Beauty and the Beast of Thornleigh

by Kate Westwood

  There was a small bustle from the store-room, and Elizabeth poked her head out, holding a fine Wedgwood plate. ‘Yes, quite tragic,’ she said acidly. ‘I do think we can take this! Papa purchased it himself for Mama; I really think we can take all the Wedgwood ware!’

  ‘Yes, of course, if it was purchased by Papa, then we have a right— but, Eliza dear, what I really wanted to tell you is that Lilly is coming here, to call, with her husband, and it would be most embarrassing, most improper if you were to show any bitterness regarding her sister and Mr Laidlaw.’

  Elizabeth retreated into the store-room again. ‘Pray refrain from mentioning the matter over; I am quite done with it all! I have already told you, it was all a silly amusement. I am sorry if it inconvenienced anybody, but no permanent harm was done. I wish you would not speak of it again!’

  Georgiana raised her brows and sighed. Her sister’s rallying, excusing comments were no match for her own low spirits, and she yielded to the accusing silence, wrapping the odd little things Elizabeth passed out of the store infrequently, with the occasional enquiry, ‘Is this alright to take, do you think we could add this to Aunt Fanny’s breakfast set?’ to break the quiet.

  Presently, Mrs Gibson came down to ask Elizabeth about the linen, and Georgiana took the opportunity to walk in the garden for some air. Now that spring was upon them, she found a little solace for her wrought nerves in the warm air and the green buds which poked through the dark, leafless trees branches. Every opportunity not taken to wander in her own dear garden would be one lost, when they left for Northstead in three weeks.

  She sighed and smoothed her hand absently over the dark wood of her walking stick. To leave Loweston, to make way for Henry, was half joy and half sorrow, for herself at any rate. To have her dear cousin settled so well, and with a wife who, although a little insipid for her own taste, really seemed to have no definitely awful or intractable qualities, was a source of happiness for her, but to have to leave the home of her childhood, to be forced on the generosity of her mother’s sister, was a move she would have done much to deliver them all from, had she been able. Here she sighed deeply again, recollecting her mama’s frowning looks when she had returned from Northstead four weeks ago, as single as she had left it.

  No one had guessed at the state of her heart, however, which was not as free as her unmarried state would have her friends believe. Although her usual bloom had given way to a weak pallor, and her spirits, usually animated and interested in all, had sunk only to the doing of mere duty and retiring early to her room, Mrs Hall was never in the way of noticing such things about either of her older daughters, so taken up was she by her own affairs, and Elizabeth, apart from observing complacently one evening that her sister was much less argumentative than usual, was so much occupied with going through the silverware, and deciding which dresses she was take to Northstead and how many she might ask her aunt to have new-made, that Georgiana was left entirely to herself to ponder the workings of providence, and the way it tossed people about, as if on a little boat in the vast ocean.

  And if she cried herself to sleep at night, certainly she was afforded the privacy she should want in such a case; no one heard her, and if Mrs Gibson found tear stains on the pillow the next morning, she only tutted and shook her head, and put it down to melancholy at having to leave Loweston. So Georgiana had perfect privacy in which to give way to her inner distress, and no one guessed the misery which plagued her heart.

  Henry’s marriage had taken place only one week ago, and after the couple’s return from abroad, they would settle at Loweston and make a married life for themselves. Henry had already taken Georgiana aside and offered her a home at Loweston.

  ‘I have spoken to Caroline about it, and she is quite eager to have you stay and help her learn to run the household, you know! I think she would be grateful to have you here, if you would agree to stay. And I would, of course, be most honoured if you would consider this your permanent home, for as long as you wish, Georgie!’

  Gracefully, she declined. ‘It would not do, Henry, to leave Mama and Eliza to manage Julia alone, and besides, married life ought not to begin with one’s relations always being present,’ she added with a weak smile. Privately however, she could not bear the thought of going permanently to Northstead, when it was but thirty miles from Thornleigh, but neither she could suffer to stay on at Loweston, the home of her childhood, which held dear memories of her father, and see someone else in his place. Henry had already showed her his plans to refurbish the drawing room and her father’s library, and she felt that to stay, to observe so many changes, would sink her spirits even lower. No, she would go to Northstead, and if he was to come calling, or she was to accidentally meet him, she would teach herself to be sensible, or suffer the more!

