Dukes, Officers, & Scoundrels: A Clean Historical Regency Romance (Tales of Bath)

by Kira Stewart

  “What would your Mr. Woods think, Emily?” her cousin teased.

  Emily blushed. “Oh Izzie, I am only looking. Surely there is no harm in that?”

  For the first few days, they avoided the subject of Jack Parnell. Lady Lennox wanted Isobel to relax, and planned activities to keep the girls amused.

  Over breakfast the very next day, Annabelle Lennox announced that they were all to go “dipping” in the sea.

  Both girls looked bemused, because neither could swim.

  “Now do not worry, ladies. Dipping in the sea is a very fashionable and a healthy recreation, I have heard. You do not have to swim. I have hired the help of a Mrs. Martha Gunn, who is a famous dipper in these parts. She is known as ‘The Venerable Priestess of the Bath’ and is quite famous locally. She will take us into the sea from one of the bathing machines and help to keep us afloat. Now, what do you say?”

  The girls looked at each other. They were not convinced, but did not want to let the Duchess down.

  Emily pulled a face. “But I do not have a bathing costume.”

  The Duchess laughed. “My dear, you need not to worry. I have thought of everything and I have bathing dresses for both of you. You are both about my size and I have brought spares. Now come, no excuses. I am told that dipping in the sea has the most excellent of benefits. Now, we must ready ourselves to leave within the hour.”

  It was only a short walk to the sea front. The horses hitched to the bathing machines were waiting in a line on the sands. The ladies’ dipping area was positioned on the East side of the sand, at some distance away from the gentleman’s bathing area. Both the law and etiquette demanded the separation of the sexes.

  A stout looking elderly woman waited by one of the horses and curtsied to the Duchess as she approached. It was Martha Gunn. She was by now an old woman, but looked as strong as an ox.

  “Now, ladies, do not you be a ‘feared. You are in safe hands. I have been a dipper for nay on sixty years now. Now, if each one of you will climb into the bathing huts here, you can undress, whilst the horses are pulling you into the water. We will not go in too deep, so you will be able to stand, but then I shall give each of you a vigorous dipping, so you can get the benefits of the sea water. The huts will form a screen for you in the water, so you needn’t worry that you shall be seen by another soul.”

  The three women climbed up the steps into their wooden bathing huts, and one by one, the horses were led into the water, pulling their load behind them.

  When they reached a point where the sea was above the height of the carriage wheels, the horses stopped and were positioned in a little group to form a private bathing area for the ladies.

  Lady Lennox was the first to appear. She had changed into a yellow bathing costume and stepping out of the door of the hut, breathed deeply of the cool sea air.

  She called to the girls.

  “Ladies, are you ready yet?”

  Isobel was the first to appear in her dark blue bathing dress. It was a little too big, but would serve its purpose.

  Finally, the third carriage door opened, and Emily stepped out tentatively, and shivered in the sea breeze.

  “I am cold!”

  The inimitable Martha Gunn was soon wading through the waters towards them.

  “Cold? Look at me. I am over eighty years old and I do not feel the cold. Now come, dear. The waters are invigorating and you shall feel the benefit afterwards.”

  Holding out her hand towards Emily, she beckoned the girl to walk down the steps.

  The poor girl looked terrified and looked to her cousin for support.

  “Oh Izzie. You go first. It looks so very cold.”

  As if she had not heard, the intrepid Mrs. Gunn took the girl firmly by the hand and guided her down the steps.

  Emily put one toe into the water and squealed.

  “It is too cold. I cannot do it. I cannot swim!”

  Martha Gunn smiled, but did not let go of her hand.

  “It is easier if you enter the water quickly, my dear. Now do not worry, you can see it is only waist deep on me. You can easily stand. Now it might be best if you all come into the water together. What do you say? On the count of three.”

  All three women gasped, as they launched themselves into the water. Isobel thought she had never been so cold, and the impact fairly took her breath away.

