“Please forgive me, but I believe that is mine,” Isabella spoke softly, trying to hide the quiver of fear in her voice.
“Is that you, Miss Watts?” a gentlemen's voice called back.
Isabella relaxed, realizing that the voice belonged to Lord Bellfourd.
“Lord Bellfourd,” she said, taking a step forward to retrieve the hat from his outstretched hand, “you gave me such a fright.”
“Are you afraid of the dark, Miss Watts?”
Isabella could only make out his outline in this dim light. She didn’t need to see, however, to picture the teasing smile he had playing across his lips.
“I am not,” Isabella said, faking offense. “However, I can't say I wasn’t startled to come upon a stranger in the dark.”
“Well, I suggest not walking the grounds at night,” Lord Bellfourd retorted.
“I could say the same for you.” Isabella paused for a beat and then changed to a serious tone, “I didn’t know you were expected back from London so soon.”
“I wasn’t. In fact, no one knows I have arrived. I came to surprise Jackie for her birthday.”
“How very kind of you. Oh, Jackie will love it!” Isabella said with glee.
“Would you sit with me for a moment?” Lord Bellfourd asked, taking a seat on the stone bench. “I know the sun has fallen, but I don’t think it is too chilly. I’m not ready to go in myself just yet. I would appreciate the company.”
Isabella wrapped her thin shawl around her arms a little tighter. Though it was much colder than she was used to in the summer, it wasn’t particularly chilly. There wasn’t a breath of air tonight, and with the sky clear of clouds, the tremendous dark expanse overhead was littered with glittering stars.
She also hesitated for another more obvious reason. It wasn’t exactly proper for a single lady to be in the company of a gentleman without supervision. Even worse, here alone in a darkened corner of the garden.
She then remembered that she was no longer a lady. No one would care to take this purely innocent encounter for anything but what it was. The Marquess certainly knew what was proper and seemed to never care of it. She would now take his stance on the matter, free from any fear of repercussion.
Without saying a word, Isabella came to sit next to Lord Bellfourd. For a minute or two, they sat in silence, appreciating the beauty of the clear night sky.
“Will you be returning to London, then, once Jackie’s birthday has passed?” Isabella finally asked.
“No,” Lord Bellfourd answered decidedly. He gave a little chuckle and tugged on the hem of his traveling jacket. “I did come for Jackie, but that was just an excuse to leave.”
“I don’t understand what you mean?”
“I couldn’t stand it,” Lord Bellfourd blurted out. “The dinners, the balls, the people. It is all so…so…” He struggled to find the right words. “So like my father,” he settled on.
“You don’t like the society of the season?”
“I can’t bear it,” he said, looking down at her. “It never really bothered me much before since it didn’t matter much to me. In fact,” he added with a whimsical tone, “I used to make fun of my brother any time he chastened me for acting poorly. He would say ‘your actions reflect on our family name.’ No doubt he got that from Father.”
“Now, I seem to be filling his shoes and it turns out he was right. No one cared what I did or what event I went to when I was just Lord Christian or even Captain Grant. Now, it seems every move I make is weighed and judged.”
He let out a long gust of air like he was deflating. Isabella completely understood the pressure he spoke of. She could only imagine it was that much harder for a man of his rank. She had to smile a little, knowing that more than likely it was made even worse by being a single returned naval officer with a dukedom in line.
“Count yourself lucky that you got away,” he added with a renewed playful tone.
“I wouldn’t go quite that far,” Isabella said, turning to look up at him.
Even in the dim light of the stars his red hair had a golden sheen to it. Isabella could see his brows drawn in a furrow at her response.
“It was my home- all I knew,” she answered his unasked question. “I loved London and the society that came with it. For a while, I wished I never left. Certainly, there were aspects of it that were less than favorable, but that can be said of any lot in life.”
“Well, I can't imagine there is anything less than favorable to be said about your new home,” Lord Bellfourd chuckled, relaxing from his earlier frustration.
“Well, I do have to say my student is much better than I could have ever asked for and the household has been very kind and warm…”
“But?” Lord Bellfourd encouraged.
“But the weather is dreadful,” Isabella let out with a blow of her own defeat. “No matter how warm my fire is, how thick my shawl is, I will never get used to this dreary, damp region.”
Lord Bellfourd laughed heartily at her declaration.
