The Stanbroke Girls by Fiona Hill

Author:Fiona Hill
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781626814707
Publisher: Diversion Books
Published: 2014-11-24T16:00:00+00:00

10

For a long, unpleasant moment no one moved. Strains of music could be heard drifting down from the ball-room: a gavotte. Lady Elizabeth thought she heard her brother’s voice, and the sound of it jolted her from her momentary paralysis. “Isabella,” was all she said, in a tone of extraordinary intensity. At once her younger sister broke from her pose behind Sir Jeffery and rushed headlong into Lizzie’s arms.

“Thank heavens, you’ve saved me!” she exclaimed, burying her handsome head against Elizabeth’s neck.

As this was the very last thing she had expected to hear, Lizzie could only stammer for a moment, “But—but, my dear—!”

“He was…oh, you have no idea! Pray, take me from him, dearest Lizzie! Oh, I beg you will,” she went on, clinging ever more tightly to her astonished sister.

Elizabeth met Marchmont’s eyes over Bella’s shoulder. “I suppose I ought—”

“Yes, of course, take her away,” said Marchmont, his face already dark with anger. “It is apparent my cousin has grossly insulted her ladyship. I wish I could say I am surprised.”

Elizabeth looked from the earl’s face to that of Sir Jeffery; the latter, though evidently strained, was nevertheless curiously still. Eager though she was to remove the distraught Isabella from a scene which had clearly gone far beyond her ability to control it, she was loath to leave Lord Marchmont to deal with the aftermath alone. That a bitter fury had sprung up between the two men was obvious: it was nearly palpable in the quiet air of the breakfast-room. The sense of it alarmed Elizabeth. Not knowing quite what she intended to say she began, “My lord, you will not…that is, I think it would be best if I—”

“Lady Elizabeth, you will not take offence, I trust, if I suggest your best course now is to concern yourself solely with Lady Isabella. I assure you I am quite equal to the rest.”

“Perhaps I shall put her to bed then,” murmured Lizzie, still holding the younger girl, who was now sobbing loudly against her breast. “If your lordship would be so kind as to wait till I come down—”

“I will not leave till we have talked again,” said Marchmont, anticipating her. He kept a wary eye on de Guere as he spoke, as if suspecting the other man might bolt.

“Thank you, sir. Then I shall report she has taken a sudden headache, and rejoin you as soon as I may.” With these words, received with a nod by the earl, Elizabeth departed. Lady Isabella, who cried noisily at every step and held tightly to her arm, did not so much as look up before they went.

“De Guere,” said Lord Marchmont, shutting the door carefully before he spoke, “cousin or no cousin, you will hear from me in the morning.”

“Oh, well,” Jeffery replied lightly, “if you insist. Though if you’ve anything to say to me, I don’t see why you don’t just go ahead tonight. After all—here we are, old boy.”

“You are trying my patience, Jeffery. I haven’t much of it.

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