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

  “And if he refuses?”

  He paused, for he did not want to think of such a scenario occurring. However, the chances were high that it would. He shrugged, a feeling of defeat resting over him. “I do not know.”

  “And this Miriam? What are you planning to do with her? She cannot continue on here now that this has gotten out.”

  “No,” he replied. “She has acquired a small flat and will move there tomorrow. She is a good woman, Mother; a woman who is following a dream, just as I am.”

  “I understand,” she said with a smile. “I must admit that I’m hurt you felt the need to keep all this hidden from me. In some ways, I fear I have been too hard on you, wanting you to be like your father. Perhaps I forgot that you should be yourself instead.” She stood and embraced him.

  “I’m sorry, Mother. I truly am. I never meant to hurt you…or anyone else.”

  “Your apology has been long accepted and your infraction forgotten. Now it is up to you to pick up the pieces and move on with your life. I might be an old lady, but I am as hard as nails. You worry about what your next steps will be and I will worry about myself. Now, I suppose I will go speak to this cousin of yours.”

  This brought about a bout of laughter from them both. Daniel nodded, and when his mother was gone, he went over to his writing desk and sat in the chair. He would do as he said and seek out Mr. St. Clair to beg his forgiveness. Hopefully, if all went well, he and Isabel would soon be reunited, for he had no doubt that eventually he would ask for her hand in marriage.

  Yet, first, he would have to win back her father.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Isabel paced her room, wringing her hands in front of her. She had tried to appease her father, but her attempts had fallen on deaf ears, his insistence that what Daniel had done was unforgivable triumphing her desire to be allowed to see Daniel again. The fact was she was unskilled in making arguments, for in the past, she had simply done what she was told. Now, it came at too great a cost.

  There was hope this day, however. She had learned that Daniel had requested a meeting with her father for this morning, and she was beside herself wondering whether or not he would actually come. What if he did not? What would she do? She could not simply run away, though the idea did appeal to her for a moment. However, doing such a thing would only make matters worse.

  A distant knock at the front door made her stop and turn to listen. Unfortunately, all she could hear were muffled voices, so she walked over to the door and pulled it open a few inches and listened to see if it was indeed Daniel.

  “Mr. St. Clair is waiting for you in his office,” Humphrey, the family’s butler, said.

  She strained to listen to the reply and was pleased to hear Daniel say, “Thank you.”

  He came! she thought, though how she could have believed he would not, she did not know. Had he not been willing to give up his dreams for her?

  She waited for the office door to close before she sneaked along the hallway and down the stairs. Pressing her ear to the closed door, she heard the clink of spoons on teacups. Of course, her father would have had tea already sent up right away.

  “Please understand, Mr. St. Clair,” Daniel said. Just the sound of his voice created a pleasant shiver that ran down her spine, “my conduct was not that of a gentleman, and I am quite aware of that fact. I can assure you that I have quit the foolishness of the theater and renounced the lies I have told, and I wish to beg your forgiveness for the distress I have caused you and your wife.”

  “Though I believe you most certainly have disgraced your name, it is not for me to decide what is right or wrong for a man who is titled. That does not mean I approve, mind you, for what I lack in title, I have in land and wealth. I built up what I have from nothing, and I did it with honesty and integrity, so to see a young man who has his eye on my daughter act in such a deceitful way is not something I appreciate.”

  “I understand, sir…”

  “Allow me to finish. You have always been pleasant to my family and me, and you went out of your way to help us with our carriage when we were stuck in the mud. However, a true gentleman should never lie, nor should he allow a woman to partake in those lies.”

  “You are right, sir,” Daniel replied. The sadness in his voice caused Isabel’s heart to tighten. “And the price was costly for that lesson. But I promise you, I have learned from it.”

  Her father harrumphed. “So, you left the theater?”

  “I have.”

  The thought of Daniel being forced to leave his dream behind made Isabel sad. She should have encouraged him to stay, but instead she had allowed her jealousy over Miss Miriam to get in the way. How unfair she had been!

  “Well, then, I accept your apology.”

  Daniel let out a sigh as if relieved. “Thank you, sir. You have no idea how much this means to me.”

  “Then go and do what is right,” her father said. “May luck and good fortune come to you. I hold no more ill will.”

  Isabel had to stop herself from jumping up and down like a child at Christmas. She pressed her ear to the door again and heard what sounded like the two men standing.

  “I must check in on my wife, for she has not been feeling well these last few days.”

  “Might I make one more request, if you do not mind?”

  “Yes?”

  “Your daughter,” Daniel replied. “I do care for her, and I would hope that your clemency would extend to me resuming my courtship with her.”

  Her father did not hesitate in his reply. “Absolutely not,” he said in that tone that brooked no argument. “My daughter’s wellbeing is my first concern. I may have forgiven you your transgressions, but I cannot do the same for the remainder of the ton. How do you think others will view my daughter if it is known you are courting her after all you have done? No. I will not have it, I tell you. I am afraid that it would bring too much shame for anyone to be forced to bear, and my daughter is not strong enough to bear what you will bring to her.”

