Though, he could not read her feelings on the matter. Was she happy? Maybe a little. But she also seemed a little sad.
Worried, perhaps? Yes, that was probably it.
Now the second dance had come round, and Harry was determined to allay her fears. He really did think there was something between them, if he could just remove her ideas about who would be suitable. Then, she could be free to follow her inclinations and he was all but sure her inclination leaned toward himself.
Though, how to allay her concerns, as her fears were not entirely unjustified. He would not lie to her, he never would, but he must somehow convince her.
“Have I mentioned what’s gone on with Lord Melburton, the Duke of Canavan’s only son?” he asked.
“Of course you have not, Mr. Vance,” Lady Isabel said, “though I am certain you will mention it now.”
“Well, I only say, a duke’s family might seem rather unassailable, but it turns out not to be true. Melburton has fled to the continent and nobody knows what’s to be done about it. His wife has been relegated to a ramshackle cottage on the duke’s estate.”
“I see,” Lady Isabel said. “And what dreadful thing has Lord Melburton done to cause such a flight and the mistreatment of his wife?”
“Whathasn’the done? First, he gets in far too deep with gambling. You know that sort of gentleman, the deeper they get the more desperate they are for a big win and then the deeper they get. I, myself, do not gamble, as I think it a stupid pastime. Whatever my estate produces is ploughed right back into it. I just bought some neighboring land to expand what I already have.”
Harry watched Lady Isabel’s expression carefully. Was she struck by the story of Lord Melburton compared to his own habits? He could not tell.
“Surely, whatever debt the lord has got into, the duke can get him out if he wishes.”
“Perhaps that might have been the case. But it seems Melburton was desperate and took to the bottle and then made a series of rash decisions that ended very badly.”
Lady Isabel waited for him to go on, though she looked at him rather dubiously.
“The man who held the debt was a gentleman farmer from the neighborhood. Melburton went to his house very drunk, there was some sort of scuffle, and the man fell and hit his head on the corner of a desk. He is dead.”
“Dead?” Lady Isabel whispered.
“Dead,” Harry confirmed. “Melburton returned to his own house, admitted what happened to his wife, and then stole off to the continent. I do not suppose he’ll ever come back, lest he be hung for a murder.”
“But why should the duke send the lord’s wife to live in a rundown cottage? She had nothing to do with it.”
“Because the magistrate interrogated her ruthlessly, until she could not hold up anymore. She ended by telling him the truth of what happened. The duke will never forgive her for it.”
Lady Isabel’s eyes narrowed. “Mr. Vance, I believe you have invented that grim tale. Really, it is too improbable.”
“Ask around, you’ll see,” Harry said. “The news has just arrived to Town, it will not be a day before everybody is talking about it. For myself, I think the moral of the story is that one must rely on a gentleman’s character far more than his supposed circumstances. Melburton had every advantage in the world, but he was always a bit of a lout.”
Lady Isabel nodded, smiling. He could see that she did not believe a word of it, but she would. It was entirely true and had been communicated to him by his valet, who had heard it from Melburton’s cousin’s valet. Harry was confident she would be struck deeply when she understood the veracity of his tale.
After all, character was the primary thing he had going for him, and character was the primary thing Melburton had never had.
As he led her through the changes, she said, “I must thank you for the flowers, though they were not at all necessary.”
Harry understood her message well enough.I thank you as a matter of courtesy and gently remind you that there is no hope in this pursuit.
“I suppose your drawing room is filled with posies,” he said. “I imagine Lymington had the same idea.”
Lady Isabel said, “He did.”
Harry smiled, praying that Lymington had taken his advice and not sought counsel from anybody else.
Lady Isabel seemed to be thinking about something. Then she appeared very decided. “Mr. Vance, you did not happen to advise Lord Lymington regarding his bouquet?”
Harry laughed. “He did it, then? Marigold, columbine, and lavender?”
“Yes, he unfortunately did,” Lady Isabel said. “It was unkind to steer him in such a wrong direction as I am certain that was not the message he wished to send.”
