‘For you know, Mama,’ remarked Julia one morning when her brother had gone to Curzon Street, and she was browsing through the latest issue of La Belle Assemblée, ‘Hal has grown fond of Dominic and takes him everywhere he asks to go. My brother has had no time to visit Chenning Court, see his man of business, or indulge in any sporting wagers as he is too busy at the Royal Exchange or some such place.’ She smiled and added, ‘Dominic is a delightful child though; when Isabella and I took him to Gunthers so that he might try the ices, he soon became the centre of attention. Everyone there was enchanted by him and even Scrope Davies said he should love to introduce him to Prinny one day as he was sure the child would make him laugh.’
‘I look forward to meeting Dominic,’ replied Marguerite, looking up from the list she was perusing. ‘It seems Lady Vane’s son is as charming as his mother if he is able to arouse admiration in as jaded a palate as that of Mr Davies.’
‘What did you think of Isabella when you met her and Mrs Forster in the park?’ asked Julia.
‘Delightful in many ways, not least her lovely face. I only had time to exchange a few words with Lady Vane before Sally Jersey claimed my attention, but I see what Hal means by her reserve – her eyes hold wariness towards the world.’
‘Well, she will not attend Almack’s with me yet, but I have managed to coax her into society a little; we enjoyed our visit to the Pantheon Bazaar and Hal hid his boredom at shopping very well. Although he is fond of Dominic, I believe Isabella is the real reason Hal haunts Curzon Street.’ Julia chuckled. ‘He seems extremely taken with her … perhaps they need some help—’
‘No, Julia,’ intervened Lady Bramwell firmly. ‘Hal has been hurt in the past and perhaps Lady Vane has, too. It will require a great deal of patience on Hal’s part to earn her trust and you will do better to let matters take their course.’
‘You are right, Mama,’ replied Julia, sighing as she idly scanned the items in the monthly miscellany section. ‘Most of London has fallen in love with Isabella’s beauty but she lets no one near. Yet I am certain that Isabella harbours a spark of deeper feeling for Hal; she is growing fond of him, I know it. Isabella is the dearest girl and I would love her to be Hal’s choice.’
‘So would I, but it will not do for us to interfere without good reason,’ said her mother, adding drily, ‘and I do not think your brother would thank us either.’
Glancing up from the periodical, Julia arched a scornful eyebrow. ‘Lady Portland has been showing interest in Hal again, and I cannot bear her.’
‘Lady Portland! Is she back in London?’
‘She and Portland have returned because of Bonaparte’s escape from Elba – they have taken a house in Half Moon Street.’
Marguerite Bramwell murmured, ‘I presume that Hal is aware of this?’
‘Yes, and he hoped to avoid her. I could almost believe she – Lady Portland – has been following him. She seems to be at every event and we have encountered her twice in the park.’ Putting aside La Belle Assemblée, Julia frowned. ‘She is so forward, Mama! She approached us yesterday and started talking as if we were old friends. She even touched Hal’s arm in front of her husband and was as flirtatious and suggestive as ever she was before her marriage, looking at Hal from under her lashes and wearing the most alarmingly low-cut gown.’
‘And what was Hal’s reaction to this flirtation?’
‘His expression was thunderous,’ replied Julia. ‘He obviously found her behaviour irritating, but had no intention of causing a scene. After enquiring after Portland’s health, he excused us as soon as he could from their company. Lord Portland must be very gullible – he seemed to notice nothing amiss and smiled indulgently at his wife.’ She shook her head. ‘Felicity Portland is … well, I believe she intends to pursue Hal.’
‘Indeed?’ said her mother. ‘Then she will be disappointed, Julia. Hal knows he was well rid of her and I was never more pleased than when she eloped with Portland.’
‘But she could cause problems: she always was a spoilt, spiteful creature, and has a temper if she does not get her way.’
‘Then Portland would do well to bring her to heel before she embarrasses him further.’
‘Mr Isherwood, that is, Freddy,’ said Julia, a charming blush tingeing her cheeks, ‘says she is the most designing harpy and he has warned Hal to be wary of her.’
Lady Bramwell smiled. ‘Freddy has good sense and charming manners, but he seems always to be ringing our bell on the flimsiest pretence and I cannot conceive why – there must be a hundred and one other things for him to do in London.’