  “Please. If I must beg, I will. If I must travel any lengths to prove my sincerity, tell me how far and for how long. There is nothing I will not do to right this wrong.” His pleading twisted Isabel’s heart even tighter.

  “I do not doubt your words are genuine,” her father said, his voice not unkind. “However, Lord Smythe is calling over soon, and I do not believe it is wise you are seen here when he arrives. If you will excuse me.”

  Isabel ran and hid in an alcove down the hall just as the door opened and her father exited. Behind him walked Daniel, a look of defeat on his features. She wanted to rush out right there and then and stop him from leaving, to demand that her father allow him to call on her. However, she stood, frozen like the bust that sat on the pedestal beside her.

  The front door opened, and Isabel knew that, at any moment, Daniel would enter his carriage and the chances of her never seeing him increased.

  She had to do something!

  Glancing around, she made sure her father had not come back downstairs. When she determined he was not around, she picked up her skirts, ran to the front door, and threw it open.

  ***

  It seemed to take an eternity for Isabel to reach the front door, and when she arrived, the door felt as if it weighed as much as the townhouse itself. It would not open fast enough, and she feared Daniel would be gone before she was able to pass through.

  Once outside, she searched the many carriages that lined the street, and her eyes fell on Daniel stepping into his fine chestnut carriage, and once again, she picked up her skirts and ran down the footpath, almost colliding with an elderly couple in the process.

  “I beg your pardon,” Isabel told the couple breathlessly. She did not wait for their response, however. Instead, she ran that much harder.

  The driver was just lifting his whip when Isabel called out, “Wait!” The man looked down at her and seemed to recognize her. “I must speak to your master.” She turned to the carriage. “Daniel, please, I mus
t speak with you.”

  Daniel looked out the window quizzically before he realized who had called out to him. “Isabel? What are you doing? Does your father know you are here?”

  “No,” she replied, still attempting to catch her breath. “I heard what he told you. What are we to do?”

  He glanced around and she realized that people had stopped to stare. Opening the carriage door, he said, “Come inside out of the watchful eyes of others.”

  She did as he bade, though she knew her father would be irate if he were to learn she was alone in the carriage with a man she was forbidden to see. However, at this moment, she cared not. “We must do something, Daniel. Please, tell me what to do!”

  “I will be leaving Monday to return to Shelford,” he replied. “Perhaps we can find a way of reinstating our courtship once you have returned home.”

  “My father will never allow it,” Isabel said with a glance out the window. Her time was short, for she knew her father would be searching for her once he had checked on her mother. “I want to tell you one thing. Your dream of the theater? I never meant to encourage you to leave. I was jealous of Miss Miriam, and I thought she meant to steal you from me. It was childish and unwarranted, I know, but I could not stop those feelings from pouring forth. I know better, now. Do not ever stop pursuing your dreams, and if by chance, if fate allows, one day I shall watch you again as you perform.”

  He smiled as he took her hand in his. “I must admit that it has been a dream for so long, but now that you have come into my life, I have realized that my dreams have changed. It is you who I wish to pursue, you who I want in my life, and if it means giving up the theater, I will, for you are more important than a moment of fame onstage.”

  “Then allow me to go with you.”

  His eyes held sadness as he released her hand. “No. That type of life is not meant for a woman such as yourself. And I will not go against your father’s wishes. Go. Return home.”

  Tears filled her eyes and she wished she could jump into his arms and have him hold her. “Goodbye,” she whispered. “I will never forget you.”

  “Nor I you,” he said. He grabbed hold of her hand once more and brought it to his lips. “Until next time.”

  With a broken heart, Isabel alighted from the carriage and watched it pull out onto the street. Soon it was lost in the crowd of other carriages, so she returned to the townhouse, this time at a slower pace that matched the melancholy with which she was plagued.

  Luckily, her father was still upstairs when she entered the house, so she went to the parlor and took out her embroidery. She blinked back the tears. She should have gone up to her room where she could throw herself onto her bed and weep to ease the sorrow in her heart rather than sitting where her parents could come in at any moment.

  In less than an hour, Lord Smythe would come calling, and Isabel had no doubt that he would request permission to court her. She feared, like her mother, she would be married off to him in short order, for such a marriage would be beneficial to her and her family. Plus, it would halt any attempt on her or Daniel’s part of reinstating their courtship.

  Without thought, she pushed the needle through the cloth in an absent manner. Surely there had to be a way to make her father see reason. However, no matter how many stitches she placed in the cloth, she could not come up with a solution that was sound. It was increasingly clear; nothing could be done to rectify this travesty.

  Chapter Twenty

  It seemed only yesterday that Daniel Charmain, Seventh Baron Charmain, held the world in the palm of his hand. He was to happily leave the theater and return home to Shelford where he would begin courting Isabel. Granted, it was a courtship that was brought about by the most unusual of circumstances, but he was more than a bit pleased about it.

