by Clare Jayne
* * *
“How is Charlotte lately?” Mrs Daventry asked over a quiet family dinner served by their footman, the occasion an informal one compared to the grand dinner parties they had been attending over the last few months.
“She is well enough,” Amelia said, frowning as she thought of how weary Lottie had looked today, “but after every unhappiness she has endured this year it is as if a light inside her has been extinguished.”
“She needs a husband,” Mrs Daventry said. “You both do.”
Amelia thought of Mr Wrackley with a pang of sadness then with a determination to speak to him and resolve whatever was wrong between them.
“I will speak to Mr Brightford,” Mr Daventry said.
Amelia dropped her spoon into her soup and stared at her father. He thought Mr Brightford wished to marry her? The idea gave her a peculiar surge of pleasure but it made little sense. She checked: “You want me to marry Mr Brightford?”
“No, no. I meant Miss Harrington.”
Amelia recalled Mr Brightford’s attentiveness towards Lottie at the recent balls and her stomach lurched. He was not right for Lottie; not in the least. They would both be miserable. “What makes you think he has a particular liking for Lottie?”
“He is a sensible man and she is a sensible girl. It would be an excellent match and he is the right age to settle down. I will suggest it to him.”
Relief flooded Amelia. As if suggesting such a reason as that would possibly work. She recalled her own reaction to the idea of marrying Mr Brightford with puzzlement and some consternation. No, that had been her ego: of course it would be a great honour to be courted by so powerful and wealthy a man as Mr Brightford but that was all. She did not even like him and, of course, she was in love with Mr Wrackley.
Mr Brightford and she – what a ridiculous idea!
Chapter Eleven
“YOU WILL NEVER believe my news.”
Lottie’s expression held a nervous excitement that was quite unlike her and, after a moment’s confusion, Amelia recalled her father’s words about arranging a marriage between Lottie and Mr Brightford. Her heart fell. It was impossible. This must be something else.
Amelia gestured for Lottie to take the seat opposite her in the small sewing room, as she asked with trepidation, “What has happened?”
“I am engaged once more.”
Amelia could not speak. She had never fainted in her life but thought she might be about to do so. That would explain her peculiar feeling of misery and the sudden chill in the room on a warm summer’s day.
“I can understand your shock,” Lottie went on, misunderstanding Amelia’s silence. She spoke nervously as if anticipating an objection. “I never expected it and, of course, I have only known Mr Alexander Fenbridge for a matter of weeks…”
“Mr Fenbridge has proposed to you?” Suddenly Amelia found she could breathe again and she had to blink back tears of relief.
“Yes,” Lottie confirmed, clearly concerned about Amelia’s reaction. “I cannot even say I have fallen in love, so I know it must make no sense at all to you, but I like him a great deal and this seems to me the best way to recover from the damage to my reputation. You do like Mr Fenbridge, do you not?”
“Oh, yes,” Amelia reassured her. “Very much. He has always been kind and thoughtful. I think it a highly sensible match.” The sort of match she herself would have wanted before meeting Mr Wrackley. “However, Lottie, you have always believed so strongly in marrying for love.”
“I know. Yet, having accepted him, I feel such relief and gratitude. I am certain it is the right decision.”
Amelia did not want to take away Lottie’s unexpected happiness but felt she must ask, “What if you married him then fell in love with someone else?”
“What if I did not marry him and ended up an old maid? My parents could not bear that and nor could I. I have seen couples who married for love but were still not happy and others who married for practical reasons but developed a strong affection for each other. I cannot predict the future but I believe I will have a husband I can respect and care about and that is all I ask.”
She seemed genuinely happy about the decision and, as she had said, marriage to a good man who cared about her was better than no marriage. “As long as you are certain this is what you want to do then I am happy for you.”
Lottie’s face lit up in a warm smile. “Thank you. I am so glad you are not opposed to it. Now when Mr Wrackley proposes to you we can be married at almost the same time. Our husbands will even be friends so we will be able to visit each other very frequently.”
Amelia forced a smile, wishing she had not expressed such certainty that Mr Wrackley would propose. Everything that had seemed simple suddenly seemed so confusing. She had always been the practical one but faced with Lottie making a sensible marriage and having to live with the consequences of the decision for the rest of her life, Amelia was afraid for her friend. She herself loved Mr Wrackley so why then had she reacted in such an emotional manner to the prospect of Lottie marrying Mr Brightford?
* * *
“What a pleasant surprise,” Mr Nathaniel Fenbridge said when the butler led Benjamin into the library to see him at Mr Brightford’s house. He put down his book and smiled with a warmth that made Benjamin automatically return it, his mood lifted just by seeing the other man. “What brings you here?”
“My sister has informed me that she has accepted your brother’s offer of marriage.”
Mr Fenbridge gestured for him to take a seat in one of the chairs that had been upholstered in the same vibrant green patterned cloth as the curtains. “You are not unhappy about the announcement?”
