Chapter Seven

 

Dinner that evening had been one of the most pleasant Isabel had enjoyed with her family in some time. She had found peace in her sisters, who were—for now—getting along. A heaviness seemed to have lifted from the home, but their mother remained quiet as she had for the past few months. Something was worrying the woman, but asking brought about little to no response; therefore, Isabel had given up asking long ago. When her mother was ready to share, she would and not a moment earlier.

Once dinner was completed, the family went to the drawing room, as they were wont to do. Each had her favorite activity—Hannah, of course, reading in the corner, her legs drawn beneath the blue skirts of her dress as Isabel and Juliet played a game of whist at the table that sat at the back of the room. Their mother stood at the window and gazed outside, the ribbons of her ivory dress shimmering in the candlelight. She had said very little during dinner and even less after, and Isabel was surprised when the woman requested to speak to her alone.

Juliet and Hannah exchanged quick glances, but neither argued as they retired for the evening. Isabel knew both girls would be asking for a detailed explanation in a private audience once she retired for the night.

“When your father died,” her mother said from where she continued to stare out the window. It was doubtful she could see much, as the sun had set not an hour earlier, but Isabel did not ask. “I had made a promise to keep Scarlett Hall in order until the day Nathaniel came of age.” She shook her head, the light reflecting off the silver pins she wore in her hair. “In many ways, I succeeded, and in many I failed.”

“You have done well, Mother,” Isabel said. She stood and walked over to stand beside her mother. “We are all healthy and happy, and you had no control over the death of Arthur.”

Her mother gave a brief smile. “You are not happy, are you?”

The question caught Isabel off-guard. Her mother was a widow herself; why would she ask such a thing? She of all people should know the grief of a widow.

“I will be honest with you, Isabel, for I know you can handle the truth.”

“Mother?” Isabel asked as worry coursed through her. Something terrible had to be happening for her mother to include her in her worries. “You may share anything with me, and I promise I will not disclose what you tell me to anyone.”

“I know that, my child,” her mother whispered. “It is why I must tell you that I am unhappy, as well.”

Isabel nodded. It was as she had expected all along. “It is why you have been withdrawn as of late. I spoke to Hannah and Juliet today. They have vowed to stop their bickering. If that is the cause, you have no need to worry, for it will end. Or at least they will make a better attempt to get along.”

Her mother did not respond right away but instead continued her vigil out the window. Isabel followed her mother’s gaze. She could barely make out the light of the stars and moon overhead, but otherwise all she could see was the reflection of the room behind them.

“When I first came to Scarlett Hall,” her mother said after a moment of silence, “I was taken by its beauty and size. There is truly no other place like it.”

“I agree,” Isabel said, wondering where this line of discussion was headed. “Our friends who have traveled all over the world have said the same.”

“Your father’s family built this home through hard work and honor.”

Isabel could hear the choked tone, and she placed a hand on the woman’s arm. “Mother?” she asked, worried there was more to her mother’s sentiment. “Honor is still here within these walls. It is what has held it together, and it shall remain so for centuries to come.”

Her mother spun so quickly to face Isabel that Isabel took a step back in startlement. “No,” she said. “Scarlett Hall may soon be lost.”

Isabel stared at the woman. Had she heard correctly? “L-lost?” she managed to stutter. “I do not understand. How would it be lost?”

Her mother sighed. “Since your father’s passing, debts have increased…”

Isabel forestalled her mother. “Then we shall use our allowances to help pay this debt,” she said, certain it would be more than enough. She and her sisters received a very nice monthly allowance, and Isabel also received a small stipend from her husband’s estate as a part of his will. “I imagine that the small expenditures that my sisters and I forsake will help tremendously.”

However, much to Isabel’s shock, her mother shook her head. “The debt is great. A sum not worth speaking, for it frightens me to utter the amount aloud. We have only two months in which to pay it or we lose our home.”

“This does not make sense,” Isabel said. “How long have you known of this debt?”

“For a few years now. I thought I could pay it off without seeking the aid of anyone, but I was wrong.”

It was as if the air around her had been removed and the room began to spin. How could this have happened? They could not lose Scarlett Hall; not now, nor in the future.

“No matter what attempts I have made to rectify the problems, they have only worsened.”

Isabel did not miss the despondency in her mother’s voice, and although she sympathized with the woman, she could not stop the frustration that rose in her. “You have known about this for all this time, and now, with only two months remaining, you thought to mention it? I am not a child, Mother. I have been married, so I understand something about running a household. I could have helped in some way. I am certain Arthur would have offered…”

“Yes, I know,” her mother interrupted. “I did everything I could to save our home, but you were a newly married couple and had your own family to worry about. Now, however, I have no choice but to ask you for your help.”

