Page 32 of Love Wasn’t Built in a Day

Chapter 9

Cognac and Confessions

Hatherley Hall, Little Valentine, East Sussex, 29th July 1816

Clara looked around her, wondering how she had come to be here. Such a short time ago she had been friendless, too afraid to speak with anyone. Now she sat in this fine house, in company with the Dowager Duchess of Hawkney, the Dowager Duchess of Langley and her two granddaughters, Lady Henrietta and Lady Cecilia, as well as Miss Caroline Honeywell, Eustacia Foxworthy and Mrs Isabelle Midwinter.

Whilst she was not exactly a pattern card for the confident young woman—far from it, Clara had so far managed the engagement without stammering. It was more than she might have hoped for only months ago.

“We had a marvellous band for our last ball,” the Dowager Duchess of Langley said, reaching for another biscuit from a rather splendid array of French delicacies and the usual Ratafia biscuits that were always a staple at Hatherley Hall. “I forget their name, but I shall look it out for you if you wish.”

“They might be rather too grand for Little Valentine’s Assembly rooms, Grandmama,” Lady Cecilia remarked in her gentle way as she passed a plate of delicate macarons around.

“Well, I suppose so. But they were excellent,” her grandmother said with a sigh, helping herself to a macaron.

“I might be able to help,” Eustacia volunteered. “Or at least, my brother might. We used to entertain a lot when we lived in town, and he knows many artistic types, musicians among them. I shall ask him for his opinion.”

“An excellent notion,” Lady Hetty said, stirring sugar into her tea. “Is he a musician himself?

“No, a poet,” Eustacia said with a smile.

Clara could not help but smile as she saw the slightly pained expression on Lady Hetty’s face. So many young men fancied themselves the new Lord Byron but lacked the necessary talents. She could only imagine how many odes to her beauty a girl as lovely and vivacious as Lady Hetty had been forced to endure.

“Has he been published?” Miss Caroline Honeywell asked eagerly, for she was young and not yet out, and so did not appreciate the dangers.

An odd expression chased over Eustacia’s beautiful face as she hesitated before saying, “No. Sadly, not.”

Clara wondered what that look had meant. She had yet to meet Sebastian Foxworthy, who seemed an elusive figure, but Eustacia spoke of him with a deal of pride and affection.

“It must be a terribly difficult thing to succeed at, poetry is such a personal thing,” Clara offered, which earned her a smile from her friend.

“It is, indeed. But Sebastian has many talents, if only he would stop hiding his light under the proverbial bushel,” Eustacia replied with a sigh.

“Will he come to the dance, Miss Foxworthy? We are, as ever, terribly short of eligible young men,” Izzy remarked with a wink, not that it bothered her, having recently married.

Eustacia laughed. “If I must drag him by his hair, he will indeed be in attendance.”

“Oh, splendid,” Miss Honeywell said, looking pleased. “I’m glad it will be only local people, and all the fashionable tourists will be gone by then.”

There was an awkward silence as she realised, with an expression of horror, just what she’d said.

“Oh, my. I never… Lady Henrietta, Lady Cecilia—”

To Clara’s amusement, and Miss Honeywell’s undying relief, the sisters both burst out laughing.

“Oh, how glad I am not to be lumped in with the fashionable tourists,” Hetty replied, as poor Miss Honeywell’s cheeks burned.

“I do apologise,” she said meekly.

“Nonsense, we know just what you mean. There are a good deal of people one would not wish to invite to such an occasion. Did you know Viscount Rivington is here, Grandmama?” Lady Hetty told her.

The Dowager Duchess of Langley sighed and shook her head. “Well, just mind you stay away from him, Hetty, dear. An association with a man of that stamp will do you no good whatsoever.”

“Oh, I shall, never fear,” Hetty replied, quirking an eyebrow at her sister.

Clara noticed the exchange with interest, but then the conversation moved on to what refreshments ought to be provided and who would cater the event.

Half an hour later, and a fair few suggestions had been made which would be raised at the next meeting of the Venturesome Ladies Club. Everyone gathered in the hall, collecting their coats and bonnets. Clara smiled at Howard as he handed over her gloves and returned a gleeful Benny who had spent his time in the kitchens, no doubt being fed too many biscuits.