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

  The conversation soon turned to her father talking of himself, which was not all that uncommon, or so thought Isabel with a small laugh. At least he also asked Daniel his thoughts on various topics, to which Daniel replied with enthusiasm.

  Then the conversation turned to Miss Miriam.

  “Though I would enjoy having her stay closer and thus keep me company,” Daniel said with a laugh, “she insists that a flat near Butterfield Lane would be more appropriate for her.”

  “It is a lovely area,” Isabel’s mother said. “I find the homes there to be quite nice and the location is so close to the museum.”

  The conversation continued, and Isabel noticed how there was no mention of the theater and whether or not Miss Miriam would continue in it. Yet, she supposed they still wished to keep such information secret. That did not take away from her hope to learn the decision they made, if not so much Miss Miriam, at least the decision Daniel had made.

  “As I told Daniel,” Miss Miriam said, “though this house is perfect, it is time to find one of my own. I suppose that is a dream every woman has, to have her own home, even one who is a spinster.”

  Daniel smiled at Isabel, and her stomach did a flip. It was difficult for her to keep control over the smile she returned, for looking at him made her happier than she had ever been in her life.

  The butler came rushing into the room, a worried expression on his face.

  “Thomas?” Daniel asked, clearly annoyed. “What is the meaning of this?”

  “I tried, my lord…”

  Isabel’s eyes widened when a silver-haired woman dressed in all-black entered the room. Although she had only met the woman once perhaps two years earlier and only in a rush during a party her parents had given, Isabel recognized Daniel’s mother at once.

  “Mother?” Daniel said, pushing back the chair to stand. “What are you doing here?”

  His mother sniffed derisively. “I have never been greeted with such rudeness,” she said. Her voice had a gruffness to it, much like sandpaper on wood. “Should I return this evening so you might finish with your dinner?” She looked past Daniel and studied those in attendance. “Who are these people?” She narrowed her eyes at Isabel’s father as if she was struggling to see him clearly. “Is that Mr. St. Clair?”

  “Yes, Mother,” Daniel said. When he turned toward Isabel, she could see the panic on his face. “Mr. And Mrs. St. Clair, I’m certain you have met my mother, Lady Gertrude Charmain.” Polite exchanges were made, and when the woman went to speak again, Daniel interrupted her. “Come, Mother, I will have a fire placed in the parlor. Unless you would like a bite to eat. I’m afraid we have finished dinner, but I can have a plate made up for you if you would like.”

  “Who is that woman?” she asked, motioning toward Miss Miriam.

  Isabel felt her heart sink; the ruse was now over.

  “Do you not recognize your own niece?” Isabel’s father asked with a laugh. “It is Miss Miriam.”

  Lady Charmain shook her head. “I have no niece by that name.” The room went deathly quiet, and with a trembling hand, Isabel reached for her glass of water. She wished there was some way she could help, but nothing came to mind as to what she, of all people, could do to remedy the situation.

  “Daniel? Who is she?” Lady Charmain appeared a most demanding woman.

  Miss Miriam rose from her chair. “My name is Miriam Longsford,” she said proudly. “I am a distant cousin, related to your father’s brother.”

  “I have no uncle on my father’s side,” Lady Charmain said, her eyes narrowing further. “He is an only child.”

  “What is the meaning of this?” Isabel’s father demanded. “I am not liking what I am hearing!”

  “And I thought you were away. Had you not planned another voyage to India?”

  Isabel cringed as she looked around the room. Her eyes fell on Daniel, and her heart clenched as he began to speak.

  “I have told a few lies as of late, Mother,” he said with a sigh. “Though I feel it is important that I share the truth now.”

  “Daniel, no!” Miss Miriam said, her voice pleading as the chair scraped across the floor. “Do not say another word.”

  “No. It is time.” He turned to his mother. “I was not aboard a ship bound for India. In fact, I have never been to India at all.”

  Numerous gasps echoed around the room, and Isabel bit her lip to keep herself from doing the same though she already knew this truth. “For the last four years, Miriam and I have been performing at the Royal Theater.”

  “Then this woman is not your cousin?” Isabel’s father asked in a shocked tone. His cheeks grew red with anger. “You traveled together…unaccompanied? With a woman who is of no relation and who is not your wife?”

  “It is true, Mr. St. Clair,” Daniel replied, “but only because Miriam cannot afford to journey to London on her own. I assure you I have remained a gentleman and she a lady.”

  Isabel’s mother pushed back her chair. “A woman who lives here with you?” she gasped. Then she turned to Isabel and added, “Stand up. We are leaving.”

  “Mother, please,” Isabel pleaded as she also stood. “It is not what it seems.”

  “It does not matter anymore,” her father said as he grabbed Isabel’s arm and pulled her with him toward the door. “This man has ruined his name and nearly destroyed yours. I may not be a member of the ton, but I have gained acceptance enough to know that what he has done is despicable. We are leaving. Now!”

  “No, Father!” Isabel cried as she tried to loosen his hold on her arm. “You do not understand! If you would only allow me to explain the theater…”

  He stopped and turned to glare down at her. “You knew about this?”

