Free Sussex Summer by Lucy Muir Page B

a fashionable perch phaeton in a glossy orange lacquer drawn by matched chestnuts caparisoned in rosettes and ribbons. Jamie himself was dressed to the nines in a canary coat, pea-green pantaloons, purple waistcoat and a white neckcloth.
    "I say, Fanny," he called, looking at Lord Staplefield’s old-fashioned carriage in disparagement, " I was going to take you on a drive today."
    “I am sorry, Jamie, I do not recall your asking me," Fanny replied, as Jane settled herself on the seat of Lord Staplefield's carriage.
    "Jane may go with Lord Staplefield and you shall come with me," Jamie insisted as Jane settled herself on the leather squabs and the earl held his hand out to assist Fanny into the carriage.
    Jane saw Fanny hesitate, uncertain what to do. Should Fanny refuse, it would look odd to those watching from behind the curtains of the village cottages, since Jamie was officially still her betrothed. But Jane knew Fanny would much prefer to go with Lord Staplefield.
    Lord Staplefield sensed her dilemma, and said in a low voice, "It is no matter, Miss Fanny Hampton. Go with Mr. Tremaine now and I shall take you driving tomorrow."
    "You are the winner this morning, Tremaine," the earl said pleasantly as he helped Fanny into the phaeton, but Jamie rudely turned his head away and made no reply.
    Fanny watched in envy as the earl drove off with Jane. "Really, Jamie, that was beyond anything. I had a commitment to the earl," she said with irritation.
    "It's not the thing for you to be driving out with other men when you are betrothed to me," Jamie responded truculently as he flicked the reins and the phaeton moved forward.
    Fanny looked at him measuringly. "I am not betrothed to you, as you well know."
    "Well, others don't know, and it looks deuced shabby for you to be receiving so much attention from other men," Jamie lectured as his chestnuts began to pick up speed.
    Fanny's temper began to rise at this dressing down. "I think it is time we officially ended our betrothal. Then you can have no objections to my behaviour."
    "Don't fly up into the boughs so." Jamie turned to look at Fanny and said almost hesitantly, "I've been meaning to say, Fan, we needn't end the betrothal at all. We could go on as before."
    Fanny was so angry at Jamie’s assumption that she would care to continue her betrothal to him after his treatment of her that she opened her mouth to tell him exactly what she thought when she caught a fleeting glimpse of the old Jamie in the boyish face. Her anger died, and she answered mildly.
    "No, Jamie, we cannot go on as before. It is not possible after what has passed between us."
    "Are you going to hold that against a fellow forever?" Jamie pleaded. "I had had a shock."
    Fanny did not try to explain that her appearance when she was ill should not have revolted him if he had loved her. Shocked him perhaps, but not caused him to end their betrothal.
    "I think it best we end it, Jamie," she repeated.
    "I know what it is," he said sullenly, flicking the horses lightly with his whip to increase their speed. "You're hoping to snabble the earl. An earl's much better than the younger son of a viscount. Why else would you see so much of that...that macaroni."
    Fanny knew it was Jamie's wounded vanity speaking, but the benevolent feeling toward him she had just experienced vanished entirely.
    "Don't you dare speak to me that way," she ordered as the phaeton careened on at a faster and faster pace. "Not after your Turkish treatment of me when I was ill. I want the betrothal ended now."
    "I refuse!" Jamie shouted in reply, whipping up the horses until the phaeton swayed dangerously going around a curve, forcing Fanny to hold on for dear life or be thrown from the vehicle.
    “What are you trying to do, cause us to overturn?” Fanny shouted, bringing Jamie back to his senses, and he slowed his team.
    “Take me home at once, Jamie,” Fanny commanded.
    Sullenly, Jamie obliged, and they returned without speaking. Fanny was so