Jane Austen Mysteries 10 Jane and the Madness of Lord Byron (10 page)

CHAPTER SIX
Encounter at the Camp

S
ATURDAY
, 8 M
AY
1813
B
RIGHTON, CONT
.

"W
HAT DO YOU THINK
, J
ANE?" MY BROTHER EXCLAIMED
as I perused the fashion plates of
La Belle Assemblee
, the latest edition of which was in considerable request among the patrons of Donaldson's. It was clear from the exquisite modes draped on the impossibly tall ladies represented by the artist's brush that I was fortunate in being obliged to wear black; not even the hundred and forty pounds I have earned from
Sense and Sensibility
--much less the hundred and ten Mr. Egerton gave for the copyright of
P&P
--should purchase a wardrobe suitable for Brighton. Spring fashions ran to jonquil crape, Nakara silk--a pearly shade ideally suited to a lady of my colouring, and which I guessed had been exactly the hue the Countess of Swithin was wearing--and apple green. Slippers were beaded and embroidered to match; pelisses of white jaconet, falling just to the knee, were buttoned over gowns; and a profusion of frills graced hemlines this season, which had risen above the ankle to reveal
patterned stockings
!

"Jane," Henry repeated, somewhat more stringently this time, and I set down
La Belle Assemblee
, only to see it immediately taken up by the lady on my left.

"What is it?" I asked with pardonable crossness.

"The Regent."

I glanced about me wildly. "In Donaldson's?"

"Good God, no. In
Brighton
. Lord Moira informs me that the Prince came down from London but two days ago, and already intends a Reception at the Pavilion this evening. We are both to go!"

"But would it be entirely proper? Recollect that we are in deepest mourning--"

"Piffle! I should not like to be seen dancing at an Assembly, Jane--but the crush of the Pavilion on Reception evenings is akin to that of Picadilly Circus; one may meet the world there, and be jostled about in the greatest discomfort, in an attempt to pay homage to the Crown."

"Little as I admire the Regent, I cannot think that Eliza would forgo such an opportunity," I admitted doubtfully.

"She should be wild to see the Pavilion--and all the quizzes who frequent it--and moreover, should already have secured the cards of invitation herself; for you know she was a little acquainted with Prince Florizel, as he was known in his elegant youth. But I have had our cards expressly from Colonel McMahon--he is the Regent's private secretary."

"The gentleman in buff and blue, I collect?"

"All of the Regent's intimates sport that livery. McMahon had only to hear my praise from Lord Moira's lips, to beg the honour of our presence. Do consider, Jane! The notice of the Regent! What a spur to my banking concerns!"

"--Or a possible run on them. That gentleman's pockets are perpetually to let; and you should be bankrupt in little more than a week, did his notice prove too great."

Impervious to caution, Henry merely grinned. "Our retiring Jane, amidst the Carlton House Set! How Mamma should stare!"

"She should suffer palpitations," I corrected, "and utter a vulgarity. She cannot help but do so--which is the spur, no doubt, to her daughter's deplorable novels."

"Who dares to say that your books are vulgar?" Henry demanded, momentarily diverted.

"The proprietress of Donaldson's," I returned dejectedly. "She abused
Pride and Prejudice
as mercenary, Henry, and not fit to spring from a lady's pen."

"As to that," he drawled, slipping my arm through his and leading me towards the door, "you should hate far worse to learn it was called
dull
, and that nobody of consequence could look into it without yawning. You must know by now, Jane, that your books are all the crack! You ought to be in high gig! I have half a mind to bring you into Fashion--see if you do not hear
P&P
spoken of, at the Pavilion this evening!"

"Henry," I said, in a voice heavy with suspicion, "you are not going to
puff off my consequence
before McMahon and his ilk, are you?"

"Puff off--! Where do you learn such cant expressions, Jane?"

"From my vulgar mother," I rejoined calmly, "and my fashionable brother. Promise you will not expose the secret of my authorship. I have a dread of its being generally known."

Henry cast up his eyes to Heaven. "I cannot think why. I should be proud as a peacock, had I done anything half so clever!"

"And I should as soon ride bareback at Astley's Amphitheatre as admit to publication! Were my identity known, I could not walk at liberty through the village of Chawton! I should be suspected as a spy at every dinner table, every Assembly--and I should never be so frank, Henry, in my expressions; or so faithful a depicter of the world and its follies. Anonymity accords me freedom to speak as I find--and I cherish freedom above all else!"

