Beauty and the Beast of Thornleigh

by Kate Westwood

  Gunter’s tea shop was a popular place not only for ices and sweets, but to be seen by the ton. As they approached the lovely green square, decked in wide plane trees and large expanses of lawn, Georgiana could already see that the popular meeting place was quite crowded; ladies in carriages nibbled ices and fluttered fans, fancy young blades stood about under trees eyeing the ladies, and older gentlemen sat thoughtfully on benches talking, eyeing the young blades. Waiters scurried back and forth with ices and treats for their employers, which melted in the already warm morning.

  Tolerably shaded seats were found for them all and Georgiana allowed herself to be propelled forward under a tree with the rest of her party, the five young ladies preceding Henry. Immediately, she perceived Tom Laidlaw, just moving toward them, with Frederick Young at his side. There was a general flutter among their party. Esme breathed a little gasp, Lilly gave her sister’s hand a small squeeze, Henry straightened his back and puffed his chest out a little, and Elizabeth put an anxious hand to her hair. As the two gentlemen approached, having spied them among the crowd, they removed their tall hats, bowed low to the ladies, and made all the usual civilities.

  Tom reserved a quick, unreadable glance for Esme, who had hastily removed her hand from Henry’s arm, then cried, ‘Have you come to Gunter’s? Freddy and I were just going in for ices! But what a good bit of luck to meet you all here! I insist, ladies, that you stay here, under the trees,’ he added gallantly, ‘and Freddy and I will go in for you all. But Hall, how do you do, Sir? Will you come and help buy ices for the ladies? What say you?’

  ‘Why, thank you, Mr Laidlaw, how kind!’ Elizabeth smiled coyly at Tom. ‘I am sure I am ready to sit in this fatiguing heat! Are not you, Miss Osbourne? Come, do sit with me!’

  Lilly, not very fond of Elizabeth, but not impolite enough to ignore her, sat tentatively beside her on one of the spacious benches beneath a large, spreading plane tree. The other ladies took their places on two empty benches and the three gentlemen, all subtly attempting to outdo the others in speed, made for the shadowy entrance to Gunter’s, to procure the promised treats.

  Minutes later, the three gentlemen issued from the mouth of Gunter’s with sweet lemon ices, which they presented to the ladies. Georgiana received hers with pleasure, and for a few minutes, the previous day drifted from her mind and was swallowed up by the unusual sensation of eating the cold treat. Ice being quite expensive, her tiny allowance did not stretch to such an extravagance. Julia finished her ice first, and without the permission she knew would be denied her, dashed off to explore, ladylike thoughts quite melted away with the ice.

  ‘Do not wander far, Julia,’ called Georgiana after the retreating figure, ‘and you have forgotten to put on your bonnet! Mama will scold you! And mind your white muslin!’

  Her sister waved a reply and was gone from sight, threading her way in between gay parties of gents and ladies to the green lawns beyond. To Georgiana’s dismay, Henry had sat himself beside Esme, as yet unaware of Tom Laidlaw’s flushed glances at the two of them. Esme herself had become quiet, and had only eaten half her ice. Henry chatted animatedly with the quiet girl, and Georgiana thought he must take her silence for awe of his charms. Elizabeth began to assail Tom with chatter on this subject and that, fluttering her fan at him, and casting him coy looks. Not attending very much, he sent many glances toward Henry and Esme, and she increased her efforts to engage his attention until, quite of patience and good manners, he stood abruptly and strode off.

  ‘Lord!’ cried Frederick Young, who had been sprawling on the grass in front of Elizabeth, Lilly and Georgiana, ‘what the devil has got into Laidlaw? Must be this unseasonable heat! ‘Tis enough to get anyone in a raving mood, I must say. Can’t wait for winter myself. I always hate to be in London in the summer. Mother is quite out of her head, and Anne too, for they cannot bear to miss a season, and yet while we are here, all they do is complain about the heat!’

  Henry shrugged and finished his ice, oblivious to the consternation he had caused. Esme studied her feet, all pink-cheeked confusion. Elizabeth darted Esme an assessing glance and began to pick at her own discarded bonnet with little jarring movements. ‘Well, I hardy know why everyone seems so out of sorts. It is quite ill-humoured. I do not think the heat a good reason to be so disagreeable!’

