Her Grace in Disgrace (The Widows of Woburn Place) (30 page)

“You
are right. I am sorry. I thought I had outgrown my impetuousness, but I see
that it is only slightly more subtle.”

“Do
not be too hard on yourself, Isobel. I understand that your offer is meant to
be kind. But my independence has been too hard won to live as a guest in
someone else’s home. First my parents, then Tyndale. And then my aunt. I was
enjoying a certain amount of freedom for the first time in my life. It was
exceedingly difficult economically, but I was free. ”

“I
understand completely, Laura. And of course you are free to go once you are
well. But, I would like you to listen to a little idea of mine before you make
up your mind completely.”

“Do
I smell another scheme brewing?” chuckled Laura. Isobel grinned mischievously
and verbally sketched her plan.

“You
are going to what?” exclaimed Lord Charles.

“Were
you not listening, Charles? They are going to convert Woburn Place into a home
for widows in distress.” Lady Joanna playfully slapped his arm.

Charles
glanced at the ladies assembled in the parlor. “I thought you already had.”

“This
is just the beginning, Lord Charles,” said Laura with a twinkle in her eyes.
“How many more are there like us wandering around London, around England?” A
week had passed since Isobel had described her idea to Laura. She was slightly
hesitant at first, but after a short time of consideration, Laura became
enthralled with the plan. Lady Whitcomb and Serena had added their enthusiasm
for the scheme. And now they were all in the parlor having tea, explaining
their plan to Lord Charles, Lady Joanna, and Miss Parrish. Captain Danvers, who
would normally be a part of this gathering, had gone to Hertfordshire to speak
with Mr. Parrish to ask for his daughter’s hand. Miss Parrish blushed fiercely
when she explained his absence. Isobel was happy for her, but she was happier
about their new venture.

“You
are going to bring them
all
here?” asked Lord Charles, only partially
jesting.

“You
are just worried that you will be overrun with ladies,” joked Lady Joanna.

“Already
am,” mumbled Lord Charles.

“Poor
Charles, this is all too much for you. I understand completely if you want to
leave Woburn Place. Why, you must feel like a rooster caught in a chicken
coop!” Isobel teased, with only a hint of a smile.

Charles
was doing much better. His face had healed quite nicely and he looked very much
like the boyishly handsome Charles he had been, except for a slightly crooked
nose. His hand was once again functioning, so that now he could wheel himself
from room to room. His leg, however, was not quite healed and the doctor had
confined him to the Bath chair for another week or two.

The
maid, Helen, arrived with a squealing Charis. “Wady Wady, Wady Tindy! Mama!
Hewen wead me stowies!”

Serena
grabbed up the wriggling, giggling little girl. “If you will excuse me, I will
take this little imp to the park!”

“Hooway!
Pawk! Jem come, too?” Charis asked as she twirled in circles.

“Yes,
you little hoyden, Jem can come too.”

Isobel
smiled at the sight of mother and daughter. It had been rather an adjustment
having a young child in the house, but Helen had proved to be excellent with the
child and the rest of the servants doted on her. Not to mention Aunt Maude.
Charis had put a new spring in her step.

“I
shall go with you, my dears,” offered that lady.

“As
much as I would like to join you, I think I should lie down for a while,” said Laura.

She
did look a bit pale, thought Isobel. This was, after all, only the second time
Laura had been downstairs since she had arrived almost two weeks ago. The
party, including young Jem, left for the park in high excitement.

“I
will accompany you upstairs,” Isobel offered.

“Nonsense.
You stay and visit. I am sure Helen will not mind assisting me to my room?”

“Of
course, My Lady.” Helen went to Laura and helped her rise. Laura, leaning on
Helen, slowly left the room.

After
the ladies had left, Charles shook his head and chuckled. “Truly Isobel, it was
you that hatched this harebrained scheme?”

“It
truly was. It is very important to me, Charles. For the first time in a very
long time I feel useful,” confided Isobel. She became silent, unused to sharing
her deepest thoughts.

“I
am very proud of you, Miss Kennilworth,” said Lady Joanna.

