Complications (9 page)

Brightford stared at Nathan in shock.

“It is your turn,” Alex reminded him and
Brightford picked up and card and threw it down again without so much as looking
at it.

This was a side to Miss Daventry he had
never imagined and, now that he thought about it, he could recall instances of
her defending or being protective of Miss Harrington. Could he have misjudged Miss
Daventry?

* * *

“How is Charlotte lately?” Mrs Daventry
asked over a quiet family dinner served by their footman, the occasion an
informal one compared to the grand dinner parties they had been attending over
the last few months.

“She is well enough,” Amelia said, frowning
as she thought of how weary Lottie had looked today, “but after every
unhappiness she has endured this year it is as if a light inside her has been
extinguished.”

“She needs a husband,” Mrs Daventry said. “You
both do.”

Amelia thought of Mr Wrackley with a pang
of sadness then with a determination to speak to him and resolve whatever was
wrong between them.

“I will speak to Mr Brightford,” Mr
Daventry said.

Amelia dropped her spoon into her soup and stared
at her father. He thought Mr Brightford wished to marry her? The idea gave her
a peculiar surge of pleasure but it made little sense. She checked: “You want
me to marry Mr Brightford?”

“No, no. I meant Miss Harrington.”

Amelia recalled Mr Brightford’s
attentiveness towards Lottie at the recent balls and her stomach lurched. He
was not right for Lottie; not in the least. They would both be miserable. “What
makes you think he has a particular liking for Lottie?”

“He is a sensible man and she is a sensible
girl. It would be an excellent match and he is the right age to settle down. I
will suggest it to him.”

Relief flooded Amelia. As if suggesting
such a reason as that would possibly work. She recalled her own reaction to the
idea of marrying Mr Brightford with puzzlement and some consternation. No, that
had been her ego: of course it would be a great honour to be courted by so
powerful and wealthy a man as Mr Brightford but that was all. She did not even
like him and, of course, she was in love with Mr Wrackley.

Mr Brightford and she – what a ridiculous
idea!

“YOU WILL NEVER believe my news.”

Lottie’s expression held a nervous
excitement that was quite unlike her and, after a moment’s confusion, Amelia
recalled her father’s words about arranging a marriage between Lottie and Mr
Brightford. Her heart fell. It was impossible. This must be something else.

Amelia gestured for Lottie to take the seat
opposite her in the small sewing room, as she asked with trepidation, “What has
happened?”

 “I am engaged once more.”

Amelia could not speak. She had never
fainted in her life but thought she might be about to do so. That would explain
her peculiar feeling of misery and the sudden chill in the room on a warm
summer’s day.

“I can understand your shock,” Lottie went
on, misunderstanding Amelia’s silence. She spoke nervously as if anticipating
an objection. “I never expected it and, of course, I have only known Mr
Alexander Fenbridge for a matter of weeks…”

“Mr Fenbridge
has proposed to you?” Suddenly
Amelia found she could breathe again and she had to blink back tears of relief.

“Yes,” Lottie confirmed, clearly concerned
about Amelia’s reaction. “I cannot even say I have fallen in love, so I know it
must make no sense at all to you, but I like him a great deal and this seems to
me the best way to recover from the damage to my reputation. You do like Mr Fenbridge,
do you not?”

“Oh, yes,” Amelia reassured her. “Very
much. He has always been kind and thoughtful. I think it a highly sensible
match.” The sort of match she herself would have wanted before meeting Mr
Wrackley. “However, Lottie, you have always believed so strongly in marrying
for love.”

“I know. Yet, having accepted him, I feel
such relief and gratitude. I am certain it is the right decision.”

Amelia did not want to take away Lottie’s
unexpected happiness but felt she must ask, “What if you married him then fell
in love with someone else?”

“What if I did not marry him and ended up
an old maid? My parents could not bear that and nor could I. I have seen
couples who married for love but were still not happy and others who married for
practical reasons but developed a strong affection for each other. I cannot
predict the future but I believe I will have a husband I can respect and care
about and that is all I ask.”

She seemed genuinely happy about the
decision and, as she had said, marriage to a good man who cared about her was
better than no marriage. “As long as you are certain this is what you want to
do then I am happy for you.”

Lottie’s face lit up in a warm smile. “Thank
you. I am so glad you are not opposed to it. Now when Mr Wrackley proposes to
you we can be married at almost the same time. Our husbands will even be
friends so we will be able to visit each other very frequently.”

Amelia forced a smile, wishing she had not
expressed such certainty that Mr Wrackley would propose. Everything that had
seemed simple suddenly seemed so confusing. She had always been the practical
one but faced with Lottie making a sensible marriage and having to live with
the consequences of the decision for the rest of her life, Amelia was afraid for
her friend. She herself loved Mr Wrackley so why then had she reacted in such
an emotional manner to the prospect of Lottie marrying Mr Brightford?

* * *

“What a pleasant surprise,” Mr Nathaniel
Fenbridge said when the butler led Benjamin into the library to see him at Mr
Brightford’s house. He put down his book and smiled with a warmth that made
Benjamin automatically return it, his mood lifted just by seeing the other man.
“What brings you here?”

