have no acquaintance in Bath, but they insisted that we could watch the dancing if nothing else, but they knew didn’t they? They knew! Well I must say this is a fine room and so many couples, I could have hardly imagined there would be so many, although my sister does live in Bath, so she writes regularly and tells me about the Assemblies, but who’d have thought so many couples. Such a good thing for young ladies don’t you think?”
During this tirade, Tom had gained an expression of barely suppressed anger. Isabelle interpreting that his feelings were not very charitable towards Mrs Arnold and her brood. When Mrs Arnold finished and finally took a breath he looked almost worried at the woman in case she needed an answer. Isabelle decided to show some compassion. She was not sure whether it was for Mrs Arnold or the Earl, but chose to help alleviate the atmosphere that threatened to descend as everyone waited to see the Earl’s response.
“ The Assemblies are very popular, most of the residents and visitors enjoy them. Have you taken any refreshments yet Mrs Arnold?” Isabelle asked politely, receiving a grateful look from Sophie.
“No not yet, but my girls are here to dance, so their need is greater than mine. Refreshments are not as important as dancing to young people don’t you find? I remember being partial to dancing myself, but then of course I met Mr Arnold and my dancing days were over!” She giggled as if she was the young woman and not a woman of over forty, who was as wide as she was tall.
T om looked even more horrified, but this time Sophie intervened. “James must dance with Charlotte; I do so want you two to get to know one another.”
James bowed politely and offered his hand to Miss Arnold. Mr Arnold moved towards Sophie. “Would you do me the honour of joining me in this dance Lady Sophie?”
Sophie smiled up at h im and he led her away. Tom took hold of Isabelle’s hand, “it is time for our second I believe,” and he forced her to follow the other pairs.
Isabelle had to really fight for control, she was desp erate to laugh and when Tom turned to face her, he caught her expression and she received the most impish grin from him. “I’m sorry, I know I dragged you here, but I could not face partnering a girl barely out of the schoolroom!”
“Don’t worry I think from the expression of relief on Miss Cecily’s face when you took hold of my hand, she did not want to dance with the fierce- some Earl, any more than you wanted to dance with her,” Isabelle laughed.
“Go d, why has that damned family come here?” Tom snapped half to himself.
“A re they so objectionable?” Isabelle asked sensing there was something that she was not aware of because of his reaction.
“Miss Arnold and Sophie have been friends for many years, they became acquainted through a relation of my mother’s and I have cursed the day they met,” Tom explained quietly as the dance progressed.
“Why?” Isabelle asked. “I can understand objections to the mother, although she seems harmless enough, just an excessive chatterbox. But Miss Arnold seemed a pleasant girl.”
The Earl looked at Isabelle as if deciding whether to carry on, but after a few moments he started to speak. “Sophie is very young for her age, you’ve probably noticed.” It was a statement more than a question and Isabelle inclined her head in agreement. “I have always tried for the best, bu t knew she would face what you and I were faced with as soon as she came out in society -the usual fortune hunters. I enlisted a sister of my mother’s to help with Sophie’s upbringing, but she was as silly as Mrs Arnold. By the time I had realised what damage she could do to a girl of impressionable age she had filled Sophie’s head with silly nonsense and had introduced the Arnolds to her. I have no real objections to the girls, they are full of harmless romantic nonsense. I should imagine all girls are at their ages, but I do not
During this tirade, Tom had gained an expression of barely suppressed anger. Isabelle interpreting that his feelings were not very charitable towards Mrs Arnold and her brood. When Mrs Arnold finished and finally took a breath he looked almost worried at the woman in case she needed an answer. Isabelle decided to show some compassion. She was not sure whether it was for Mrs Arnold or the Earl, but chose to help alleviate the atmosphere that threatened to descend as everyone waited to see the Earl’s response.
“ The Assemblies are very popular, most of the residents and visitors enjoy them. Have you taken any refreshments yet Mrs Arnold?” Isabelle asked politely, receiving a grateful look from Sophie.
“No not yet, but my girls are here to dance, so their need is greater than mine. Refreshments are not as important as dancing to young people don’t you find? I remember being partial to dancing myself, but then of course I met Mr Arnold and my dancing days were over!” She giggled as if she was the young woman and not a woman of over forty, who was as wide as she was tall.
T om looked even more horrified, but this time Sophie intervened. “James must dance with Charlotte; I do so want you two to get to know one another.”
James bowed politely and offered his hand to Miss Arnold. Mr Arnold moved towards Sophie. “Would you do me the honour of joining me in this dance Lady Sophie?”
Sophie smiled up at h im and he led her away. Tom took hold of Isabelle’s hand, “it is time for our second I believe,” and he forced her to follow the other pairs.
Isabelle had to really fight for control, she was desp erate to laugh and when Tom turned to face her, he caught her expression and she received the most impish grin from him. “I’m sorry, I know I dragged you here, but I could not face partnering a girl barely out of the schoolroom!”
“Don’t worry I think from the expression of relief on Miss Cecily’s face when you took hold of my hand, she did not want to dance with the fierce- some Earl, any more than you wanted to dance with her,” Isabelle laughed.
“Go d, why has that damned family come here?” Tom snapped half to himself.
“A re they so objectionable?” Isabelle asked sensing there was something that she was not aware of because of his reaction.
“Miss Arnold and Sophie have been friends for many years, they became acquainted through a relation of my mother’s and I have cursed the day they met,” Tom explained quietly as the dance progressed.
“Why?” Isabelle asked. “I can understand objections to the mother, although she seems harmless enough, just an excessive chatterbox. But Miss Arnold seemed a pleasant girl.”
The Earl looked at Isabelle as if deciding whether to carry on, but after a few moments he started to speak. “Sophie is very young for her age, you’ve probably noticed.” It was a statement more than a question and Isabelle inclined her head in agreement. “I have always tried for the best, bu t knew she would face what you and I were faced with as soon as she came out in society -the usual fortune hunters. I enlisted a sister of my mother’s to help with Sophie’s upbringing, but she was as silly as Mrs Arnold. By the time I had realised what damage she could do to a girl of impressionable age she had filled Sophie’s head with silly nonsense and had introduced the Arnolds to her. I have no real objections to the girls, they are full of harmless romantic nonsense. I should imagine all girls are at their ages, but I do not
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