Debutante in the Regency Ballroom: A Country Miss in Hanover Square

‘Yes, I have,’ he replied and grinned at her. ‘I cannot offer to let you drive the blacks—they would be too strong for you. However, I should feel privileged if you would allow me to teach you to drive something suitable. One day in the future, perhaps?’

‘Oh …’ Susannah’s heart fluttered as she waited, wondering if he might go on to propose. However, as he said nothing more she went on, ‘I should enjoy that very much if it could be arranged, though I am not sure how.’ She rather thought it would not do to begin in a public park, though she would have considered it an adventure.

‘It is my habit to invite friends to my estate in the summer,’ Harry told her, though his gaze did not waver from the road. She glanced at him and saw a little nerve throbbing at his temple. ‘My mother stirs herself to come down and play hostess. If Mrs Hampton would consent to the visit, you might both stay for a week or two …’

Susannah’s heart raced. It was not a proposal, but it might be the first step, for it would help them to know each other better. They would be able to spend more time together at his estate. He would not have asked if he did not like her.

‘I know Mama has been making plans, but, if you were to ask her, sir, I am sure she would consider it an honour to visit your home. She told me that she has heard of your modern innovations with the land.’

‘Did she, indeed?’ Harry gave her an odd look that brought a blush to her cheeks. ‘It is true that I am thought to be forward thinking, for I have made it my business to experiment with new ideas, but few know of it.’

‘I believe Mr Sinclair is an eloquent advocate for your good stewardship, sir.’ Susannah smiled, a dreamy look in her eyes. ‘Toby is such a charming companion. He sent me flowers yesterday, because he said that everyone sends them on the day of a ball and he thought I should have some the next day.’

‘You find him good company?’ Harry glanced at her, but she was smiling, looking about her.

‘Oh, yes!’ Susannah’s eyes glowed as she turned to him. ‘Toby is great fun, sir. We met him out walking yesterday and took a turn in the park together. Nothing would do but for him to join some children in their play. They had a ball and a dog and it was a noisy affair.’

‘Yes, I can imagine it might have been.’ His eyes narrowed as he looked at her. Toby was only twenty, perhaps a more suitable age. ‘I dare say the children enjoyed it?’

‘Yes, indeed. It was most amusing.’

‘I imagine so …’

‘I believe everyone enjoyed the dance,’ Susannah remarked and smiled at him. ‘It was a successful evening. Everyone has sent cards and letters to thank us.’

‘Yes, I am sure they did,’ Harry said, a little nerve flicking at his temple. He hastily changed the subject for fear of giving himself away. ‘Did you notice that the earl danced with Miss Royston?’

‘Yes, I did,’ Susannah replied. The sparkle died out of her face as she recalled Amelia’s brief lapse into despair after her brother’s visit the previous day. ‘I have decided that I will not try to promote their friendship further. You were right to scold me, sir—it is not my affair.’

Harry studied her profile. She looked serious, a little sad and he wondered at it. He would have liked to speak to her further and enquire whether her sadness was for herself or her friend, but they were entering the park at that moment and there was a press of carriages and people on foot. It seemed that quite a few of London’s fashionable ladies and gentlemen had decided to take the air on such a lovely day. No sooner had they managed to get through the crush at the gates than they were forced to draw up to speak to a crowd of young gentlemen who wished to pay their respects.

Harry smiled wryly as the young bucks vied to catch Susannah’s attention. She was even more popular than he had imagined and the wonder of it was that she had not received at least half a dozen proposals before now. He could not know it, for Susannah would never have boasted of her conquests, but she had already received three requests for her hand, which she had turned down with a smile, and would have had more if she had encouraged her suitors.

It was obvious that a visit to the park was not the occasion to make a proposal of marriage. Harry decided that he must be patient a little longer. He would write to his mother on his return home and ask her to invite the Hamptons and Miss Royston to stay at his home. If they consented, it would at least give him a chance of some private conversation.

On her return home, Susannah did not know whether to be disappointed that Lord Pendleton had not proposed or pleased that he had spoken of an invitation from his mother.

Mrs Hampton was of the opinion that she should take it as a sign that his intentions were serious. ‘I do not see why he would invite us if it were not so,’ Mrs Hampton told her and smiled. ‘Did you give him to understand that you would welcome the invitation?’

‘He had been saying that he would teach me to drive one day if it would please me,’ Susannah told her a little uncertainly. ‘I said that I would enjoy it of all things if it could be arranged—and then he mentioned a house party.’

‘Yes, well, it sounds promising to me,’ Mrs Hampton said. ‘He does know that we leave for Bath in a few days?’

‘Yes, Mama,’ Susannah said. ‘He said that he might post down himself soon and would have an invitation from his mother. I think the visit is intended for next month.’

‘Which will give us time to see Amelia settled in her new house,’ Mrs Hampton said and looked pleased.

When consulted, Amelia said that she thought the situation looked promising. ‘At the very least, Pendleton must be thinking that he wishes to know you better, dearest.’ Amelia lifted her brow in enquiry. ‘Have you made up your mind what you will say if he asks you?’

‘I believe I should have said yes if he asked me today,’ Susannah said. ‘As you know, I was not certain at first that I liked him, but he is such a pleasant gentleman …’

‘Then I shall accept the invitation when it is given,’ Mrs Hampton said. ‘Shall you come with us, Amelia? I am certain you will be invited for it would seem odd if you were not, and Pendleton would never give offence.’

‘It will depend on my situation in Bath,’ Amelia told her. ‘I shall accompany you and Susannah if I am able, for I have heard that Pendleton is very fine, but I have never seen it—though I believe parts of it are opened to the public occasionally.’

