Edmund
The next day, Edmund burst through the front door of Number 1 with rosy cheeks and windswept hair– and covered in mud.
What an exhilarating gallop I have had this afternoon! I feel full of energy.
“There you are!” Lady Templeton was waiting for her son in the hall. “This is cutting things rather tight; you are due at Lady Barrington’s in fifteen minutes for tea. ”
“I know– that is the reason I came back.”
“But you have hardly left enough time to change your clothes.”
Edmund grinned. “Why can I not go dressed like this?”
Lady Templeton brushed some dried mud from Edmund’s shoulder. “I know you are teasing me, for even you know ’tis not acceptable to pay a visit when one is covered in dirt from head to foot. Now run along. Voyle is waiting to assist you in your room– with plenty of hot water.”
Edmund made for the staircase and began leaping up the steps two at a time.
“’Tis important you look your best,” Lady Templeton called after him, “for I happen to know that Mrs. Pembroke has had a new frock delivered a few hours ago.”
“Of what relevance is that to me? And how the devil do you know she has a new frock?” Edmund asked, leaning over the banisters.
“I have many sources of information, but in this case, I have Martha to thank.”
“Your maid, Martha?”
“Yes. She is sister to Lady Barrington’s maid, and Lady Barrington and I encourage the free flow of information between our houses, for it can oft be enormously useful.”
“Good Lord!” Edmund said. “There are spies within the Crescent– and I had thought Carter was the only one.”
How typical of Mama and her dear friend Lady Barrington.
“Anyway,” Lady Templeton said, “that is how I know that Mrs. Pembroke has a new frock. Apparently the seamstress worked through the night to finish the sewing. Imagine!”
“This hardly seems fair to the seamstress,” Edmund said under his breath, “or necessary.”
“...and Mrs. Pembroke is now officially out of even her half-mourning, and this new dress is only the beginning of a beautiful new wardrobe that Lady Barrington has been kind enough to order for her.”
Edmund felt a shiver running down his spine. Needing a new dress because one was coming out of mourning was one thing– but a whole new wardrobe? Lady Barrington was obviously determined her niece should make a good marriage– and soon.
Might this also be Marianne’s aim? What a shame for I enjoyed chatting with her yesterday in Hunter’s. If she is indeed searching for a husband in earnest, I would do well to keep my distance– for I do not want any misunderstandings.
“Come along, Edmund,” Lady Templeton said. “Hurry! This is an important tea party; from small acorns, mighty oaks grow.”
“I am merely going to drink tea, Mama. What are you insinuating with your horticultural talk?”
“You know full well of what I speak. Everything has to start somewhere.”
“Maybe. But you might do well to remember that most acorns wither and die before they have a chance to become a mighty oak.”
“Well,” Lady Templeton retorted, “if Mrs. Pembroke and you are not going to grow into a mighty oak together, we must continue our search for someone you would be prepared to woo. Did none of the young ladies we saw yesterday during our promenade catch your fancy? Edmund! Are you listening?”
Edmund stomped off to his chamber, not caring that fragments of mud were falling from his riding boots with every step.
And now I feel guilty, for I am making work for the servants by dirtying the stairs. Oh, Mama is impossible!
Why can she not understand that I am a person with a brain and heart, not some racehorse that must be perfectly matched with another of the correct pedigree– with our union arranged and observed by others.
Voyle was waiting for Edmund in his bedchamber. “My instructions are to help you dress swiftly, sir.”
“Ha! Are these instructions from the military general downstairs?”
Voyle nodded .
“I will have you know that, as planned, my mama dragged me all over Bath yesterday. After visiting Hunter’s, we went to the Pump Room where she introduced me to countless young women of her acquaintance, and then we promenaded up and down Great Pulteney Street greeting members of the ton before strolling through Sydney Gardens. I was quite worn out with false smiles and empty chitter chatter by the time I got home.”
“I had heard something of the sort,” Voyle admitted.
“Confound it! Nothing is private in the goldfish bowl that is my life.”
Shortly afterwards, Edmund made the brief journey from Number 1 to Number 4, where he was warmly received by Lady Barrington in her withdrawing room upstairs. Huge portraits of her four adored daughters, Augusta, Amabella, Aurelia and Alicia, dominated the wall opposite the door– and visitors were oft startled on a first visit to see four such robust young women glaring down at them.
Marianne was sitting next to Edmund’s sister, Selina, on a sofa. A hostile growl came from the silken cushion in front of the fire and Nelson bared his teeth.
“A thousand apologies Mr. Templeton,” Lady Barrington said. “I simply cannot think what has got into him.”
“Luckily, I came prepared.” Edmund reached into his pocket and pulled out a pungent delicacy; Nelson leapt from his cushion, nose quivering. “Sit! Good boy. Now– paw. That’s it! Paw! Clever Nelson. Here you are.”
Nelson gobbled the treat and smacked his lips appreciatively.
“Bravo, Mr. Templeton,” Marianne said. “You are taming Nelson.”
Selina clapped her hands with delight. “Well, I never! You are turning into an animal lover, Edmund. Just wait till I tell George this evening.”
“Will he not be joining us this afternoon?” Edmund asked .
“Alas, no,” Selina said. “He is seeing a patient on the other side of the city. ’Tis a very interesting case; he has been experimenting with a new treatment of his own devising and is very happy with the relief it has afforded to the poor man’s suffering.”
When I hear about George’s work, I sometimes feel that ’twould be good to have a mission in life. However, this would necessitate being compelled to sacrifice my freedom to do as I please– so on second thought, I am happy as I am.
Mostly.
“Back you go to your cushion, Nelson; there’s a good boy,” Lady Barrington said. “Mr. Templeton has given you a treat; there is no more.”
