A party of pleasure

Sophy comes bring my chocolate, and goes open the curtains, and remarks that 'tis a very fine day, Your Ladyship.

'Tis a fine day upon which I confide that Docket has said I am sleeping so sweet and peacefull I should not be woke – but sure there have been a deal of late nights, and 'tis entire prudent to be fresh for the coming e’en.

Indeed I am exceeding glad that 'tis fine for did it offer to rain might affect the plans upon hand.

Docket comes in and tells Sophy that she should be about packing Her Ladyship’s trunk –

Trunk? says I, sure 'tis but one night, a valise would serve.

Docket gives me a severe look and asks whether I purpose to put on the gown I have been wearing all evening in such circumstance the morn?

Why, says I, none will be looking at me.

Docket snorts. I concede to the trunk.

I go downstairs to breakfast, and find myself already somewhat in the frets about what goes forth the e’en. I therefore go distract my mind by addressing a deal of correspondence that lyes pil’d up upon my desk, and also correcting some proofs.

But comes the time when I must go be dresst for this party of pleasure.

I have already dispatcht Ajax with my own carriage, along with Sophy and a pique-nique basket, and therefore am oblig’d to hire one from the livery stables to take me as far as M- House, where our little party gathers.

Sure there seems an immense crowd of excit’d young women, but indeed 'tis not really an entire mob. I smile at Viola, that says we may be a little crowd’d in the coaches, but indeed, 'tis only to take us as far as the river.

'Tis an exceeding great while since I was at Vauxhall, for in the latter part of my years in the demimonde, I was so beset by aspirants did I go to any publick pleasure garden that I was oblig’d to eschew the delights of Vauxhall or Ranelagh. Sure I had almost forgot how very delightfull a matter 'tis, and indeed, when Madame Z- first took Miss G- and myself there, we were chidden for our girlish excitement over its wonders and instruct’d to think of it as a place of business, and that there were a deal of things that we should, or should not, do was we to gain the desir’d reputation of fine courtesans. Tho’ indeed, there was the occasion when I met dear Captain, as he then was, K-, and altho’ I had long since made it my habit to refuse any suits advanc’d in such places, was so beguil’d by his fine amorous strategy, that I was most happyly board’d in a seclud’d arbour.

There is a little of a chill breeze when we take to the water, but we are so huddl’d together that does not strike unpleasing cold. Sure we might take the fine new bridge, but that I daresay Viola takes a consideration that arriving by river has somewhat more romantick about it.

There is a deal of gasps and cries and exclamations as we enter the fine pleasure-grounds and Viola remarks that 'tis give out that the conditions are favourable to the ascent of a balloon.

Bess says somewhat longing that she would like to ascend in a balloon, it must quite entirely exceed.

Viola adds that she has bespoken supper, but 'tis not serv’d for some hours yet, let us walk about and observe the sights. She cautions the girls to stay together, for sometimes there will be coarse fellows or those that go steal: and our little party is flankt by four of the M- House footmen, among whom I observe Thomas, as a further precaution.

Sure there are a fine deal of entertainments, from exceeding excellent musick to wire-walking, and the delightfull surroundings that are so pleasing lit up are most charming in themselves.

In due course there is indeed a balloon ascent to observe, follow’d by fireworks.

I move towards Lady Anna and Lady Emily.

O, cries Lady Emily, and goes as if to faint (sure I see the benefits of her training in matters dramatique with Miss A-, for 'tis quite entire convincing).

Come, says I, here is my smelling-bottle, and let us go sit upon some seclud’d bench where you may be quiet and recover yourself.

Viola looks about and waves Thomas over to us, and conveys where they will be going have supper so that we may rejoin 'em once Lady Emily is recover’d.

Lady Emily coughs somewhat as she holds the smelling-bottle to her nose.

We go sit down in a peacefull arbour, and Lady Emily leans upon her sister and say, also she feels somewhat sick. I frown with concern and say, sure I think, is’t more than some passing qualm, that she should go home and lye down and is she not recover’d by the morn, a physician should be sent for.