‘There is so much excitement going on,’ Mrs Hampton said. ‘I think all this must be enough for even you, Susannah?’ She threw her daughter a teasing challenge. ‘I do hope Pendleton will not let you drive those wicked great brutes of his.’

‘He says the blacks are too strong for me, but I dare say he may have others more suitable.’ Susannah was smiling to herself as she went up to change for the afternoon. She had regretted that Harry had not spoken to her that morning, but if both Mama and Amelia believed Harry to be on the verge of making her a proposal, then perhaps he would. She could only hope so—her dreams had all become centred on becoming his wife.

At the start she had been foolish, thinking him a stuffy bore and arrogant, but now she knew it was not so. She had dreamed for so long of a knight who would sweep her up on his white charger and ride off with her into the sunset, but that was all nonsense. Now she had a clear picture of a charming house where they would live in complete contentment with roses growing up rose-pink walls and two pretty children playing on a swing …’

Susannah might not have been quite as happy had she seen the face of her prospective fiancé some twenty minutes later. He was scowling over a letter he had received from a friend, his own mood changing from one of pleasant anticipation to something rather different.

I hesitate to ask for help, the letter began. Indeed, I would not do so, but I am at my wits’ end, Harry. I am in such trouble! I became involved with some gentlemen—they were born to the name, but do not deserve it!—and now I am ill. I have debts I cannot pay—but that is not the worst of it. I beg you to come to me in haste, not for my own sake—I doubt that I shall last more than the week—but for the sake of another … my poor sister, who has no one but me and will now be alone. Your one-time friend, Hazledeane

Harry crumpled the paper in his hand, tempted to throw it away. Frederick Hazledeane had been a friend in the years he had spent at Oxford, before Harry went into the army. He had always been on the wild side and it seemed that his bad ways had led him into the kind of trouble that might have been expected.

It was a dashed nuisance! Harry would have normally been only too willing to help a friend, even one he had not been particularly close to. However, to leave London now on such an errand was not what Harry needed or wanted. He was at a delicate stage of his courtship of Susannah and he did not wish her to think he had abandoned her.

He must go, of course! Hazledeane must be in desperate straits and his sister was younger. If she truly had no one, Harry was duty bound to help her as best he could. He sighed because this was a duty he could well have done without, but there was nothing for it. He sat down at his desk and began to write a note to Mrs Hampton, telling her that he was called away on business and would hope to see her in Bath in no more than two weeks from now. That would surely give him enough time to complete his business in Cambridgeshire!

Susannah had felt some misgiving when her mother read the short letter to her. It had sounded abrupt, as if Harry had been in a hurry, and it caused a cold shiver to run down her spine. She did not know why it should have made her feel so apprehensive—after all, it would only be a matter of a few days longer before he came to Bath. Besides, they had been so taken up with saying goodbye to their friends, returning books to the library and picking up packages that had been ordered from various shops that the time had flown.

The day for their departure to Bath arrived and they set out on the journey in good spirits. Susannah could not help looking forward to Harry’s visit and the letter that might spell the beginning of her happiness.

However, she had determined that she would carry on as usual, and it was a pleasant surprise when Toby Sinclair came to call the day after they arrived in Bath.

‘How nice to see you, sir,’ Mrs Hampton said when he was shown into the parlour where they sat together. ‘We did not know that you intended to come down, Mr Sinclair.’

‘Oh … I posted down to visit some friends,’ Toby said airily, but his eyes were on Susannah. ‘Mama asked me to call on her, which I shall, but I think I shall spend a few days in Bath first. My visit to Mama is not urgent. I wondered whether Miss Susannah would care to drive out to see some of the sights—ma’am—Miss Royston? I have another seat in my curricle if you wish?’

‘I think we may trust her to your care, sir,’ Mrs Hampton said. He was a pleasant young man and his attentions to Susannah had become more particular of late. Nothing was settled with Lord Pendleton yet and there was no certainty of anything. ‘I trust you have your groom with you?’

‘Yes, ma’am,’ Toby said, his eyes never moving from Susannah. ‘Would you care for a drive, Miss Hampton? It is pleasant out today.’

‘If you will give me a moment to collect my parasol and pelisse,’ Susannah told him, ‘I shall be happy to drive with you, sir.’

She was pleased to be on such good terms with Harry’s nephew. If she had not liked Harry Pendleton so very much, she might have thought Toby a very good sort of husband.

‘Lord Pendleton has offered to teach me to drive when we visit his estate,’ she told Toby when he handed her into his curricle. ‘I am looking forward to it so much.’

‘Harry is one of the best whips I know,’ Toby said. ‘However, I shall be happy to give you a few lessons myself. It would be too difficult for you on the road, but I shall be visiting with Lady Pendleton and Harry next month, and it will please me to give you a few pointers.’

‘Show me how to hold the reins as we drive,’ Susannah said, giving him such a brilliant smile that a passerby grinned to himself and thought he had seen a pair of young lovers. ‘I should be pleased to know a little before Harry takes me driving.’

‘Well, you hold them in one hand like this,’ Toby said. ‘That gives you a free hand for the whip. Not that you need it often with well-trained cattle. I only use it if I have to get somewhere in a hurry, but you will drive at a sedate pace. It wouldn’t be fitting for a young lady to race, of course. Not done at all.’

‘Oh …’ Susannah looked at him wistfully. ‘Would it not, sir? I am disappointed. I should have liked to race—when I am able to drive well enough, and on a private estate, of course.’