‘How long are they staying? It must be past four o’clock,’ I whispered to Jane. Henrietta had abandoned us to talk to more interesting prospects, and I was thinking of excusing myself when Elizabeth appeared with a giggling woman in tow, who seemed to be tiddly on an overload of sugar, unless she had smuggled in a hip flask of gin unbeknownst to our hostess. Her constant peals of laughter were already causing a pain in my temple.
‘Felicity! Jane! Have you met Mary Ellsworth yet?’
‘No, I don’t believe we’ve had the pleasure,’ said Jane, nodding to her, and I also greeted her politely.
‘My sister-in-law Jane Austen and her friend Felicity Fitzroy.’
‘How do you do, ladies,’ said Mary, following it with a high-pitched giggle. She and Elizabeth settled themselves on the sofa adjacent to us, and I gritted my teeth.
‘Mary has just been telling me about hersecond cousin,’ said Elizabeth, leaning forward excitedly. ‘He soundsmost amiable, and he issingle.’
‘Oh yes?’ Jane replied warily.
‘His name is Leopold, which sounds highfalutin.’ Mary chortled. ‘But he has no airs and graces, I assure you.’
‘What is his profession?’ I enquired.
‘He is lately pursuing medicine at Oxford,’ Mary informed us. ‘But that may change. He was such a will-o’-the-wisp when he was younger, but he seems to have settled down in his later years.’
Later years? How old exactly is this second cousin?I wondered.
Elizabeth tsked appreciatively. ‘He sounds delightful and perfect for Jane.’
Jane tensed beside me.
‘Indeed! You are single too, Miss Austen, are you not?’ Mary tittered. ‘Oh, we must introduce them, Elizabeth!’
‘I do not think—’ Jane protested but was resoundingly cut off by Elizabeth, who held up a hand.
‘No, my dear. You are much too charming to remain unclaimed. It is time you settled down and brought happiness to a deserving gentleman.’
‘I believe my own happiness lies in remaining perfectly unclaimed,’ replied Jane serenely. ‘But do try to match us, dearest. I should like to see the outcome.’
Elizabeth laughed delightedly. ‘Excellent!’ She turned to Mary. ‘Ihave a particular gift, you see. I cansensehearts that belong together, and I am theirguide.’
Jane’s lips twitched. ‘Yes, you have a formidable skill.’
Oh dear, I thought, trying not to laugh. Elizabeth didn’t know how Jane was very much amused by her attempts at matchmaking. She’d written to me several times poking fun at the gentlemen her sister-in-law had introduced her to. I thought she should put her foot down firmly once and for all and say ‘Enough!’ But maybe she was garnering information for a character for a new novel? If so, she could never let Elizabeth read it, but I myself would dearly love to.
The cakes had been devoured, and the teapot drained dry after several refills. There was movement and talk of heading back to various estates and resting before supper. I had just levered myself off the sofa with Jane’s and April’s assistance when a footman knocked and entered.
Elizabeth beckoned him over. ‘Yes, Jones?’
‘A Mr Harrington Hart is here, ma’am.’ The footman did not speak discreetly, and several ladies nearby heard him, as did we.
Elizabeth did not help matters by exclaiming in a bewildered tone, ‘Mr Hart!Here at Godmersham?’ causing much intrigue amongst all the ladies, though they tried to conceal it. Lady Claridge, for instance, was putting on herpelisse extremely slowly.
I was as shocked as Elizabeth was. What on earth was Mr Hart doing here? Lucinda must have written to him. Now he had turned up! The foolish girl—she was going to ruin everything!
I began to say, ‘Perhaps it would be best to speak to him privately.’But I only got out ‘Perhaps it would—’ before Elizabeth said blithely to the footman, ‘Please ask him to come into the parlour.’
‘She has kepthimquiet,’ I overheard Mary remark softly to Henrietta.
She replied equally as softly, ‘Indeed. I wonder if he is single. April, come here, dear. There is a gentleman about to enter, and he needs to have a good view of you.’
April dutifully went to stand by her mother in case Mr Hart turned out to be an eligible suitor.
Clutching Jane’s arm, I whispered urgently, ‘We need to remove him forthwith. He might say something incriminating about Lucy.’
