A Country Miss in Hanover Square (14 page)

‘Yes, of course,’ Susannah agreed. She was aware of a slight disappointment, for she would have liked him to kiss her again…to show in some way that he felt all those strange and wonderful feelings that his kiss had aroused in her. ‘I am sure Mama will be pleased that we are to marry.’

‘I told my mother that I intended to ask you this afternoon. She knew what was in my mind and this morning was pleased to tell me that she approved my choice. When we go to Pendleton you will meet others of my family. It will be a chance for us to spend more time together, Susannah. Meeting in society is all very well, but we have seldom been alone. My estate is large enough for us to escape at times.’

‘I shall look forward to it,’ Susannah replied, her heart racing. It was foolish of her to feel a little disappointed and uneasy. She had dreamed of this happening so many times. She had been living in a dream world of her own, Susannah realised. She must under stand that this was real and not just a dream. Harry was not the white knight of her dreams but a real man, with all the faults and passions that entailed.

‘Mama and I leave for Pendleton in the morning,’ Harry said. ‘Miss Hazledeane too, of course. Mama needs to prepare for our visitors, and it is only fair that Jenny should have a chance to settle in before everyone arrives.’

‘Yes, of course…’

Susannah felt a little guilty as she wondered whether she ought to tell him of the meeting between his mother’s ward and the Marquis of Northaven. Jenny had behaved like a woman in love, but Susannah could not think that it was her place to report what she had seen. Perhaps at Pendleton she might have a chance to warn Miss Hazledeane that the marquis was a rake and not to be trusted.

‘Are you looking forward to this visit?’ Mrs Hampton asked as her daughter came down stairs two days later. Susannah was wearing her travel ling gown of dark green cloth, and carried a lighter green parasol to match the ribbons on her straw bonnet.

‘Yes, Mama, of course,’ Susannah told her. ‘Why do you ask? I am engaged to Lord Pendleton and it will be a chance to get to know him better.’

‘Yes, naturally. I just wondered if you knew what to expect. Lord Pendleton has a very large estate, you know.’

‘He told me it was quite big,’ Susannah replied, looking at her in a puzzled way. ‘Is some thing wrong, Mama?’

‘Oh, no, nothing. You have been very fortunate, my dear. It is just that you will find the life very different…’ Mrs Hampton nodded. ‘Mr Sinclair is outside in his curricle. Will you drive with him or Amelia and I?’

‘Would you mind if I were to drive with him, at least for a part of the way?’

‘I should not mind at all,’ Mrs Hampton said and looked thoughtful. ‘It was kind of him to offer his escort, was it not?’

‘Lord Pendleton suggested it,’ Susannah said, ‘to make sure that Amelia’s coachman did not lose his way. We have a beautiful day for the journey, Mama.’

‘Yes, we do indeed,’ her mother agreed. ‘Ah, here is Amelia. Now we are ready.’

Susannah went outside to the waiting carriages. Her mother and Amelia were to travel in Amelia’s smart coach, but she was glad that she would be in the open air, for the sun was warm. Toby smiled as he saw her, coming to hand her into his curricle.

‘You look lovely, Susannah,’ he told her with a smile. ‘Green be comes you very well. Please make your selves comfortable.’

‘Thank you,’ Susannah replied and took his hand. ‘I think I must ride with Mama some of the time, sir—perhaps you will take Amelia up next time?’

‘I should be de lighted,’ Toby said. ‘I am yours to command, Miss Hampton.’

Susannah giggled as he swept her an elegant bow. He looked very handsome in his super fine coat of dark blue and buff breeches, his top boots polished to a high gloss. His cravat was tied in a new way, which she believed was a style favoured by the members of the Four-in-Hand. Toby had clearly decided that he needed to improve his image if he wanted to become one of that elite set. ‘I am so glad we are friends,’ she said. ‘I would ask you if I could drive a part of the way—but somehow I do not think Mama would approve.’

‘I am very certain she would not,’ Toby said and gave her a rueful look. ‘You must not ask, Susannah. I should hate to refuse you any thing, but you must be patient and wait until we are at the estate. I dare not think what Harry would say if it came out, especially after he has for bid den it.’

‘Yes, I shall wait. I was merely teasing you,’ she said. She threw him a look of mischief as he climbed up beside her and his groom jumped on the back.

