Sally James (6 page)

'Oh, Isabella, you know I'm not likely to change! I've adored you for years, and my father would soon come round to it if he saw we were in earnest. Mother likes you and would be pleased at the idea.'

'I doubt it,' Isabella said dryly. 'I'm unsuitable in every way for you, and deep down you know it. Now we must go home,' she added, evading his attempt to pull her to him by leaning forward and seizing the reins, jerking the startled pony into a sudden movement which flung William back into the seat.

He exclaimed angrily, then relapsed into frustrated silence, taking the reins which Isabella offered to him without a word. She sighed to herself. She was fond of William and sorry for him, but his repeated attempts to induce her to agree to marriage were becoming a nuisance. At first she had laughed at him, calling him an infatuated schoolboy, but even that had not deterred him, and he had been so foolish as to make his wishes known to his father during one of their frequent arguments. Sir Roderick must have believed her when she had denied wishing for such a marriage, she reflected in wry amusement, or he would have found some way of driving her from the house. Or possibly, she suddenly thought, he felt better able to frustrate William's schemes if Isabella, and therefore William, were under his eyes. He might be afraid of William's persuading her into a marriage if she were forced to seek a living elsewhere and harboured resentment against him for driving her from her home, such as it was.

William's mood remained sulky all day and she was rather surprised when he agreed to accompany her and Georgiana riding the following morning. He said very little, but Georgiana did not notice, being anxious to relate to Isabella all the news she had gleaned from Lydia.

'Mr Bembridge met Lydia a few weeks ago, when her mama took her to Tunbridge Wells to stay with her aunt there. He was staying with some friends and was most attentive, calling on them every day and standing up with Lydia at every ball. Then he rode over to the Rectory the first day he was at Priory Dene, and each day since! Did you like him? Do you think he is serious?'

Isabella laughed. 'You go too fast! I hope you are not encouraging Lydia in foolish notions.'

'No, but he has been
most
particular in his attentions, even Mrs Westerson has remarked it. It would be a great catch for her, wouldn't it? I know she is very pretty but she can expect only a couple of thousand pounds, and has had little opportunity to meet anyone except at the local assemblies.'

'He is still very young, and can know very few people in the district, for he was always away at school or in the army until now,' Isabella said slowly. 'Mrs Westerson is always so welcoming I expect he finds it pleasant to call there. Pray do not persuade Lydia to read more into it than that. You could do her no greater disservice.'

'Oh, she will not be stupid,' Georgiana said blithely, 'but there is no harm in wondering!'

* * * *

Isabella doubted it, but changed the subject, and soon they reached the Rectory where Georgiana had arranged to call for Lydia and Diana. They rode towards the more open land on the downs, and were enjoying a first gallop when Isabella saw a pair of horsemen some distance to her left, also galloping, and converging with them. The two parties had almost reached a clump of trees on the highest part of the downs when Isabella recognised Lord Fordington and his brother. Ninian hailed them as soon as they were within hearing, and they all met at the trees, halting and exchanging greetings, Ninian making his brother known to Lydia and Diana.

It was natural for them to ride on together. Ninian was in high spirits and made mocking reference to his brother's refusal to pay his debts.

'If he had I would not be in the country at this time of year,' he remarked, 'or with such delightful company! There is something to be said for a stern mentor after all.'

Lydia giggled, blushed and cast a rather apprehensive glance at Lord Fordington. Isabella frowned. The girl appeared to be less disinterested than Georgiana had given her to understand, and from what little she had seen of Ninian she doubted whether he was doing more than amuse himself. He did not look to be a young man who would be content to settle down to family responsibilities for some considerable time.

Ninian, however, divided his attention between Lydia and Georgiana while Diana, quiet and uncertain, rode beside Isabella. Lord Fordington, mounted on a magnificent black horse he referred to as Midnight, had dropped back a little and was chatting to William who, Isabella was relieved to see, was responding civilly and even with some animation. From the occasional scraps of the conversation that

she caught they appeared to be talking of horses and then of farming, and William became quite eloquent on the subject of the most effective rotation of crops. When Lord Fordington rode forward to talk to Isabella, William chatted with Diana with no trace of his former moodiness visible.