Isabel heaved a sigh of relief. Finally, her mother was asking for someone else to carry the burden, and she was more than happy to do what she could to help. As she mentioned to her mother, the allowances would be of great assistance, she was certain, and if there was anything else she could do, she would agree. She imagined that if she sold most of her jewelry and a few of the heirlooms she had been allowed to take with her when she returned to Scarlett Hall, perhaps that would be enough to cover the debt.

“Of course,” Isabel said with a smile. “What is it I can do?”

“His Grace has offered…no, I will restate that. I have asked His Grace to help us.”

“Laurence?” Isabel asked in surprise. She had not considered asking anyone outside of the family for help. Yet, what did that have to do with her?

“Yes. He will take care of the debt and also lend his resources and knowledge in handling your father’s businesses to get them back into order.”

Isabel smiled. “What a marvelous man he is,” she said. “And what aid can I give? Does he wish me to go with him on another outing? Or perhaps I am to join him for dinner?”

“You will accept his hand in marriage.”

Although the words were spoken softly, they had a firmness behind them that brooked no argument. Yet, Isabel could only stare at her mother in shock. “Marriage?”

“It is the only way to save our home.”

Tears of anger overwhelmed Isabel. How dare her mother do this to her! “I am to marry him?” she asked in utter astonishment. “I am to marry a man I do not love? I have not even a slight affection for him!”

“I am sorry, my dear,” her mother began, but Isabel cut her words short.

“Sorry?” she demanded. “You know my heart is broken and that I do not wish to ever fall in love or marry again!”

“I have no choice,” her mother pleaded as she made an attempt to take Isabel’s hand in hers.

Isabel, however, took another step back, wishing to put space between her and the woman who asked too much from her. “Once again I must take responsibility,” she said as she fought back the tears that welled in her eyes. “For the happiness of my siblings. While our mother runs our estate into near ruin and hides away, only to appear long enough to ask me to marry a man for whom I do not care.” She glared at her mother and refused to allow the woman’s pain to break through the wall she built around herself.

Then the truth fell on her like a grand oak toppling to the ground. The proposal might make her angry, it might make her furious, but in the end, she knew she would agree. Therefore, she straightened her back and pursed her lips. “Very well. If I accept his offer, my sisters will be cared for and Nathaniel will have a home to return to when he is of age, am I correct in saying so?”

Her mother nodded.

“If I do not, all that I care about is lost, and the lives of those I love will be destroyed.”

“I did not mean for it to come to this,” her mother said, a tear sliding down her cheek. “I had no other choice.”

“You could have sought help sooner,” Isabel said, not caring that her tone carried accusation. “You could have taken control of the spending. There is so much we would have been willing to give up in order to ease the burden, but you never informed us. Instead, you offer a plate of your troubles to me.”

“Oh, my Isabel,” her mother said in the fawning tone Isabel recognized when the woman wanted something from her. Oh, how she wished she could deny her!

“No,” Isabel seethed. “You will not find mercy from me. Not after what you have done. My plan was to grow old in this house, and now, whatever choice I make, it is I who will be thrown out of Scarlett Hall. If I say no, we lose the house and we all must find a new home. If I agree, I marry Laurence and am still forced to leave. That is my reward for my decision. Either decision sees me removed from the home I love so dearly.”

Her mother remained silent, and Isabel was glad she did, for if the woman made any other arguments, or tried to convince Isabel that the decision was some sort of wondrous sacrifice, Isabel worried she would say something she would regret later, her anger was that great.

“When does Laurence expect an answer?”

“In five nights’ time,” her mother whispered.

“I will give him my answer then,” Isabel said and then turned to head toward the door.

As she reached for the handle, her mother called out to her. “I am sorry,” she said. “I did not mean to place this burden upon your shoulders. I simply had no choice.”

Isabel did not turn when she replied. “Whether or not you meant to, the burden is now mine to bear.” She stepped through the door and closed it behind her. She stood there for a moment before what had happened came crashing down around her. However, she would not weep here in the open. She was no longer a child to throw a tantrum in the hallways as might have happened when she was younger and knew little of life. She would wait until she returned to the privacy of her rooms.

Hurrying up the stairs, she made her way to her bedroom, but when she opened the door, she halted, for there upon her bed sat her sisters in their dressing gowns.

“So?” Hannah asked with excitement. “What did Mother wish to discuss with you?”

Isabel took a deep breath. How she loved her sisters so, and because of her love for them, she could not bring herself to burden them with what had been settled upon her. “Everything is better than fine,” she replied with a forced smile. “In fact, it is nearly perfect. Now, tell me what matters are you two discussing in my bedroom?”

She joined her sisters on the bed, and they formed a circle, their legs crossed beneath them. And as they laughed and giggled and shared with one another, Isabel found her mind returning to the request her mother made of her. She struggled between being overwhelmed and being angry with the woman for putting her in such a predicament. However, as her sisters laughed and carried on, she pushed those feelings into the back of her mind, for she would rather hear their laughter and bickering than the sounds of misery that threatened to echo within the walls of Scarlett Hall.