Laidlaw bowed courteously at the conclusion of this speech but had no reply for Henry. He turned to Captain Brandt. ‘I thank you for your concern, Captain. I shall not forget your friendship, if you will allow me to consider it thus. I might have injured an innocent man, and your being here, and coming after me, has prevented a perhaps tragic event.’
Captain Brandt, ignoring the muffled squeak which came from Henry’s direction, acknowledged Laidlaw’s thanks with a bow, and made a polite negation. Still mounted on his horse, he studiously avoided Georgiana’s eyes, his scar twitching in the way she had become familiar with.
For her part, however, now that the danger of a duel had passed, her mind was anxiously engaged in wondering how, and when, he might take his departure, and if he might once more address her before doing so! She pulled her shawl more securely around her shoulders and tried not to catch his gaze. He knew her to be free and single! But how could she speak to him, now that he knew? Perhaps he even despised her!
Henry, now having his bravado restored to him, moved forward of Captain Brandt. ‘Oh, I don’t think it would have been all that bad, Laidlaw; good heavens, I might just as well have injured you! But all’s well, and Brandt here saved us both the inconvenience of a fight, so I might well offer my thanks too, you know!’
Captain Brandt’s fine upper lip curled slightly, his eyes glinting, but made no reply.
Tom Laidlaw too, had nothing to add to this, but now turned again to Georgiana. ‘Do you think, Miss Hall, that is, are you much given to understand that I might still have a chance with Miss Esme?’
The deep attachment that was apparent in his words, united with the eagerness in his voice, and she was moved to reassure him. ‘I cannot say for certain, Sir, but I have reason to believe that should you go to Miss Osbourne and explain all that has happened, you will find a heart which is still very much your own!’
‘Thank you!’ He turned from her and mounted his horse with a new vigour. ‘Then I have a most urgent errand to undertake now, and I hope you all will forgive me for departing in haste. Miss Hall, compliments to your family! Captain Brandt! I am greatly obliged to you both!’ He saluted the party, spurred his horse, and was gone.
Twenty Five
‘So, Captain Brandt, you are come to Northstead, and I am sure we are all thankful for it, I must say! What a capital idea it was of yours to follow that very foolish young man and prevent a fight! I am sure we are all very much obliged to you for it! Very much obliged, I think, are we not, Georgie? Only think, if Henry had been wounded! Or yourself! You are indeed a gallant Captain Brandt, Sir!’
Mrs St. George, upon viewing from the window, first Tom Laidlaw’s departure, followed by that of Henry but a few moments later, had concluded it safe enough to now venture outside, and had come to formally greet her unexpected guest, who had dismounted his beast, and was, unaccountably, staring at the frontage of Northstead. Mrs St. George seemed intent on keeping him standing there, by addressing him with several observations on the events that had just occurred.
Whether she in doing so, she was sensible of the discomfort his continued presence brought to her niece, Georgiana could not ascertain; in fact, her own mind was rather more preoccupied with another thought, which had now occurred to her, and which caused her much agitation. Had he come to protect Henry, for her own sake? He had stood between Henry and Tom, to prevent Henry’s being hurt! Was he simply acting by his conscience, or motived by stronger feelings? Oh, if only she knew!
She went over the events of the last few minutes in her mind, more and more sure that despite her opinion of him, and despite his certainty that she was engaged to her cousin, that he had still come as a service to herself! But if that was so, then was it possible that he loved her? If it was true, she could not comprehend how she was to look him in the eye, much less answer him, should he address her again! Each moment expecting him to hurry away, she drank in the sight of him, all the while chastising herself for her foolishness.
To her aunt’s compliments, Captain Brandt said but little, and merely smiled his lopsided smile and murmured a polite negation. He now and then glanced up at the house, some perplexity on his countenance. Georgiana, eyeing him from beneath lowered lashes, thought he might disapprove of the large, Corinthian-pillared house, surrounded by its cheerful rose beds, so different it was from his own austere Thornleigh!