“I
also think it an excellent plan,” added Miss Parrish.

The
three ladies looked at Lord Charles. “Oh, alright. I think it is a splendid
idea Isobel. I am simply not used to living with such a large group of females
and I cannot run away” Lord Charles looked helplessly at his injured leg. “But,
I should be back on my feet in a fortnight or so, if Dr. Fillmore know what he
is about. And then…”

 “And
then what, Charles?” asked Isobel with concern. “Where will you go?”

“He
is going to Hidenwood to get it ready!” Lady Joanna enthused.

“I
have a mouth, brat. I can speak for myself,” snapped Lord Charles. Lady Joanna
did not take offence, but sat smiled like a cat that ate the cream. “I have
decided to make a go of Hidenwood. I plan to turn it into a dairy farm.”

“How
will you do that, Charles? You owe thousands of dollars to the moneylenders.”
She stopped abruptly, remembering the two young ladies in the room.

“It
is alright, Isobel. Lady Joanna knows all and whatever Lady Joanna knows, so
does Miss Parrish.” Miss Parrish, embarrassed, blushed furiously. Lady Joanna’s
high color came from excitement. “I don’t know quite yet, exactly. I have some
ideas,” said Lord Charles tentatively.

“Charles!
You do, too, know! We have discussed this.” Lady Joanna chastised Lord Charles
then turned to Isobel. “You see, we have a plan, too!”

“Joanna.
I have told you it will not fly. How many times must I explain it to you?” Lord
Charles said a bit condescendingly.

“If
you use that patronizing tone with me, Lord Charles Aiken, I will dump you from
your Bath chair,” fumed Lady Joanna.

Lord
Charles smiled at her. “I dare you.”

“Oh,
do you now,” said Lady Joanna rising from her chair.

“That
is enough, you two. What is all this about?” demanded Isobel.

“We
are to be married!” blurted out Lady Joanna.

“No,
we are not!” argued Lord Charles.

“Oh,
you stubborn, stubborn idiot!” Lady Joanna threw up her hands in exasperation.

Just
then Renfrew could be heard clearing his throat from the doorway. Behind him
stood Lady Doncaster. “What is this?” she cried in shock.

“Mama!”
exclaimed Lady Joanna, equally shocked.

“Lady
Doncaster,” said Isobel, rising. “Please do come in.”

The
mystified lady walked slowly into the room and sat down in the seat that Isobel
offered. “I had not heard from you since we last spoke and Joanna has visited
here quite often of late. I was concerned. Now I see that I have reason.”

Isobel
opened her mouth to speak, but was cut off by Lady Joanna. “What? You knew?
When?” Lady Joanna stammered in her astonishment.

“Yes,
Joanna, your silly, staid mama has known of your scheme all along and allowed
it. But we will get to that in a moment. I believe Miss Kennilworth was about
to speak.”

“I
do apologize. We are all at sixes and sevens here. First my brother…my friend
Lord Charles was badly hurt in an accident and came here to convalesce and of
then an old friend, Lady Tyndale, was severely ill with measles and was brought
here to be cared for. We have also just taken in a young widow and her
daughter.”

“I
see that life is not dull in Woburn Place,” said Lady Doncaster and then added
with concern, “I remember Lady Tyndale. I hope she is recovered.”

“She
is, thank you, Lady Doncaster. But as a result, I have been amiss in my duties
as chaperone. I have not had the opportunity to arrange… what we had discussed
on your last visit.”

“Mama
was here before?” Lady Joanna’s head whirled with confusion.

Ignoring
her daughter, Lady Doncaster addressed Isobel. “I see. Lord Doncaster is
growing impatient, and I fear, so is Lord Pelton.”

“Pelton!
Ha!,” spit out Lord Charles in disgust.

“Mama!
I have told you I will not wed Lord Pelton. He does not love or respect me. I
will not have him,” repeated Lady Joanna petulantly.

“So
you have said and I begin to see why,” replied her mother, glancing at Lord
Charles.

“I
am going to marry Charles.” Lady Joanna’s chin jutted out in defiance, Lady
Doncaster looked troubled and Charles’ face was as black as a thundercloud.
Lady Doncaster pulled herself together and fixed Lord Charles with a withering
glare.

