Chapter Five
‘And they’ll be gone next day’
While reading the Morning Post to her great uncle the following morning, Julia plucked up courage and asked, ‘Uncle Thomas, are you acquainted with a Mr Hamilton?’
Up to that moment the old man had appeared to be in a relatively good humour but at the mention of that gentleman’s name, his eyebrows joined together and his eyes assumed a steely glint that Julia knew only too well.
‘How do you know Gerald Hamilton, Miss?’ he asked sharply.
With as brief an explanation as she could muster, Julia told him about the near mishap that had occurred at the ball and Mr Hamilton’s invaluable assistance and courtesy, carefully refraining from mentioning her earlier encounter in the village.
Great Uncle Thomas was silent for a moment.
Then, choosing his words carefully, he said, ‘Mr Hamilton has an estate near Rye and is said to be a man of substance. In business matters I have no quarrel with him. However, I should not have thought him to be a suitable acquaintance for a female in your situation.’
Julia looked at her great uncle nonplussed and started turning the amethyst ring on her finger. What on earth could he mean? A female in her situation?
For a moment they continued staring at each other until Julia asked blankly, ‘Whatever do you mean, Uncle?’
‘Gerald Hamilton’s reputation with the petticoat line is well known in these parts, Miss. It would not be seemly for me to say more, but my advice would be to give that gentleman a wide berth. Do I make myself clear?’ And he leaned forward in his chair, glaring fiercely.
With burning cheeks, Julia addressed him.
‘Uncle Thomas, my acquaintance with Mr Hamilton is slight, but to me he has been nothing other than a gentleman. If I should meet him in public again, I could not with all conscience treat him with anything but politeness. However, I will certainly remember our conversation.’
Her reading finished, Julia begged to be excused and left the room feeling very disgruntled and with the uncomfortable feeling that her great uncle’s eyes were boring into her back.
In the afternoon she walked with Smithers to visit the Wentworth family at Wentworth Hall.
During the course of conversation, Lady Wentworth mentioned the prospect of an excursion to Rye on market day, suggesting that Julia might care to join them to see something of the old town. As she did not think Susan was quite the thing yet, her visit to London and Aunt Maria was delayed until she had the bloom back in her cheeks. An outing would lift Susan’s spirits.
‘We will have luncheon at The George Inn, visit the local emporium and several other good clothing establishments, we will visit the church on the hill the Ypres Tower and take in the surrounding view from the terrace.’
This all sounded delightful to Julia and she agreed unhesitatingly to accompany them.
At nine-thirty on market day, the Wentworth carriage drew up and they began the drive to Rye. It passed pleasantly enough, and on their arrival they were able to walk along High Street purchasing ribbons and muslins as well as other articles of female apparel, before joining Sir Henry at The George for a substantial luncheon.
Afterwards, the party consisting of Sir Henry and Lady Wentworth, Susan, Caroline and an enthusiastic Julia, made their way up to the Church of St Mary to see the turret clock. As they walked through the busy streets, two men, one a middle-aged sea captain and the other, a younger man, an officer in the uniform of a Customs Land Guard, stopped to greet Sir Henry.
After the first pleasantries, Sir Henry turned to Julia.
‘Miss Farraday, may I present Captain Martin of the ship Glorious, and Lieutenant Wareham, the Riding Officer for Rye.’
The older man, Captain Martin, bowed, and the lieutenant’s sharp blue eyes looked directly at her.
‘Miss Farraday, my pleasure I’m sure. Are you by chance any relation to Mr Thomas Farraday of Winchelsea?’
‘My great uncle, sir,’ Julia replied, watching an exchange of glances between the officer and Sir Henry, which brought to mind the night of the ball in Rye and the same look of recognition between Gerald Hamilton and Timothy Danvers.
‘Are you acquainted with him, Lieutenant?’
The officer smiled grimly. ‘Indeed I am, Miss Farraday.
‘With smuggling still rampant on the Sussex Coast, despite the end of the war, it is my business to keep an eye on what goes on in the district.’
‘But how does that affect my great uncle?’ asked Julia puzzled.
Lieutenant Wareham cleared his throat and looked briefly at Sir Henry before answering.
‘Although your great uncle is elderly, he is very much aware of what goes on, Miss Farraday. He also has very large stables for someone who keeps only a horse and gig. Unscrupulous smugglers are often in need of storage for their illicit trade, and we’ve had reason in the past to believe that Mr Farraday’s stables have been used for that purpose, with or without his knowledge or consent.
‘To be fair, most people hereabouts are too frightened to oppose the smugglers and try to stay on the right side of them.’
