An Unexpected Seduction

Rising Tensions

"You bitch!" she spat in a vehement whisper "Alex is mine, so you better stay away from him...and you a lady...don't make me laugh... I know all about your father! Being the daughter of a Lord doesn't mean a thing...all you are is destitute and desperate now!" A pang of pain mixed with anger shot through Isabella before she exclaimed "well at least I'm not a harlot, like you!" As soon as the words exploded from her mouth she regretted them instantly. She then noticed the shocked stares of both Miss Spencer and the other women that stood beside them. Giving Miss Spencer one last cutting look, she quickly left the powder-room before she had time to retaliate with another vitriol reply.

Her heart then began to beat wildly as her brain started to assimilate what had just happened. Feeling a constricting sensation in her chest she rushed toward the main entrance of the house and walked outside to take a large inhalation of breath. "I need to get away from here!" she suddenly thought. She could not face entering the house once more and encountering the wrath of either Miss Spencer or Lady Russell. The thought then hit her to escape to her cottage and with that a feeling a relief flooded her. She pondered that she could spend the night there and return after the guests' departure. Isabella had visited the cottage all but once to see what it was like, and she had been astonished at how cosy it was. Her bedroom had been decorated in warm pastel colours and the kitchen and living area were bright, airy and well furnished. It was a small dwelling, but to her, it now seemed like a refuge.

Isabella then spotted Beasley helping a lady into her carriage and quickly walked toward him "Beasley can I ask a favour of you? Could you escort me to my cottage, I feel that the bustle of the house will be too much for me to sleep there tonight" she lied. Beasley looked at her askance "Are ya sure that's wise miss? It's late and the cottage will likely be damp and cold!" "A fire will remedy that!" Isabella responded, refusing to let her plan disintegrate. She was determined to get away from the house, the thought of likely having to deal with more cruel words and curious stares making her act rashly and decisively. "I will not be dissuaded Beasley, so will you go with me?" she asked, knowing it would certainly be unwise to venture out on her own. "Right! Let me saddle a horse" he conceded after noting her defiant look.

Beasley returned and helped her to mount a grey mare. He then took the reins in one hand and held a lantern in the other as he walked into the dark night. They meandered along the narrow path that led to some of the estates nearby cottages and within twenty minutes they arrived at the small building. Isabella dismounted and moved toward a flowerpot near the door. Lifting it she took a brass key from beneath it and smiled at the small object in her hand. She had placed it there after her first visit and had hoped that no one would discover it. Admittedly she had left it as a precaution in case she ever needed an escape to the cottage, it was now a godsend.

Turning the key in the lock she entered the small dwelling and inhaled a musty smell, noting that indeed the cottage was damp from not being lived in during the winter months. Beasley looked at her oddly once more saying "Ya sure ya want to stay here Miss?". "Yes, it's just for tonight, I will light a fire and the place will be warm in no time!" she replied. "Ah let me Miss" came Beasley's voice before he entered the cottage and began to use the flame from the lantern he carried to light the coal and firewood in the hearth. Within no time it blazed into life, illuminating the room. Isabella then lit a candle from its flame and proceed to light the lanterns on the walls in turn, until the small living area was filled with light.

Smiling, she thanked Beasley for his help "I feel right at home now, I will return in the morning, thanks again". Beasley shrugged awkwardly before saying "Right ya are, well if ya have any bother, the Mc Guire's live just down the path, they are my first cousins. Tell em who ya are and they will help ya with antin ya need!". 

"Thank you Beasley that is a comfort to know. Good night!" she replied. He exited the house and Isabella locked the door behind him as he went, a feeling of slight uneasiness then beginning to creep over.

Calming herself, she thought of the alternative and smiled "this is definitely more favourable". She did not feel tired enough to venture to her bedroom and sleep,so instead she took a novel from the book shelf entitled "The Count of Monte Cristo" by Alexandre Dumas and moved to sit on one of the cushioned armchairs. As she turned the brown tinted pages of the first chapter her eyes began to grow heavy. She then noticed that the clock on the mantelpiece provided the time to be 2.30 am. Closing the book, she was intending to make her way to bed when a loud knock came to the door, making her jump in response. Her heart beat loudly in her chest and her body froze in fear before a muffled voice spoke "It's me... Alexander...let me in!" Her heart did not return to its normal pace as she slowly removed herself from the chair and moved to open the creaky wooden door. "What the devil are you doing here?" Alexander growled as Isabella's eyes fell on his aggravated expression.