“No, not at all. Your brother has always seemed likeable and a good man to me, but he is not local and my sister has been through a lot this year. I just… I wanted to be certain that he will try to make her happy. Forgive me the impertinence of the question…”
“There is nothing to forgive.” Mr Fenbridge’s blue eyes were warm. “I can completely understand your concerns and I hope I can remove them. My brother is a kind man, a little reserved but I can promise that he has the very greatest affection for Miss Harrington and will do all he can to give her a good life.”
“Thank you. You have indeed reassured me.” He felt the need to apologise again, afraid that he might have damaged their friendship and unable to bear the idea. “Lottie is my only sister…”
“I promise I am not offended.”
Benjamin gave a relieved nod. “Good. I would never want that.”
“Nor I. Indeed, I am hoping that since I live on my brother’s estate this change of circumstances will mean we will see each other frequently in the future.”
Benjamin felt his face grow warm, pleased by the affection in the words and embarrassed at just how much they meant to him. “I would like that very much.”
When he left Mr Brightford’s home a little while later Benjamin wondered if Mr Fenbridge could possibly return his romantic feelings. The man’s words had certainly indicated a strong regard for his company but perhaps Benjamin was just reading into them what he most wished for. He had had infatuations before but nothing like the depth of feeling he felt for Fenbridge.
Recalling the result of speaking of the subject before, he could not risk saying something and being wrong. The thought of Fenbridge looking at him with disgust and dislike made him feel ill. On the other hand, the idea that Fenbridge might indeed feel the same way…
This uncertainty could drive a man mad. He nudged his horse into a trot, leading the animal towards an area of countryside where he could gallop freely and work off some of his agitation.
* * *
Amelia stared out of the sewing room window, the view of the garden outside a lovely one, but her mind on a view of the future that was not lovely at all.
It was only after Lottie left that Amelia remembered that Mr Alexander Fenbridge’s estate was in some part of England countless miles away. Lottie would always
have family in Edinburgh so Amelia had told herself Lottie would often visit them so Amelia would see her then. However, aside from a visit of perhaps a month per year Amelia would not see her; she would lose her best friend. Amelia might be able to visit Lottie’s new home at first but would it be possible to continue doing so after she herself married, assuming that that ever happened?
Amelia used to fantasise about travelling with her husband to exotic places such as London and Paris and all the fashionable luxuries she would be able to buy, but she had never once considered what she might have to give up as an adult. She had known Lottie for virtually her whole life and the thought of suddenly losing her was horrible. Of course, she thought with a heavy sigh, she herself might never marry then she could visit Lottie as often as possible until Lottie and Mr Fenbridge were sick of her.
Amelia made a groan of frustration at her thoughts and threw down her embroidery. She would take Walker to the shops and spend more money than was prudent and then she would feel better.
Satisfied with this decision, she put it into effect, although by the time she got to the shops they had lost much of their appeal. Still, she found some French lace which she bought as an engagement gift for Lottie and called at Mr Harrington’s house to give it to her.
She walked into Lottie’s room and, before she could say so much as a greeting, Lottie burst out, “What if Mr Fenbridge jilts me?”
Amelia stared at her in surprise that changed to dismay at how badly Lottie was still affected by Mr Saverney’s treatment of her. “That is impossible.”
“Is it?” Lottie paced up and down the small space between her four-poster bed and large oak wardrobe. “What if the fault was not with Mr Saverney but with me? Perhaps I am just not loveable.”
“Nonsense! Mr Saverney was a weak man who behaved abominably to you, but it could never happen again…”
“…I am not so certain…”
“… Well, I am. How did Mr Fenbridge seem when you accepted his proposal? Happy?”
“Yes.” Lottie paused and her expression became calmer. “He was pleased and happy.”
“There, then. Your fear was understandable but it was also wrong, I promise you.”
Lottie smiled. “What would I do without your friendship?”
“We will both find out when you are living all the way down in some distant part of England,” Amelia blurted out in what she was sure was a self-pitying tone.
“Now who is talking nonsense,” Lottie said calmly. “I will spend half my time here visiting my family and you will spend half your time staying with me and we will see each other just as often as we do now.”
Amelia nodded, allowing herself to be comforted by the idea and denying the doubts at the back of her mind.
Chapter Twelve
IT WAS EARLY morning and Mr Brightford viewed the chests being loaded onto Mr Wrackley’s coach with concern then walked back inside to find him. Wrackley was in the dining room taking his leave of Nathan and Alex.
“I thought you had intended to stay here until the end of the season,” Brightford said, with an unpleasant idea of where this change of plans had come from.
“We have already made the same comment,” Nathan told him, long legs folding at the ankles as he looked up from a dining chair at the two men.
“I simply feel I should not leave my estate for any longer. My sisters will also be glad to have me home.” Wrackley fidgeted with his gloves as he spoke and the look Nathan threw Brightford said he did not believe a word of this.
“Has someone offended you in some way?” he queried.
Wrackley smiled. “Of course not, old friend. I could not have been made more at home here.”
“Does this have anything to do with Miss Daventry?” Nathan ventured.
When Wrackley looked away and failed to answer this, Brightford said, “Perhaps I should never have spoken to you of her. I thought you deserved a warning but maybe it was an unwanted intrusion into a private matter that did not concern me.”
