The Complicated Earl

by Audrey Harrison

  He walked through the hallway, but faltered as he saw Isabelle before him. She had her back to the door he had entered through; she had come out of the library and was closing the door. She was humming quietly to herself and he had to smile as he remembered her words when she had explained she could not hold a tune. She was not wrong; he could tell she was off key. The sight of her and the effect she had on him, being able to unconsciously make him smile even without trying made him pause. He started as if to speak to her but then before uttering a word made a momentous decision and moved into action.

  Isabelle heard hurried steps behind her, but before she had chance to turn around she was picked up and thrust into the library. The door was kicked shut behind her and she was put unceremoniously down on her feet once in the room.

  “What the...?” she said as she turned and then her eyes widened in disbelief when she realised who had accosted her. Tom saw through his drunken state her expression change from surprise to coldness. “How dare you!”

  “I needed to speak to you,” came the slightly slurred reply.

  “Are you drunk?” she asked in disbelief.

  “Drinking was all there was to do. You would not have noticed being busy with your new love,” Tom slurred, trying to focus on how to improve the situation, Isabelle’s tone did not bode well for a receptive interview. He had to think of a way to charm her so that she would be willing to listen to him. He had only this one opportunity, but the alcohol was clouding his mind.

  “My new love? You are drunk!” Isabelle snapped. She could not believe he had been so foolhardy in his actions. If he had been seen in lifting her off her feet, there would be more than wagging tongues to deal with; her brothers would not stand aside while she was treated to such disrespectful behaviour. She focused on her indignation because she was scared to acknowledge the feelings his touch had stirred.

  Tom became serious, “Isabelle, you cannot marry him. He will not satisfy you.”

  Isabelle looked at him, disbelief overtaking any other feelings being so close to him stirred. “How dare you comment on who I may or may not marry and express an opinion on what type of marriage I shall have. You are the last person in the world who has the right to an opinion on that subject.”

  “You cannot marry someone who cannot love you in the way you deserve or give you the passion that you need to be fulfilled,” Tom persisted.

  “Without love or passion? You do not know anything about what I want or desire from a marriage!” Isabelle was angry, but his words made her flush, she had felt passion when they had been in the carriage and she did not know if she would ever feel that again. It made her angry with him that he had been able to stir such a reaction and then reject her.

  “Don’t tell me you have felt passion with him! I shall not believe you,” Tom snapped.

  “I tried passion, remember?” Isabelle said sarcastically. “Only it didn’t stand up to being that good after all. At least with a considerate love I will not face the rejection I have had to face twice from you. You gave up the opportunity of deciding what was best for me weeks ago. We had a chance and I seem to remember that your rejection was firm and clear.”

  “I was honest with you from the start about my being against marriage. I seem to recall you being opposed to the marital state also,” Tom snapped still not able to be honest with her about his reserve, but feeling the need to defend his actions, no matter how poorly.

  “It didn’t stop you kissing me though did it? How did you put it, ‘a dalliance’ with me? Very ungallant of you! But I have to admit it did finally put me in my place and make me realise what you thought of me. I am under no illusion of your feelings which makes your concern for whom I marry all the more laughable,” Isabelle said more angry than she had ever been before. Her anger was being driven by the hurt that still bubbled beneath the surface and she wanted to lash out at him and his cold words made it all the easier to act out of character and not care what she said.

  “Isabelle...,” Tom said trying to focus on what he wanted to say to her.

  “Don’t Isabelle me! I do not give you permission to use my given name. I am Miss Crawford to you, only the man I marry will use Isabelle when speaking to me!”

  They were startled out of their dispute as the door behind them opened and Mary and James entered. “What on earth is going on?” James demanded as he closed the door behind himself. “Your voices can be heard in the hall, luckily it was Mary who heard you. What could you possibly be arguing about?”

  Isabelle swallowed, she had not realised their voices were loud enough to be heard in the hallway. “It’s nothing, just a silly disagreement.”