At this moment, Julia, who had been watching at the window, cast herself through the wide doorway, and took Captain Brandt’s hand proprietarily, much to Georgiana’s chagrin. ‘Captain Brandt! I knew we should see you again! Ask Georgie, for I said in the carriage here, that I was sure we should see you again, even though she said not, but I was right, and here you are! You were very brave to stop Mr Laidlaw from fighting Cousin Henry!’ She smiled up at him.
Captain Brandt returned Julia’s girlish attentions by attending to her chatter kindly.
Georgiana was forced to allow that, despite his previous ungentlemanly treatment of herself, his kindness for her sister seemed sincere, and showed an amiable, patient character.
He addressed Julia conspiratorially. ‘I hope you met with no pirates on your journey here, or if you did, I hope you remembered what I said about looking them straight in the eye to frighten them off!’ His tone was teasing and he was rewarded by girlish laughter, and an account of their journey the previous day.
As he was engaged in listening to Julia, Captain Brandt looked up and found Georgiana’s eyes on him. She looked away hastily, her face suffused with pink-cheeked awareness of him.
Her aunt began to speak again of the vastness of their obligation to him, and to praise the navy in general for their courageousness. Her audience, however, continued to study the frontage of Northstead with a rather intense regard.
At length, comprehending his impolite behaviour, he started and offered his hostess a smile. ‘Forgive me, Mrs St. George, for I fear I was not fully not attending. You are very kind, Ma’am, to the navy in general – I was taken up by something – an impression – but no, I collect I am mistaken! And yet, I am almost sure, I have seen this house, in a drawing!’
Mrs St. George entered into his curiosity with like spirit. ‘Do you indeed, Sir? But how extraordinary! It is a very uncommon house, you know, for the pillars were added by the last owner, to the original, and so, as you see, it gives it a very comical air, my dear husband and I always thought! And where did you see a painting of this house, Sir?’
‘Added, you say? Then, by God, I believe I have seen this very house! But I am at a loss to comprehend the meaning of it!’
‘If you might relate to me how you happened upon an image of the place, Captain, we may come to some definite conclusion,’ encouraged Mrs St. George.
Georgiana, full of curiosity, drew closer, the better to hear, delighting secretly in being so near to his person.
Captain Brandt intently surveyed the house again. ‘How long have you resided here, Mrs St. George?’
‘Above thirty years, Captain! My dear husband bought this house for me when I was married but a year, and then soon after he passed away.’
‘Thirty! And of what ailment did your husband pass away, if you do not object to my asking so forward a question, Ma’am?’
‘Why, he died of typhoid fever, Captain,’ she replied solemnly, ‘while he was coming back from the Indies! A great traveller my John was. He was gone over on business, and when I said goodbye to him, that was the last time I set eyes on him.’ She wiped a tear from her eye and smiled fondly. ‘But what does that have to do with your painting?’
‘Your husband died at sea then?’ interjected Captain Brandt, his mottled brow furrowed.
‘Why yes, that is what I said. He died on the voyage home!’
Lost in thought, he murmured to himself, ‘It cannot be, and yet, it surely is too great a coincidence! But those pillars! They were so oddly set, against the older style of architecture.’ He turned again to Georgiana’s aunt. ‘Mrs St. George, for
me to tell you where I saw a painting of your house, I must tell you a story of my early seafaring days, which I hope you will allow me to relate to you.’
He only addressed her aunt, but Georgiana strained to catch every word, her entire attention invested in his story.
He began. ‘When I was but a lad, around thirteen years old, I had decided, with the blessing of my good father, to take the profession of the navy as my own, my brother being my father’s heir, and me keen to involve myself in something useful. I immediately had the good fortune to be taken on board a vessel, whose name I cannot now recall. I was taken in under apprenticeship and was lucky enough to find me a good Captain, who looked after me well, all things considered. I enjoyed my share of adventures at sea and fought the Spanish alongside my fellows. Well, we eventually reached the West Indies, greatly in need of rest since we had fought hard at Cape St. Vincent, and were much in need of repairs and supplies. An English merchant happened to come on board with us there, and his young assistant, a boy of near my own age, requesting passage back to England. Captain Brown agreed to take them, and we set off a few days later.’
