“I’m not sure I could advise you I have had only a little experience of London society and I am afraid that although I did notice the fashions, with everything else going on I should not rely on me to be a definitive source of information. Instead I rely on you to restrain my impulse purchases. I am guaranteed to receive a scold every time I return from shopping,” Sophie grinned at her brother.
“Does he not like you spending his money?” Isabelle asked a little surprised. She would not have thought that the Earl would be stringent with Sophie.
“More I do not like to see each piece of ribbon or lace that has been purchased and given the in depth story of what lace or ribbon was rejected and why. That is when the scold occurs,” came the long suffering reply.
Isabelle smiled. “I’m no longer surprised at you not wishing to take your brother shopping Lady Sophie, what a disobliging creature he is!”
Tom opened his mouth to retort, but James intervened. “I would leave it Standish; I learned a long time ago that when women and shopping are involved, you will never win! Better to admit defeat and stay silent. It is far easier that way.”
Sophie smiled at James, “I knew you would understand. Would you meet us afterwards? I should not wish to put you through standing outside every shop we enter.”
“I shall and I may even buy you pastries or a Bath bun if you like,” James smiled at Sophie.
“Oh yes, pastries would be lovely!” Sophie touched James’s arm and smiled up at him.
James returned the smile before turning to Tom. “I was going to book a box tonight at the Theatre, would you both like to join us?”
“Yes, we are moving into a house in Laura Place this afternoon, so a trip to the theatre would be an enjoyable escape for us both.”
“How long have you taken lodgings for?” Isabelle enquired. The usual period for Bath was for at least six weeks, but she had not thought it was the Earl’s intention to stay that long.
“I’m not sure yet, I have not made any firm plans. It will depend on when I’m needed back home. My steward is keeping me informed of estate matters regularly,” was the non-committal reply.
Isabelle assumed that he was probably keeping any plans flexible because of the Arnolds, but she could not help feeling a little unsettled not knowing how long she would be in his company. She knew these were not healthy sentiments and tried to push them to the back of her mind. It unnerved her to think she enjoyed the company of a man like the Earl so much. She turned back to Sophie and concentrated on making plans for their shopping trip to prevent her dwelling on anything else.
Isabelle and Mary joined Sophie later at the White Hart and walked into the town with serious shopping on their minds. They found that sharing the experience with a shopper as pleasant as Sophie made the trip even more enjoyable. Isabelle was able to put her concerns about Sophie’s attachments to the back of her mind as Sophie made her purchases. Her choices were directed because they were James’s favourite colour or because he liked feathers rather than flowers. By the end of the trip Isabelle was sure that Sophie thought a great deal about her brother.
They met James outside the pastry shop in Milsom Street and entered the throng. The shop was always busy, but they managed to make themselves comfortable at a small table. James ordered a large selection of pastries and tea. He reported that he had secured a theatre box for the evening, so their time was spent discussing what they would wear, who may be at the theatre and how the performance would be.
They walked slowly back to their homes. Sophie was to leave them when they reached Laura Place as the move to her new lodgings had been undertaken while she had been shopping. The other three would continue onto Isabelle’s house on Great Pulteney Street. It was very convenient for the two parties to be so close and Isabelle wondered if the Earl had purposely chosen the address because of that. True, Laura Place was one of the best addresses in Bath, but he could have easily chosen to stay in the Royal Crescent or the Circus, but Laura Place was closer to her own home, being a few moments stroll away.
As the group walked over Pulteney Bridge they met the Arnold family coming from the opposite direction. Sophie greeted Charlotte with a hug and the remainder of the party made their bows and curtsies.
“We have left our calling card at Laura Place. We were told at the White Hart that you had moved on,” Charlotte explained to Sophie.
“Yes, my brother needs to have his belongings and routine around him,” Sophie explained. “I enjoyed staying at the inn, there are always comings and goings to watch, but Tom disliked the noise. We are making our way there now you must return to take tea with us.”
