Beauty and the Beast of Thornleigh

by Kate Westwood

  To this speech, the Colonel solicitously nodded his head and patted Mrs Hall’s hand kindly. ‘I am sure it is, my dear Mrs Hall. But all your daughters are so pretty, that I am sure it is only time before one or other is snapped up. If indeed, they wish to be snapped up,’ he added, glancing at Elizabeth. Then, ‘Georgiana, you know, is as pretty as Elizabeth,’ he cried, ‘and her little indisposition need not be so great an obstacle, my dear Mrs Hall.’

  While Georgiana stared out the window in unspoken vexation, which only the most dutiful politeness could overcome, Mrs Hall cast a chilly glance at her daughter and remained silent.

  It is only an extraordinary man who can notice what a woman would call an “atmosphere”, and the Colonel was quite as ordinary as most men. He continued placidly to offend two of the four ladies sitting before him, quite oblivious to the distress he was at that moment causing.

  He continued, ‘Oh, I wonder — do you remember Captain Brandt, that poor gentleman whom we met three weeks ago at Lady Young’s assembly? I dare say you do not, Miss Hall, for you were much too busy beating me soundly at Whist, eh? However, Miss Georgiana, you will remember him because you danced with him, I recall. The fellow with the unfortunate face, my dear. Well, the Captain is rumoured to have proposed to some girl sight unseen, been refused, and turned tail and gone home to his castle or whatever he has there in the north. Quite completely beaten down, I hear; what a pummelling to his pride, poor fellow! It must be very hard on a man who has suffered as he has, to be destined to a life of solitude. I hear he has a small child too, niece or some such, whom he loses if he cannot produce a mother for it. Poor fellow!’

  Georgiana uttered some faint remark and looked out the window to hide her distress. Mrs Hall’s colour rose, but the Colonel was intent on the subject now.

  ‘I am told he was quite the recluse before he came to town, and has declared to his friends his intention to shut himself into his castle, like a good dramatis personae, I suppose.’

  ‘I liked him!’ declared Julia from her place beside Georgiana, who shushed her at once.

  ‘But I did, Georgie, and he was very nice to me! He winked at me over the dinner table at Aunt Fanny’s, and made me laugh!’

  ‘I am sure he did, dear, but shoosh now!’

  ‘We are quite familiar with the story, Colonel,’ cut in Mrs Hall, ‘and I have no wish to pursue the subject. Will you come walking with us this afternoon? I am sure Georgiana will be grateful for your arm.’

  The Colonel was delighted to be included in the walking party, and only expressed a wish that the rain would stay away so as not to dampen the pleasure of his walk, for he liked to walk among the crowds and see happy faces. ‘But I am not afraid of a little rain, you know, and I shall be all the more use to Miss Hall and Miss Georgiana in that case, by holding the umbrella,’ he declared amiably. ‘I hope you ladies are not put off by a little light rain, as some would be?’

  ‘No, indeed not!’ cried Elizabeth, who never walked in the rain if she could help it, ‘I am looking forward to a walk, excessively! We do not care if it rains, do we, Georgiana?’

  Georgiana, still feeling the effects of the conversation of the previous moments, only weakly smiled her reply, and did not express her astonishment at her sister’s declaration. If Eliza had suddenly taken a liking for walking in the rain, it was merely a sign of her older sister’s capacity for caprice.

  In fact, Georgiana felt at that moment some indifference as to her inclusion in the party. She did not wish to meet Henry before he had left London, until she felt she was equal to facing him again. He often walked at Vauxhall in the afternoons when in town. It would be very bad luck indeed if they met him today!

  ~~*~~

  The Halls and Colonel Walker met inside the gate, having each paid their entry fee. The Colonel greeted them with much bluster and a profusion of compliments, and directed the main of his attention as usual to Elizabeth, although she gave him no great encouragement. The park was unfashionably deserted, but for a few straggling riders, determined to air their horses, and a few walking parties complete with parasols against the weather. It was, after all, the end of the season, and at least half of the ton had already retreated to their country residences, to see out the summer, and the other half would surely follow by Friday or Saturday. But, for now, a few ladies wandered in the grey afternoon, and greeted each other with nods and curtsies, damp parasols dripping. Some hardy nannies looked on as their high-spirited charges ran about stamping in puddles.