  She found it difficult to breathe. “Yes,” she whispered, unable to believe this horrible slip of the tongue.

  “You have shamed me and your mother,” he said. “Look at what you have done to her!”

  Isabel turned to look and was shocked to see how pale her mother was.

  “This courtship is over,” her father shouted. “Do not defy me any longer.”

  It pained Isabel no end, but she knew she could not go against her father’s wishes. When she looked at Daniel, he appeared blurry through her tears. His lies had finally caught up to him and had left only destruction in their wake. Not only had he hurt himself as well as her, but he had also hurt her parents. Her fear of displeasing them was now complete. Part of her wanted to reach out and tell Daniel she cared for him and that he should remain true to his dream. However, there was no denying that the dream they shared, the dream of being together, was over. There would be no adventures, nor would there be any talks of love.

  “I am sorry,” she said in a low voice. “There has been too much hurt caused. I have disgraced my parents…and myself. Goodbye.”

  “Isabel!” he pleaded, but her father hurried her out of the room and out to where the carriage had been brought around for them. The wind blew cold and Isabel cried as her father continued with his tirade of disapproval as they got into the vehicle. Her mother, however, remained silent, but it was clear the effect the evening had had on her, for she remained pale and unfocused.

  What was meant to be an evening of love and laughter had turned into heartache and ruin, and Isabel wondered if she would ever overcome the sadness that loomed over her.

  Chapter Eighteen

  The ride home was worse than Isabel could have ever expected. Her father berated not only her, but Daniel, as well. Not once did he allow Isabel to defend herself, and all she wished to do was crawl up into a corner of the carriage and hide away.

  “I cannot believe you would continue to accept the man’s company after learning of this travesty!” her father yelled, his voice booming in the enclosed carriage. “You were raised better than this. I thought we had taught you right from wrong, and yet, you go and do this as if you have never received a speck of instruction. I have never been so embarrassed and ashamed in my life.”
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  “But, Father,” she tried to interject only to be interrupted again.

  “Do not ‘but, Father’ me! You do know better, I have no doubt, which means that you deliberately went along with that which you knew I would vehemently disapprove. If anyone learned of this…”

  “They have yet to learn of it after four years,” Isabel argued.

  “That does not mean they will not!” her father said. “Mark my words, he will be ousted to the ton one way or another!”

  Isabel gasped. “No, Father, you mustn’t…!”

  “Oh, bother, I will not be the person to spread such things,” her father said. “You know what I feel about gossip.” Then he turned to her mother, who raised an eyebrow at him.

  “Do not look at me like that, Peter,” her mother said in an admonishing tone. “I do not participate in gossip, and you know that to be the truth.”

  “No, of course not,” he said with a sigh. “I just cannot believe that our daughter would be tied up in such scandal. You would think that she did not know better…”

  He continued to repeat almost verbatim what he had said twice before, continuing to ignore any attempt Isabel made to explain that Daniel had already said he was leaving the theater. She might not be able to advocate for his situation with Miss Miriam—even she found that to be more than a bit suspect—but he deserved recognition for wishing to make a change in his life.

  After a time, Isabel allowed her father’s voice to drone in the recesses of her mind as she wondered how Daniel was doing. She was saddened that the man had been put into the position he was currently in, but the truth was he had put himself there. Had she not warned him that something like this would happen if he was not careful? Yet, when she and her parents had left, he had a look of defeat on his face that made her want to weep.

  Then her mother said something that made her sit up in her seat. “What was that, Mother?” she asked, hoping she had not heard what she thought she had heard.

  “You really must listen better,” her mother said with a sniff. “I said that I believe your father should contact Lord Smythe first thing tomorrow and advise him that he may call over. That is, if he is still willing to do so. Honestly, we are lucky we found out when we did or you would be ostracized by all of the ton right along with Lord Charmain.”

  Panic rushed through Isabel. She did not want Lord Smythe to come calling, or any other man for that matter. The moment her father contacted the Marquess would seal her fate; she knew her father too well. To have her marry a marquess would make him proud, and he would push for it to happen sooner rather than later, before the truth about Daniel came out to the ton and the chance of her name attached to his deception increased.

  The carriage pulled up in front of the townhouse, and her father did not wait for it to stop before he threw open the door and stormed into the house.

  Isabel looked at her mother and made one last attempt to plead with her. “Mother, please,” she said. “Daniel felt horrible for his lies, regretted that he told them. He had already given his notice at the theater. He has made an attempt to right his wrongs. Mustn’t we allow him to do so? Did you and Father not also teach me trust and forgiveness?” Never had she spoken in such an abrupt way with her mother, and her heart beat against her chest for being so forward. However, she could not think of any other way to get the woman’s attention. Plus, she was now an adult and it was time she began acting like one!

  “Perhaps he was,” her mother said in curt tones. “However, do you not see you have hurt us because of that man?”

  “I?” Isabel asked as she sat back into the seat cushion. “How is it that I have hurt you? I realize I knew what he was doing, but as I said…”

  “Enough. We have been over this and there is nothing more to say about it. Your father is right; it is too late. Let us hope that Lord Smythe returns, for your sake.” She made to exit the vehicle, but Isabel caught her arm.

