Page 33 of Her Summer Duke

Chapter Thirteen

At Shoreham Harbour, Adam shook the hand of Captain Morwood, and bowed. It was done. He was Captain Halstone no longer. Morwood had taken charge of the ship, and she would, most likely, sail on the morning tide. It was time for Adam to return to his Inn, and to take up the responsibilities of his shorebound life. He was solemn as he went down the gangway to the dock.

No more was he Captain, no more ‘Ensign Chester’ with nothing to offer his beloved. He would take up his true position in society, as Lord Adam Halstone, heir to the Duke of Milbrook – a man who could take care of Lady Margaret in the manner to which she was accustomed, should she prove willing to forgive his deception, and accept his proposal.

His heart ached for her presence, and his anguish was like nothing that he had ever felt before. He remembered her gloved hand in his, her body close to his, her scent lingering in his nostrils. The emotions were almost more than he could bear.

He desperately hoped that tomorrow, when the clocks struck twelve, she would appear, walking along the promenade to meet him. If she did not, then he might delay his departure from Brighton but one more day, before duty would force him away. Perhaps he would go to the theatre, once he had partaken of some food – for he had no further paperwork to deal with, no responsibilities to any but his family now, and the evening loomed large and empty ahead of him.The play would surely take his mind off his beloved, but tomorrow, ah tomorrow, he hoped that he would see her again.

Briefly he thought, If I am not Ensign Chester and I am not Captain Halstone, I am a different man altogether. He chuckled at the thought. But then he sobered. For indeed, he was a very different man – a man, if the indications in his mother’s latest letter were anything to go by, who might soon be a Duke.

His thoughts tumbled – what would Lady Margaret prefer? Would she desire ‘Ensign Chester’ regardless of his comparative poverty? Or would she be thrilled at his substantial rise in status, compared to what she had expected? If she was only in love with Ensign Chester, then he would be Ensign Chester for the rest of his life, somehow! There was nothing he would not do for Lady Margaret.

While he had thought, his feet had carried him back to the Inn, and he went through to the dining room, suddenly hungry – for food, and for the new life ahead of him.

~~~~~

Margaret had discovered, by most cautious peering out of her door, exactly where the servants’ stairs were.

Now, having detected, through the rather thin wall, the sound of gentle snoring emanating from the room next to hers, which was occupied by Lady Mantrell, she wrapped her cloak around her, and slipped out into the hallway, with Phoebe close behind her.

Lucy, whose room was set on their other side, had not long before declared her intent to go down to the dining room, and observe the other occupants of the Inn. As Lucy rarely had the chance to have some time to herself – certainly not in a place of such high quality – Margaret was quite sure that the woman would settle in for the evening.

Lady Peabody had taken Lady Huntington on a walk in the lush gardens which were located behind the hotel, on the opposite side from the stableyard, perhaps sensing that Margaret might not so easily accept Lady Mantrell’s dictum that she should stay in her chambers. When they reached the rear door of the Inn with no difficulty, and slipped out into the stableyard, and quickly onto the roadway, Margaret began to believe that they might succeed at this adventure. The two women giggled with almost childish glee as they walked to the promenade along the seafront, and watched the sun lowering over the water.

“How will we travel to the theatre, Margaret?”

“We are resourceful women, there is bound to be a way, and we will find it! We must watch for our opportunity, but otherwise, we will walk. First we should enquire of a passer-by the direction of the Theatre Royal. It would not do at all to be walking in the wrong direction, no matter how delightful the view of the sea is.”

She smiled, as her hand managed to tuck her loose hair back into her bonnet, for it was escaping from its pins yet again. She wished that she could attend the theatre without the bonnet, wished, in fact that she could walk along with her hair completely unpinned, and let the pleasant breeze off the water blow it about, but that would be totally inappropriate. The last thing she wanted was to be taken for a lightskirt. They made their way along the beachside walk. The walk was occupied by people out for the evening - men and women of all walks of life, taking the fresh sea air in an evening constitutional. Margaret put her arm through her cousin’s.

“Would not it be delightful to walk all the way along here, past the pier?”

In truth, she partly wanted to do so, so that she might know exactly where to hurry to on the morrow, to meet Captain Halstone, but she was not about to admit that to Phoebe, not yet.

“Margaret, we have only our dress slippers – which was perhaps foolish of us. Besides, we have to find the theatre and it might be quite a walk in itself.”

“True, but sometimes, Phoebe, I wonder where your adventurous spirit has gone!”

Phoebe sighed, and Margaret suspected that she was beginning to have doubts about their adventure. Many older people had eyed them disapprovingly, clearly wondering why two young ladies of obvious quality were out alone.

An older lady with a kind face had stopped and taken a seat on a bench, looking out to sea. Margaret decided to ask her for directions.

“Excuse me my Lady, but could you give us the direction of the Theatre Royal?”

The woman laughed, a rich warm sound, and shook her head.

“I’m no upper-class Lady, my dear, just plain Mrs. Haddock. But I’m happy to help you. It’s quite a walk, though, and through some winding streets. But if you must walk, then go up that road over there – past five streets, then ask again, to make sure that you get the turn right. Once you get closer, you’ll see the signs.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Haddock!”

They turned away, and set off, following the direction they had been given. Soon, Margaret began to feel her feet aching, the cobbles rough under the soft soles of her shoes. Perhaps this adventure was not wise. But now that she had begun, she was not going to simply give up and go back.

They rushed along the street, passing people who were merely strolling, perhaps with no purpose. Margaret raised her reticule, “I have enough to pay for our tickets, I believe. Let’s hurry and hope that there are tickets available, and that the performance has not yet begun.”

They asked again, as Mrs Haddock had advised, and soon found themselves able to see the Theatre signs.

“Oh here it is! I am so excited, Phoebe!” She made her way to the ticket office. “Do you have tickets?”