Gavotte Read online

  GAVOTTE

  BY

  MARINA OLIVER

  While Isabella and her family were with King Charles II in exile, she was jilted, and has set her mind against any marriage. Instead, she wants the lovely Clare, her younger sister, to restore the family fortunes with a wealthy husband.

  When they visit London for the Coronation festivities she decides it is the ideal time for Clare to attract eligible suitors, such as Jason Marlowe, but he appears to be destined for their cousin Frances.

  Meanwhile, men who are far from eligible have to be deterred.

  Clare, however, is unwilling to be sacrificed, especially as she has her own ideas of who will be the best husband for her.

  This brings Isabella into unexpected danger as she attempts to save Clare from an improvident move.

  Gavotte

  By Marina Oliver

  Copyright © 2016 Marina Oliver

  Smashwords Edition

  The moral right of the author has been asserted

  Cover Design by Debbie Oliver

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed in any form, including digital and electronic or mechanical, without the prior written consent of the Publisher, except for brief quotes for use in reviews.

  Smashwords Edition, License Notes

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  First print edition published 1978 by Robert Hale

  See details of other books by Marina Oliver at

  http:/www.marina-oliver.net

  AUTHOR NOTE

  Arranged marriages, not love matches, were common in the seventeenth century, mainly to forward the ambitions, connections or wealth of the families involved. Not all girls were content with such arrangements.

  I used the festivities surrounding the Coronation of Charles II, soon after he and his exiled supporters had returned to England, as the background for this story, since it brought people to London and enabled those contemplating marriages to meet prospective partners.

  GAVOTTE

  BY MARINA OLIVER

  Chapter 1

  Isabella sat back on her heels with a sigh. She pushed her thick hair back from her face, leaving a smudge on her forehead as she did so. She had been so certain the old hobby-horse was somewhere in the attics, but after a prolonged search still could not find it. Well, they would have to find some other gift to take to Mistress Bembow when they visited her later that day.

  She stuffed the nostalgic reminders of her childhood back into the press, and then rose and wandered over to the small dormer window. It looked down onto that part of the gardens where they had loved to play as children. They had called it their secret garden, for only the attic windows overlooked it. Now the grass was overgrown, and weeds abounded. The tall hedges enclosing the garden needed pruning, and the unpainted gate hung drunkenly on one hinge. Like the rest of the estate, it showed the result of years of neglect.

  Isabella gazed down, musing wistfully on those happy days before the Commonwealth, before they had been forced to leave their home and country and live as poverty stricken exiles in foreign lands. Perhaps now they had returned in the wake of the newly restored King Charles, life would be merry once more, and their home could be brought back to its former beauty.

  Then Isabella's thoughts were distracted as two figures, foreshortened as she looked down on them, came into the garden. She smiled fondly as she watched her younger sister Clare run across the grass, but when she recognised the tall, well-made man who followed Clare at a more sedate walk, Isabella's smile turned to a frown. Edward Willis was becoming over-attentive. He seemed to visit the house every day, she thought angrily.

  Clare turned towards the young man and they spoke for a while, then, drawing a startled, horrified gasp from Isabella, they moved together, his arms encircled her, and she turned up her face for a lingering kiss.

  Genuinely shocked, Isabella's first instinct was to rush down into the garden and drag them apart. Then she paused, her hand on the banisters. That could only do harm. She must be more subtle. She turned aside into her own room, and sat on the wide windowseat, her chin resting in her hand as she considered this development.

  Was Clare imagining herself in love with Edward? It would never do, and yet there could be no other excuse for such wanton behaviour. He was attractive, Isabella admitted fairly, and in truth Clare had seen so few young men these last months it would hardly be surprising if she imagined herself in love with the only personable one around. But it would by no means do for Clare to throw herself away on an impoverished country squire. Isabella was determined Clare would restore the family fortunes by contracting a brilliant marriage. She was astonishingly lovely with her dark blue eyes and the fair curls framing an enchantingly pretty face. She would be wasted if allowed to marry Edward Willis. The answer was for her to meet more eligible men, and after due consideration Isabella went in search of her mother. She found Mistress Vaughan in the still-room supervising the maids making preserves. She looked up smiling as Isabella came in.

  'Did you find it, my dear?'

  'Find what?' Isabella asked in puzzlement.

  'Why, the hobby-horse you were looking for.'

  'Oh, I had forgot! No, it was not in the attic. I cannot think where it may have gone.'

  'No matter. After ten years, our memories cannot be perfect.'

  'Mother, I wish to speak with you. Can you spare me some time?'

  Mistress Vaughan glanced quickly at her. 'Why, yes, I think the girls can manage now, and I am weary, I would welcome a rest.'

  She gave a few rapid instructions to the maids and then led the way to the small parlour at the side of the house which she used as her own. 'Now, my dear, you seem concerned. What is it?'

  *

  'I am worried about Clare,' Isabella said slowly.

  Mistress Vaughan raised her eyebrows. 'What can you mean, my dear?'

  'Edward Willis is here again. I fear he pays too much attention to Clare. She may have unsuitable notions regarding him.'

