The Complicated Earl

by Audrey Harrison

  “I’m sorry. I’ve darkened your mood with my ramblings,” Isabelle said lightly, noticing the frown on his face.

  Her words brought a slight flush to Tom’s cheeks as he realised Isabelle had interpreted his mood correctly and not only that she had challenged him with it, a circumstance he was not used to. “I beg your pardon, you have not altered my mood, and you have made me ashamed of how men act. It’s just a pity you have had to hide out in Bath because of it.”

  “Now you are sounding like my foolish brothers!” Isabelle said indignantly. “I am here because I want to be. I don’t need sympathy, I am content with my lot. I do not need to rattle around London to feel complete. if I want to go to London I go, but this is my home and I am happy here. I do wish there would come a time when I can stop defending my decision. I would have been condemned for not having my wits about me and marrying a fortune hunter that came along and I am being condemned for taking myself out of that situation and enjoying my life to its full. When will I ever be at peace?” She finished exasperated.

  Tom smiled at her outburst, her dark eyes had darkened even further and her cheeks had flushed. This was a woman with spirit and he could not help but respond to her despite his earlier reservations. “Forgive my impertinence,” he apologised. “I promise to respect your decision and not join in with those foolish enough to challenge your judgement.”

  Isabelle smiled, her anger fading as quickly as it had developed. “I will take your apology at its face value and not question its sincerity. I expect it is nothing more than a soothing indulgence of an hysterical female and that is not offensive.” She raised her eyebrow when Standish looked about to interrupt. When he saw the gleam in her eyes he smiled and closed his mouth. “That’s better, see I knew your reputation could not be as bad as it had been made out to be.”

  “What?” Tom spluttered, any thoughts of pacifying this beautiful, fiery woman racing out of his head. “What reputation?”

  “Oh now, come, are you trying to tell me that you are a fine upstanding citizen? I think not! When I first found out who you were, you were introduced as a confirmed rake that only the most determined of women would dare approach!”

  “Did James tell you this?” Tom snarled, an unusual uncomfortable feeling descending on him as he realised what Isabelle must think of him.

  “Don’t be so foolish, of course not. I find it amusing though that you are more concerned about who told me than you are of the actual reputation you hold. You must have a real disregard of what society thinks. Although as an Earl I suppose society lets you do as you wish.”

  He stared in disbelief at Isabelle. He could not believe her impudence. “I think you go too far madam,” he said coolly.

  “Probably, but having two brothers, you have to expect me to be realistic about men and their ways. I have learned a lot since leaving the schoolroom,” Isabelle smiled mischievously.

  “So you admit to going too far, but fail to offer any kind of apology?” Tom asked, not responding to the sparkle in Isabelle’s eyes.

  “I went too far perhaps, although I am surprised that you are so sensitive. But what did I say that was wrong? You have never said you are not a rake so I don’t see that there is a problem,” Isabelle replied with a shrug of her shoulders.

  “I’m sure you don’t,” came the growled reply.

  “Oh don’t go all mulish on me, you were quite entertaining until now, but sulks aren’t attractive, even in Earls,” Isabelle chided gently.

  “Good God woman, I am no longer surprised that you aren’t married!” Tom said in disbelief at the constant verbal battering he was receiving from Isabelle. No-one in his entire acquaintance would dare to say he was being mulish and almost order him to change his mood.

  Isabelle laughed, “That’s more like it! I confess if I had married, my husband would be an object of sympathy.”

  “Your husband would soon be a widow. He would be overcome with the urge to strangle you!” Tom said with feeling.

  “Oh do you think so?”

  Chapter 4

  The four returned from the ride in time for Isabelle to accompany Sophie to the Pump Rooms. James and Tom promised to join them a little later, which suited both ladies. Apart from the short time at the start of the ride James had made sure he had spent all his time riding at the side of Sophie, so Isabelle had thought a visit to the Pump Rooms would be an excellent opportunity to further their acquaintance. After changing out of her riding habit and joining Mary, the ladies walked to the White Hart to collect Sophie. She was excited about her first visit to such an iconic location.

  The Rooms were already busy. Isabelle smiled at the response Sophie received when they entered. Within a few minutes any man under the age of forty with whom Isabelle had even the slightest acquaintance approached the group wanting to be introduced to the new arrival. Isabelle carried out the task of introductions with pleasure and amusement. She then took a step back to watch as each gentleman did his best to impress the new star in their midst.

  The result of Sophie’s popularity was that the ladies did not have the opportunity to walk around the room, each new acquaintance taking over when the last one had been introduced. It was with a little relief that Isabelle finally saw James and the Earl walking into the room, immediately approaching the group that had gathered around the ladies. The feeling of being penned in had begun to overtake Mary and Isabelle as the crowd that Sophie attracted had grown. Isabelle was amused as the Earl immediately glowered at all the gentlemen surrounding his sister, which was only slightly more threatening than the look on James’s face as he registered the impact his love had made on Bath Society.