Mrs Arnold intervened, “Oh, I’m sure that won’t be necessary, we would not put you to any trouble. You surely need to rest; I can see you have been shopping. The shops of Bath are so accessible and so reasonable. I saw some lace only yesterday for half the price I had paid back home! Who would have thought? Such a bargain!”
Isabelle smiled to herself, all the time Mrs Arnold had been speaking she had turned around and was walking back towards Laura Place, obviously determined to take up Sophie’s offer of tea, despite her words of refusal. Charlotte and Sophie walked with James; Mary joined Mrs Arnold and Cecily. That left Isabelle to bring up the rear with Mr Arnold.
“Are you enjoying your stay in Bath Mr Arnold?” Isabelle asked out of politeness, but also wanting to try and see if she could detect any partiality on his part towards Sophie.
“So far, yes I thank you, although I think my sisters enjoy it more. They have discovered the joys of shopping as it appears Lady Sophie has,” he replied pleasantly.
“I think every young girl enjoys shopping. Are you to stay long?”
“I believe mother intends to stay for a number of weeks, but I cannot. I shall need to leave next week I think. I have business to attend to that cannot be delayed for too long, so only a short visit for me I’m afraid.”
“Well I hope you will enjoy the amusements on offer while you can.”
“I’m sure I shall. My sisters are determined to make full use of me while I am here, escorting them here, there and everywhere. They do wear mother out with their energy, so I will help as much as I can,” came the response of a considerate brother and son. Isabelle could not fault his conversation and had to be content with continuing to wait and see what developed.
“I’m sure your mother appreciates it,” Isabelle smiled at him.
They had reached Laura Place and Sophie led the way into the drawing room. It was large and airy, decorated in reds and gold, elegantly furnished as would be expected of one of the best addresses in Bath. Mrs Arnold looked around her with a wide smile on her face, taking in the rich decoration and fine wooden furniture. Isabelle was pleased that the grandness of the room had stopped her chatter at least for a little while. Sophie rang for tea and busied herself with making sure everyone was seated comfortably and warm enough after being outside in the chilly air.
The group was disturbed after a short while by the entrance of the Earl. He had entered the room smiling, but when he had had a moment to take in the scene before him, his usual scowl had returned. Isabelle noted the atmosphere in the room stilled and looked with interest at the previously talkative occupants. Cecily looked terrified and seemed to shrink into the side of her mother. Charlotte looked worriedly between Sophie and her brother as if hoping to receive support from one of them. Mrs Arnold and Mr Arnold both looked uncomfortable, but Mr Arnold met the Earl’s gaze with something of defiance in his manner.
Isabelle could not decide whether she thought the effect the Earl had on a roomful of people amusing or mortifying. “We seem to have invaded your home, your Lordship,” she said with a smile as he approached her.
“So I see,” he muttered. But he bowed over her hand with good grace and turned and bowed to Mrs Arnold and Mary. He nodded to the rest of the room. “Sophie, you seem to have been on a large shopping expedition.” The words were laced with meaning that Isabelle was sure
they all understood.
“We met Mrs Arnold and her family on our way back from our expedition. We were crossing Pulteney Bridge at the same time. They had already been directed here from the White Hart,” Isabelle explained, hoping her words conveyed more than they actually said.
The Earl approached James and Isabelle saw him raise his eyes at her brother. It appeared the Earl saw James as an ally. Sophie poured the tea and Charlotte helped hand it out. Conversation between the gathered group was now strained with the Earl making it perfectly clear that he wanted to leave the room; it was obvious he wished himself far away from the company, or the company far away from him. Sophie did not seem to notice her brother’s discomfort while chatting to her guests but then was to add further to his annoyance by her next question.
“James I know there won’t be room in the box for everyone, but would it be possible for us to take Charlotte with us to the theatre tonight?”
“Sophie!” Tom exploded, making Cecily and Mrs Arnold visibly jump.
