“It is simply being practical, that is all, whereas if it were left to you, your feet would be shredded.”
“No, I should go through the connecting door to the adjoining room and leave that way.”
“But it is locked, Izzy!”
“It is, but the key is on this side. You see, I can be practical, too. Not sensible, all things considered, but practical. Sometimes.”
Sophie shook her head at her, as she emptied the last shards into the bucket, and took them out into the corridor. Returning, she heaved a sigh and set to work on the tangled heap of clothes.
“It is fortunate, perhaps, that I only have one small box with me,” Izzy said. “I usually travel with three, at least, which would have made a far more spectacular wreckage.”
“How do you keep a lady’s maid, when you treat your clothes in so cavalier a fashion?” Sophie said.
“I did not, for a long time, but Brandon is a treasure, so she is spared my worst excesses. Besides, clothes are not very satisfying. Glass… that is my favourite. Decanters, for preference, especially if full, but windows are excellent for dissipating rage. Porcelain is almost as good, then anything else breakable, and if nothing else serves, furniture. It is surprising how much damage a single small footstool can do.”
“But why do you get so angry? And why tonight?” Sophie turned away from the wardrobe, where she was attempting to hang gowns, her gaze anxious. “Is it Sydney? Are you angry with him, because he is betrothed to Ruth Plowman? It is a complication, admittedly, but I suspect you could win him back if—”
“It is not about Sydney,” Izzy said firmly. “I am not angry with him, merely… disappointed. He was such a romantic man, and now he is prepared to marry in order to acquire a field.”
Sophie chuckled, but said, “There is nothing wrong with marrying for practical reasons, Izzy. Not every match need be solely for love.”
Izzy could not in honesty deny the truth of that. “True, but… oh, Sophie, he was the very embodiment of the romantic ideal. So handsome, so delicate of frame, so ready to burst into verse at the drop of a hat. Where has that man gone? Who is this person, quite unknown to me, who plans to marry a merchant’s daughter, and all for a field?”
“Miss Plowman is… not of Sydney’s class, it is true, but she is not some simpering miss who will let him have his own way in everything. It is a sensible match, in many ways.”
“Sensible, sensible! I may marry sensibly, or you, or anyone but Sydney. He should settle for nothing less than a grand passion.” Izzy sipped her brandy thoughtfully. “I had not realised until this evening that you and he were such good friends. Or is there more than friendship between you?”
Sophie gave her a wry look. “Now, you must not be making anything of it. We have known each other a long time, that is all. Tonight we talked mostly about Miss Plowman, and what might be done to bring her around, for the two fathers are determined to see it done.”
“If you were talking about Miss Plowman, then you both found the subject highly amusing, to judge from the amount oflaughter I saw between you,” Izzy said archly. “Sophie, I will try not to build something out of nothing, but I remember the way the two of you were in town, when you hardly spoke to each other beyond the barest number of words that civility decreed. Yet this evening, your heads were together as if… well, let us simply say that you looked likeveryclose friends.”
“Oh, we are. We always were, but in town…” She abandoned the wardrobe and moved to sit on the edge of the bed. “I have always liked him… admired him, and for all the reasons you give. A romantic ideal — that is precisely it! He has always been my idea of a hero. I was not in love with him, or anything as definite as that, but I enjoyed his company, and for two pins, I could have been head over ears in love. A very little flattery would have done it. If he had ever looked at me seriously… But when the Davenports took me to London for my season, I was told very firmly that I was not to set my sights on Sydney. He was destined to make a great match to someone from a noble family. Someone better dowered than I was. If I were seen to be… close to him, it might deter more eligible ladies. Thus, I took the greatest care not to be over-friendly with him. But here, now, there are no such constraints, and we may be as friendly as we please, although they would still be displeased if we were to make a match of it.”
“But you would like to,” Izzy said softly.
“The question does not arise,” Sophie said crisply. “He still hopes to marry Miss Plowman. Besides, I cannot possibly think of my own happiness when Olly’s future is so uncertain. I wish I knew how he is getting on.”
“We could borrow horses and ride over there tomorrow, if you wish.”
“No, no, no! I would be recognised, and that might draw attention to Olly. It was awkward enough finding the Hearles here this afternoon, sitting in the saloon quite as if theybelonged there! They were not at all pleased to find me in Northumberland, I can tell you. I had to assure them that I have no intention of going to Bayton House, which is true, and that I am only here because of you, which is also true. They asked after Olly, and I told them exactly what we agreed — that he is back in England, but he was very ill and a friend has been looking after him. And I said I had no idea where he is, which is also true, because although I know where hemightbe staying, I cannot be sure of it. But the last thing I want is to draw their notice any further, or they might ask more pointed questions which I cannot answer honestly.”
“Well, perhaps I can ride over alone,” Izzy said. “It is only ten miles away, but I should enjoy the ride.”
“Alone? You should take Barty with you.”
“I hardly need a groom for propriety, Sophie.”
“For safety, then. These moors are quite wild, and who knows who might be lurking? And it will be easier for Barty to find Olly unobtrusively. Nothing you do is ever unobtrusive, Izzy dear. But are you not in a rush to leave, then? You will want to go on to Strathinver soon, I imagine.”
Izzy could not miss the wistfulness in her voice. “No, there is no rush. Besides, if Robert has changed as much as Godfrey and Sydney, it will mean nothing but more disappointment. We can stay for a few days… perhaps a week. Or I might go on alone. Mama is at Lochmaben, so I need not tear you away from your friends here.”
Sophie’s face brightened. “It would be pleasant to stay a while longer. But do you truly think they have changed so much? Perhaps these new aspects to their character were always there, but not readily visible in the frenetic social whirlwind of the season? Or perhaps the change is in you, not them.”
“Pfft! I have not changed a bit,” Izzy said robustly. “Everyone said I would become more settled, less… less readily agitated once I married, but it is not so.”
Except when she was increasing, she acknowledged to herself. Something about that state rendered her more docile, more willing to sit quietly at home, more satisfied with her life. But then, her daughters had been born and all her restlessness flew back with a vengeance.Daughters…Would she have been more settled if she had produced the expected son?
Ugh! Sentimentality again. What on earth was the matter with her?