  Georgiana had taken the Colonel’s kindly offered arm, her cane hung on her other, when Elizabeth gave a small, self-conscious laugh. ‘Oh, Mama, I had quite forgotten to tell you! I have invited Mrs Laidlaw and her daughters to walk along with us. I sent her a note yesterday. I hope you don’t mind? I thought she looked a little pale last time I saw her, at dinner in Grosvenor Street, you remember.’

  ‘I had no idea of you being so intimate with Mrs Laidlaw, my dear, but I am happy to have her join our party, of course. It is hard you know, very hard, to be widow and raising daughters; do I not always say, Colonel, how difficult it is to raise daughters on one’s own?’

  ‘Ah, quite, my dear Mrs Hall, quite so. Indeed, you are always mentioning it. But Elizabeth has acted quite rightly, in advancing an invitation to the poor lady. Quite right! It is excessively good-natured, in my opinion. Ah, here comes the lady now, and her daughters, too. I do hope it will not rain much, to scare us all indoors! Ah, good day, Mrs Laidlaw, Good day, ladies!’

  After some curtsying and fluttering of parasols, the party set off down the broad gravelled paths, bordered with trees and inviting stretches of lawn. Even in the overcast afternoon, Vauxhall was enchanting, thought Georgiana, and she swung her cane a little, feeling happier than she had done for the past week. The two Misses Laidlaw were as amiable and unassuming as their brother and she exchanged a little conversation with them.

  Both were excessively passionate about art. They had about them their drawing paraphernalia, and declared their intentions to stop and draw the scenes before them to remember, so as to have small reminders to take back to the country with them. Georgiana wondered at their being able to stop in the rain, and the quality of any drawings made in a drizzle, but allowed that they were, if nothing else, enthusiastic, good-spirited girls, and she did not object to their company.

  Elizabeth led the party, on the arm of Colonel Walker, who was happy to oblige her in any little dash down this path or that, and the rest of the party followed comfortably, Mrs Hall voluble in her discussion of the highlights of Mrs Young’s dinners, and Mrs Laidlaw quietly listening, either too polite, thought Georgiana, or too timid, to insert any opinion or venture any topic of her own. From time to time, Elizabeth asked the Colonel to check his fob-watch, and Georgiana’s fine dark brows furrowed, for they had not any engagements that afternoon to press them to hurry. Presently they arrived at a border of trees and some fine statues, and a stretch of wet, verdant lawn which led to some private seating under the damp trees.

  Elizabeth turned to the party. ‘Oh, do let us sit down, for just a few minutes! La, I am so vastly tired after all this walking around. Mrs Laidlaw, would you not like to sit for a few minutes? Miss Laidlaw, would you not care to sit?’

  ‘You go, Eliza, for you know I dare not attempt the wet grass with my cane,’ declared Georgiana. ‘I shall wait here.’

  ‘Nonsense, Miss Georgiana, I shall escort you; you must be in need of some rest now.’ The Colonel offered Georgiana his arm and she reluctantly took it.

  Elizabeth was looking anxiously towards the trees. ‘Do come, Mrs Laidlaw! Here, allow me to take your arm.’

  The party reluctantly left the path and made their way over the wet lawn, where they stood admiring the view of the trees on the opposite side of a small lake which spread before them. The lovely Chinese pavilion could be seen in the distance. They sat for a minute or two, the Colonel having gallantly sacrificed his own coat to place it down upon the bench for t
he Mrs Laidlaw and Mrs Hall.

  Elizabeth refused to be seated and strolled nonchalantly along the bank for a moment or two, then exclaimed in a rather high tone, ‘Dear me, is that not Esme Osbourne? And is that not our cousin, Henry Hall?’

