A Sisterly Regard (24 page)

Finally Papa, with his usual roar, quieted everyone. "That's
enough! Let the girl sit down and tell you her tale. Edgemont! Fetch the
brandy."

When everyone was finally sorted out and seated in the parlor.
Chloe was commanded to tell her story with no roundaboutation. She
burst into tears. "I cannot. I am so ashamed. Oh, Mama, I was so
wicked."

"Hush, Chloe," her mother told her. "George, she is too overset
to tell us. What we really want to know if how you found her."

"With Wilderlake--"

Before he could finish his sentence, Phaedra exclaimed, "Oh,
Lord Wilderlake, I had not thought it of you. For shame."

Before Wilderlake could say a word, Papa found his voice again.
"Hell and damnation! Will you listen and stop interrupting, Phaedra?
Wilderlake did not steal her away. He rescued her. 'Twas that idiot
Everingham who took her."

"Papa, he did not take me," Chloe protested. "I took him. I
mean, he took me in his coach, but I persuaded him to do so."

"Don't defend him, pet. He should have known better."

"Oh, he was terrible, Phaedra. He threatened to tell everyone
that I am immoral. And to have his mother gossip about me."

"What did you do to make him say so?" Phaedra asked, knowing
her sister's usual behavior in times of stress.

"Will you all be quiet!" Papa pounded on the table.
"Wilderlake, perhaps you had better tell the tale. These women will be
here all night with their hysterical nonsense."

In a few well chosen sentences, Wilderlake told of his rescue of
Chloe and his intention to marry her. "As for Everingham, I saw him
depart for a friend's home this morning. If Miss Hazelbourne wishes to tell
you of her adventures with him, she may do so at a later time. Right now,
I think it best that we speak of the wedding."

"We'll get a special license in the morning," Papa said. "Have it
before luncheon. Best get it done quickly."

"But I have nothing to wear," Chloe wailed.

"She must have bride clothes," Mama agreed, "and the notice
must be posted in the
Gazette
." Phaedra could see her mentally
making a list of all that must be done before Chloe could be wed.

"Hang the
Gazette
. As for bride clothes, she's got a
whole wardrobe of new gowns. Why should she need more?" Once again
papa pounded his fist on the table beside his chair. "The wedding will be
tomorrow!"

"Lady Gifford, I have to agree," Wilderlake said quietly. "I feel
it would be best if the wedding were to be a quiet one and held as soon as
possible"

"But you said she was unharmed," Mama protested.

Chloe sniffled, but said nothing. Phaedra, who was squeezing
her hand tightly as a warning to keep silent, could just imagine how she
must appear to Lord Wilderlake. Her sister had early on learned the knack
of letting tears well in her eyes, without ever having them drip down her
cheeks. It gave her a most pathetic and affecting air.

"And so she is. No one else will believe it, though. We must get
this thing done quickly." Papa said, his tone leaving no room for
argument.

"Lord Gifford has the right of it," Cousin Louisa said, laying a
soothing hand upon Mama's. "We cannot depend that Lord Everingham
will not relate yesterday's events."

Mama gave way, but Phaedra knew she was unhappy about
having to do so. The conversation turned to a discussion of what
arrangements had to be made before tomorrow.

"Women's business," Papa said, rising. "Come, Wilderlake.
We'll go to my study, finalize the financial details."

Mama and Cousin Louisa soon moved to Mama's morning room
to set about making arrangements for a wedding breakfast.

"Well, Chloe, you have certainly landed yourself in the suds,"
Phaedra said, when they were alone. "What ever possessed you to run
away as you did?"

"Oh, Phaedra, I could not stand it! You were all so unkind and
there were so many rules and I was not having any fun. I could not even
waltz."

"You did waltz, though."

"So I did." She plainly had no regrets. "But I hated being locked
in my room and knew that Mama would never let me out."

"Fudge! Mama would have only kept you there for a fortnight. If
you had promised to behave, she would probably have let you out
sooner."

"Well, I would not promise," Chloe retorted. "For, you see, I
would not have been able to keep that promise. I so wanted to enjoy
myself."

