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Authors: Audrey Harrison
Tags: Nov. Rom
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trust the brother.”
“He seemed quiet, but I’m not surprised in front of you,” Isabelle teased. “Do you think he has secured Sophie’s affection in the past?” Her thoughts immediately went to consequences of such an attachment with regards to her brother.
“I did once,” Tom said candidly. “I challenged Sophie over it, but she denied it most forcefully, saying that of course she spent time with Mr Arnold, but purely as her best friend’s brother, nothing else.”
“And you believed her?” Isabelle asked, knowing full well that she would have said exactly the same if she had been challenged in such a way by either of her brothers.
“Not really,” Tom smiled at Isabelle’s expression. “Luckily I was able to take a more active role from then on in Sophie’s life and I chaperoned her more than our Aunt and I must say it had the desired effect on all the fortune hunters that had been hanging around.”
Isabelle could not help laughing at the thought. “I’m sure it did!”
“The Arnold s seemed to fade into the background and I was happy with that. Sophie did not seem too upset, which I was relieved at. I had not wanted to upset her, just protect her. I knew she was still writing to Charlotte Arnold, but I did not see any harm in that and then James appeared and her mind seemed to be agreeably engaged from then on.”
Isabelle was now even more concerned for her brother’s welfare. “Do you think she has encouraged James because she feels he is a man you will approve of? I would not like to see either enter into an attachment on those grounds. I know how much James thinks o f her and I would be saddened to think she is only with him because you approve and not because she loves him.”
T om smiled slightly. “If you had seen me at the beginning of their acquaintance, you would not be questioning me about that. I did not approve in the slightest at the start and made my feelings quite clear to both of them. To be fair to James he persisted and Sophie encouraged him, while defending him to me. I must admit I did bring her here to see if the attachment on her side was strong enough to stand being in more confined society, but it seems that I have been duped into the reintroduction of that damned family!”
Isabelle allowed the statement about confined society go without comment, she could see the reason behind the Earl’s thoughts. One thing she disagreed with him about was the level of affection towards James on Sophie’s part and now she wondered if Sophie was playing a more dangerous game than her brother realised. “I would suggest you are all politeness to the family and keep them very close to you during your stay,” she suggested.
“Why on earth would I want to do tha t?” Tom demanded.
“That way Sophie may betray what she truly f eels, as may Mr Arnold. It would be preferable than meetings going on without your knowledge.”
Tom paused before speaking. “You are right, but I’d come to the conclusion that our trip to Bath was going to be enjoyable after all and now there will be little time for pleasure being in company with the Arnolds!”
Isabelle wondered if he referred to her when he mentioned having an enjoyable stay, but chided herself on her vanity and the fact that it was becoming more important to gain approval from the man before her. Instead she offered reassurance, “Don’t worry I will support you whenever I can.”
“I insist on your su pport to keep me sane!” Tom growled.
Chapter 5
Isabelle confided her worries to Mary the followi ng morning over breakfast. It was one of the few times that she appreciated James being a late riser which gave her the opportunity of speaking frankly to her cousin. As Isabelle spoke, she did not know whether to feel reassured that her worries were not an overreaction, or even more concerned by Mary’s troubled expression. She finished her story and although she could not give any information about Sophie showing any
“He seemed quiet, but I’m not surprised in front of you,” Isabelle teased. “Do you think he has secured Sophie’s affection in the past?” Her thoughts immediately went to consequences of such an attachment with regards to her brother.
“I did once,” Tom said candidly. “I challenged Sophie over it, but she denied it most forcefully, saying that of course she spent time with Mr Arnold, but purely as her best friend’s brother, nothing else.”
“And you believed her?” Isabelle asked, knowing full well that she would have said exactly the same if she had been challenged in such a way by either of her brothers.
“Not really,” Tom smiled at Isabelle’s expression. “Luckily I was able to take a more active role from then on in Sophie’s life and I chaperoned her more than our Aunt and I must say it had the desired effect on all the fortune hunters that had been hanging around.”
Isabelle could not help laughing at the thought. “I’m sure it did!”
“The Arnold s seemed to fade into the background and I was happy with that. Sophie did not seem too upset, which I was relieved at. I had not wanted to upset her, just protect her. I knew she was still writing to Charlotte Arnold, but I did not see any harm in that and then James appeared and her mind seemed to be agreeably engaged from then on.”
Isabelle was now even more concerned for her brother’s welfare. “Do you think she has encouraged James because she feels he is a man you will approve of? I would not like to see either enter into an attachment on those grounds. I know how much James thinks o f her and I would be saddened to think she is only with him because you approve and not because she loves him.”
T om smiled slightly. “If you had seen me at the beginning of their acquaintance, you would not be questioning me about that. I did not approve in the slightest at the start and made my feelings quite clear to both of them. To be fair to James he persisted and Sophie encouraged him, while defending him to me. I must admit I did bring her here to see if the attachment on her side was strong enough to stand being in more confined society, but it seems that I have been duped into the reintroduction of that damned family!”
Isabelle allowed the statement about confined society go without comment, she could see the reason behind the Earl’s thoughts. One thing she disagreed with him about was the level of affection towards James on Sophie’s part and now she wondered if Sophie was playing a more dangerous game than her brother realised. “I would suggest you are all politeness to the family and keep them very close to you during your stay,” she suggested.
“Why on earth would I want to do tha t?” Tom demanded.
“That way Sophie may betray what she truly f eels, as may Mr Arnold. It would be preferable than meetings going on without your knowledge.”
Tom paused before speaking. “You are right, but I’d come to the conclusion that our trip to Bath was going to be enjoyable after all and now there will be little time for pleasure being in company with the Arnolds!”
Isabelle wondered if he referred to her when he mentioned having an enjoyable stay, but chided herself on her vanity and the fact that it was becoming more important to gain approval from the man before her. Instead she offered reassurance, “Don’t worry I will support you whenever I can.”
“I insist on your su pport to keep me sane!” Tom growled.
Chapter 5
Isabelle confided her worries to Mary the followi ng morning over breakfast. It was one of the few times that she appreciated James being a late riser which gave her the opportunity of speaking frankly to her cousin. As Isabelle spoke, she did not know whether to feel reassured that her worries were not an overreaction, or even more concerned by Mary’s troubled expression. She finished her story and although she could not give any information about Sophie showing any
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