  She pointed across the bank, and indeed, Georgiana could see that Miss Esme Osbourne, unmistakable with her little painted parasol, was in deep conversation with their cousin! Henry had placed his hand tenderly upon Miss Osbourne’s arm, and they seemed to be very much in intimate conversation. The walking party was at too much of a distance across the lake to be noticed by the pair, so that Esme and Henry were not conscious of their being observed. Esme gave all the appearance of being very anxious not to be seen in a private tête-à-tête and looked about nervously.

  Georgiana, much astonished, and not knowing what to think of this discovery, wondered if the meeting between her cousin and Esme had been mere chance. It must have been chance! However, a few seconds later, she was proven quite wrong. After a moment more, as the silent party looked on unnoticed, Esme shyly handed Henry a small paper package, tied in pink ribbon. Henry immediately pressed it to his bosom and tucked the package inside his coat. Esme impulsively took his hand, and then hurried away. Behind her, Henry looked about himself, and then strolled in the opposite direction.

  Astonishment had overspread the face of Mrs Laidlaw. ‘Am I to believe that there is something between your nephew and Esme Osbourne, Mrs Hall?’ The two daughters looked just as astonished as their mama and were quite pink-cheeked with maidenly shock.

  ‘Why, I cannot account for it at all, Mrs Laidlaw,’ replied Mrs Hall, quite nonplussed. ‘Indeed, I cannot! Although Henry does go very much his own way, but I am sure—’

  ‘I am sure, Mrs Laidlaw,’ cried Georgiana, ‘that Henry would not meet in such a clandestine manner — he is not that kind of young man—’

  Mrs Laidlaw stood. ‘I think I shall return home, Mrs Hall, Colonel. I feel a headache coming on. Please excuse me.’ She retreated in dignity over the lawn, her two daughters following soberly.

  Georgiana was pale. She could not fathom it, and yet, the scene had given them every cause to believe the Henry had been party to a clandestine meeting, receiving a love letter from Esme Osbourne, and bringing her reputation into danger! And after she had so urgently pressed her concerns to Henry only two weeks previously! It was unthinkable, and yet, there seemed no other conclusion to draw. She was greatly vexed at Henry, and sorry for Tom Laidlaw. He would surely suffer, when his mother and sisters told him. He did seem so sincerely attached to Esme. It was too bad!

  ‘Well, well, young girls must go about as they choose, these days,’ commented the Colonel after Mrs Laidlaw had gone away. ‘Still, it is a very thoughtless young girl who would put her own reputation in danger. I am surprised at Mrs Osbourne for allowing the young lady out on her own. Did anyone observe a servant? However, I am sure it will all come to naught in the end. These silly girls today are full of caprice and hardly know their own minds, or what is best for them. Was she not being courted by Tom Laidlaw? She would be out of her wits to turn him down. He’s to inherit a pretty penny from his aunt, you know.’

  ‘Yes, Colonel, that is all very well,’ responded Mrs Hall, ‘but it is hardly my concern if a very silly young lady chooses to wander around the gardens with a young man unaccompanied. Only, now Mrs Laidlaw will put it about town, and the Hall name must come under disrepute because of it! I always said to my dear Mr Hall, never trust a Frenchman! Now that boy has gone and brought scandal to the family. He will incite talk! I can only be thankful it is the end of the season and will not be of much significance. But it is altogether really quite vexing!’

  ‘Oh, Mama,’ interjected Elizabeth, taking the Colonel’s arm once again. ‘I am sure that as the Colonel says, it will come to nothing. Really, Esme Osbourne should be more careful, and if there is now gossip about her, and she is thought fast, it really is her own fault!’

  The Hall party retraced their path, each deep in their own thoughts, and the Colonel left them at the front door of Charles Street. Georgiana retreated immediately to her room, to contemplate the astonishing behaviour of her cousin. She was both confused and humiliated. She was shocked that his mind was so variable, so inconstant, that only days after having received her refusals and reproofs, he had at once turned his attentions to Esme Osbourne, the very young lady whom she had taken great pains to warn him from! He could not love Esme! If he could, only a week previous, make herself an offer, surely he could not have learned to love Esme Osbourne in only a few days! But to compromise her reputation by meeting her in such a clandestine manner, she could only assume that either his intentions were quite serious, or that he was toying with Esme, which she could not believe!