“It’s fine, Standish,” James soothed. “Of course Miss Arnold will be very welcome to join our party. If you give us your direction Mrs Arnold we can collect Miss Arnold on the way to the theatre. She is very welcome.”
Isabelle admired the magnanimous response from her brother. With the addition of Charlotte to the party there would be less chance of a tête a tête with Sophie for him. He was obviously a better actor than the Earl as no-one in the room would have guessed from his manner that he was anything other than delighted to have Charlotte join them.
James’s words did unleash the voice of Mrs Arnold though. She commenced a long in-depth monologue of how lucky her eldest daughter was and how she could not thank James enough. Isabelle’s small group had never drunk tea quite as quickly before, but soon they were able to make their escape. Isabelle received a glare from the Earl and had difficulty suppressing a smile, but she suffered no pang of conscience at leaving him with his guests. After spending such a little time with them, Isabelle knew she would find it difficult to be too much in their company. She wanted to support her brother but the mother gave her a headache. She mistrusted Mr Arnold, and the two girls, although pleasant and unassuming would always be in company with their mother and brother, so she did not relish them joining their party often.
*
The small group arrived at the Theatre as planned and the seating arrangements were as both Isabelle and James had feared. Sophie and Charlotte sat at the front of the party deep in conversation that was whispered and exclusive between the two of them. Mary and James sat together; Mary trying to rally James. The Earl and Isabelle sat at the back of the party. The Earl had already commented in a growled whisper when they had first met about Isabelle leaving him to deal with the Arnolds, which had made Isabelle laugh. He continued his scolding when they were seated.
“You offered to support me!” He whispered so Charlotte would not hear, but she was probably too engrossed in her conversation with Sophie to have noticed anything else that was going on around her.
“I did, but I did not offer to sacrifice myself,” Isabelle laughed. “In public rooms I could cope with the chatter, but in your drawing room I just wanted to run out screaming!”
“How do you think I felt?” He demanded. “I come in expecting you all to be exhausted but happy and instead I am faced with a mob!”
“Yes but a mob that you could intimidate and did from the way the conversation died at your entrance, so you must have gained some sense of pleasure out of the situation. I would imagine that they felt as pained as you did,” Isabelle smiled up at him.
“It did not encourage them to leave any earlier though. They stayed for a full half hour after you left! Half an hour of torture!”
“I almost wish that I had seen it, but not quite,” Isabelle teased.
“Laugh at my misfortune would you? What kind of a friend are you?”
“The kind that keeps your feet firmly on the ground. You are obviously not as frightening as you would like to be considered if they stayed for half an hour,” Isabelle could not resist bantering with him.
“I keep threatening to show you how frightening I can be. Continue with comments like that and it will happen sooner than you think!” He replied, but he smiled with the words.
“I sit here quaking before you,” Isabelle grinned back.
“It seems the determination of the Arnolds on increasing our acquaintance is greater than I realised. The more I can keep them away from Sophie the better,” he said changing the subject and becoming serious.
“I think you will have difficulty achieving that. The acquaintance cannot be ignored especially in such a small place as Bath and surely it would create ill feeling if you stopped the girls from seeing each other?” Isabelle asked, understanding his sentiments, but not able to see a way around them without causing the antagonism of Sophie.
“True, but I think I need to move away slightly from the public entertainments that Bath has to offer and concentrate on the private parties our other acquaintances in Bath seem to enjoy.”
Isabelle pulled a face, “Well that’s a fine show of friendship I must say; you are leaving me alone to face the Arnolds!”
“What do you mean?” came the surprised question.
“Well while you go off to your private parties, we shall be left in the public balls with the Arnolds! Although I’m sure Mr Arnold is as good a dancer as an Earl, I wonder if he likes dancing with older ladies?” Isabelle arched her eyebrows at Tom, but almost burst out laughing at his expression of shock at her words.
