The Baron's Charade (Regency Stories Book 3) Read online

  “Elizabeth!” Isabel said in a loud whisper, as if anyone in the house would hear such things and run to tell her parents. “I told you that in confidence! The servants might overhear you. What if they try to alert your parents to what they have heard? Your mother will then tell my mother, who will be angry with me. Please, I do not want to fall out of her good graces.”

  “Oh, the servants would not dare say a word,” Elizabeth said as she dropped herself onto the couch. “Besides, most are too old to hear through the walls.” She laughed and then smiled. “I must ask you. Tonight, will you secure another kiss from your handsome suitor?”

  Isabel gave her friend a haughty look. What did she believe Isabel was? Some sort of hussy? “No,” she replied. “When we kissed before, I simply wanted to experience what it would be like. And though I found it wonderful, and I would like to do it again, I will not. Not again until I am married as is proper.”

  Elizabeth nodded, though she still appeared to not believe her. Well, there was nothing Isabel could do about that. Elizabeth had always been strong in her opinions, to the point that she was much too opinionated for her own good.

  Isabel glanced up at the clock on the mantle. “Should we not be leaving soon? The walk is quite far and I do not wish to be late. If we enter with the crowd, we will be lost in all those faces, but if we walk in late, all eyes will most likely turn to us.”

  “Jameson,” she said, referring to her driver, “will be back shortly from taking my parents to their dinner. Then he will take us.”

  “How is it he does this for you and does not mention it to your parents?” Isabel asked with curiosity. She doubted rather highly she herself could devise any sort of an intricate plan to sneak away from her parents; the chances were high they would catch her, and she had little courage to take those chances.

  Elizabeth glanced around—so much for her assurances that the servants would not overhear!—and then she scooted in closer to Isabel and lowered her voice. “I shall tell you a secret you must never tell another soul,” she whispered, “lest it rain all day at your wedding.”

  Wide-eyed, Isabel said, “I promise never to tell another soul!”

  Elizabeth nodded, apparently pleased with the promise. “Every night before bed, I give Jameson three kisses.”

  Isabel gasped. “No! Surely that is not true!” The man was nearly forty with a balding head and wrinkles already showing at the corner of his eyes!

  “It is,” Elizabeth said. “If it were not for Mr. Forthright, I would marry him.”

  Isabel could not believe what her friend was telling her. No woman of the ton in her right mind would give out kisses as if they were candy, not if she wished to maintain her reputation.

  Then Elizabeth burst out laughing. “Oh, come now! You do not truly think so poorly of me?” she asked. “The truth is I caught him kissing one of the maids and told him I would tell if he did not take me wherever I wished whenever I needed him, and without question.”

  “Oh, Elizabeth!” Isabel gasped. “You are horrible! Blackmailing the poor man.” Then Isabel hugged her friend. “But I do love you!”

  “And I you.” Elizabeth tilted her head for a moment before taking the glass from Isabel and setting both on the table. “Come, our carriage awaits to take you to your gentleman friend.”

  ***

  At the theater, the attendees—just as when Isabel and Elizabeth had attended previously—swarmed inside, taking every seat available. Isabel found it unbelievable how popular this particular play was. She found she enjoyed it that much more now that she was in her right mind—she was glad Elizabeth had not offered her a second glass of brandy before they left the house, for she certainly did not need to walk about intoxicated once again!

  Knowing what lay behind the curtained doorway gave it another layer of depth she had not known existed. Now she noticed the actors waiting just offstage, could see their nervous movements, and was amazed when they stepped out as if they had not been anxious just beforehand.

  When the play neared its end, Isabel shifted in her seat. Knowing what was coming only made her that much more uncomfortable, and she struggled to keep down the jealousy that threatened to overwhelm her. Although Daniel had explained that he and Miss Miriam did not truly kiss, the fact that it appeared they did was enough to make Isabel’s stomach do flips.

