by Carla René
Rachel, not wanting to appear to have given this too much forethought, pretended to think heavily on this before answering. “Well, that is a good question. My first instinct is to err on the side of caution and say possibly, but then why be disingenuous about all of it? I can say with certainty, that, if all goes as planned, then an understanding will be forthcoming any day now. Are you not excited for me? Is it not the most heavenly of news?”
Izzy was so stunned at how far she was willing to carry her charade that she could barely continue. “Really! Do tell. My, you must be getting on very well then, for you to have gotten this close this fast. Do you not think that rather sudden?”
Rachel was quick to defend. “Not at all! Why should two people dawdle when their feelings are so obviously strong for one another?”
Izzy allowed a slow smile to form. “Yes, I do believe I agree with you, entirely.”
Rachel leaned in closer. “But do not think for one second that I will leave my most cherished friend out of my wedding plans for a moment! I would be so honored if you would be my maid-of-honor.”
“My, what a generous offer, Miss Hast… Rachel. I will have to check with my friend before I can tell you for certain. Oh, dear, what do you think? Should I be Rachel’s maid-of-honor?”
Mr. Whentworth appeared from behind a nearby Cedar tree, and when Rachel saw him walk to Izzy’s side and put his arm around her waist, she let out a gasp.
“No, dearest, I am afraid I just cannot authorize that sort of activity. I am certain you understand,” he said, while giving her a light peck on the cheek.
Rachel could not close her mouth, and Mrs. Aitchison, watching everything in silence, was enjoying the sight so much she wanted to laugh out loud herself, but remained composed.
“What is the meaning of this? Mr. Whentworth, what are you playing at?”
“Why, whatever do you mean, Miss Hastings?”
“Again, I demand to know what is happening here? Why have you been here in the garden when you should have been in the dance hall with me?”
“Because, Miss Hastings, Miss Audley was in the garden. I stay where she is.”
“But, you are my escort! How could you?”
“How could you, indeed!” Mr. Whentworth now allowed his seething anger to show for the first time. “I agreed to be your escort for this week and tonight only as a favor to your mother, and this is how I am repaid.”
“What are you on about, Mr. Whentworth? My mother had absolutely nothing to do with this.”
“That is where you are mistaken, and blissfully so. You engineered this entire situation and let on that you had no knowledge of any of it—that it was all the idea of your mother. How quickly you forget how people in this town talk, Miss Hastings.”
“What do you mean, they are talking? Will someone explain to me what in the name of Lucifer is going on?”
“What is going on, Miss Hastings, is that you managed to soil your own reputation by carousing with every eligible infantry man in New York when you failed out of college and tried everything you could to cover it up so your family would not find out. What you failed to realize, Miss Hastings, is that Mrs. Aitchison’s son is one of the men you caroused with and you were not aware of it. You had no clue that each evening after you went home, William would come home and tell his mother all about your intrigues. So, tonight when Miss Audley bumped into Mrs. Aitchison by accident and they began chatting, that is when the whole of the truth came out. So, Miss Hastings. What do you have to say for yourself now?”
Chapter 28
With A Vengeance
With A Vengeance (Chapter Twenty-Eight)
Without warning, Miss Hastings lurched toward Izzy with her fist raised, and before Mr. Whentworth could stop her, she was pounding on Izzy with all the fury in her. For the innocent bystander, it was quite a sight: all those bustles and silk, rolling around on the ground. It was not long for Mr. Whentworth to peel Rachel from off Isabella, and he stood behind her, holding both of her arms while she continued to rail against Izzy, Mr. Whentworth, Mrs. Aitchison and her own mother. At this point, she no longer cared for propriety, and could only see her anger and being avenged.
She sneered at Izzy. “What gives you the right to even be here this evening? I made sure you did not receive your original invitation until it was too late to respond, and I was convinced you would never humiliate yourself by accepting mine.”
