Page 18 of Tamed By a Passionate Lady
Adaline smiled faintly. “Do not be so hard on yourself, my dear,” she said. “You are a very agreeable young woman, and I am sure the portrait will turn out well, if only you are able to sit still.”
Adaline gazed at the young woman, feeling a wave of pity overcome her. Isabel was so fine and delicate; from what she had been told, the young woman had suffered from her affliction for all of her life, and it had obviously shaken her confidence in herself.
She studied her objectively, with an artist’s eye. Isabelwaspretty, in an understated way. She had a fine-boned face, with a delicate nose, and slightly pointed chin. Her lips were very thin, but her teeth were small, even and white.
It was her complexion which showed that Isabel was not hearty. She was so very pale, almost waxen, with no colour in her cheeks at all. Her pale blue eyes were often cloudy, too, with pain. But her dark golden hair was silky soft, her figure slender and agreeable, if a little underdeveloped.
Isabel sighed. “I am plain, and no amount of artistic skill will render me anything else, I am afraid.” Her voice dropped to a pained whisper. “No young man will ever take me seriously, Adaline. I am not marriage material, with my malady. But I am resigned to it; that it is my lot in life, to never have a family.”
Adaline gazed at her sympathetically. “You cannot know that, my dear. None of us have a crystal ball to see our futures.” She took a deep breath. “You may get better, Isabel. Already I have noticed an improvement, since you have been at Birkenhead Lodge. You are able to stay outside longer, for one thing.”
Isabel coughed into her hand. “It is only a slight improvement, I am afraid. And as soon as I leave here, to return to Liverpool, I fear it will go.” She paused. “It is quite alright, Adaline. It is how it has been all my life, and I do not expect anything different now.”
Adaline bit her lip, staring at the delicate young woman. She reallydidlike Isabel. The young woman was thoughtful, kind, and gentle, unlike her older brother.
Straight after breakfast, she had sought out her young houseguest, to see if she wanted to take the long walk along the beach they had arranged the night before. But Isabel had claimed she had not slept well for coughing, and did not have the energy today. So, instead, she had offered to sketch her in the garden. That way, Isabel could still get some refreshing air while sitting still.
To her delight, the young woman had agreed. Adaline had retrieved her sketchbook, noticing that the door to her husband’s study was firmly closed as always. James was holing himself up in his retreat, the same as he always did in the morning.
For a moment, as she had passed by it on her way to the garden, she had been tempted to knock and say good morning. To try to pretend that what had happened between them last night was gone, had never occurred.
But then, she thought of his pinched face, the look of displeasure that would surely spring into his eyes at being disturbed in his sacred space. He would not like it, and this morning, she simply did not have the will or the energy for it. It would be too awkward. She had glided by, her heart aching, her eyes heavy with tears.
“You may stay as long as you wish, you know,” she blurted suddenly to the young woman. “You are very welcome at Birkenhead Lodge. It is nice to have a lady companion. Itdoesget a little lonely in this remote spot.”
She bit her lip, regretting her impulsive words, just a little. If Isabel stayed, then her brother would stay too. And while she liked the sister, she just didn’t know how she would manage Reuben if he kept up this persistent pursuit.
She turned away quickly, as tears stung her eyes again. She was so very weary of it all.
“You do not seem yourself this morning, Adaline,” said Isabel, in a concerned voice. “Is everything quite well?”
She took a deep breath, for courage, turning back to the girl. “I am quite well,” she said slowly. “I did not sleep well last night, that is all.”
“Are you sure?” Isabel gazed at her, blinking. “I would like to think that you are my friend, Adaline. And I would like you to perceive me as one. If there is anything bothering you, I am always here for you.” She took a deep breath. “You have been so very kind to me, letting me stay in your home, and have made me feel so welcome, as if I am no bother at all.”
Adaline smiled faintly. “You are no bother, my dear. And you are very welcome.”
Suddenly, the desire to confide in someone overwhelmed her. She gazed into Isabel’s concerned, friendly face. She was sure that she could trust the young woman.
“I am a bit melancholy,” she admitted slowly. “It is something that happened last night, but it is an ongoing issue.” She took a deep breath. “I fear that my husband does not love me, and shall never love me, Isabel.”
“How can that be?” cried Isabel. “You are so lovely, Adaline! The first time that I saw you, at your wedding, I was overcome with how beautiful you are. I said to Mama that you reminded me of a Spanish queen.”
Adaline smiled. “I am no queen, Isabel. And my looks are so very different to the usual English lady. I am afraid that not everyone thinks me beautiful, by comparison.” She paused. “But thank you, for your kind words.”
Isabel frowned. “I think thatanyonemust find you beautiful,” she said, in a confused voice. “Perhaps James just needs time to adjust to married life. For you are not just beautiful, but a kind and gracious lady…”
Adaline smiled sadly. “Perhaps.”
Isabel took a deep breath. “I must admit, my own parents do not love each other,” she whispered, leaning forward. “They avoid each other, for the most part. And Mama confided in me that she did not wish to marry him – her father, my grandfather, made her do so.” She paused. “It is quite common, I suppose. But for my part, I think it is a tragedy when love is unrequited. You obviously love him, do you not?”
Adaline’s heart constricted. Tears filled her eyes again.
“Idolove him, very much,” she said, in a quiet voice. “That is why it is so painful for me, that he does not return my affection.”
“You are lovable,” said Isabel, in a firm voice. “And you are beautiful. I have noticed that Reuben is quite taken with you.” She leant forward again. “I suspect that he has feelings for you, Adaline.”
Adaline gasped. So, Reuben’s admiration had not gone unnoticed. She knew that the servants were aware of it, but she had thought Isabel as oblivious as James.