“It’s not funny,” Isabella jeered. “I suspect I will be a frozen icicle by wintertime.”
“Oh, that would be a terrible predicament wouldn’t it?” Lord Bellfourd said, getting control of his merriment. “I am glad to hear that you are getting along well with the household, though. I did think of you from time to time while I was away,” he confessed.
“You did?” Isabella responded in pure shock.
Yes, they had taken walks together with Jacqueline and spent a few evenings together when Isabella brought the child down to her grandfather, but she had never expected to be on Lord Bellfourd’s mind at all. Especially not while he was away from the manor and with so much else to occupy his thoughts.
“Well, sometimes it couldn’t be helped,” Lord Bellfourd explained. “I met your friend Lady Louisa.”
“Yes, your sister just got your letter today and told me.”
“She sang your praises regularly and often told me how dreary her life was now that you were away.”
“I do miss her so,” Isabella said, unable to mask her sorrow in that fact.
“Why not invite her here for a visit, then?”
“Oh, I couldn’t! No, that wouldn’t be right at all,” Isabella assured herself, as much as she wished otherwise. “I will just have to be satisfied with our letters and knowing that she is still my friend despite the circumstances.”
“That is exactly why I left. I can’t stand that so-called fine gentlemen and ladies would sever acquaintances when friendship is needed by someone the most. I cannot bear that kind of logic. If it isn’t too forward, may I ask what brought you to Wintercrest? I understand your father passed, but, if it isn’t too personal, why choose to be a governess?”
Isabella took a deep breath. Though most of the house knew that she was raised as a lady and had since fallen in status, she had yet to actually tell anyone the whole of the story, except for Louisa, of course.
“When my father passed, he had no male heir. His estates and business were turned over to his partner, Mr. Smith,” Isabella did her best not to spit out the last word with venom.
“And this Mr. Smith was not able to see you comfortably?” Lord Bellfourd asked.
“Mr. Smith had some negative feelings toward me. He proposed marriage when I was but seventeen. I declined as politely as I could, but he never seemed to forgive me for wounding his pride.”
“So he mistreated you in retribution?” Lord Bellfourd asked, appalled. “How could such a thing be stood for?”
“Well, he removed my father's property and belongings under the guise of paying off debt my father had incurred. But, in my opinion, he did it just to be harsh.”
Isabella’s hand went unconsciously to the locket around her neck. She still had moments of fear that Mr. Smith might show up at Wintercrest Manor, demanding the necklace from her.
“As selfish as it is for me say, I must confess I am glad of Mr. Smith’s deplorable treatment.”
Isabella turned to look at him in shock.
“It brought you here. I am eternally grateful for the light you have brought out in Jackie and the friendship you have shown to myself and my sister while I was away.”
“Well,” Isabella said, glad that the darkness hid her blushing, “I will admit that coming to Wintercrest Manor was a tender mercy given me in an awful situation.”
“I suppose it’s best we go inside now,” Lord Bellfourd said reluctantly.
Isabella suddenly came to a remembrance of the events in the servants’ dining hall. She stood up abruptly.
“Oh my, Lord Bellfourd, I should have told you right away. Your father took a tumble on the stairs today and the doctor was sent for.”
Lord Bellfourd stood too. “Is he alright?”
“I’m not entirely sure. I only heard of the accident, myself, not too long ago and then came out to retrieve my bonnet when I realized that I had left it outside.”
“Well, then let's go and see together,” he said holding the crook of his arm out for Isabella to take.
Isabella didn’t think he actually meant that she should go with him to see, merely that he was being a gentleman and walking her back to the house. She took his arm, grateful for the steady help as she navigated back.
One thing she had learned about Lord Bellfourd over the short time that she had known him was that he was very sure-footed. He walked confidently and even pointed to a root sticking out ready to trip her long before she, herself, could see it.
They got to the front of the house and Isabella moved to thank Lord Bellfourd and return to her bedroom. Hopefully, Betsy had just left her supper, not waiting for Isabella’s return. She worried that she might have gotten Betsy in more trouble with the housekeeper, though it seemed that nothing Isabella could do was right in the eyes of Mrs. Peterson and she wondered if that courtesy was given to all the help and not just herself.
Just before splitting off, a carriage pulled up along the gravel drive and up to the front gate. Perhaps forgetting that Isabella was still on his arm, Lord Bellfourd walked quickly to meet the arrival.