“Please don’t upset yourself,” Ralph said quickly.
“Don’t act like some sort of tyrant and I won’t,” Lady Pensby responded. “Now, I want to know all the details.”
“I’m surrounded by managing women!” Ralph growled out, before explaining who Miles and Edith were.
“Finally, I get to hear the real reason your hand was bandaged. To say it was caught in a door was a poor lie which I should take you to task over. They sound like good friends,” Lady Pensby said after hearing about the long-time friendship. “I’m glad you defended Lady Edith. What a cad this Mr Sage sounds.”
“Of the worse kind,” Ralph said, gritting his teeth at how close Edith had come to ruination.
“I’d like to meet them. I’ve met so few of the people you have associated with over the years.”
“That’s because I have few acquaintances and even fewer people who I would consider as friends,” Ralph said with a smile.
“An even better reason to meet these two friends then,” Lady Pensby persisted.
“They won’t be visiting again. I’ve made it clear that we aren’t entertaining. They’re going on to their own home soon, this was a short diversion.”
“They leave tomorrow?”
“No. In a day or two, I believe. I’ve said, I’ll call on them before they leave.”
“Send them my regards, won’t you?” Lady Pensby asked.
“Of course. Now you rest. I’ll pop in later to see how you are,” Ralph said, standing and kissing his mother’s hand.
“Yes. I’ll certainly rest,” Lady Pensby said. Watching her son leave the room, she stood and walked to her desk. Sitting down she took out a piece of paper and dipped her quill into the ink. Glancing at the door, she started to write, a smile playing on her lips.
*
“I do think it’s a mistake remaining here,” Miles said as he pulled on his gloves. “But if you’re determined to act like a lovesick moonling, who am I to stop you?”
“You can be a blasted nuisance sometimes,” Edith retorted. “I’m being nothing of the sort.”
“It is I who will have to mop up your tears, dear sister, when it all ends in disaster,” Miles pointed out, not unreasonably. “For you won’t secure him.”
“Pfft! You know nothing,” Edith said with derision. “Now go on your ride with Lord Pensby. You can both talk about how neither of you wish to be married because you’re both so happy not being attached to the women you love and who love you in return. One day you might actually convince each other that you speak the truth, but I doubt it.”
Miles looked a little stunned at Edith’s words, but didn’t respond. Her words had struck a little too close for comfort for one of his usual flippant responses. Instead he bowed his head slightly. “I shall see you in an hour or two,” he said stiffly, before leaving the room.
Edith shook her head at her brother’s retreating form. “At least I have hope for Lord Pensby. You, dear brother, need a horse kick to knock you in the right direction. You fool. She’d be perfect for you but she won’t be allowed to remain single forever.”
Picking up her book, she sat in the chair nearest the fire. She could have insisted that she accompany her brother and Ralph on their horse ride, but for once, she thought it would be detrimental to her cause. He would come in afterwards, she was sure, so at least she would have a little time with him, she would have to content herself with that.
After only ten minutes of uninterrupted reading, she was disturbed by a knock on the door. A maid brought in a note and waited for a response.
Opening the letter, Edith couldn’t help the smile spreading across her face.
Dear Lady Edith,
My son did not introduce us yesterday, for which he has received a motherly rebuke. I know he is overprotective, as I have the unfortunate curse of being in poor health, but I’m not as much an invalid as my son pretends I am. He does it with the best of intentions, so I do forgive him, mostly.
I hear you are to leave the area soon and hope you can visit me this afternoon, to share some tea and cakes and a little gossip. I long for some female company, who can tell me the latest on dits of the season. It isn’t the same reading everything from newspapers. We have so few people passing through, I would appreciate even a little of your time if you can spare it.
I shall expect you at two of the clock, if you are not otherwise engaged. A simple message to say you accept my invitation is all I require.
Please come.
Yours,
Lady Pensby.
Edith looked up. “Please send a message, that I shall attend and prepare my carriage for leaving at half past the hour.”