“Now,
Mama. Charles is not looking his best right now, but you should have seen him
last week. His lip was horribly swollen, both of his eyes were quite puffy and had
the most interesting, colorful patches ringing them. Why, he is looking almost
human now.”

“Thank
you, brat,” drawled Lord Charles wryly.

“And
I know he is a bit disreputable and has made some foolish choices in the past.
He also has no money to speak of, but…”

“
Lady
Joanna,” Lord Charles growled. “Are you trying to give your mother a disgust of
me?”

“Of
course not. I am getting your negative traits out of the way before I move on
to the positive,” Lady Joanna assured him.

“I
am ill favored, disreputable and poor. What could possibly be in my favor?”

“You
are the son of a duke,” returned Lady Joanna practically.

 “A
penniless second son of a duke, to be accurate,” argued Lord Charles.

“That
is not accurate. You are not penniless. You have land. You are simply
temporarily without funds,” Lady Joanna lectured.

“Which
amounts to the same thing,” bemoaned Lord Charles.

“It
is not at all the same thing,” debated the stubborn young miss, her chin facing
skyward.

 “It
does not matter. We are not getting married.” Charles chin matched his
beloveds.

“Oh!
Why must you persist in this nonsense?” Lady Joanna cried in frustration.

Isobel
had had enough of their bickering. She cut off Lord Charles’ retort with a
glare. Lady Joanna pouted, Lord Charles fumed, and Lady Doncaster looked sick
with apprehension. Miss Parrish sat very still, her hands in her lap, her eyes
cast down. She was startled when Isobel addressed her. “Miss Parrish, since you
know all the doings of Lady Joanna, could you please make sense of this for me.
These two seem incapable of lucid speech.”

Miss
Parrish glanced at Lady Joanna for approval. Lady Joanna responded with an
unladylike shrug. Miss Parrish took a breath and gave a succinct summary. “It
seems that Joanna and Lord Charles have formed an attachment. Marriage was
discussed, but Lord Charles seems to feel that due to his financial situation
and his reputation, Joanna could do better. He also is doubtful that Lord Doncaster
would accept his suit. He is determined to make a go of his estate, Hidenwood,
by adding dairy cows and making cheese. But he has no capital to invest. On the
contrary, he has a great deal of debt. Lady Joanna is convinced that he is the
man for her. She assures him that her dowry could pay off all of his debts and
there would be enough left to start the dairy. She is very excited about the
prospect and feels she would be an asset to him. They are both very much in
love.”

No
one spoke. Miss Parrish’s factual narrative did much to clarify the situation.
The last sentence, however, said it all.

Lady
Doncaster was the first to break the silence. “Is this true, Joanna?”

“Yes,
Mama,” said Lady Joanna, unusually subdued.

Lady
Doncaster turned to Lord Charles. “What say you?”

“I
love your daughter, My Lady, but I am well aware of my deficiencies,” answered
Lord Charles respectfully.

“I
love my daughter as well, Lord Charles. And I want what is best for her. Is
that you, I wonder?” Lady Doncaster considered out loud. Lady Joanna understanding
the situation, uncustomarily and wisely remained silent. Lady Doncaster turned
to Isobel, a question in her eyes.

“I
believe, Lady Doncaster, that Lord Charles and Lady Joanna are well suited and
that they love each other. Charles will never be able to give Lady Joanna,
everything that Pelton could, a title, great wealth, but I believe that those
things matter little to Lady Joanna. I am not giving you advice, mind you,
simply my opinion. I can, however, vouch for Lord Charles’ character. It is
greatly improving.”

“Thank
you, Miss Kennilworth; I am grateful for your contribution. I cannot promise
anything, Joanna, but for reasons I do not understand myself, I am averse to
Lord Pelton. He laughs too much. I am inclined to be more favorably disposed to
Lord Charles.” At this Joanna let out a squeal of joy. “As I said, Joanna I
make no promises. I have little power in the situation. But I will do what I
can. Now, you and Mary go wait in the carriage for me.”