“Not at all. I will admit that I admired Miss Daventry when I first met her but, for my family’s sake, it is necessary for my future wife to be of superior character and morality and it is clear Miss Daventry is not suitable after all. I am grateful to you for not allowing me to make a mistake I would have regretted.”
“What exactly did Jolly say?” Nathan asked, frowning.
Brightford recalled his words with a twinge of conscience as Wrackley said, “It is not important. Being a stranger to Edinburgh, I allowed myself to be deceived by a lovely face.”
“I like Miss Daventry and have found nothing in her character to dislike,” Nathan said.
“I, too, have found her most amiable,” Alex agreed from the other side of the dining table.
“But neither of you know anything of Miss Daventry and her family beyond a handful of brief encounters,” Wrackley said. “Brightford knows her character far better so I must accept his greater knowledge.”
“Perhaps if we sat down and discussed this in a sensible manner…” Nathan began but Wrackley shook his head and cut across his words.
“… I fear I have made a fool of myself and also given Miss Daventry false hopes of my intentions. It is best for everyone if I leave. She will doubtless find a wealthy man to marry without me here and…” He grimaced. “Honestly, that is not something I could bear to watch.” He patted Nathan’s arm. “I will see you and Alex when you return home and, Jolly, I hope you will come and stay with me in the near future and allow me to return your excellent hospitality.”
With a final tense smile to them all he turned and strode out of the house. They followed more slowly and waved goodbye as his carriage pulled away.
When it was out of sight Nathan turned to Brightford and said in an unusually cool tone, “Perhaps you had better explain exactly what you said to Wrackley and how you justified your interference…”
* * *
“You are leaving now?” Amelia said, horrified. She had resigned herself to Lottie going but had thought it would not be for months. They had only been engaged a matter of days. How was this even possible?
“Not for a week.” Lottie looked excited at the prospect, which made Amelia feel even more abandoned. “My parents and I will travel with Mr Alexander Fenbridge to his estate so he can introduce me to his married sisters. We will remain there and be married in about two months.”
“Why must it be so soon?” Amelia complained. “Why can you not remain for the rest of the Edinburgh season?”
“It was actually me who asked for the wedding to take place as soon as possible. I want to meet Mr Fenbridge’s other siblings and see his home and begin my married life.”
“And marry before he can change his mind?”
“No.” Lottie smiled. “That was a moment of foolishness and you helped put such fears from my mind. Edinburgh society has just lost its appeal to me. All I care about here are my family and you. My parents will be with me for the next few months and Benjamin will escort you and your parents in a month’s time. Mr Fenbridge and I will marry, go for our honeymoon and then return to Edinburgh to bring you back to stay with us again, if you are willing, and if you are not married yourself by then.”
“I will gladly stay with you on both occasions,” Amelia said, cheered by this demonstration that she was still an important part of Lottie’s life. “And it certainly does not seem as if I shall be married for the foreseeable future.”
“You have not seen Mr Wrackley lately?”
“Not for two weeks. Perhaps he has met someone else.”
“Then he is a feckless fool,” Lottie declared, “and you are well rid of him.”
Amelia was just leaving when she once again ran into Mr Nathaniel Fenbridge, who seemed to spend as much time here as she did. They paused in the hall to greet each other and she offered her congratulations on his brother’s marriage.
“I am delighted for him,” he responded cheerfully. “Miss Harrington is admirable in every w
ay and I am sure the pair are well suited.”
She nodded, hoping his assessment would prove correct. Striving for a tone of casual enquiry, she said, “Will Mr Wrackley be returning home when Mr Alexander Fenbridge leaves or will he remain in Edinburgh for a while?”
“You have not heard?” Mr Fenbridge frowned. “Wrackley left two days ago.”
“Oh.” It should not make a difference: he had clearly changed his mind about her. The blow should not have struck so hard but, without even knowing it, she had still had hope that all could be resolved between them.
“Perhaps it is unfair of me to reveal this but I know he admired you greatly but was persuaded that your interest in him was entirely mercenary.”
“He believed the gossip of some stranger…”
“It was not a stranger.”
Mr Fenbridge looked uncomfortable and Amelia returned his gaze blankly. Who would Mr Wrackley trust who knew her at all? The second blow was just as painful as the first: “Mr Brightford.”
Chapter Thirteen
LOTTIE CAME TO see Amelia on the morning she was due to leave, dressed in a new grey and blue travelling outfit that made her look like an elegant stranger.
“I was going to visit you to wave you goodbye,” Amelia protested as they sat down either side of her bedroom window. She was only just dressed and her black curls were still around her shoulders.
“I knew if you did that I would burst into tears and I do not want Mr Fenbridge to see me in such a state, although there is probably no getting around it as I will still have to say goodbye to Benjy which will doubtless have the same effect. At least Mr Nathaniel Fenbridge is staying to keep him company until you all join us at Mr Fenbridge’s estate.”
“It will be your estate as well soon.”
“Yes.” Lottie smiled, bright-eyed in anticipation of the adventures ahead. “I am so excited to see it. You know how much I like the countryside - I know I will be happy there.”
“Well, you will be sorely missed here. The last events of the season will be very dull without your presence.”