  “It sounded serious,” James said looking between the two.

  Tom had sobered up considerably at James’ and Mary’s entrance. He had thought quickly and had come to a drastic solution. If he had been totally sober, he would have probably never even considered it as it could only hurt Isabelle, but he was a desperate man and Isabelle’s words had convinced him even more that she was going to marry Mr Roberts. He had suddenly realised that at no matter what cost he had to have Isabelle.

  “It is serious,” he drawled.

  Isabelle looked alarmed when she saw the change in Tom, “Don’t be ridiculous, it was a disagreement that was blown out of all proportion. Come let’s join the rest of the group.” She tried to sound calm, even though she was feeling anything but. Something about Tom’s expression was made her very uneasy.

  “My dear, don’t you think it only fair to tell your brother the truth?” Tom said turning to Isabelle.

  “Tell me what?” James demanded. “One of you had better speak, I am rapidly losing my temper!”

  “James, he’s playing games to try and make fools of us all,” Isabelle said quietly.

  “Not at all, I have the highest regard for your brother and only am ashamed of my actions, but there is a way to rectify them don’t you think?” He smiled at Isabelle, but the smile did not reach his eyes.

  Isabelle met his gaze and her eyes opened wide in fear. “Please don’t do this,” she said quietly.

  Tom ignored her request, although his stomach did knot at the plea in her voice. He had started this and he could not see any alternative. He turned to James and smiled slightly, “Crawford I confess that I have compromised Isabelle twice and in addition to that we spent four days on the journey to Scotland as husband and wife. We need to marry before anyone finds out or she will be ruined.”

  The room fell silent, deadly silent. Isabelle had raised her hands to her face and it was only when a low moan escaped from her lips that the silence was broken.

  Tom turned to Isabelle. The sound she made held so much pain, it almost took his breath away. If he had never felt what it was to hurt someone, he knew at that moment and suddenly the effects of the alcohol seemed to fade away as he realised what he had done. “Isabelle...,” he whispered reaching out for her.

  He got no further, the group would never know what he had intended to say as his word had stirred James from the shock that had stunned him into a stupor and he leapt at Tom. Looking at Isabelle, Tom had not seen James’s movement until it was too late and James’s fist connected with Tom’s face. James had never thrown a punch that was so heartfelt in his life before and the force of it took him by surprise. His fist came into contact with Tom’s jaw and sent him sprawling backwards. There was a small table behind him and he crashed through it, sending wood and porcelain everywhere. At the same time the group heard the sickening sound of bone crashing into marble as Tom hit the hearth of the fire and laid still.

  At the sight of Tom motionless Mary cried out. “Oh my God, James, I think you’ve killed him!”

  Isabelle crumpled into a heap and started to sob, the first time in her life she could not be strong. The only words she uttered were an anguished “Tom, not this way.”

  James crossed the room and crouched next to Tom’s body. A few moments passed before he spoke. “He breathes,” he said relief
evident in every syllable.

  “Oh thank God,” Mary whispered.

  James’s words stirred Isabelle into action. She moved over to where the Tom’s body had landed, it was difficult to reach him, with the remains of the table and pottery scattered about. He was wedged between the hearth and a chair and James was still crouching next to him.

  “James where is he hurt? Can you tell?” She asked staring at the deathly white pallor of Tom’s face.

  “I don’t know if he has hurt his head, but his leg bleeds from the table,” James answered not looking at Isabelle.

  She looked at where James pointed and felt sickened at the sight of blood seeping through the cream of Tom’s breeches. “We need to do something.”

  “From what he said I think you’ve done enough!” James snapped. “Frank was right, I should never have given you the freedom I did, look at the result. My sister, ruined and an unconscious rake in my library!”

