Searching For Captain Wentworth (27 page)

‘William
Glanville is a very well-looking man, is he not? If
not for his red hair, I would consider him the most
handsome of my
acquaintance.’ Mr
Elliot stood up to stand approximately midway
between two looking glasses. From this vantage
point, he could
admire both his
front and back at the same time. ‘It is very pleasant
to have such a companion when walking. He has that
effect upon
the ladies,
which only a really good-looking man may induce. All
eyes are upon him, I declare.’

It did cross my
mind at this point that they might not only be
staring at him because he was easy on the eye. A fortune
and the
possession of
several large properties make the most unattractive
male more appealing. If he’s good-looking too, he
soon becomes an
object of
desire.

‘Oh, Papa, I am
certain that Mr Glanville finds just as much
pleasure in accompanying someone who is equally
handsome.
There is no
better effect on ladies than two good-looking gentlemen
walking together. I expect they are looking at you
just as much, and
he is put at an
advantage by having such a partner. And, your hair
is still as dark as it was when mother was alive.
No wonder the
ladies are put
in a swoon as you go by.’

Mr Elliot moved
his head to check his profile, stretching out
his neck until any suggestion of jowls or a double
chin completely
disappeared.
With one finger he smoothed his brows into place, and
adjusted a curl over his ear.

‘I have been
extremely lucky. I am fortunate that time has not
left its ravages upon my countenance in quite the
same way as it
has for some of
my peers. Generally, it is a fact that a gentleman
improves with age as he gets older, a truth, which
sadly, cannot be
said for the
majority of ladies,’ Mr Elliot went on. ‘When one
considers that there is help at hand in the form of
cosmetics for the
ugliest female
face abroad, it is surprising that we do not see more
tolerable countenances especially amongst ladies of
a certain age.
It is little
wonder that one seldom sees them walk down the street
in broad daylight, and really, I consider it a
blessing that we have
only to
be punished by the sight of such plain women by
candlelight.’

‘If only we
could all be as handsome, Mr Elliot,’ said Mrs
Randall, looking away wistfully as she spoke yet
maintaining a
completely
serious expression. ‘Women are soon old and become
invisible when their charms are gone. For myself, I
believe in the
efficacy of
drawn blinds against the harsh light of day when there
is no candlelight to grace ageing features.’

Mrs Randall and
I exchanged looks and I immediately had to
stifle a giggle, for it was very clear that she was
having a little fun
with him.

‘Quite so, dear
lady. At least one never sees an aged or
repulsive face in the Pump Room,’ he replied,
without faltering. ‘I
fear at
so early an hour that would be too much to bear. One
supposes that the general indisposition of old
women prevents them
from appearing
first thing in the morning.’

‘That must offer
some comfort to you, Mr Elliot,’ Mrs Randall
replied, her face giving away nothing of her
amusement.

I think Emma
sensed something of what was going on for she
chose this moment to pointedly change the subject.

‘Goodness, is
that the hour? I think it must be time to dress for
Lady Cholmondley’s card party. Mr Glanville has
promised to
attend.’

‘Make haste, my
dear. We will postpone dinner for you so that
you may prepare yourself.’

‘Yes, at once,
Papa, and Sophia, you are not to have Rebecca’s
help first. I have precedence!’

I didn’t doubt it,
nor did I wish to be prodded and poked about
by the housemaid however willing and kind she was
to help me
dress. I liked
to be able to sort things out for myself, as far as I
could, and with that thought in mind hurried to my
room to get
r
eady before anyone
could interfere with me.

The card party
was said to have been a great success by Mr
Elliot who congratulated himself upon our family
having been the
centre of
attention. Every older widow in Bath was there, and
fawned over him every time he opened his mouth and
uttered
anything at all.
William Glanville was also much admired, but
having seen that his interests only lay in the
young ladies who were
there,
any older ones contented themselves by giving him their
prettiest smiles and pushing their daughters
forward.

I was too upset
at the thought of having to leave Bath to want
to join in the card games and couldn’t settle to
anything. I wandered
about
listlessly, which had Mr Glanville hovering at my side more
than I wanted. Emma grimaced every time he spoke to
me, but the
more I tried to
ignore him the more persistent he became.

‘Miss Sophia, I
hate to see you without your endearing smile.

You look so
unhappy this evening. Let me cheer you. Will you not
join my table in a game of cards?’

‘I would much
rather read a book, Mr Glanville,’ I said, trying
to think up any excuse I could. ‘I admit; I do not
enjoy cards.’

‘Perhaps you
could assist me if you do not want to play. Come
sit here by my chair, Miss Sophia. Besides, I am
certain you have
the knowledge of
foresight.’

Puzzled, I
joined him reluctantly being urged on by Mrs
Randall to do as he bid and so was unable to
escape. Emma, Lady
Cholmondley and
Mrs Randall all sat at his table expectantly, my
sister giving me glowering looks at the attention I
was receiving
from him.

He collated the
playing cards and spread them out like a
fan before me. ‘I believe you have the power to
choose your
destiny. Here,
Miss Sophia, pick a card.’

