Henry was invited to stay overnight, and return to Derbyshire the next day, which offer he gratefully accepted, while Julia, tired and quiet after her long journey, was ushered to bed for an afternoon sleep, in order for her to be restored enough to eat dinner with them.
Although Georgiana saw that her aunt eyed her with curiosity, Fanny had less want of delicacy than her sister, and refrained, in the company of Henry and Julia, from asking too many questions of her niece, on the subject of their stay at Thornleigh. That lady wisely confined her queries to those very right and proper subjects which arose naturally— the fate of their carriage and horses, the general comforts of Thornleigh, and a very female interest in the number and type of servants employed there. Georgiana was able to calmly relate the main, exaggerating only a very little on the exact number of servants, and retained a tolerable composure. Certain that her aunt suspected nothing untoward, she was able to retire to bed that night with a lighter heart than she might have had, if her aunt had discovered the true reason for her pale countenance.
Twenty Four
‘He was everything that was proper, Aunt Fanny, and very kind to Julia and me.’ Georgiana sat in her aunt’s breakfast room, a very sunny room which had the added advantage of a fine view overlooking the bay. The distant sea, deep blue-green, and dotted with puffy foam, was almost the colour of Georgiana’s simply-styled long sleeved morning dress. ‘And yes, he did have female staff, a very good cook and her daughter, who did lady’s maid for Julia and me,’ she added, a trifle defensively.
She did not add, in reply to her aunt’s rather archaeological questions, that these two good women had only arrived the day after their own arrival at Thornleigh, and that she herself had suffered the humiliation of being undressed by Captain Brandt, without another woman within miles! Her aunt would have been shocked, and besides, at that time, she truly believed Ash— Captain Brandt— to have been acting disinterestedly, and only to prevent her from falling ill from a pneumonia or fever. Still, she could not help the slight bitterness which pervaded her tone, when she had insisted that his behaviour had been at all times proper, and she hope that her aunt had not perceived anything amiss in her manner. She buttered a slice of toast, more to present a calm appearance to her aunt than from any real appetite.
Her aunt regarded her thoughtfully, then said, ‘Well, I am relieved to hear it, my dear. But you know, you cannot be surprised at my asking, given the circumstances. I have been worried that the Captain might have harboured some ill-will, because of his being refused in town, you know. I am glad that he was everything he ought to have been.’
Georgiana did not meet her eyes. She sipped her tea. ‘Yes, Aunt.’
Her aunt reached for the jam. ‘Heaven knows, I’ve no wish to pry, my dear, but— he didn’t renew his offer to you? I am sorry to ask it, but your being thrown together, and in such an extraordinary way — your being alone together for so long a time — your mother and I wondered –’
‘Aunt!’ Georgiana set down her tea cup with a sharp bang. ‘You cannot think me fickle enough to refuse him at first and change my mind later! He mentioned nothing of the matter, almost nothing, at any rate, and there was no animosity in his manner. I do so wish Mama would not press a point that has distressed me beyond anything!’
Her aunt had the grace to look abashed. ‘I feel, my dear, that I gave not conducted myself quite as I ought to have done, but when approached by my good friend, Lady Selkirk, about an introduction, my object was merely to put Captain Brandt in the way of being in company with you a little; it seemed to me, that a union might answer well, if you liked him. But,’ she sighed, ‘you do not, and there’s an end to it. But I am sorry if you have felt oppressed by wishes other than your own. Your mother can be very strong-willed,’ she added, ‘and I hope you have not suffered too much in that house because of me! Do you forgive me, child?’
Georgiana took her aunt’s hand and pressed it, too much affected to speak, and too overcome by other feelings she would rather not disclose, even to her beloved aunt. Her eyes, dark and expressive, however, conveyed eloquently what her lips could not.
She retired to her room as soon as breakfast was eaten, to write a letter to Lilly, apprising her of the events of the last week. She kept the letter brief, not entering into much detail, but giving only the material points of the carriage accident, their application for help at the door of Thornleigh and their se’en night’s forced stay in that residence. She could not bring herself to admit to her friend the feelings which had grown in that time, and the misery of doubt and longing in which she now found herself, and she hoped her disclosure would not bring her friend’s speculation, for of that, she had endured enough from both her aunt and her mama. Letter sealed and enclosed in paper, she carried it to a willing Henry, with the request that he might take it to the post for her, as he travelled back to Derbyshire.
