The Complicated Earl

by Audrey Harrison

  She lifted her face as she walked, appreciating the cool air on her skin. As much as she longed to return to the hustle and bustle of Bath, she loved this place, it had happy memories for her. As she walked she thought about James and Mary’s wedding. After her initial doubts she now felt happier about it than she had when she had seen James and Sophie together. She knew that James and Mary would be content; they were a good match similar in age, interests and outlook.

  A sound further along the pathway disturbed her thoughts; someone was coming in the opposite direction. Isabelle braced herself in case it was Frank, but Mr Roberts walked around the bend in the woodland. Isabelle smiled a genuine smile of relief and welcome to the clergyman.

  “Hello Mr Roberts.”

  “Hello, Miss Crawford,” he bowed in greeting. “Are you alone?” He asked surprised.

  Isabelle smiled, another man particular about respectability. “Yes, I often walk through the grounds alone, if I venture further I take a maid or groom. These lanes are so familiar and receive so few visitors I’m not really flouting any rules.”

  “They are your brother’s lanes, so I suppose not,” Mr Roberts replied. Isabelle detected a slight note of disapproval in his voice, but Mr Roberts quickly changed his tone. “I am just going to the house myself. I believe there is a wedding to plan.”

  “Yes, there is,” Isabelle smiled. “If you have no objections I will accompany you back.”

  “None at all,” came the expected reply. They both turned and walked slowly through the wooded area. “I am honoured so new in my position to have the pleasure of marrying Mr Crawford,” Mr Roberts continued the conversation.

  “I am pleased that he has finally realised who will make him happy. Mary is a wonderful person,” Isabelle replied.

  “Your cousin was your companion in Bath was she not?”

  “Yes and my brothers have already started questioning whether or not I intend to move in with one of them, hence my escape into the woods,” Isabelle confided.

  Mr Roberts could not help smile at her frown. “I understand their concern, but I do sympathise with your frustration. What are you going to do?”

  “I am determined not to live with either of them! Beyond that I have not thought, there is plenty of time to make a decision. I shall not be forced into a decision that I am not happy with.”

  “Do you like Hampshire?” Mr Roberts asked tactfully changing the subject.

  Isabelle appreciated his tact and smiled at him. “Oh yes, it is a wonderful part of the country. I love Bath, but there is nothing quite like losing oneself in the Hampshire countryside.”

  “The entertainments cannot compare to Bath though?”

  “No, but I’m sure as I get older I will not want to constantly be in Bath, I do not want to become one of the fearsome spinsters that glower at the younger ones having fun. I shall retire to the country before then, “Isabelle laughed.

  “You have no thought of marrying?”

  Isabelle could have taken offence at the question, theirs was only a short acquaintance and it was a very personal question to be asking but she knew that it was the question at the forefront of most people’s minds. “Well it would be a little presumptuous to plan marriage with no beau courting me don’t you think?” Isabelle teased.

  “I beg your pardon!” came the quick, embarrassed response. “I ran away with myself. I should not have asked.”

  “Do not trouble yourself. I don’t mind you asking. I do believe in marriage, but at the moment I have no thought of it. That may change, but I am currently planning my life without that consideration.” Isabelle was slightly disappointed that her teasing had been met with embarrassment; again she was reminded of the man who would have returned a retort that would have equalled hers. Instead the conversation had come to an uncomfortable halt.

  Mr Roberts changed the subject again, away from anything personal. They continued to walk chatting politely until they reached the door of the house. Mr Roberts was led into James’s study and Isabelle escaped to the library.

  After a week it was decided that Frank, Grace, Mary and Isabelle would all travel to Bath. Mary needed to arrange her possessions to be sent to Hampshire. All the ladies wanted to make sure their outfits were arranged for the wedding. Frank and Mary would return to Hampshire after a few days, leaving Grace and Isabelle in Bath until the wedding. Isabelle had reluctantly agreed to stay in Hampshire with Frank and Grace until James and Mary returned from London and then it would be decided who Isabelle should ask to stay with her in Bath. Isabelle knew that they were hoping to have persuaded her to stay with one of them by then, but they were in for a fight if they thought she was prepared to give up her independence.