Ralph would kill her if he knew. She knew without a doubt, but how could she refuse such a request? Promising herself she would only stay fifteen minutes, she put her book to one side to prepare for her unexpected visit.
*
Edith was shown into Lady Pensby’s sitting room. The room wasn’t as grand as the main drawing room, but it was a space which was homely and tastefully furnished. Lady Pensby stood to greet Edith at her entrance.
“Hello, my dear. I’m so glad you decided to join me,” she said in welcome.
“Oh, you are so like your son!” Edith exclaimed. “I do beg your pardon. I shouldn’t be so impertinent,” she said with a blush.
Lady Pensby laughed. “I can’t be offended by something which is obviously true.” She was as dark as her son, but her eyes glittered with amusement. Her skin was pallid, but her eyes and smile were warm. “Come, sit with me. I want to know all about you.”
Edith was a little daunted by the comment. She had no idea what, if anything, Ralph had told his mother and so sat with feelings of trepidation. Her hostess seemed to sense her hesitation and changed the subject.
“I promise not to utter a word of what we share,” Lady Pensby promised. “But I’m hoping you can give me an insight into how my son spends his time in London.”
“I can’t tell you much I’m afraid, he doesn’t spend a lot of his time in society,” Edith admitted. She couldn’t utter outrageous lies. “But I can confirm he is a good dancing partner and I owe him a great debt.”
“Ah. Yes. I hope you don’t mind that Ralph spoke of the escapade. He couldn’t really avoid it when I saw he was injured. He didn’t condemn you for a moment though. What an absolute rake you had the misfortune to meet!”
Edith had flushed with embarrassment. “I pride myself on being a good judge of character, but I was no better than a green girl when climbing into the carriage with him. It has me staring at the canopy of my bed every night, cursing myself.”
“But this is your first season, my dear! How could you be fully up to snuff, as Ralph always says? I believe even your brother was taken in, and I’m presuming he’s no raw youth. How can you condemn yourself when a hardened military man was fooled?” Lady Pensby asked.
Edith smiled at the term Lady Pensby had used. Her mother would have been mortified to hear it on a lady of rank’s lips. “I don’t mind learning a hard lesson, but wish that Lord Pensby and my brother hadn’t been put to so much trouble.”
“I would think less of them if they hadn’t done anything about a man trying to take advantage of a young woman, especially one as pretty as you are.”
“With regards to my brother, to be sure, but not Lord Pensby. He shouldn’t have been dragged into the situation,” Edith said.
“I think my son wouldn’t have had it any other way. And not just because he’s a gentleman,” Lady Pensby said gently.
Edith looked warily at her hostess, but her gaze was met with a smile.
“Can we be honest with each other, my dear?” Lady Pensby asked, picking up one of Edith’s hands and squeezing it gently between both of her frailer ones.
“Y-yes,” Edith stuttered.
“I know Ralph hides from society and it saddens me that my illness keeps him from making friends and enjoying flirtations. His life has been far too ser
ious for my liking. Duty and responsibility should come later in life, not when one is young, as Ralph was when he inherited the title,” Lady Pensby explained.
“I’m sure he does not begrudge a single moment,” Edith said quickly.
“It’s to his credit that he doesn’t,” Lady Pensby said. “That isn’t to say I don’t curse every time he is sent for because of me. I promise to remain quiet so he can enjoy his life. I’m constantly persuading him to take off and go to London, to forget about me and homelife for a while. To just be a young man.”
“It is a poor situation for you both to be in. Equally torn in your efforts to try and do the best by each other,” Edith said, gaining more of an insight into Ralph’s life.
“Yes. I hope to see you lots whilst you are in the area. I don’t have many visitors and hope you shall visit every day,” Lady Pensby said.
“We’ll see,” Edith said doubtfully. “Now it is time I left you. I don’t want to overtax you, or I will warrant the scolding which would surely come my way.”
“You’re starting to treat me as invalidish as my son does!”
“And rightly so if you allow yourself to become exhausted,” Edith responded, standing. “It has been a pleasure to meet you and I hope my visit won’t tire you too much.”
