Chapter 7
Penelope had remained in control during the carriage ride home. She had expected to be pressed for an explanation by her mother when she asked to go home, but for once her words had been acted on immediately. What Penelope had not realised was how ill she looked. The flush of anger that had coloured her cheeks in front of her attacker had faded and been replaced by a ghostly paleness and eyes that looked sunken with pain. Her mother had taken one look at her daughter and acted immediately.
They travelled home in silence and were met at the door by the housekeeper, who also took in Penelope’s countenance without comment. “I shall attend my daughter.” Were the only words that Mrs. Hall said to the Housekeeper as she led her daughter upstairs.
Once in Penelope’s bedroom Mrs. Hall undressed her daughter, giving gentle instructions, but asking nothing. Penelope responded to the instructions automatically, almost without hearing them. When she was dressed in her nightclothes, she was led to the chaise in front of the fire and sat down. Mrs. Hall sat next to her daughter, she uttered two words in her quiet way. “Tell me.”
The words made Penelope meet her mother’s gaze for the first time and seeing the understanding and sympathy there was her undoing. She broke down as she had never done before, letting free the confusion, humiliation and hurt she felt.
It was some time before she could speak, but eventually she told her mother of the events before the ball and then the confrontation at the ball. “I don’t understand how he thought I was trying to trick him. He sought me out on my walks, I would have never found him otherwise. He believes I just want a title, but he wanted to speak to Papa, it was I who said wait.” She repeated again and again, trying to make sense of what had happened.
“I think your father’s comments about wanting a title for you must be more widely known than we thought. If his Lordship heard, he may have thought you were of the same mind,” Mrs. Hall soothed.
“If he had heard, I would expect him to laugh and ridicule them, rather than believe they were my feelings too. He would have asked me to explain. I do not understand why he did not question me. Although after tonight I do not think I know him at all.”
“So he proposed marriage and you accepted? He should have gone to your father first, but it shows his strength of feeling. And you cared enough to accept?” Mrs. Hall asked.
“I cared for him more than I have ever cared for anyone in my life and I thought he felt the same. I was wrong and it was clear tonight that he withdrew the offer,” Penelope said sadly.
“Anyone seeing him in your company will be under no doubt of his feelings, it has been obvious to me for some time that he preferred you. It was wrong that he withdrew his offer, he cannot do that, he has opened himself up to a charge of breach of promise,” Mrs. Hall said.
“I do not want anything more to do with him!” Penelope said with feeling. “It would be as bad as compromising him, forcing him to keep his promise. It would only be his word against mine anyway, we were alone and I asked him to keep it quiet. If he truly cared he would not have said the words he did, the offer was obviously made to tempt me into doing more than we did.” Penelope’s heart was breaking and she did not know how she was going to cope without having Daniel in her life, but she also had pride and if he did not want her love, she was not going to force his hand. “I don’t understand how he could hear of Papa’s foolish talk though.”
“Neither do I, but your father has obviously spoken openly to someone and whether out of spite or jealousy they have brought into question your integrity. “
“I understand that, but why would he react in such a way?” Every time Penelope remembered the coldness of Daniel’s stare, she wanted to curl up and shut out the world.
“No man wants to feel out of control and I expect that in some respects his Lordship has felt out of control since the death of Richard. The gossip may have been the final straw. We do often hurt those we care about most,” Mrs. Hall offered.
“I can’t face him Mother, I really can’t,” Penelope said with anguish. The thought of seeing that disdainful look again, would not only break her heart, it would shatter it.
Mrs. Hall thought for a while before speaking. “I have always gone along with your father in the main. We have had disagreements on whom you should marry, but a woman of my generation can only say so much. I think the time has come that you need a break from home. Margaret is always asking for you to stay with her for a visit. It is time that you took up her offer.”
“Would it not be seen by the gossips as me running away?” Penelope asked, her courage not wanting to appear too weak to face the gossip-mongers.
