A team of even-striding high-bred match bays harnessed to a sleek curricle passed at some speed around the tree lined bend, sweeping gracefully up the carriage-way through the narrow granite gate-posts into the courtyard of the manor house of Alver Park near Bath in Somerset. The house was constructed of sandstone in Palladian style, with alterations and renovations by architect Francis Cartwright in the early 1700s and overlooked a majestic lake, generous gardens and endless woods. This was the principal seat of the Most Honourable the Marquis and Marchioness of Alverstoke and the home of their children and the Marchioness's brothers.
It was in front of the grand pillared entrance that the bays were expertly drawn to a halt and a groom came quickly to their heads whilst two gentlemen descended from the curricle. The driver was a tall distinguished dark haired young man and evidently one of the beau monde, fashionably attired in a drab coat with many capes, buckskin breeches and gleaming Hessians, but possessing an unexacting and amiable countenance. He paused beside the groom, saying pleasantly, "My good man, see that they are walked!"
"No, no, Tony!" his companion protested, "you must have them put up and stay for supper. Reefing, they must be curried and fed. A regular flat I should look if you do not stay!"
Sir Anthony yielded at this point and allowed his team to be led to the stable as he ascended the great stair beside his friend. The magnificent door was opened and the butler, comprehending the identity of the second young man forgot himself and exclaimed with as much exclamation as any such butler could allow, "Mr. Jessamy! We did not expect you!"
"Hullo, Wicken!" replied Jessamy, handing over hat and coat. "Is my sister about?"
"Lord and Lady Alverstoke are in the drawing-room, sir. Shall I take you there directly?" Wicken inquired.
"Save yourself the trouble, Wicken. I shall take myself. Come along, Tony, you must meet my family! I know I've told you so much about them, though it's doubtful you will see Felix a moment before dinner-time; you shall meet Frederica and Alverstoke . . ." Sir Anthony, divested of his great-coat, gloves and curly brimmed beaver, shook out the ruffles of his shirt-sleeves, straightened his coat of blue Superfine and gave one last touch to his beautifully arranged snow-white muslin cravat, listening all the while with unabated attentiveness to the rattling speech. Finally he was satisfied with his appearance, and, in the most leisurely fashion possible strolled beside Jessamy in the direction of the drawing-room, saying in his drawling way, "Frightfully handsome place ain't it!" when there was a lull in conversation.
Jessamy made no reply, overcome in thought and reminiscences as they came to the drawing-room. The door stood open and he suddenly became aware of Frederica, seated by the window and entered with great haste. She startled, then uttered, "Jessamy!" and rose from her chair as he came swiftly toward her to take both outstretched hands.
"I have missed you so. I do not think you could know how much!" said Jessamy, fighting emotion.
"Oh, yes I could; for I have missed you more!" she retorted instantly. She stood back for a moment to compose herself, at which time Alverstoke judged it prudent to join the assembly, and welcomed his charge with a firm hand-shake saying, "An unexpected pleasure, Jessamy! I thought we did not look for you till next week."
"No, sir, you would not have, but Tony" – and recalled to attention his manners, saying, "Oh, beg your pardon! This is my good friend Sir Anthony Heppelthwaite. Tony, this is my sister and her husband, Lord and Lady Alverstoke." That gentleman executed a precise bow to the lord and lady and said gallantly, "the pleasure is all mine!"
His lordships well-bred manners allowed him, with only the faintest quiver of his mouth, to return Sir Anthony's greeting, saying politely, "Not at all!" then added, "I recollect that it is through your kindness that Jessamy has returned to us in such good time! We would be honoured if you would stay and dine with us."
Sir Anthony bowed eloquently "with such a diverting air," said Frederica to his lordship when he came to her dressing room later, "almost as though you were the King of England! Alverstoke, how did such a fellow befriend Jessamy? He is not at all the sort of person Jessamy would usually admire for he could never abide a slow-top!"
"As always, you are right, my dear! I cannot imagine how." said his lordship, tapping his quizzing-glass languidly against his chin, "unless, of course, Sir Anthony has a far deeper understanding than either of us realize!"
"For surely a gentleman of great address and fashionably attired cannot be intelligent!" said Frederica slyly.
"I am sure you are right, my dear," replied Alverstoke, much struck. "It has been my unhappy situation in life all these years!"
"You mistake the matter, my lord; I never recall having questioned your intelligence!" she pointed out.
He flung up his hand, as a fencer acknowledges a hit, saying in failing accents, "no doubt you would look with greater kindness upon me if I adopted a method such as Sir Lumley Skeffington!"
She burst out laughing; for it was Sir Lumley whose exaggerated fashion, painted face and foppish manner had led Lord Alvanley to describe him, with more wit than kindness as 'the Sleeping Beauty, bound in calf, richly gilt and illustrated by many cuts!". Not even the severest critic could accuse his lordship the Marquis, that veritable Tulip of the Ton, of dressing in such a manner; he having modelled himself after the great Beau Brummell, holding that a gentleman's dress must only draw attention to himself by the clean excellence of its cut and the superiority of tailoring, and rejecting the prevailing Dandyism which led some aspirants to add copious amounts of buckram wadding to the shoulders of their nip-waisted coats and starch already excessive shirt collars until they could barely move their heads, among other extravagant follies.