  On cue, Daniel took Miss Miriam in his arms, spoke the words of love for her character, and then came the long, arduous kiss.

  “It is not real,” Isabel whispered. “It is not real.” She continued the mantra until the kiss ended and then breathed a sigh of relief when the pair turned toward the audience and gave a deep bow. The audience erupted into loud applause, Isabel just as strongly as those around her, though more for her relief the kiss was over than for the performance itself. The performance was outstanding, of course, but if they removed the kiss, it would make her that much more comfortable.

  The remaining actors stepped onto the stage and also took their bows to great applause, the young boy and girl receiving the greatest. The part Daniel played was not as grand as that of the boy, but as the adult version of the boy’s character, he received a goodly amount of praise. Isabel could not help but wonder if that admiration was due to the kiss, but she pushed the silly thought away. She was only inflicting pain on herself with such thoughts, and she vowed to not allow them to get the best of her.

  It was not easy when Daniel hugged Miriam onstage and the audience erupted again, but she swallowed her anguish and joined in the applause. It truly was a fantastic performance, even better than the time before, thus it deserved its proper due. That did not mean she had to like it.

  When the actors left the stage, it was as if someone had shouted “Fire!” in the theater as everyone seemed to rise at once and began to exit the auditorium. Remaining seated beside Elizabeth, Isabel was happy to wait for the crowd to disperse before going in search of Daniel. It would have been like a salmon swimming upstream if she attempted to make her way to the curtained door that led to the backstage area.

  “Did the kiss bother you at all?” Elizabeth asked.

  Isabel shook her head. “No. I hardly took notice of it. I had forgotten it even happened until you mentioned it.” She sighed, making Elizabeth giggle. “Yes, I noticed it, and how could it not affect me? I know in my heart they are only acting, but that does not mean I must like it.”

  Elizabeth smiled and patted her hand. “One more week and this will all be over. Then you do not have to worry at all.”

  “You are right,” Isabel replied, feeling better due to the words her friend had shared. “Thank you.”

  It was not long after when a sufficient number of people had exited and Isabel was able to make her way backstage. “I will return shortly,” she told Elizabeth.

  “I will meet you in front of the theater.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small silver flask. “I brought my own company.”

  This brought about a giggle from both of them, and then Isabel headed to the stage. She smiled when she saw the young boy, who returned her wave easily.

  “Do ya wanna come backstage?” the boy asked. Apparently he remembered her.

  Isabel laughed. “Might I?”

  He shrugged. “It’d be easier than me going to find him.” He gave her a wide grin that she found most endearing.

  “Thank you,” she said, moving past the curtain on the door. The noise behind the stage was almost as loud as that of the people exiting the auditorium. People rushed from one place to another, some in costume, some in heavier work clothing. Everyone appeared happy with wide smiles. ‘The play was a success’ is what those smiles said.

  Isabel moved through the throng of people, bobbing her head around in search of Daniel. No one seemed to pay her any mind, and more than one greeted her in a friendly manner. Then she heard Daniel’s voice. She moved toward the sound, and when she rounded a corner where a pair of lamps hung from a wall, Daniel stood beside Miss Miriam as they
spoke to the man who had announced the play at the beginning and concluded it at the end.

  “Think about it, at least,” the man was saying. “You would both be more than welcome; I have never seen such a team before.”

  What is this all about? she wondered, stomping down a flare of jealousy once again. She was not going to act a complete buffoon. Either she trusted Daniel or she did not, and she chose to trust him.

  Miss Miriam turned to Daniel and said, “Do you realize what this means? Our dreams will come true if we agree!” She placed her hand on Daniel’s arm in a most intimate manner that churned Isabel’s stomach. Not wishing to witness the woman’s hand on Daniel any longer, she cleared her throat and approached the group.

  “Isabel!” Daniel said with a wide smile. “What are you doing here? I did not expect you.”