  ~~*~~

  Mrs Charles Hailsham’s visit, a week later, brought much to give Georgiana both pain and pleasure. At first, it was all the pleasure of seeing her friend again, and the news that she was expecting a child in the autumn. ‘Oh, how delightful! I am so happy for you and Charles!’

  ‘I shall depend upon your visiting us, when I am lying in, for I am sure it will intolerably dull to never go anywhere at all and have only Mama for company!’

  ‘Of course, and you and the baby will come and visit me at Northstead, when you are able.’

  ‘Yes of course, Georgie, only I was so down-hearted to hear you must go and live there! Cannot Henry have you here with him? And with Charles and I settled so close to Loweston after all, you could spend some of the time with us! I fear I shall never be able to see you, or only if dear Charles will take us! But are you not sad to be leaving here, Georgie?’

  ‘Yes. It is true I am sorry to be moving so far from my home, but I would not wish to impose on Henry and Caroline, nor on you and Charles, especially with a baby coming,’ she said earnestly. ‘But I am sure my aunt will receive you and Charles any time you wish; do say you will come and visit, for I shall although I shall depend upon hearing from you often, there is nothing to equal the pleasure looking forward to a visit from a dear friend!’

  They were walking out of doors, Georgiana’s arm tucked firmly under her friends, in their usual manner when walking together. They had spent the first hour of the visit indoors with Mrs Hall, Elizbeth and Julia. Lilly, thinking more of Georgiana than of Eliza, had been careful not to mention the trouble in London, and Elizabeth, more ashamed than she would admit to her friends, was now most gracious and amiable to Lilly Hailsham, Georgiana thought, as if to somehow amend her wrong-doing a little. Even when the new-made Mrs Esme Laidlaw were asked after, and proper congratulations were given, Elizabeth remained composed, and if she was very quiet for a few moments, and took great pains to help Julia with a difficult stitch, Georgiana thought her remarkably cool.

  On this visit, Georgiana found she could enter into her friend’s joy with only half a heart; with all the talk of marriages, and so much happiness around her, she tried valiantly to keep her spirits high, but although she smiled, and said everything that was proper and feeling, Lilly’s visit had only served to cast her spirits even lower. She could not but help recollect that Lieutenant Hailsham was an intimate friend of Captain Brandt, and she wondered if her friend would often be in company with the Captain. The thought played cruelly on her mind, and her spirits sank lower, at the thought she herself would likely never be in company with him again unless he were to call at her aunt’s, and that she thought unlikely, for she could not imagine that he would seek her out on purpose.

  Lilly, observing the low spirits of her friend, could not help but be concerned, and encouraged by their intimacy of friendship, she enquired if Georgiana was quite well.

  ‘Oh! Oh, yes, I am quite well, thank you. I am merely a little tired, that is all. We have been so much taken up with packing up trunks and boxes, and making up an inventory of the house for my cousin, that I have had less sleep than usual. I fear I have not been outside as much as I ought!’ She smiled as brightl
y as she could, but Lilly still looked worried.

  ‘Then you are not suffering still, of the effects of the accident? I am sorry to mention it, but you look so piqued, Georgie. It was quite an ordeal that you suffered.’

  Georgiana was, in the face of the first real sympathy that she had encountered since her stay at Thornleigh, unable to reply. Her eyes were more eloquent, however.

  Lilly took Georgiana’s hand. ‘Oh, Georgie, was it very awful? To appear on his doorstep, and be obliged to submit to his assistance, and after he had humiliated you by his proposals! Do you despise him for his behaviour to you in the summer?’

  Georgiana shook her head. ‘It was humiliating at the time, I confess. But, having spent the better part of a week under his roof, I think I must forgive him a little.’ Her voice was soft.

  Her friend sent her a surprised glance. ‘But, were you not vastly mortified, to find yourself at his mercy, after all that had passed between you in town? And to be obliged to stay, to impose on his hospitality — it must have been a severe trial to you!’