  Now, having only one week ago been obliged to dislike him for the first time in her life, she now found that having caught him, in flagrante delicto, so to speak, she was even more disappointed in the cousin whom she had once thought of as unable to commit any offence! So great was the tumble from the pedestal on which she had happily erected him, that her disillusioned mind railed against such a mistake in judgement of her cousin’s character. Her spirits were cast down, so much so that she did not feel that she could bear to stir from her room at all until they were to leave for Derbyshire.

  Within two days, with no engagement having been announced by the Osbournes, Mrs Laidlaw had seen to it that Miss Esme Osbourne’s reputation and Henry Hall’s ungentlemanlike behaviour had become the first topics for conversation in Mayfair’s drawing rooms. Poor Esme Osbourne was now consigned by society to the demi-monde, while Henry Hall, by way of Mrs Laidlaw’s exaggerated talk, had acquired the dubious status of a rakehell!

  Fourteen

  Nearly four months had passed; summer had given way to autumn, and autumn to the beginnings of a hard winter. At Loweston, Georgiana had settled, with some difficulty at first, into those easy and familiar occupations with which she amused herself at home; teaching French to her sister, reading, and regular autumn walks. She had looked for their removal to Loweston with some eagerness, feeling that the fresh air, the quiet, and the change of scene would give her relief from her troubled thoughts. She found instead, that having now so much more solitude and quiet only increased the disturbing images which paraded before her eyes when she was alone.

  She tried not to dwell upon Henry’s offer and the gross betrayal of trust which it symbolised to her now, for it made her melancholy. She reflected too, on that final month in town, with sad regret, not only for the distress it had brought to her, but for the injustice she felt Captain Brandt to have done her, and the misunderstanding which had offended him as equally as his proposal had offended her. By day, with activity and zealous persistence, she could repress images of a scarred face and a twisted smile, but by night her dreams were populated with one person, whose half-closed eye accused her, and whose presence hovered in the darkness beyond her dreams and into morning.

  Since they had come home, Mrs Hall had not let Georgiana forget the duty to her family which she had so selfishly spurned. In order to remove herself from the censure to which she was frequently subjected by her mama, and sometimes by Elizabeth, she went out of doors more often than ever. While previously she had always taken two or three walks in a week, now her mother perceived that she walked almost daily, even in inclement weather.

  ‘I am sure I don’t know why you are always out, Georgiana; you intend to hide from us, I suspect, but I cannot forget what you did— what you did not do, in London! Your father would have made you marry him, you know!’

  Georgiana knew immediately to which “him” her mother referred. ‘Mama, I do not think Papa would ever have consented to marry me off to the only person who would consent to have me, and who merely wants a nursemaid for his child! I shall not be sold off like a— a— piece of furniture that nobody can find a place for!’

  ‘You know what our fortunes are, you thankless girl! You had the opportunity to sa
ve your family from the mouth of poverty, but you think only of yourself!’

  ‘Perhaps it is not I who thinks only of myself, Mama. It was not I who spent our household income on lavish dinners and silk gowns!’ she rejoined in a low voice.

  ‘Pray do not answer me back in that insolent fashion. I, who have done so much for you, and taken you to town to find you girls husbands! Well, I suppose we must wither here at Loweston and be a burden on my brother-in-law.’

  ‘We live so frugally now Mama, and do so well on our small allowances, that we are hardly a burden to my uncle yet; and I am certain that Henry will not throw us all out once he marries—’ She stopped short, unable to imagine Esme Osbourne as mistress of her beloved Loweston. ‘Whatever shall we all do when he comes here?’

  ‘Well,’ huffed Mrs Hall, ‘I suppose I shall have to take Julia to Fanny’s, and you and Elizabeth will have to shift for yourselves. I am sure your uncle will take one of you at Beecham, and the other can stay here with Mr Henry Bonaparte.’

  ‘Oh, Mama,’ relented Georgiana, taking Mrs Hall’s hand, ‘you know it does not signify that Henry is French. He’s not really, you know, he is as much an Englishman as Colonel Walker! You ought not to dislike him on that account! If you are going to dislike him, let it be for his recent behaviour only!’