'Is your cousin reconciled to her banishment from the delights of town?' he asked quizzically. 'She and Ninian can commiserate with one another!'

'She does not repine,' Isabella replied. 'She finds much to amuse her here and will soon forget London. Any resentment she had over not coming out this year will soon be replaced by anticipation of next season. She is not a girl who harbours grudges or wastes time in wishing for what is impossible, for she finds too much of interest in whatever is happening about her.'

'I could wish my stepmama did the same,' he commented lightly. 'She misses London a great deal. I am hoping to persuade her to visit Lady Sharman, for she will be happier if she has some friends in the neighbourhood. She finds my Great-Aunt Selina, who lives at Priory Dene all the time, rather a trial, I fear, for she is rather deaf and inclined to uttering embarrassingly frank remarks!'

'I have heard of her,' Isabella said with a laugh. 'She has quite a reputation locally, according to Mrs Westerson, who once heard her admonishing the Bishop for not taking the Prince Regent to task for his behaviour towards his wife!'

'I did not hear that,' Lord Fordington said, amused. 'I must ask Mrs Westerson all about it. But Lady Fordington does not relish being told she pampers Ninian! She has rarely lived at Priory Dene, in fact, for she has always preferred my father's house in Buckinghamshire, which was both nearer to her own family and promised to Ninian,' he explained. 'Is your cousin well enough to receive visitors?'

'She would very much enjoy meeting Lady Fordington,' Isabella told him. 'If she leads a quiet life Fanny remains well. It is travelling, and the racket of London which makes her ill.'

'Then I will persuade my stepmama to come with me, perhaps, when I call on Sir Roderick to discuss those farms.'

After a few more remarks he manoeuvred his horse so that he was riding beside Georgiana, and Isabella contrived to draw Lydia aside. Ninian dropped back to talk to William and Diana, and soon Isabella heard them laughing together. Then the three of them spurred past, Ninian calling back that they were racing to a lone elm tree some distance in front.

Georgiana followed immediately, pursued by Lord Fordington, and Isabella laughingly bade Lydia join in the race, which Lydia was only too anxious to do.

Ninian and William were in the lead, and Lord Fordington, on the magnificent black horse, was rapidly overtaking Georgiana when her horse, about to jump a low gorse-bush, missed its footing and fell, with Georgiana sailing over his head to land on the far side of the bushes. Lord Fordington, close behind her, was out of the saddle and bending over her where she lay almost before Isabella realised what had happened. She arrived at the spot to find Lord Fordington supporting Georgiana in his arms while Georgiana protested she was unhurt, not even bruised by the soft turf on which she had landed.

'I'm thankful not to have fallen in the gorse,' she said with a shaky laugh.

William and Ninian had heard Lydia cry out, and rode up demanding to know what had happened.

'The horse fell, probably put his foot in a rabbit hole,' Lord Fordington said curtly, and William nodded, looking to where the horse, having regained his feet, was standing uneasily on three of them and cautiously testing the fourth.

Ninian dismounted and flung his reins to Lydia, going to feel the horse's legs.

'A strained fetlock,' he confirmed. 'Sorry, I should not have raced over this ground.'

'We've galloped here often enough,' Georgiana said quickly. 'It was unfortunate but not your fault. Is Prince badly hurt?'

'Nothing permanent, I think, but you cannot ride him home.'

'You ought not to ride after such a fall,' Lord Fordington said solicitously and, when Georgiana protested she was used to such tumbles, helped her to her feet.

'I'll lead the poor beast back to Woodings,' Ninian offered. 'William, could Georgiana ride pillion behind you?'

'I'll take her,' Lord Fordington said firmly, and swung Georgiana up on to Midnight before William could answer. They all made their way home, leaving Lydia and Diana at the Rectory which was on their way. Then, with Isabella riding beside Lord Fordington and Georgiana, the two young men and the lame horse bringing up the rear, they went on to Woodings.

'I feel so foolish,' Georgiana said as they drew near. 'I do hope Prince will not be lame for too long.'

