The Thoroughly Compromised Bride

by Catherine Reynolds

  Surveying the room rapidly, she soon spied her friend, Mrs. Gilbert, sitting at the far end with several other ladies, and Elizabeth began threading her way through the various groups crowding the room, stopping frequently to exchange greetings with those residents who were well known to her. She was still some distance from Mrs. Gilbert when a hand on her elbow caused her to look up quickly, a rebuke on her lips, only to draw a sharp breath as Charles Carlyle smiled down on her warmly. She lowered her eyes swiftly, hoping to hide the unexpected rush of joy she felt upon seeing him. “Damnation!” she muttered under her breath. Was she destined to gasp and blush like a schoolgirl each time she met him? What a silly wet-goose she was!

  Leaning towards her with laughter in his eyes, he said, “I know how very eager you are to join your friends, but pray stay with me for a while.” Placing her hand on his arm, he began to stroll with her towards the other end of the room.

  Glancing up at him teasingly, she enquired, “What brings you to our famous gathering place? Have you come to drink the waters, sir?”

  “Good God, no! I came in the hope of seeing you.”

  Surprised, she declared, “What a bouncer! You couldn’t possibly have known that I would be here this morning.”

  “True, but I was prepared to haunt the place until you did appear, however long it took.”

  “Now that’s doing it much too brown! You must know that you have only to call in Upper Camden Place to see me, if that is your object.”

  “Do you doubt it? I assure you, it is an object with me to see you as often as I may. But in Upper Camden Place I must always share you with your aunt.”

  Flustered, she could think of no answer to this, but he continued, “By the way, did you know that you sometimes use language and terms that one hardly expects from a gently nurtured female? Never tell me that your aunt taught you that manner of speaking!”

  She could not help laughing. “Oh, dear! If you knew how funny that is! But no, of course she did not. Papa taught me.”

  “Your papa taught you?” he asked in some surprise.

  “Well, yes, I’m afraid he did. You see. Papa always wished for a son and heir, but when Mama died—while I was still a baby—he decided to make the best of things, and treated me more like a son than a daughter.”

  “Good God!” he ejaculated. “Was he blind?”

  “No, of course not! And I did have Aunt Emily and Nurse Sedgewick to teach me how I should go on as a female, but the thing is that Papa never watched his tongue when I was about or reprimanded me when I picked up some of his words and expressions. Indeed, he thought it excessively amusing and always laughed. And you must know, those habits can be the very devil to break. Oh! I beg your pardon! What must you think of me!”

  He laughed. “Yes, you show a sad want of conduct, my girl!”

  “I promise you, I shall try much harder to be careful in the future.”

  “Well, I hope you are not too successful,” he said, his eyes still alight with amusement, “for a find it extremely diverting. Tell me, what other interesting habits did your papa teach you?”

  “Well, I dislike people who brag excessively, but I must own that I am a bruising rider, and no mean whipster, either. But I fear Papa was quite disappointed at my lack of aptitude in all matters to do with sports, and try as I would, I could not develop a taste for port!”

  He gave a shout of laughter, drawing the curious stares of those about them, and lowering his voice, he said, “You delightful girl! What will you say next?”

  With a rueful grin she answered, “Well, there is no telling, so pray, do not egg me on!”

  He merely chuckled, and they continued slowly round the room in silence for several minutes until he drew her to an abrupt halt. Following his frowning gaze, she saw Lord Braxton bearing down upon them with determination writ clearly on his face.

  “Ah, fair lady,” he cried effusively, availing himself of her free hand. “Seeing your lovely face this morning has brightened my day immeasurably!”

  “Good morning, my lord,” said Elizabeth, pulling her hand from his.

  Charles acknowledged his presence with a slight nod, and murmured, “Braxton.”

  Lord Braxton directed a stare replete with loathing at Charles before turning once more to Elizabeth. “Miss Ashton, I am sure you will understand me, and be in perfect agreement when I say that I believe it would be best if I were to return you to your aunt.” He cast his eyes about the room as he asked, “But where is Miss Godwin? I do not see her anywhere.”

  Elizabeth’s chin came up obstinately as she informed him, “My aunt is at home, sir. I came alone today.”

  “What?” he responded, his eyes swinging back to her face. They seemed very nearly ready to pop from his head, and so absurd an appearance did he present that she quickly averted her face in order not to succumb to the bubble of laughter that threatened to escape her throat. Unfortunately, her stricken eyes met Mr. Carlyle’s, and they both burst into laughter.

  His lordship drew himself up stiffly, and waited, a study in injured dignity, until Elizabeth and Charles managed to regain their composure.

  As soon as she was able, Elizabeth gasped, “Oh, pray forgive us, my lord. It was only... I mean...”

  “Well!” pronounced Lord Braxton severely. “I cannot like this tendency towards levity in you. Miss Ashton. It is to be hoped most devoutly that with the proper influence— But this is neither the time nor the place for that. I will speak to you of that at another time. Come, my dear, I shall see you home.”

  Charles Carlyle looked down at him from hooded eyes, a disdainful smile curling his lips. “Sorry, Braxton, but I’ve already offered to see the lady home. No, don’t eat me! I know you wish me to the devil, but I don’t intend to oblige you just now.”