  Isabelle smiled at the two men and their obvious possessiveness and introduced them to the gentlemen who had been brave enough to stay when faced with the surly newcomers. At Isabelle’s introductions both men were forced into polite conversation with people they wished a thousand miles away, which entertained Isabelle even more than the gentlemen fawning over Sophie had. She tried not to show the amusement on her face, but found the whole situation very funny.

  Sophie brought the matter around to more immediate matters when pleasantries had been performed. “Brother, we are attending the Upper Rooms tonight aren’t we? I do so wish to attend the ball there.”

  Tom looked unhappy at being forced into such an arrangement, obviously because he was in the company of men who would want to dance with his sister. “I had not decided.” He tried to convey his feelings with a look to Sophie and although he was sure he read understanding in Isabelle’s and Mary’s expression, his sister either did not understand him, or chose not to.

  “Please Tom, while we are staying here we may as well take the opportunity of dancing. Please.”

  Although Tom could be a hard man with most other people, he could never be as hard with his sister and with reluctance agreed to the scheme.

  With speed that impressed all who stood in the vicinity, James secured Sophie for the first two dances of the evening. Before anyone could engage her in any of the other dances, she turned once again to her brother. “I do hope you are going to ask Miss Crawford to dance the first two Tom.”

  Although an indulgent brother, the Earl’s eyes flashed in anger at his sister. “Sophie, you have placed me in an impossible situation!” He shot at her.

  “I-I’m sorry, I did not realise.” Sophie had turned pale at the tone of her brother’s voice; she was not used to being on the receiving end of his censure.

  Isabelle attempted to say something, but was stopped by an impatient movement of Tom’s. She closed her mouth firmly, but by the set of her lips, it was obvious to those around her that she was not happy with such a dismissive gesture.

  “If I ask Miss Crawford to dance now, she will feel that I am only asking because you instructed me to and if I don’t ask her to dance I will be offering a bigger insult,” Tom muttered to his sister.

  “I’m sorry, I just wanted to dance in the same set as Isabelle,” Sophie
almost sobbed, her large blue eyes filling with tears, which had the effect of making those around her extremely uncomfortable. Normally they would each have rushed to her aid, but the reputation of the brother was widely known and so they kept their distance, fidgeting in discomfort.

  “If I could interrupt,” Isabelle said looking at Tom with anger flashing in her eyes. Brother and sister turned towards her. “Please do not take the trouble of planning my evening, I am already engaged for the first two dances.”

  This news made Tom look even angrier than he had with Sophie’s mistake. “With whom?” he snapped.

  “I don’t think that is any of your concern,” Isabelle snapped back.

  Sophie broke the silence that followed Isabelle’s retort by apologising again and again to her new friend and her brother. James took the opportunity suggesting a walk and accompanied Mary and Sophie for a stroll around the room, but he managed to whisper a plea to Isabelle about not upsetting the Earl. Isabelle raised her eyes in exasperation at her brother, a look Tom saw fully.

  “So you are annoyed with us all this morning it appears, Miss Crawford,” he drawled, referring to the look she had given her brother.

  “Yes, I find I become annoyed with anyone who tries to run my life!” Isabelle replied tartly, refusing to bow down to her brother’s plea.

  “I wouldn’t equate asking for two dances the same as trying to run your life, but I take your point,” Tom replied a little softer.

  Isabelle smiled despite herself, “Sophie’s words were meant well, you shouldn’t have been so hard on her.”

  “Now who’s interfering? I also do not appreciate those who try to interfere with my life,” Tom said, with a warning glint in his eye.

  “Oh don’t try and intimidate me!” Isabelle said with annoyance. “I’m not scared of you as Sophie and James are, so you are wasting your time by looking at me so.”

  Tom laughed at her abrupt way, but then decided to show her a little of why his reputation was well deserved. “I could make you scared of me, if I chose too,” he said quietly moving closer and touching her arm in a way that anyone else in the room would not see. He ran his hand up and down the back of her arm, letting his fingers tease the skin under the thin muslin material. “I could make you scared and desperate for me if I chose. I don’t have the reputation of a rake for nothing.”

  Isabelle’s eyes widened a little at his touch. It had sent a shiver through her, but she met his look without betraying her feelings and then to his surprise, and he had to admit later, his shock, she put her head back and laughed at him. “Oh stop it!” she giggled as a few people closest to them turned at the sound of her laughter. “If you think I can be drawn in by your rakish talk, you have mistaken me your Lordship! I learned to be immune to that kind of silliness a long time ago, so you can save your energy for someone more worthy. Please don’t waste your time with me or it will make your visit to Bath a very dull one.”

  Tom had listened to Isabelle with a mixture of embarrassment and disbelief. He was sure that when he had touched her she had felt the same shock that he had. He had seen it in her eyes for the briefest of moments before she gained control of herself, but instead of hoping for more, or encouraging more she had completely rejected any advances he may have made. “I’m sorry to have offended you,” he said stiffly.

  “Oh you haven’t. After all I should be flattered if an Earl so much as looked in my direction shouldn’t I?” Isabelle smiled with a twinkle in her eye. “Let’s just agree to make your visit an enjoyable one without any unwanted silliness and then you can concentrate on deciding if my brother is good enough for your sister or not.”

