Chapter 24 #2
“Our groomsmen are as they ever have been. I assure you your horse is well taken care of. Now, what of your wife?”
“Deborah is to follow in my carriage. Fear not, she will have two maids and two footmen with her, and she is not yet in such a delicate condition that traveling by coach is overtaxing—or at least she has reassured me thus, as we had planned to come soon.”
Mamma’s parlor was as cheery as always, and being a warm morning—perfectly reasonable for late summer—a window was open, admitting a slight breeze.
Having ordered a tea with extra food for Edward, Mamma settled into her favorite chair, “Now that you’ve seen your sister is well, perhaps you must tell us what brought you. What tales have you heard?”
Edward paced to the door. “Where is David?”
“David and Susanna left for Southampton almost a week ago. I wrote you of it in my last letter. Did you not receive it?” asked Mamma.
Edward rubbed the back of his neck. “Yes, yes, it came yesterday morning. Only I thought they were going to leave for Southampton, not that they had left already.”
“Susanna has been much weakened by the delivery of young Oliver, and we thought it best that she spend some time by the sea and at her parents’ home.” Mamma’s explanation was brief.
“Yes, you mentioned as much. So the two of you are here alone?”
“Alone with our many servants.” Isabel forced a laugh into her words, hoping to calm her favorite brother.
Edward’s pacing slowed to a stop. “You know what I meant.”
Isabel made a face. If she could not reassure Edward, David would be a lost cause.
Edward sat next to Isabel. “And Mr. Dalrymple? Are you associating with him?”
Isabel sighed. “Do you not read my letters either? I have told you he is being a great help with the harvest fair this year, as Mamma could simply not host it, and Susanna is not up to the task either. Jane Lightwood would more than happily host with the blessing of the Earl, but she is still only one person, and with her father—”
Edward held up a hand. “I know more than enough about Sir Lightwood.”
“Apparently not, because likely he is the source of whatever tale you have heard as to my ruination. I cannot believe for a moment you would’ve believed it, Lightwood being the source as it could be no one else.”
Edward frowned.
A maid knocked and entered with tea, as well as buns, cold chicken, and anything else which could have been gathered together quickly. Isabel waited for her to leave.
Mother poured a cup of tea and handed it to her son who had piled a plate with the food. “Edward, please repeat what you have heard.”
“The story I heard started with a ferocious rainstorm, which is very believable, in which Mr. Dalrymple was caught with my sister. They took shelter, and he used that time to seduce her. When they were caught, they were both quite disheveled. Mr. Dalrymple was completely unrepentant of the act.”
“And what of me?” Isabel needed to know the entirety of the tale if she were to face her acquaintances in Town.
“That you were red with shame and tried to hide yourself from your rescuer, going as far as to refuse his aid altogether.”
Mamma set down her teacup. “Edward, that’s very noble of you to ride all this way in such haste, but did it ever occur to you to find out who was the person who came upon them, or claims to be the rescuer?”
Edward rubbed his neck again. “I hadn’t thought much on that part of the story.”
“Did the story say where they took shelter?”
Edward shook his head.
“Allow me to fill you in.” Isabel recounted the errand to Kellmore and the subsequent seeking of shelter in the pavilion, and all that happened until Sir Lightwood’s appearance.
“So you were with Dalrymple?”
“Edward, yes, I was, and Victor asked if he might court me. A letter was dispatched that very day to David asking for his permission, and I have yet to hear back. However, Victor has dined with us twice this week already and had Mother and me to his home only yesterday afternoon. His mother is visiting and everything has been quite properly done.”
“Victor? You use his Christian name?” Edward’s head shook in disbelief.
The use of Victor’s name was all her brother got out of that? She wished she could shake some sense into him, but she had never had any physical advantage over him.
Mamma cleared her throat. “Your sister’s choice of Mr. Dalrymple is not the larger concern here, although your disbelief does give me pause. You and your brothers will have to come to terms with Isabel’s choice, if she chooses to continue the courtship to its natural conclusion.”
A knock came at the door. A footman opened the door at Mamma’s invitation. “Mr. Dalrymple is here to see you and Miss Isabel.”
“Please show him in.”
Edward stood and walked to the window. “You are in earnest, then?”
Isabel sighed. “If you won’t believe me that I have formed an attachment, then I am truly in trouble, for my other brothers will not either.”
Victor was shown into the room. He took in the scene—first Edward, then Mamma, and finally his eyes landed on Isabel. “I’m afraid I’ve come to tell you that I believe Sir Lightwood—”
Edward cut him off. “Has been spreading vicious tales about my sister?”
“Precisely.” Victor’s answer confirmed all that Isabel feared.
Edward’s scowl returned. “If you do not mind, I would like to discuss this matter with you alone. Mamma, may Mr. Dalrymple and I use the study?”
Mamma nodded. “I will have the food sent down, as you have still not eaten enough after your long ride.”
“As you wish, I doubt this will take long.” Edward held the door for Victor. If her brother’s glare could shoot arrows, Victor had no chance.
Isabel stared after her brother and rose to follow.
Mamma grabbed her wrist. “Stay, Isabel. You will not do the situation any good by bursting in.”
“But what if they come to blows?”
“I believe you know both Mr. Dalrymple and your brother better than that. Although, if your brother had encountered Mr. Dalrymple here when he first arrived, there may have been one.”
“This is terrible. Whatever should I do?”
“I think you have a decision to make. The fastest way out of the situation is for you to wed. Is that what you truly want?”
Isabel opened her mouth to answer. But no answer came.