~~*~~
Henry’s departure had been set for midday, and twelve o’clock found his poor, rough-looking animal saddled and ready. Georgiana and Julia had come down to see off their cousin. Both girls, wrapped in warm shawls, embraced their cousin.
‘Safe journey, cousin!’ Georgiana kissed Henry fondly. ‘Do take care! I suppose you will rest yourself at the posting inn where you must return your horse?’
‘If the old nag will take me! It was confoundedly fagged bringing me this far! I shall return the creature and demand my fee paid back in full, devil take the young scoundrel who hired it out to me! Still, I think it will get me twenty-odd miles, or it shall, with an application of the whip!’
Georgiana gave him a strained smile, and felt rather sorry for the creature which was to carry him the twenty-odd miles.
‘Do be careful,’ cried Julia, ‘do not fall, or anything horrid!’
Henry shot them a salute and mounted his beast. ‘Goodbye! I shall see you all in a few weeks! You must come to the wedding. I shall write you! Goodbye again!’
He had turned his horse and was moving off when a second horse and rider, moving at pace, turned through the gates of Northstead, and prevented Henry’s departure.
A moment more, and Georgiana gasped. ‘Good heavens! It is Tom Laidlaw!’
The gentleman brought his beast to a halt quite near to Henry and cast him a summoning glare. ‘Hall!’ cried Laidlaw, ignoring Georgiana. ‘So, you thought to hide in the north, did you? And yet I have found you out, after all! Now, will you face me, like a man?’
Henry sat astride his beast, staring at Tom Laidlaw as if in a fit. ‘I must say, old fellow,’ he answered nervously, ‘what are you thinking, coming here, and speaking to me in such a manner? Name your meaning, man! Or be gone with you and leave off such funning!’
‘Here is my meaning, Sir!’ Tom Laidlaw replied darkly, and pulled from his longcoat two silver pistols. Henry gasped, and Julia screamed. Georgiana hastily stepped back, pulling her sister with her, her countenance ashen.
Before Georgiana could speak, however, Mrs St. George brought her bulky figure down the steps hastily, having seen it all from her front door. She put a protective arm around Julia. ‘Mr Hall! I will thank you to tell your friend to take his fighting elsewhere! Never in all its days has Northstead seen such goings-on, and I won’t have it now! Get along with you, young addle-pated fool!’
Tom Laidlaw paid her no heed and dismounted his horse. He placed one of the pistols on the ground near Henry’s beast. ‘Hall is no friend of mine, Ma’am,’ he interjected acidly. ‘I am come to avenge the honour of Miss Esme Osbourne, which this man might think a mere trifle, but I cannot! Now, you recreant dandy, you shall pay for what you have done! Draw your weapon, like a man! You have ten seconds!’
Henry backed his horse a few steps. ‘Miss Osbourne, you say! Then I rather think there has been a misunderstanding, Laidlaw. If I have given offence, I’m sure I’m vastly sorry for it, but I think you ought to let me explain!’
Mrs St. George took Julia, who had become pale, by the hand and drew her away. �
��Calm yourself, child, I can hardly imagine that they will fight. Depend upon it, it is some silly matter, which your cousin will put straight. Come away inside.’ She pulled at Julia, but the little girl stood fast with her sister.
Georgiana had now gone a little way forward, her knowing Tom Laidlaw as generally a sensible young man fuelling her courage. ‘Mr Laidlaw! I can vouch for my cousin! There has indeed been a grave mistake. If you could but put down the weapon, he might have the opportunity to explain!’
‘Excellent Miss Hall!’ replied the young man earnestly, but veritably advancing upon his enemy, ‘It is very right feeling of you to defend your cousin, and yet I require him to fight! He knows what he has done!’ He signalled Henry to dismount.
At this moment, the sound of hoofbeats coming at pace was heard through the crisp morning air, and seconds later, Georgiana had reason to gasp again. The rider was no other than Captain Brandt! Her ashen face became even more pale, and she tried, but could not account for his being here, except to see herself, or perhaps her aunt. Expecting him to address her, she clutched at her walking stick, as if it might somehow give her courage.