  “Sir, I find your language offensive!” his antagonist told him in outraged tones. “I would remind you that there is a lady present!”

  “I doubt the lady finds my language as offensive as your behaviour. You are making a cake of yourself, man. Worse than that, you are embarrassing Miss Ashton. Give over!”

  “Not only are you offensive, Mr. Carlyle, but you are insulting as well, and I shall not stand for your insults!”

  “Is that a challenge, Braxton? Or are you merely offering to mill me down?”

  Never before had Lord Braxton been so tempted to challenge a man to a duel, but a strong sense of self-preservation prevented it. However, shaking with emotion, his face alarmingly red, and his mouth working, he had to pause for a moment before he was able to gain enough control to say coldly, “I am sure Miss Ashton is deeply grateful for your offer, sir, but she will not wish to put you to any further trouble now that I am here.”

  He reached confidently for Elizabeth’s arm, but she stepped back quickly, avoiding his grasp, and said, “No! You needn’t bother, my lord. I have told Mr. Carlyle that I should be glad of his escort.”

  And with that, Elizabeth and Charles walked away, leaving Lord Braxton sputtering impotently.

  When they had left the Pump Room, Elizabeth tried to school her expression into one of stern reproach, but laughter hovered at the edge of her voice as she said, “Oh, shameless! Now see what you have done! You’ve made a liar of me.”

  “I see what it is. You have a tendre for him.”

  “Oh, was anything ever more ridiculous?” she cried. “Well, you are fair and far out there! And if you think any such thing, you must have windmills in your head!”

  He smiled at her but made no answer, and they walked on companionably until he suddenly asked, “Why do you come out unattended? Is this the custom now prevailing in this part of the country?”

  “No, of course not, but it is not so necessary here as it would be in London, especially for me, since I am far past the age of needing a chaperon.”

  His eyes gleamed with amusement. “No! Are you? How well preserved you are, ma’am. But then I cannot help wondering how it comes about that a woman of such advanced age has
never married.”

  Elizabeth gasped. “Really, sir! That can be no concern of yours.”

  “Possibly not. But why haven’t you?”

  “Good God! What an ill-mannered, uncivil man you are!”

  “Do you think so? That seems a little harsh to me. But why have you never married?”

  In exasperation, Elizabeth answered angrily, “Because I like my life very well as it is. And... and I have never wished to marry. And this is a most improper conversation for us to be having!”

  “Yes, isn’t it?” he agreed unabashedly.

  “Well, if you know that, why do you persist in such impropriety?”

  He looked at her with an inscrutable smile, but ignored her question, saying instead, “Do you know, I have the feeling that you are not being entirely honest with me. What other reason have you for not marrying? I cannot believe that you’ve received no offers.”

  “Certainly I have,” she could not resist saying. “Three unexceptional ones in fact, and I refused them all.”

  “Hmm. I wonder why? Come, my dear, what do you have against marriage?”

  “The devil!” she cried. “I do not intend to discuss this with you any further, sir! Suffice it to say that marriage holds no allure for me. And you are a fine one to talk!”

  He burst out laughing. “Ah! There’s my charmer. Shall I tease you until I learn your secret, my sweet?”

  This was coming too close for comfort and, lips compressed, she disdained to answer, resorting to silence again, which neither attempted to break for some time, until finally she said, “I wish you would stop addressing me in that improper manner. I am neither your ‘sweet,’ nor your ‘charmer.’“

  “Now there I’m afraid I must differ with you. You must allow me to know what you are to me. However, if it will please you, I’ll address you only as ma’am, or Miss Ashton when anyone else is about. When we are alone, it is a different matter.”

  “I suppose I should be glad of that much at least. Do you know you are really quite impossible?”

  He squeezed her hand, laughing down at her, and she found it difficult not to smile back at him, difficult to remain angry with him. She could certainly see why he had the reputation of being a rake! He was impudent and a shocking flirt—and utterly irresistible. She knew that she ought to remonstrate with him more, ought to insist that he address her properly at all times. She also knew that she was allowing him to behave with far too much intimacy towards her. But she did enjoy his flirting, and as long as she realized that it was no more, it seemed harmless enough. Besides, if she did not let it drop, he would very likely say something even more outrageous!

  He broke in on her thoughts then, saying, “Tell me, what do you do for entertainment here?”

  Relieved at the change of topic, she answered, “Oh, we have any number of amusements to keep us entertained. At the New Assembly Rooms there are balls on Monday and Thursday evenings, and if you care for cards, there are two card rooms there. There are concerts every Wednesday evening, and I believe there are balls and entertainments at the Lower Rooms as well, though I’ve not been to them. In addition there are private balls and—”

  “Stop!” he cried with a laugh. “I can see that your social life is quite hectic. You must be worn to a thread after a week of such frantic gaiety.”

  Unable to withhold an answering grin, she admitted, “It is a trifle dull at times,” then quickly assured him, “but you needn’t consider me an object deserving of your pity! I am seldom bored, and can always find something to hold my interest.”

  “My beautiful little pea-goose. Pity is not what I feel for you!”

