What About Cecelia? (15 page)

Once they reached the New Bridge, Cecelia
suggested they cross to the other side. They could return to Bath
on the far bank, rather than proceed to the dark and muddy 'Fir
wood' that was ahead. She and George stopped halfway across the
bridge and watched the river underneath. As they stood there
together, George's hand slipped unbidden into hers. She gave it a
squeeze after a few moments, and he looked deep into her eyes. Her
breath stopped as he said, “Ah Cecelia, life is funny isn't it? If
only.”

She replied, “I think, Captain Wood, that we'd
best move on.” leaving unspoken “Before we do something we'd both
regret later.” They returned silently, still holding hands, to
Bath. Jane was already back at their lodgings when they arrived.
Mr. Ames had just left.

The next day Cecelia and Jane were taking tea in
the pump rooms, while Captain Wood, with Meadow's support and
advice sought out a good tailor. A messenger brought a
communication for Miss Arnold which Jane avidly read. Then she made
her excuses and asked Cecelia to meet her at the circulating
library in about an hour. She slipped away from the pump rooms to
meet Mr. Ames in the Parade. He clasped her tightly and gasped out,
“Tell me that it isn't too late.”

She wriggled free from his grasp, “Mr. Ames, no,
stop, I'm engaged!”

“Engagements can be broken.”

“I know, you broke ours once.”

“Do you love him?”

“I don't know. I certainly feel affection for
Captain Wood, what is love?”

“Jane I love you. Will you marry me?”

“John! The last time you asked me, you had to
beg off. That hurt me, deeply.”

“Let me mend that pain, come away with me.”

“Why do you think I'd even consider you
now?”

“You know, deep in your heart, that you still
love me, that's why.”

“Why should I believe you now? You dumped me
last time. With George at least I'll be married and not left
weeping almost at the altar.”

“A year ago my father was alive. He didn't
approve of you and threatened to disinherit me if I married you.
They even talked of exiling me to the Cape colony. It can't happen
now. There is nothing standing in our way.”

“So, do the rest of your family 'approve' of
me?”

“It doesn't matter, I approve of you. I've tried
to forget you, to find someone else. I can't. Will you please marry
me?” He embraced her again and kissed her. This time she didn't
struggle.

When she caught her breath, Jane was in a state
of dazed confusion, “I don't know. I can't decide.”

“Then the answer isn't no.”

“Not yet. I have to think. Please give me some
time. I'll tell you this evening, at the concert.”

“Stay in your rooms with a headache. I'll visit
you there and if you decide the answer is no, I'll bring you to the
concert and I won't ever bother you again.”

“Otherwise?”

“We'll leave a note and ride off in my
carriage.”

Mr. Ames escorted Miss Arnold to the townhouse.
Cecelia, forgotten, waited at the circulating library for a happy
but mystifying hour before returning home. Anxious to hear what
detained her friend, she knocked on Miss Arnold's door. “Jane, why
didn't you meet me at the library. Is everything fine?”

Jane stuttered out, “I-I-I'm not well. I have a
headache. That note was from Mr. Ames, he had sad news of a mutual
friend to discuss. We met in the Parade, and I think the sun gave
me a headache. He brought me home directly.”

“I'm sorry. Is there anything I can do for you?
Maybe bring you some aromatic vinegar?”

“No, it's best if I just sit here in the dark
and quiet. It should go away.”

“Let me know if you need anything.”

“Don't worry I will.”

Later that evening, after dinner, Captain Wood
knocked on Miss Arnold's door. “My dear, the concert, it's getting
late. The divine Miss Catalani is giving one of her farewell
concerts. You so much wanted to hear her before she returns to
Europe.”

Miss Arnold did not even feel up to opening the
door, “Not tonight dear, I have this dreadful headache. I've had it
all afternoon and it hasn't improved.”

“I'm sorry, is there anything I can do?”

“Just go. Go and enjoy the concert with Miss
Wood. I will join you there if my headache improves.”

“How will you get there without an escort?”

“Mr. Ames was planning to inquire after my
health. He escorted me home from the Parade when I fell ill.”