However, it immediately became apparent, as he rode up close, that he had no business with Mrs St. George, who stood transfixed, her mouth open, nor with Georgiana who stared at him in the greatest astonishment and degree of alarm.
He halted his horse in front of Henry, who was still stupid with shock, and said in commanding tones, ‘Laidlaw! Put down your weapon! I told you I should come after you if you persisted in such a scheme!’
‘It is no business of yours, Sir! I apprised you of that only three hours ago! Miss Hall here,’ he nodded in Georgiana’s direction, ‘must give you the particulars, and then you will see I am quite right to demand retribution!’
‘Then, Mr Laidlaw has been to Thornleigh first! That is why you are here!’ cried Georgiana, comprehending the situation quickly, and forgetting her determination to be at all costs reserved and cool with the Captain, in the surprise and relief of seeing him. ‘Oh, I do entreat you to prevent them fighting, Captain!’
Captain Brandt however, had already insinuated himself between Henry and Tom Laidlaw. ‘Go inside, Miss Hall, and take your sister.’ His tone was quite calm, but she perceived in his half-open dark eye a dangerous glint.
Her aunt quietly led Julia indoors and Georgiana thanked her silently.
Laidlaw gritted his teeth. ‘Stand aside, Brandt! This man has sullied the reputation of an innocent young girl to whom I was attached, and come between us.’
‘That,’ proposed Henry, from behind Captain Brandt’s blue-coated back, ‘is hardly a crime worth duelling over, old fellow! If you think me guilty of anything untoward, you have quite misunderstood the matter!’
‘But I have more to charge you with, Hall! You thought to compromise her reputation, by proposing a clandestine meeting, in which you were sighted acting in an intimate manner, and in doing so, you left her open to gossip and supposition, so that she is now ill-spoken of by the very high society she was accustomed to move about in freely! Dare to deny it, Sir!’
‘But I do, indeed, Laidlaw! It was not as it appeared—’
Ignoring Henry, Tom Laidlaw continued. ‘That I could have endured! Endure it I did, for the sake of herself, thinking she was attached to you, and expecting a proposal every day. But you went even further! Once you had compromised her reputation, so thoroughly that only marriage could retrieve it at all, you dropped her entirely and I have only just yesterday heard that you have made offers to another woman entirely!’ finished Tom, flushed in righteous indignation. ‘In short, you have left Miss Osbourne entirely on the wrong side of the ton, to endure censure, and ill-talk, with none of the compensation an offer of marriage would have afforded her!’
‘Now, listen here Laidlaw,’ began Henry haughtily, ‘it was not like that at all! I never meant to—'
‘Ah, you will admit nothing, will you? I apprehend you have all the gallant appearance of a Brummel, and yet all the degeneracy of a Byron,’ interjected Laidlaw, derision ringing in his voice. ‘You shall pay a high price for Miss Osbourne’s reputation, Hall. Draw your weapon!’
‘Byron? Now look here! That’s laying it on a bit thick, Laidlaw!’
Tom held his pistol level with his eye, his arm extended. ‘Stand aside, Brandt.’
Captain Brandt stood his ground, and steadied his horse.
‘Do you deny it, then?’ questioned Laidlaw. ‘Are you, or are you not, recently engaged to a Miss Caroline Wright of Ploverdale?’
‘Miss Caroline Wright!’ exclaimed Captain Brandt, looking from Tom Laidlaw to Georgiana, who was now colouring deeply. ‘Surely, Mr Hall is engaged to marry his cousin, Miss Hall!’
‘No, indeed, Sir,’ cried Henry from behind him, happy to be able to refute at least one charge. ‘Not that but I did make her an offer, in the summer,’ he added in perplexed tones, ‘but I am astonished at its being known by you! But you must know then, that I was refused? I shortly thereafter became engaged to Miss Wright. Let me assure Mr Laidlaw, at no time did I have an understanding with Miss Esme Osbourne! My cousin supplied to me the knowledge, when we were in town, that it was not the thing, that there was a mutual attachment elsewhere. Rest assured, old fellow, that I have never paid her any attention in that regard! Nor to Miss Hall, after I was refused in the summer!’