  The old woman laughed.

  “Look at me, a woman in her eighties and I am in the rudest of health. I have never suffered from the rheumatism in all of my life. You will soon get used to the cold water. Now my dear, you shall take the first dip.”

  Before she knew what was happening, Emily had been swept into the capable arms of the woman and was surreptitiously immersed into the water. A first, she made a fuss, splashing about in the woman’s arms, but soon stopped panicking, feeling safe with the woman, who was well practiced in her art.

  Her oversized bathing dress ballooned in the water, causing them all to laugh.

  “It is true, Izzie! It is funny how one can quickly become accustomed to the cold water. It is not quite as bad as I thought. Do try it!”

  One by one, the ladies were dipped into the sea, until all had their turn.

  “Now you see, ladies, that wasn’t so bad now, was it? Now I expect to see you all tomorrow.”

  Emily pulled a face. She hadn’t enjoyed it that much.

  “We shall indeed, Martha, if the weather holds. Now let us get dry and dressed, ladies, and we will visit the Tea Room and take tea and cake. I must admit, I am feeling quite famished.”

  16.

  The girls quickly agreed, and soon, they were dressed and strolling down a fashionable street.

  They soon arrived at the shop, the Pot & Pineapple, a famed and fashionable place to take cake and hear the latest gossip.

  The place was already buzzing and full of well-dressed ladies. Much to Emily’s delight, there was also a smattering of officers.

  The menu was extensive, from macaroons to custard tarts, to several flavors of ice cream. Finding a table by the window, they placed their orders with the waiter.

  The place was small and the tables quite close together, and it was not difficult to overhear the conversations taking place at neighboring tables.

  The drinks soon arrived and the smell of the rich hot chocolate filled the air. They sipped in silence, as they let the sweet, thick cocoa restore them.

  “It is too bad about the 56th Foot.”

  Isobel’s ears shot up, as she heard the mention of Jack Parnell’s regiment, and her face grew pale.

  Annabelle Lennox noticed immediately.

  “Whatever is the matter, my dear? Do you feel unwell?”

  Not wanting to be overheard, the girl whispered across the table to the others.

  “The officers at the next table have news of the 56th Foot Regiment and it does not sound good.”

  Emily’s eyes widened as she thought of Henry Woods.

  “Well, my dear. If that is the case, we must find out what has happened. It might not be too bad.”

  Turning to the table at her side, Lady Lennox addressed the officers sitting there.

  “Excuse for the interruption, sirs, but my friends and I could not but help overhear you discussing the 56th Foot Regiment. We have friends in that regiment. Do you have news from France?”

  The officer was very young and blushed as the ladies turned to face him. He was not used to talking to the opposite sex and stammered slightly as he spoke.

  “I am afraid the news is not good, madam. The regiment is now in Spain, in Vitoria. We have news that the French Army under Bonaparte has been defeated. It has been a great victory for Wellington, but not without the loss of many men. We have heard only today that the 56th Foot Regiment has lost many men. I pray for your friends, ma’am, and wish that I had better news for you.”

  Isobel’s cup clattered back into her saucer, the rich brown liquid spilling over the delicate pattern of the china.

  “
My dear, do not worry yourself. There are hundreds of young men fighting. I am sure that your young man will be safe; yours, too, Emily. I will send word to my husband immediately to find out what he can.”

  The party was in a somber mood as they made their way back to the town house. Both girls were pale, and each silent with their own thoughts. As soon as they arrived, Lady Lennox sat at her desk and immediately wrote to her husband. It would take several days for the letter to be delivered, and she did not know how long it would take Edward to find out the details.

  All of the excitement around the visit had disappeared. Isobel could not bear to speak of the situation with Sebastian Adick, at least not until she knew that Jack was safe.

  The response arrived more quickly than expected. Edward responded by return mail. He had already heard the news from Sebastian, who had heard the news directly from the general. Jack Parnell was not among the list of those who had survived, although Henry Woods was.