“If they believe you were trying to compromise the Earl they would wonder at your leaving, but you must forget everything what has gone on here. It is time for a break, a new outlook. This society has been too confining for an intelligent girl like yourself, go and explore Warwickshire with your sister.”
Penelope smiled bitterly at her mother. “What about Papa?”
“Leave him to me,” came the quiet, but firm response.
*
The conversation at the Manor House was very tense in comparison to the one underway at the Bridge House. If Daniel had not been in such turmoil at the evening’s events, he would have found amusement in his friend’s rantings. Between Fred’s outbursts Daniel had told him of all that had developed between Penelope and himself, including the walks and what had gone on in the cottage.
“So she explained about her father’s wishes and the real relationship that existed between herself and the previous Earl?” Fred demanded, his tone still sharp.
“Yes, but it may have been part of her scheme,” Daniel said defensively.
“You believed the words of that upstart Clark, rather than what Miss Hall told you?” Fred asked incredulously.
“What he said did have a ring of truth about it. She could have been playing a deep game. Anyway, what do you mean upstart?” Daniel asked.
“Tell me you had worked out the character of the man,” Fred almost pleaded with his friend. “He is as jealous as any insecure woman. It is obvious that there is some sort of ill feeling between Mr. Hall and himself and you have mentioned previously about his insulting behaviour towards Miss Hall. If you were in his position, would you have said anything to ‘warn’ of a possible marriage scheme? No, you would have presumed that a man of intelligence would have been able to work it out himself, like you would have done if there had been such a scheme in place.”
“I suppose so,” Daniel responded, for the first time realising how inappropriate the Vicar’s words had been.
“I am hoping it is love that has sent your brain to mush, otherwise your businesses are in real trouble,” Fred said, still quite harshly.
“Who mentioned anything about love?” Daniel spluttered.
“I know you Daniel, you would not have offered her marriage if you didn’t love her,” Fred responded more compassionately than he had spoken so far. “What will you do if her father insists that you keep your word? You may have compromised yourself, Danny boy.”
“I don’t know what I will do, as far as I am aware Mr. Hall knows nothing of my proposal,” Daniel replied.
“So, if Miss Hall had wanted to compromise you, all she needed to do was tell her father what had passed between you and by now he would be shouting it from the rooftops, wouldn’t he?”
“Yes, I suppose he would,” Daniel said quietly, realising the lack of substance to the Vicar’s accusations.
“So, she was telling the truth when she said that she would not compromise you,” Fred said.
“Yes,” came the muttered response.
Fred leaned over to his friend and spoke in earnest. “I have dallied with too many women to mistake a real lady of refinement when I see one. Miss Hall could have been born as poor as a church mouse, but she would still have the same quality about her. What you heard tonight, does not hold up to scrutiny. She is a gem Daniel and yet you ha
ve treated her appallingly.”
Daniel did not respond at first, he leaned forward in his chair and put his head in his hands. Fred finally knew his friend had come to his senses when Daniel let out a groan. “I’ve been an idiot haven’t I?” Daniel moaned.
“I’m not going to disagree with you on that my friend,” Fred replied helpfully.
“How am I ever going to get her to forgive me?”
“I have no idea, but I suggest you think of something soon my boy.”
*
The two gentlemen arrived at the Bridge house the following afternoon at the latter end of the permitted calling time. They had come up with a plan to ask Miss Hall to accompany them on a horse ride in order that Daniel might be able to offer some explanation and apologies.
They were admitted to the small Drawing Room and greeted coolly by Mrs. Hall. “Gentlemen you are welcome, but you find me all alone.”
“Is Miss Hall indisposed?” Fred asked, his easy manner having returned since his friend had come to his senses.
“My daughter has gone visiting,” came the cool reply.
“Ah, that is a shame, we were hoping she would accompany us on a ride,” Fred explained. It was obvious to both men that Mrs. Hall was aware of at least some of the previous night’s events. They had never received such a cool response at the Bridge House before.