  Now, however, his dreams were crushed. Her father accepted the apology Daniel had offered but still refused to allow Daniel to call on Isabel. In all reality, he could simply return to the theater—Albert would allow him back without question—however, he knew how much his replacement looked forward to his chance onstage with an important role. No, it would be best for everyone if he continued with his plans to return home and never take the stage again.

  The idea of returning to focus his time on business, bookkeeping, and meetings made his insides curdle, but it was what was expected of a man in his position. It was time he lived his life as a baron and not as a second son who is allowed to live his life as he sees fit. With title comes great responsibility, and he had shirked that responsibility long enough.

  It was not as if his businesses were failing, for he had placed people he trusted in position to maintain those businesses. Not once had they failed him. However, he would more than likely have to relieve those men from those positions; there simply would no longer be a reason to keep them on if he could do the work himself. He snorted. More people to disappoint.

  His mother had already left for Shelford two days prior, and he was to leave tomorrow. Although it was unlikely that Isabel’s father would yield, Daniel would make one more attempt to see her upon their return to Eaton. He could not simply give up; he was not willing to do so. It was disappointing that his lies had brought him to this point, and although he had done the right thing by leaving the theater, it was too late. The damage was done, the consequences eternal.

  “My lord,” Thomas said with a bow, “Miss Miriam is here to see you.”

  Miriam walked into the parlor, and with another bow, the butler left, closing the door behind him. With her hands clasped in front of her, Miriam appeared uneasy, a stance he was unaccustomed to seeing when in her company.

  “I wanted to see you before I left,” she said. “There is something I must tell you.”

  He smiled as he offered her a chair. “Of course. What is it?”

  She took the seat he offered, the seat in which she oftentimes sat while they shared in a cup of tea or a measure of port. Her actions were strange, but he understood the changes that had been made. Their relationship had changed. He wished it had not, but there was no way around it.

  “When you spoke of leaving the stage,” she said, taking the port he offered her, “I grew angry, for I feared losing you as a friend as well as losing my dreams of being in the theater. I never wanted to be a burden to you, and I hope you never believe I have taken advantage of your generosity, for I did not set out to use you in any way.”

  “Of course not,” Daniel said. “I have never seen you as such. You paid your way, as well as you could, even forcing me to take your money when I did not have to. You are an honorable woman…and a very good friend.”

  “Well, I have come to realize that it was unfair the manner in which I treated you. I should not have tried to make you feel guilty for changing your dreams, for they are your dreams to change. So, I give you my heartfelt apologies for my actions.”

  He laughed. “You have nothing for which to apologize,” he said. “I understand. However, if it makes you feel better, your apology is accepted. When I went to see Isabel the other day to beg her father’s forgiveness, she spoke to me briefly. She told me to continue on with my dreams of pursuing the theater and to not allow anything to stop me.”

  Miriam raised an eyebrow. “That was very…admirable of her. And you realize she is right, of course.”

  “Indeed,” he said with a chuckle. “I knew I could never have both her and the stage, and I chose her—a decision I will never regret.”

  “Even if that means never being on stage again?”

  He nodded. “Yes, even that. I care for her so much that I would give up everything for just one more chance to see her again. Does that make any sense?”

  Miriam looked down at her hands. “It does.” When she looked up at him, her eyes were rimmed with tears. “Many years ago, I loved a man. I loved him very much.”

  “I never knew,” Daniel whispered. “I thought you set out to be a spinster.”

  “No.” This was a Miriam he had never seen before; s
he seemed weak and vulnerable. “His name was Patrick, and like myself, he was the child of a farmer. We fell in love when we were only sixteen, and we wanted to marry and have a large family.” She gave a distant smile as her thoughts turned to the past. “He had hair the color of straw and eyes bluer than the sky, and when he looked at me, it was with such love, I could not imagine my life without him.”

  Daniel was surprised hearing her story, for she had never shared it in the four years they had known each other. His heart went out to his friend as she continued.

  “An accident befell him and took his life. It shattered me, and I refused to ever love again.” She sighed heavily. “When you say there is nothing you would not do for one more chance to see Isabel, I understand more than you can imagine. For I would do that at a moment’s notice. The difference is, Daniel, Patrick will never return. It is futile for me to dwell on such a hope. However, for you, it is different. As long as Isabel lives and breathes, you must never give up hope.”

  He was surprised that he had to fight back tears for her story. “Thank you,” he whispered as they both stood and he pulled her into his arms for a tight embrace. “Thank you for the story, your friendship, for everything we have experienced together. I will never forget what you have done for me.”

  “Nor will I,” she said. “If for some reason you return, I will be onstage. Come find me.”

  “I will. I promise.”

  He walked her to the front door, and when he looked outside, he noticed how the sky had darkened, heavy storm clouds blocking out the sun and light snowflakes falling to the ground.

  Miriam stepped out and then turned back to him. “Your help with the flat? I will repay you one day.”

  “You owe me nothing,” he said. “Good luck, my friend.”

  With a nod, she turned and walked away.