  Annabelle Lennox frowned as she read the letter from her husband. How would she communicate the news to Isobel? It would not be an easy task, or one that she relished.

  It was a sunny afternoon when she called the girl into the Drawing Room. Isobel had been fretting all week. The color had left her face and she looked tired and drawn. Her bright eyes no longer sparkled, but she looked hopeful, which only served to make the task ahead more difficult for the Duchess.

  Annabelle could not disguise her feelings, and Isobel knew as soon as she walked into the Drawing Room.

  Annabelle Lennox stood to embrace the girl.

  “Oh my dear, I am so terribly sorry.”

  It was as if she had already known. Isobel felt the blood draining from her face, and the poor girl fainted on the spot.

  17.

  When the girl came to, she was in bed, and the doctor had been called for. Her head and heart were numb and she could neither think, nor feel, but lay on the bed with her eyes closed.

  She could sense that someone else was in the room with her and she opening her eyes saw Emily sat by her bedside.

  “Oh Izzie.”

  The girl could hardly talk, but sat and wept.

  “Oh darling Izzie, I am so very sorry.”

  Isobel tried to smile. She could not cry herself, because she was without emotion.

  “Do not cry, Emily, it is not your fault. And your Henry is safe. You have nothing to cry for.”

  Emily sniffled.

  “Do not cry for me, Emily. I shall be all right. I do not even know that Jack really loved me. I am sure that he would have found a way of letting me know if it had been true. And now I shall never know.”

  “Oh Izzie. There is something I have to tell you, something terrible. Will you ever forgive me?”

  Isobel tried to smile.

  “Dear Emily. I will forgive you anything. Surely it cannot be that bad. Now do tell me and please stop crying.”

  The girl dried her eyes on her handkerchief.

  “Do you remember the day I took your note to Jack?”

  Isobel nodded.

  “And do you remember that I said I had been a long time, because I met up with Henry Woods and went with them on a picnic?”

  Isobel nodded patiently, waiting for the girl to get to the point.

  “Well, I did give Jack your letter and he seemed really pleased to receive it. He told me to wait, whilst he wrote a reply …”

  “He wrote me a letter?”

  Isobel’s eyes widened in disbelief.

  “Oh Izzie, whilst I was waiting, I saw Mathers walking with another officer. If you remember, I was sweet on him for a while. Well, I hid behind a tree. I was going to jump out on him, you see, when I heard him mention my name. And then, I did what we are always told not to do. I listened to his conversation. Oh Izzie, they say that a listener never hears any good about themselves, and this was especially true. I think the other officer must have been teasing Mathers about me, for he started saying how I really wasn’t his type, and that he danced with me, because there was no one else. He said you were the prettiest girl in the room and that Jack had already claimed you. I was so angry, Izzie, and at that moment, I hated you. When Jack returned with the letter I made up my mind, to lie to you and say that he had never written. I am so very sorry, Izzie.

  At that, the young girl started crying again.

  For a moment, Isobel could not quite take in, nor believe what Emily had just told her.

  “A letter. Jack wrote me a letter?” She stared at her cousin in disbelief.

  Emily nodded through her sniffles.

  Isobel frowned, as if in pain.

  “And now I shall never know what he said to me.”

  “Oh, but Izzie. I have the letter here. I have carried it with me ever since that day. I always wanted to tell you about it, I really did. It has lain heavy on my heart ever since. I soon got over Mathers, when Henry Woods started to take notice of me. It was then, I realized that our friendship was more important than an officer’s foolish words. But by then, it was too late and I never found the right time to tell you the truth, Izzie, not until now that is. Can you ever forgive me?”

  “May I see the letter?”

  Reaching into the pocket of her dress, Emily pulled out a rather creased envelope and handed it to her cousin.

  “Can you ever forgive me, cousin?”

  Isobel smiled weakly. “Of course, I forgive you, cousin. Now do come and kiss me, but then please leave me alone to read this in private.”

