Chapter 34

CHAPTER 34

brAMLEY HOUSE, SUSSEX.

W ith the removal of her new friend to town, Miss Emily Edwin had been much alone again. Margaret's absence had made her aware of a gaping and dull gap in her life, of which she had previously been insensible. When they had walked and talked together, she had found in Margaret Dashwood a companion of even greater value than the one she had lost at the departure of the inestimable Miss Ford. Now she found each day without her new friend to be tiresomely empty. She rode almost daily, when her father could accompany her, but the weather had forbidden it of late and as the weeks wore on Miss Edwin had become restless to be doing something, with someone of her own age.

The Captain had, in his way, done his best to compensate the lack of female companionship by offering very often to ride out with her, or to play at cards or backgammon and when that did not seem to console her, to walk the same paths they had all taken together, over the hills and woods of Hadston. But young people will always like the company of their own ilk, for only young ladies can talk with young ladies over the small and seemingly trivial matters which a gentleman might find tedious.

But even if the Captain was kind enough to attempt to amuse his daughter frequently, Miss Edwin noticed in her father an unusual and decided pensiveness, although he was generally of the most cheerful disposition. In observing this unaccountable mood in her father, she took care to always join him on walks and to accept his offers to play at backgammon. But she could not understand why his usually cheerful mood was now so solemn. Nor did his zest for walking remain. Before, when they had walked with Miss Dashwood, they had roamed many miles before turning around but now her father seemed inclined, even when the weather was clement, to go in early for tea, rather than to enjoy the brisk wintery air and pretty hills, which they had both previously claimed as some of Hadston's finest pleasures.

‘You are not sickening for something, are you, Papa?' she asked one morning when he had declined even a short walk before breakfast.

‘Not at all, my dear,' replied he in grave tones. ‘I own I have been a little preoccupied, and I am sorry to give you alarm, but there is nothing in the world the matter with me. I think I have been from the sea too long and have land sickness!' He made the little joke but his smile did not reach his eyes.

‘There is such a thing?' replied Miss Edwin, her eyes wide with astonishment. ‘I never heard of it before, and yet, I suppose for a sailor like you, it must be hard to be on land all the time.'

‘I have been thinking, Emily dear, that if you don't mind so very much, when the summer comes, I might look to getting command of a ship again, perhaps for few months, to the West Indies or some such place—should you mind if I am away for a time? I will, of course, get a companion for you while I am gone. '

‘Yes Papa, if that will make you happy,' replied Miss Edwin cautiously. ‘It is a great pity, is it not, that Miss Dashwood left for town or perhaps she might have liked to stay on here with us—and how delightful it would have been and how easy it would have been to tolerate your being gone away again if she were my companion!'

The Captain, a certain look passing over his countenance, said nothing, but presently added quietly, ‘Indeed, Miss Dashwood would have been a wonderful companion to you—but she is gone away now, and I dare say has found much more to amuse herself in town than here in a small, quiet village in Sussex. Besides, you would not wish to remove her from her friends in Devonshire, would you? Now, where is my newspaper? Emily, will you ring the bell for Simpson, please?'

Thus advanced a grave, grey autumn into an early winter—whiter, colder and more monotonous than ever before to the young lady who had lost the cheerful company of a beloved father, as well as her governess and her newly cherished friend. Receiving a letter from town was now her greatest excitement, and writing one in return calculated to take her as many hours as could be devoted to it between chores and visiting and keeping her father company.

One morning in late November, to Miss Edwin's delight, there was a letter laid at her place at breakfast, and after thanking the servant who had placed it there, and seeing her father helped to coffee, she slipped the wax seal with her knife and opened it out.

‘It is from Miss Dashwood, Papa. Let me read it aloud, instead of you reading to me from the paper!'

‘By all means, do!' urged Captain Edwin, and she began to read:

‘My dearest Miss Edwin

How I do think about Bramley and its inhabitants, and how I miss our walks! I should think the place very white now, covered with snow, and I suppose the little brook where we used to sit in the sun, will now be iced over quite truly. Did I ever tell you that I once slipped on the ice there and sprained my ankle, when I was only nine, and Elinor had to carry me home to Mama and have me put to bed! But I forget myself—I hope very much that this letter finds you and your father well.