George was not sure what to make of this. Mr.
Ames was being far too familiar with Jane for his tastes. On the
other hand, the light of his life gave him an express command to
take Miss Wood to the concert. The more he thought about that, the
better an idea it seemed.

He found Cecelia reading under the light of a
guttering tallow candle. “Miss Wood, at least trim the wick on that
candle.” Cecelia looked up and noticed that the 'thief in the
candle' had been at work. “Here, let me do it. Why are you using
such a miserable light? We have wax candles.”

“The smell reminds me of home.”

“How melancholy. Do you miss Penyclawdd?”

“A little, but Bath has its diversions. Now tell
my why you're here? It can't be just to trim my candle for me.”

“No. Miss Arnold is feeling poorly and suggested
I take you instead of her to the concert. It's Mozart's Arias, sung
in their original Italian by Miss Angelica Catalani.” Cecelia's
heart skipped a beat at the thought of attending the concert with
him.

“That would be a treat, but I don't speak any
Italian.”

“I'll translate for you if I may.”

“I'm in my day dress, not suitable for the
assembly. If you'd send for my maid, I could be ready in a very few
minutes.”

“Thank you. I so much wanted to hear Miss
Catalani and it is so much pleasanter to listen in good company
than alone.”

While Cecelia and her maid did their best to get
her quickly changed, George fretted in the front hall. He called
up, “Come on, hurry up, we'll miss the first part if you're much
longer.”

“I'm ready!” Cecelia joined him and together
they walked the few blocks uphill to the assembly rooms.

The concert, like all such concerts, was
excellent if you liked operatic sopranos singing in Italian, and
better than sitting alone at home and reading a book if you didn't.
George was almost in a trance with the beauty of the music, and
some of his enthusiasm rubbed off on Cecelia. It helped when he
could give her a rough translation of the lyrics. Eventually, like
all good things, it came to an end and they walked back to the
townhouse. As they mounted the stoop he turned and held Cecelia's
hands. Then he gave her what he thought was a brotherly kiss.
“Thank you for accompanying me to the concert Miss Wood.” Cecelia,
overcome with emotion since nice girls didn't even hold hands
outside of wedlock, simply nodded. Then when the door opened she
floated upstairs to her room.

Cecelia awoke late in the morning, and her maid
brought her the portentous news. “Miss, you'll never believe what's
happened.”

“What?”

“Miss Arnold's run off.”

“No! Why?”

“No one knows why, but she went with Mr. Ames.
There was a letter left for the Captain. He read it and ran off
too. The other servants are saying he went to find her.”

“Oh, I hope it was nothing to do with last
night?”

“No Miss, remember Miss Arnold asked you to go
to the concert. Not like you did anything wrong, was there?”

“The Captain was very nice to me, helped me to
understand what Miss Catalani was singing. Brought me some punch in
the middle. Nothing that was improper, even in the fevered
imaginings of the worst Bath gossips.” Unfortunately this was not
quite true. Could Miss Arnold have seen them kiss and run off in
disgust?

“Miss this was left for you.” Her maid handed
Cecelia a sealed letter. “I meant to give it to you last night, but
you were so late and I forgot.”

“Well, hand it here and let me see. Better late
than never.”

It was a short note in Miss Arnold's
handwriting.

Miss Wood, Dear Cecelia

I am breaking my engagement to Captain
Wood for reasons that are personal and private. I don't think he'll
be seriously hurt by it. Since I've long seen how he looks at you,
consider this missive an invitation for you to pursue him. I wish
you better luck than I've had since I think you really do feel for
him. Try to keep your surprise when I sign my next letter as Mrs.
A.

Yours &c.

Jane Arnold

Cecelia almost fainted with the shock, but
quickly rallied. “What must Captain Wood think of me?”

“Calm yourself Miss Wood. I'm sure he doesn't
think badly of you. It's Miss Arnold that ran off with that Mr.
Ames.”

“I introduced them to each other. Surely this
couldn't have happened if I had paid Mr. Ames more attention
myself.” The thoughts came unbidden, “Why did I let him kiss me?
That must be the reason she left. I've broken their engagement and
ruined his happiness.”

“No miss, you're not to blame. You couldn't have
foreseen that.”

“Yes, yes. You are right, of course. Could you
get me some chocolate?”