  *

  Isabelle felt a feeling of peace as she walked into her home on Great Pulteney Street. Immediately she could hear the familiar noise and bustle of living on one of the finest streets in the City and she felt at home. It was going to be hard getting used to Mary not living with her, but if that was the price to pay for living in Bath, so be it. She walked around her rooms touching the fireplaces and gazing out of the windows. So much had happened since she had left, but it still felt as if she had returned to her place in the world.

  Mary busied herself arranging her belongings into some sort of order for transportation. She also wanted to take her leave of her particular friends and so did not socialise as usual. Grace and Frank were keen to take part in all that Bath had to offer and as they did not visit often, Isabelle enjoyed herself taking them and showing all Bath’s finest entertainments.

  On the first morning in the Pump Room, Isabelle saw with a sigh Mrs Arnold and her two daughters coming towards her. She had not expected to see Mrs Arnold still in Bath and braced herself for the usual tirade of nonsense.

  “Miss Crawford! Miss Crawford!” came the greeting as Isabelle fixed a smile on her face. “I have looked for your return every day since the happy event! Who’d have thought my Sidney marrying Lady Sophie? I did fear for his safety when the Earl set off, but I had every faith in my Sidney’s abilities at convincing the Earl. It was not right what they did to be sure, but it’s worked out in the end I’m sure you will agree. Oh, Sophie wrote a lovely letter to us on their return to Kent, she is a delightful girl and wants to do the best for the family. She has dropped her title! Can you believe it, she is happy to be plain Mrs Arnold, oh I was so touched! They are setting up a home in London and we are to go and stay with them! Us in London! Can you imagine what pleasure we will enjoy, what entertainments there will be on offer? Charlotte and Cecily will be sure to make good matches if we are in London with the support of the Earl!”

  Isabelle smiled to think of Tom supporting the Arnolds. In reality she doubted that Mrs Arnold would ever see him unless absolutely unavoidable and Isabelle did have some sympathy with him. “I offer my congratulations, Mrs Arnold. I hope Mr Arnold and the new Mrs Arnold will be very happy.”

  “Oh to be sure, they had such a good start. Sophie wrote every detail about her wedding, so romantic, such an adventure! Just what a good marriage needs to start on a good footing. We are most impatient to go and visit them, but we must stay in Bath until they are settled in London. I hope to see you more now you have returned. Was your trip successful? I hope you will join us on some of our outings, we have become quite expert on Bath’s pleasures.”

  Isabelle hiding some of the relief she felt, announced that she would be returning to Hampshire soon and would not be able to take Mrs Arnold up on her kind offer. She made her curtsies and escaped to re-join Grace.

  “Who on earth was that dreadful woman?” Grace asked as Mrs Arnold moved onto another victim.

  “Someone who has married into a family James knows,” Isabelle replied. “Hopefully she will have moved away to London by the time I return to Bath. I don’t know how much of her I could cope with alone.”

  “What do you mean alone?” Grace asked curiously.

  Isabelle faltered, “Without Mary,” she said fi
nally. “We were able to cope with her when we were both of the same mind.” Grace accepted her explanation, but Isabelle had almost mentioned Tom without thinking. It was his support and banter she had needed to deal with Mrs Arnold and was annoyed with herself that she had almost made her sister-in-law aware of her futile attachment.

  After the first relief of arriving back in Bath Isabelle struggled a little with her return. She loved coming home, for it did feel like home, but at every corner, in every situation she was reminded of being there just a few weeks ago with someone who had made the place feel so much more special. She knew it would fade in time, but it just made her long for what could have been that little bit more and did not initially help to heal a damaged heart.