Phaedra shook her head. She could not understand her sister's
logic. "Do you enjoy being rushed into a marriage with someone you
hardly know then?"

"Of course. He is not unhandsome and has said that he will bring
me to Town for the Season each year. And besides, he has a castle," Chloe
said smugly. "Perhaps in time I can persuade him to take me traveling
about the world, or at least to Paris. Oh, he is not what exactly what I had
dreamed of, but he is handsome and kind, and I am sure that I will be able
to manage him."

"I doubt that you will be able to get him to do anything he does
not choose to do, Chloe. He has a stubborn set to his chin."

"Fear not, sister, I shall have him twisted about my little finger
within a month." Her smile faded. "Oh, Phaedra, I have been horrid to
you and Mama lately. Will you ever forgive me?"

Phaedra hugged her. "Of course I will. But Chloe, do try to
behave yourself from now on. Wilderlake is such a nice gentleman."

A commotion in the foyer told them that Lady Wilderlake had
arrived. Chloe blanched. "Oh, Phaedra, what if she dislikes me?"

"Lady Wilderlake loves her son very much. If you are a good
wife to him, I believe you will go on nicely together." Phaedra gave
Chloe's hand a reassuring squeeze.

"Oh, I intend to be a good wife. Just think, Phaedra, I will be a
married woman by this time tomorrow. I will not be surrounded by all the
strictures and rules that I have so chafed under since we came to London.
But," she said, sobering, "we are not to stay in London. He wishes to take
me to Castle Wilderlake immediately."

"That is wise in him. It will give the gossip time to die
down."

"Oh, I know that. He has promised we will return next
year."

"Unless you are with child by then."

"No! Oh, how terrible that would be. I will not allow it!"

"You cannot prevent it, Chloe. He will be your husband. But
perhaps it will happen immediately, so that you would be recovered by
next Season."

"Yes, that is what I will do." She was silent for several minutes.
"Phaedra, will it hurt?"

"I do not think so. Mama seems to enjoy it."

"Yes, she does, does she not?" Chloe laughed. "Oh, Phaedra,
how I shall enjoy being married." She rose. "I am going to my room now,
for I am sure that I must look a perfect mess. Will you come and get me
when Wilderlake has finished speaking with his mother?"

Phaedra agreed to do so, remaining on the sofa when her sister
left the room. She was not completely happy about Chloe's marriage, but
there was nothing she could do, except worry and fret. She prayed that
Chloe would curb her willfulness with Wilderlake, for she had the feeling
he would not tolerate a spoiled and selfish wife. He struck her as having a
serious component to his character. Surely he would have little tolerance
for childishness.

* * * *

Wilderlake met his mother at the entrance to the Hazelbourne
house. She evidenced surprise at his presence, for she had thought him to
be out of town. He kissed her, told her to hold her questions, and led her
to the library. When they were private, he said, "Sit down, Mother. I have
a surprise for you."

She did so, many questions evidently quivering upon her lips.
Wilderlake paced about the small room for several minutes, then knelt on
the floor at her feet and took her hands in his. "There is no good way to
say this, Mother. I am to be married tomorrow. To Miss Hazelbourne.
Miss Chloe Hazelbourne."

"Tomorrow? But how, Herne? You were never interested in
Miss Hazelbourne."

"It is a long story Mother, but when you have heard it, you will
understand."

She studied his face, then finally sat back in her chair. "I sense
this is not going to be a tale to my liking."

"No, probably not. However, Mother, I am determined to
marry the lady."

She nodded. "Tell me."

Wilderlake did so, glossing over Chloe's having been the
instigator of the elopement. His mother smiled slightly when told of her
motion sickness and its messy aftermath. When she heard that her son was
completely innocent of all but rescuing the girl from her own folly, she
began to weep. "Oh, my dear, must you marry her? You did not
compromise her. She should suffer the results of her sins alone, not drag
you into it."

"Colly and Tony and Peter saw her clearly at the inn. They did
not know her, but they would recognize her. You know Colly. His tongue
cannot be still when he is in his cups. I will not have her name bandied
about the
ton
. Mother," he continued gently, "you have wished I
would marry for some years. Can you not wish me happy now that I have
decided to do so?"

