The Complicated Earl (13 page)

Isabelle groaned
- there was no escape for her now. She sat in the furthest corner and then decided that she still might be seen, so curled herself in a ball on the seat and covered herself up with the rug. It was large enough to cover her, but she was not sure what she would look like if anyone looked into the carriage. She had to stifle a giggle at the ridiculousness of the situation, but managed to keep quiet. She lay still trying to hear what was being said, but could only hear the murmur of Tom’s voice, not what he was saying.

It was only a few minutes before the carriage door ope
ned again and she heard the Tom climb in. “Yes, good to see you too. As soon as I get back to London I’ll see you in White’s,” came the voice of the stranger before the door slammed and the carriage started to move off.

Isabelle stayed still for a
few more moments, until Tom said, “Hide and seek is over now, it is safe to come out.”

Isabelle emerged, slightly flushed because of the heat ca
used by hiding under the rug and through laughing. Her hair was a mess and her bonnet was slightly dislodged. “What did you tell him?” She asked as she started to take her bonnet off. “You will have to excuse me, I need to make myself more presentable.”

T
om thought privately that the dishevelled look became her, but refrained from saying anything about her appearance. “The advantage of being known as a grumpy Earl is that when I don’t want to answer questions, I don’t, so I just said it was urgent family business and gave no further details. I’m sorry you did not get your walk.”

“That doesn’t matter,” Isabelle replied. She longed for a walk,
but there was no point in dwelling on it. She busied herself with sorting her hair, or trying to without the help of a looking glass. Hat pins had become tangled and the only way of sorting it out was to untie it and start again, not easy in a moving carriage.

Tom
watched in fascination as her thick hair was let loose. It fell about her shoulders, slightly wavy. He had to sit on his hands to stop himself from reaching out to touch it. Isabelle deftly gathered it together and put the clips back in place. When she turned to face him with a smile, he finally managed to gain control of himself to answer in a normal tone when she asked if it was presentable. The danger was over for the moment.

Chapter 10

The second night of the journey was more routine, as routine such a situation could be. They both were less reserved with each other and less on edge when they arrived at the inn, giving the outward impression of a comfortable married couple. They ate again in a private parlour, but neither wanted to stay in the parlour after the meal had been eaten. They were both exhausted from a day of non-stop travel and preparing themselves for another early start, so were keen to retire early. Isabelle left the parlour first, wishing Tom a goodnight.

They were again the first people out of the inn and Isabelle wrapped herself in the rug as they set off at speed. “Well this is our third day of travel. How will we know
if we are catching up? If it is a hired vehicle we will not know we have caught it, or even if we are passing them on the road.” Isabelle asked as she snuggled under the rug.

“Jackson is telling everyone that we have urgent family business in Carlisle, but is asking if there have been any recent elopers. This is the main North Road, so many will travel along here. He is very good at making himself
believable. Apparently he is giving a very good impression of being a very inquisitive driver who likes to gossip about the fools racing for the border. He said there has been no suspicion around us. We are convincing in our roles.”

Isabelle ignored the
comment about them being convincing. To dwell on it would only make her long for something that was not going to happen. “Has he found anything out?”

“Nothing definit
e as yet, but there have been sightings that may turn out to be Sophie. I suppose it depends just how many fools there are on this road at the moment.” Tom almost growled the words out, as he did each time he thought of the actions of his sister.

As they drove Isabelle could not help being
curious, especially as they might be getting closer to Sophie. “Have you decided what you are going to say to her if we do find her?” She asked, hoping she was not being too impertinent.

“I haven’t really.”
Came the candid reply. “For the first time in my life I don’t really know what to do for the best. I feel like she’s let herself down and let the family name down, but I’ve let her down too.”

“Why?” Isabelle was
shocked at the remorse in his voice.

“It was my job to look after her and yet here she is dashing across the country to avoid facing me. I’ve been so forceful with what she will and
won’t do, it’s no wonder she has reacted like this. I have been so determined that neither of us would make the mistakes our parents made that I think I may have almost forced her into a marriage that would have made her into a woman just like my mother was. I keep trying to think what I should have done differently. I probably should have done everything opposite to the way I did. My parents would have not acted the way I have,” he said quietly. It was the first time Isabelle had seen him so unsure and her heart went out to him. She reached across and laid her hand on his arm. When he raised his eyes in question, she squeezed gently.

