Putting on Airs (6 page)

     
"None of us have seen him all morning, and the servant could only say that he went into town and would not be back until after noon."

     
"Coward," Imogene mumbled.

     
"And..." Emmeline began timidly, "...I have heard that I should congratulate you on your—"

     
"Do not tell me that he announced our engagement to you all."  Emmeline only nodded.  "I cannot
believe
him!  Well, Emmeline, I want you to be the first to know that I refused him ,and that he has lied to you all."

     
Mrs. Barton had just caught up with the two girls when Imogene turned right around and rushed back into her room, closing the door behind her.  She looked feverishly at the four walls surrounding her and opened the window again, breathing the cool air.  She quickly changed out of her nightclothes and hastened outside.  But no matter how wide open the fields were, she still felt trapped, as if beyond the sky there was a ceiling coming down lower and lower, and all the trees were merely paintings on walls that were moving in closer and closer.  She fell into the tall grass and stared up at the swirling grey skies, searching in vain for one gap leading to clear blue sky.

     
"Is this all?" she thought quietly.  "I grow up, I marry someone I do not love in order to secure wealth and reputation, I have children that I do not even very much want...I give my entire life to another person whom I would rather never see again..."  She knew too well that that was the way things were supposed to be.  It had been taught to her in more ways than one over the years, and had even seen proof of it everywhere she went.  How they could all grin and bear it, she could never guess.

     
"Imogene!"  Emmeline rushed to where sister lie, a smile beaming on her face.  "Are you all right?"

     
Imogene simply sat up and looked up at her sister.  "What have you come all the way out here for?"

     
"The Coles have invited us all to supper tonight!"

     
"Really?  It will be nice to see Nell again.  Wait, when you say ‘all', does that include our cousin?"

     
"Yes."

     
"Of course...Then before we go, I shall have to set things straight with him.  If one more person were to congratulate me, I should burst into tears."  Rising, she took her sister's hand.  "God bless you for finding someone you love."

     
"Mr. Campbell
is
very critical of you."

     
"Thank you for bringing that to my attention, dear sister.  Do you know if either Mr. Cole is engaged to anyone?"

     
"No, I believe they are both bachelors."

     
"Young Mr. Cole is a good man."

     
"What are you getting at?"

     
"Nothing.  Do not mind me; I think I may be delirious."

     
"Do you need a doctor?"

     
"No, a doctor will not do.  For this delirium, there is no cure.  Though, perhaps, a mild sedative..."

------

Imogene was the first to encounter Mr. Campbell upon his return to the house.  She stood at the door, waiting for him to climb out of the carriage.

     
"Did you have a pleasant journey, sir?" she asked nonchalantly.

     
"Yes, thank you.  I was fortunate to make it back before the rain could start."  As if on cue, a gentle sprinkling of rain began to fall.

     
"Sir, did you tell everyone that we are engaged?"

     
"Yes, of course.  And I was just in town procuring your ring."

     
"
My ring?
"  Though she did not shout, her tone was enough to put Mr. Campbell on his guard.  "Sir, do you not recall our conversation last night?"

     
In order to not allow himself to be the victim this time, he matched his tone to hers.  "Madam, there can be no refusal.  We have been betrothed these many years, and now is the time."

     
"Yes, the time to relinquish it.  I cannot even see how you could still desire to marry me, anyway."

     
"This has been contracted for too long; as a man of honor, I cannot simply give it up."

     
"A contract is a piece of paper, sir.  I am talking of our happiness; I would not be happy with you, and I am certain that you would not be happy with me."

     
"I will not yield, madam.  It is only right that we should marry."

     
Feeling an oncoming headache, Imogene decided to resolve it for the moment.  "Then, sir, if you went over the contract with your barrister, you would find that there can be no wedding until both bride and groom declare they are ready.  I am not ready, sir; therefore, there will be no wedding until I agree; nor shall there be an engagement, then."

     
"I have the ring right here," he insisted, taking up a small velvet pouch.

     
Imogene stared at the pouch in fear, as though it were about to attack her.  "You are ready for it, sir, therefore you wear it.  I will have none of it."  With that, she went back into the house to prepare for supper with the Coles.                           

     
"I would be delighted, Mr. Cole," she said immediately, as if she had impatiently anticipated him.

     
"A perfect scheme, Anthony," Mr. Phillip commented.  "And I would like to reserve the first dance with Ms. Cartwright, if her cousin will allow."

     
"Take her for two dances, as you like," Mr. Campbell answered dismissively.

     
"Even better.  What do you think, Ms. Cartwright?"

     
She hesitated at her answer, somewhat surprised by her cousin's reply.  "Certainly, Mr. Cole."

     
"Come now, Henry," Mr. Phillip insisted to his brother; "Reserve a dance now before it is too late."

