Lady Vane's Secret (Regency Secrets and Scandals Book 1)

by Elizabeth Hanbury

  ‘Nothing has gone awry, Theo,’ said Hal, walking into the hall with Isabella. ‘In fact, everything has been resolved perfectly – Isabella has accepted my hand in marriage.’

  Julia, giving a cry of delight, rushed over to embrace them. ‘I knew from the beginning that you were meant for each other. How I shall love having you for a sister, Isabella.’

  ‘Thank the Lord,’ said Theo, with a grin. ‘I know you will make him extremely happy, Lady Vane.’

  ‘Thank you, Theo, but please call me Isabella – I am to be your sister too. Sir Seymour and Harriet are also to be married. Sir Seymour is in the kitchen; he travelled down today from London.’

  Theo’s mouth fell open. ‘Dinny and Mrs Forster! Well, this is a day for surprises.’ He chuckled as a sudden thought occurred to him. ‘I can’t wait to see the waistcoat he wears at his wedding.’

  ‘I am pleased for you both,’ declared Julia, ‘and for Sir Seymour and Mrs Forster, but I am desperate to sort out my own affairs.’

  Isabella smiled. ‘Freddy is upstairs, amusing Dominic. Go to him, Julia, and send Dominic down to us. Do you need directions to find Freddy?’

  Julia, a glint of determination in her eyes, replied, ‘No, I will find him.’

  She hurried away purposefully, climbing the stairs which opened out into a landing. Hearing muted laughter, she walked towards the sound and found herself at the end of the long picture gallery which traversed the rear of the house. Dominic stood before her, and when he sensed someone was near, he turned around. Julia put her finger to her lips and Dominic grinned, understanding she wanted him to stay silent.

  ‘Hello, Dominic,’ she whispered. ‘Have you found Freddy yet?’

  He nodded, gave a mischievous smile and pointed to the long curtain at the end of the gallery. Julia murmured, ‘Go downstairs – your mother has a surprise for you. Let me find Freddy.’

  He mimed a whoop of excitement and tiptoed away. Stifling a giggle, Julia stepped silently across the oak boards and approached the faded, threadbare curtain. Slowly, she pulled it back. Freddy was turned away from her, looking out over the gardens and unaware of her presence. He seemed lost in thought and the broad expanse of his shoulders sagged as if he were carrying some great weight. Julia’s heart leapt with longing and she took a final step forward. Sliding her arms around his waist, she pressed her cheek against his back and said softly, ‘Don’t ever listen to Theo again where I am concerned, my love.’

  Freddy started in surprise before drawing in a ragged breath and spinning round to face her. ‘Julia!’ Unable to resist the temptation offered up to him, he made a low sound of ecstasy, dragging her into his embrace and kissing her roughly, which treatment Julia seemed to find highly romantic as she threw her arms around his neck and responded in kind.

  They stayed locked in their embrace behind the curtain, bathed in the fading sunlight streaming through the window. Freddy’s kisses allowed Julia neither the opportunity nor the inclination to speak and when eventually she did try to apologize, she was quickly silenced by another fierce kiss, after which she contented herself with looking up into his face and smiling dreamily.

  Remembering her words when she had found him here, he grinned and belatedly replied, ‘I won’t, but I could forgive him anything just now.’ Then, lifting her into his arms, he carried her to the nearby window seat, from where he did not allow her to move until he was satisfied that she understood the strength of his affections.

  Hal and Isabella were in the drawing-room when Dominic rushed in. ‘Mama, Julia is here—’ He stopped abruptly, and then cried out, ‘Hal, you are here too!’ before running to hug him.

  ‘Hello, reckless cub,’ said Hal, laughing.

  ‘How did you get here? It must be magic, ’cause I wished that you could be at Haystacks.’

  ‘Not by magic – I came on horseback as quickly as I could.’

  Dominic looked up, his brow furrowed in puzzlement. ‘But Mama told me that I wouldn’t be seeing you again because you had done a very bad thing.’

  ‘I was wrong, love,’ said his mother. ‘It was all a mistake.’

  ‘I told you that Hal couldn’t do anything bad,’ replied Dominic.

  ‘So you did,’ she admitted, giving Hal an amused glance.

