Page 10 of A Counterfeit Engagement

Though Jonathan had intended to leave the Andersons to their own devices for some days, rather than immediately importuning Sophie to further their plans, he found it was not to be.

Sarah had decided that nothing would do but inviting Miss Isabel Anderson for a walk to enjoy the last of the autumn sunshine, and as Jonathan had no intention of letting his little sister walk alone, he would therefore see the family sooner than he had intended.

He had carefully cautioned Sarah against disappointment.

As they had no fixed plans and were merely going during morning visiting hours, it was entirely possible that the Andersons would not be at home at all.

Even so, he found himself more eager than he cared to admit upon reaching the rented townhouse.

The event proved Sarah’s luck to be better than his.

While Isabel was in the drawing room and delightedly accepted their invitation, Mrs Anderson was out, and Sophie was upstairs writing letters, having told her sister that she did not wish to be disturbed.

“Are you sure your sister doesn’t wish to join us?” Jonathan asked Isabel.

She shook her head. “Thank you, Your Grace, but when you have known my sister longer, you will learn that no good can come of getting between Sophie and her letters. She will be writing for half the day yet. It is very good of you to take me to the park with you and Lady Sarah, or I would not have spoken to another human being for hours!” Isabel and Sarah glanced at each other and immediately broke out into giggles.

Jonathan laughed with them. “Well, I am pleased to save you from such a terrible fate,” he said. “It is a fine morning to be walking, is it not?”

“It is, indeed,” Sarah said, and Isabel nodded happily. The day was unusually fine for the time of year, with pale sunlight shining through wispy clouds and adding welcome warmth to their exertions.

“Shall I show you my favourite walk through the park?” Isabel offered. “It has been five years since we lived in this neighbourhood, but I believe I still remember it well.”

“Yes, you must,” Sarah urged her.

“I should like to see it,” Jonathan agreed.

“Very well,” Isabel began. “First, we shall walk along the main path until we reach the second turning. We shall go to the left, where there is a fine pond we may enjoy. And when we have looked our fill, we shall follow the path around it, so we need not retrace our steps at all.”

“Very well,” Jonathan said agreeably. “I believe that is the first turning,” he added, gesturing as they passed it. “Now we may take the next turn.”

They reached it a few minutes later. Jonathan observed a gentleman and a lady standing there in conference. He was about to lift his hat to them when he recognised the lady as Mary Collins. Against his will, he realised that the gesture must not be omitted, or her suspicions would be roused.

“Jonathan!” Sarah hissed urgently. He turned to his sister and saw that she was looking at Isabel in alarm. No wonder — every trace of colour had left her beautiful face, leaving her frighteningly pale.

“Let us — let us take a different route,” Isabel said, trying to sound casual and failing badly.

By silent agreement, the Haverly siblings each took one of her elbows and walked briskly away.

A short distance on, they were fortunate enough to find a bench in a sheltered nook, and the whole party took their seats, glad to rest.

“Miss Isabel, are you quite well?” Jonathan asked softly. “When you saw Miss Collins, you went dreadfully pale. I was badly alarmed for you.”

“Miss Collins?” Isabel said in surprise. “No — it is not her. It is not that. Oh, it is foolish of me,” she gulped, and fell silent.

“I do not think you are much given to foolishness, Miss Isabel,” Jonathan said gently. “Of course, you need not tell me if you do not wish. But I should like to hear what alarmed you so badly.”

Isabel sighed deeply. “In truth, it is nothing more than foolishness,” she said.

“It is only — well. That man is Roger Webb. He is the one who abandoned Sophie when our father died. I will not be affected so, the next time I see him. It was merely the shock. I had thought he was to be my brother, I had begun to grow closer to him — and then I learned he had been a villain all along.”

“That was the man who abandoned your sister?” Jonathan asked, his voice low and tense.

Isabel nodded miserably. Her sky-blue eyes looked larger than ever, illuminated with tears. She took a steadying breath and went on.

“It was some weeks after they became formally engaged. We were all in the drawing room one morning. I was tatting some lace to add to Sophie’s trousseau, and she was trying to write a letter, while Mr Webb sat next to her and teased her so, she could scarcely write a line.