“My sister has informed me that she has
accepted your brother’s offer of marriage.”

Mr Fenbridge gestured for him to take a
seat in one of the chairs that had been upholstered in the same vibrant green
patterned cloth as the curtains. “You are not unhappy about the announcement?”

“No, not at all. Your brother has always
seemed likeable and a good man to me, but he is not local and my sister has
been through a lot this year. I just… I wanted to be certain that he will try
to make her happy. Forgive me the impertinence of the question…”

“There is nothing to forgive.” Mr
Fenbridge’s blue eyes were warm. “I can completely understand your concerns and
I hope I can remove them. My brother is a kind man, a little reserved but I can
promise that he has the very greatest affection for Miss Harrington and will do
all he can to give her a good life.”

“Thank you. You have indeed reassured me.” He
felt the need to apologise again, afraid that he might have damaged their
friendship and unable to bear the idea. “Lottie is my only sister…”

“I promise I am not offended.”

Benjamin gave a relieved nod. “Good. I
would never want that.”

“Nor I. Indeed, I am hoping that since I
live on my brother’s estate this change of circumstances will mean we will see
each other frequently in the future.”

Benjamin felt his face grow warm, pleased
by the affection in the words and embarrassed at just how much they meant to
him. “I would like that very much.”

When he left Mr Brightford’s home a little
while later Benjamin wondered if Mr Fenbridge could possibly return his
romantic feelings. The man’s words had certainly indicated a strong regard for
his company but perhaps Benjamin was just reading into them what he most wished
for. He had had infatuations before but nothing like the depth of feeling he
felt for Fenbridge.

Recalling the result of speaking of the
subject before, he could not risk saying something and being wrong. The thought
of Fenbridge looking at him with disgust and dislike made him feel ill. On the
other hand, the idea that Fenbridge might indeed feel the same way…

This uncertainty could drive a man mad. He
nudged his horse into a trot, leading the animal towards an area of countryside
where he could gallop freely and work off some of his agitation.

* * *

Amelia stared out of the sewing room
window, the view of the garden outside a lovely one, but her mind on a view of
the future that was not lovely at all.

It was only after Lottie left that Amelia
remembered that Mr Alexander Fenbridge’s estate was in some part of England
countless miles away. Lottie would always have family in Edinburgh so Amelia
had told herself Lottie would often visit them so Amelia would see her then. However,
aside from a visit of perhaps a month per year Amelia would not see her; she
would lose her best friend. Amelia might be able to visit Lottie’s new home at
first but would it be possible to continue doing so after she herself married,
assuming that that ever happened?

Amelia used to fantasise about travelling
with her husband to exotic places such as London and Paris and all the
fashionable luxuries she would be able to buy, but she had never once
considered what she might have to give up as an adult. She had known Lottie for
virtually her whole life and the thought of suddenly losing her was horrible. Of
course, she thought with a heavy sigh, she herself might never marry then she
could visit Lottie as often as possible until Lottie and Mr Fenbridge were sick
of her.

Amelia made a groan of frustration at her
thoughts and threw down her embroidery. She would take Walker to the shops and
spend more money than was prudent and then she would feel better.

Satisfied with this decision, she put it
into effect, although by the time she got to the shops they had lost much of
their appeal. Still, she found some French lace which she bought as an
engagement gift for Lottie and called at Mr Harrington’s house to give it to
her.

She walked into Lottie’s room and, before
she could say so much as a greeting, Lottie burst out, “What if Mr Fenbridge
jilts me?”

Amelia stared at her in surprise that
changed to dismay at how badly Lottie was still affected by Mr Saverney’s
treatment of her. “That is impossible.”

“Is it?” Lottie paced up and down the small
space between her four-poster bed and large oak wardrobe. “What if the fault
was not with Mr Saverney but with me? Perhaps I am just not loveable.”

“Nonsense! Mr Saverney was a weak man who
behaved abominably to you, but it could never happen again…”

“…I am not so certain…”

“… Well, I am. How did Mr Fenbridge seem
when you accepted his proposal? Happy?”

“Yes.” Lottie paused and her expression
became calmer. “He was pleased and happy.”

“There, then. Your fear was understandable
but it was also wrong, I promise you.”

Lottie smiled. “What would I do without
your friendship?”

“We will both find out when you are living
all the way down in some distant part of England,” Amelia blurted out in what
she was sure was a self-pitying tone.

“Now who is talking nonsense,” Lottie said
calmly. “I will spend half my time here visiting my family and you will spend
half your time staying with me and we will see each other just as often as we
do now.”

Amelia nodded, allowing herself to be
comforted by the idea and denying the doubts at the back of her mind.

IT WAS EARLY morning and Mr Brightford viewed the chests
being loaded onto Mr Wrackley’s coach with concern then walked back inside to
find him. Wrackley was in the dining room taking his leave of Nathan and Alex.

“I thought you had intended to stay here
until the end of the season,” Brightford said, with an unpleasant idea of where
this change of plans had come from.