Julia, who was still attached to his hand, was entranced, her eyes round. ‘Do tell us what happened, Captain Brandt!’
He gave it a squeeze. ‘In good time, young powder-monkey. Now, shortly after leaving port, the English gentleman took ill, with typhoid. No one would go to nurse him, since they were all fearful of contracting the disease themselves, and the poor fellow had no nurse, nor a creature to take him his food and water. Even his boy refused to go inside the cabin. After it was made plain that no one would volunteer, I took it upon myself to nurse the poor fellow.’
Georgiana shuddered to herself, at the thought of his placing himself in the way of danger, but her agitations were known only to herself.
‘Oh! You are very good, Sir!’ responded Georgiana’s aunt. ‘But did you not contract any illness yourself?’
‘I was foolhardy, rather than brave, I suspect, Ma’am. But I never had a day’s illness from the encounter. I sat with him most of the day and night, for fourteen days, before he succumbed to the disease, and in that time, I believe we became friends. I flatter myself that he liked me, and when he was able to speak, he told me stories of his boyhood, and spoke of his life as a tea merchant.’
‘Tea-merchant! My dear John’s business was in tea! As surely as my name is St. George, you speak of my husband!’ Mrs St. George dabbed her eyes with a kerchief.
‘Perhaps so, Ma’am. And there is more evidence to surmise it. On the wall of his cabin, was a painting, a rather well-executed water colour. I liked to look at it, for as a boy, it could not help but remind me of the home I was missing. The painting was of this house, or one very like it. I remember thinking it a very odd-looking place, for the architecture was older, and not fashionable at all, and yet the pillars at its front were quite modern, as if they had been put in as an after-thought! I am afraid I cannot tell you the name of the house, for the gentleman and I never spoke of his home or wife, which subjects always made him more melancholy, and thus I avoided them. But, I think because of my small service to him, and knowing he was soon to take his last breath, he gave me the picture, and I have it still in my possession.’
‘My husband always had a picture of this house with him!’ cried poor Mrs St. George, who was now quite convinced Captain Brandt had nursed no other than her dear John. ‘He always took that one, for it was small, and rolled up well, and he said he liked to have it in his cabin to remind him of his dear home, and his wife!’ exclaimed Mrs St. George. ‘Oh, Captain Brandt, it must be my dear John, of whom you speak, it truly must!’
‘I suspect you are correct, Ma’am, but there is but one way to be sure.’
‘I must see the painting at once!’ cried Mrs St. George. ‘Georgiana, did not you see any painting at Thornleigh, that was very like this house?’
‘No, Aunt, although I did not see over the house entirely, since I was so busy with Julia’s care,’ replied Georgiana in a low voice, slightly embarrassed to be so suddenly applied to, and unable to give an affirmative. ‘I was only ever in the dining room, and the drawing room, and my own and Julia’s bedrooms.’ She did not mention her first night, which was spent in Captain Brandt’s own bedchamber.
Perhaps sensing her embarrassment, Captain Brandt half turned towards her, and interjected with cool politeness, ‘I think it is hung in one of the other bedrooms; you can never have had the opportunity to see it, Miss Hall. But,’ he added, turning to Mrs St. George ‘I can bring the painting here, if you will be so good as to see it, and then you shall have an answer beyond doubt.’
‘Oh Captain, you are very good, very good indeed. You must come back to Northstead just as soon as ever you please, whenever it is convenient for you. I must say that I am vastly keen to see the picture, for while I verily believe it is the one my dear John always took with him, it would be just as well to see it, as not, if you would be so kind!’
‘Then, your wish is my command, Ma’am.’ He made her civil bow.