"But I hardly know the girl. She is the flighty one, is she not?
Oh, Herne, if you must marry one of the Hazelbourne girls, can it not be
the other, Phaedra? She at least is sensible. They look so much alike that
no one would know."

"We've agreed on the Settlements. I can hardly tell Lord Gifford
now that I have changed my mind and want his younger daughter. Come,
Mother, be realistic. I have offered for Chloe Hazelbourne and I shall
marry her. She is not a bad girl, you know. Only undisciplined and, I
think, a little selfish."

"More than a little, if what I have heard is true. It is said she
tried to seduce Everingham at their first meeting."

"That gossip is the product of his mother's vicious tongue. Chloe
is guilty of little more than thoughtlessness and youthful high spirits. She
will outgrow those."

"Your father never did."

"No, he did not. But he had no good example to follow. Chloe
has. Lady Gifford is one of the kindest, sweetest ladies I have ever met,
and Miss Phaedra is all that is gracious. I cannot believe Chloe could be
anything but well-mannered, coming from a family such as this. I am
convinced her father has indulged her far too much, encouraging her
misbehavior. Coupled with her eagerness to taste all that life has to offer,
that indulgence led her into this imbroglio."

"Little tasting she will do at home," she commented wryly.
"You are going to take her home, are you not Herne? You could not
remain in Town after all that has happened."

"Yes, Mother, I am. But I must ask you a favor." He hesitated,
then continued. "Will you remain in Town for a few weeks? I feel that we
have a thorny period of adjustment before us. Perhaps we will do better to
be alone."

"I most certainly will remain. How tedious to play gooseberry
to a couple on their honeymoon." She looked at him. "I had wished better
for you, my son, but I will never let Miss Hazelbourne know she was not
my choice for you. You will have enough problems without your women
being at outs."

"I knew I could depend on you." He kissed her hands, then
pulled her into a close embrace. "Mother, please do not be too unhappy
over this. I have never met any woman for whom I had strong feelings, so
Miss Hazelbourne will probably do me as well as any. I am content, now
that I have had time to think it out."

"As long as you give me grandchildren before I am too old to
enjoy them, I will not complain, Herne. Unless she makes you
unhappy."

"She will not, Mother, I am sure."

"I pray so. Now, should we not join the family? They will think
us rude."

"No, for they understood that I must break the news to you.
Now that I have, and you have dried your tears, we should go to them.
Smile, Mother, your son is about to marry."

She smiled, and they went to join the Hazelbournes.

* * * *

The next morning Phaedra assisted Chloe in choosing what to
pack for her honeymoon and what to have shipped to Castle
Wilderlake.

Despite her excitement over being married, Chloe was
somewhat subdued, as was Phaedra. They had never before been
separated. Phaedra paused before adding a fringed silk scarf to the
honeymoon pile. "It will be as if part of me is missing, Chloe."

"I know, for I felt that way in the inn. I was lying in that smoky
little room, thinking that I wanted you to come so we could talk it over,
and you were not there."

"We will see each other next Season, but that is so far away.
Oh, Chloe, I shall miss you so!"

"And I you. But Wilderlake said that you could come visit us.
He did. I just remembered. He said that perhaps my family could come to
Castle Wilderlake in a few weeks. You must, Phaedra!"

"I do not think it would be a good idea if we did so. You and
Lord Wilderlake will need time together to adjust to one another. Perhaps
at Christmas, but no sooner. No, Chloe," she said as her sister's face
clouded, "I know I am right this time. You will need to get to know one
another, without your families to depend upon. I am sure that is why his
mother is remaining in Town."

"I suppose." Chloe sighed. "How cruel life is. I am marrying,
which I have so badly wanted to do, but I must give up you and Mama and
Papa and the boys. Why can we not have everything all at once?"

"Silly. It is your wanting everything all at once that got you into
this pickle in the first place. Now, do you want these gowns to be packed
to go with you, or should they be sent? You will have little need of five
ball gowns on your way to Castle Wilderlake."

"Oh, send them. I will have my wedding gown--how strange to
be wed in a ball gown--and the rose wool and that should be enough. We
probably will not dress for dinner every night at the inns where we will
stay."