound amazement. Lady Larenby complimented her on it when she paused to point out that the duchess had come to the wedding with Mr. Aldgate.

Elisabeth smiled. “I saw. I wonder how they met?”

The viscountess shook her head. “I am afraid I can’t enlighten you. I admit I asked some of my mother’s old friends, but no one knew anything of a Mr. Aldgate. It’s quite a mystery.”

“Yes,” sighed Elisabeth.

“Speaking of mysteries,” the older woman went on, “I finally met your Mr. Jarrett, you know. Maria Coatsworth introduced him at the play last week.”

“He is hardly my Mr. Jarrett,” responded Elisabeth. “Indeed, I’m not at all certain I like him. He called four times in the last two weeks, and Ames says he was very rude when I refused myself. What can the man have expected? I haven’t had a moment free.”

Her companion smiled. “Men often find it impossible to understand when a woman is busy with domestic tasks.”

They were joined by Derek Wincannon, and soon after, his mother excused herself to speak to some of her friends. Derek looked down at Elisabeth and said, “I’ve seen very little of you lately. How are you?”

“Tired,” replied Elisabeth feelingly. “I’ve been terribly busy.”

He nodded. “I know. I haven’t called because I thought you would have no time free. I begin to wish I’d coaxed you to take a drive, however. You’ve knocked yourself up with this wedding.”

“Not quite,” answered Elisabeth, smiling warmly in response to his concerned tone. “But I’ll be very glad to forget it all and leave tomorrow. Your mother has promised me a picnic at Charendon.”

“Has she indeed? I’ll look forward to that, then, and not plague you now. I’m happy we’ll be seeing one another in the country.”

As it grew toward noon, the crowd began to thin, and Belinda and the duke made ready to depart. There was a flurry of preparations. The remaining guests followed the young couple to the door and saw them to their carriage. With much waving and calls of farewell, Belinda and her husband drove off, heading for Dover and the boat to France. They were to spend their honeymoon touring the Continent.

In half an hour, Elisabeth was left in the drawing room with her family and Jane Taunton. She sank down on the sofa and leaned back, sighing. “It’s over. Thank heaven.”

Jane agreed. “Mr. Jarrett was rather upset not to see you,” she added abruptly.

Elisabeth turned to her in amazement. “Mr. Jarrett?” she echoed, her tone clearly questioning.

Jane appeared abashed. “I happened to see him. He mentioned to me that he couldn’t get in to speak to you. He feared you were offended.” Elisabeth began to look indignant, and Jane went on hurriedly. “I told him it was no such thing, of course.”

Elisabeth was frowning. “Mr. Jarrett certainly discusses me very freely. As you know, I was simply too busy to see anyone.”

“And so I told him,” said Jane. She rose. “I must go. Until tomorrow, then.”

“Yes.” Elisabeth held out her hand. “We’re going to have a splendid time, you know.” Jane nodded and took her leave. When they were alone, Elisabeth said to Lavinia, “Imagine Mr. Jarrett speaking of me to my friends. I’m quite out of patience with the man.”

“It’s ill done of him,” answered her cousin. “So contentious. I’m sorry I ever introduced you to him.”

Elisabeth shrugged and smiled at her. “Well, it makes no matter. We’ll be gone after tomorrow, and I daresay he may not even be in town next season.”

Rather to Elisabeth’s surprise, they got off early the next morning. The three ladies rode in her carriage with Tony mounted beside them, and Ketchem, Ames, and some of the other servants followed with the luggage in a post chaise. Growser had once more been relegated to an obliging carter, in spite of Tony’s protests.

The short journey to Willowmere passed calmly. In a very few hours, Elisabeth was leaning out the carriage window eager to catch the first glimpse of the lane. From the moment she spied the tall stone gateposts, she knew that great changes had taken place. The weeds that had nearly obscured the posts had been cleared away, and the stones themselves had been cleaned. The surface of the lane had been smoothed and the great oaks cut back, and when they pulled up before the broad front door, the alteration was even more marked. Gone were weeds, brush, and untidy lawns. The gardens were neat and filled with early blooms. The grass was cut and rolled, and even the house itself looked brighter, perhaps because each windowpane now sparkled in the afternoon sun.