“We have already made the same comment,” Nathan
told him, long legs folding at the ankles as he looked up from a dining chair
at the two men.

“I simply feel I should not leave my estate
for any longer. My sisters will also be glad to have me home.” Wrackley
fidgeted with his gloves as he spoke and the look Nathan threw Brightford said
he did not believe a word of this.

“Has someone offended you in some way?” he
queried.

Wrackley smiled. “Of course not, old
friend. I could not have been made more at home here.”

“Does this have anything to do with Miss
Daventry?” Nathan ventured.

When Wrackley looked away and failed to
answer this, Brightford said, “Perhaps I should never have spoken to you of
her. I thought you deserved a warning but maybe it was an unwanted intrusion
into a private matter that did not concern me.”

“Not at all. I will admit that I admired Miss
Daventry when I first met her but, for my family’s sake, it is necessary for my
future wife to be of superior character and morality and it is clear Miss
Daventry is not suitable after all. I am grateful to you for not allowing me to
make a mistake I would have regretted.”

“What exactly did Jolly say?” Nathan asked,
frowning.

Brightford recalled his words with a twinge
of conscience as Wrackley said, “It is not important. Being a stranger to
Edinburgh, I allowed myself to be deceived by a lovely face.”

“I like Miss Daventry and have found
nothing in her character to dislike,” Nathan said.

“I, too, have found her most amiable,” Alex
agreed from the other side of the dining table.

“But neither of you know anything of Miss
Daventry and her family beyond a handful of brief encounters,” Wrackley said. “Brightford
knows her character far better so I must accept his greater knowledge.”

“Perhaps if we sat down and discussed this
in a sensible manner…” Nathan began but Wrackley shook his head and cut across
his words.

“… I fear I have made a fool of myself and
also given Miss Daventry false hopes of my intentions. It is best for everyone
if I leave. She will doubtless find a wealthy man to marry without me here
and…” He grimaced. “Honestly, that is not something I could bear to watch.” He
patted Nathan’s arm. “I will see you and Alex when you return home and, Jolly,
I hope you will come and stay with me in the near future and allow me to return
your excellent hospitality.”

With a final tense smile to them all he
turned and strode out of the house. They followed more slowly and waved goodbye
as his carriage pulled away.

When it was out of sight Nathan turned to
Brightford and said in an unusually cool tone, “Perhaps you had better explain
exactly what you said to Wrackley and how you justified your interference…”

* * *

“You are leaving now?” Amelia said,
horrified. She had resigned herself to Lottie going but had thought it would
not be for months. They had only been engaged a matter of days. How was this
even possible?

“Not for a week.” Lottie looked excited at
the prospect, which made Amelia feel even more abandoned. “My parents and I will
travel with Mr Alexander Fenbridge to his estate so he can introduce me to his
married sisters. We will remain there and be married in about two months.”

“Why must it be so soon?” Amelia
complained. “Why can you not remain for the rest of the Edinburgh season?”

“It was actually me who asked for the
wedding to take place as soon as possible. I want to meet Mr Fenbridge’s other
siblings and see his home and begin my married life.”

“And marry before he can change his mind?”

“No.” Lottie smiled. “That was a moment of
foolishness and you helped put such fears from my mind. Edinburgh society has
just lost its appeal to me. All I care about here are my family and you. My
parents will be with me for the next few months and Benjamin will escort you
and your parents in a month’s time. Mr Fenbridge and I will marry, go for our
honeymoon and then return to Edinburgh to bring you back to stay with us again,
if you are willing, and if you are not married yourself by then.”

“I will gladly stay with you on both
occasions,” Amelia said, cheered by this demonstration that she was still an
important part of Lottie’s life. “And it certainly does not seem as if I shall
be married for the foreseeable future.”

“You have not seen Mr Wrackley lately?”

“Not for two weeks. Perhaps he has met
someone else.”

“Then he is a feckless fool,” Lottie
declared, “and you are well rid of him.”

Amelia was just leaving when she once again
ran into Mr Nathaniel Fenbridge, who seemed to spend as much time here as she
did. They paused in the hall to greet each other and she offered her
congratulations on his brother’s marriage.

“I am delighted for him,” he responded
cheerfully. “Miss Harrington is admirable in every way and I am sure the pair
are well suited.”

She nodded, hoping his assessment would
prove correct. Striving for a tone of casual enquiry, she said, “Will Mr
Wrackley be returning home when Mr Alexander Fenbridge leaves or will he remain
in Edinburgh for a while?”

“You have not heard?” Mr Fenbridge frowned.
“Wrackley left two days ago.”

“Oh.” It should not make a difference: he
had clearly changed his mind about her. The blow should not have struck so hard
but, without even knowing it, she had still had hope that all could be resolved
between them.

“Perhaps it is unfair of me to reveal this
but I know he admired you greatly but was persuaded that your interest in him
was entirely mercenary.”

“He believed the gossip of some stranger…”

“It was not a stranger.”

Mr Fenbridge looked uncomfortable and
Amelia returned his gaze blankly. Who would Mr Wrackley trust who knew her at
all? The second blow was just as painful as the first: “Mr Brightford.”