  Georgiana stood up with her cane, smoothing out her sprigged-muslin skirts. ‘I must go find Julia,’ she apologised to everyone in general and no one particular. ‘Henry? Perhaps, if you would be so kind? You are more adept on the lawn than I and she may have climbed a tree, heaven forbid!’

  ‘Mama will hear of it, if she has,’ commented Elizabeth tartly. ‘I cannot get her to keep her bonnet on, and if she has torn her dress, I shall make her pink with the back of my hairbrush!’

  Henry laughed. ‘No, you shan’t, Eliza, for your bark is worse than your bite, even though you would have us think otherwise. But my lively young cousin is a little brown-apron, I declare; how do you both ever keep her in check? I shall go fetch her at once, since you command it of me, Georgie. We shall have to drag her from a tree top, no doubt!’ He stood and held his arm out to Georgiana who took it, determined to have a private word with her cousin before more damage was done to Esme’s composure.

  As soon as they had walked a little way from their company, she mentioned the matter of Tom and Esme to Henry and was quickly gratified by his humble response. He had no idea of interfering in any attachment, he told her, and was greatly discomforted that he had caused embarrassment.

  ‘I am obliged to you, dear cousin. Laidlaw seems a fine chap, although he fancies himself all the crack, I perceive, but for all that, if Esme Osbourne can get him, he has a nice little income, and I hear he is expected to inherit in the next ten years. No, I don’t think it a bad match.’

  ‘Yes,’ agreed Georgiana, ‘I believe she is very much taken with him. She is very young, but I am sure that Lilly will look out for her. Now, perhaps if I go this way, and you go there, we shall find Julia. She may have walked around the square and is back at Gunter’s, eyeing the sweets in the window!’

  They separated, and Georgiana, with her cane, walked herself around the square and towards Gunter’s tea shop, where there were quite a crowd gathered. As a waiter, laden with ices, slipped past her in haste, his foot caught her walking stick. Her support fell away from her hand, and she grabbed frantically at the fabric of a blue coat in front of her. The coat swung around and two strong arms caught her, so that she only half-collapsed into the arms of Captain Asher Brandt!

  The mutual astonishment and subsequent mortification of both parties was evident on each of their faces, although this manifested in opposite ways. Captain Brandt’s scar became bright crimson, whereas Georgiana’s complexion turned suddenly pale, and she almost collapsed against him again. He quickly recovered himself and helped her to stand. Confusion and embarrassment prevented her from speaking, and although he set her upright, he did not release her arm immediately.

  ‘Miss Hall! Where are your party? Are you hurt? You are alone here? Where is your servant?’

  His tone, she thought, betrayed his astonishment that the very women who had refused him yesterday, could now be here before him today, as if she had come after him! She felt her face suffused now with pink, and withdrew her arm hastily from his grasp. Unable to manage a coherent reply immediately, she stammered, ‘I— Forgive me, Captain. A waiter— I tripped. Oh, my cane!’

  Captain Brandt was quick to retrieve the item, which now lay in the dust at his feet, and restored the cane to her hand with a bow. In the few private moments this action had given her, she could only marvel in astonished aggrievement at her misfortune! To fall in the street, was mortifying enough, but to fall onto him!

  Still overcome with the idea that he might think she was chasing him, she could hardly dare to lift her eyes to meet his. ‘I am very sorry, Captain. I was looking for my sister. My party is here, I am not alone— I must go to them!’

  He as
sessed her face and she blushed under his eyes. ‘And you are not hurt, Miss Hall? I can call for a surgeon. I can send Charles, if you wish it?’ His voice was cool.

  At this, Georgiana realised that he was not alone, but accompanied by his two friends who stood at a distance, talking to some other young men. ‘Please, it is really not necessary. I am quite well. I am not hurt. Just a little shaken, perhaps. I— I must return to my friends, or I shall be missed,’ she added, desperate to remove herself from what she imagined to be his derision. She was overpowered by vexation and humiliation and wished at once to be gone.

  ‘But your sister is missing? What measures have you taken? May I be of assistance?’

  Before Georgina could formulate a reply, she was prevented from speaking.