These sights galvanized Tony, who rode this way and that, exclaiming and drawing his cousins’ attention to various details. Lavinia and Jane could have no real sense of the change, as they had never seen Willowmere, but both admired it sufficiently to assure Elisabeth that her pleasure was not misplaced. It really was transformed.

Inside, Elisabeth found more to marvel over. Everything had been thoroughly cleaned, and the covers were gone from the furniture. The beautiful old oak paneling in the hall gleamed richly in the afternoon light, and the fine parquet floor reflected back the glow. There were flowers everywhere, and the new rugs and hangings she’d chosen were in place. The house didn’t seem the same one she had toured with such misgivings. “It’s lovely,” she exclaimed, as they started up the stairs. She turned to the Lewises, who’d come out to greet her. “You’ve done wonders.”

They made an early night of it after their journey, the ladies seeking their chambers by ten, but everyone was up betimes the next morning, and all the talk at the breakfast table was of walks, rides, and exploring the gardens. Jane planned to sketch the various views the park commanded, and Tony was chafing to try out a new hunter he’d brought from London. Lavinia wished to go all over the house with Mrs. Lewis. Elisabeth walked in the gardens and breathed the scent of early roses that blew across the lawn.

A week passed full of such pursuits. Tony ran wild across the countryside, blissfully happy to ride the whole day long. He’d designed a training program for Growser which he now put into effect, though no change was evident in that exuberant animal. Jane began to accumulate a sheaf of watercolors and pronounced the country air very conducive to writing as well. Lavinia and Mrs. Lewis hit it off amazingly and were soon deeply involved in the mysteries of calves’ foot jelly and the relative merits of blackberries and currants for jam.

As they sat in the drawing room after dinner one evening, Ames brought Elisabeth a note. When she tore it open, she found the promised invitation from Lady Larenby within. “How delightful,” she exclaimed. “We are asked to a picnic. And there’s to be a sort of festival.”

“What do you mean?” put in Tony. “What sort?”

“Lady Larenby says that there is a tradition at Charendon of holding a celebration when the family arrives from town every year. All of their tenants and household will be there. Her sister and her family are also visiting, so there will be quite a party.”

“Must we go?” asked Tony. “I thought we had left all that flummery in London.”

Elisabeth smiled. “Alas. But we shall ride over, you know. And I daresay you might get a tour of the Charendon stables.”

Tony brightened. “I hadn’t thought of that. All right. Let’s go.”

Elisabeth laughed. “On Wednesday next, we shall.” She looked at Jane. “Will you scold me? I promised you that we wouldn’t fill our time with parties. But surely this is an exception? Will you come?”

Jane nodded. “Of course.” She didn’t smile, but Elisabeth didn’t press her further. She’d done everything she could think of to make Jane comfortable, she thought. The girl might try harder to enjoy it.

When they arrived at Charendon the following Wednesday, they were cordially greeted by Viscount Larenby near the front door. “Don’t dismount,” he said. “I stationed myself here only to take you on to the festival field.” He mounted, and soon they were all riding around the house.

Elisabeth rode beside the viscount. “Is it far?” she asked him. “We might have gone directly there and saved you waiting.”

“Nonsense. It’s no distance at all, and I wished to escort you. In fact, I cut out Derek for the privilege of seeing your face when you first glimpse the spectacle.”

She smiled. “Is it very impressive?”

“It is, really. Last year, the vicar’s son organized all my tenants for a medieval tournament. He’s quite a scholar, you know, and he arrayed every farm worker and village maid in tunic and gown.”

“I had no notion it was to be so elaborate,” laughed Elisabeth. “What is the idea this year? Should we have come in costume?”

“No, no. It’s all organized by the neighborhood. I have nothing to do with it and am always to be surprised with the program. I cannot tell you what they have gotten up this year. But since Daniel, the vicar’s son, has gone off to Oxford, I fear you may be disappointed. Most likely, there will be no great show but only a bit of dancing and a picnic.”

“It sounds delightful.”

“I hope you’ll enjoy it. Did you have a pleasant journey down from London?”

“Oh, yes, and my arrival was even more pleasant. You must come to see what they’ve done at Willowmere. It is utterly changed.”

