take over the arrangements if the marquis should feel it too much trouble reminded that gentleman of his social duties, and to all appearances he was the gracious host when the company assembled in the park later that morning.
Phipps had arrived punctually and driven them to meet up with Brock’s carriage, and that of the Misses Ramsden, cousins to the beautiful Miss Langton. Lord Johnston, having taken up Lady Hamilton, drove behind Phipps and Amanda, looking glum, for he had hoped to drive her himself.
However, once the party had assembled and the carriages were removed by servants, leaving the ladies and gentlemen to enjoy their picnic, he attached himself to Amanda’s side and would not yield to any other’s claims.
The gentlemen had decided on a spot close to the river, a pretty place close to a bend where the willows hung down to caress the water. While the ladies sat in the shade of a tree, some of the gentlemen indulged in an impromptu game of cricket.
A stray ball chancing to fly Amanda’s way, she shot up her hand and caught it, to cheers from the bowler who declared that Shearne was fairly caught and out. He glared in Amanda’s direction, for she was not officially playing.
‘Perhaps Miss Hamilton would care to take my place in the field since I have no aptitude for catching and she is clearly proficient.’
Amanda ignored the veiled sarcasm and got to her feet, declaring herself willing to take his place. She was used to such games, having played with her brother for years, and soon proved herself worthy, preventing the new batsman from running as often as he might have wished.
‘I say, Miss Hamilton...’ Major Brockley applauded her as she once again made a splendid catch and Phipps was also out ‘...you should play for our team at home.’
Laughing at the compliment, she shook her head and was ready to retire, but when she turned to look she saw that one of Cynthia’s cousins had come forward and was claiming that she was good with a bat. The gentleman handed it over to her and then proceeded to bowl a gentle underarm ball, which was contemptuously sent flying into the river and lost.
A few groans went up, because no one had thought to bring a replacement, and the game broke up.
‘It’s time we had our picnic.’ Lady Hamilton beckoned to them. ‘Come, gentlemen, the food is ready...’
Amanda rejoined the party of ladies under the sheltering tree, as did most of the gentlemen. It was only as she reached for a small pastry that Amanda realised that Jane Field was not with the other ladies. Looking round for her, she saw that the young girl had wandered some distance from the others—and, to her dismay, Jane was not alone.
The sight of Shearne standing so close to Jane sent shivers down Amanda’s spine. There was something so predatory about his manner that she feared Jane might be in danger—especially if they disappeared round the bend and were lost to sight.
She put down the pastry and was about to rise, when she saw that Major Brockley had also noticed. He looked straight at Amanda, inclined his head and set after the others instantly.
Phipps sat down next to Amanda, leaning towards her to speak softly so that only she might hear. ‘Do not be alarmed, Miss Hamilton. Brock will see that your friend comes to no harm.’
‘Thank you. Her mother entrusted her to our care...’
‘And she ought to be safe. I fear our host is a little put out because the lady he desired to please could not come today. Miss Field would not have received a second glance had Miss Langton graced our party.’
‘Miss Langton is quite unwell. Her mama thinks she may need to take her home in a few days.’
‘That would be a pity,’ Phipps said and raised the glass of cooled wine to his lips. ‘I dare say there will be several disappointed gentlemen when they hear that she has left town.’
‘Chills can be very draining...’
‘Yes, indeed. I am sure...’
‘I am sure Miss Langton will be pleased to receive visitors in the country when she is feeling better.’
‘I imagine so. Shall you visit her?’
‘Perhaps—though we intend to stay in town a week or so longer than we had planned. Mama’s friend, the Countess of Sandown, has invited us to join her for a few days. Papa will go home, but Lord Armstrong will escort us home if need be.’
‘Pray allow me to offer my services,’ Phipps said. ‘Your home is not so far distant from my own and I shall pay my father a visit in a few weeks. I could quite easily escort you there—and take you home when your visit is done.’
Amanda looked at him steadily, trying to understand what he was thinking. His attentions were more marked today—was she wrong? Was he in fact thinking of making her an offer after all and how would she answer him?
Her heart raced for a moment, then he directed his attention to Jane Field, who was walking back to them with Major Brockley by her side. There was for the moment no sign of the marquis.
‘I am so sorry,’ Jane said, looking flustered as she came up to them. ‘I hope I have not kept anyone waiting?’
‘The picnic is quite informal,’ Major Brockley said kindly. ‘No need for embarrassment, Miss Field.’
The company had taken little notice, interested only in the delicious food being served to them by the marquis’s servants, and only Amanda seemed to be aware of the flush in the shy girl’s cheeks or the fact that the marquis did not immediately come to join them.
* * *
When he did return he studiously refused to look at either Jane Field or Major Brockley, and soon after the food was devoured the company split up to stroll by the river. Jane stayed close to Amanda’s side and Major Brock accompanied them, though Phipps had joined some of the other ladies and gentlemen.
* * *
It was not until they were on the way home that Jane confessed that the marquis had been a little too ardent in his attentions for her liking.
‘He wanted me to walk further down the bank with him and the way he looked at me—I was ready to die,’ she whispered to Amanda. ‘Truly, I was afraid he meant to—to seduce me, but then Major Brock came and the marquis went off alone.’
Since Amanda had expected something of the sort, she was not surprised. She had instinctively disliked the marquis from the start and guessed that he had turned his attention to her shy friend because he was angry that Miss Langton had not come to the picnic he had arranged especially for her.
It was perhaps as well that she had not, for if he was not to be trusted Cynthia must be warned.
Much to Amanda’s surprise when she next went into society, she discovered that most of the ladies and gentlemen who had flocked to join her and Cynthia continued to pay her attention. She had taken Jane Field under her wing and the girl accompanied her to most of the balls, routs, card evenings, soirées and other diversions society was pleased to hold for the delight of its friends.
Only Shearne and