  ‘But here you are Georgie!’ Henry had come up in quite a proprietary fashion. He eyed first the Captain, then herself, and took her arm under his own.

  ‘Oh!’ cried Georgiana in some consternation.

  Henry addressed her. ‘Julia is found, fear not! I discovered her sitting under the large tree yonder, with a butterfly on her sleeve and mud on her skirts! But do come at once, Georgie. Your sister is anxious for our return. I beg you will excuse us Sir; our party is just now leaving.’ Henry nodded at Captain Brandt.

  The Captain was cool. ‘My compliments to your mother and sisters, Miss Hall. It seems,’ he added in a low voice for Georgiana’s hearing only, ‘you are required elsewhere. You might have had the goodness to mention any prior attachment yesterday; it would have saved us both some difficulty. Good day, Miss Hall.’ He nodded curtly at Henry and was gone.

  Georgiana did not know if she wished to cry in exasperation of being twice misunderstood, or to laugh at providence’s ability to make things seem so unlike how they truly were. ‘Oh, Henry,’ she sighed as they made their way back, her arm still firmly in his grasp.

  ‘How unfortunate for you, Georgie, for I guessed that gentleman’s identity the moment I laid eyes on him! It is your dreaded Captain Brandt! One look at his face and it was not too difficult to imagine why you might decline him! Quite sure of himself, is he not? Impertinent chap! But there, Cousin, do not be cast down! Do cheer up, for you have managed to evade him again! Are you not glad that your dashing cousin was here to save you? Ah, now I have made you smile, and that is my whole object, you know!’

  ‘But Henry, you will recall I did not refuse his offer on account of his face! I would be very unkind to think such thoughts! But now I fear he thinks— well, I suppose it is of no account now. He must think what he will. Oh, but it so mortifying!’

  ‘I really do not comprehend why you are so affected, Georgie. It is all over now, and you shall not see him again. What a damned stroke of bad luck though, that you should meet him again, and on the very day you say he is to leave London! Well, it is done now. Look, there is Tom Laidlaw come back. I hope Esme is happy now!’

  Georgiana smiled humourlessly. Her unexpected meeting with Captain Brandt could not have been more misfortunate indeed! She felt a great anxiety not to be misunderstood by him, that perhaps he had thought she had deliberately manipulated her fall to attract his attention. Despite her shame, and the additional indignity she now felt, when she thought that Captain Brandt had very obviously thought her attached to Henry, she put the matter from her thoughts and rejoined their party. But later, at home, she was insensible of anything that was said to her; her mind was entirely taken up with lamenting the ill-timed fall, and more so, with wondering what he might thinking about her even now! It was a long time before she could sleep that night.

  Eleven

  The week passed in a dreary sequence of dinners and morning calls for Georgiana, and she could find solace neither at home, nor at her aunt’s house, nor in the pretty walks she once delighted in. Too much haunted by a face with a twisted smile and one hooded eye, she tried to distract herself with reading and visits, but with no great success, for she was reminded of the ingratitude of her refusal every hour. Having disappointed all Mrs Hall’s hopes, that lady was not disposed to be very civil to her ungrateful daughter, and ensured Georgiana’s hours at home were spent assured of her displeasure in the form of resentful looks, and sullen silences.

  Elizabeth, too, seemed much occupied and out of sorts, scolding both Georgiana and Julia for small nothings, and seeming to take offence at every turn. Georgiana longed for their impending removal back to Derbyshire, feeling sure that once her sister was gone from London, and had realised the impossibility of getting Tom Laidlaw for herself, Eliza’s ill-temper would fade to its usual ennui and occasional damp enthusiasm when a private assembly or evening party was to be anticipated.

  On Friday morning, the three girls, their aunt accompanying them, went by carriage to the circulating library, and issued forth forty minutes later, each with a novel of Miss Burney’s or those of ‘A Lady’ under their arm. Their aunt, solicitous for the girls to choose whatever would give them pleasure, chose herself to forgo the dubious pleasure of reading, for it gave her ‘just enough eye strain, to overcome any little entertainment she might derive from it, and besides, reading was a vastly dull pastime and made one feel quite stupid after half an hour with one’s head in a book.’