  'Edward is a nice boy, a good lad,' Mistress Vaughan said unconcernedly.

  'But Mother, they might wish to marry! And that is impossible!' Isabella almost wailed.

  'Why so? If he offers for her, he is a suitable match for Clare. He is young, honest, and would treat her well, I am sure.'

  'But he is poor!'

  'Scarce poverty-stricken!'

  'Oh, I know he has his own house and a small fortune, but it cannot be more than a few hundred pounds a year.'

  'We are far from rich ourselves,' her mother reminded her gently. 'We lost a great deal in the wars, and we have had heavy fines to pay, though your father is hopeful the King will recompense him now he is restored to his throne.'

  'From all I hear there is small hope of that!' Isabella commented tartly.

  'We are much poorer than we were, and I fear that neither you nor Clare can expect large dowries. In the circumstances Edward would be an equal match for Clare.'

  'That is not the point,' Isabella protested. 'We were much richer as a family once, and surely we ought all to try to restore the family fortunes, and buy back some of the land that was sold to pay the fines?'

  'We must await the land settlements for that.'

  'I cannot believe that will happen! Mother, do you not see? Clare can help repair our fortunes. She is a beauty, and would doubtless marry well if she had the opportunity
.'

  'She is not like to make a wealthy match with the small dowry we can offer.'

  'Money is not all that can be offered! She is lovely, and young, and she must not be allowed to throw herself away on a small country squire like Edward Willis!'

  'I do not think he has spoken to your father, but if he does, and she loves him, and will be happy with him?'

  'Oh, Mother, I do not believe that romantic nonsense. She may imagine she is in love, but such does not last, and in any event, what has it to do with marriage? They are business affairs, contracted for mutual benefit by people of our degree, whatever farm labourers do! Besides, she has had so little choice. Edward is almost the first man she has met since we returned from Brussels last year. The only other people we have seen have been old country squires or tradesmen. If she could meet other attractive men she would forget Edward.'

  Mistress Vaughan looked sadly at her daughter. 'There is something in what you say, but I wish both of you to marry for love, my dear, as well as material considerations.'

  'I know you would not persuade us into unwelcome matches, Mother dear. But it is her duty to marry well. There are many men she could no doubt be happy with, but she must do the best she can for herself and all of us. And here she has so few opportunities.'

  'Are you complaining, my dears?' a masculine voice interrupted.

  Isabella and her mother looked round. Unnoticed, Captain Vaughan had entered the room and stood smiling at them.

  'Not for ourselves, Father,' Isabella hastened to reassure him. 'I was saying Clare meets so few people. It offers her few prospects.'

  'Prospects? Of what?'

  'Of making a good marriage, instead of throwing herself away on someone like Edward Willis who can do nought for her!'

  Captain Vaughan smiled at her. 'I see. However, it puzzles me, if you think we need to make a rich marriage to restore the family fortunes, why you should be unwilling to make one yourself?'

  Isabella looked at him in surprise.

  'Why, what chance have I of marriage, rich or otherwise? I am no beauty like Clare, and besides, I am one and twenty, far too old to be considered for marriage.'

  'Many women marry at much later ages, my dear,' Captain Vaughan said gently.

  'Mayhap they do, but not to great fortunes! Clare, at seventeen, and with her great beauty, could capture whom she wished. Of course I would be willing to do it if I could, but you would be asking the impossible! It must be Clare.'

  Her father smiled at her. 'You underrate yourself, my dear. You are not as lovely as Clare, that I will allow you, but you are more beautiful than you admit, and have other qualities to attract a man.'

  Isabella laughed. 'It is kind in you to reassure me, sir!' she said mockingly. 'But who would be willing to accept an old ill-tempered hag like myself? Oh, I do not entirely despair! I daresay some widower, or some wealthy tradesman trying to marry into the gentry might offer for me!' She smiled. 'But I will be content, believe me, to stay here as company for Mother while you are away on army business. I have no desire to wed.'

  'You speak as though no one has ever asked for your hand,' Mistress Vaughan said, laughing somewhat. 'Your father has had several offers for you. Do you forget those?'

  'I am heartily glad he did not accept such offers! Impecunious exiles such as we were, or thoughtless fribbles who would have driven me to madness within a few weeks!'

  'Yet are you not suggesting Clare should be thrust into marriage with such?'

  'Not men of that sort! But there are many more suitable men in England, and she could choose someone who would be good to her, with whom she could be happy. An older man, perhaps. He would be more settled, sensible. Aye, that might serve very well.'

  'Do you happen to have anyone in mind, my dear?' Captain Vaughan asked, a trifle suspiciously. He knew his Isabella and her myriad schemes from the past.

  'Why no. I merely thought to decide what manner of man would suit Clare best.'

  'I see. Old, rich – '

  Isabella laughed. 'You misunderstand me on purpose, Father! But older men, and more settled than Edward, and with greater prospects. Do you know of anyone who might do?'

  'Offhand, I can call to mind no such paragon!'

  'Oh, sir! You mock at me, when I am but attempting to do the best I can for us all.'