Mrs. Aitchison spoke for the first time. “I gave her the right to be here. It is my home, after all. I also gave you the right to remain here after I found out just at what game you were playing. I could have easily had you thrown out and laughed out of society, but I reconsidered after hearing everything you have put Miss Audley and Mr. Whentworth through, and decided that perhaps the revenge to be had was theirs and not mine. You may thank me later.”
“I owe you nothing,” spat Rachel. “Do not think that I was out unescorted all those nights; I was with your son. It takes two, and he was more than a willing participant.”
Mrs. Aitchison held her anger. “I am certain you are right. What man, in his right mind, refuses a woman who throws herself at him?”
Rachel had no comment.
“I do not feel the need for revenge, Mrs. Aitchison. In spite of how my once cherished friend has treated me, I am still of the thought that you don’t repay evil for evil. No. Unfortunately, Miss Hastings has planted enough seeds of depravity, that she will soon reap their benefits without my having to lift a finger,” said Izzy.
Rachel continued to struggle against the grasp of Mr. Whentworth. “Is that what you think will happen? My dear, cherished friend, you are mistaken. For how quickly you forget that I am not the one who is now poor. You may gloat all you wish about having found out my motives with Mr. Whentworth, but in time, you will be alone, living in the poor house, your poor mother slaving in a factory and you washing clothes for me.”
At that moment, the men who were previously summoned by Mrs. Aitchison appeared behind her, and Mr. Whentworth handed Miss Hastings over to them. He then went and stood at Izzy’s side.
“I do not believe that will ever happen, Miss Hastings,” said Mr. Whentworth. “For you see, my family is very well-to-do, and for as long as I am alive, Miss Audley and her mother will never be alone.”
Now being restrained by Mrs. Aitchison’s aides, Rachel continued to struggle. “Stop dreaming, Mr. Whentworth. I do not even know why you two are together. I made sure to steal your note to Miss Audley from her post so she would not receive your explanation of our time together in the café. With that note in hand, there was no way possible she could find out that you had apologized for hurting her. And what does your family’s wherewithal have to do with Isabella’s happiness?”
Mr. Whentworth chuckled. “It did not take that note, or lack thereof, to get us back together where we should have been all along. It took her mother nearly dying of a heart attack, and unless you planned that hideous event as well, you could not have foreseen that horrible tragedy as working toward a greater good in the end.”
For a moment, Rachel stopped struggling. “Your mother is ill? Please, tell me how she is. She was always so kind to me as a child.”
Mr. Whentworth began to speak again, but this time Izzy interrupted. “I was always kind to you as a child as well, and this is how you repay that kindness. We agreed long ago, that we would never allow a man to come between us, and what happens the very first time you are faced with the opportunity to social climb? Not only do you make poor decisions that nearly send your mother to an early grave, but you don’t have enough self-respect to protect your own reputation; and apparently, teaching me my place was just a bonus—you saw the opportunity and completely afforded yourself of it.”
“But your mother? Truly—how is she?”
“Honestly, I am no longer bound to share anything of my personal life with you. Unfortunately, you will simply have to gossip your way to the truth on that one, for you will get none of it from me. I
loved you dearly, Rachel. I thought that perhaps we would be the attendants at the other’s wedding—even sometimes I dreamed of us getting married on the same day. Were all those years you simply pretending; a rouse?”
Rachel smiled. “You were always so oblivious, Isabella. Do you not think that people actually knew that your father had a marital indiscretion on your mother?”
Izzy was so stunned she knew not what to say.
Rachel took advantage of the silence. “It is true; no need to appear so stricken. People in this town have loose lips; you know this.”
“Yes, but I have never engaged in malicious gossip! You know that.”
Rachel laughed heartily. “Does that truly matter? All it takes is a scullery maid full of her own bile and hatred and suddenly, your news is all over town like last evening’s wash.”
“Are you saying that one of our housemaids leaked the news?”
“No. I am saying sometimes you are just too naive for your own good, dear Isabella.”