“Your parents would have had the experience of dealing with you first and they had each other to confide in and offer counsel to each other. You have had none of that, but have been thrown in
to the role of parent with no real experience. You did what you could by bringing in your aunt. She may not have been the perfect chaperone, but the letter Sophie sent to Miss Arnold was one of goodness. She wanted to help her new family and was sorry for the pain she was causing. She has not done any of this out of spite. It is because she is young and in love and could see no other way,” she reassured him.

“I own some of what you say is correct. At least we w
ere not known by many in Bath. Hopefully any chance of scandal would be reduced.”

Isabelle cho
se to raise the subject of some of what Mr Ollerton had mentioned, particularly as Tom had made a similar reference to his mother. “I did not realise Mr Ollerton knew your family.”

Tom
flashed a look that was forbidding, but he paused before speaking. Isabelle thought he was not going to respond and was regretting speaking when he broke the silence. “Many men knew my mother.”

The words were said with disgust and Isabelle chose her next words carefully. “Is that why you set yourself such high standards when responsibility for Sophie transferred to you on the death of your parents?”

Tom sighed. He knew he should keep silent, but he wanted Isabelle to understand at least some of his struggle. It felt comforting to know she was asking out of concern for him. This was a new and not unwelcome turn of events.

“I was determined she would no
t be the type of woman that my mother was.”

“I know very little about your
family, but even if they had lived, we grow up despite our parents. We all make choices with our lives. Sophie is her own person, she is not an exact copy of your mother,” Isabelle tried to reassure him.

“She has managed to do something that I would have expect
ed a woman like my mother to do, selfishly disregarding everything and everyone else for her own satisfaction.”

Isabelle was surprised at the bitterness with which the words were uttered and was certain that the censure directed at Sophi
e was more because of her mother’s mistakes than her own. Having known Sophie’s nature she had some sympathy with her, even though her actions had the result of hurting James.

“Sophie has acted because of love, and love can be selfish. If she had thought there was another way I am sure she would have taken it, but she is young and naive.”

“She should have been able to come to me.”

“Would you have listened? Perhaps that is your only fault, but one that many parents and families
are guilty of. From my own experience I have been lucky in having James as an ally. My other brother Frank would never listen to what I wanted, but he is not a bad person. It is harder to listen to someone else’s opinion when it disagrees with your own.”

“James is a good man. I am sorry he has had t
o be hurt in all this,” Tom said feeling annoyed for the way he had encouraged James over the last week. He should have been able to see some sign from Sophie that would have given an indication of what she was considering.

“James will survive,” Isabelle said. “He is shocked
and hurt now, but I think it is for the best in the long term.” She smiled when Tom frowned in question at her. “Oh, don’t worry I think Sophie is a lovely girl and if they had married I would have welcomed her into the family most sincerely, but I had my reservations for their long lasting happiness.”

“In wh
at way? James seemed to want nothing more than to protect her.”

“He did, but i
n some ways he was more like a father figure, not her equal. As you said Sophie is very young in nature and I think she would have become tired of James. He would have become more possessive and unhappy as Sophie grew and spread her wings. She needs a husband who can grow with her, or at least understand that she is still growing and learning.”

“
She would have turned out exactly as my mother did.” He let out a long breath. “Good God, I nearly helped to create what I most wanted to avoid. Do you think Arnold is the one for her?” He asked. He had been listening intently to Isabelle’s every word and regretting that he had not had her near him earlier while Sophie was growing.

“I honestly don’t know, I don’t know him well
enough, you must know more about him than I, but it is obvious Sophie loves him. I hope he is worthy of her.”

“He’d bet
ter be,” Tom snarled.

“
You may have to be the one who helps him develop. If we are too late he will be a member of your family and the most sensible thing you could do is ensure that he is not a stranger to you. That way surely they will both seek you out if they need advice or support, which most newlyweds do and you will be able to guide them.”

“I have never been married, how can I possibly guide them?”

“You want your sister to be happy and you know how to look after money and run an estate, so that will be enough for you to be of use to them.” They both fell silent as each pondered what the future may bring for Sophie if they did not reach her in time.