  “I thought I would surprise you,” Isabel replied. She shot a glare at Miss Miriam but tempered it quickly. She was not some young girl jealous of someone attempting to steal her best friend. “Did I interrupt? I can leave if you would like.”

  “No, please stay.” Daniel turned to the man. “Albert Dunning, Miss Isabel St. Clair. Mr. Dunning runs the Royal Theater. There is a new play planned for the summer season, and he has asked Miriam and me to read for the main parts! Is that not exciting?”

  Mr. Dunning cleared his throat. “Let me know what you want to do by next Monday. I’ll await your word.” Then he turned and walked away.

  “I thought you wanted to leave this,” Isabel said, trying to keep the sadness from her voice.

  Miss Miriam stepped up. “He has a dream, as do I. Why is it you want him to give up on his dreams?” Her tone dripped with agitation. How was it this woman could make her want to arch her back like a cat?

  “I do not advocate for him to abandon his dreams; however, he is a baron and cannot continue to live a lie.” Isabel wished she did not have to explain herself to this woman. It was hard enough to have her there while she had any discussion with Daniel, but to be in this place discussing a passion he and Miss Miriam both shared made it all the worse. “It is not good for him or his name. I’m sure he has other dreams he would like to fulfill. Plus, he has already made his decision; haven’t you, Daniel?” As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized how horrible she sounded. What kind of wife would she be? A demanding one, it seemed. Deep down, she knew it was jealousy that drove her words, but she could not have a decent conversation while this woman was around.

  “Fine,” Miss Miriam said with a jut of her chin before she turned on her heels and stormed between them and around the corner from which Isabel had come.

  “Daniel, you do not plan on staying, do you?”

  “I did consider it,” he said. He rubbed his chin. “Perhaps there is a way to make this all work together. Miriam, like me, is destined for the stage.”

  Isabel’s heart hurt hearing this man speak of that other woman, a woman with whom he spent an abhorrent amount of time. She could not bear to listen to him discuss a possible future with her. “Tell me no more,” she said. “Do what you must.” She turned to leave, but he caught her by the arm.

  “I will leave next week as promised.”

  “Do not do it for me,” she whispered, trying to fight back tears. She could not hold back the images of him remaining with the theater, of parts where he was kissing another woman, of him growing even closer to Miss Miriam. Eventually, the two would fall in love and then Isabel would be alone once again. She could not deny the looks that woman gave him; she had feelings for him, even if he could not see it.

  “I will do it for you,” he said. “Please, do not leave.”

  With her back still to him, she said, “I must leave; Elizabeth is waiting for me. We shall see you on Sunday for dinner as planned.” Then, with hurried steps, she walked away, wondering if her perfect gentleman was now not so perfect after all.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Isabel sat in her room before the vanity mirror as Caroline added the last pin to her hair. It had been extremely difficult to hide away her disappointment over the exchange she had shared with Daniel, but her mother had made no comment if she had noticed any change in Isabel. If she had, Isabel was certain the woman would have asked a mountain of questions Isabel was unwilling to answer.

  She fought the sadness that threatened to crush her. She had acted a child—no, worse than a child; she had had an outright tantrum!—and she felt nothing but shame for the manner in which she had treated Daniel. Who was she to make demands of him? Granted, she had not made any demands outright, but her tone and attitude were almost as bad. Who was this person she had become? For the former Isabel St. Clair would not have been so horrid.

  Or would she have? It was a difficult thing to look upon one’s own self and assess the person within. Had she always been fastidious? She did not believe so, but now she had to wonder. If she was, she did not like that person one bit!

  Her mother entered the room and looked her up and down, and much to Isabel’s surprise, the woman did not complain. “Yes, everything looks perfect,” she said. “You did a fine job, Caroline.” To Isabel she said, “Do not forget your wrap; it will be cold outside.”

  Isabel did as her mother said and chose a white shawl that went well with her green and white dress. As she glanced at herself in the standing mirror, she could not help but notice how the green matched the green of her eyes and complemented her red hair. It was difficult for her to admit, for she was not one for vanity, but the dress did look nice on her. She hoped Daniel would appreciate it.

