Beauty and the Beast of Thornleigh

by Kate Westwood

  Immediately Georgiana wondered if they would also call at Thornleigh, since Charles Hailsham was an intimate friend of Captain Brandt’s, and reflected that now, Lilly would be more often in the company of the Captain, than herself, since the friendship between the two men was both a professional and personal one. Her heart gave a little start, at the thought of it, and she pondered, with some agitation, the possibility of their chancing to meet through their now mutual acquaintance.

  She was still in this agitated state when Captain Brandt was shown into the drawing room by a servant only an hour after receiving her friend’s letter. Her aunt, observing his arrival from the window, had already quickly made the room fresh, plumped the cushions, adjusted Julia’s lace, and now stood beaming kindly to receive him. Georgiana was suddenly very glad she had earlier put on her best morning dress, a white India muslin with a tiny rose sprig, which became her dark eyes and dark hair.

  Julia greeted him with a wide smile and quickly ran to take his arm and a pull him onto the chaise by the fire, where, without ceremony, he pulled a cloth from a rolled-up paper he had been carrying, and handed the picture to Mrs St. George.

  That good lady, unrolling it, gasped, and dabbed away sudden tears. ‘It is indeed the very painting my dear John liked to carry with him. It is indeed!’

  ‘Then, it belongs to you, Ma’am,’ he rejoined solemnly, ‘and I return it with the satisfaction of doing a small service for the man I once had the honour of knowing.’

  Her aunt, much moved, was not able to speak for a time, and the Captain, feeling everything that was proper on such an occasion, moved to the window to survey the view, to allow the older lady time to collect herself. Presently, Mrs St. George recollected her guest, ordered some tea, and began to quiz the Captain. Greatly gratified by this kind visit of her husband’s protector, she earnestly entreated him to tell her any mere fact he could remember, for the purpose of giving her comfort. This he appeared to gladly comply with, and he related to her as many little things that he could remember, that the long distance of time had not erased from his mind.

  Georgiana, quiet in the corner of the drawing room, with her sewing only to occupy her, listened in half despair, and half hope. If he felt something for her, surely he would somehow convey his feelings, in an eagerness to talk to her, a look which might say, ‘I feel something for you; we are friends yet!’ But although she strained, longed for him to address her, to give her some sign that he was no longer indifferent to her, he behaved as disinterestedly as ever, and as time passed, her hope turned to misery, until the stiches she had sewn wavered before her eyes. He would not address her; her being in the room did not move him. She grew yet more pale, and more quiet, almost unmoving, and never once attempted to meet his eye.

  After his reasonable departure time had long passed, and he had taken tea, and done his best to satisfy Mrs St. George in everything she had asked, he stood to take his leave. Georgiana stood too, now in a painful misery, certain that this was the very last time she would ever see him. He bid them farewell, and then, to her acute discomfort, he finally addressed Georgiana.

  ‘Please convey my kind regards to your mother and sister, Miss Hall. When do you propose returning into Derbyshire?’

  The very real indifference of this remark, its absence of personal feeling, stung her most cruelly, and she replied dully, ‘I am not sure – I think we must return after Christmas…’ she trailed off, colouring.

  Julia however, caught at her thought. ‘Oh, yes, there is Cousin Henry’s wedding! Our cousin is to be married, Captain Brandt, and I am invited to the breakfast,’ she added proudly, not attending to Georgiana’s frowning eyes.

  ‘Ah, yes,’ Captain Brandt said coolly. ‘Mr Hall is to marry Miss Caroline Wright. Of Ploverdale.’

  He did not take his eyes from Georgiana’s and she flushed, looking away quickly.

  Mrs St. George addressed the Captain, and repeated her sentiment that now he was a very particular family friend, he must never stand on ceremony with them. He must certainly call whenever he liked and was in this part of the country.

