The Complicated Earl

by Audrey Harrison

  “What is it?” Isabelle asked, withdrawing slightly from his touch. Even in a public place she did not feel comfortable in his company.

  A flicker of annoyance registered on his face before he schooled his features into a more pleasant expression, albeit one filled with concern. “It is your brother, he needs you back at the house immediately. I happened to be about to call on you at the moment a servant was setting out to hasten your return, so I naturally offered my assistance.”

  “Is James well?” Isabelle asked, immediately concerned.

  “He is fine, I believe it is his wife. Miss Crawford, we are wasting time,” Mr Ollerton said with urgency.

  Isabelle’s mind was racing, Mary had been fine less than two hours ago. She struggled to understand what accident could have possibly happened, but she immediately turned to go home. “Thank you Mr Ollerton, I am very grateful for your assistance, I shall return home immediately.”

  “Miss Crawford, my carriage is here, it will take only a moment to convey you home. You won’t reach home within ten minutes if you walk and I cannot express the urgency any less.”

  Isabelle was seriously concerned now, she was obviously not being told the full story and did not really need to hear bad news in the middle of a busy shopping street. She moved towards the carriage without further delay, but paused when Mr Ollerton ordered her maid to make her way home on foot. “Mr Ollerton, it is not appropriate that we should be alone in the carriage,” Isabelle said, stopping before the open door.

  “I have news I do not want to impart to you in front of your maid, we shall only be alone for a moment; we need to return.”

  Oh poor Mary! Isabelle thought, distraught at what could only be bad news. She did not know how she would deal with something happening to Mary and what state would she find James in if something had happened to his beloved wife?

  The carriage took off at speed, but Isabelle was distracted, waiting to be told the news. She looked at Mr Ollerton expectantly, but he did not say anything at first. This increased Isabelle’s fear and eventually she burst out, “Please Mr Ollerton, you must tell me! Is Mary going to be well?”

  “She will be well in a few days’ time, but I am afraid her pain will be great over the coming hours and days. You my dear Miss Crawford can help her greatly,” Mr Ollerton said gravely leaning towards Isabelle.

  “What on earth has she done? Does she require nursing?” Isabelle asked as she barely kept her seat because of the carriage lurching around corners.

  “She does not require nursing, although she may feel a little faint later today.”

  “Mr Ollerton, I don’t understand! Your words make no sense,” Isabelle said in exasperation.

  “Oh they will my dear, they will,” Mr Ollerton said with a leer.

  “I would be grateful if for once, you did not speak in riddles!” Isabelle snapped. She was desperate to find out what had happened.

  Mr Ollerton smiled, “That is what I like about you Miss Crawford, so feisty even when the odds are against you. It fair makes my older body pulse with pleasure. We will make a fine pairing.”

  Isabelle moved away in revulsion from the man sitting opposite. She was beginning to realise that the situation was very wrong. “What are you doing?” she asked, at the same time as looking out of the window. Instead of the wide open expanse of Great Pulteney Street, that should be her view, there was the approach of the Old Bath Bridge. “Where are we going?” she asked, trying to sound calm.

  “We are taking a little excursion to my friend’s home on the outskirts of Bristol. I suggest you relax my dear and take all thoughts of crying out when we approach the toll, I have a knife in my pocket and I shall use it if you so much as utter a sound.”

  Isabelle’s mind raced, but she tried to keep calm. “What use is this Mr Ollerton, what do you hope to achieve?”

  “I am not hoping anything my dear, I am going to achieve my goal in obtaining your hand in marriage,” came the confident response.

  Isabelle’s heart sank and she fought against the rising panic as she realised her situation was precarious at best. “This is ridiculous Mr Ollerton, you cannot seriously expect that I would willingly marry you? Stop the carriage and allow me to leave and we shall forget about this lapse in gentlemanly behaviour.” Her voice was firm, but inside she was struggling to remain calm.

  “Whether you are willing or not is irrelevant at this point. We shall be alone in an unoccupied house until our discovery by your brother no doubt. Your precious Earl will not want to be anywhere near you when he thinks you have been sullied by me of all people and your brother will be desperate to marry his sister off to anyone. I shall oblige of course and everything will be as it should have been before the Earl of Standish interrupted yet again where he was not wanted.”

  Isabelle could not speak. The feeling of horror at his words nearly overwhelmed her and for the first time in her life she felt as if she would faint. Mr Ollerton had struck home when he had said that Tom would not wish to have anything to do with Isabelle once he knew that she had been alone, had been compromised as far as polite society would be concerned. As yet, she did not know how far Mr Ollerton would go in order to compromise her, but even if he did not touch her, she would be ruined and Tom would want nothing to do with her. He might even consider it as some sort of retribution for the words they had exchanged the last time they met.

  There was no longer any danger that Isabelle would try and attract attention to the carriage, she was too shocked to do anything other than dully look out of the window. The thought of never seeing Tom again crowded any other thought and for the remainder of the journey she remained silent.