  “I will drive the man away,” she said with vehemence.

  Her mother’s eyes went wide and she gasped as she fell back into the seat in apparent shock. For a moment, Isabel worried she had gone too far, but she could not stop now.

  Courage had never been her forte, so she had to jump in with both feet, as the saying went. “I care only for Daniel and no one else; you must understand that.”

  Her mother studied her for a moment and then took Isabel’s hand. “You are young and full of ideas and dreams that you will realize later in life were not meant to be. We all have had dreams, but rarely are we able to realize them, for we learn that other things become much more important. You were meant to marry, have children, and run a home. Anything else is only folly.” She patted Isabel’s hand. “Now, come, let us go inside before we get too cold. You have had an upsetting evening and should get some rest.”

  Before her mother could leave the carriage, Isabel had to try once more to get the woman to understand. “Mother, I do not deny that what Daniel did was wrong, for he told lies—many lies. And I should have been honest, as well. In life, mistakes are made, but is there no such thing as forgiveness? Should he not be allowed to redeem himself? Let him show you and Father that he is a good man.”

  “Your father has made his intentions clear already,” her mother said. “Come and we will speak of it no more.” With that, her mother alighted from the carriage.

  Isabel sat for several moments. She wished she could simply tell the driver to return to Daniel’s home so she could speak to him, but if she did so, it would only deepen the shame she had brought upon her parents.

  “Miss?” the driver asked meekly as he looked in through the carriage door. “Are you all right?”

  “Yes. I’m sorry,” she replied as she allowed him to help her onto the footpath.

  As soon as she closed the door to her bedroom, she rushed to her bed and began to weep. Her parents had decided her future, and if she were honest, who else could she blame but herself?

  ***

  After Isabel and her parents left, Daniel went to the parlor and poured himself a glass of port. Dropping into a chair before the low fire, he nursed his drink and thought on the night’s events.

  How could things have gone so horribly wrong? he wondered.

  When Mr. St. Clair had dragged Isabel from the house, what Daniel had wanted to do was rush out the door and chase after her. However, he had been much too shocked at what had taken place to move. Not to mention his mother needing consoling and his desire to speak to Miriam, who had left immediately after Isabel. He had been caught up in a whirlwind with nowhere to land safely once it came to a stop.

  His mother came into the room and took the seat opposite him. “So, tell me how all this came about.”

  Daniel sighed. It was time to tell the truth. “It began several years ago, when I became interested in the theater. You remember Mr. Hamilton?”

  “I believe so,” his mother replied. “He was that nice man who owned the shop from where your father purchased his clothing.”

  “That is he. Well, as it was, he had been engaged to create the costumes for a play that was in stages of rehearsal, and I overheard him discussing it one day when I went to order a new coat. I was able to persuade him to allow me to go with him when he delivered a new set of robes, which is how I became acquainted with a Mr. Silverton.”

  “That loud man who runs the Royal Theater?”

  “The same. Well, we became acquainted and he invited me to watch from backstage, and I was immediately drawn in by all that was happening. Soon, I was visiting every night and lending aid to whomever needed help. No one knew who I was, and I enjoyed the anonymity.”

  His mother shook her head. “It sounds more an infatuation with a lowly crowd to me.”

  “What we believe we know of those in the theater is completely wrong, Mother. They are a group of lovely people who are very talented. You have no idea what it takes to act onstage.” He sighed when his mother pursed her lips and said nothing. “From there, I began studying
the various techniques of acting, for which I found I have a natural knack. Then, when the lead man broke his leg, I was asked to take his place. And I have been involved every season since.”

  “I cannot believe you have been able to keep such a secret for so long.”

  He chuckled. “It was easy to say I was abroad during the times I was onstage, and it is quite easy to disguise who I am with makeup and costumes. No one had ever recognized me, though I recognized many in the audience. It was a thrilling game to play, and I’m sad to see it come to an end, but I’m willing to give it all up for Isabel.”

  “Why did you never tell me about these antics of yours? I am your mother; you should be able to trust me to keep your secret.”

  “I worried you would be angry with me. That I somehow disgraced you. That I failed to follow in a life of which Father would approve. I did not want to be the source of gossip for the ton, or more importantly that you would be tied to that source. However, those fears have led me to hurt so many people. You, Miriam, Isabel…too many people.”

  “And this Miriam? What is your relationship with her?”

  He sighed. “She is a farmer’s daughter who is a wonderful actress. Because of her station, she has little in the way of funds, so for her, travel is difficult, as is accommodation. Here, I have enough room to house the entire troupe—don’t worry, Mother,” he added with a laugh when her eyes went wide, “I have never offered the house to anyone else. She has her room and she pays me a small amount of rent from her pay every week while she is here, but only because she insisted. Otherwise, we are simply friends and nothing more.”

  “And what will happen now?”

  He stood, poured his mother a sherry, and returned to hand her the glass. She took it readily, which showed how upset she truly was.

  “I have already given notice to leave the play,” he answered. “I will attempt to speak to Mr. St. Clair, to beg his forgiveness and hopefully be able to court his daughter. Beyond that, I do not know.”