  He assured her solemnly of his being most gratified, and would be honoured to call at Northstead whenever he was in these parts, although he was not often in the seaside town, since he feared his manners were not as refined as those who moved about more in society, and preferred the country above all things. He thanked her greatly for the honour of being asked to call and wished them all a very good day. Almost as soon as these comments had passed, he was gone from the room, and seconds later, was trotting down the white gravelled driveway, this time not even looking back once. If he had, he would have seen Georgiana watching him into the distance from the window, long after her aunt and sister, in search of ribbon for a hat, had gone from the room.

  Twenty Seven

  Lilly, when she came, was a picture of happiness. Having taken possession of their rooms at The Bell, the new Mrs Hailsham made calling on her friend the first order, and by eleven o’clock on the day following their arrival, was sat upon the sofa beside Georgiana and Julia in Mrs St. George’s drawing room, in a new green silk, her husband being engaged elsewhere for the morning she said.

  She was eager to discuss all the details of her and Esme’s weddings, and expound upon the delights of married life, all of which Georgiana did her best to enter into with a like enthusiasm. But her friend quickly made the object of their conversation the subject of her previous letter. ‘I cannot imagine what mortification you must have suffered, to be so thrown upon the mercy of that man! You had no idea of the house being his own Thornleigh?’

  ‘No, none at all,’ replied Georgiana weakly.

  ‘You poor creature! And Julia too!’ she cried, careful to include the younger girl. ‘But was he very angry to see you, Georgie? I suppose he must have been! Why, you must have wished every day, that you had never made the fateful journey to your aunt’s!’

  Georgiana, who at once had alternated from pale cheeks to pink and then to pale again, forgave her friend for the indelicate choice of subject, since she could never know the extent of Georgiana’s pain. She cast her friend an eloquent look and said nothing, her agitation at the thought of speaking about Captain Brandt, overcoming her power of doing so.

  Her friend was immediately contrite. ‘I am sorry if it gives you pain to speak of it. Forgive me, it was quite thoughtless of me! Let us talk of more pleasant things! But, oh dear!’ She put a hand to her mouth. ‘There is something more that may discomfort you a great deal—’ Here, she leaned in to Georgiana’s ear and spoke in low tones, so as to avoid the hearing of Julia. ‘He is Charles’ friend, you know— I am vastly sorry to have to impose upon you something which may be quite distasteful to you, but Charles is to invite his friend, Captain Brandt, to stay with us today or tomorrow,’ Lilly announced anxiously. ‘He has ridden off there now, to bring him back.’

  Georgiana struggled to keep her face bland, but she felt herself pale.

  ‘I can see what you are feeling, and I am vastly sorry for it,’ continued Lilly, ‘for I know it can only give you vexation to be forced into his company once again! But he is sure to stay home with Charles! Depend upon it; they will wish to talk about naval matters, and war and Bonaparte and all that sort of unpleasant thing, and we might walk about the place alone. And he is only to stay one or two nights…’ she trailed off, anxious for her friend.

  ‘Oh, but we like Captain Brandt very much, don’t we, Georgie?’ cried Julia, unashamedly listening. ‘He came to see us last week and brought Aunt Fanny an old painting which was our uncle’s a long time ago before he died!’

  ‘Yes, he did, Julia,’ interjected her sister sternly, collecting herself. ‘But it is rude to interrupt, and he was Aunt Fanny’s visitor, not ours.’ Her cheeks were crimson.

  Julia frowned. ‘I thought we did like him! I like him very much! He is very droll, and tells me stories about pirates! And I think he came to see you too, Georgie, for I saw him looking at you the whole
time, only you never said a word to him at all!’

  ‘Julia! Pray do not suppose things!’

  Lilly raised her brows. ‘Is Captain Brandt acquainted with your aunt’s family, then? But how extraordinary! Well, I dare say there is no harm done by your not speaking to him, for he seems a very sullen sort of man, and not given to talking much at all. My husband says he is never from Thornleigh, and has no acquaintance apart from my Charles, and a few of his men. I dare say, we shall be quite happy on our own, walking these beautiful hills. But do let’s meet every day at eleven o’clock to walk, Georgie; I am quite wild to stroll along the seashore and try for some pretty shells!’