  After leading Dominic by the hand over to one of the sofas, Hal sat down beside him. ‘We have some news for you, Dominic.’

  ‘Julia said it was a surprise.’

  ‘Yes, it is and I hope that you will like it,’ said Hal. Then, after a pause, ‘I love your mother very much, Dominic, and I have asked her to marry me. She has made me very happy by saying that she will.’

  ‘Does that mean you’re engaged?’ asked Dominic.

  Hal smiled. ‘That’s right.’

  Dominic lowered his gaze. ‘Oh,’ he replied, his expression despondent.

  ‘What is the matter?’ said Isabella in concern, sitting down on the other side of her son. ‘Don’t you want me to marry Hal?’

  ‘That depends,’ said Dominic, twisting his fingers together.

  ‘Depends on what?’

  ‘On where I’m going to live afterwards. Aunt Harriet and Sir Seymour have just got ’ngaged and Aunt Harriet isn’t going to live with me anymore. I don’t want you and Hal to get engaged, if you are going to live somewhere else with Hal and not with me.’

  ‘But you won’t have to live somewhere else,’ said his mother, with a smile of relief. ‘You will live with us until you are grown up.’

  ‘Always?’ asked Dominic, his gaze flitting between them.

  ‘Always,’ promised Hal.

  A grin spread across his face. ‘Then I do want you to get engaged ’cause then I can see Hal and the tree house at Chenning.’

  ‘You will be able to see it very soon,’ said Isabella, gazing warmly at her betrothed over Dominic’s head.

  The door opened, and Harriet came in to announce that dinner was almost ready. ‘Theo is trying to help, but getting in our way,’ she added.

  Sir Seymour, resplendent in an improvised sacking apron with the sleeves of his fine linen shirt rolled up to the elbows and his cravat removed, arrived in the doorway too. He held a large carving fork in one hand which he waved in the direction of the kitchen as he chuckled and said, ‘Harriet, my dear, we should dine at once, before Theo devours the meat and the rest of us have only the bones to pick over. He did manage to cut some bread before the delights of the chicken and the wine cellar claimed his attention.’

  ‘Very well,’ she replied. ‘I hope the dining-room chimney is not smoking too much, but I daresay it will not matter if it is – we shall be such a happy party that none of us will notice.’

  ‘O-ho, so Theo is here as well,’ exclaimed Dominic, his eyes growing even wider with excitement. ‘This is better than my birthday! Everyone has come to Haystacks and now we are to have a party.’

  Hal drew Isabella’s arm through his and smiled. ‘Let us eat, my darling, while there are still some scraps that have escaped Theo’s attentions.’

  Despite its shabby décor, draughty windows and the smoke that issued occasionally from the chimney, the dining-room appeared welcoming in the candlelight. Johnson served the food and Julia and Freddy joined them shortly afterwards. Julia, her cheeks now suffused with colour, greeted everyone and, with an adoring look at her companion, announced shyly, ‘Freddy and I are to be married.’

  A general chorus of congratulations followed before Dominic asked in surprise, ‘Are you and Freddy ’ngaged too, Julia? Everyone is doing that today, except Theo.’

  Theo, who came in holding a dusty bottle of wine, heard the laughter that followed Dominic’s final comment. ‘What am I exempt from?’ he asked.

  ‘Getting engaged, Theo,’ explained Freddy. ‘You are the odd one out in our party.’

  ‘You should consider it, my boy; I find it a most comfortable state,’ said Dinny, with an affable smile.

  Theo shook his head and sat down at the table between his bro
ther and Sir Seymour. ‘Not yet, thank you; I need someone who talks a lot less than my sister.’ He grinned and winked across the table at Freddy. ‘Glad to see you’ve got her in hand at last, Freddy. Try a glass of this – a bottle of ’94 burgundy I found in the cellar. It’s a veritable treasure trove down there, Lady V— I mean, Isabella.’

  ‘I’m pleased it meets with your approval, Theo. Take whatever you wish,’ she replied.

  ‘That’s very good of you,’ he said, wreathed in smiles. ‘Are you sure? Finest collection of wine I’ve seen. Must be worth a fortune, Hal.’

  ‘Really?’ replied his brother, paying scant attention; he was intent on watching Isabella’s profile as she turned to speak to Julia.