“So I have heard from my agent. I look forward to viewing the marvels he describes. You are the heroine of the neighborhood, you know, for the wonders you have wrought there and, more important, the work you have provided.”

“I’ve done nothing, really. It’s all Mr. Lewis.”

“You commanded it all, however, as your uncle never did. I daresay you may find yourself cheered this afternoon.” He smiled at her surprised look.

“Goodness, do you think so? That will be a new experience.”

Music had begun to be audible, and now as they rounded a small copse, the site of the festival came into view. Two awnings had been set up in a large field, and they and the spaces around them were filled to overflowing with people. Some were dancing to the tunes three country musicians provided. Others had gathered in groups to talk and exchange news. On the far side of the field, games were in progress. In one of the tents, women bustled about a fire preparing tea and picnic fare, and in the other, smaller shelter, Lady Larenby and her daughter sat surrounded by a group of guests.

The viscount directed Elisabeth to this area and helped her dismount. All of them entered the tent to greet the viscountess and be presented to her sister. A quick look told Elisabeth that Derek Wincannon was not present.

When they had said everything that was polite, Elisabeth looked at the crowd. “Jane, do you care to stroll and see what is here?” she asked.

Jane was agreeable, and the two women started out across the grass, leaving Tony to talk to Amelia. They went first toward the dancers and spent some minutes watching them. “What energy,” exclaimed Elisabeth at the end of a particularly rousing country dance. “And they are starting another immediately. I’m not sure I could stand the pace.”

Jane smiled, and after a moment, they moved on. “Have you ever seen such a festival before?” continued Elisabeth. “I haven’t, and I find it wonderful.”

“I have, one or two,” replied Jane, “near my family’s place in Yorkshire.”

“You are all so offhand about it. I wonder at you. Would this not make a first-rate subject for your writing?”

Jane looked about her, smiling slightly. “Pastoral swains, and that sort of thing? No, I believe I’ll continue to leave that to imitators of Virgil and Walter Scott. I can’t see the fascination myself.”

Elisabeth shook her head and walked on.

A loud cheer was heard ahead of them, and they quickened their pace a bit. Reaching the area where games were being held, they moved through the crowd until they could see an open space around a huge old oak tree. A dart board had been nailed to it, and several competitors stood about nearby. Two were a little apart from the others preparing to throw, and as she turned to watch, Elisabeth started, for one of the men was Derek Wincannon.

He did not see her at first, but took his turn, placing all but one of his darts in the innermost circle of the target. There was scattered applause and some cheers as he threw the last. When he moved to allow his opponent room, he turned and saw the ladies standing at the edge of the crowd; he came up to them immediately. “How do you do,” he said. “You have come at just the proper moment. Jack Crowley and I have eliminated the competition and are about to determine the winner. I must tell you that Jack and I have been arch rivals at darts for nearly twenty years; if he bests me today, however, he may take the championship, for it will be the third year running.” Jack, the subject of this explanation, bowed to the ladies and turned back to the target with great concentration. “We must be silent while he throws,” finished Derek.

There was complete silence around the tree. After another minute of studying the bull’s-eye, Jack Crowley threw his five darts in quick succession. Each of them struck within the inner circle, almost on top of each other. As the last hit, a great cheer broke out among the spectators, and most of them rushed forward to congratulate him. Jack fought through the back-pounding and laughing to shake hands with Derek, who added his own congratulations, then set off with friends to celebrate his victory with a mug of ale. The three companions were suddenly left almost alone beside the oak.

Derek laughed down at the ladies, “Alas, you see me in defeat,” he said. “Jack has gotten too good for me. I may have to give up our games, though I wonder if I shall be allowed to.”

“Have you really played for twenty years?” asked Elisabeth.

“Yes, indeed. We began as lads and continued more or less even until lately. But he has outstripped me, I fear.”

“And did you participate in the tournament last year as well?” asked Elisabeth, her eyes twinkling up at him.

“I did not, though it was a very near thing. I thank God young Daniel has gone off to school, and I need no longer resist his importunities to deck myself out in my ancestor’s armor or lend the farm horses for jousts.”

Elisabeth laughed. “Oh, how can you say so? I only wish I might have seen it. I daresay you would look splendid in armor.”