"Lord knows you have had little enough of it," he answered soberly. "Very well--I promise to guard your secret. Tho' it shall go hard with me! Do you not apprehend, Jane, that your whole family is bursting to boast of your accomplishments--that we are all devilish
proud
of you?"

"Then praise the novels rather than their wretched author," I told him roundly, "and inflate Mr. Egerton's sales! You cannot display your pride more profitably, or in a manner more suited to my taste; for I mean to have one of those gorgeous confections," I added with a nod towards
La Belle Assemblee
, "as soon as I have put off my blacks."

W
E DAWDLED ALONG THE SHOPS OF
N
ORTH
S
TREET, STOPPING
now and again to admire a particularly fine picture displayed in a window, or a daring hat, or a zephyr cloak such as might have driven Eliza wild; and after taking a cold collation in a parlour at the Old Ship, drove out in a hired gig along the coast. All manner of natural beauties may be found to the west of town--the fall of boulders known as The Rocks, at the mouth of a little inlet just brushed by the road near Southwick--and the natural wonder called Egypt, just shy of Shoreham, which looks to be the work of antique Pharaohs in its scattering of monoliths, standing upright amidst the sea. With the wind on my cheeks and my curls whipping from beneath my bonnet, I might almost have been nineteen again--and felt lighter of heart than I had in all the sad weeks since Eliza's decline.

On our return to Brighton, Henry elected to drive out a mile or two along the Lewes road to the encampment of the 10th Royal Hussars--being an inveterate Paymaster, my brother must needs renew acquaintance among the officers; he can never be entirely at his ease, even at a watering-place, but must be about the business of winning custom wherever it may offer. As his conversations could in no way include
me
, I was at leisure to walk about. I had alluded to Brighton Camp in
Pride and Prejudice
, without ever having seen it--and thought it should prove very good sport to learn how much the truth differed from my invention.
8

There is much colour in the general scene, for the Prince of Wales Own, as they are called, are scrupulous as to the quality of their horses, their curricles, and their uniforms. They are among the most dashing set of men in England, and betray little sensibility of their losses in the Peninsula, at Corunna and Vittoria. Their manners, when in possession of their senses and not foxed from the bumpers of brandy they are known to take at all hours of the day, are elegant in the extreme; and so I suffered no impropriety or insult--on account of my black clothes, and matronly cap, and general appearance of outworn looks. There are silly girls enough for hanging on the sleeve of every red coat--and one of my advanced years must appear in the nature of deserted chaperon.

It was with a start, therefore, that I heard my name called in an excited accent. Turning, I observed Miss Catherine Twining, accompanied by her father. She was dressed with extreme propriety this morning, in dove-grey muslin drawn up to the neck and a dark blue spencer; a close bonnet concealed her glossy chestnut curls; her eyes, however, were sparkling with delight.

"Miss Austen! What good fortune! Is it not remarkable that we should meet again, within a day of our first acquaintance? I must ascribe it to the workings of Fate!" Miss Twining cried.

"Providence, rather," the General corrected drily, "who sees all and orders all. I wonder you have the courage to call down His notice, unfortunate child."

Miss Twining's pink cheeks blanched; her imploring gaze fixed on my countenance.

"General Twining," I said with a curtsey. "Miss Twining. I hope I find you fully recovered from your ordeal of yesterday?"

"We were not to speak of it!" General Twining looked all his rage. "I
wonder
at your insolence, ma'am! And your lack of delicacy! Indeed, I must suspicion some dark purpose in your deliberate allusion to events that cannot too soon be forgotten. Understand, Miss Austen, you shall never hope to profit by your shameful knowledge."

"Profit?" I repeated, bewildered.

The obsidian gaze swept over my figure. "Was it
that hope
that brought you to Brighton Camp? A handsome sum, perhaps, in exchange for the preservation of your silence--the alternative being the publication of my daughter's wantonness throughout the streets of Brighton?"

"Sir!" I gasped, outraged.

"Papa!" Miss Twining cried, at the same instant.

"How else am I to understand your pursuit of us here this morning, madam? Disgraceful! On such a day of melancholy importance to the Twining family! If it is not
advantage
you seek--if it is not
interest
that has brought you hard on my daughter's heels--then how may you account for your brazen appearance here, in an encampment of soldiers, and entirely without protection? I might almost assume you to have been Byron's confederate, and posted in Cuckfield a-purpose, the better to blackmail your victim!"

I stared at him, my body rigid with indignation. "I am thankful that my brother, Mr. Austen, is unable to hear your insults, General--for he should not hesitate to answer them with a demand for justice. I have nothing further to say to you but
Good day
."