  Theo laughed. ‘Seeing as your interest is diverted at present, I’ll take a few bottles back to London. There’s plenty to celebrate, after all.’

  ‘Julia and I have decided to return to Town after dinner. Our return will be very late, but the journey will pass quickly,’ said Freddy, seeing his smile reflected in Julia’s eyes.

  ‘Ah, yes, we should all consider our arrangements for this evening,’ said Sir Seymour. ‘You and Julia may use my post-chaise, Freddy – I shall be putting up at The Plough for a day or two.’

  ‘Thank you, Sir Seymour. Your chaise will be more comfortable than Lady Bingham’s travelling coach,’ said Freddy. ‘Theo, you can accompany us if you wish.’

  ‘What, sit with you two lovebirds all the way back to London?’ Theo shook his head. ‘No indeed, Freddy! I’ll take your room at The Plough and travel back tomorrow in Hal’s curricle.’

  Freddy chuckled at this indignant reply and then turned to Hal. ‘I packed a few clothes and my shaving equipment. Would you and Theo care to make use of them?’

  Hal nodded. ‘A kind thought, Freddy. I intend to stay at The Plough too, but, if I may, I’ll give you instructions for my groom; my post-chaise will need to be brought down to Sussex and there will be plenty of other arrangements to be made in the coming weeks.’

  ‘I suppose there will be with three weddings to organize,’ mused his brother as he forked several slices of chicken on to his plate. ‘Don’t ask for my help though – I’m going to be busy.’

  ‘What with exactly?’ asked Hal, raising his brows.

  Theo laughed again. ‘Why, with my Latin essay, of course! That will be a lot more relaxing than having china thrown at my head, being ordered to dash sixty miles across the countryside, helping to prepare dinner for eight people and bringing about three engagements!’

  It was almost midnight when Isabella and Hal were alone once more. After Julia and Freddy’s departure, Theo and Sir Seymour had returned to The Plough for the night, but without Hal, who had arranged to join them later. Harriet had retired to bed and an excited Dominic had eventually surrendered to sleep after extracting a promise from Hal that he would be at Haystacks tomorrow.

  The drawing-room was illuminated by a few candles and by the glow of the fire, the dingy furnishings lost in the resulting comfortable ambience. They sat together on the sofa and when Hal had kissed Isabella thoroughly, she sighed with contentment and leaned her head against his shoulder.

  ‘Happy?’ he whispered.

  ‘Very,’ she replied, in a languorous voice.

  ‘Happy as I am at this moment, I shall only be perfectly content when we are married,’ he murmured. ‘I hope you don’t expect a long engagement, my love, or need several weeks to buy bride clothes because I cannot wait that long.’

  She smiled, taking pleasure in his impatience. ‘I prefer a short engagement.’

  ‘Then we shall be married as soon as it can be arranged.’ Tilting her chin upwards, he kissed her again. ‘Are you ready to tell me everything now? I will understand if you do not want to taint this moment by dredging up painful memories.’

  She shook her head. ‘It is important that you know it all, Hal.’ Drawing comfort from his embrace, she pressed closer and said in a quiet voice, ‘I suppose it all began just before my father died – it was then I first glimpsed signs of Edward’s true character.’

  Chapter 18

  ‘My father was gravely ill,’ continued Isabella. ‘He was aware that he was dying and, as I told you when we walked in the park, he grew agitated, wanting my marriage to Edward to take place in his sick-room. Edward was all encouragement for this. I was in turmoil – I wanted to give comfort to my father, but it did not feel right to marry Edward in such haste. In trying to relieve my father’s anxieties as well as listening to Edward’s pleadings, I felt under pressure to accede.

  ‘Some days after agreeing to the ceremony taking place, I reconsidered and tentatively suggested to Edward that we should delay. My father was under the affects of the opiate and would hardly have been aware of what was happening, so I proposed that the ceremony be a mock one, carried out simply to satisfy my father. We could then arrange for the legal ceremony to take place after a suitable period of mourning. Edward’s reaction was totally unexpected – he flew into a violent rage.’

  When she shivered at the memory, Hal’s arm tightened around her. ‘What happened?’ he asked.

