“’Tis quite obvious you have led a sheltered life, Mrs. Harlow,” Ashbridge said, his tone patronizing. “And your husband is correct. I should not have spoken as I did. I regret doing so and beg your pardon.”
The expression on Maxwell’s face stopped Louisa from continuing any further, though it took some effort to smooth out her ruffled feathers and summon up a smile. “Apology accepted, Mr. Ashbridge,” she replied, the words souring her tongue. “It is true I am not intimately familiar with the hardships suffered by those less fortunate.”
Ashbridge merely grunted and veered the conversation toward exports and imports. Louisa, however, sensed that the mood around the table had changed. Was it disappointment or irritation that now firmed Maxwell’s jaw and tightened the skin around his eyes? As the meal progressed, Louisa said littleelse, but simply listened with half-an-ear to the complexities of business and politics. She felt, rather than saw, Maxwell’s occasional glance cast her way.
At last, in an effort to make amends, she took advantage of a lull in the conversation. “Do you travel a lot on business, Mr. Ashbridge?” she asked.
“As needed, Mrs. Harlow.” He pushed his half-finished dessert plate away and cleared his throat. “Thanks to innovators like your husband, travelling for everyone will soon be much easier. There’ll come a day, in the not-too-distant future, when one will be able to hop on a train in York or Leeds and go all the way to London or Glasgow in a matter of hours.”
“I can hardly imagine it.” Louisa dabbed a corner of her mouth with a napkin and gave Maxwell a glance. He appeared not to notice.
Ashbridge grunted, leaning a little to the side as a maid cleared away his dessert plate. “There are those who continue to proclaim against it, dear lady, but they cannot stop progress. And Britain will be at the forefront, you mark my words. Which reminds me, Harlow, I’ve invited a German acquaintance to join us on the Glasgow visit next month. He expressed an interest in ordering some of our hardware, since none of theirs quite measures up. I have no qualms vouching for him. I trust you have no objection?”
“None at all,” Maxwell replied, taking a sip of wine. “Always willing to consider foreign interests.”
“Next month?” Louisa, still clutching her napkin, regarded her husband. “What are the dates of this visit, Maxwell?”
“I’ll be leaving here on the fifteenth, I believe,” he replied, somewhat warily. “Which is a—”
“Monday.” Louisa gave a short, nervous laugh. “We’re travelling to Myddleton that day, remember? It’s Uncle Isaac’sbirthday on the twentieth, and the celebrations will be going most of the week.”
Maxwell’s face colored slightly. “Damnation! I confess it completely slipped my mind.”
“That’s quite all right. I’m sure you can change your plans.” Anxiety shortened Louisa’s breath. “You can change them, yes? Reschedule your meeting for a different date?”
Maxwell, looking rather like he’d swallowed a mouthful of vinegar, twirled his wine glass atop the table. “I’m sorry, my dear, I’m afraid I can’t. Travel arrangements have already been made and hotel rooms booked. Changing everything now would inconvenience a lot of people.”
Louisa’s throat tightened. “Then I must insist you inconvenience them. This is a family occasion, Maxwell, and an important one. Everyone will be there.”
“I know, my dear, and I apologize for my oversight.” He shot a brief, telling glance at their guest, inferring the need for decorum. “I suggest we discuss it later, all right?”
Before Louisa could respond, Clarence Ashbridge cleared his throat in an exaggerated fashion that seemed to imply he favored Maxwell’s suggestion.
“Can I not stand in for you, Maxwell?” Finlay asked.
“An excellent solution, Finlay, thank you,” Louisa replied, still looking at Maxwell. “There. I believe the problem is solved.”
“I appreciate the offer, Finlay,” Maxwell said, holding Louisa’s gaze unflinchingly, “but I absolutelyhaveto be at this meeting. It’s far too important to miss.”
Louisa parted with another nervous laugh, though she felt more like crying. “Family is more important in this case, Maxwell,” she said. “Iam more important. I would ask, therefore, that you find an acceptable solution to this… thisoversightof yours.”
Maxwell’s expression hardened, as did his voice. “And I would ask, my dear, that you remember where you are!”
The subsequent moment of silence seemed to amplify the futility of Louisa’s argument. She inhaled and closed her eyes, seeking to control her anger and disappointment. But she could not stay there a moment longer. She opened her eyes and looked straight at their guest. “I do beg your pardon, Mr. Ashbridge. What must you think of me?” She rose to her feet and threw an icy glare at Maxwell. “I fear I’m not myself all of a sudden. That being so, I think it best if I leave you gentlemen to enjoy your port. If you’ll excuse me.”
The men stood as manners dictated.
“No need for an apology, Mrs. Harlow, I quite understand.” Ashbridge inclined his head. “Thank you for a splendid evening. The meal was delicious.”
Given that the man had hardly eaten anything, it took all Louisa had not to respond petulantly. Instead, she forced yet another smile. “I’m glad you enjoyed it, Mr. Ashbridge,” she replied and glanced around the table. “I bid you all a goodnight, gentleman.”
“Goodnight, Louisa,” Finlay said, the cheer in his voice quite obviously forced.
Maxwell merely nodded but remained silent.
“Now you know why I never married,” Ashbridge said, his remark following Louisa from the room. “I have never been able to fathom female hysterics.”
Maxwell’s reply could also be heard. “My wife’s outburst was inappropriate, Ashbridge, and for that I apologize, but I wouldn’t say she was hysterical.”