Georgiana could comprehend Captain Brandt’s confusion as she met the quick glance that was directed at her, and she could not but help wonder once again at the terrible workings of providence, which seemed bent on throwing her into first one trying circumstance, then another!
‘And yet, despite your protestations, you were seen meeting Miss Osbourne in secret! You are a black-hearted devil, indeed! Dismount at once and fight, Sir!’ Laidlaw grasped his pistol more firmly, pointing it at Henry, who, still securely mounted and ready to bolt at any moment, continued to be obscured by Captain Brandt.
For his part, Captain Brandt gallantly contrived, with every change of position of the challenger, to get his horse in front of Henry, thus protecting him from a shot. Whether this shielding Henry was for her cousin’s sake, or her own, Georgiana was beyond saying, and could spare no immediate thought for a matter which might have interested her greatly at that moment. She was intent only on preventing a terrible accident, to protect the man she was most attached to in all the world. As Tom cowered behind his defender, she almost ran forward to pull Captain Brandt from the sighting of the pistol, but was prevented by the fear of giving herself away.
‘I cannot bear it!’ Georgiana cried out. ‘Do not hurt him! It is all a mistake, Mr Laidlaw! Oh, you must believe me! It is all my sister Eliza’s doing!’
Both Captain Brandt and Laidlaw turned to stare at her. She could not meet Captain Brandt’s eyes, but she could feel the coldness of his stare. He assumed her display of concern was for her cousin’s benefit! If he only knew! She must not give way to her feelings, she must teach herself to be inured; he must never guess!
Tom Laidlaw lowered his pistol, his look one of astonishment. ‘I beg your pardon? What has she to do with this matter?’
‘It shames me greatly, Mr Laidlaw,’ replied Georgiana urgently, ‘but you must believe me! It is all my sister’s meddling, all her malicious interference! She manufactured a clandestine meeting between my cousin and Miss Osbourne! She convinced poor Miss Osbourne, persuaded her that only Henry could pass a letter from her sister, to be delivered in secret to Lieutenant Hailsham. Oh, I forget the particulars, but she made sure they were seen together, in order to damage Miss Osborne’s reputation. But truly, Henry was only doing what he felt right by the young lady, and had no personal attachment to her at all! You simply must believe me, Sir!’
‘It is quite as my cousin has said, Laidlaw! I was duped by Miss Eliza Hall; I was not to blame at all!’ Henry peeped around Captain Brandt’s back.
‘But why would your sister do such a thing?’ Laidlaw’s high colour was abating. ‘Why
would she want…I cannot comprehend it at all!’
‘Can you not?’ replied Georgiana. ‘I don’t wish to appear indelicate, but my sister has long wished herself the recipient of the attentions of a certain gentleman; I think I need no more than merely hint at whose affections my sister has tried to attach.’
‘Oh! You cannot possibly mean—’
Georgiana smiled weakly. ‘You cannot truly be as addle-pated as my aunt thinks you, Mr Laidlaw! When my sister saw that your affections, which she was at one time sure of, were not to be regained, that they lay in another direction, I believe she wanted to create a rift between you. I believe her to be jealous of Miss Esme. I am ashamed, Sir, to mention her behaviour, but you must remember that you and she have a history, and she did not take kindly to her hopes being dashed three years ago, before my father died.’
Tom Laidlaw was all abashed astonishment. ‘I see! So Miss Esme – she did not – Hall and she never had an understanding?’
‘No, Sir, I am quite sure of it.’
‘Then, I, too, have been a fool!’ He seemed to be in a catalepsy, but at length managed to assemble his wits. He bent to recover the second pistol. ‘Well, I am quite mistaken, it appears! I apologise, Sir,’ he bowed slightly to Henry.
Henry, looking quite relieved, but still keeping a wary eye on the pistols dangling in Laidlaw’s hands, ventured to peep around the form of Captain Brandt. ‘I tried to explain, Laidlaw! But here, this is quite a relief, I can tell you! I am not a fighting man, I must say, although I was quite prepared to have a go at you, because you demanded it, of course! One must defend one’s honour, you know! I dare say I would be quite the crack shot, too, for my friends tell me I have a fine aim in shooting season! But there, all is over now and no need to fight, hey ho Laidlaw?’
Beauty and the Beast of Thornleigh Page 19