An answering twinkle awoke in Derek’s eyes. “That temptation was outweighed by the extreme discomfort armor entails. I frankly balked. Have you any notion of the weight of plate armor?”

“I have not.” Their eyes met and held for a moment.

“It is beginning to be quite warm, isn’t it?” put in Jane Taunton. “I believe I’ll go back to the tent and sit in the shade.”

Elisabeth turned a little guiltily. She had almost forgotten Jane. “Of course, let us go. The sun is getting hot.”

“I’ll escort you,” said Derek.

“I’m perfectly capable of walking across the field alone,” said Jane. “There’s no need for you to accompany me.”

“Nonsense,” said Elisabeth, a little annoyed at her tone. And they started off together.

When they rejoined Lady Larenby, luncheon was about to be served. The servants brought around trays of cold meats, fruit, and bread and butter, and left pitchers of ale, wine, and lemonade on the table before going to join their friends outside the tent. Lady Larenby poured. “We wait on ourselves today,” she told her guests, smiling at her cook, who was hastily placing one last large tray of cakes and sweets on the table before her.

When they’d finished, Derek leaned across to Elisabeth. “Would you care to look about a bit more?” he asked her. “You haven’t seen everything, you know.”

“I’d love it,” replied the girl, rising.

Derek offered his arm, and they strolled out of the tent and across the grass. Most of the people were sitting in groups now, on blankets and cloths, and eating the picnic lunch. Many called greetings to Derek or nodded to him as they passed by. A few of the children had finished and returned to their games, and they watched a dart match between two small boys.

“Another rivalry in the making,” said Derek, after he’d laughingly refused their pleas for a game or a lesson and judged the results of a hotly contested match.

Elisabeth returned his smile. “This is delightful,” she said. “How lucky you are to have such a thing every year.”

They moved on toward the dance area. Some of the younger people had returned, and the music was beginning again. They stood still to watch for a moment, then Derek suddenly took Elisabeth’s hand. “Come,” he said.

He pulled her into the country dance, whirling her about dizzily. Within a few moments, Elisabeth was breathless, but she turned and swooped with the others until the song ended. When it was over, she stepped back out of the crowd and put a hand to her chest. “Oh, my,” she breathed.

Derek laughed down at her. “You aren’t quitting so soon?”

“Indeed I am. I’m not so young as these dancers. They will wear me out.”

“How careless of me. I should have seated you with the dowagers; I had forgotten your advanced age.”

Elisabeth laughed. She’d caught her breath again now. “Not that. But I think I’ll watch the dancing rather than join it.”

Tony and Amelia came up then. Having seen her brother dancing, Amelia was eager to try as well. And they were soon followed by Lord and Lady Larenby, to keep up the tradition of one dance together. Elisabeth was pulled back into the set thus formed, and she danced with the viscount in the next. After that, despite importunities, she returned to the tent for a rest.

Lavinia and Jane were sitting there chatting desultorily. “Jane, you must go out,” said Elisabeth. “Tony is searching for a partner, and I am worn out.”

“No, thank you,” said Jane.

“Are you not having a good time?” said Elisabeth. “Do go and dance.”

“I’m perfectly all right. You know I simply prefer my own work to parties.”

Elisabeth sat down with them for a while, but Jane seemed cool, and she herself was nettled at her friend’s sulkiness. After a while, Tony called her out again, and she had her dance with him. The afternoon passed quickly. Elisabeth danced again with Derek and shared some lemonade he fetched for her. The sun was beginning to set before they sent for their horses and prepared to leave. As Elisabeth was gathering up her belongings in the tent, Derek approached her. “I hope you’ve enjoyed yourself,” he said.

“Very much,” she replied. “I don’t remember when I’ve had such fun.”

“I am glad.” He looked down at her, started to take her hand, then changed his mind. “It’s very hard to have any private conversation at an event such as this,” he went on. “But I should very much like to talk about something rather important. Perhaps tomorrow?” The look in his eyes made Elisabeth’s heart beat faster; she looked down.

“Certainly,” she replied unevenly. “I am often at my accounts in the library at midmorning.”

He nodded. “I will call about eleven then.” He took her hand, quickly placed a light kiss on it, and turned away.