  Georgiana turned away for moment, torn by the anguish of hearing him spoken of, and the secret joy of speaking of him! After a few moments, she composed herself and said in an even tone, ‘Ash— Captain Brandt saved Julia’s life, and mine too, perhaps. His being there, at that time – is it not Cowper, who says that “God moves in a mysterious way”?’ She sighed.

  Her friend was thoughtful. ‘Yes,’ she replied, ‘I believe it follows with something like, “the bud will have a bitter taste, but sweet will be the flow’r”,’ she added with a smile. ‘Now, let us go inside and have some tea, before I must return home to my husband!’

  Twenty Nine

  At this time, an event occurred which surprised and pleased Georgiana. Colonel Walker, long absent visiting his sister in other parts, was now reported by Gibby, one morning at breakfast, as returned to Lidcombe.

  ‘The house is all opened up, Ma’am, and servants seen beating out carpets and what-not; the village is all a-talk of it, seeing as how he is so much looked up to, in these parts! What a good thing for your girls, and for yourself Ma’am! To have a kind friend return to one’s vicinity after a long absence!’ She beamed with pleasure for them and glanced particularly at Elizabeth to see how she would take the news.

  Elizabeth’s countenance was calm, although her eyes darted briefly towards her mother’s.

  Mrs Hall, her own eyes brightened by the news, fluffed up her lace and smoothed her skirts. ‘I knew the Colonel would come back, Mrs Gibson; I am much more abreast of the goings on in the town as you are, I think! How did I know it, I can see you wishing to know! Well, I sent the Colonel a letter, to tell him of our going into Yorkshire soon, and begged him to come back!’

  ‘Why, that was very foresighted of you, Ma’am. I am sure you must be vastly gratified by his speedy response. He must have come to wish you all good-bye!’

  ‘Mrs Gibson, I shall expect the Colonel to call this day; do have cook make up something special. You know how the Colonel likes his raspberry tarts!’

  But the Colonel did not come. Nor did he come for five days. Georgiana thought she could guess why he had not called to see them.

  Her mother was affronted. ‘Now, I do think that the Colonel ought not to stand on ceremony with us; he must know we do not suffer that kind of thing here! I cannot think why he has not been to see us! I don’t suppose we are important enough for the Colonel, anymore! Perhaps he has been in such fine company that we no longer signify as worthy a visit, I have no doubt! It really is too bad of him, to ignore us in this manner!’

  Georgiana tried to soothe her mama’s feelings. ‘I am sure the Colonel has many affairs to attend to, now that he has opened up Lidcombe again. I am sure he will come, Mama, perhaps tomorrow. Or we can all call at Lidcombe, perhaps?’

  ‘I’ll not go there, if he does not see how proper it would be for him to come here first, I am sure!’

  ‘Then, I am sure he will come soon, Mama. The Colonel is a very particular friend of the family. He would not neglect us unless he was very busy with other affairs. Depend upon, it, you will see him here quite soon.’

  Elizabeth was unusually quiet, and said nothing, but stared out of the window, deep in her own thoughts. Georgiana pitied the Colonel, if he did come, for he was sure to meet with as much coolness and indifference in her sister as ever, and reflecting sadly that she could now enter into all the Colonel might be supposed to be feeling on the matter of unrequited love, she pitied him even the more.

  Her prediction that the Colonel would call by the next day was proven true, for by eleven o’clock, the earliest hour they might expect visitors, the Colonel was presented in the drawing room, asking pardon for not being able to come sooner, much to the delight and relief of Mrs Hall. He was reserved at first, but Mrs Hall greeted him with not a particle of anything like ill-will, and welcomed him, all smiles and amiable agreeableness.

  Elizabeth, too, greeted the Colonel with surprising cordiality, and exercised all her powers of pleasing with him. These must issue, Georgiana supposed, from her not having seen him for some months, and the fact that any opportunity to smile and flirt and be admired, when there were few to be had, were better than none at all. This had always been Eliza’s way with the Colonel, and she was not to drop it now, Georgiana supposed, privately anxious for the Colonel’s heart.

