Chapter Sixteen

"What do you mean, they have already arrived?"

"Simply that." Abigail offered Lady Isabella a small smile and then reached for her cup of tea again. "They came when I was out walking with your brother."

"I see." A spark of hope came into Lady Isabella's eyes. "Why were you out walking with him?"

Abigail smiled. "He came to join me, actually," she said, her heart still warm with all that he had said to her. "We had a good conversation. One which will lead us forward, I think."

"Then I am glad to hear that." Lady Isabella's eyes searched hers. "And did you speak of the Captain?"

"Not as yet." Seeing the slight dimming in Lady Isabella's eyes, Abigail smiled softly. "But I shall. I have every intention of speaking with him this evening about it all."

Lady Isabella's snatch of breath had Abigail's smile growing steadily. "You truly do care for the Captain?"

"I – I think well of him, that is all." Lady Isabella laughed and blushed as Abigail lifted an eyebrow. "Very well, very well. The truth is, I have no desire to return to London and be flirted with by many a gentleman. I will not know for certain whether or not any of them truly care for me or if they only care for my dowry and the standing that my brother and his title brings. I might only be a respectable wife rather than a loved one and I do not want that."

Abigail's heart twisted but the pain passed quickly as she recalled Lord Crestwood's words. He had asked her for time, time so he might become better accustomed to all that he was feeling and attempting to consider. It was a good deal better than being determined to push all such feelings away and Abigail was glad of that.

"If I was to tell my brother the truth, it would be that I have no desire to return to London at all, though I know we must." With a wry smile, Lady Isabella dropped her gaze to her hands. "Why should I indulge in such things, have gentlemen pull at my attentions when the only person I want to consider, the only person I am eager to think of, is already present?"

"And he is a gentleman who will truly love you," Abigail agreed, though she kept her tone low. "You would never have the fear that the gentleman you wed sought you out only for your dowry or the like, as you said."

"Precisely." Lady Isabella sighed contentedly. "I have spoken to Captain Harrington of my feelings. "

Abigail's eyes widened in surprise. "You have?"

"And he returns them," she said, looking back at Abigail. "He wanted to speak to my brother at once but I have begged him to wait until you have learned what it is my brother thinks on the matter."

Bearing a sense of responsibility in this now, Abigail nodded and reached to squeeze her friend's hand. "Very well. I will speak to Lord Crestwood this evening, I promise."

A long breath of relief came from Lady Isabella. "I thank you. I am so very happy already but this would bring my happiness to complete fulfillment, I am sure!"

The door to the dining room opened and before Abigail could say anything more, Lady Templeton walked into the room, garnering some murmurs of surprise as she came to join them all at the table.

"Well, what a fine morning it is!" she said pleasantly, sitting down and gesturing for the maid to pour her a cup of tea rather than doing so herself. "My daughter and I thought it a beautiful day for a drive and since we could not leave our horses at the inn, we came as quickly as we could to this delightful house. I am very much looking forward to the ball this evening, as I am certain you all are."

The rest of the table gave a response of sorts to Lady Templeton, though Abigail noticed how her mother and Lady Crestwood shared a look – and it was not a favorable one. Even Abigail's sister, Charlotte who, thus far had been delighted about everything, seemed astonished to note Lady Templeton's presence given the way her eyes had widened in Abigail's direction.

"I think I shall take my leave." Lady Isabella murmured, rising to her feet. "Miss Townsend, would you care to join me?"

Abigail nodded and with a faint smile to her sister to reassure her that all was well, followed after Lady Isabella to the door. It was only once they had stepped through it that she let out a long sigh and shook her head to herself, her smile disappearing almost immediately.

"I knew Lady Templeton to be bold but I did not think she would be as bold as this!"

Agreeing with her friend's exclamation, Abigail tried to push her concern away. "I do wonder what it is she is doing here and why she is so very insistent about her daughter and Lord Crestwood given that he has already made himself perfectly clear."

Lady Isabella slipped her hand through Abigail's arm. "Do try not to worry. It is clear that Lady Templeton has decided that my brother is the one her daughter should marry and even though it is much too late, she appears quite determined! I cannot tell what her reasons for such intentions are – mayhap they are more impoverished than they appear or mayhap there is something about Lady Clara that makes Lady Templeton believe Lord Crestwood is the only one who can wed her – but regardless of all of that, my brother is the most determined, stubborn gentleman I have ever known and what he says, he will stand with. It does not matter what Lady Clara thinks or what she wants, nor does it matter a jot what her mother desires! My brother has no interest in reawakening what he had between himself and Lady Clara."

"I believe that." With a deep breath, Abigail rounded the corner alongside her friend, only to come across Lord Crestwood and, much to her shock, Lady Clara. They were standing facing each other, with Lady Clara speaking so fervently, she did not seem to notice Abigail and Lady Isabella's arrival. Lord Crestwood lowered his head, speaking in low tones and Abigail, who had come to a sharp stop, stared in horror as Lady Clara put one hand to Lord Crestwood's arm.

He did not shake it off. He did not move back from her or turn away entirely, as she might have expected. Instead, he simply stood there and continued to speak as she held onto him tightly.

