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him once or twice in London.'
'Once or twice! He was in Berkeley Street every day!'
'Georgiana! You exaggerate! The weather appears to be remaining fine, my lord, for our visit to Priory Dene tomorrow,' Isabella said rather desperately. 'We are looking forward to it.'
'I came partly to see if I could not persuade you, Lady Sharman, to join the party. Lady Fordington would be so happy to entertain you, and bade me assure you you need not go anywhere near the ruins if you should not wish it.'
Lady Sharman shook her head apologetically.
'It must seem very impolite of me not to return Lady Fordington's visit,' she said, sighing. 'I am afraid that even so short a ride in the carriage would have a disastrous effect on me. I would be prostrate for hours afterwards with one of my headaches. I do so hope your stepmother understands.'
'Of course, and she charged me to say you must not regret it, but she would be delighted to see you any time you felt strong enough to attempt the journey. She hoped if you could not drive over to see her she might come again. She took a great fancy to you and would be delighted to pursue the acquaintance.'
'As would I, for I see so few people here. Perhaps you will all come to dinner soon?'
* * * *
Lord Fordington presently took his leave and Isabella retreated to her room in an attempt to calm her tumultuous feelings. In the first place there was an unreasonable anger towards Sir Frederick, who had obviously followed her to Sussex to persist in his unwelcome proposals.
He had already shown he would not easily be deterred and she sighed at the unwelcome prospect of attempting to convince him of her determination not to accept his offer.
Then there was Lord Fordington's obvious attraction towards Georgiana. This occupied her thoughts rather more than did Sir Frederick. It was true Lord Fordington was considerably older than Georgiana, but in every other respect he would be an ideal match for her. He was rich, handsome, of an amiable disposition and yet, Isabella considered, eminently capable of controlling her starts firmly while keeping her happy. An ideal husband, Isabella thought with a sudden pang. Fortunate, oh most fortunate Georgiana, with such prospects, while she could expect nothing better than the unacceptable Sir Frederick or, and she laughed ruefully, the unsuitable William! However, remaining spinster companion to Fanny would be preferable to either of her suitors, but she knew she would find it difficult to convince anyone else she really meant it.
This was proved later in the day when Lady Sharman, having questioned Georgiana thoroughly on what she knew, attempted to persuade Isabella of the advantages of an establishment of her own.
'I shall miss you so dreadfully, my dear,' she sighed, 'but I am determined not to stand in your way. I expect Georgiana will be settled soon, certainly by next year after her come-out, and you could not wish to remain here with only my poor company!'
'But you need someone, and I need a home, and would be content, Fanny, pray believe me, to continue our arrangement, even when Georgiana marries.'
'You cannot prefer that to a home of your own!'
'Does not that rather depend on the home?' Isabella retorted rather sharply. 'I wish you would accept I can never consider Sir Frederick!'
'Is it the children? They need be no barrier, my dear!'
'It is not the children! Why, if I loved a man he could have twenty children for all I would care!'
'That would be a little excessive,' Lady Sharman said with a slight smile. 'I thought you always maintained love was not so very important,' she pointed out.
'Nor is it, but respect is! And could you have respect for Sir Frederick? Would you be willing to spend the rest of your life with him?'
'I would take anyone if I had to,' Fanny admitted frankly. 'When I accepted Sir Roderick it was in the knowledge that the man I would have preferred to marry could not afford to take me without a portion, while Sir Roderick
'Once or twice! He was in Berkeley Street every day!'
'Georgiana! You exaggerate! The weather appears to be remaining fine, my lord, for our visit to Priory Dene tomorrow,' Isabella said rather desperately. 'We are looking forward to it.'
'I came partly to see if I could not persuade you, Lady Sharman, to join the party. Lady Fordington would be so happy to entertain you, and bade me assure you you need not go anywhere near the ruins if you should not wish it.'
Lady Sharman shook her head apologetically.
'It must seem very impolite of me not to return Lady Fordington's visit,' she said, sighing. 'I am afraid that even so short a ride in the carriage would have a disastrous effect on me. I would be prostrate for hours afterwards with one of my headaches. I do so hope your stepmother understands.'
'Of course, and she charged me to say you must not regret it, but she would be delighted to see you any time you felt strong enough to attempt the journey. She hoped if you could not drive over to see her she might come again. She took a great fancy to you and would be delighted to pursue the acquaintance.'
'As would I, for I see so few people here. Perhaps you will all come to dinner soon?'
* * * *
Lord Fordington presently took his leave and Isabella retreated to her room in an attempt to calm her tumultuous feelings. In the first place there was an unreasonable anger towards Sir Frederick, who had obviously followed her to Sussex to persist in his unwelcome proposals.
He had already shown he would not easily be deterred and she sighed at the unwelcome prospect of attempting to convince him of her determination not to accept his offer.
Then there was Lord Fordington's obvious attraction towards Georgiana. This occupied her thoughts rather more than did Sir Frederick. It was true Lord Fordington was considerably older than Georgiana, but in every other respect he would be an ideal match for her. He was rich, handsome, of an amiable disposition and yet, Isabella considered, eminently capable of controlling her starts firmly while keeping her happy. An ideal husband, Isabella thought with a sudden pang. Fortunate, oh most fortunate Georgiana, with such prospects, while she could expect nothing better than the unacceptable Sir Frederick or, and she laughed ruefully, the unsuitable William! However, remaining spinster companion to Fanny would be preferable to either of her suitors, but she knew she would find it difficult to convince anyone else she really meant it.
This was proved later in the day when Lady Sharman, having questioned Georgiana thoroughly on what she knew, attempted to persuade Isabella of the advantages of an establishment of her own.
'I shall miss you so dreadfully, my dear,' she sighed, 'but I am determined not to stand in your way. I expect Georgiana will be settled soon, certainly by next year after her come-out, and you could not wish to remain here with only my poor company!'
'But you need someone, and I need a home, and would be content, Fanny, pray believe me, to continue our arrangement, even when Georgiana marries.'
'You cannot prefer that to a home of your own!'
'Does not that rather depend on the home?' Isabella retorted rather sharply. 'I wish you would accept I can never consider Sir Frederick!'
'Is it the children? They need be no barrier, my dear!'
'It is not the children! Why, if I loved a man he could have twenty children for all I would care!'
'That would be a little excessive,' Lady Sharman said with a slight smile. 'I thought you always maintained love was not so very important,' she pointed out.
'Nor is it, but respect is! And could you have respect for Sir Frederick? Would you be willing to spend the rest of your life with him?'
'I would take anyone if I had to,' Fanny admitted frankly. 'When I accepted Sir Roderick it was in the knowledge that the man I would have preferred to marry could not afford to take me without a portion, while Sir Roderick
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