I blushed when I
saw that of all the cards in the pack I had
managed to draw the Queen of Hearts. Everyone
laughed with the
exception of
Emma, who reddened in fury. Mr Glanville’s face
remained passive and when he asked me to offer the
cards to him,
I hardly dared
look as he selected his choice. Of course, it was the
King of Hearts, as I knew it would be. There was a
burst of laughter
and an exchange
of knowing glances between all the old ladies who
sat round the edges of the room. Whatever trickery
he’d devised
showed
immediately in his face as he smirked at the horror on
mine, and as soon as I could I moved to the other
side of the room.
It was either
that or further put up with his constant flirting, with
Emma kicking me under the table for the rest of the
evening.

Early next
morning, I hurried to the Pump Room, following in the
wake of Emma and Mr Elliot who were keen to see
their cousins. I
was desperate to
see a familiar face and as soon as we passed
through the doors, I looked everywhere to see if
Charles or his
sisters had
arrived. I was anxious to tell them about our travel
plans. Knowing there was probably very little
chance of meeting up
with them
at a later date, I remembered that Jane had mentioned a
trip to Devon. I wondered where they might be going
and clung to
the idea that
Lyme might also be a place they’d visit. The idea of
weeks spent solely in the company of the Elliots
filled me with
apprehension,
although I knew that at least I should have Mrs
Randall to spend time with when everyone else would
be occupied
with the
business of courtship. The lure of Monkford Hall was an
opportunity I didn’t want to miss, however
difficult it might be to
find a
way back to my own time. But, I’d managed before, I told
myself and I was sure I would again.

I couldn’t get
away from the conversation or mentions of the
forthcoming tour. Everyone we met had heard the
news and
insinuated
everything they possibly could about a forthcoming
marriage between Emma and Mr Glanville. Every time
the hints
were made, Emma
glowed just a little more. Slowly, it was
beginning to sink in that we were actually going
and that after
Friday I might
never see Charles again. There was nothing to gain
by telling any or all of the Austens how I felt
about going, nothing
could be
changed, but I just knew that if I could tell Jane or her
brother that I would feel better. Perhaps Jane
would write to me and
et me
know where they were travelling, but then the possibility of
being able to keep up a correspondence seemed very
remote if we
were to be both
moving about. It was highly unlikely that they
would be travelling to the same places or at the
same time. I had
mixed feelings
about leaving Bath altogether and to think of going
far from the house felt frightening, however much I
didn’t want to
miss the
opportunity of seeing Monkford Hall and staying there.

Despairing of
seeing anything of my friends as the morning
was almost over, I had given up hope when to my
enormous
pleasure I saw
Charles walk through the doors. He was chatting to
a lady and a gentleman that made me instantly think
that he must
be another
brother with his dark auburn hair. Jane came along next
with a young girl hanging onto her hand and behind
them followed
Cassandra with
Mr and Mrs Austen. Waving as she spotted me, I
saw Jane point me out to the child turning her in
my direction.

‘Miss Elliot,
here is my niece, Anna.’

The little girl
who looked to be about seven or eight years of
age bobbed a curtsey, putting one small foot behind
the other before
looking to her
aunt for approval, which was soon granted in an
indulgent smile.

‘My brother
James is here in Bath with his wife and their two
children for a visit. Anna is put to my charge, but
we have left her
small brother
behind today with his nursery maid.’

‘I’m very
pleased to meet you,’ I answered with a returning
bob. ‘And how are you enjoying Bath, Miss Anna?’

‘I’m having a
lovely visit, thank you, Miss Elliot. It is
heavenly to see Aunt Jane again, I miss her so
much,’ she said,
stepping nearer
towards Jane until she felt the arm of her aunt
encircle her shoulders. ‘I used to see her almost
every day and I
wish she could
come home to Steventon to live with me again.’

‘I’m sure you
miss her very much, as I will do, too, when I
have to go away,’ I said.

A frown wrinkled
between Jane’s brows. ‘Whatever do you
mean? Are you leaving us?’

‘I’m afraid we
are, at Mr Glanville’s invitation. Believe me,
Miss Austen, if it was in my power, I should not go
anywhere, but
it is all
decided. We are leaving for Lyme and will be touring the
West Country, perhaps even going as far as Wales.’

‘Oh, my
goodness, I am disappointed to hear you are leaving
so soon and I know someone is going to be
particularly upset to
hear your
news.’

Out of the
corner of my eye I saw Charles approach. ‘What
news is this, Miss Elliot?’ he asked.

I couldn’t say
the words. Jane spoke for me instead. ‘Miss
Elliot is leaving us for Lyme.’

Charles looked
at me with an expression that demanded more
detail. ‘I did not know you were going away.’

‘I did not know
myself until yesterday. We are leaving on
Friday morning. I do not know how long we shall be
gone, or even
if we shall
return to Bath, but I think our trip will be of some
duration.’

‘We are going
away ourselves in June,’ said Jane. ‘My mother
and father have talked of visiting Dawlish and
Teignmouth, which
are only a
little further along the coast from Lyme. Perhaps we will
see each other on our travels. Indeed, you must
write to me and let
me know where
you are for as long as you are able and I shall let
you know of our direction.’