“Not in the slightest. It has made me feel better than I have in a long time,” Lady Pensby said honestly, but she didn’t try to detain Edith. When her visitor had left her, she rested her head on the back of the sofa. “Oh, Ralph, you’ve picked out someone who’s perfect for you. You clever, clever boy.”
Chapter 18
Edith wasn’t surprised to receive another letter the following morning. Unfortunately, Miles was in the parlour when it was delivered. There was no chance that Edith would convince him it was from someone back in London, especially when the maid said the letter had come from the big house.
Flushing, Edith had held her hands up defensively. “Don’t condemn me! For once, this isn’t my doing.”
“I wait with dread for an explanation,” Miles responded grimly.
“Yesterday, I received a note from Lady Pensby, inviting me to take tea with her,” Edith explained. “I hadn’t attempted to make any contact with her, in fact I was astounded to receive it.”
“But you chose not to mention it, either before or after you went?” Miles asked.
“Well, no,” Edith admitted. “I thought it best to go and see her myself as she requested.”
“Pensby wouldn’t have agreed to it, if he’d known anything about it.”
“No. But, Miles, she’s a lovely woman and so lonely!” Edith said quickly. “She says she sees no one at all and relies on staff to give her the latest gossip.”
Miles ran his hands through his hair. “Edith, you are playing with fire,” he ground out. “Yesterday, Pensby opened up a little about his mother and his concerns. She can be very ill and the spasms she suffers from come on suddenly. How would you feel if one came on whilst you were there? How would Pensby feel? For he’s convinced that exertion brings them on. There’s no doubt in my mind that he would blame you if anything happened to his mother whilst you were in her presence.”
Miles’ words did nothing to ease Edith’s own guilt at deceiving Ralph. She was torn, for she genuinely liked Lady Pensby and pitied her situation. It also pandered to a little of her own vanity, pleased that the mother of the man she loved seemed to like her.
“I think it’s time we left this place,” Miles said. “We’re going home tomorrow. I’d say today, but I don’t wish to make Ralph suspect what you’ve been doing,” Miles said. “I would ask that you don’t go to pay a visit to Lady Pensby though. I think it’s the wrong thing to do for many reasons.”
“Yes. I think it’s right to leave here,” Edith acknowledged. “I’ll send a letter of regret to Lady Pensby.”
“Good,” Miles responded.
Edith immediately sat at the small desk in the room and wrote a short note. Ringing for the maid, she asked for it to be sent to Lady Pensby.
“There. For once, I’ve been sensible,” she said with a smile at her brother.
“Are you coming for a ride with us?” Miles asked.
“No. I think I’ll go for a walk, but I won’t go far from the inn. I’ll take my maid, don’t worry,” Edith said easily.
“No mischief?”
“No. Not this time,” Edith responded with a smile.
“I suppose I’ll have to be content with that,” Miles said.
*
Returning back to the inn after a relaxing walk through the lanes surrounding the village, Edith was surprised to see the Pensby carriage in the inn’s yard. Hurrying inside, she was greeted by the innkeeper who informed her that Lady Pensby was awaiting her arrival in her private parlour.
“Good God!” Edith exclaimed. “What is she thinking?”
Not waiting for an answer from the innkeeper she hurried into the room. Sitting regally on one of the chairs near to the fire was Lady Pensby, looking elegant, but very frail.
“My Lady! You shouldn’t have travelled here! What would your son say?” Edith was worried enough to speak openly.
Lady Pensby smiled. “But you would not come to me, my dear. And I so wanted to see you.”
“Oh, my dear Lady Pensby, you should have sent a further note. Please don’t stay here. What if you’re taken ill? I would never forgive myself,” Edith said, wringing her hands. She felt truly afraid that the journey would prove too much for the ailing woman.
“I have been so well recently, I’m sure it will be fine, but just let me finish my tea and then I will leave. I don’t want to cause you any distress. Be seated child and stop worrying. You are as bad as Ralph,” Lady Pensby said.