  Isabelle paled at the harshness in her brother’s voice. “James, now is not the time to discuss this, but it is not as it seems! Believe me, his words were said in anger, please don’t make any judgements by what he said. We need to make him more comfortable.” James was prevented from answering as a moan came from Tom. Isabelle crouched down as best she could next to him. “Tom?” She said ignoring the frown her brother gave her at showing such familiarity by using the Earl’s first name. “Tom, tell us where it hurts.”

  Tom moaned, but then tried to gather himself. “I’m fine,” he grimaced. “Just help me up. Ahh, my shoulder!” He had moved his head as if to rise, but fell back as the pain caused from his movement shot through his body. He turned green and began to mumble something, before fainting.

  “We need a Doctor and we need to move him,” Isabelle said firmly. She felt more frightened than ever before in her life, she knew that although he was alive he was still hurt badly.

  “You can’t move him alone and if you think my guests are going to see us dragging his body across the hall, you have lost all sense of propriety,” James snapped, still disgusted with what he had been told.

  “And if he dies, what then James?” Isabelle flared back. She had done wrong, but she was not going to let James’s anger risk the life of Tom. “You hang for murder, that’s what! Now stop this, he needs help. Mary, get Frank and the butler. Gregson has been in our service long enough to guarantee his help and silence. Mary once you have brought Frank, you are going to have to keep your guests out of the hall for ten minutes. I don’t know how, but rather than there be a fuss, it’s better if no-one sees anything at the moment.”

  Mary nodded and left the room, closing the door behind her. James started moving the remains of the table away from Tom to enable easier access to him when help arrived.

  “James, we shall talk, just please don’t condemn me until you have heard what I have to say,” Isabelle said quietly.

  “I don’t know how you can make this better,” James said with a shrug. If Isabelle was being honest, she was not sure of that either, but she could not face the look of condemnation in her brother’s eyes each time he looked at her.

  Gregson entered the room, followed closely by Frank. “What the...?” Frank started before James quietened him.

  “Not now Frank. We need to get Standish upstairs to his room without any fuss and then get a doctor. I think he may have broken his shoulder.”

  The three men moved around the Earl, their movements stirred him again, but the pain soon sent him back into unconsciousness. Isabelle knew that by being unconscious it was better for him, but it increased her anxiety. Such a strong man fainting away at pain, meant he was suffering badly. Isabelle opened the doorway into the hall and checked that no-one was around. She did not know what Mary was doing, but she had managed to keep everyone away from them.

  They moved slowly across the hallway and up the stairs. Isabelle constantly peeping over the banister rail to make sure no-one saw their progress. After what seemed like an eternity they placed the Earl on his bed and stood back gasping for breath. Even with three men carrying him, he was a large, strong man and had been a struggle to move.

  “Gregson, we need the doctor urgently. Can you send for him?” James asked still gasping a little for breath.

  “Yes Sir,” Gregson answered without any change in his expression, always the professional. He had not shown any surprise or wonder at the situation he had been faced with. He left the room to undertake his instruction.

  “Isabelle leave the room,” James instructed.

  “But....,”Isabelle started.

  “We need to get him out of his clothes. I will not having you acting in an indecent way in this house!” James snapped, not meeting Isabelle’s eyes.

  She flushed, she knew her brother was thinking back to Tom’s words and so left the room quietly. She paced up and down the hallway until Frank opened the door slightly. Tom had turned an alarming shade of green again, but was still unconscious.

  “We’ve had to cut his shirt and jacket,” James said moving shreds of clothes off the bed.

  “I expect it was the least painful way of removing them,” Isabelle said.

  “Yes, but he won’t be happy,” James smiled for the first time since the nightmare had started. “They were of a fine cut.”

  Isabelle turned to James. “You need to go back to your guests. Frank and I shall not be missed, but you will. We can speak to the doctor.”

  James looked doubtful, but then moved to the door. “When Gregson returns, send him for something cooling, Standish is developing a bruise to his jaw.”