  Eventually the carriage turned into a tree lined driveway and slowed to a steady pace. The change in speed roused Isabelle and she resolved that at whatever cost she would never marry Mr Ollerton. At the moment she did not know how she would avoid it, but she was determined and her spirit returned. If he was the cause of ruining the happiness of being married to Tom, even though she knew Tom did not love her, she loved him and that was enough for now. But she was not going to let a man like the one sitting before her use her to gain her fortune. Her fate may as well be decided now, instead of when he needed another rich wife in the years to come.

  Isabelle stepped out of the carriage, refusing the help of Mr Ollerton. The house was a small manor house, made of Bath stone, in the classic style. Two floors of windows fanned either side of the portico. The door remained closed until the coachman left his seat and opened the door.

  Although the realisation that there was no staff around meant that Isabelle’s chance of anyone helping her were reduced, she refused to let the situation daunt her. She turned to the coachman with distaste. “I hope you are being paid well,” she said in her haughtiest voice. “My advice would be to spend your money soon, as my family will not rest until we see you hang for your help in this kidnap.”

  The coachman flinched but did not respond. He returned to his seat and drove the horses to the rear of the houses, where the stables would be located.

  “Come my dear, do not berate the staff, let us make ourselves more comfortable,” Mr Ollerton said as if their situation was the most natural in the world. The only unnatural thing was the fact that he held a knife as he spoke.

  Isabelle realised she would have to comply for the present time, but she had already decided that if the slightest opportunity arose she would try and get away. She led the way into the hallway of the quiet house and opened the door that was indicated to her by Mr Ollerton. It opened into a small drawing room that was well tended and aired, suggesting that the building had not been empty for long, particularly as the furniture was not under Holland covers.

  “It is a pleasant room is it not?” Mr Ollerton asked conversationally.

  Isabelle refused to be polite and responded stiffly, “If the rumours are correct I am surprised anyone would let you into their homes unchaperoned, they may return to find half of their property missing
, your situation is so desperate.”

  A flicker of anger crossed Mr Ollerton’s face, but any jubilation Isabelle may have felt with the response was soon dispersed when she saw him lift out two duelling pistols from a bureau and start to load them.

  “What on earth are you doing?” Isabelle choked.

  “Oh do not worry, my dear. You are safe as long as you don’t try anything foolish. This is as a precaution in case any of your friends or family should mount a rescue. You see the rumours are correct in their speculation and as a result nothing can stop this course of action taking place. You will be my wife whatever the consequences.”

  Isabelle knew she had to try and keep him talking, he had obviously not thought through what could happen if he acted rashly. She doubted that he was in his right mind and had to hope that somehow she could find a way through to him. If she could not reach him, James or Tom could be in danger. “If you shoot someone, surely you would hang? How would that achieve anything?” She asked in desperation.

  “I am sure it won’t come to that. I explained before. The Earl of Standish will cast you off and your brother will be grateful to me, it shall all work out you will see.” He sat comfortably as there was a gentle knock on the door.

  Isabelle turned in surprise, but her expression soon changed to one of disdain as the coachman entered bearing a tray of tea and sandwiches. He did not look at Isabelle as he placed the tray on an occasional table, but nodded to Mr Ollerton before leaving the room, closing the door behind him.

  “Come now my dear, we may as well refresh ourselves while we wait for your brother.”

  Chapter 20

  Mary knew some of Isabelle’s plight soon after she had been taken. Isabelle’s maid, worried about the catastrophe waiting for her at home had run all the way to Great Pulteney Street, arriving hot and breathless. When asking questions about the sudden illness of Mrs Crawford and receiving blank looks from the other members of staff, she was astute enough to realise that they had been fooled. A demand to speak to Mrs Crawford had been granted at once when she started to babble about Miss Crawford being in danger.

  To Mary’s credit she remained calm throughout the recounting of the story, recognising at once the description of Mr Ollerton. She thanked Isabelle’s maid and left her to seek out her husband. The panic that threatened remained contained while Isabelle could be in danger.

  James was in the drawing room with Mr Beckett and Tom when Mary burst in. Tom had decided that enough was enough, he had given Isabelle enough time to reflect on their words and this silence between them was ridiculous, but more than that, he missed her company. He was thankful though, that he had met Mr Beckett outside the property and they had dismounted and entered the household together. As much as he was prepared to face Isabelle, he knew his path would be made easier by the presence of a third. With Isabelle being absent, James had offered the gentlemen to join him in a drop of brandy. The scene of the three gentlemen being comfortable was disturbed by Mary rushing into the room.

  James had never seen Mary so pale, she looked almost deathly. “Mary, what on earth is wrong?” He asked approaching his wife. That she was obviously upset was unusual enough, but added to that her pallor, James was immediately alert.

  “James, it is terrible, oh Tom, I didn’t realise you were here, but it is for the best that you know immediately.”

  “Mary, what has happened?” James asked sternly.

  “We cannot know for sure but we think she has been taken by Mr Ollerton,” Mary said hurriedly.

  Tom blanched at her words, “How the devil could he have taken her against her will?”

  Mary quickly explained everything the maid had told her. “I know Isabelle was uneasy in his company. She mentioned that she would be glad to be leaving Bath and never coming into contact with him again, but I don’t know what he can achieve by this.”