     
Everyone turned their attentions to Mr. Cole, awaiting a response.  Seeing all eyes on him, he reluctantly responded: "Miss Emmeline, will you oblige me?"

     
She knew it would be fine with Mr. Butler, but Mr. Cole's cold manner frightened her a little.  "O-of course, Mr. Cole.  I would be...honored."

     
Mr. Cartwright was so humored by it all, that he almost asked to reserve a dance with Mrs. Cole, but he remembered himself in time.

     
After supper, they adjourned to the music room where all accomplished musicians in the company were persuaded to play.  Mr. Cole played the pianoforte, Emmeline played the harp, Nell played the flute, and Imogene played the violin—this time well, to the delight of all the spectators.  Then, thrilled with the scheme of her little surprise, Mrs. Cole brought out music so that all the musicians could play together.  She tried to persuade them all to sing also, but that was more than any of them were willing to do.

     
By the end of the evening, Imogene was feeling better about everything.  And after they returned home, Mr. Campbell had something particular to say as they were all talking excitedly about the ball.

     
"I will not be able to attend," he said.

     
"But of course you must come, Mr. Campbell," Mrs. Cartwright tried to persuade him.

     
"That would be quite impossible, madam, since I will be leaving in the morning."

     
Imogene fixed her attention to the conversation, wanting to make sure that she would not misinterpret anything and get her hopes up.

     
"Leaving?  You mean for home?  But Mr. Campbell, you know that you are welcome to stay longer."

     
"Thank you, madam, but I really think it is time for me to leave."

     
Imogene received a very dark look from her mother, but she paid it no mind; she was already silently triumphing, having finally won the battle.  She slept better that night than she had in weeks.

     
Betrothed...
The words made Imogene suddenly realize that Mr. Campbell had said nothing about arranging a breach of betrothal.  She darted out of the room and down the stairs, but when she made it outside, the carriages were already gone down the road.  Rushing back inside, she sat down with some ink and paper to compose a letter asking if he intended to arrange a breach of betrothal, and insisting that it be taken care of as soon as possible.  After the letter was dispatched, she was once again at ease.  Mr. Campbell was gone, at least, and Mrs. Barton gone with him.  And due to his recent behavior, she was sure that her freedom was on the horizon.  All the rest of the week, she prepared for the ball by practicing
Greensleeves
on the violin so as to be ready if asked to play.  She also prepared some statements in the event that anyone asked her about Mr. Campbell.

     
As soon as the Cartwrights walked into the ball that Saturday, Phillip ordered the band to play and led Imogene to the dance floor for two dances in a row.  It was the most fun she had in weeks, able to dance and enjoy herself without any worries nagging her heart.  After dancing, she and Phillip sat out during a dance to talk.  She thanked him for the invitation and the dances, and he expressed at least twice over how glad he was that she came.  Jane arrived and found her friend immediately, but Phillip insisted that before she could be allowed to join their conversation group that she must dance with him, and Jane laughed at the playful ultimatum as he led her to the dance floor.  Imogene was in too good a humor to sit still, so she went in search of a partner as well.  Since Emmeline was sitting down to the harp for the dance, Mr. Butler obliged her as a dance partner. 

     
While dancing with Jane, Phillip discovered from her that Imogene was an accomplished violin player, so he immediately encouraged her to play a solo.  All the guests who heard her last public performance began to murmur amongst themselves, many of them deciding to head outside for some fresh air.  Imogene only smirked and took up her instrument, the bow gliding gracefully over the strings.  The notes of
Greensleeves
drew all guests back into the room, now murmuring their approval.  Everything was going splendidly.

     
...Until her brother Anthony came into the room.  He was covered in mud from head-to-toe and so inebriated that his legs swayed like blades of grass in a severe storm.  His laughter echoed off every wall and interrupted her performance.

     
"Anthony!" Mrs. Cartwright gasped.  "What happened to you?"

     
"I's jus' going out fer some fresh air," he said while still laughing.  "I fell down, ‘n' Nell's still sitting in it."

     
Imogene stung with embarrassment.  Her brother had gotten drunk, fallen in the mud, and brought her dear friend Nell down with him—the sister of the host!  And the poor girl, probably covered in mud, was still outside, for fear of entering into further humiliation.  In order to help her friend and to attempt to salvage her own reputation, she put away her violin and left the room to help.

     
When she entered the foyer, she found Mr. Cole reading a letter.  He grumbled something she could not decipher, then crumpled up the letter and threw it underfoot angrily.  Concerned, she asked if anything was wrong.  He only spat back that it was none of her business and stormed up the stairs.  He had left the crumpled paper behind, so she picked it up; she had no intention of chasing after him to return it, but had planned to at least put it away somewhere.  But driven by curiosity, she opened the letter and smoothed it out.  It was a very short message:

     
Mr. Henry Cole,

           
I highly suggest you consider leaving town, if you do not desire for me to expose