I own I am reluctant to say it, but I have some news which I hope will interest you a little—or if I flatter myself, then very much—for it pertains to a gentleman who is known to your father and you, and who has been present at almost every evening party and ball that Fanny and John have attended. The gentleman's name is Ambrose, and he has made me an offer of marriage, which I have accepted.'

Here, Emily Edwin, most greatly astonished to hear such a thing, looked up at her father. ‘Papa! Margaret is engaged to Mr Ambrose—your cousin! Can you credit such a thing?'

Captain Edwin's coffee cup jarred in its saucer as he put it down. ‘Ambrose? Miss Dashwood is engaged to be married to Charles Ambrose?'

‘Yes, Papa! Do not you recall in one of her letters that she dined at St James-street several weeks ago, when she first arrived in town? He must have taken a liking to her that night! I will wager that is exactly how it happened! She attended the dinner with her brother and Mrs Dashwood, and he saw how beautiful she was and could not help himself! Do not you think it excessively romantic, Papa?'

Captain Edwin startled out of his sudden reverie. ‘Yes, indeed, quite romantic!'

‘I suppose you think her quite below him, and to be sure, she cannot equal your cousin's rank. But she is so beautiful, and has so kind a nature, that I suppose she has won his heart with very little effort! Does it not tell of his great taste, and his great condescension to Miss Dashwood?'

‘His condescension?' His look was still one of consternation, but soon he shook himself into order. ‘Certainly, it does. But of course, Miss Dashwood is not so very low in her situation that she ought to feel in any way inferior, for she is well educated, and has enjoyed the benefit of her brother's connections in town. I believe she will be able to hold her own very well. She will make a fine wife for Charles Ambrose.'

‘You don't sound as if you mean that, Papa. What is wrong? Don't you wish them joy? Say you do! Then I can write straight away after breakfast and tell her so!'

He scarcely hesitated. ‘I wish them very happy. You—you will be so good as to send her my best wishes, when you write.'

‘Of course, Papa. How wonderful it is! I wonder when they are to marry? But I will finish the letter. Yes, here it is! She says they plan to marry on the first day of January, in town, then go direct to Delaford, Barton and then on to Rannocks in Hereforshire. Papa, you do not attend me at all!'

‘Oh, but I was certainly listening, only I was struck by that swallow out there in the trees—how sweetly it sings although it is so cold out.' He turned back to the room, his countenance grave.

‘Yes Papa, it is very cold out,' smiled Miss Edwin, ‘and I daresay the news of Miss Dashwood's becoming mistress of your cousin's estate is not nearly as fascinating to you as it is to me. I shall let you attend to the window scene and I shall read my letter alone.'

Captain Edwin now made some effort to appear amused. ‘Ha! Aye, you can give me sauce, young lady, but never think me too feeble and old to retaliate in some fashion—now I am determined to be meddlesome and difficult for the rest of the morning!'

‘Papa, you are never meddlesome, nor difficult!' Miss Edwin's smile was fond. ‘Shall I call Simpson in to remove the breakfast? I am sure your coffee will be quite cold for you have not touched it for some time!'

‘I would be very much obliged if you will, for I have just remembered that I have business to attend in town.' He paused then said carefully, ‘Emily, I think I must go away for a few days, for I would very much like to see my uncle. I shall ride up, and have my man bring a trunk behind me. I should be away only a week or so, I should think.'

‘This is very sudden, Papa,' remarked Miss Edwin, her face crinkling in puzzlement. ‘I thought you were to visit Lord Melbourne in the spring as you usually do?'

‘I have some urgent matters to discuss with my uncle that will not wait, I am afraid, but I assure you I will not be long away, my dear. Mrs Hudson will be here, and you always go along nicely without me now, you are so used to my absences. I shall tell old Weatherby to ride with you daily, while I am gone.'

‘Thank you Papa, I shall welcome the exercise if the weather permits riding, although it won't be the same if you are not with me!'

Captain Edwin made his wishes known to his man, and soon his mount was saddled, and a trunk arranged to follow him into Suffolk. As for Miss Edwin, as used as she was to her father's long absences, she did not like to be alone those times he was obliged to leave Hadston, on business or in the name of his career.

But as sudden as his announcement was, she did not suspect anything more than business matters to have taken him from the village. She had not been apprised of a certain conversation which had taken place in its surrounds only two months previously, and so she might be forgiven for assuming that the pained look which had passed across her father's face when Miss Dashwood's union to Ambrose had been announced would be nothing more than pure and natural astonishment to hear of unexpected news.