'Ninian says it is not serious and he knows what he is talking about,' Lord Fordington reassured her. 'I hope that you have no injury. We will call and see how you do tomorrow.'

* * * *

Pleading he had to return to Priory Dene for a dinner party, Lord Fordington remained long enough to explain the accident to Lady Sharman, and then he and Ninian departed. They were at Woodings early the following morning, however, to find Georgiana not a whit the worse for her tumble sitting in the drawing room with Isabella and Lady Sharman. To Lady Sharman's gratification Ninian's mother had accompanied her son.

Lady Fordington was in her early forties, a still pretty woman when she exerted herself to please, but with a petulant droop to her lips when her face was in repose.

When Lord Fordington, having enquired solicitously about Georgiana's health, had departed with Sir Roderick to view the farms he contemplated buying, Lady Fordington permitted herself a delicate shudder.

'I am so thankful Priory Dene is not Ninian's house. I have a dread of the place, it is so old and gloomy.'

'It looks romantic,' Georgiana said. 'I have never seen it closer than from the slopes of the downs, but it fascinates me. Is the stone part of it the old Priory?'

'It is reputed to be the church, then it was used as the main hall, but it was much altered when the west wing was built, about two hundred and fifty years ago I believe. Justin has all the records. The rest of the old buildings were left to rot. They are some distance away, amongst trees. I would like Justin to have them cleared away altogether but he always refuses.' She sighed. 'I am afraid he takes little heed of what my wishes are.'

'But to have genuine ruins near to one's house is what many people long for,' Lady Sharman said. 'Why, it was even the fashion to build false ones!'

'False ones have the merit of not being haunted!' Lady Fordington replied swiftly, and then laughed self-consciously. 'Oh, you must think me foolish, but I have a most
weird
feeling whenever I go near the ruins of some alien presence. Ninian says it is my imagination, but I have always been very sensitive and
I know
there is
something
there!'

'More likely to be smugglers than ghosts,' Ninian said, laughing. 'Really, Mother, no one else has ever felt anything strange there.'

'The villagers will not go near it after dark,' Lady Fordington protested.

Georgiana was round-eyed with excitement.

'Could smugglers use it?' she asked breathlessly. 'Oh, I think that would be even more exciting than ghosts!'

'And more dangerous,' Isabella pointed out caustically. 'I thought that there was far less smuggling now the wars had ended,' she said to Ninian.

'Yes, but there are always people unwilling to pay duty on brandy and tea,' he replied. 'The fishermen are making far greater profits on that than on their legal business!'

Just then Lydia and Diana were announced, and there was no more talk of the ruins until, as Lady Fordington and Ninian were about to depart, Lady Fordington suggested the young people might care to visit Priory Dene soon and explore the ruins.

'It is not what I would regard as a treat,' she said with a smile, 'but I know that you are likely to consider it so. When you come I will arrange an al fresco meal to be served there if the weather is still fine.'

Chapter Four

On the following day William announced at breakfast that the visit to the ruins had been arranged for two days hence.

'How have you arranged that?' Georgiana demanded.

'Oh, I saw Ninian last night,' William said, and hurriedly tried to change the subject.

'I'm pleased you are making an effort with that young man,' Sir Roderick said approvingly. 'Lord Fordington has almost agreed to my price for the farms. There are just a few more things to discuss.'

'I did not know you were out last night, William,' Georgiana persisted, puzzled. 'You were in to dinner.'

'Do I have to tell you of all my movements?' William demanded, exasperated.

'Oh well, if you want to be secretive about it, I'm sure I don't care! Doubtless you were engaged in something disreputable!'

'It's none of your business, miss!' William retorted, and ostentatiously turned to his father to ask whether he planned to go to Brighthelmstone in the next few days.

As soon as she could escape Georgiana left the breakfast-room and vanished in the direction of the stables. Isabella assumed she was going to see how Prince's strained fetlock was responding to treatment, and went unconcernedly about her own duties. She was checking linen when Georgiana reappeared, a smile of mingled achievement and distaste on her face.

'There was cock fighting at the Crown last night,' she announced.
'That
is where my dear brother was! I think it is disgusting!'