  Georgiana, now able to speak rationally again, agreed to meet her friend the next day, and then spent the remainder of the day soothing her feelings into some semblance of calm. She could hardly concentrate on her needlework that evening, however, and several times her aunt had to repeat a question or comment, which she did not catch.

  She wondered if he would accept or decline the invitation of his friend to stay with them a day or two. Still, she thought he could not wish to see her, so pointed had his coolness been on his last visit, that she thought herself safe enough. But if his friends should press him, should urge him to accompany them, it would be rude of him to disappoint them and so she spent some time considering how she ought to act, if the worst were to occur!

  It was fortunate that Georgiana had spent the day schooling herself for such an occasion, for the very next day, all her chiding self-remonstrations were to be tried; her friend came to collect her at the appointed time, in the company of her husband and Captain Brandt! Julia and her aunt had gone out, and she was forced to admit them to the drawing room herself.

  Since a second visit was not wholly unexpected, Georgiana thought she behaved very well, offering a cool but civil greeting, and giving all the appearance of indifference herself. But her astonishment at his coming with them after all, was sunken under the misery of having him there, walking with them on the boulevard alongside the blue, sparkling sea, and knowing him altogether unaffected by her presence. Indeed, he hardly spoke two words to her in greeting but what was civil, and seemed as awkward at the unlooked-for meeting as she was herself. She attempted, with some success, to treat him with a tolerable ease of manner, which she hoped implied her own indifference, and suffered to have the gentlemen walk along behind them, as she and Lilly took the lead in making their way down to the sea shore.

  They walked half an hour along the shore, and she was able to separate herself a little from the gentlemen when Lilly expressed a wish to try for some shells. These collected however, they came to some steps, cut into the little walkway. She ascertained quickly that the width of the path, although narrow, might allow two people to pass at a time, and she at once determined not to solicit his help, nor to be obliged to accept it, in getting up the steps to the path above, thinking the support of her friend would be sufficient.

  But Lilly, newly married and delighting in the solicitous care of her husband, immediately begged leave to mount the stairs on her husband’s arm. ‘I never liked heights, and Charles will take me up, will you not, dear? Else I fear that if I should fall, I may drag you down, also!’

  Admitting the sensibleness of this scheme, and yet agitated at the thought of Captain Brandt’s being forced by the circumstances to help her up the steps, she dissembled quickly. ‘Oh, but I shall just go along here, and look at the boats, and come out at the far end there, if you think you won’t mind meeting me a little way on!’

  Indeed, there was a little path she had spied at the end of the rocky shore, which led gently upward to the stone pathway above, and she now made as if to turn her back on them all, scarcely waiting for a reply. But a moment more had settled the affair; she was to go on Captain Brandt’s arm, after all! She found her elbow firmly grasped, and as she watched Charles Hailsham usher his wife up the stone steps, Captain Brandt had already begun walking alongside her on the shoreline, towards the agreed meeting point further along. Separated as she now was from her friend, she was filled with astonishment that the Captain would seek her company, and that Lilly would have surrendered her so mercilessly to the man she wished to avoid!

  Vexed beyond thought, and beyond what she could hardly conceal, she knew not what to say to her unwanted companion. Her cheeks were as hot as the breeze on them was cold. He spoke a few generalities to her but she hardly knew what he said, such was her mortification at being alone with him. She supposed he felt it a duty to accompany her; that his gentlemanly manners would not permit her walking unaccompanied, even though she must have made her wishes clear by implication!

  At last, she composed herself enough to speak as they continued along the lower path. ‘Do you stay long with the Hailshams, Captain?’

  ‘I am only at Whitecliffe for one more night, Miss Hall. I shall return to Thornleigh tomorrow.’ His voice was grave.

  ‘I see. Then my aunt will be sorry to have missed you.’ Her manner was cool.

  ‘Please convey my greetings to Mrs St. George, and say that I am sorry not to have had the liberty of calling again.’ He paused. ‘I did not expect to see you again, after we parted at your aunt’s.’

  ‘No.’

  After a moment, he ventured again, ‘My friend has, I think, made an excellent choice of wife. Your friend seems a genteel, sensible girl.’

