Free Sussex Summer by Lucy Muir Page A

correspondence. Nothing for her amongst it. He had not said he would write, but Jane had harboured hopes that Edward would send her a letter from London while he was there. Surely that would not have been improper, given the friendship between the families and especially between the two of them. It had been fully two weeks since he had left, and there had been no word. Not even Lady Tremaine had heard from him. Jane took the offending letters in to her father, who was so absorbed in his work that he barely noted her presence until she turned to leave.
    "Jane, would you help me with my latest chapter this morning? I need your fair hand for the final copy," he said flatteringly.
    "I cannot help you this morning. I promised to go riding with Fanny and Lord Staplefield, but I shall have time to make a copy this afternoon," Jane promised.
    Mr. Hampton looked up from his desk. "Lord Staplefield has become a frequent caller, has he not?"
    "Yes, he has shown a definite interest in Fanny's company."
    "Then perhaps it is time Fanny officially ended her betrothal to James Tremaine. Although he has been a frequent caller also, has he not?" Mr. Hampton sighed at the thought of having to disrupt his studies to deal with a family problem. He much preferred his world of books. So much more orderly.
    "Do not fret about Fanny, Papa," Jane said to allay her father's worry. "I believe Fanny is quite capable of dealing with both Jamie and Lord Staplefield properly."
    Pleased to be relieved of his responsibilities so easily, Mr. Hampton picked up his pen and returned to his work.
    "Mind you leave the afternoon free," he admonished as she left the room.
    "Yes, Papa," Jane promised. Helping her father with his work more frequently had helped her not to miss Captain Tremaine as much, but it had its disadvantages. The more she assisted her father, the more he required her presence.
    She was on her way upstairs when she heard Fanny's voice calling after her.
    "Jane, hurry and get dressed or you will not be ready when Lord Staplefield arrives."
    "I am on my way now," Jane answered, turning to her sister, who stood at the bottom of the stairs watching her anxiously. Fanny looked extremely fetching in her new carriage dress of apricot muslin, and Jane was certain her efforts would not be wasted upon Lord Staplefield. She nodded at her sister reassuringly and hurried upstairs to change into her own new carriage dress.
    As she quickly dressed herself, Jane reflected that one thing she had to be grateful for lately was Fanny's rapid return to health. Her sister seemed to have finally come to terms with her changed appearance. No doubt the attention she was receiving from her three admirers had a great deal to do with it. Jamie and Christopher called frequently, and Jane was amused by Jamie's sudden willingness to keep up the pretense of the betrothal. He acted quite possessively of Fanny, glaring at Chris when he was present and sulking when Lord Staplefield appeared. Fanny seemed to accept Jamie's presence with equanimity, however. Jane wondered what her sister was planning to do about the betrothal. Fanny might well wish to be free to receive more serious attentions from Christopher Archer or Lord Staplefield.
    But Fanny’s full social life also made Jane feel the lack of her own. She had become accustomed to the daily visits from Edward, and life was sadly flat with him gone. Playing chaperone to her sister was not the same as having her company sought for itself.
    "Jane, Lord Staplefield is here. Make haste," Fanny's voice called. Jane grabbed a bonnet from the shelf of her wardrobe and hurried down the stairs, trying to throw off her melancholy lest she be a poor companion for the other two.
    The sisters exited the cottage and Jane and smiled charmingly at Lord Staplefield as he stood beside his carriage to hand them up.
    The earl was assisting Jane into the carriage while his groom held the horses when a second equipage drew up, driven by Jamie. It was