  ‘He said that I was a provocative little witch, that I had encouraged him to marry me quickly and now I wanted to make him wait. We would be married as arranged, he said, or he would tell my father that I was a cruel, contrary and conniving little baggage. I was barely seventeen, and confused and frightened, Hal. Horrified by Edward’s manner, I pleaded with him not to upset my father because I thought it might hasten his death, and reluctantly agreed the marriage could take place as he wished. Edward’s rage then abated and he persuaded me to forgive his intemperate words.’

  ‘A disgraceful way to treat you when your father was dying,’ said Hal in a constricted voice.

  ‘I know that now,’ she replied, ‘but at the time I was immature and anxious to please someone whose impatience, I believed, was because of his love for me. So, in an error of judgement I have regretted a million times since, I forgave Edward and the ceremony went ahead. It was the strangest marriage ceremony that ever took place; the only people present were Edward, me, my father, the clergyman of course, and two servants who acted as witnesses.’ Isabella gave a tremulous smile and continued, ‘The bride cried silent tears throughout, but they were tears of sadness, not of joy. Apart from my father’s impending death, perhaps I also had a premonition of what was to come.

  ‘After the ceremony, Edward returned to his property, Vane Manor. I felt sick with worry, afraid that he would return to consummate the marriage that night. However, he made no demands and I was left in peace to nurse my father. Edward must have known that the end was hours away and was simply biding his time. He offered me no support and I felt angry and let down: I had assumed my new husband would try to ease my sadness a little. Two days later, my father died and I was left alone to deal with my grief. Even though I sent word to him, Edward did not return and I was obliged to make the funeral arrangements myself.

  ‘On the day of the funeral, when the mourners had gone home, Edward informed me brusquely to pack my things. By the time I reached Vane Manor, I felt wretched – not only had I buried my father, but I had left my childhood home and was alone in the world, apart from Harriet who was many miles away and Great Uncle James, a distant relative.

  ‘I hoped that Edward would now be more comforting but I was mistaken. The loving suitor was gone and in his place was a curt stranger. His attitude was terse and cold, and he drank throughout the silent dinner we shared. When I could delay no longer, I went to ready myself for bed.’ Isabella shuddered. ‘I – I did not know what to expect; I had no mother to guide me and I only knew the fundamentals of what happened between a man and a woman. I hoped that Edward would be patient, b-but when he came to me that night, I was suddenly afraid – his expression was pitiless. W-When I felt the weight of his body and smelt the wine on his breath, I began to struggle. Edward was brutal; there was no tenderness or respect, he was simply doing his duty to consummat
e the marriage and taking what was rightfully his in law. There was no love for me, there never was.’ Isabella covered her face with her hands and began to cry.

  Hal, his heart full of hatred towards Isabella’s dead husband, held her tightly, murmuring soothing words of comfort. When her breathing began to return to normal, he kissed her, and went to pour her a glass of wine. After she had sipped it, he took her into his arms once more. When he could speak with moderation, he said in a bitter voice, ‘I wish I could repay him for what he did to you, my darling. If he were not already dead, I would take pleasure in sending him to hell.’

  ‘Harriet is aware of what happened that night, but I have never had the courage to fully articulate what he did,’ whispered Isabella. ‘When it was over, he left without a word. I lay there in shock until eventually, I managed to wash myself – I needed to cleanse the feel of his body from mine. When I crawled back into bed, I was afraid to go to sleep in case he returned.’

  ‘You must have felt very frightened, and completely alone.’

  She agreed, and said, ‘Next morning, I went downstairs with trepidation. There was still a spark of hope that the previous night was an aberration on Edward’s part and that he would be remorseful when sober. But what I had witnessed then was the real man and not the façade that I had been shown during his courtship. He treated me with the same disdain. He said my father’s property would be sold and I was to be allowed only a few personal possessions from the contents. I did not dare to argue with him.’

  ‘Did he touch you again?’ asked Hal, emotion choking his voice.

  Isabella nodded. ‘Several times, usually when he had been drinking heavily. I tried to lock the door but he was furious and sheared off the lock. After that, I was too fearful to try again – I thought he might kill me in his rage – so I – I …’

  She fell silent, as did Hal, but he held her close, allowing her time to cope with recounting these memories aloud.