“Yes Miss.” Her maid left on her errand to the
kitchen. As soon as the door shut behind her, Cecelia frantically
dug her purse out and counted her money. Ten pounds, not enough for
a post-chaise, but enough to get to Swansea with some to spare if
she were careful. She might need to take the stage, or even walk a
short distance, but she could get to her aunt. More importantly,
she could get to her aunt's home tomorrow or at worst the next day.
Then she would not have to meet with Captain Wood ever again.

By the time her maid returned with fresh, hot
chocolate for her morning repast, Cecelia had thrown on some
clothes, packed a small bag, and vanished into the streets of Bath.
She resolved to write a note of abject apology to Captain Wood
while waiting for the stage to the Severn ferry. As she shut the
door of the townhouse, she told Heulwen to be a good dog and look
after her masters.

George read the letter Jane left him. He stared
out the window in dismayed shock and said, to no one in particular,
“She's left with Mr. Ames, damn.” He rose and walked to the
side-board where he kept a decanter of brandy and started to pour
himself a stiff drink. Then, thinking the better of it, he threw
the contents of his glass into the fire. Instead, he grabbed his
cloak and cane, and headed out of the front door aiming to take a
long walk. Landsdown rose high above the city to the north and its
wilderness looked inviting.

George returned in the early afternoon from his
troubled walk on Landsdown, much refreshed, and with a new clarity
of mind. “Meadows,” he shouted for his valet. “Meadows, Meadows,
come here!” His voice thundered through the Bath townhouse he hired
for the season.

“Sir!”

“Where is she?!”

“Who sir?”

“Cecelia, blast you.”

“What about Miss Arnold?”

“She's left, gone last night. With Mr. Ames, but
that doesn't matter. She left me a note explaining how they were
meant for each other, truly in love and that she was sorry if her
news caused me any pain.”

“Meant for each other? What do you mean,
sir?”

“It means, when crudely translated, that he's
richer than I am, and he lives in London. It's a narrow escape for
me from a fate worse than death. As far as I can see it's a damned
good riddance that she's found someone else. More's the pity for
poor Mr. Ames. Have you seen Cecelia?”

Meadows gave an internal sigh of relief. He had
planned to offer his resignation the day after Captain Wood's
marriage to that woman. Not that she was always dreadful or
particularly difficult. He just thought that it was unlikely to be
a happy marriage, and preferred not to see his friend and master
trapped in an unpleasant situation. He much preferred it if the
Captain were established with someone who would make him truly
happy. Now he wouldn't have to leave what he found to be an
amicable situation. “If you mean Miss Wood, I have not, sir. Not
since this morning after you went on your walk in the downs.
Heulwen is still here so she can't have gone far.”

“Damn, Damn, Damn, bugger it all! Where is that
woman? I need to talk with her.”

“Sir, this letter was left for you this
morning.” Captain Wood snatched it from him and started to
read.

Dear Captain Wood.

I'm sorry that I've caused unpleasantness
between your fiancée and you. Please forgive me. Give Miss Arnold
my sincere apologies as well. It's best that I not attend your
wedding considering what has happened. Since you'll want to take up
residence at Penyclawdd as soon as you are married, I won't return
there. I shan't trouble you again.

Sincerely

Miss Cecelia Wood.

“What in the world can she mean by 'what has
happened'? Did she and Miss Arnold have a fight yesterday?”

“Not that I'm aware of, sir. They were on good
terms in the afternoon and Miss Arnold appeared to be asleep when
you returned.”

“It just doesn't make sense. Do you suppose
Cecelia is upset that I kissed her last night? It was just a quick
peck and nothing serious. She didn't mind it then.”

“Women are funny creatures, sir.”

“Doesn't matter. I'll have to find her. I must
find her. When did this arrive?”

“This morning. You weren't here. Sir.”

“Why didn't you send a footman out to find me?
This is important. You've failed me Meadows.”

“Sir, I did send one, James. He's still looking
for you. Shall I send another to find him, sir?”

Captain Wood stopped, momentarily distracted by
the humorous idea of every one of his footmen searching Bath for
each other, then returned to the matter at hand. “Do you have any
idea where Miss Wood is?”