  Simply thinking of Daniel caused the sadness to return, and she wished she could turn back the clock and relive their exchange at the theater. Even at that time she had known she had overstepped her bounds, and it tore at her heart to think how much she had more than likely hurt him. His expression had been enough to remind her of her cutting words, for the pain he exposed had haunted her since. She hoped for opportunity to speak with him about it alone so she could right the wrong she had done.

  However, she had to wonder if her jealousy was not somehow warranted. The closeness Daniel shared with Miss Miriam was not a natural situation; men and women simply did not become such great friends to spend such an inordinate amount of time together when they were not courting.

  Oh, this is silly, she thought. She could not help wondering if something was wrong with her in some way.

  “Mother?” she asked as they walked down the hall toward the front of the house where they would meet her father. “When you were younger, did you find yourself jealous of Father and other women?”

  “Of course not,” her mother replied. “Why would I? Has the Baron said or done something that would give you cause?”

  “Oh, no. It is just that…” She could not tell her mother the truth, so she searched her mind for another story. “The other day we went for a stroll and another woman smiled at him. Should I worry?” It surprised her how easily the lie slipped from her tongue.

  “Isabel, jealousy simply is not practical, nor is it ever warranted. If you go around growing angry at every woman who might look the Baron’s way, you will find yourself miserable all the time. That is no way to live now, is it?”

  “No, Mother,” Isabel replied with a sigh. So, she was acting the child, a child who sees the sweets a friend has are larger than her own. It was a silly way to see the world, and she knew she had to rein in the ridiculous feelings. Was she not a woman now? She never thought being an adult would be so difficult!

  “I suppose you have a lot to learn about life,” her mother said as she gave Isabel a smile.

  “Yes, I suppose I do. I’m still trying to understand the ways of men. I do find them odd at times.”

  For the first time in a long time her mother laughed. It was a joyful laugh that Isabel had not heard for some time. “It is something you will never understand, my dear,” she said, “for men are simpleminded and think only of themselves. You see, they are unable to think beyond their own needs a
majority of the time, and when they do finally see that others are in need around them, they are unsure how to administer to that need. Women, however, are able to do many things at once, which is why we have been tasked with the running of the house as well as the children and their husbands. If men were left to their own devices, the house would burn to the ground and the children would be left unfed, unwashed, and unsure what they should be doing. You will learn soon enough that it is women who run most of the world, even if it is from the background.”

  This time Isabel laughed. “Well, I must admit that I am glad to know this before I am married.”

  “Let it be one of the most important lessons I can teach you. Now come. I can explain more to you before your father arrives.”

  ***

  The lavish London townhouse in which Daniel lived was far grander and opulent than the one in which Isabel and her family currently resided. The foyer could easily have been placed in a country home with a winding staircase leading to an upper landing that looked down over the entrance. A large chandelier hung in the middle of the ceiling, at least fifty glass pendants hanging below the same number of candles. On the walls hung various paintings of landscapes and the like.

  “What a lovely home you have,” Isabel’s mother said as she dabbed at the corner of her mouth with a napkin. Dinner had been a lovely affair with peas soup and a lovely partridge with stewed tomatoes and buttered beans.

  “Thank you,” Daniel replied. “I must admit that our cook has quite a gift.”

  The candlelight highlighted the faces of those around her, and Isabel was pleased to see that everyone wore a smile. Her earlier discomfiture was now gone, replaced by a calmness she had not felt in some time. Even in the presence of Miss Miriam, she found the conversation lively and interesting. It might have helped that she had come to the conclusion that she had been wrong in her attitude toward Daniel, and she hoped they would be able to find a moment together in which to speak. She wished him to know that she wanted to encourage his passion for the theater and that she would be at his side if he chose to pursue that path. If he would have her, that is.