companionable silence or with Jasper giving orders. Rarely, very rarely, they spoke about Fanny Prescott, whom Jasper had not forgotten.
Sophy had tried to bury both guilt and grief, but sometimes she had to speak of her mother, though she was never certain if even the best memories would bring tears or laughter. Jasper listened avidly, imparting now and then a memory of his own. Sophy understood that he had been fond of her mother, and was comforted.
The year Jasper finished his studies at Cambridge, Lord and Lady Fairchild took Henrietta to London for the Season, launching her with all the pomp and circumstance of a ship of the line. She was eighteen and a brilliant success, receiving a flattering number of offers. From the beaus vetted by her mama, Henrietta chose Lord Percy Arundel, surprising many. Two dashing eligibles had made Lady Fairchild's list, and still Henrietta chose Arundel. True, he was wealthy and an earl, but he was balding and fifteen years her senior. He had bookish habits and a tendency to talk over peoples’ heads, in no way resembling the heroes of the novels Henrietta had devoured for so many years. Lady Fairchild was puzzled by this choice, but Henrietta seemed pleased with the match and snagging Arundel was a coup of which any mother could be proud.
Sophy, who received regular letters from Henrietta, had a better understanding of her reasons and was happy for her sister, though grieved to lose her companionship.
“He adores me,” Henrietta wrote. “He will not wander, and he will love me when my beauty is gone. Mother thinks he is a staid fellow. He is, but that doesn’t stop me loving him. Just don’t tell anyone.”
Henrietta married in the fall and Cordell was a quieter place without her. Jasper seldom visited, though he was often at Newmarket, a scant fifteen miles away. In command of his own money now, he tended to avoid his parents, running with a younger, faster set of sporting gentlemen.
Her work completed with Henrietta, Lady Fairchild tried to turn her efforts to her son, but was speedily rebuffed. Her husband refused to lend his aid, and the truce that had held between them during Henrietta's season ended. Lady Fairchild resumed hostilities with a broadside of dinners and parties, and Lord Fairchild retreated to his stables.
Over time, Lady Fairchild’s thoughts turned to Sophy. It surprised her that Sophy seldom rode with William, since under Jasper's tutelage she had become a daring rider. The girl would probably have moved into the stables, if they allowed it, so strong was her fascination with William's bloodstock. Yet she rode with her father only by accident, if they happened to choose the same time and direction. Once, Lady Fairchild had feared Sophy would eclipse her own children in their father's eyes. A misplaced worry, it had turned out.
She was a surprisingly agreeable thing, always docile and polite. Neither Jasper nor Henrietta took pains to please her like Sophy did. Bored, and a little lonely, Lady Fairchild stopped ignoring the girl and began summoning her to the drawing room. Always she made some excuse to herself at first: Miss Frensham had a cold and was unable to pour the tea, or she wanted Sophy present to outshine Mrs. Matcham’s two boring daughters. Lady Fairchild found comfort in Sophy’s company, for since Henrietta’s marriage, her life seemed to have lost much of its purpose. So it was natural, almost unnoticeable, when she began taking Sophy about with her and coaching her in the social arts of which she was an acknowledged master.
They spent many companionable hours together, shopping in the village and reading fashion magazines. Sophy’s looks could not be compared to Henrietta’s, but her taste was excellent. Within a year, Sophy accompanied Lady Fairchild most everywhere, assisted with her correspondence and wrote out the menus for her entertainments. Lady Fairchild began to depend on Sophy, to be just a little
Sophy had tried to bury both guilt and grief, but sometimes she had to speak of her mother, though she was never certain if even the best memories would bring tears or laughter. Jasper listened avidly, imparting now and then a memory of his own. Sophy understood that he had been fond of her mother, and was comforted.
The year Jasper finished his studies at Cambridge, Lord and Lady Fairchild took Henrietta to London for the Season, launching her with all the pomp and circumstance of a ship of the line. She was eighteen and a brilliant success, receiving a flattering number of offers. From the beaus vetted by her mama, Henrietta chose Lord Percy Arundel, surprising many. Two dashing eligibles had made Lady Fairchild's list, and still Henrietta chose Arundel. True, he was wealthy and an earl, but he was balding and fifteen years her senior. He had bookish habits and a tendency to talk over peoples’ heads, in no way resembling the heroes of the novels Henrietta had devoured for so many years. Lady Fairchild was puzzled by this choice, but Henrietta seemed pleased with the match and snagging Arundel was a coup of which any mother could be proud.
Sophy, who received regular letters from Henrietta, had a better understanding of her reasons and was happy for her sister, though grieved to lose her companionship.
“He adores me,” Henrietta wrote. “He will not wander, and he will love me when my beauty is gone. Mother thinks he is a staid fellow. He is, but that doesn’t stop me loving him. Just don’t tell anyone.”
Henrietta married in the fall and Cordell was a quieter place without her. Jasper seldom visited, though he was often at Newmarket, a scant fifteen miles away. In command of his own money now, he tended to avoid his parents, running with a younger, faster set of sporting gentlemen.
Her work completed with Henrietta, Lady Fairchild tried to turn her efforts to her son, but was speedily rebuffed. Her husband refused to lend his aid, and the truce that had held between them during Henrietta's season ended. Lady Fairchild resumed hostilities with a broadside of dinners and parties, and Lord Fairchild retreated to his stables.
Over time, Lady Fairchild’s thoughts turned to Sophy. It surprised her that Sophy seldom rode with William, since under Jasper's tutelage she had become a daring rider. The girl would probably have moved into the stables, if they allowed it, so strong was her fascination with William's bloodstock. Yet she rode with her father only by accident, if they happened to choose the same time and direction. Once, Lady Fairchild had feared Sophy would eclipse her own children in their father's eyes. A misplaced worry, it had turned out.
She was a surprisingly agreeable thing, always docile and polite. Neither Jasper nor Henrietta took pains to please her like Sophy did. Bored, and a little lonely, Lady Fairchild stopped ignoring the girl and began summoning her to the drawing room. Always she made some excuse to herself at first: Miss Frensham had a cold and was unable to pour the tea, or she wanted Sophy present to outshine Mrs. Matcham’s two boring daughters. Lady Fairchild found comfort in Sophy’s company, for since Henrietta’s marriage, her life seemed to have lost much of its purpose. So it was natural, almost unnoticeable, when she began taking Sophy about with her and coaching her in the social arts of which she was an acknowledged master.
They spent many companionable hours together, shopping in the village and reading fashion magazines. Sophy’s looks could not be compared to Henrietta’s, but her taste was excellent. Within a year, Sophy accompanied Lady Fairchild most everywhere, assisted with her correspondence and wrote out the menus for her entertainments. Lady Fairchild began to depend on Sophy, to be just a little
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