Isabella found her second carriage ride through the country and back to London vastly longer and more sorrowful than its counterpart one year earlier.
Even entering the city she had so loved and remembered fondly had no joy for her. She exited the stagecoach and went directly to find a cab that might take her to the Earl of Gilcrest’s London house.
It didn’t take long for Isabella to seek out the yellow two-person cab and give the driver directions.
She only hoped that her friend and correspondent would be happy to see her. Or, at least allow her shelter for the night. Isabella was fully aware how fast news traveled in London and she was sure that by now, the details of her suspected theft were the topic of most ladies’ gatherings.
Isabella did her best to calm her nerves as she stood on the steps to the Gilcrest city abode. She luckily knew that Lady Louisa would be here. In correspondence a few weeks early Lady Louisa had informed her that they would be leaving their country seat for the season and return to London, much to her excitement.
Summoning all her courage, Isabella knocked softly on the door. She did her best to straighten the traveling skirts she had sat on for the last three days.
A butler opened the door to her, “Are you expected Madam?”
“I am afraid I am not. I am Miss Isabella Watts. If you could tell Lady Louisa that I have come to call on her, I am certain she will receive me.”
“As you wish,” the butler said, showing Isabella into the front room to wait.
Isabella waited no more than two minutes in the small foyer that she knew so well, before she heard the hurried steps of slippery feet.
“Oh, Isabella,” Lady Louisa said, coming into the room and taking her friend into a hug. “I have been so worried about you.”
“You have? You aren’t surprised by my being here?” Isabella said, confused.
“No, no. Not at all.” Lady Louisa took her friend's hand and brought her into the small drawing room where her mother was waiting.
Lady Gilcrest rose at the sight of Isabella and embraced her as well.
“Oh, my dear, we have all been so worried about you. I’m so glad you came to us.”
“How did you possibly know of my coming?” Isabella asked.
She was indeed grateful that the household had taken her in so welcomingly. In fact, the whole carriage ride, she had replayed scenario after scenario of them turning her out right there on the front steps.
"Lady Abigail Grant sent a letter the morning after you left,” Lady Louisa said, by way of explanation. “She sent her own man on horseback. He rode day and night, barely stopping, and arrived here yesterday morning.”
“Come, sit and have some tea,” Lady Gilcrest added to her daughter's words.
“That was very kind of Lady Abigail,” Isabella said, taking a seat. “She didn’t have to go through all that trouble.”
“Well, I believe she was a bit worried that you may be returning to London much like Daniel going into the lions’ den,” Lady Louisa replied.
“I must admit,” Isabella said shyly, “I was a little worried that you wouldn’t receive me.”
“That is a ridiculous notion,” Lady Gilcrest said. “We, of course, heard the rumors and I made a point to speak up against them at every occasion.”
“Yes, this Mr. Smith is a most vile man,” Lady Louisa concurred. “To think he would go to such lengths to tarnish your reputation.”
“I have cogitated much this fact these last three days of travel,” Isabella said, feeling comfortable now in the security of friends.
“Well, dear, you just start from the beginning and we will figure this out, as we always do,” Lady Louisa said, patting her friends hand.
A half-hour later, Isabella had told her friend and Lady Gilcrest the whole situation. She started with the necklace in her hem, all the way through retelling all that Lady Cunningham had written to the duchess.
“It is not very different than the telling of the matter that I have also heard,” Lady Gilcrest said smoothly. She was older in age but had the grace and agility of someone much younger in years.
Both Gilcrest ladies were identical to the other, only one being older. Lady Gilcrest shared her daughter's mouse brown hair, though hers had a lot more silver in it now, and the same slender, shy, demure features to her face.
“Why do we not have the solicitor produced that removed the belongings from Rosewater? He could easily say that it was, in fact, Mr. Smith who hired him.”
“I suspected that would be my first course of business. Mr. Smith did walk through Rosewater with a solicitor before my departure. I would suspect he was the man that removed the belongings. The only problem is that I don’t recall his name.”
“Well, this is only your first day home, so do not discourage. We will find a way to untangle this mess he made,” Lady Louisa said. “Speaking of a long day of travel, you must be exhausted. Come, I will help you upstairs so that you may refresh yourself before dinner.”
Isabella followed her friend upstairs to the room that they would share while visiting.
“Unfortunately, I was not able to bring much with me. I only have the dress I am wearing and a cotton morning dress,” Isabella said a little embarrassed now they were alone in the room.
“Do not worry. I have more than enough for the both of us. It will be just like when we were young and shared clothes at school,” Lady Louisa added with a smile.
“You have been very kind to me despite…” Isabella struggled to finish the sentence. She sat down on the soft bed.