  A ball at the Assembly Rooms saw her dancing with Mr Beckett. He was eager as always to hear her stories and laugh at her grievances, but it was not the same as being with the Earl. She told him of Mary’s upcoming marriage and he offered his congratulations.

  “Does that mean Ollerton has more of a chance after all?” he asked as they danced.

  “I don’t understand your meaning Mr Beckett,” Isabelle replied, having a sinking feeling that she did understand all too well.

  “It was noticed that you danced with him at his Ball and then went home with a headache. The Bath gossips all guessed that he had renewed his proposal to you and he confirmed it when we had coffee together a few days later. He wasn’t very happy at your second refusal you know,” Mr Beckett teased.

  “I had thought we were just friends, I thought he understood that. On the evening of the ball though, his words......his proposition, it was a different side that I had never seen before.” Isabelle flushed as she also remembered what Tom had said. She did not want to tell Mr Beckett how repulsive she now found Mr Ollerton, but she wanted to try and explain a little of how he had behaved to make him the last man on earth she would marry.

  “He overstepped the boundaries of decency did he?” Mr Beckett asked a little more sharply.

  “His words did,” Isabelle admitted. “I managed to make myself clear before I made my escape.”

  “And have you told your family of his behaviour?” Mr Beckett was all concern for his young friend.

  “No, it would not achieve anything and I hope I was very clear in my refusal.”

  “I think he is clear now, but he is still bitter about it, perhaps a little time away from Bath will do you and your suitors good. I think they have all been hoping you would change your mind with regards to matrimony and marry one of them in the end. After Ollerton received your second refusal, he is now set on finding another lady of fortune. So, bearing in mind his ungentlemanly manners, it may be best that you are not close to hand for a while.”Mr Beckett did not wish to elaborate any further to Isabelle, but her words and the actions of Mr Ollerton had betrayed how desperate he must be. It was best for Isabelle to be out of Bath until he found someone else who might be more amenable to his advances.

  Isabelle suddenly realised that life for her in Bath could be very different from what it had been so far. She had enjoyed flirting with a few men, but she was sensible enough to know that if they tired of her, she would be like every other spinster in the City and without Mary, life would be very dull. The thought depressed her and her frown betrayed her turn of mind.

  “Oh come now, Miss Crawford, his loss is my gain. I shall always offer you friendship and should you really become desperate for more I should happily make an honest woman of you, you know that.”Mr Beckett said, squeezing her hand slightly to express the sincerity of his light-hearted words.

  Isabelle smiled despite herself. She could never be offended at Mr Beckett the way Mr Ollerton had upset her, but she knew she could never marry him either. It was a comfort to know he knew that and was still prepared to be her friend and she appreciated him all the more for it.

  Grace and Isabelle made sure their days were filled with shopping. After the constant reminders of the Earl, the threat of being hounded by Mrs Arnold and Mr Beckett’s gentle warning about her suitors, Isabelle had come to the conclusion that she might stay in Hampshire for a little longer than she had first thought and wanted to make sure she had everything she could possibly need. It was also the one pastime that the Earl had not joined in and so held no poignant memories for her.

  Isabelle arranged for her horses to be sent down to Hampshire. At least while down there she would have plenty of opportunity to ride. James would be grateful for the company as Mary would not join him no matter how much in love she was. She was no horsewoman and refused at her age to try to improve. She packed her belongings with mixed feelings, a return to Bath was definite, but she did not know when. She felt a little like she had when she had set out to Bath a few years previously, not quite sure where she fitted into the world and it unsettled her.

  Their return to Hampshire was greeted warmly by James. Isabelle smiled to herself, Mary already looked so at home in the house and she was happy that the new mistress would love the place as much as her own mother and father had. Everything was organised for the wedding, all Isabelle had to do was sit around and gossip with her sister-in-law and future sister-in-law and play with her nephews. It was not as active a life as Isabelle usually enjoyed, but she hoped that the happiness wrapping around her would help to soothe her inner turmoil.