Here, Lieutenant Wareham’s face hardened. ‘But we must stamp out this murderous trade that is costing innocent lives and also costing the country a fortune in revenue, which only profits our enemies.’
Julia was taken aback by the officer’s outburst, and saw Captain Martin’s look of surprise. Sir Henry interrupted to mollify Lieutenant Wareham and soothe Julia.
‘Let us not worry the ladies with such talk. Miss Farraday is new to our district and we want her to enjoy it. Come, let us continue on to the church so we can show her the view from the terrace.’
Lieutenant Wareham’s face relaxed into an affable smile. He took his watch from his pocket and looked at the time.
‘Regretfully, I have some pressing business on the other side of town and I see I am going to be late. Otherwise I would have been delighted to join you,’ and with a bow, he and the captain continued on their way, leaving the group to continue their climb to the summit.
They returned to The George later in the afternoon for refreshments and had only just seated themselves when Susan turned to Julia and announced, ‘I see Mr Hamilton has also decided to visit the town today.’
Indeed, there was the gentleman himself, accompanied by the somewhat dandified young Mr Danvers who was dressed in the height of fashion.
On seeing the Wentworth party, Mr Hamilton crossed the room towards them, a wide smile lighting up his face. With pleasantries exchanged between them, he introduced his companion, Mr Danvers, who presented a fine bow to the ladies and proceeded to converse with Susan and Caroline much to the young ladies’ delight.
Mr Hamilton turned to Julia. ‘How are you enjoying your visit to Rye, Miss Farraday?’
‘Very much, thank you. We have just returned from the terrace and the view was splendid.’
‘I am relieved to hear it. Also that you do not appear to have tripped or had any unfortunate accidents while there.’
He grinned in such a mischievous way that Julia couldn’t help but smile back even as the colour rose in her cheeks, remembering how he had caught her in his arms at the ball.
‘Do you ride, Miss Farraday?’ he asked, still gazing into her eyes.
‘Why, yes, but not terribly well.’
In fact it was one of the few accomplishments that Julia had not mastered completely, purely for lack of opportunity.
‘I’m not even sure whether my great uncle keeps any horses suitable for riding now.’
‘My goodness, you do surprise me!’ said Gerald Hamilton in mock alarm.
‘And he has those enormous stables. Perhaps I may be permitted to lend you a mount. I do assure you that I have a quiet mare that might suit you very well. Not like the colt you saw me riding in the village,’ he added teasingly.
‘You are most kind, sir,’ said Julia, smiling back. ‘But I must confess that my expertise on horseback might not be good enough, even for
your quiet mare.’
‘Allow me to be the judge of that. Would you permit me to call on you and bring the mare so we can see if you will suit each other?’
Her great uncle’s words suddenly came back to her, but looking into those brown eyes that seemed so full of kindness and concern for her wellbeing, any hesitation she felt just melted away.
‘I will naturally ask your great uncle’s permission. However, as we have dealt well together in the past, I can see no problem from that quarter,’ and he smiled again.
The words of Mrs Talbot and her great uncle concerning Gerald Hamilton’s reputation flooded again into her mind, but she deliberately thrust them from her. He was being so kind and so charming, just like Philip.
She pushed the negative thoughts away. Why, if he considered himself a friend of her great uncle’s and was willing to call on him to discuss the loan of the mare, surely there could be nothing wrong? Besides, how did she know if there was any truth in Mrs Talbot’s remarks? It could all be just malicious gossip. As for her great uncle’s remarks to her, he was obviously prejudiced in some way, and how accurate was his information anyway, the recluse that he was?
Lady Wentworth was now addressing Mr Hamilton in a most amiable fashion; surely they would not be so intimate with the gentleman if there was any serious scandal?
Julia decided that she must convince her great uncle that any friendship with Mr Hamilton was purely platonic and would never be of a romantic nature.
Julia felt better immediately and joined the tea table with a sudden surge of appetite that surprised her. Everyone ate and chatted merrily, until finally Sir Henry announced that they had better start their journey back to Winchelsea.
As they were about to leave, Julia turned to Mr Hamilton and asked, ‘May I inquire how you knew on the night of the ball who I was, and that I had left Court, and that I was staying with my great uncle?’
His smile was disingenuous. ‘Why, Miss Farraday, I can assure you your arrival has been the source of much interest and discussion in our sleepy village. But, I must admit,’ and he leaned closer, ‘after seeing you for myself in Winchelsea, I made my own inquiries.’
Julia felt a tingle of pleasure but said no more. Gerald Hamilton gave her hand a gentle squeeze as they said goodbye and promised to call upon her in the next few days, leaving Julia in a state of keen anticipation for what their next meeting might bring.