  ‘Yes.’ They approached some fishermen, busy at their nets, and paused as if by silent agreement to look out over the colourful little boats which were tethered near the shore. ‘Lilly is a very amiable creature, and devoted to her husband. She will be an excellent wife to him, I believe.’

  ‘It is fortunate perhaps, then, that he has no personal defect to which she might object.’

  She was shaken. She could not reply to such a statement. A sudden gust of wind whipped at her face and pulled at her bonnet. She turned and continued walking, conscious of his arm under her hand. She wished she could remove it, and yet wished never to let go. She could not defend her friend, for she knew he referred to that night, so long ago, at Lady Young’s assembly, when Lilly had fled at his approach. His words were a double reproach, for they intimated that he still believed her as fickle as her friend, that it was his face that had been the reason for her refusal of his offer in town! If only she knew what he harboured in his heart, if he felt something for her, or if rather, that his attentions had only ever been formalities in the pursuit of a greater scheme.

  She turned to him, his bestial countenance twisted in that familiar way she had come to know intimately. Their eyes locked and she thought he must be able to read everything in her heart in that moment. ‘Captain, I never— last summer, in town—’

  The wind, gusting more forcefully, dragged at her, and she lost her footing. In a moment, he had hold of her by the waist, and was setting her upright as quickly as she had stumbled.

  The moment had passed. The opportunity to tell him that she had not refused him on account of his face, that she had never felt repulsed by him, that at Thornleigh she had learned to love him, was gone. They stood at the bottom of the little path which led upwards, where Lilly and Charles Hailsham stood waiting for them. In a moment, they were at the top, walking towards their friends, and the heat where he had placed his hands at her waist only minutes ago, was a fading memory.

  Twenty Eight

  ‘I suppose Mrs Henry will require all of our good plate? I suppose she cannot wait to give her dinners and fine evenings here when they are come! I suppose she is crowing over her good fortune, to get Loweston! What a pity we could not take some of the finer things to Northstead with us! After all, some of these things have been in our family for a vast number of years! Our French silver dinner service is very fine! Why they should remain here with the house, I cannot comprehend!’

  Elizabeth’s voice was muffled somewhat, since she spoke from the inside of the commodious kitchen store, where their very best plate and cutlery slept when not in use. They had
been sleeping there these three years past, now that Mrs Hall did not give dinners any more, and the girls were accustomed to the second-best plate and sliver. But Elizabeth lamented the waste of giving up such things to her cousin and his new wife, and was voluble in saying so.

  Now, Georgiana, who sat on the floor beside the door of the storeroom, wrapping in old sheets the few things they were to take with them, responded in placating tones. ‘It goes with the house, Eliza; it is the law. Besides, you know that we cannot possibly keep it! There won’t be room! Aunt Fanny’s house is full to brimming with her own fine things. If it is pretty dining sets and fine china you want, there will be plenty at Northstead, for you know our aunt has a great deal of good taste herself. And I am sure Mrs Henry Hall would not be “crowing”, as you put it, to get Loweston. She seems a shy little thing, not at all ambitious or climbing. I am sure she is everything that is humble and sweet.’

  A faint noise, like a “harrumph” issued from the dim store.

  ‘I cannot say why Mama seems to have no interest in packing up our things,’ Georgiana continued, her fine, dark brow furrowing. ‘She has been quite odd in her manner, ever since Henry’s marriage. She is quieter than usual. I wonder she has not begun to pack at least some of her personal things. I cannot answer for it.’

  ‘I am sure she does not wish to lose her fine things,’ replied Elizabeth from the store room, ‘things that have been in our family for years, to some silly chit of a woman who can have no idea of how to care for them.’

  Georgiana refrained from a reply, she thought it wise to turn the conversation, and she remarked, ‘I have had a letter from Lilly, this morning. She says she is very happy in her new life as a married lady, and Esme too. I thought Hailsham an amiable, merry fellow, quite suited to Lilly. Did you not think so, Eliza? I am so glad her Papa finally relented and allowed them to marry. It would be quite awful, if she was prevented, but could not give him up in her heart,’ she added, wiping a stray tear from her cheek.