“I am afraid that will not be possible,” came the firm response.
The gentlemen stayed the appropriate fifteen minutes, but were both glad to escape the house. “She obviously does not wish to see me,” Daniel said as they rode back to the Manor House.
“That is no real surprise is it? We shall return tomorrow,” Fred responded.
On the second morning visit they were again greeted by Mrs. Hall alone. By the third day, it was apparent that Penelope and her father were not avoiding them, but were not at home.
“Mrs. Hall I need to speak to your daughter as a matter of urgency, can you please tell me when she will be returning home?” Daniel asked.
“I do not know when she will be returning my Lord and without wishing to sound disrespectful, I think you have said enough. Would you not agree?” Mrs. Hall responded.
“You are not being disrespectful, I deserve far worse,” Daniel replied, “But I disagree, much more needs to be said, I need to apologise, or at least to try and apologise. Please tell me when Miss Hall will be home.”
“Do you think my whole family is prone to lying my Lord?” came the tart response. “I do not know when my daughter will return, she has gone for a long visit to her sister.”
“Her sister? But she lives in a different county!” Daniel exclaimed, all his well thought out speeches crumbling around him.
“Yes, she does,” came the non-committal reply.
“Mrs. Hall, you obviously know how abominably I behaved at the assembly. I sincerely wish to try and put right what I did wrong. I hate to think that I have caused Miss Hall upset,” Daniel explained. There was little point in skirting around the issue now.
“I have never seen my daughter more distressed in all of her twenty years, my Lord. It stemmed mainly from the fact that you did not trust or believe what she had told you and instead believed what can only be considered as malicious gossip.” Mrs. Hall had spoken quietly, but there was steel in her tone.
Daniel sighed. “I was totally in the wrong, it was foolish of me. I do believe what Miss Hall told me and I am ashamed that my own insecurities led me to give credibility to unfounded stories.”
“Let me tell you a little about my daughter,” Mrs. Hall said. “She has been under almost constant pressure from her father since the age of fourteen to marry the Earl of Rivington. At each step she stood up to my husband and refused to agree to a marriage. She was determined she was only going to marry for love, not wealth or a title. The arguments that sentiment have caused in this household are too numerous to count, but she never faltered, no-matter what her father tried to threaten and he did threaten believe me.”
Daniel flushed a little with embarrassment. “She told me a little of Mr. Hall’s wishes.”
“And yet you doubted her word against another?” Mrs. Hall queried, but continued before Daniel had chance to respond. “Against the odds a real friendship developed between Richard and Penelope. A friendship, my Lord, nothing else. Richard tried his best to be clear to my husband that he would not marry Penelope, but my husband never gave up hope while Richard remained single.”
“I am sorry for Miss Hall’s sake that your husband did not listen to my cousin.”
“What I am going to say next my daughter is not aware of and if you ever meet her again I would be grateful for your discretion.” Mrs. Hall paused until the gentleman nodded their agreement. “Penelope has received three offers of marriage of which she is not aware.”
“Three offers?” Daniel queried a sick feeling in his stomach at the thought of Penelope with another man.
“Yes, a cousin of my son-in-law, a friend of Richard’s and the Vicar, Mr. Clark,” Mrs. Hall explained.
“The Vicar?” Fred interjected.
“Yes, Mr. Wiseman, our Vicar. Oh, it was before he met Emily, of course, but my husband rejected all three offers and did not inform Penelope. I have often been thankful he rejected one of the suitors, but have wondered about the other two.”
“That explains a lot,” Fred muttered.
“I don’t need to ask who was the helpful citizen who poisoned your mind, but some would say you are equally to blame for believing even for a moment what he said.”
“Yes, I feel even more ashamed that I was so easily swayed by someone who was motivated by bitterness,” Daniel said. There was no point trying to hide from the fact, he had been a complete fool.
“At least you feel some remorse, that is something, but I want you to leave my daughter alone,” Mrs. Hall said firmly.