Lady Louisa sat next to her and consoled her friend. Wrapping a warm arm around Isabella, she waited to speak till she got hold of her emotions again.
“I suppose I don’t need to ask how your heart is faring?” Lady Louisa finally said.
Before Isabella could answer, there was a soft knock on the door. In came a maid with fresh, hot water for Isabella. Both girls waited till the maid left before continuing their conversation.
“I had to leave,” Isabella finally said, softly. “And to make things worse, it will never matter if I right my name. The damage is irreversible. I will always be a pariah of society. I could not bring that misfortune on the duke or Lady Abigail.”
“I suppose it was Mr. Smith’s intention all along,” she continued. “If I would not accept him, he would find a way to make sure that no one would ever consider having me.”
“I am sure the duke doesn’t care about stains on reputations. Especially when he knows they are ill-founded,” Lady Louisa said as she tucked back a loose dark strand that fell into Isabella’s face.
“I know he doesn’t care. I know he would keep his word no matter what. I couldn’t let him. I care for him far too much to do such a thing to him.”
Lady Louisa nodded, understanding Isabella’s reasoning for severing that tie.
“I shall let you clean up and rest for a while before dinner. I know you must be exhausted. Sometimes all that is needed to find a way to right a wrong is a little sleep.”
Lady Louisa left the room after expounding her words of wisdom. Isabella did enjoy the moment to refresh herself and remove the dust that seemed to cake to one's skin while traveling.
Once freshened up, she slipped into the covers. Isabella, at first, did not think that she would sleep at all. The stress of the last few days had kept her so awake that she didn’t know if she would ever truly rest again. Now that she was in the safety of friends once again and refreshed from her travels, though, Isabella slipped quickly off to sleep.
It seemed like only a few moments had passed when Lady Louisa arrived back in the room. Already, the window was growing dark with dusk.
“I waited as long as possible, but we really must dress for dinner now. If you would like, I can make excuses for you and have a tray sent up instead,” Lady Louisa said, just above a whisper, as Isabella came to her senses.
“No, no. I want to come down. I must have been more exhausted than I thought. I am quite refreshed now, though, I can assure you.”
Isabella got up from the bed and together, with the help of a lady’s maid, both girls got ready for the evening meal. It was funny for Isabella to have someone help her dress and style her hair again. It seemed to her that it took an exorbitant amount of time rather than just dressing on her own.
She smiled to herself for the first time in three days. It did seem a silly thing that something a person was once so used to as to not live without, now, having lived without, seemed a silly thing to have at all.
Isabella came down the stairs at her friend's side. She was trying to remember how to fit into the person she had once been. At one time, this had all seemed so normal to her, but now, without a ward to guide, it felt strange to Isabella to join the household for a meal.
Thoughts of Jackie brought a deep hurt to her heart. Though she couldn’t bear the thought that she was now without the company of all of Wintercrest, little Jackie brought the worst guilt of all.
A child of only seven, she would not understand even a portion of the complexities that had led to her departure. Though Isabella had written in the letter that she would always cherish and love Jackie, she couldn’t help feeling that she had abandoned her.
“Ah, Izzy, how are you, old girl?” Viscount Dunthorpe said as the two ladies entered the drawing room.
“If I am an old girl, Lord Colton, then what, pray, does that make someone three years my senior?” Isabella responded with a remembered banter.
“Dashingly handsome, I would expect,” he responded, raising a dirty blonde brow.
Unlike his mother and sister, Viscount Dunthorpe Colton Frasier took his father’s stronger square features and playful personality.
“Give the poor girl a chance to settle in before you go on harassing her,” the Earl of Gilcrest called from his corner of the drawing room with a wink at Isabella.
He was standing deep in conversation with a gentleman that Isabella didn’t know. He was introduced to her as Colonel Macintyre. He was a portly fellow with a very distinguished mustache that seemed to mesmerize as he spoke.
“I hope you don’t mind,” Lord Dunthorpe said after Isabella was seated, “I have invited your friend, Mr. Jenkins, and his wife to join our small party this night.”
“Oh, that is actually perfect,” Isabella said excitedly.
She had planned to send a note to Mr. Jenkins and call on him tomorrow. She knew if anyone could help her out of this situation, it would be her late father’s lawyer.
“I thought you might want to speak to him right away,” Lord Dunthorpe said with a wink. “As soon as I heard of your arrival, I sent him an invitation.”
“I appreciate it so much. Thank you,” Isabella said sincerely.
She had to keep her emotions in check yet again. She had never been one for crying much, but over the last few days it had been a common occurrence. And this time, Isabella was happy to say that it was tears of gratitude for the kindness of the whole of the Frasier family.