  Isabelle and Frank looked at the Earl in silence, there was a large purple mass developing on the left hand side of his face. “What on earth has happened?” Frank asked looking at both his siblings.

  “It’s a long story,” Isabelle replied evasively. James had condemned her already and Frank certainly would once he heard what Tom had confessed. She did not want to have to try and defend herself at the moment, she was more worried about Tom.

  They eventually received cold water and a cloth, which Isabelle placed on the bruise. She did not try to clean up the wound on his leg, not wanting to touch it until the doctor had seen it. It seemed an eternity until he was finally led into the room by James. Isabelle could hear faint sounds of movement drifting up the stairs when the door was opened, she assumed guests had started to leave. It would soon be the time that James and Mary had planned to set out on their honeymoon. Isabelle was not sure if they would still be able to go and was filled with remorse. She had wanted the day to be memorable for the couple. Now it would be for all the wrong reasons.

  The doctor entered the room with James. Isabelle stood back and James indicated that she should leave, but she shook her head at him. He glared at her, but was not prepared to cause a scene in front of the doctor, so moved away to the other side of the bed. The doctor examined the Earl thoroughly and stepped back. “He has broken his collar bone and the cut in his leg is quite deep. I will need to set his shoulder and then bind his leg. He doesn’t look to have lost too much blood to put him in danger. We shall soon have him more comfortable although to do so I shall need assistance when setting his bone. It will be painful for him but is vital we do it immediately.”

  The doctor looked at James, but Isabelle stepped forward. “I shall be caring for him, so I shall help you,” she said firmly.

  The doctor hid any surprise he felt and nodded to Isabelle. “It won’t be easy.”

  Isabelle noticed James and Frank exchange looks. She knew that Frank was going to know very soon what Tom had said and she dreaded the inevitable conversation with her brothers. “Just tell me what I need to do,” she said squaring her shoulders.

  James and Frank left the room as their presence would be of no benefit while the doctor worked. Gregson had allocated a maid who could be trusted to be sensible, but not gossip, to provide all that was needed for the doctor. He sent her for bandages and hot water. He turned to Isabelle and gave her exac
t instructions of what she needed to do and explained what he would be doing. “If he regains consciousness, it won’t be for long thankfully, but once it is done, it should offer him some relief.”

  Isabelle braced herself, but when the doctor started setting the bone and Tom cried out in pain, she nearly ran from the room. She had never heard someone she cared about so much cry out in such agony and it almost tore her in two. She managed to do what was required of her, but shook inside. Once the shoulder was set the doctor moved onto his leg and cleaned and dressed the wound.

  “He should feel more comfortable now,” he said, unrolling his sleeves. “I will leave something that will ease the pain and help him sleep and I will call again tomorrow. He may develop a fever, but that is nothing to worry about, he will get worse before he gets better. One so strong should be able to fight a fever, just keep him cool and comfortable. I may need to bleed him, but we can decide if it is necessary to do that in the next few days.”

  Isabelle took note of all the instructions and accepted the draught that the doctor handed her. As the doctor left the room she gave instructions to the maid to clear things away and bring cold water and cloths once the doctor had been shown out. She moved around the bedside and lifted Tom’s head slightly, she needed to give him his first draught. He was heavy, but she was determined to do this alone. She had the right to be angry with him because of what he had said, but ultimately her tender feelings towards him overrode any feelings of anger. She wanted to be the one providing the care for him.

  He muttered incoherently when she raised his head. “SShhh,” Isabelle whispered gently. “You need to swallow this Tom, it will help.” She lifted the vial to his lips and he opened his mouth slightly and drank. She was pleased that at least he showed some response if not fully coherent. She laid his head back gently, wincing as he moaned in pain and then wiped his mouth with a cloth. The last time she had been so close to him, he had been strong and passionate, kissing her as if he would never stop. But here he was lying before her vulnerable and in pain and she knew she could forgive the outburst from earlier.