  As much as she loved her aunt, Georgiana couldn’t agree with this, for reading was one of her great pleasures, and she was eager to be home and to begin her novel.

  When they arrived home, Elizabeth, handing her bonnet to the servant, took up the mail on the salver in the hallway, which had just come, and sorted through the letters. ‘One for Mama, and a bill, from the wine merchants. I must give that to Aunt Fanny when she comes. Oh, here is one for you, Georgiana. The handwriting is very ill. I really don’t know why anyone bothers to write letters if one’s handwriting is so bad. It gives me the head ache trying to read it!’

  Mrs Hall joined them, and Julia let Lumley into the room. Elizabeth tutted and frowned. ‘Oh, for heaven’s sake, Julia, must that creature always be in here? I declare it is vastly smelly little thing. Do put some cologne or something on its back, for I cannot stand the smell! Mama, make her!’

  Georgiana, on whose ears this trivia fell unnoted, took up her letter and examined the back, then exclaimed, ‘Oh, it is from Lilly Osbourne! But the Osbournes cannot have left London, surely?’ She took it to the window and opened it. It was indeed from Lilly. Another letter, folded within the first, fell out, and Georgiana stared at it. It was addressed to Lieutenant Charles Hailsham. She frowned, and in some puzzlement, began her letter.

  ‘My dearest, dearest friend!

  How I shall miss your company! It is too bad! But I must not run away with myself. I am writing to tell you that Mama has sent me to stay with my excessively dull cousins in the south for a month or two, until quite after the season is done with! It is all exceedingly vexing, but there it is. I must do as directed; am I not quite put upon? I shall miss your kind words, and your conversation, for in my cousins’, two young and quite silly sparrows who think of nothing but dress and fashion, I am sure I shall find nothing to engage me! I am sure I don’t know why they are so obsessed with fashion, for here in the country, there can be but little occasion for display!

  But I hope you will write to me and tell me everything you do and every place you go! It will relieve my breaking heart a little, to hear news of town, for, if you have not guessed it, I must confess to being in love with Charles Hailsham! There, I have said it aloud! Well, perhaps not said it, but written it, in any case. My secret is out and you, my dear Georgiana, must be my deputy, if you will take on the role, as I have none other I can ask such a thing! Will you, dear sweet Georgiana, be my true friend and do me the greatest favour?

  I enclose a letter, addressed to my dear Hailsham, with my direction here in Bournemouth. Mama does not approve the match, although dear Charles says we ought not to go against her, but he thinks if we give Mama time she may come around to the idea. But Georgie, if she does not! Papa will work on her, I know, but she is so determined
to have her way, that I fear the outcome!

  I have addressed the letter to Charles, which only contains my address and a brief account of what Mama has said, and I entreat you to give it him, only if you can find out where he is. I thought you might ask your cousin, Mr Hall, if he is still in London town, to take it to Charles’s club, Brookes, in James Street. I would be eternally grateful, if you could do me this favour. I cannot bear to be separated from dear Hailsham, but if he could have my address, we can correspond, until Mama becomes more amenable. She did not exactly say we may not correspond, so I am certain you won’t be doing anything so very wrong in taking him my letter. But, don’t mention the matter to Mama, or anyone else, all the same!

  Mama says Charles Hailsham is not a man of breeding or fortune, by which I suppose she means he has no great title and not so much income as she would like. How odd it is, dear Georgie, that people think about such things in these times! I would not for all the world be like these toadying young woman such as my two cousins, who think of fortune and rank before love, and flutter their fans and make eyes at anyone with a title! I fancy I am a true romantic, too much out of my time, but I know you think of these things the same way. So I know you will take my letter! Oh, Georgie, I am so desperately in love! I shall be downcast and low for the time I am here, separated as I am from the only man who can make me happy!

  I worry about Esme in my absence, but if Mama takes as prodigious care of her as she has done of me, then I suppose she will come to no harm. Esme is fortunate in that she shall not be likewise sent away, for Tom Laidlaw has a pretty fortune; it will suit Mama vastly well!

  I must bid you adieu, for now, but do write to me immediately and assure me that you were able to have my letter delivered! The direction, here at Bournemouth, is below.