How fortunate, says I, that I took thought that I had no fancy to be in a jostling crowd waiting to board the boats very late at night, and desir’d my coachman to bring my carriage so that I might leave more expeditious. Let us therefore go where he waits, and I will take you home at once.

Thomas comes escort us to where Ajax has my carriage quite entire in readyness. I convey him a compliment and say I should be oblig’d would he tell Her Grace that I thought it best to accompany Lady Emily and her sister, and hope that this does not upset the pleasures of the rest of the party.

Lady Emily droops extreme affecting and is support’d into the carriage by Lady Anna, and I get in and close the door. Thomas turns to go back, and I rap upon the roof with my parasol handle to inform Ajax that we may depart.

Once we are a little way upon the road Lady Emily straightens up and she and her sister embrace. O, Em, says Lady Anna, sure you should go on the stage.

I say that as they have misst their supper, I have brought a pique-nique - Sophy brings forth the basket and altho’ at first Lady Anna declares herself in too much excitement to eat, I say that she will not wish go faint at the altar and should at least try to eat something and she makes a hearty repast.

Indeed I am encourag’d at the success of this first part of the plan, but mind that there is still much that may gang agley.

O, says Lady Emily, will we not be misst?

I confide not, says I. Her Grace will suppose I have took you home to N- House and your own bed, and at N- House all will suppose that you return’d extreme late from Vauxhall to M- House and I doubt will expect you home until well into the day, full of excit’d gossip about your little excursion.

Oh, cries Lady Anna, sure you should write novels, Lady B-, or mayhap plays. Indeed Tony said somewhat of the like to me.

This plan of Vauxhall was exceeding material to my considerations, for puts us well on the Surrey side of the river to start our journey. I am in something of a fret that some entire untoward matter, such as highwaymen, may hinder our business: I therefore prevail’d upon Milord to provide me with a small pistol that I might keep to hand in case of attack.

But, indeed, there is none endeavours stop us save for necessary halts at toll-gates, and we come in good time to the White Hart – 'tis indeed late of the e’en, but not uncommon late, 'twill not look at all suspicious.

I have bespoke two of their best bedchambers along with a private parlour, and we are conduct’d in positively obsequious, for they have seen the coat of arms upon my carriage. The innkeeper’s wife says that they can provide a little supper, do the ladies require? But indeed, we have fed well upon Euphemia’s pique-nique, so I desire only a deal of hot water, so that we may wash ourselves, and so that I may brew some of Eliza’s soothing drink, that I am like to think will be most beneficial.

Ajax brings in my trunk, and the one that was smuggl’d out from N- House so that the ladies may be dresst entire suitable on the morrow and not in crumpl’d travell’d-in gowns.

Ladies Anna and Emily have never stay’d at an inn before – Lady Anna says that whenever the family make the journey 'twixt Town and Monks G-, they start most exceeding early and arrive most exceeding late of the same day, and 'tis not only poor Mama that will be quite entire knockt up by the undertaking. O, but Em, is’t not charming?

Sophy bustles about unpacking the trunks, offering to brush hair, &C, and once I have seen the two girls drink up their soothing drink, I send them into their appoint’d bedchamber with her to prepare for bed, for 'twill be an early rising the morn.

I sigh and stretch out my feet before me as I sit in a fine comfortable chair beside the small fire – for indeed is sometimes just a little cool in the evenings. I am in some anxiety over the other elements to the plan, when comes the innkeeper’s wife to say a boy has just come leave a note for me and stays for a reply.

'Tis from Lord U- to say that the groom’s party are all at the Red Lion, and he will come early the morn to carry the bride to church. I scribble a little reply at the foot of his note to say that the bride will, indeed, be here and I daresay eager to go to church and send it back to the boy with a compliment.

Comes out Sophy and says, she confides that Docket would say 'twas high time My Ladyship was in bed.