  “I think I can guess what his intention is,” Mr Beckett interjected, so far having remained out of the conversation.

  “Please explain,” James said.

  “As you are all aware Ollerton was one of Miss Crawford’s suitors, he even renewed his addresses the last time he held a ball,” Mr Beckett started.

  “I remember,” Tom said quietly, remembering the night that he had first kissed Isabelle and first rejected her. An event that filled him with shame.

  “Did you know he made the proposal going above and beyond that of gentlemanly behaviour?” Mr Beckett asked.

  “No,” Tom growled.

  “Miss Crawford confided in me about it some time ago, I think she felt she needed an ally. Anyway, Ollerton is deep in debt, very deep. He is in danger of losing everything any day now. He had been hoping to persuade Miss Crawford to marry him, but I am afraid that once the announcement of her engagement was made, a desperate man emerged.”

  “And you did not think to warn us?” Tom almost spat, his head spinning that Isabelle could be being compromised as they spoke.

  “I did not think his desperation would turn to such dark actions as abduction,” Mr Beckett said calmly. “He will not harm her.”

  “That depends if he refrains from trying to force himself on her before we arrive,” Tom snapped. “I must find her.”

  “I am coming too,” James said walking to the door.

  “Wait,” Mr Beckett interjected. “My horse and his Lordship’s are ready and waiting for us. We can be on our way before your horse is anywhere near ready.”

  “Where can he have taken her? To his home?” Mary asked.

  “No, he will want enough time for the gossips to have a field day if they should find out they have been alone. We would find him too soon if he was at home. He must have gone to one of his friend’s homes,” Mr Beckett replied, pulling on his gloves.

  “Do you know any of these friends?” Tom asked, moving with Mr Beckett to the door.

  “Enough that I hope we may find her before too long,” Mr Beckett replied.

  Tom faltered at the door and turned to James. “I will bring her back safely, if it is the last thing I do.”

  “Don’t be foolish Tom,” Mary whispered.

  “I am going to kill him,” Tom replied and walked out the door without looking back.

  *

  The two horsemen rode in silence, Mr Beckett leading the way. Calling at each household would be time consuming, but he would avoid the ones located within the City, he did not think Ollerton would risk being found so easily, or risk Isabelle making a commotion and attracting attention to themselves. So, he started the search outside the City.

  Tom rode as fast as Mr Beckett, but his mind was not on what he was passing. All he could think was that he had let Isabelle down. If he had been honest and open with her from the start, she would have cut Ollerton and would not be in danger now. He also berated himself time and time again. What had he been thinking, leaving her alone for days? If he had not been so pig-headed and top-lofty, they would have probably been together and she would not have been alone. Ollerton may have abducted her, but Tom felt no less responsible.

  The first two calls they made were fruitless. Tom’s anger was increasing with his sense of frustration. “I will rip him from limb to limb,” he said viciously as they mounted their tiring horses.

  “I will hold him down for you when we find him. I have only one more place to go, then the other friends are either in Bristol or in central Bath. I cannot believe he would take her anywhere in Bath, but if we have to go to Bristol we will need to change horses.”

  “Damn this time wasting!” Tome snapped.

  “We will find her,” Mr Beckett responded, although he did not feel as confident as he had when they had set out. The tiring horses set off once again.

  *

  Isabelle knew her actions would put her life in danger, but she could no longer stand being so out of control and helpless. If she remained inactive, she had no idea how things would turn out. There was a good chance that James or Tom, or both were looking for her already and if
they arrived, if Tom arrived, he would put his life in danger. There was too much bitterness on Tom’s side before this madness had happened for him to approach the situation calmly. She could not bear the thought of anything happening to the man she loved.

  Mr Ollerton had kept trying to blame this situation on Tom, but Tom had done nothing other than post a wedding announcement. Isabelle could not have patience with a man who had had a fortune, but had gambled it away, had not listened to her first refusal of his proposal, never mind her second refusal. A niggling sense of responsibility did keep gnawing at Isabelle though. Her vanity was such that she had enjoyed being surrounded by suitors. She had been vain enough to expect they would accept the terms she offered, attention and flattery on their part, with no commitment on hers.

  Isabelle now realised that she had been as foolish as a girl straight out of the school room. How she had not been faced with a similar situation before now was due more to good fortune than any sense on her part. Well, perhaps not as an extreme situation as she was faced with now, but she did recognise the folly of what she had expected. It was this feeling of responsibility that helped to make her decide what to do. If she waited for events to unfold, Tom would arrive and he would be in danger. It no longer mattered that he did not love her, she loved him and could not face a world in which he would be injured or worse. She could not take the risk that Mr Ollerton would not carry out his threat of harming anyone trying to recover her. If she acted before anyone arrived though, Tom would not be in danger and hopefully it would be the magistrate who dealt with Mr Ollerton. Tom and her family would be safe.

  She stood and moved away from the chair that she had been instructed to sit in. Mr Ollerton’s face registered surprise at her movements, which gave Isabelle courage. “Mr Ollerton, this whole situation is ridiculous, you cannot have seriously expected this scheme to work.” Isabelle stood proudly, in the centre of the room, facing her capture with a determined set of her chin.