“Don’t be ridiculous! You’ll be joining us! And don’t give me any of that nonsense you would be without a partner if I was not available to dance; you were fighting off gentlemen the last time I looked!”
“You are funny when you are angry,” Isabelle smiled, “But you are welcome to your smaller parties. I am no card player and enjoy my public entertainments. Do not include me in your little private gatherings.”
“I would have expected nothing less that you dislike card parties. I hope I may not be accused of completely disregarding your needs when making plans for our entertainment. I would try to accommodate everyone,” he assured her.
“Umm, why am I disbelieving? As long as you avoid the Arnolds nothing else will matter when you make your plans,” Isabelle replied unconvinced.
“Insolent girl, do you not trust me?” The feigned look of innocence made Isabelle cover her mouth with her hand to stop herself from laughing out loud.
“I refuse to answer that question on the grounds that I think I’ve insulted you enough this evening,” came a strangled reply.
They sat in a comfortable silence as the play progressed, both watching Sophie and James as much as the play, but there was nothing to see during the performance. At the interval James had considerately arranged to have refreshments brought to the box, so that the party would not need to fight through the crowds of people also seeking refreshments. As they helped themselves to the treats supplied they were interrupted by a knock on the door, which was opened to show an acquaintance of Isabelle’s.
“Mr Ollerton! How good it is to see you!” Isabelle exclaimed, moving to the door to greet him.
“And you Miss Crawford. I saw you during the play and could not resist making myself known. How are you? You are looking very well,” asked the smiling gentleman. He was only a little taller in height than Isabelle, in his mid-forties, quite handsome with dark blond hair and clear green eyes. He was well dressed, a man of fortune and taste from his appearance.
“I’m very well thank you and mores now I know you have returned from the country. Please let me introduce you to my friends.” Isabelle performed the introductions. James already knew Mr Ollerton from previous visits and greeted him warmly. The Earl gave his usual cool response, but had a feeling they had met previously. Mr Ollerton gave no indication of recognition, so the Earl dismissed his thought.
“You must join us for refreshments and te
ll us your news,” Isabelle insisted, offering Mr Ollerton tea.
“I shan’t interrupt further,” came the smiling refusal. “I wanted to say my hellos and invite you to a ball at my home at the weekend. I thought it would be a good idea to hold one since I have recently returned home. It seemed a perfect excuse as any. Your whole party are all invited. It is on Saturday night. Lots of dancing I hope and if I can secure the first two with you Miss Crawford my evening’s enjoyment will be secured.”
Isabelle smiled, a little embarrassed at his words. She did not know why, perhaps it had something to do with the glower she could feel coming from the Earl standing at her side. “Of course I’ll dance with you, it will be my pleasure,” she said inclining her head away from the Earl. She had the urge to giggle and did not want to upset Mr Ollerton by appearing rude.
“Good, excellent! Well I am sure I shall see you all in the Pump Rooms over the coming days, but I look forward to welcoming you to my home on Saturday. Now I shall leave you in peace, goodbye!”
Mary smiled at Isabelle when Mr Ollerton left. “He obviously missed you; you know how he avoids holding Balls at home.”
“Don’t be silly, Mary.” Isabelle flushed, “he could have danced with me at any of the assemblies I attend. Do not try and pretend that he is holding the ball in my honour.”
“I really do need to fight through a crowd to dance with you don’t I?” Tom drawled.
Chapter 6
To avoid the Pump Room for a second day would start to make Sophie suspicious about his dislike of her friends so Tom reluctantly agreed to attend with his sister. They had been out for a short ride with Isabelle and James first thing and then had arranged to meet up later. He was determined that although he could not avoid meeting them during the day, his evening entertainment would be somewhere that the Arnold family would not be if he could help it and approached the Pump Room with dread at seeing them again.
An old acquaintance of his father accosted him before either he or Sophie could ascertain if the Arnolds were already in attendance.
The Complicated Earl Page 6