“I need to apologise, to make things right,” Daniel insisted.
“She has been hurt by you. I want her to stay with her sister for some time, to expand her social circle. I have come to realise that by keeping her here, we have confined her too much.”
“You hope she meets someone in Warwickshire,” Daniel said dully.
“As a mother who wants the best for her daughter I do wish that she meets someone who will cherish the person she is. I will welcome that person with open arms if they love and care for her, whether they are titled or not.”
“I am sorry to have caused you and your family so much distress Mrs. Hall. I shall trouble you no longer,” Daniel rose and made his bow. Mrs. Hall had made her position very clear, she did not wish him to pursue her daughter at all.
Chapter 8
The two men left the Bridge House and rode back to the Manor in silence. Fred had his own opinions, but waited until Daniel spoke. He had learned over the years that his friend thought deeply about problems before making a decision.
Daniel offered Fred a brandy in his study and only when both men sat at either side of the unlit fireplace did Daniel start to speak.
“Mrs. Hall could not have been clearer could she?” he asked.
“She is a mother protecting her young. Her reaction is understandable,” Fred responded.
“It is,” Daniel agreed. “But I cannot stand the thought of never seeing Penelope again. I need to see her even if she throws me out. At least I will know I gave it everything I could to clear the air between us and tell her how sorry I am.”
“That’s the spirit,” Fred said, slapping his knee. “So, what’s the plan?”
“It is obvious we won’t receive any help from Mrs. Hall, but we need to find out where her eldest daughter lives. I know it is Warwickshire, but beyond that I have no idea,” Daniel mused.
“Leave it to me,” Fred replied with a grin.
*
The following afternoon Fred interrupted Daniel working in his study. “Well my friend I feel a trip into Warwickshire to visit my Aunt Jane is in order,” Fred grinned down at h
is friend, as he perched on the corner of his desk.
“Your Aunt Jane? I didn’t know you had an Aunt Jane,” Daniel muttered, moving papers further across the desk.
“I do. She’s a great aunt really, lives quietly with her husband no more than five miles away from Mrs. Margaret Simpson, sister of a certain Miss Hall,” Fred finished, folding his arms and looking extremely smug.
“How the devil did you find that out?” Daniel asked, his pulse racing as soon as he thought of seeing Penelope again.
“Best friends know everything, so I made it my business to ‘meet’ Mrs. Clark this morning. Obviously her husband has told her nothing about his discussion at the assembly, so she did not think it peculiar for me to be asking about Miss Hall. She was very obliging.”
“Have you really got an Aunt Jane?” Daniel asked, knowing how smooth Fred could be and not wanting to be faced with one of Fred’s past loves.
“Yes! And what’s more dear fellow, I have been meaning to visit her these past twelve months.”
“In that case Fred, I think it is time we took a trip to Warwickshire,” Daniel announced, his eyes lighting up for the first time in days.
As much as Daniel wanted to set off to Warwickshire the following morning, the demands of the estate meant that he was unable to do so. He was determined that he would spend as long as it took to receive Penelope’s forgiveness and to enable him to do that, he needed to appoint a steward to run the estate in his absence. He had intended doing that anyway, but his attraction to Penelope had made him delay the appointment. His conscience would not allow him to just appoint anyone, so he placed an advert and had to content himself with the thought that he would be seeing Penelope in the not too distant future.
*
Penelope had felt battered after spending the best part of two days in a carriage with her father. Although her mother had managed to convince him that Penelope needed to visit Margaret and therefore to escort his daughter, she had not managed to persuade him to stem the stream of words he uttered while they were alone in the carriage.
By the time Penelope arrived in Warwickshire, she was fully aware that she was a disappointment to her family and that she should not expect any provision from her father after he had died. If she had not been in low spirits at the start of the journey, she certainly would have been at the end. As it was, she had never felt so alone and desolate in her life.
The Unwilling Earl Page 6