"This cannot be borne!" Lady Isabella spoke before Abigail could think of what to do next – though her instinct was to retreat – and she hurried forward, pulling Abigail with her. On hearing their footsteps, both Lord Crestwood and Lady Clara looked back at her and in that one moment, Lady Clara dropped her hand and moved back a step or two.

But it was too late. She had already seen what Lady Clara had done and the way that Lord Crestwood had not moved away from her either. She did not understand it but neither did she want to hear any explanation, not as yet. It was already too shocking for her to fully take in.

"Isabella, Miss Townsend." Lord Crestwood's voice rasped a little. "I do hope you have both enjoyed breakfast? I was just encouraging Lady Clara to go and take a little something to help settle her stomach after her carriage drive here this morning."

"I am sorry you are feeling unwell." Abigail lifted her chin and tried to smile though her lips refused to move. "I am sure you will want to feel quite recovered in time for the ball."

"I do, yes." Was that a spark she had seen in Lady Clara's eyes? A hint of triumph, perhaps? "A cup of tea will be just the thing, I am sure." Turning her head, she smiled up at Lord Crestwood. "Will you join me? You said yourself you have not had breakfast as yet."

Lord Crestwood frowned. "I am not sure I am hungry."

"Oh, do come!" Lady Clara exclaimed, putting her arm through his and pulling him forward. "I would feel embarrassed to walk in alone and you know very well that my mother is dreadful when it comes to mortifying me all the more!"

Abigail caught Lord Crestwood's eyes, saw how he flushed, how he frowned and how, after a momentary hesitation, he let himself be pulled away. Her heart dropped, her stomach twisted and she turned abruptly, making her way blindly along the hallway, her breathing ragged.

"Whatever is my brother thinking?"

The cross voice of Lady Isabella reached Abigail's ears but she barely heard it, utterly confused over what Lord Crestwood had done. He had assured her that there was nothing between himself and Lady Clara, that he had no desire for her company and yet she had seen him standing talking with the lady, watched as he had not pulled his arm back from her touch and had eventually walked with her towards the dining room, leaving her alone with Lady Isabella.

What could he be doing?

"You are upset." Lady Isabella let out a harsh breath and much to Abigail's surprise, stamped her foot in obvious upset. "He ought not to have done that. No doubt he felt immense pressure to do as she asked so that he might not appear to be as callous as he was the first time she came to call."

Abigail frowned, just as Captain Harrington appeared, coming towards them with a broad smile on his face – though that changed the moment he took in Lady Isabella's expression. "Might I ask what happened?"

"Oh, he would not speak with her!" Lady Isabella exclaimed, as Abigail's eyes flared wide. "He would give her no time whatsoever to speak. He did not want to be in her company for a moment and strode from the room, leaving both her and her mother to speak only to myself and my mother. We had to then make polite conversation with two people we did not want to even lay eyes on. She remembered her brother's reaction when Lady Templeton and her daughter had paid them a visit some time ago. To have Crestwood walk arm in arm with Lady Clara now is quite the opposite reaction, I must say though, no doubt, he has done so simply to appear as well-mannered as he can."

"I heard that Lady Clara and her mother had arrived early," the Captain remarked, as Lady Isabella gave him a warm smile. "Forgive me for interrupting but I did wonder if that was true. I heard one of the servants whispering about it."

Abigail nodded though her throat ached so tightly, she fought to speak clearly. "Lord Crestwood was most displeased at their arrival."

"I am sure that he was!" the Captain exclaimed, as Abigail managed a small smile, reminding herself of how disgruntled the Earl had been as Lady Templeton had stepped out of the carriage. "It will be just as Isabella has said; Lord Crestwood is now in the unfortunate position where he must be well mannered and even a little jovial, if he can be, which is unfortunate when he will have no desire to be so. "

Taking in a slow breath, Abigail released it again and nodded, pressing her hands together and pressing the tips of her fingers to her lips as she inclined her head, thinking on all that the Captain and Lady Isabella had said.

"There is nothing for you to worry about," Lady Isabella said reassuringly, as though she could read Abigail's mind. "My brother is only being gentlemanly. If things are improved between you as you have said, then do not think he will turn his back on that so quickly."

"And certainly do not let yourself believe for even a moment that he is at all interested in furthering his connection to Lady Clara," the Captain added, as Abigail dropped her hands. "I can assure you, after the conversation we had this morning, he does not think of her at all."

Comforted and reassured, Abigail smiled first at the Captain and then at Lady Isabella. "Thank you, my friends. I am glad to have you both here and to hear your wise words."

Lady Isabella smiled. "But of course."

"Now, I think I shall take myself to my rooms for a short respite," Abigail continued, looking first to Lady Isabella and then, keeping her expression as innocent as she could, returning it to Captain Harrington. "Captain, I am certain that you are more than able to entertain Lady Isabella."

The Captain grinned as Isabella's cheeks flushed hot. "I am not only able, I am also willing," he replied, with a chuckle. "Thank you, Miss Townsend."

"But of course." Smiling at her friend, she squeezed her hand and then stepped away, doing her utmost to push away the image of Lord Crestwood and Lady Clara walking arm in arm down the hallway and away from her.