The Complicated Earl (23 page)

“Frank has been looking for you,” Mary said.

“Has he?” Isabelle responded flatly.

“Would you like to find him while I am still here?” Mary asked.

“No, we have said enough today to last a lifetime. There is nothing left that could improve matters.” Mary frowned and looked towards the Earl. “Don’t fret Mary, what Frank had to say only needed an excuse to burst forth. His Lordship just gave him the excuse he needed that is all.” Isabelle moved to the chair that Mary was sitting on and placed her hand on her shoulder. “I think it’s time you returned to James. He will probably want to talk to you.”

“Is there a problem?” Mary asked, standing to take her leave.

“No, not in my opinion,” Isabelle shrugged in reply.

Mary left and the room
was silent for a few minutes. Tom had never taken his eyes off Isabelle and she had been unsure what he was thinking so had decided to let him be the first to speak.

“I am truly sorry for
causing any breach between you and your family,” he finally said. “I don’t know what I was trying to achieve by what I said, but causing a rift between you and your brothers was not part of it.”

“It matters not,” Isabelle said quietly. “Don’t
worry, your offer of marriage is being refused by me. Once you are well you can forget the incident and carry on as you were.”

Tom
felt as if he was going to have a relapse for a moment or two as he struggled to breathe. “Are you to marry the clergyman?”

Isabelle looked at him sharply, but managed to reply in a level voice. “I am not to marry at all. As my brother Frank kindly informed me, no man with decency would ever consider marrying me
now. Apparently I am no better than an actress or showgirl.”

“How dare he s
peak to you like that!” Tom snarled. “As soon as I am up and about, I shall be speaking to your brother in a way he won’t easily forget!”

“Don’t waste your energy,” Isabelle said simply.

“He had no right!”

“He had every right!” Isabelle snapp
ed. “If you knew of my reputation would you seriously consider marriage, if you had not been the one to ruin it? Of course not, you would not be seen within miles of me, and I have to accept that. I have enough pride not to marry a man who obviously does not care for me, but I am under no illusion of how society will see me if the accusations ever spread.”

”They
won’t,” Tom said firmly.

“
And how will it stay a secret? I have tried to convince my brothers that it won’t spread, but I am lying to them. All the servants know that your face is supporting a fantastic bruise and that James is walking around with a badly bruised hand. We know how gossip starts and I guarantee that it has started in this case. Oh, I’m not asking for sympathy or apology,” Isabelle said quickly as Tom looked about to speak, “Just for you to be realistic.”

“I am so sorry Isabelle.”

“No apologies remember?” Isabelle smiled slightly. She changed the subject as it was time to change the dressing on his leg and she thought it prudent to give him a sleeping draught as his day had been tiring and she was still worried about a return of the fever. There was little time for much talk beyond negotiating what food could be eaten and what sleeping arrangements Isabelle was to have. She insisted on staying with him another night, but a small bed was made up in his dressing room and she slept in there, which meant a more comfortable night for her than the previous one had been.

Isabelle woke to find Tom
still in a deep sleep. She smiled to herself as she watched him, he was a handsome man and made her heart flutter every time she looked at him. ‘If onlys’ wasted lives if they were dwelt on for too long, and she was not prepared to waste her life wishing it away. They had both made decisions and acted in ways that would affect them for who knew how long, but she was not going to wallow in self-pity. She shook herself into action and rang the bell from the hallway.

She lef
t the maid sitting with Tom in case he woke and required help. Isabelle needed to bathe and change her clothes, so returned to her bedchamber while she had the opportunity. She returned to the sick room to find Mary in place of the maid. Isabelle had requested food be sent up to her room for convenience, so had been able to avoid the breakfast room. She smiled at Mary, but crossed to check on Tom. His breathing had not changed, he still sounded in a deep sleep.

“He hasn’t stirred while you have been gone,” Mary explained
quietly.

“Good. He needs the
rest, it will help him build his strength up.”

“Frank is leaving today,” Mary said
quietly. “I know he would like to see you before he goes.”

“Mary, I do not want to see him. As far back as I can remember I have had his censure and
criticism. I am not saying that I have not done anything wrong, I admit I did act dangerously and foolishly, but he over-reacted. There is nothing for us to say. I will never change enough to satisfy him and he will never understand me, he does not wish to. We shall have to agree to differ and keep as far away from each other as possible. It is best to leave it that way.”

“I am sorry you feel like that,” Mary said.

“I have a more important task here. I need to help his Lordship to recover and then you can go on a belated honeymoon!”

Mary smiled and reac
hed out to hug Isabelle. “I shall miss you when you return to Bath.”

“And I shall
miss you, now go before I start to cry!” Isabelle laughed quietly and shooed Mary out of the door.

“As commanding
as ever I see,” came the voice of Tom, startling Isabelle.

“If you frighten your nurse to death, you will suffer at the hands of James’s servants. They
aren’t as gentle as I,” came the cheeky retort.

“Can I get up yet nurse?”

“Certainly not, you are in my power and I intend keeping you there as long as possible!” Isabelle teased as she poured him a drink. Tom smiled at her thinking that she was the only woman who had ever had any power over him and he had not known how to handle it and now it was too late.

They spent th
e day together quietly. Tom still tired easily and would often drift off to sleep. Isabelle could tell when he was tiring, the colour drained from his face and the lines around his eyes deepened. She consoled herself with the fact that he was recovering, to try and ward off any worry about relapses developing, but it was very slow.