  But the Colonel, encouraged by his favourite’s warm welcome, and appearing fortified by it, soon found his good humour, not appearing to show any bitterness or ill-feeling towards Elizabeth. Georgiana supposed he had gotten over his broken heart tolerably well, in the interim at his sister’s, or else her flattering reception had charmed him all over again! All in all, he was in excellent looks, the sea air having done him good, he claimed, and he pronounced himself very well and quite willing to be of service in any capacity he could, to serve Mrs Hall’s needs.

  That lady was deeply gratified, and yet she prevaricated on the details of their going into Yorkshire, only saying that nothing was yet fixed as to the day, although in fact, the day had been fixed for some four weeks! The Colonel left them after an hour or so, having been fed tea and tarts, seemingly in excellent humour as he departed on foot to complete the five miles or so to Lidcombe.

  Georgiana was relieved to have their friend appear so well, and his mind and heart so little affected, or so well healed from his affliction in the autumn. She wished she could bring herself to such a state, only it seemed that no matter how stern she was with her thoughts during the day, they kept her awake long hours in the private dark of night, and she always now wore dark circles of fatigue beneath her expressive eyes.

  The next day at breakfast, a letter came for Elizabeth, delivered of a servant from Lidcombe. Georgiana thought she could guess what would come next. She had only to wait thirty minutes, while Elizabeth took the letter upstairs in a flurry of agitation, and return again shortly afterward, having written her reply immediately.

  Julia, who was petting Lumley over her toast said gleefully, ‘Eliza’s got a beau and I know who it is, and I wager he has offered to her!’

  ‘Julia, don’t use that language please,’ reminded Georgiana, although she, too, had hopes that her sister’s guess was right. She was soon gratified for the Colonel’s sake.

  Mrs Hall was at first unbelieving. ‘The Colonel has made an offer to you? Well! I must say, you have done nothing to deserve it, my girl! To you! But I cannot believe it! After— I thought perhaps—’, she stopped short, clearly much put out.

  ‘I apprehend that you thought me incapable of getting him, Mama,’ replied Elizabeth, ‘I know you thought of him for yourself! Well, I don’t intend on being single forever, and the Colonel will do just as well as anyone, I suppose. He has a good income, and Lidcombe will make a pleasant home, if only it is new-furnished a little.’

  Mrs Hall spluttered. ‘Think of the Colonel for me? La, what a thought! I only wonder at his offering to you, after you cut him in the
winter! Think of the Colonel for me? What an idea!’

  ‘You had better be kind to him, Eliza,’ admonished Georgiana, wishing she could feel more pity for her mama. ‘He is in love with you, and it would be very unkind to tease the poor Colonel by changing your mind, or by flirting with other men. He is a very good sort of man; I hope you can live up to his faith in you!’

  ‘I suppose,’ added Mrs Hall begrudgingly, ‘that you have managed to get yourself a husband, which is more than I can say for your sister. I have no doubt the Colonel will make you a very devoted husband, too, so besotted he must be with you!’

  Elizabeth, who before the winter would have found a pert, unfeeling reply to these remarks, had the grace to look humble, and only answered mildly, ‘Of course I shan’t tease him, Georgie. I like the Colonel very much. I am quite determined to marry him, after all.’

  The Colonel, on receipt of an acceptance, was from then a constant visitor at Loweston, continuing to offer his services in any little way that might assist Georgiana and Mrs Hall to make their removal to Northstead smoother, and to make the arrangements for a speedy union with his dear Miss Hall, before her mama and sisters were to go away.

  The following week was a flurry of activity, and Georgiana’s time was occupied with the ordering of wedding clothes for her sister, and the packing up of their personal belongings. With the wedding only days away, Mrs Hall, herself and Julia were to depart Loweston two days after that, to go into Yorkshire for good. Henry was to take possession of Loweston after they had departed, and Georgiana silently thanked him for being so sensible of her feelings on the occasion as to promise to wait until they had all left. It would be less painful to see it quietly standing in its pretty garden, than full of newcomers.