Julia blushed even deeper pink, and stammered indignantly, ‘I – I am always glad to see Freddy – we have danced together at Almack’s and I persuaded him to let me take the reins of his curricle in the park – but other young men call here, and I should not favour Freddy above them so I have driven out several times with Lord Dryburgh, and danced with the Duke of Hearn.’
‘Such treatment only seems to make Freddy call upon you more often,’ observed her mother with a smile and, as if on cue, the butler opened the door to announce the arrival of Mr Isherwood.
Lady Julia was anxious for her blushes to subside before he came into the room and fanned herself with the circulating library novel she had discarded earlier. Lady Marguerite, observing her daughter’s behaviour with amusement, made no further comment, but welcomed Mr Isherwood warmly when he entered.
‘Freddy! What a pleasure to see you this morning but I’m afraid you miss Hal – he has taken young Master Vane to view another of London’s attractions and will not return until later.’
Mr Isherwood, who seemed to be finding it difficult to remove his gaze from Lady Julia’s flushed countenance, replied abstractedly, ‘Oh! Good morning, Lady Bramwell. Er – where did you say Hal was?’
‘With young Master Vane,’ she prompted.
‘Oh yes!’ said Freddy. ‘Well, no matter – no doubt I shall meet him at White’s later.’
‘I daresay you will – you gentlemen seem to find as much pleasure in your club as we ladies do in shopping. Now, will you excuse me, Freddy? I see from my list there is a pressing matter I need to discuss with cook regarding Julia’s ball. So many details still to be organized! You will be attending, I hope?’
‘Of course,’ replied Mr Isherwood, ‘I would not miss it for the world.’ He gave Julia another warm glance and grinned.
‘Excellent. Please stay and take some coffee with Julia.’ Lady Bramwell rose to her feet and, after taking her leave of Mr Isherwood, swept out of the room.
There was a silence for a few moments before Julia murmured, ‘How nice it is to see you, Freddy.’
‘I am pleased to find you at home, Julia. I have looked for you this last week.’
‘Oh, I am always busy now,’ she said lightly, ‘We have so many invitations that I hardly know which way to turn and with all the arrangements for the ball, I don’t have a moment to myself.’
Mr Isherwood frowned and replied, ‘I am anxious to arrange a date for the trip to Richmond we discussed. I called yesterday, and the day before, but you were otherwise engaged.’
Julia bit her lip and looked away. ‘I – I was out when you called.’
‘I see. I had begun to wonder if you were avoiding me,’ said Freddy with feeling, studying her long lashes, dark eyes and luxuriant ebony curls.
‘I have other people to see apart from you.’
‘So I have discovered! Lately I’ve had to fight my way through Dryburgh, Mr Aynsworth or the Duke of Hearn,’ he said, through gritted teeth.
‘And how can I help that?’ retorted Julia, colour rushing back to her cheeks. ‘I am merely enjoying my London season, and it is no business of yours who I see and when.’ Julia was piqued. There was a grain of truth in Freddy’s assertion of her avoidance – she was ashamed now that she had enjoyed making him a little jealous, although her pride would not let her admit to it.
‘I have no right, but I thought you might
show a little partiality for my company,’ muttered Mr Isherwood.
‘You are a friend of the family, Freddy, but I must not offend others by refusing them in deference to you.’ Julia thought she knew why Freddy was upset, but she wanted to hear him admit to his jealousy and, more importantly, the sentiment of love behind it.
Mr Isherwood, frustrated by his seething emotions, could not see this; he therefore chose to do precisely the opposite and conceal it. ‘A friend of the family,’ he cried. ‘If that is all you think of me, perhaps I will do better not to call upon you so often.’
‘If you insist on shouting, perhaps it would be better if you did not!’ said Julia, a catch in her voice – the direction of this conversation was not at all what she had anticipated.
Freddy, eyes burning with emotion, opened his mouth as if to reply, but then, collecting himself, he fell silent and walked away. After a long pause, he turned back to face her. ‘My apologies, Lady Julia,’ he said in a clipped tone. ‘As you so rightly point out, I can make no demands upon your time; you must enjoy your season in any way you choose.’