“ You
say you have not travelled, but yet you are so wise,” Tom said breaking the silence and lifted Isabelle’s hand which was still resting on his arm to his lips. It was her left hand and he kissed her ring finger. “Thank you and thank you for being here,” he said before squeezing her hand and placing it on her lap. His hand brushed her thigh and Isabelle felt as if she had had an electric shock.

*

By the time Isabelle arose the next morning she had to admit that she was completely sick of this method of travel. Her muscles felt as if they would explode if she did not get any exercise and her heart felt like it was going to burst because of being so confined with Tom and not being able to touch him in the way she wished. She got into the carriage with a sigh that was not commented on by Tom, but was heard and understood in its entirety.

They tra
velled more in silence than the other days. It was not a silence that was fraught with problems, but both were thinking of the potential meeting that was getting closer. They stopped for an early lunch to tie in with the necessary horse change. Tom led the way out of the inn with Isabelle a little way behind. It was a habit they had quickly developed. Tom would quickly look around the yard and make sure there was no-one he recognised and then look back and smile at Isabelle. She looked forward to those smiles each time they stopped.

This stop though was to prove more
problematic. As soon as Tom had left the doorway Isabelle noticed his shoulders stiffening. Instinct told her to hang back and she moved to a window of the inn and looked out without being seen. A gentleman was approaching Tom with his arm outstretched in greeting. She could not hear what they were saying, but it was obviously another person he knew. Isabelle felt frustrated. They had been travelling for days and still he was meeting people of his acquaintance! She watched as Tom moved away from his carriage and she spied an opportunity.

As she moved through the doorway Isabelle pulled her hood of her cloak over her head. She quickly walked past the carriage and exchanged a barely perceptible nod with Jackson. He indicated ever so slightly with his whip the direction she was to go and she set off at a brisk pace. She was almost running, not because of any fear of being seen, but that it was such a welcome change to be outside and able to use her legs that she wanted to get as far along the road as she could before she was collected. It was only ten minutes before she heard the carriage and turned to see Jackson slowing the horses, she had covered quite a lot of ground and Jackson raised his hat as the carriage came to a stop.

“A brisk walk madam,” he said with a good natured smile.

“Yes, e
njoying it while I could. Thank you Jackson,” Isabelle smiled back as she climbed into the coach. She did not dwell on what he must think about this journey, just accepted his pleasant manner.

As soon as she entered the carriage Jackson moved off and Isabelle was forced
to hold out her hands to try and hold onto something, she had not had chance to sit down and was put off-balance. Tom reached out and held her hand, his other hand moved to her waist and he pulled her down next to him.

“
Jackson is a little too keen to put some distance between ourselves and the inn I feel,” he said with a smile.

“Do you know everyone?” Isabel
le asked teasingly, but aware that she was still being held by the waist.

“Not quite, but too many for my liking at the moment,” he replied. He knew he should let go of her, but he could not bring himself to. The
exercise had given her cheeks colour and her lips were slightly parted as she took deeper breaths from her activity. “Isabelle,” he whispered moving closer to her.

Isabelle did not move
, she looked at him, her eyes widening. She did not want to say anything to spoil it, the last time he had looked like this he had kissed her, but then had pulled away. If he did that again she thought she would throw herself out of the carriage.

T
om moved closer still, “Isabelle,” he muttered again before his lips met hers. He was as gentle as before, but as she leant in to him in response he pulled her tightly against him. Her arms moved up around his neck and pulled his head to her. He locked his lips firmly on hers, he parted her mouth and explored every part of it with his tongue. He did not want to let her go, he could not let her go. His hands travelled down her back and he became more excited as he felt her shiver beneath his touch. He moved a hand to her front and stroked her stomach, all the time kissing her. He moved his hand up to her neck, brushing her breast gently. She moaned at his touch, but he continued to move his hand to touch her neck. He could not resist kissing it, travelling down towards her shoulder.

He took his
time, he relished the feel of her skin and the way she responded to his every movement and touch. She pulled at his hair as if begging him to carry on, but he had wanted this for so long, he was savouring it. He moved her dress slightly off her shoulder and kissed every inch at that had been uncovered, all the while, touching her with his hand and lips. Every time he moved she arched towards him encouraging him.