He never much liked her writing, I think.

It was something she did apart from him, not subject to his authority.

“I saw him differently back then. I thought he was utterly devoted to Sophie, excited to be a brother to me and a son to my mother. I thought he had chosen Sophie because he saw her worth — a woman of sense, wit, and good humour.

“Well. I heard a knock at the door, and we all looked up.

I shall never forget how I was glad of the interruption.

Glad of the chance for some excitement. We waited for our butler, but instead, our uncle rushed into the room without waiting to be announced.

I was so happy to see him for a moment, and then I saw his expression.

I —“ Isabel fell silent for a few moments, her throat working to keep from breaking down into sobs.

Sarah took her hand and held it in wordless comfort.

Jonathan spoke gently, his voice low. “I think it will help to tell us, if you can.”

Isabel nodded. “I am sure of it. We — we don’t often speak of it, at home.

I’ll try. My uncle broke the news to us as gently as he could, when he was under such strain himself.

He and my father had been working to develop the business together.

They had thought to better provide for Sophie and I, not to mention for my uncle’s family, once he had one.

They had taken risks, taken out loans, and all of that capital was put into stock in their warehouse. ”

Isabel took a deep, steadying breath, and forced herself to go on.

“That night, there was a fire. And my father worked so hard trying to stop it, he was running everywhere, carrying water and fighting the fire himself. My uncle, too, and every man in the neighbourhood. But it wasn’t enough.

The warehouse burned to the ground, and all their money and their investors’ money went with it.

They were still standing there when the sun came up and they knew nothing could be done.

And…and my father’s heart stopped, and he died. ”

“I’m so sorry,” Sarah said gently. “Losing a parent is terrible.” Isabel squeezed her hand tightly in silent thanks.

“It was a great loss to your family,” Jonathan said. Not all fathers , he reminded himself. One only had to hear Sophie and Isabel speak of their father to know that his death truly had been a loss to the world.

Isabel nodded. “Thank you, both of you. My poor uncle, to bring us such news, when he was still grieving himself. And then…he had to explain to us what had happened to the business. I think we had all forgotten Mr Webb was even there when he rose, and made a cold, formal apology, and left. Mr Webb never visited us at home again. He…” Isabel broke off and laughed bitterly.

“He broke off his engagement to Sophie by sending a letter the next day. I don’t think I will ever forgive him for that. ”

“No…” Sarah said, her face white and shocked.

Isabel nodded. “Yes. If the business had worked out, my father and uncle would have been wealthy men. After the fire, we had nothing. My uncle gave us all he could. It enabled us to live in a small cottage with one servant, but that was all. And when Sophie had no dowry and no prospects, Mr Webb simply disappeared.”

“I’m surprised your uncle didn’t duel him!” Sarah said indignantly. “His conduct was shameful!”

“I should rather like to duel him myself,” Jonathan said grimly. Privately, he thought duelling was rather too good for Roger Webb. Horse-whipping him sounded like a more suitable response to his actions.

“Uncle wanted to duel him,” Isabel said. “Sophie persuaded him not to. She said she had already lost her father and couldn’t lose him, too. In the end, he agreed.”

“That was like her,” Jonathan said. “I don’t think I have ever met anyone quite as level-headed as your sister.”

Isabel sighed. “I am glad of it, too. I truly don’t know what we would have done without our uncle.

But it did mean that Roger Webb was never punished for his desertion.

And since we left town only days afterward, he was able to say what he liked about the engagement and its end.

I don’t know how he represented it to the ton , but I doubt it was done honestly and fairly. ”

Jonathan looked thoughtful for a moment, trying to remember. “He did not slander your sister, at least,” he said slowly. “As best I can recall, he said rather little. It was enough that he was here, and fashionable, while you and your family were gone. No one inquired into the particulars.”

“I confess, I am not surprised,” Isabel said ruefully.

The three sat quietly together for a time, looking out over the park.

Presently, Sarah drew Isabel into conversation on calmer matters, talking of their time at the modiste and the gowns that would soon be finished.

Jonathan smiled gratefully at her. The normal, cheerful conversation was clearly doing Isabel good.

She made an effort to master herself and speak normally, and her colour quickly began to return.