  One morning Mary sat down next to Isabelle on finding her alone in the library. Isabelle looked up questioningly and raised her eyebrows. Mary took hold of her hand. “I have some news,” Mary said quietly.

  Isabelle could not possibly think what news would warrant Mary’s concern, her family was around her and everyone was well. “What is it Mary, no second thoughts?” She teased.

  Mary laughed and squeezed her hand, “No, no second thoughts. It’s to do with you my dear. James has invited the Earl of Standish to the wedding and he has accepted the invitation. He will be arriving two days before we marry, although he will be returning to Kent immediately after the wedding breakfast has taken place.”

  Isabelle flopped back on the sofa. “Why on earth has James invited him?”

  “I think he wanted to show that this was not a marriage of convenience after Sophie. I’m sure the Earl is not concerned in the slightest. James’s marriage has no impact on him and even if we were to stay in London we would hardly see the Earl, but James was determined that he wanted him there on a point of principle.”

  “Could you not have persuaded him otherwise?” Isabelle asked.

  “I could have, but in my own selfish way I want this marriage to be as perfect as it can be. If that means that there are two days of discomfort for us beforehand, so be it. I must admit, I’m not too keen to see the Earl myself,” Mary admitted.

  If only you knew, Isabelle thought, you definitely would not want to see him at all. She would have to pretend that his attending the wedding did not matter to show that everything was normal. No one could find out what had happened while they were travelling, for both their sakes.

  “Don’t worry Mary, as long as I am sitting far away from him at mealtimes I shall survive,” she smiled at her cousin to give her reassurance, but it was reassurance she did not really feel.

  Chapter 14

  Tom travelled up to Hampshire by carriage. He had considered riding, but decided that he needed time to think and riding cross country for a few days did not give the same opportunity for deep contemplation. He had been surprised to receive James’s invitation and he had as James had thought he would, considered the marriage as a way of recovering from his disappointment with Sophie. Tom actually felt pity for Miss Leicester, being married as second best. He had at first been of a mind to refuse the invitation, but as he took out a piece of paper to write a reply, he found he could not refuse. Isabelle would be there and he could not waste an opportunity to see her for one last time before their lives became the separate entities that they had been before James had met Sophie.

  As the carriage rolled along in the green lush Hampshire cou
ntryside, he thought over what had happened between them. The feel of her touch still haunted his dreams at night. He had been with women, but none that had stayed in his memory as she had. It had taken him days to calm down after he had returned to the inn to find her gone. He had never felt so lost and angry in his life, but he had dealt with it as he dealt with everything in his usual hard way. Part of his aim on this visit was to make Isabelle regret ever running away from him. He did not know why he felt so bitter towards her, but he felt as if her leaving the inn before he returned was a rejection. If he was honest with himself he knew he was being irrational, but not one used to feeling so out of control, he had no idea of how to deal with it and found himself drawn to what would be a torturous visit.

  Isabelle had been listening out for the carriage all morning. She was on edge, but determined not to show it. She had dressed carefully, musing whether it was because she wanted him to see what he had missed, but then finally acknowledging that it was to give herself confidence when seeing him again. She knew it was not going to be a pleasurable experience for either of them and wondered for the hundredth time why he had accepted the invitation. She followed Mary into the hall to greet the new arrival. James was already there, shaking the Earl’s hand and welcoming him to their home. He was the first of the guests to arrive that day. Luckily for Isabelle there would be others and she hoped she would be able to lose herself in the crowd.

  Tom greeted Mary and then turned to Isabelle. He bowed stiffly and she curtsied just as stiffly. She did not meet his eye, but it was an act of defiance, rather than subservience of which Tom understood immediately and felt the anger bubble up inside of him.

  James led Tom into his study for some refreshments and Mary turned to Isabelle. “The first hurdle is over my dear.”