But Nelson stayed at Edmund’s feet, salivating and licking his boots.
“Actually, I do have a few more treats somewhere about my person,” Edmund said. “Perhaps Nelson can smell them? I asked Voyle to furnish me with some scraps from the kitchen, you see, in case Nelson took a fancy to my footwear again.”
“Oh, yes!” Selina said. “Marianne and I were talking just before you arrived about how amusing ’twas when Nelson attacked your evening shoes.”
She already calls her Marianne! They are firm friends on but a short acquaintance. And Marianne is a beautiful name; it suits her well. “You must not spoil Nelson, Mr. Templeton,” Lady Barrington cautioned. “’Tis one thing to make friends with him– but quite another to indulge him.”
Edmund caught Marianne’s eye after this comment and realized he was not the only one to appreciate the humor contained therein.
“Ah, here is Jane with the tea,” Lady Barrington said. “I urge you all to eat as many sandwiches and cakes as you can this afternoon, for Cook will be offended if there is anything returned. Now, Selina, would you care to sit next to me? I could do with some advice about a tapestry I am attempting. And perchance Mr. Templeton would like to sit next to Mrs. Pembroke?”
Lord! Mrs. Pembroke does not seem pleased that I am to sit next to her– what have I done to offend her? But now she is blushing. Is she perhaps endeavoring to flirt with me? Devil take it! I am getting mixed messages and must be on my guard in case she turns out to be a fortune hunter like all the rest.
“Did you have a pleasant time after our encounter in Hunter’s yesterday?” Edmund said.
“I did, thank you,” Marianne said.
What a vision of loveliness she is in her delicate blue frock! Ah, the vibrancy of her complexion, and the lustrousness of her curls are proving quite distracting.
“Is there anything wrong, Mr. Templeton?” Marianne asked.
“Absolutely not. I was admiring your new gown.’
“How do you know ’tis new?”
Edmund grinned. “There is a covert channel of communication between Numbers 1 and 4.”
“Ah, I have been made aware of that; indeed I believe ’tis rather an open secret.” Marianne frowned. “Life is more public here in Bath than I am accustomed to when at home with my parents.”
Oh! I hope I have not offended her by making light of the situation. I would like to tell her how much I sympathize with her wish to keep her life more private– but for now, I will change the subject.
Edmund noticed some slim books on a side table. “Did I not see you with these in Hunter’s?”
“Yes. Lady Barrington was kind enough to purchase the novel for me; I have been hoping to read Pride and Prejudice for a long time, having heard many good reports.”
Edmund picked up the first volume. “I believe my sister talks of this. She says ’tis exceptionally comical.”
“Are you fond of reading, Mr. Templeton?” Marianne asked.
“I am sure I would be fond of it, if I did any, but I seem very busy with other occupations. ”
“How do you spend your time, then?”
“I love horses– especially betting on them. Cards, gatherings, dining at my club, oh, the list is endless; I am always having fun somewhere.”
She does not need to hear about my fondness for galloping around Bath at night with my friends and bathing in the river.
“Selina has been telling me about her work with the children of the parish,” Marianne said. “She asked me if I would like to help one day.”
“And would you?”
“I believe I would. ’Tis always a joy to be with children, and I like to keep busy. Perhaps one day I might become a governess, and ’twould be good preparation.”
A governess? My word, Mrs. Pembroke does not sound like a fortune hunter.
“And Mr. Templeton,” Marianne continued, “I know you are being disingenuous when you imply that you live merely for pleasure, for I know well enough you must spend much time helping your father.”
“Well, I am not tremendously busy with estate business every day.”
Dammit! Is she laughing at me? Does she know how much I avoid working with Papa? Perchance Selina has been telling tales.
“But your father owns many properties, does he not?” Marianne said. “Including Templeton Park, which I know is vast. My parents and I drove past it once, for ’tis not far from their house in Clifton.”
Why in God’s name is Mrs. Pembroke so interested in the Templeton estate? Was the mention of being a governess simply a red herring designed to distract me? Does she mean to marry again– and does she already have me in her sights?
Ah! I have no wish to be cruel to a sweet lady– but I must be forthright and open.
“I have little wish to marry,” Edmund said.
Marianne’s eyes opened wide and the plate on her lap, complete with cucumber sandwich, threatened to fall to the ground. “Indeed?”
“Yes! I cannot abide the way my family are trying to push me into matrimony. I prefer the single life.”
Marianne took a sip of tea. “I have absolutely no idea why you have shared these thoughts with me, Mr. Templeton, but it may interest you to know that I feel exactly the same. Unfortunately, Lady Barrington and my parents think ’tis high time I was married again, but that is not my wish. I have been married once, and that was enough.”
I did not expect that! What welcome news! Mrs. Pembroke is possibly the only woman in Bath society with whom I might flirt, confident in the knowledge that there is no ulterior motive to snare me. My joy is unbounded!
“Mrs. Pembroke, please address me henceforth as Edmund; I believe we are going to be firm friends.”
“I would be delighted. And you may call me Marianne.”
“I thank you!” Edmund picked up the first volume of Pride and Prejudice. “And now ’tis time I dipped into this novel that everyone is talking about. Let me see. Ah, yes. I will read you the opening: It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”
Both Edmund and Marianne burst into fits of laughter, causing Selina and Lady Barrington to break off from their conversation about tapestry wools.
“I must know what you have been talking about!” Lady Barrington said.
“Yes, what is the jest?” Selina said. “Do share,”
“We were laughing at something very silly,” Marianne said.
“Yes,” Edmund agreed. “We seem to share the same sense of humor, and possibly the same ambition and purpose in life, too.”
“Superb news!” Lady Barrington said. “I felt sure you two were meant for each other and believe this year is going to be a very exciting one indeed.”