As they set off through the crescent, she saw a gentleman walking towards them. He pulled off his hat as they drew nearer, giving her a sweeping bow, his gaze intent as he brought it back to Susannah’s face.

‘I wish you a safe journey, Miss Hampton,’ the Marquis of Northaven said, a mocking smile on his lips and what she thought was a challenge in his eyes. ‘We must pray that no unfortunate accidents occur.’

Susannah felt a chill run down her spine. There was some thing menacing in his look, but she could not tell what he meant by it. It was clear that he had never forgiven her for that incident in the garden, when Harry Pendleton had given him a tongue-lashing.

‘What the devil was that about?’ Toby asked and frowned. ‘The damned cheek of the rogue!’

‘Do you suppose he heard about the accident we had?’

‘I do not see how he could—unless someone told him. Harry wouldn’t and no one else knew.’

‘No…’ Susannah recalled the meeting in the teashop in Bath. It was quite possible that Miss Hazledeane had over heard some thing about the unfortunate accident. She might have passed it on to Northaven. Susannah would not like gossip to cir cu late—but there was nothing very terrible about what had happened, so it did not matter. ‘Let us forget him, Toby. I think the marquis is not a very nice man.’

‘The devil he isn’t!’ Toby agreed forcefully. ‘He has tried to get me to sit down to cards with him on several occasions. It did not please him that I refused.’

‘No, I suppose it would not,’ Susannah agreed. She pondered over the incident for a moment and then forgot it in the pleasure of driving on such a pleasant morning. Toby’s curricle was well sprung and they went at a spanking pace.

They made good time and it was scarce noon when they all stopped to partake of light refreshments at an inn. After their repast, Toby was as good as his word, taking Amelia up with him for the remainder of the journey, so Susannah was in the carriage when they reached the Pendleton estate.

They drove through impressive iron gates, which had the word Pendleton worked into the arch above them and were opened by the gate housekeeper. However, it was half an hour later before the house was first sighted through the trees. The estate of Pendleton consisted of two farms, besides several other good pro per ties and substantial woods, also a village of some twenty cottages, a black smith and a sawmill. Far larger than anything Susannah could have imagined.

She craned to see out of the window as they approached the house. It was extremely large, built in the classical style of pale buff stone with a main building and a wing at either end; the windows were long, square paned and many, and a colonnade of white pillars ran the entire length of the front. Four steps led up to the imposing front door.

Grooms came running as soon as the carriages stopped, steps were let down and the ladies assisted to alight. The front door stood open, several footmen already on hand and a housekeeper dressed in black came down the steps to meet them.

‘Welcome, ladies,’ she said. ‘I am Mrs Saunders. His lordship is out walking with a few of the gentlemen, but Lady Elizabeth awaits you in the front parlour with some of her other guests. You are not the first to arrive—we have had carriages from eleven o’clock this morning!’

‘Good afternoon—or perhaps it is almost evening,’ Mrs Hampton said. ‘I am Mrs Hampton—this is Miss Royston and my daughter, Miss Hampton.’

‘We are expecting you, ma’am,’ the housekeeper said. ‘Would you like to go straight up? I shall take you up myself, and send one of the footmen to let her ladyship know you are here.’

Mrs Hampton thanked her and they followed her into the house and up the stairs. They were conducted to the end of the first landing and then up some stairs to a further floor. Here they were taken through double doors into what was obviously a suite of rooms.

‘This is the green suite, ma’am,’ Mrs Saunders told them with a satisfied look about her. ‘Royalty has stayed here in the past and the Duke of Marlborough. His lordship wanted you to be comfortable. You have two private sitting rooms and three bedrooms. When we have a party of guests it is nice to put them together—especially unmarried ladies.’

Susannah wandered round the sitting room while her mother and Amelia explored the other rooms and settled which would suit them and her. She trailed her hand over the shining surface of highly polished mahogany furniture, thinking that she had never seen any thing quite so fine. The soft furnishings were a dark green-striped satin, the hangings a paler shade of the same material. There was a handsome bookcase, a desk and chair, as well as a display cabinet containing
objets d’art.
Something she found particularly pleasing was a collection of Meissen porcelain, little figures of monkeys dressed as French courtiers from the previous century and playing musical instruments. She took one of the figures out, examining it with pleasure until her mama returned.