  She blinked at him, blushing rosily, but as they had by then arrived at her doorstep, she was not obliged to answer and said instead, “Thank you for walking with me, though it wasn’t at all necessary.”

  “Much as it pains me to contradict you, my girl, there was every necessity. It really is not the thing for young females to go traipsing through town unattended.”

  In her haughtiest voice she replied, “Sir, I have told you before that I am long since past the age of having to worry that such things will damage my reputation.”

  “Oh, yes, an ape leader in fact!” he said, and touching her cheek lightly with one finger, a heart-stopping look of warmth in his eyes again, he turned and strode away.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  In the meantime, Emily and Margaret had indeed enjoyed a comfortable coze. Over tea, they brought each other up to date on the particulars of their lives. It took little time to dispense with the previous six years: they had, after all, written to one another frequently, and conversation soon moved on to more current topics. Chief amongst these were gossip concerning mutual friends, the latest news from London and plans for the winter.

  Lady Langley, a handsome, formidable-looking matron, finally asked, “Well, and how does Elizabeth do?”

  Emily replied, “Oh, she does very well. She is the dearest girl!”

  “Girl? Hardly that! She must have close on six-and-twenty years in her dish by now!”

  “Well, yes—very nearly.”

  Shrewdly, her ladyship asked, “Do I detect a note of concern in your voice? Out with it, Emily. What’s troubling you?”

  “Oh, no, it’s nothing—truly!”

  Her friend snorted. “Don’t try to flummery me! I know you too well.” And after a hesitation, she asked, “Why hasn’t she married?”

  Emily sat forward in her chair. “Now, there you have put your finger on the very problem. Heaven knows that it isn’t for lack of opportunity. Why, even now I am in daily explication of Lord Braxton’s making her an offer.” Then she added, her voice sinking with dejection, “But I would be astonished if she were to accept him.”

  “Why ever should she not? What is wrong with him?”

  “Nothing in the world!” cried Emily bitterly. “Everything about him is just as it should be. Only she will say that she does not love him.”

  “Oh, love!” said Lady Langley wisely. “Well, I cannot have anything to say against that. Mine, after all, was a love match. However, there is still something to be said for arranged marriages. What a pity they have gone out of style!”

  “Indeed, I have said so to Elizabeth often and often, but to no avail. And why she should wish to dwindle into an old maid is something I cannot understand, but so it is.”

  Nodding her head sympathetically, her friend replied, “Yes, I can comprehend your feelings exactly! Charles is just such another sad case, though the unmarried state is not, in the ordinary way, the tragedy for a male that it is for a female. Time out of mind I’ve told that ramshackle brother of mine to find himself a wife and set up his nursery. ‘Twould be the making of him, I don’t doubt, but he’s frustrated my every effort at matchmaking.” Laughing merrily, she continued, “Do you know, at one time I even thought that he and Elizabeth would suit, and did my best to bring them together, but it came to nought.”

  “Oh? I didn’t know. Pray, when was that?”

  “Why, six years ago when I had all of you for my house party. After commanding Charles to be there without fail, I had thought to have an entire sennight in which to promote the match, but the perverse creature only arrived on the last evening, and then only after Elizabeth had gone early to bed—so very provoking it was! I have always suspected that his only reason for appearing at all was to see Lady Sabina, and thank God that affair died aborning, for you know, her husband was not at all inclined to look the other way.”

  Emily could only reply faintly, “Oh, yes,” for she was a much less sophisticated soul than Lady Langley, and easily shocked. In fact, two more unlikely confidantes would be hard to discover, but they had grown up as close neighbours, and friends they remained, in spite of their disparities.

  There was a pause in the conversation, and Emily asked with a puzzled frown, “But why did they never meet in London?”

  “Elizabeth and Charles? That’s easily explained. Like as not they never attended
the same functions. He’s had so many chits flung at his head by their predatory mamas that for years he’s avoided each new crop like the plague.”

  Emily sighed for what might have been. “Oh, dear! What a pity! Elizabeth and Charles...! I should like it above all things. But perhaps... I mean, is he not...? that is, I have heard...” and with face flaming, she finished in a strangled voice, “his reputation?”

  This drew another peal of laughter from her friend, and she answered, “Oh, Lord, yes, he is a shocking reprobate! But what

  does that signify? He is still one of the most eligible partis anywhere in England, and depend upon it, my dear, there is no better husband than a reformed rake, and no better way to reform one than putting him in the way of the right female.”

  “But, Margaret, now that they have met, perhaps they may yet make a match of it.”

  “Not if they’re left to themselves! I daresay they’d mismanage the affair miserably. However, you and I might contrive to bring the thing off, though I warn you, it will be no easy task. I don’t depend upon his remaining with me above one or two more days. But we won’t despair. I shall try, if I can, to devise a way to keep him longer.”

  “Oh, you will, I feel sure! As clever as you are!”

  And the two conspirators smiled happily at each other just as Elizabeth, returning, came into the room.

  If her heightened colour was remarked at all, it was attributed to the coldness of the weather, and after staring critically for a moment, Lady Langley declared, “Well, Elizabeth, I have never seen you in better looks.”