‘F-Freddy,’ said Julia, giving the oddest little sob, ‘you know I am exceedingly fond of you and—’
‘There is no need to explain further,’ he interjected, his expression grim. ‘I see now that I should not have come today – no doubt you find my company an unwelcome distraction. Pray give my excuses to Lady Bramwell: I find I have an engagement elsewhere in Town. Good day to you.’ With that, he bowed and strode purposefully out of the room.
Julia watched him leave in dismay and tears sprang to her eyes. Sinking on to the chaise, she drew in a ragged breath, then buried her head in the silk cushions and cried.
Chapter 7
‘Well, you troublesome cub,’ began Hal with a rueful laugh, ‘this is how I am rewarded for taking you to Kensington Gardens this morning – a muddy coat and paw prints over my right boot, both of which will reduce my valet to tears.’
Dominic grinned broadly in response. ‘We had fun so a little dirt does not matter. Tell your valet that it was necessary or Aesop would have been taken away and punished.’ He sat in Hal’s curricle as they travelled back to Curzon Street and squeezed between them, flicking an adoring gaze between his two rescuers, sat a pitiful looking black and white dog, a dubious cross between a collie and a terrier.
‘Aesop?’ queried Hal, puzzled.
Dominic patted their canine companion. ‘The dog, of course! I thought I would call him Aesop because he must know lots of tales from the scrapes he’s been in. You know, I think he likes you almost as much as he likes me.’
‘Hmm,’ said Hal, looking askance at Aesop, ‘so I observe, although our friendship was sealed because I purchased the ham he had stolen from the butcher and allowed him to finish it.’
‘That butcher had a very red face; he was annoyed until you offered to pay and then he became polite – he even offered to send a sirloin of beef around to your house – but I didn’t like him for beating Aesop.’
‘The dog didn’t approve of him either,’ observed Hal in a dry voice. ‘He snarled and barked at Mr Butcher in the most appallingly ill-mannered way that I was forced to reprimand him.’
‘But Aesop stopped barking as soon as you commanded him to, so he must be a well-behaved dog if he is not provoked,’ said Dominic. ‘Poor thing! He looks like he has been starved.’
‘A shabby specimen indeed, but some good meals and a bath will soon address that.’
Aesop barked as if to agree and Dominic observed appreciatively, ‘You see, he is clever – I’m sure he understands every word we are saying.’
‘In that case, I hope he will understand that I cannot take him to Berkeley Square. I have a houseful of family and servants, and a ball planned for the near future. To place a dog, even one as charming as Aesop, into such a cauldron of activity could be disastrous.’
‘But I don’t want you to take him there,’ said Dominic. ‘I want to take him home; Mama already said I could have a puppy, so she won’t mind if I arrive with a dog.’
Hal raised an eyebrow. ‘Won’t there be objections in view of your existing menagerie?’
‘My what?’ asked Dominic, mystified.
‘Your collection of pets,’ explained Hal with a smile.
‘Oh, that!’ Dominic’s brow cleared and he said confidently, ‘Well, Mama never breaks a promise. Aunt Harriet is the only person who complains about my menag, menager … my animals, and she never means it. Of course, if Mama really does not wish it then I would not keep him.’
‘You are a credit to your mother, Dominic.’
‘I don’t like upsetting her,’ he replied gravely. ‘Mama used to be unhappy all the time because my father was cross with everyone, especially Mama, but now she smiles and hardly ever cries – I didn’t like it when she cried.’
Hal digested this in silence. Dominic’s artless words seemed to confirm that Isabella’s marriage had been unhappy and he wondered again what bitter memories she held. He knew that he needed to be patient and that Isabella needed time – time to know him better and to trust him. At least she had grown more accepting of his visits now, and befriended Julia, but Hal dared to hope he had detected a more profound change recently. The deep glow of affection – no, more than affection: desire – lurked in Isabella’s eyes when she looked at him, but she always turned away quickly and the moment was lost. It was as if she was afraid that he would see what was written there.
Giving his attention back to Dominic, he replied, ‘Very well, let us see if your mama is prepared to house Aesop temporarily. I suppose I will step into the breach if necessary, although having Aesop as a companion would ruin my reputation,’ Hal observed with a grin. ‘Several of my acquaintances stared as they passed us by this morning.’