‘Come and see the bedchamber we thought you might like,’ Mrs Hampton said. ‘It has a beautiful view of the park and you can just see a lake in the distance. Pendleton is a large estate, Susannah.’

‘Yes, Mama.’ Susannah glanced at the fine paintings on the wall as she followed dutifully through the small hall into the bedroom her mother indicated. It was less formal than the sitting room, furnished in paler shades that she preferred, but still with that majestic mahogany furniture—making her very aware that she had never stayed in a house such as this one. Amelia’s house was large and comfortable, but this… A little shiver ran down her spine. Could she ever be mistress of a house like Pendleton? Surely she was not worthy of the honour? There was so much she did not know. So many tasks that she feared might be beyond her. She had not realised until this moment just how wealthy and important Lord Pendleton really was. It struck her forcibly that her life would change completely once they were married. She had been living in a dream world, but this was reality! When Susannah had dreamed up her prince on a white horse, she had never thought beyond the moment when the prince took her into his arms and told her that he loved her.

As yet, Harry had merely told her that he had a warm regard for her. What did that mean exactly? Had he proposed because he could not live without her—or because she was suitable to be the mother of his children? Susannah felt a hollow sensation inside. Was she suitable to be any man’s wife or a mother? And to be the chatelaine of such a house would be such a responsibility!

‘Would you like this room?’

‘Yes, of course, Mama,’ Susannah said, becoming aware of her mother’s odd look. ‘I am quite content—unless you would like it?’

‘I have chosen mine. Amelia and I thought you would like this one.’

‘It will do very well.’

Susannah glanced out of the window. The view was magnificent and she could see the lake spark ling in the distance. Two people were walking towards the house. She could see them clearly, Lord Pendleton and Miss Hazledeane. Mrs Saunders had told them he was out with some gentlemen, but he had returned with his mother’s ward. She had linked her arm through his and they seemed intent, en grossed in their conversation. Miss Hazledeane had a presence and seemed very sure of herself, as if she felt at home here.

Susannah could not help feeling a pang of what she suspected might be jealousy. It was very wrong of her, because Harry would naturally be on good terms with his mother’s ward.

She drew away from the window and looked around the bed room again. It was very grand, but she supposed she would get used to living in these surroundings after a while. She must if she were ever to live here as Harry’s wife. She had thought only of love and romance, but now a few doubts had begun to creep in. Was she the right bride for Lord Pendleton? Could she do what was expected of her?

‘Yes, Mama, it is a beautiful room,’ she said, making an effort to smother her doubts. She took off her pelisse and laid it on the bed with her bonnet and gloves. ‘It will seem more homely once I have some of my own things unpacked.’

‘Yes, Susannah, it will,’ Mrs Hampton agreed. She moved to take Susannah’s hand, holding it tightly. ‘Are you feeling a little over come, dearest?’

‘I do not think I had imagined the house would be quite this large—or this grand, Mama. I am not sure I belong in a house like this….’

‘But of course you feel strange at first,’ Mrs Hampton said. ‘We have never stayed in a house as grand as this one, I know. Papa’s house was modest, and Amelia’s—well, she makes one feel so very comfortable when one stays with her. This is a formal house, but I dare say parts of it are more like a home. These are the best guest chambers. We have been given them because we are honoured guests.’

‘Yes, of course,’ Susannah agreed. She took a deep breath. Her doubts were a mere irritation of nerves. No doubt she was not the first young woman to feel this way when confronted with her husband’s home and family. She had yet to meet the family! She must hope that they found her suitable. ‘I shall be comfortable here once I am settled, Mama. Please do not worry about me.’

Mrs Hampton pressed her hand. ‘You are a sensible girl, Susannah. You know that you can always talk to me about any thing that bothers you, do you not?’

‘Yes, Mama, of course,’ Susannah replied and smiled. ‘Do you suppose we should go down?’

Even as she spoke, they heard a voice in the sitting room. Mrs Hampton smiled. ‘I believe that is Lady Elizabeth come to welcome us.’

‘Yes…’

Susannah followed her mother into the sitting room. Lady Elizabeth was greeting Amelia, but she turned with a smile as they entered, her eyes finding Susannah.