Free The Complicated Earl by Audrey Harrison Page B

drawing room I just wanted to run out screaming!”
    “How do you think I felt?” He demanded. “I come in expecting you all to be exhausted but happy and instead I am faced with a mob!”
    “Yes but a mob that you could intimidate and did from the way the conversation died at your entrance, so you must have gained some sense of pleasure out of the situation.  I would imagine that they felt as pained as you did,” Isabelle smiled up at him.
    “It did not encourage them to leave any earlier though. They stayed for a full half hour after you left! Half an hour of torture!”
    “I almost wish that I had seen it, but not quite,” Isabelle teased.
    “L augh at my misfortune would you? What kind of a friend are you?”
    “The kind that keeps your feet firmly on the ground. You are obviously not as frightening as you would like to be considered if they stayed for half an hour,” Isabelle could not resist bantering with him.
    “I keep threatening to show you how frighten ing I can be. Continue with comments like that and it will happen sooner than you think!” He replied, but he smiled with the words.
    “I sit here quaking before you,” Isabelle grinned back.
    “It seems the determination of the Arnolds on increasing our acquaintance is greater than I realised. The more I can keep them away from Sophie the better,” he said changing the subject and becoming serious.
    “I think you will have difficulty a chieving that. The acquaintance cannot be ignored especially in such a small place as Bath and surely it would create ill feeling if you stopped the girls from seeing each other?” Isabelle asked, understanding his sentiments, but not able to see a way around them without causing the antagonism of Sophie.
    “True, but I think I need to move away slightly from the public entertainments that Bath has to offer and concentrate on the private parties our other acquaintance s in Bath seem to enjoy.”
    Isabelle pulled a face, “W ell that’s a fine show of friendship I must say; you are leaving me alone to face the Arnolds!”
    “What do you mean?” came the surprised question.
    “Well while you go off to your private parties, we shall be left in the public balls with the Arnolds! Although I’m sure Mr Arnold is as good a dancer as an Earl, I wonder if he likes dancing with older ladies?” Isabelle arched her eyebrows at Tom, but almost burst out laughing at his expression of shock at her words.
    “Don’t be ridiculous! You’ll be joining us! And don’t give me any of that nonsense you would be without a partner if I was not available to dance; you were fighting off gentlemen the last time I looked!”
    “You are funny when you are angry,” Isabelle smiled, “But you are welcome to your smaller parties. I am no card player and enjoy my public entertainments. Do not include me in your little private gatherings.”
    “I would have expected nothing less that you dislike card parties. I hope I may not be accused of completely disregarding your needs when making plans for our entertainment. I would try to accommodate everyone,” he assured her.
    “Umm, why am I disbelieving? As long as you avoid the Arnolds nothing else will matter when you make your plans,” Isabelle replied unconvinced.
    “Insolent girl, do you not trust me?” The feigned look of innocence made Isabelle cover her mouth with her hand to stop herself from laughing out loud.
    “I refuse to answer that question on the grounds that I think I’ve insulted you enough this evening ,” came a strangled reply.
    They sat in a comfortable silence as the play progressed, both watching Sophie and James as much as the play, but there was nothing to see during the performance. At the interval James had considerately arranged to have refreshments brought to the box, so that the party would not need to fight through the crowds of people also seeking refreshments. As they helped themselves to the treats supplied they were interrupted by a knock on the