Izzy sighed. “After all this time, you would think you would know me better than that. You know how I have always despised societal rules. Imposing class systems on people should be outlawed. Honestly, I think they were created by those weak-minded individuals who had no other way to elevate their societal status than to impose some noxious rules that keep those down who are less fortunate and under-privileged.”
“Oh, please. Spare me the self-righteous speech. You have availed yourself of those rules any time it seemed to suit your purpose. Was it not your father’s recommendation that got you accepted into Radcliffe, a school that I was not able to attend because I did not know anyone?”
Izzy gasped. “Is that what has your bun in a knot? That is the reason for this attack? All because I got into Radcliffe and you were unable to? I had no idea you could be that petty, Rachel. For the record, my father had absolutely nothing to do with my acceptance. I was not a legacy. He had wanted to attend Harvard, but his family was not affluent, so he had to choose a different school. And look at you now—you have failed out of a lesser school. I doubt you could have remained as a student there anyway. So blame me all you wish, but this is your undoing.”
Izzy had to take a breath here, because she was now so worked-up that she could no longer think straight.
Mr. Whentworth noticed, and decided to finish. “By the way, Miss Hastings, did we tell you our most happy news?” He paused to let it sink in.
Rachel’s head jerked up and the look of panic on her face was unmistakable. “What news?”
“Why, Miss Audley has agreed to be my wife.”
“What?” she said, screeching like the devil. “Are you completely insane? No! It cannot be! You simply cannot be taken in by this lying, cheating whore!”
Before he knew it, Mr. Whentworth had moved toward Rachel with a raised hand, but was able to calm himself in time. He spoke his next words softly. “Miss Hastings, you will take heed to never, ever let me catch you speaking that way to my fiancé again. For the next time I do, I will not be held responsible for my actions. You are lucky this time.”
Rachel said, “Mr. Whentworth, please, listen to yourself. You will most certainly ruin your good name as well as that of your family’s if you continue this relationship with Miss Audley. Please! I thought we had something very special! Why would you choose to hurt me in this manner?”
“Do not talk to me of hurt. Have you not inflicted enough pain on those around you for the whole of humanity?”
Rachel lowered her voice to a whisper. “But… but… Mr. Whentworth, I love you.”
He was unmoved. “I hope that someday soon, you will be able to think again with a level and clear head.”
Mrs. Aitchison nodded to the men holding Rachel. They took her back to the hall to gather her things, and then escort her out, all to the tune of continued shrieks, cursing and screaming, “But you love me!”
When the field quieted again, Izzy looked up at Mrs. Aitchison. Her face was wet. “Dear, Mrs. Aitchison, how am I to ever repay you for your most generous kindness?”
Mrs. Aitchison smiled. “Repay me for what? Please. Think nothing of it.”
“Come, let us get you inside near the warmth of the fire,” said Mr. Whentworth.
Before they made their way to the house, Mrs. Aitchison added, “Would you allow me to do one more thing for you?”
“What is that?”
“I would love to announce to the guests at the party of your impending nuptials. Will you let me do that for you?”
Mr. Whentworth said, “Mrs. Aitchison, you have been so incredibly kind already, but if it is all the same with you, I think we would rather announce it to our families first. With today’s row, we were not even sure there would be a wedding.”
Mrs. Aitchison nodded. “I completely understand. Would you then allow me to host the wedding for you?”
Izzy was overtaken with emotion, and cried harder. “Oh, Mrs. Aitchison, that would be so kind and wonderful of you! But, there is still one little problem.”
“What is it, dear?”
“Well, as joyous a time as our impending union is, there remains the problem of our family’s status, due to our financial difficulties. Honestly, I do not think you will be doing yourself any favors if you associate yourself in that way with me.”
“Allow me to address that problem, my dear,” said Mr. Whentworth.
“Whatever do you mean?”
“I need to speak with you about that in private.”
