plump girls and find thin ones intimidating. My uncle thinks you...’ Jane blushed again. ‘Forgive me, Amanda, but he said you were a delightful armful. If he were ten years younger, I think he would offer for you...’ She looked at Amanda awkwardly, but her doubts fled as Amanda burst into laughter.
‘I am most grateful to him,’ Amanda said, amusement dancing in her eyes. ‘One of the nicest compliments paid me, I think, because it was honest.’
‘May one share the jest?’ Phipps asked, coming up to them with his friend Brock. ‘You have danced with me but once this evening, Miss Hamilton. I fear I must have offended you?’
‘No, indeed, you have not,’ Amanda said. ‘If you wish, I have the waltz after supper free?’
‘I thank you. We should go now, for I think the musicians are about to start.’
Amanda had been so busy laughing and talking that she had left most of her supper untouched, but she did not regret it for she loved to dance, and since Major Brockley had once again solicited Jane’s hand, she had no qualms about leaving her.
‘I am getting up a little party at my country house for August,’ Major Brockley said as the two couples returned to the ballroom. ‘I should be happy if both you and your mama—and Miss Field—would make up part of the company, Miss Hamilton.’
‘I should like to come,’ Amanda replied. ‘I am not certain whether I shall be at home before that—or the guest of Miss Langton.’
‘Oh, Miss Langton will naturally be included,’ Brock said. ‘I shall send the invitations to your home. I dare say either your papa or your mama will let you know the precise details, if you are not at home.’
‘Thank you, I look forward to it,’ Amanda replied.
The two couples parted to take their places on the floor and the music struck up. Of all things, Amanda loved to waltz, and to do so with the man who made her heart beat faster and her feet as light as a feather was such a delight that the music was over too soon. However, Brock then solicited her hand for a country dance and Phipps partnered Miss Field.
* * *
After the set was finished, Lady Hamilton came in search of them and said it was time they left. Told of the scheme for a house party at Lord Brockley’s country seat, she appeared flattered and agreed instantly that she would be delighted to bring her daughter and to chaperon Miss Field.
‘We shall arrange for Jane to stay with us for two days before we come to your father’s estate, sir—and that way I may chaperon them both.’
Jane was flushed with pleasure and, on the way home, thanked Lady Hamilton so many times that that lady laughed and told her she had been thanked enough.
‘It is no trouble, my dear. You are a delightful girl and I am glad to see Amanda making friends that she may keep throughout her life.’
Jane afterwards contented herself with making plans for the visit. Her parents were not rich and, had she not had a generous aunt, the visit to town would not have happened. She confessed that she intended to make herself some new gowns for the promised treat, for the prices charged by London seamstresses were much too high for her pocket.
Amanda, having a generous dress allowance, felt as if she ought to offer some kind of help to her friend, but Mama intervened and spoke of Jane’s talent in dressmaking.
‘Did you make the gown you are wearing?’ she asked.
Jane smiled and inclined her head. ‘I have been asked for the name of my dressmaker several times, Lady Hamilton, but I make them all myself. Mama’s maid helps me cut the patterns, but the needlework and designs are my own.’
‘Amanda needs two new gowns,’ Mama said. ‘If you were to help her choose them, I dare say the silk we buy could be ordered in a sufficient quantity for you to make yourself a gown to match. Think how pretty that would look—the two of you in the same silk, but different styles.’
‘I should love to help Amanda choose her new gowns,’ Jane said, ‘but I need no payment, ma’am.’
‘Oh, but I think that is a lovely idea,’ Amanda cried, thinking how clever Mama was. ‘You could help me make some adjustments to my gowns, Jane. I have discovered that at least three of my new dresses are too big around the waist. I think the seamstress made too much allowance...’
‘No, I think you have lost some weight,’ Jane corrected her. ‘I have an eye for these things and you were rounder at the beginning of the Season than you are now—at least that is my observation.’
‘Do you think so?’ Amanda was puzzled for she had not noticed anything. ‘I thought the seamstress believed I might grow into the extra size.’
‘No, Jane is right,’ Mama said. ‘I thought you might have lost a couple of inches about your waist, my love. I dare say it is all the dancing you’ve been doing...but will you help us, in return for the silk, Jane?’
‘Of course, if you wish it,’ Jane said. ‘I should like to redesign a few things for you, Amanda, if you trust my judgement.’
‘You must come with us when we remove to the countess’s house,’ Lady Hamilton announced. ‘I do not wish to see you girls parted and I know Susanna will be delighted to have you stay. You will prolong your visit to town, Jane, and then come home with us for a week or two. Unless your parents are desperate for you to return?’
‘No, ma’am, they will be only too pleased for me to stay with friends for a while.’
Having arranged the future to her satisfaction, Lady Hamilton allowed the girls to talk together, closing her eyes until Coachman stopped outside Jane’s aunt’s house, and they took leave of one another, after arranging for Jane to accompany Amanda to the dressmaker two days hence.
Continuing their journey, Amanda’s mother was silent for a moment, then, ‘Do you think Major Brockley has taken a fancy to Jane, my dearest? I noticed he danced with her at least twice this evening.’
‘Yes, Mama, he did,’ Amanda agreed. ‘However, he danced with several pretty girls twice—and with me also.’
‘You are a pretty girl,’ Mama said. ‘You put yourself down too much. I have noticed that you are even more popular of late, which proves that it was not just because you went everywhere with Miss Langton.’
Amanda shook her head, laughing a little in the darkness inside the carriage. Her mama was prejudiced, of course, and Jane was always so sweet to her. Amanda’s opinion of herself would always be that she had too many faults, for she did not notice the shine of her hair or see how her eyes lit up when she smiled. Obsessed by her wish to look more like Cynthia Langton, she could not think herself more than vaguely attractive. Yet she had not noticed that many gentlemen had defected and believed that her fortune had always been much sought after. Though several of the young men who had solicited her hand for a dance that evening could not be said to be in want of a fortune: of course, a dance was not an offer of marriage...
‘I must call on Miss Langton in the morning,’ Amanda said as the carriage came to a halt. ‘I am so sorry that she is being forced to leave town. She will miss the last weeks of the Season.’
* * *
‘I wish Mama would not insist that we go home,’ Cynthia complained when Amanda visited her in her room the next morning. There were some red patches on her face, though they seemed to be fading, and it was unlikely she would be permanently scarred. ‘It will be ages before we can go anywhere again and I hate the country.’
‘Major Brockley is getting up a house party for August,’ Amanda said. ‘You, Jane and I have been invited—and I know Phipps is going. I dare say a lot of your admirers will be there.’
‘Mama has not yet had the invitation,’ Cynthia said, but she brightened up and sat forward, but then frowned. ‘I dare say he will not have invited the Marquis of Shearne, though. I believe they do not much like