  Her hands trembled as she handled the envelope.

  Her name was written in large looping print on the front and she traced the letters with her fingers.

  “Oh Jack.”

  Carefully, she opened the envelope and unfolded the two sheets of paper it contained and started to read.

  Dearest Izzie,

  I was so relieved to receive your letter. I cannot tell you how much I have fretted since you did not turn up last night. I thought that you might have changed your mind, and that you no longer cared for me. You are right, of course. It is foolish to think that we can run away. We are in love and should not have to hide like common criminals. There is a rumour amongst the men that we might be moving on soon, set for France and then Spain. If that is true, then I might not get the chance to see you again. Oh darling Izzie, have I the right to ask you to wait for me? I do not know how long this war will last, but please be sure of one thing, my darling. I will return. Bonaparte himself could not keep me from you, my love. Be sure always of my greatest love for you. I have known it since I first set eyes on you that evening in the Assembly Rooms. That is the image of you I will carry away with me and keep always in my heart. I shall be back for you, my love, I promise. Until then, think of me, do not forget me.

  Yours forever,

  Jack

  Reading the letter through, again and again, she let the tears fall—the tears that she had been holding in for such a long a time. Now they fell in thick drops that fell onto the page she was reading, causing the ink of his signature to run.

  “Oh Jack, my love, whatever shall I do without you?”

  18.

  Isobel did not sleep well. Her dreams were restless and fraught. She was standing on the top of a huge cliff, the waves crashing all around her. In the distance, she could see the small glow from a lighthouse shining through the night, warning those at sea of the dangers beneath. She watched the light as it shone out into the darkness, flickering a small light of hope.

  The wind blew around her, whipping at her hair and pulling on her clothes, whispering as it echoed in the nooks and crannies of the rocks below and whispering in her ear.

  “Isobel, Isobel.”

  The girl woke up with a start, her forehead beaded with sweat, the sound of her name being called still ringing in her ears. It had been his voice calling her. She looked around into the darkened room, the shadows forming unearthly shapes that crept along the floorboards.

  Isobel shivered with cold, her nightdress clu
ng to her body beaded with sweat.

  The window rattled in its wooden frame, the wind whistling in the gaps and hollows.

  Had it only been the wind she had heard, or had it been her love, calling from a long way away?

  Her head ached as she lay back on the pillow. She felt ill, but did not care. Nothing mattered now.

  By morning, a fever had taken hold of Isobel and Lady Lennox called for the doctor. He could not specifically say what was wrong with the girl, but blamed the dip in the sea and a consequent chill, but nothing more serious. She did not mention the young man, because the doctor could not mend her heart.

  All he could prescribe was plenty of rest, combined with plenty of good chicken broth and a regular dose of a tonic that he left behind. She would be feeling better in a couple of days, he advised.

  Lady Lennox knew the real cause of the problem. Emily had told her the full story. She did not blame the girl. The letter was only part of the problem. No one could be blamed for Jack’s death, but the stupid war. Too many young men had died. She had often thought that if women ruled, then wars would not exist. But that did not help Isobel. She wished she could make things better for her friend, but there was only one thing that would make the poor girl smile again, and that was now an impossible task.

  For two days, Isobel could not eat and lay drifting in and out of sleep. The Duchess and Emily took turns to sit by her bedside, so that she would not be alone when she awoke. Instead of getting better, the poor girl seemed to be getting worse, a hacking cough keeping her awake most of the night. In the morning, she seemed feverish, half awake, half delirious, calling out to her love.

  The doctor was called for again.

  He looked very grave as he examined the girl.

  “The fever seems to have taken hold. This is surprising in one so young. It seemed to be but a passing cold, but now it seems to have settled in her lungs. I am afraid the poor girl has pleurisy. I will bleed her with the leeches and leave a draft of milk weed that will help with the inflammation.”

  After the doctor had left, Emily sat with her cousin, the poor girl in tears.