Assuring that the Audley carriage had been notified of the new travel arrangements, Mr. Whentworth made sure Izzy was situated comfortably in his carriage, and they headed towards Izzy’s home. In the carriage, Mr. Whentworth hastily explained his plan to Izzy, how long it had been in effect, and that they should immediately share this news with her mother as soon as they arrived home. Izzy was so grateful she could not stop crying, and soon became impatient to reach the house.
When they arrived, they went up to Lilly’s room, and was glad to see that Dr. Davis was still chatting with Lilly, and she was in most high spirits. She was also gladdened to see both Isabella, and Mr. Whentworth.
“Dears! Do come in! I have the most wonderful news for you!”
Both being intrigued, they walked farther into the room, with Izzy perching herself on the side of Lilly’s bed. “What is it, mother? What is the news?”
Lilly gently took Izzy’s hand in one of hers, and with her free hand took the hand of Dr. Davis. “Isabella, Mr. Whentworth, we wanted you to be the first to know. Dr. Davis and I are to be married!”
Izzy screamed. “Oh, mother! Oh, my! I am so… I cannot… are you sure? Oh, mother! Congratulations to you both!” She threw her arms around her mother’s neck and squeezed. She was also so overcome with emotion, that she lingered a bit and began to cry again.
Mr. Whentworth and Dr. Davis shook hands, and was amused at the loving site of the two intertwined on the bed.
“Dearest? Why are you crying so? This is a happy occasion!”
Izzy laughed. “I know! I am so thankful you met someone so wonderful!”
Mr. Whentworth could not contain himself any longer. “Plus, we have our own good bit of fortune to share. Dearest? Would you like to do the honors?”
Izzy nodded. “Mother, Mr. Whentworth and I are to be married as well! He proposed only last evening. We have been waiting to tell you before we told anyone else.”
Lilly began to cry and laugh at the same time. “Oh, my dear, dear muffin. I am so happy! And to you, Mr. Whentworth, it is about time!”
The entire room broke into laughter. “Yes, I suppose I deserved that,” said Mr. Whentworth, with great mirth.
Izzy suddenly stopped. “But mother! Something is not quite right.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, we had some other news to share as well, but now I am not certain how your news will affect that.”
Lilly said, “Well, dear, why not just say it, and then we will deci
de together if it has any affect.”
Izzy took her mother’s hand again. “Mother, where will you live?”
Lilly looked with deep love into Dr. Davis' eyes, and said, “Sweetheart, I will be living with Dr. Davis in his home.”
“But, mother, we had hoped you would live with us!”
“Isabella, what are you on about, dearest?”
“Oh, mother. Do you remember the person who came to the door the other night that upset you so?”
Lilly nodded.
“Well, as it turns out, Mr. Whentworth had put in paperwork to take over our loan on the house long before that gentleman was to deliver that note, and in fact, the memo had not yet crossed his desk informing him that he was not to deliver those papers to you. Mr. Whentworth bought our home so we would not lose it!”
Lilly stared incredulously at Mr. Whentworth. “Is this true, Mr. Whentworth?”
He grinned. “Yes, it is. I learned nearly a month ago of the state of affairs on your home simply could not allow anything to happen to either one of you. So, I put in the papers to take over the loan, and then I paid it off only a few days ago. The memo informing the foreclosure department, unfortunately, had not reached that gentleman’s office in time to stop him from delivering the horrible news, or in time to keep some of your things from being repossessed. Not to worry, however. Your things are safely sitting in a warehouse, ready to be picked up. In fact, I can have them delivered here tomorrow when I get back to the office.”
Izzy added, “That is why he was so upset last night when I shared the news of the repossession with him.”
Lilly became serious, and nearly whispered. “My dear, dear son-in-law. I just do not know what to say to you, or how to thank-you for your most generous kindness. I am truly humbled.”
“Just say that you will allow me to take your daughter’s hand, and all will be repaid.”
She smiled. “But of course! I am not daft enough to refuse a man such as yourself. But where will you two live?”
“To be honest, I had not considered that far,” said Mr. Whentworth.