‘Oh, Captain, you have done me a vast deal of good today, I declare! It gives me great comfort indeed, Sir, to know that you were with my dear John until the last!’ She took his hand impulsively. ‘And such bravery, to risk your own life. You surely are a very good sort of man, Captain, and I am much comforted by it.’
After he had kindly entered into her feelings, with great sympathy and sensibility, and Georgiana had consoled her aunt gently, while attempting not to meet his eye, Mrs St. George became aware of their having stood outside for some time, and she extended an invitation to take tea with them.
Casting Georgiana a quick, private look, which she could not easily interpret, but which absurdly quickened her heart, he declined pleasantly, without giving the slightest offence and reminded her aunt that he was still two hours hard ride from home. ‘I regret it very much, Ma’am, but it is quite out of my power at present to give myself the pleasure of remaining for an hour or two longer.’ He paused. ‘I hope, however, that I might be forgiven, and instead be permitted to call on you, and your nieces, in a few days’ time, when I can be more at leisure, and bring the picture with me for verification.’
Mrs St. George was all welcoming eagerness. ‘In that case, we shall certainly excuse you today, Captain, and we shall expect you in a few days as promised! In point of fact, Captain, you will always be as welcome at Northstead as any other dear friend of my husband’s, for as long as you live! If you could only know the joy it brings me when you speak of knowing my dear John!’ Close to tears again, she dabbed her eyes.
He thanked her again, said all that was proper on the occasion, promising again to call within a few days, and Mrs St. George finally suffered him to mount his horse and make his departure. As he rode off, he once turned in the saddle, and looked back, Georgiana fancied, at herself, but she hoped he did not notice that her dark eyes were unusually bright.
Twenty Six
Georgiana’s agitation, knowing that he was to call again, and very soon, was much to be blamed in the following days, both for her lack of attention when her aunt, or her sister addressed her, and for the much-reduced quality of restoration she could claim from a night’s sleep. At any time, her thoughts were never far from Thornleigh, and Captain Asher Brandt, and alternated in painful misery one moment from supposing his promise to call again was mere duty and kindness to her aunt, and the next, in the agitated happiness which came to claim her when her mind ventured to be so bold as to assign a greater, and more personal, motive than mere kindness, to his promised visit!
Caught in a misery of indecision as to his motive, she did not much attend anything, and when they went into town to the circulating library, or to call on her aunt’s friends, she was only half present, the other half being thirty miles away! The agitation with which she arose from her bed every morning, expecting his return visit at any moment, was nothing compared to the misery she felt by the end of the day, of finding him not
come at all, although she secretly watched for his horse through the windows, whenever they were home, and anxiously searched for his calling card, afraid they had missed him while they had been out. But nothing was left, and no horse appeared, and three days came and went unexceptionally.
The arrival of a letter, only four days after their arrival at Northstead, from her friend Lilly Osbourne, did much to distract her from the anxiety which attended her inner thoughts, and she eagerly opened the communication. Lilly’s mother, she read, had relented, just as hoped, and allowed Lilly to return to their own home in Derbyshire, and what is more, she was to marry Charles Hailsham after all! It seemed that, on receipt of Tom Laidlaw’s offer of marriage to Esme, that her parents, overcome with the joy of having their youngest daughter’s prospects so well arranged, that they could now afford to be generous with their older, and found that Charles Hailsham might not be so unacceptable after all, and the two sisters might be rejoiced of a double union in very fair time. But then, reading further, Georgiana’s heart gave a little flutter.
‘Only conceive of my joy, my dearest friend, for not only shall Charles and I be married in a week’s time, but he has promised to take me for a honeymoon, into Yorkshire! I am wild with the anticipation of seeing you again, and only think, when you see me, I shall be a married lady! We shall take some accommodation at an inn, whatever place your aunt or you think acceptable, so do pray make some enquiries for us, and take some rooms on our behalf for a se’en night! We shall arrive two days directly after we are married which is to be Thursday next. Oh, Georgie, I am wild with anticipation of it all! Did you ever imagine one could be so happy? I did not!’
Beauty and the Beast of Thornleigh Page 20