  “As you wish,” he replied and bowed stiffly. He wanted to be as far away as possible to nurse his wounded pride. He was not used to rejection. It reminded him too much of memories and feelings he worked hard to forget, but she had also stirred other feelings in him, which he was not prepared to explore. Manners meant he should stay by her side until James, Mary and Sophie returned but he needed to move away from her, she was having far more of an effect on him than he liked. He looked across the room, but they were still chatting to some acquaintance of Mary’s.

  Isabelle interrupted his thoughts by leaning towards him and whispering, “You can leave you know. I shall survive by being abandoned by an Earl, even one as dangerous as you.”

  The Earl looked at her and fought the urge that he had not felt in a long time. He wanted to grab hold of this woman and kiss her there in front of everyone. In two days she had managed to stir feelings that he had always shied away from and he would need to control himself or he could be in danger of making a foolish move. He decided he really did need to leave the confines of the room.

  “If you are sure, I do have lodging arrangements to make. If you wouldn’t mind accompanying Sophie home after your visit here ends I should be grateful.” He bowed and moved quickly away.

  Isabelle was left looking at the back of the disappearing Earl with a mixture of emotions. He was maddening in his ways and sometimes the way he spoke to her angered her, but she did feel something else. He had rightly guessed that she had felt the jolt when they had touched and that was an experience Isabelle had never felt before, her heart had never truly been touched previously. But she knew that the feeling she felt when he ran his fingers down her arm was a feeling of wanting more, of not wanting his touch to stop there. She was sensible to recognise that any involvement with a man like the Earl of Standish would end in disaster, so she decided to take her own advice and make the visit a friendly one; to let any other feelings develop would be foolish in the extreme.

  She was soon interrupted from her thoughts by Mr Beckett, a gentleman of forty who was widowed with two children and who doted on Isabelle. She was very fond of him and for his age he was still an attractive man, the slight greying of his hair giving him distinction without taking away the mischievous look in his green eyes. But she could never see him as anything other than a friend and had made this clear early in their acquaintance. He had wanted more and had been prepared to wait until Isabelle had come to know him better. However she had been resolute in her refusal and eventually he had reluctantly accepted that they would never be anything but friends. With the pressure of a potential marriage removed they had found common ground and had become close allies, more so than if they had become romantically involved.

  He enquired if she was attending the ball at the Assembly Rooms in the evening. She was able to confirm that she was and explained who the extra members of her party would be. He asked for the first two dances with her, to which she agreed with pleasure.

  “Ah good,” Mr Beckett said with a smile. “I thought with your friends down to stay you would already be engaged.”

  “No, not at all,” Isabelle smiled; glad that Sophie and the Earl were now out of earshot.

  *

  James was nervous about the Assembly and entered Isabelle’s dressing room more than once to see if his attire was good enough for Sophie. At his fourth visit Isabelle could not help tease her brother. “My goodness James, I have never seen you like this! Calm down, Lady Sophie would not expect this level of worry over such a small ball I am sure.”

  “I can’t help it Izzy, I realise I am being ridiculous but I lie at night worrying that I may not receive her brother’s approval and don’t know what I shall do if that happens. She means everything to me so I am constantly afraid of making mistakes.”

  “That level of worry cannot be good for anyone James. If by letting your concerns overwhelm you, you change from the person I know you to be, the Earl will not see the real man and may withhold his approval. Surely it was the James that we all know that Lady Sophie fell in love with? Will she not wonder at the change in you?”

  “She is such a darling that she spends her time reassuring me that I have no need to worry about Standish, instead of the other way around,” James smiled with pride at such consideration in his chosen one.

  “If you don’t start
to relax and enjoy your time with her you may find that she tires of reassuring you,” Isabelle said gently, but firmly. A girl as young as Sophie surely would prefer a light-hearted romance than the heavy one that the relationship with her brother seemed to be becoming.

  “I shall try to take your advice, but it is difficult,” James said with a slight smile. He was not used to confiding in his sister and she was fully aware how strange it must be for him. Isabelle stood and hugged her brother. He was a decent man and she wanted him to be happy. She just wanted the happy go lucky brother to return.

  Mary did not accompany them to the ball. She happily joined Isabelle when they were alone. But since she had a circle of friends in Bath, while James was staying she took the opportunity of staying in and enjoying the quiet way of life that she preferred. Neither James nor Isabelle pushed her to attend the Ball, each knowing their cousin’s nature; and although she would have been a welcome addition to the group, they accepted her choice.

  The Assembly Rooms were already full when they arrived, many couples already dancing in the large central room. James was immediately on the lookout for Sophie and the Earl, but Isabelle would have preferred to not seek them out straight away. She knew this was more to do with the exchange that had occurred that morning with the Earl and tried to shake the reluctance away for the sake of her brother. She needed to make the visit as pleasant as possible, which would be made easier if she did not react to the Earl as she had been doing so far.