rather like O'Trigger, Jane thought, diverted.
"You needn't answer," he said, watching the thoughts play across her face, "I see from your face that he does not.
“Now I see that your most charming sister is to read a passage of Cowper, and we must be silent for a moment, but we shall resume our conversation when she is done.”
After Fanny finished a creditable reading, Lord Blackwood expertly coaxed Jane out of her megrims by entertaining her with rather risqué tales about some of the popular poets, and she soon forgot Lady Juliette's scorn and enjoyed the rest of the afternoon. The young people arranged to meet for a ride together every morning, and Lord Staplefield suggested a picnic on the grounds of his estate, Bramleigh. This last suggestion was received with great enthusiasm by everyone, and the picnic was set for three days hence.
As Jane and Fanny walked back to their cottage, Fanny teased Jane about Lord Blackwood's attentions.
"I suppose you are going to tell me they are only brotherly," Jane said, piqued.
"No," Fanny said, "the looks he gives you are far from brotherly."
Jane felt herself blush. "I wonder why Lord Staplefield persists in speaking in that ridiculous fashion to Lady Juliette," she commented to change the subject. "Even Lord Blackwood noticed it."
"Wasn't it delicious!" Fanny gurgled.
"But perhaps a little unkind," Jane said. "Everyone knows he is making a Maygame of her."
"Fustian. The lady brings his teasing upon herself," Fanny said. "Think of what she said to you. That was most unkind. She deserves to be teased."
Jane made no reply, for although it was not becoming in a former vicar's daughter, she had been glad for Lord Staplefield's teasing of Lady Juliette.
They walked along in silence for a while, Fanny with a thoughtful expression on her face.
"I do not think Lady Juliette would be the right wife for Captain Tremaine," Fanny said as they neared the village. "I cannot like her.”
"She is beautiful and charming, and of high rank," Jane stated calmly.
"Perhaps. I shall concede that. But I wager she only likes Captain Tremaine because he is heir to a viscountcy. Lord Staplefield tells me there is some question about her reputation, and that of her brother, also."
"You should not be discussing such things with the earl. It is not proper," Jane said automatically.
Fanny ignored her. "You would be a better wife for Captain Tremaine, if he could see beyond his nose. If he saw the true colours of Lady Juliette he would not think they were pretty."
"It is none of our affair what Captain Tremaine thinks or does," Jane said sternly. "You were correct when you told me Captain Tremaine only regarded me as a sister,” Jane said as they reached their gate. “I must accept that. You are not to interfere."
Fanny only smiled enigmatically as she walked down the garden path to the cottage, and Jane felt uneasy as she followed her sister inside. She had longed for Fanny's mischievousness to return, but in the past that enigmatic smile on Fanny’s face had always presaged trouble.
Chapter Seven
The next morning, Jane began her usual chore of sorting through her father's correspondence and putting it in piles according to the subjects addressed. As she performed her routine task, her attention was caught by the name Sir John Moore mentioned in a letter from the Bishop of Salisbury.
“Would the brother of the Bishop of Salisbury have connections, Papa?" she asked as she scanned the letter.
"What, my dear?" her father asked, taking off his spectacles and looking up from his papers reluctantly.
"The Bishop of Salisbury mentions his brother, Colonel Fisher, in reference to Sir John Moore." Jane went on to elaborate about Captain Tremaine’s futile attempts to restore the name of his commander. "Perhaps the brother of the bishop would have connections the captain does not," she said hopefully.
"Why do you not give Captain Tremaine his direction, then?"
Jane was thoughtful.
"You needn't answer," he said, watching the thoughts play across her face, "I see from your face that he does not.
“Now I see that your most charming sister is to read a passage of Cowper, and we must be silent for a moment, but we shall resume our conversation when she is done.”
After Fanny finished a creditable reading, Lord Blackwood expertly coaxed Jane out of her megrims by entertaining her with rather risqué tales about some of the popular poets, and she soon forgot Lady Juliette's scorn and enjoyed the rest of the afternoon. The young people arranged to meet for a ride together every morning, and Lord Staplefield suggested a picnic on the grounds of his estate, Bramleigh. This last suggestion was received with great enthusiasm by everyone, and the picnic was set for three days hence.
As Jane and Fanny walked back to their cottage, Fanny teased Jane about Lord Blackwood's attentions.
"I suppose you are going to tell me they are only brotherly," Jane said, piqued.
"No," Fanny said, "the looks he gives you are far from brotherly."
Jane felt herself blush. "I wonder why Lord Staplefield persists in speaking in that ridiculous fashion to Lady Juliette," she commented to change the subject. "Even Lord Blackwood noticed it."
"Wasn't it delicious!" Fanny gurgled.
"But perhaps a little unkind," Jane said. "Everyone knows he is making a Maygame of her."
"Fustian. The lady brings his teasing upon herself," Fanny said. "Think of what she said to you. That was most unkind. She deserves to be teased."
Jane made no reply, for although it was not becoming in a former vicar's daughter, she had been glad for Lord Staplefield's teasing of Lady Juliette.
They walked along in silence for a while, Fanny with a thoughtful expression on her face.
"I do not think Lady Juliette would be the right wife for Captain Tremaine," Fanny said as they neared the village. "I cannot like her.”
"She is beautiful and charming, and of high rank," Jane stated calmly.
"Perhaps. I shall concede that. But I wager she only likes Captain Tremaine because he is heir to a viscountcy. Lord Staplefield tells me there is some question about her reputation, and that of her brother, also."
"You should not be discussing such things with the earl. It is not proper," Jane said automatically.
Fanny ignored her. "You would be a better wife for Captain Tremaine, if he could see beyond his nose. If he saw the true colours of Lady Juliette he would not think they were pretty."
"It is none of our affair what Captain Tremaine thinks or does," Jane said sternly. "You were correct when you told me Captain Tremaine only regarded me as a sister,” Jane said as they reached their gate. “I must accept that. You are not to interfere."
Fanny only smiled enigmatically as she walked down the garden path to the cottage, and Jane felt uneasy as she followed her sister inside. She had longed for Fanny's mischievousness to return, but in the past that enigmatic smile on Fanny’s face had always presaged trouble.
Chapter Seven
The next morning, Jane began her usual chore of sorting through her father's correspondence and putting it in piles according to the subjects addressed. As she performed her routine task, her attention was caught by the name Sir John Moore mentioned in a letter from the Bishop of Salisbury.
“Would the brother of the Bishop of Salisbury have connections, Papa?" she asked as she scanned the letter.
"What, my dear?" her father asked, taking off his spectacles and looking up from his papers reluctantly.
"The Bishop of Salisbury mentions his brother, Colonel Fisher, in reference to Sir John Moore." Jane went on to elaborate about Captain Tremaine’s futile attempts to restore the name of his commander. "Perhaps the brother of the bishop would have connections the captain does not," she said hopefully.
"Why do you not give Captain Tremaine his direction, then?"
Jane was thoughtful.
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