They reached Curzon Street and were followed into the entrance by Aesop, who pressed his thin body against Dominic’s legs under Silwood’s disapproving glare.
Lord Bramwell, passing his driving gloves and hat towards the bemused butler, said, ‘Where is Lady Vane?’
‘In the yellow saloon, my lord, but—’
‘Then we will announce ourselves,’ interjected Hal. Looking down at the dog beside him, he remarked severely, ‘Try to behave, Aesop. It will not do to show your rag manners here.’ Aesop wagged his tail in response and trotted after Dominic, who was already bounding up the stairs.
‘Mama!’ cried Dominic, bursting into the saloon, ‘Look what we have found! He is the dearest thing, and you must let me keep him because you said that I might have a puppy, except I don’t wish for a puppy anymore, just Aesop. An angry butcher hit him with a broom for stealing his ham, and then a crowd gathered around to see what the fuss was for, but Lord Bramwell saved him, and bought the ham, and gave the butcher some money for his trouble! Everyone was most obliging when they discovered Hal was a lord—’
‘Stop, Dominic!’ said Isabella, laughing at this tumbled, breathless speech. ‘Who is Aesop?’
The forlorn-looking canine padded over to Isabella, Harriet and their companion, Sir Seymour.
‘What is that dog doing here?’ exclaimed Isabella.
Harriet observed Aesop’s arrival with dismay, ‘Dominic! You cannot bring that flea-ridden creature into the saloon.’
Sir Seymour, whose expression was one of stunned confusion, had been enjoying a conversation with Lady Vane and Mrs Forster on the merits of wheat flour boiled in ale for a poultice, but a cacophony of noise had begun on Dominic’s return and he eyed Aesop uneasily through his quizzing glass. ‘I cannot allow that animal too near, Lady Vane,’ he remarked in an enervated voice. ‘He might bite.’
‘Fustian!’ said Dominic bluntly. ‘He won’t bite you – Lord Bramwell says Aesop’s manners can be improved, but he has a good character.’
‘I’m afraid I must take most of the blame for the dog being here,’ admitted Hal as he came into the room. ‘After rescuing him from an irate shopkeeper, I did not have the heart to leave him
to further punishment.’
‘You saved this scraggy animal?’ queried Sir Seymour, incredulous, ‘but why?’
‘What a silly question! Because he needed saving, that’s why,’ said Dominic.
‘Enough, you unruly imp,’ murmured Hal, his lips twitching. ‘I can fight my own battles.’
‘Dominic, apologize to Sir Seymour for your rudeness!’ said his mother.
Chastened, an embarrassed flush crept across Dominic’s face and he shuffled his feet. ‘I – I’m very sorry, sir, but we had fun and Aesop is grateful.’
‘Is Aesop the dog’s name?’ asked Isabella, understanding dawning in her expressive eyes.
Hal nodded and grinned. ‘Your son decided it would be an appropriate epithet.’
Isabella felt her heart quicken at his devastatingly attractive smile and, transfixed by what she saw in his eyes, she was unable to look away. Hal’s expression held a quizzical half-smile as he watched her and the rest of the world seemed to retreat as warmth raced through her veins. Colour stung her cheeks and she struggled to draw in a breath as she stared at him, shocked and confused at the intensity of her reaction. Eventually, after what seemed like an age, her aunt’s voice broke the spell and Isabella was able to tear her gaze away.
‘But how did you become entangled in Aesop’s affairs?’ asked Harriet.
‘When we went to Kensington Gardens, Aesop decided to run our way with the ham he had stolen,’ said Dominic. ‘A red-faced butcher was chasing him with a broom, but Aesop hid under Hal’s carriage, growling and barking at the man, until Hal told him to be quiet and offered to pay. A crowd of people were watching us by then and—’
‘I am so sorry, Lord Bramwell,’ interjected Isabella, horrified that he should have been drawn into another fracas. ‘You have been extremely inconvenienced.’
He laughed. ‘Not unless you count as an inconvenience the cost of a ham joint, a muddy coat and paw marks on my best Hoby boots – which I certainly do not.’
Lady Vane's Secret (Regency Secrets and Scandals Book 1) Page 7