“I can understand why he worries,” Edith admitted, her heart still pounding with fear. She sat on the edge of the chair, ready to jump up if needed. She had no idea what she’d be able to do if her guest was taken ill. The thought terrified her.
“He can’t protect me all of the time.”
“No. But when one has a small family and has lost so many other members, the few that are left become even more treasured,” Edith explained. “My brother, especially, is so precious to me, for I have lost my father and two brothers.”
“I do understand, but that is one of the reasons I encourage Ralph to spend time in company. I wish to see my son married, so his family will grow,” Lady Pensby countered.
A fleeting image of brown-eyed children was pushed aside by Edith; she couldn’t long for something which wasn’t possible. “I’m sure he’ll marry when he wants to. My brother says he considers himself too young to marry, perhaps Lord Pensby feels the same?”
“No. There are other thoughts churning inside of Ralph. I know my son and know he is set against marriage for a foolish reason, he’s decided can’t be overcome. I’d hoped I could recruit you to help me to change his mind.”
“I’m not sure what I could do, your son his is own man. I know what my own brother’s opinion would be if he found out I was trying to encourage him to choose a wife. Apart from that, I’m afraid I’m leaving tomorrow, so I can’t really be of any practical help,” Edith said.
“That’s a real pity. I was looking forward to your company for days to come,” Lady Pensby looked crestfallen.
“I’m afraid it can’t be helped,” Edith said. It was the right decision. Somehow being with Lady Pensby had shown her she was chasing an unachievable dream. Ralph didn’t want to fix his interest with her and the sooner she accepted that, the better.
Lady Pensby stood. “My dear, it has been a pleasure to meet you and I do hope our paths cross again one day,” she said, holding out her hand to Edith.
Edith walked with Lady Pensby to her carriage and waited until the carriage door was closed. Stepping back she smiled and waved, before noticing that Miles and Ralph had entered the yard on their horses.
Colouring, but not allowing herself to feel guilty; she had encouraged Lady Pe
nsby to leave, after all. She gave one last wave, nodded to the gentlemen, then turned on her heel and entered the inn.
Her heart was pounding but she stood in front of the fireplace, expecting to see Ralph bursting through the door at any moment. When only Miles entered, she nearly sagged with relief.
“I see you found a way of getting around what we agreed,” Miles said stiffly. “You do realise that Pensby has gone charging home in a real temper.”
“It does depress me slightly that you are prone to look on the black side of anything to do with me,” Edith said tartly.
“Experience has taught me to do so,” Miles replied with a shrug, taking a seat opposite where Edith still stood.
“Well for your information, dear brother, I went for a walk, with my maid, just as I said I would. When I returned Lady Pensby was waiting for me. I was horrified to realise she’d travelled here, I assure you.”
“From Pensby’s reaction, I don’t think she has left the house for years,” Miles said, unable to repeat the language that Ralph had actually used.
“No one was as shocked as I, honestly,” Edith responded. “In fact, I think I was quite rude, because I all but chivvied her out of the door in my hurry to see her return home. The poor woman asked to be allowed to finish her tea before she left. If I hadn’t been so worried, I’d have been ashamed at my behaviour.”
Miles shook his head. “Pensby was angrier than I’ve ever seen him. We’ll probably be able to hear his cursings from here when he speaks to her.”
“I hope he doesn’t act like a brute in front of his mother,” Edith said hotly. “She’ll need quiet and rest when she returns home and hopefully, there’ll be no after-effects from her exertion.”
*
Ralph had paced in his chamber, his hands balled into fists, raging inside as he tried to calm himself down before seeing his mother. It was a full hour before he had himself under enough control, but his jaw ached at the attempt to remain steadfast in his desire not to lose his temper.
Entering his mother’s bedchamber, his anger receded as, to his dismay she was already in bed. “Mother, do you ail?”
Lady Edith's Lonely Heart: A Regency Romance (Lonely Hearts Series Book 1) Page 14