On the third day from the fever breaking, Isabelle offered to write a letter to Sophie and let her know what had happened. “I did not tell her sooner as t
he doctor intimated that your family needed to be gathered when there was no hope left and I refused to give up,” she explained with a sheepish smile.

“Thank God, someone was fighting
for me! Yes, write to her now, but tell her I don’t want any fuss.”

Isabelle sm
iled, “Do you want to dictate the letter to make sure I make no errors?”

She wrote the letter as instructed and sent it off immediately. She hoped Sophie
would take heed to what her brother had said, it would be rather awkward if she arrived in James’s house after all that had happened between them. The atmosphere was strained enough without any further complications adding to it.

The following morning a letter was received from Sophie, flowing with concern, but she was not profess
ing any desire to visit her brother. She asked for regular updates and said that as soon as he was able to move, she would prepare his home ready for his transportation. Isabelle fought the sinking feeling in her stomach when she thought of him leaving, but she scolded herself, she had had the opportunity of staying with him for the rest of her life and she had turned it down, she would have to get used to the fact that he was going at some point.

Over the next few days they fell into a routine. Isabelle
started to sleep in her own bedchamber and did feel better for it, although the first time she returned to her room, she checked on Tom twice during the night. She made sure he ate his breakfast each morning and then would leave him to have hers. She had not looked forward to joining James at the table but although he was a little more distant than she had been used to, there was not any real change. They never discussed the rift with Frank, so there were no further arguments. Mary also helped, her diplomatic skills coming into force to make the meal more comfortable.

The mornings were spent with them pla
ying some form of game. Tom could never persuade Isabelle to play cards, but she would play chess and backgammon. The morning was the time that he had most energy, so a game could keep him occupied until lunchtime. They lunched together, Isabelle arranging for a table to be brought into the room that dishes could be placed and she arranged a sort of indoor picnic. As Tom’s pain reduced, he was able to increase his mobility slightly and with Isabelle’s help he could sit up fully in bed.

Tom usually slept through the afternoon
, he was still very weak and soon tired, so Isabelle would sew or read next to him, enjoying the peace and enjoying a little too much the chance to gaze at him while he slept. She left him for the evening. His valet took over feeding him this meal, while Isabelle joined James and Mary and then she would return for a few hours before he slept for the night.

One morning Mary joined Isabelle as she was losing yet again in a game of backgammon. “James would like you to accompany him on a ride Isabelle, if you have no objections.”

Isabelle smiled, “I’m trying to retrieve my appalling record of losing every game to Tom.” They had decided to forgo the formalities and use their Christian names almost as soon as the Earl had regained consciousness. They were spending so much time together in such close contact that it seemed too formal not to.

“I think Tom would agree that the fresh air would do you good,” Mary persisted.

“Yes, I’m supposed to be the patient, but you are becoming as pale as I sitting indoors every day. I am surprised you have been able to stand it,” Tom replied.

“Why do I attract insults
about my looks?” Isabelle muttered. “Oh to be a woman who has poetry written about her and has men swooning at her feet.”

“That would only
bore you,” Mary smiled. “Come, you haven’t been on that horse of yours for an age. I’m sure I can lose just as easily as you seem to be able to do.”

“My wounded pride,” Isabelle said with mock seriousness. “
Well as my looks and my game playing have been insulted I shall return to the protection of my brother.”

“Go and get some colour in those cheeks!” Mary laughed.

              Isabelle joined James at the stables, ready to enjoy herself. She had felt confined indoors, although she did not relinquish her role as chief nurse easily. She had not been for a ride since before James’ and Mary’s wedding and Beauty was excited at finally going for some exercise.

“The horse i
s keen to be off,” James said at Beauty’s second head shake.

“Yes, there’s no chance of a civilised trot today. I hope you are ready for a gallop,” Isabelle smiled in reply.

“Lead on,” James instructed and Isabelle moved out of the stable.

They rode out, starting to cante
r as soon as the building was left behind. Isabelle felt liberated straight away, she took great lungfuls of air as Beauty cantered over the familiar landscape. Isabelle skirted along the edge of the woods and then jumped the hedge, there would be no confines for Beauty today. The fresh air brought the much needed colour to Isabelle’s cheeks and blew away her feelings of being surrounded by the still air of the house.

They stopped at the top of a hill, about three miles from home. “I never tire of riding this beast,” Isabelle
said with a smile, patting her horse.

“A
fine horse that needed this run. You have been neglecting your animal.”

“I know, but with good reason. I should have more time now Tom is well on the road to recovery.”

“Have you had a change of heart over his proposal?” James asked as he moved his horse next to hers. He did not meet her gaze, but the question was asked without any antagonism in his voice.

Isabelle stiffened
slightly, it was the first time it had been mentioned since her interview with Frank and James. “No and I never shall. I do not want a marriage on the terms he offered, I cannot marry him in that way. Is it so wrong to want my husband to love me?”

“No it isn’t, but surely love would grow. Mary is convinced there
is attraction between you both,” James cajoled.

“Mary is full of romance since her marriage to you!” Isabelle smiled. “I do not want a husband on such terms, no
-matter what the consequence. I know the ultimate cost to me will be my respectability and I am sorry for what pain that will cause you, I do not wish you to suffer any shame because of me. Please don’t let us disagree about this again James. I wish to forget the whole episode.”

“I don’t know if you will be allowed to,” James said frankly. “The Longworths made a comment the other night when Mary and I had supper with them. They were too polite to come straight out with exactly what they had heard, but it was obvious some rumours are circling.”