  'I do not mean to be unkind, my love. I am touched you should wish to take these cares on your shoulders. But none of us would relish advancement at the expense of Clare's happiness.'

  'No, indeed! I but thought to give her a wider choice than she has at present.' She smiled at her father, then turned to her mother. 'Mayhap her godmother would invite her to stay, and introduce her to some suitable men?'

  'Mistress Aubrey leads a very quiet life at Richmond,' Mistress Vaughan demurred, and Isabella thought for a moment, her brow furrowed, while her parents regarded her in amusement, wondering what plans the impulsive Isabella was now concocting.

  'I do not expect Cousin Jack knows anyone suitable amongst his friends,' she mused. 'They are most like as feckless and irresponsible as he is himself. But wait, I have it! Your sister, Mother! Think you Lady Lyndon would invite us to stay? She must know all the best society, and in London Clare would have many opportunities.'

  Mistress Vaughan smiled at her enthusiasm. 'I confess I would dearly love to visit Margaret. We saw her only that short time we spent in London after the King's return, but 'tis many years since we met properly.'

  Isabella caught the wistful note in her voice, and satisfied with the progress made, smiled and escaped on the excuse of needing to mend a tear in some lace.

  'Minx!' her father commented when she was safely out of hearing. 'But it is a good notion, nonetheless. We have worked hard since returning home.'

  'It would be pleasant to visit Margaret.'

  Captain Vaughan nodded. 'I have myself been aware of Edward's obvious attachment to Clare. Isabella speaks truly, she could do much better. I think before agreeing to any match it would be wise to encourage her to meet more men. Of course, if she and Edward were firm in their wishes, I would not desire to prevent the match. But I am much more concerned over a match for Isabella!'

  His wife looked enquiringly at him, and he laughed. 'Despite her protests, she will attract many suitors! I hope we are able to choose one who will be able to control her starts!'

  'Is there such a man? But we have been buried here too long, and it would be pleasant to be in London when you return to army duties. I will write to Margaret this instant!'

  *

  As the applause of the fashionable audience began to die down, the singer made her final bow and left the stage. The audience rose and moved towards the room where supper had been laid.

  'Lady Lyndon! I had hoped to see you here this evening.'

  Margaret, Lady Lyndon, a strikingly handsome woman, turned towards the man who addressed her.

  'My lord, I did not see you in the audience.'

  'I was late and slipped in at the back. But are you here alone?' Lord Belvedere asked.

  'No, Frances is here, but she was taken into supper by some friends.'

  'Then may I escort you?'

  He offered her his arm, she smilingly laid her hand upon it, and they strolled into the other room. Securing a table in a corner, Lady Lyndon sat down while Lord Belvedere went to fetch refreshments, then they talked together amiably, for they had long been friends.

  'I received a letter from my sister this morning,' Lady Lyndon said. 'I collect you did not meet her and her family when they stayed with me last summer?'

  'No, I was away at the time.'

  'They stayed but two nights, for Captain Vaughan was anxious to return to his estates. The whole family had just returned from Brussels, where they lived since Worcester fight.'

  'I remember your sister from many years ago.'

  'She writes to ask if they may visit me. I shall be delighted to see them again.'

  'Company for you and Frances.'


  'Indeed. Jane has two girls, one the same age as Frances, one a little older. Doubtless they will enjoy the Coronation festivities.' Lady Lyndon smiled in anticipation. 'I must arrange parties for them. Poor dears, they did not have an easy time abroad, and their estates have been severely reduced. Jane tells me that though Captain Vaughan's mother remained there and was not molested, she had little money and few servants. Captain Vaughan had to sell a great deal of his land in order to pay the fines levied on him.'

  'Aye. Many have been severely damaged by this, and from all accounts look to receive little recompense. What does your brother-in-law intend to do?'

  'He will continue a while in the Life Guards. He has had leave these last few months to set his estate to rights, but he plans to rejoin his regiment soon. There he might obtain preferment. I must see what gaiety I can provide for the girls in the next few months.'

  Lord Belvedere smiled at her. 'You are looking forward to it, I can see. Pray call on me if I can be of any assistance.'

  Lady Lyndon nodded, smiling. 'You may be sure of that. I shall demand your escort constantly, and that of your nephew. But where is Jason tonight? He said he intended to come.'

  'No doubt he considers a musical evening too tame, and is off on some wild caper with his Court friends.'

  She looked at him sympathetically, noting the worried look in his eyes and the firmly closed lips. 'Do not be too harsh towards him. He is young and lively, and seeks diversions normal to his age,' she said softly.

  'I could nonetheless wish him a little steadier. He is fast gaining a reputation for wildness.'

  'High spirits. There is no viciousness in him, and he will settle down in time. He is but five and twenty, and the brilliance of Charles' Court has gone to the heads of more than Jason!'

  Before he could reply they were interrupted as two girls approached the table. The taller one was dark and pretty, and strongly resembled Lady Lyndon. She was drawing her companion forward, and Lord Belvedere smiled encouragingly at the quieter, less vividly coloured young girl who smiled shyly back at them.

  'Mother, do you remember Barbara? She was at school with me, and spent a few days with us some years back.'