Chapter 9: Vindication
The party could not come around quick enough and for once Rachel was ready to go in record time. In a simple but pretty pink dress she tapped her foot impatiently while waiting for George and her Aunt. Her Aunt generally found some excuse not to attend these events but had been pressured by the hosts into coming this time. As she calmly walked down the stairs, Rachel reflected that she ought to come out more often.
"Aunt Mary, you look just lovely!" she exclaimed. Mary raised her eyebrows laughingly.
"Oh well Rachel, one has to look fine on some occasions, remind people I am not some strange heretic spinster…" Rachel laughed.
"You certainly won't be looking like that Aunt, in no time you will have every gentleman swarming around you!"
"What nonsense, with pretty little things like you around. You are just like your father sometimes Rachel – all charm." Rachel smiled sadly, ignoring the slight pang, but fortunately was distracted by George.
"Well, what's this, I am last to arrive?" he exclaimed "Are you waiting to meet some new beau Rachel?" he asked.
"Don't be ridiculous George! I am simply excited for the party." She said, hustling them all along the corridor and out to the carriage.
As they arrived at the party, Rachel was disappointed to see none of her friends had arrived, but she didn't have to wait long. Within five minutes all four girls were seated together, huddled to exclude any errant ears. Rachel relayed every detail of what she had witnessed and was still regaled with countless questions, all of which she could answer bar one:
"Will you expose her?"
Rachel paused before answering slowly. "I don't think I will… I have told you and, well, she can hardly do any harm if she is betrothed."
"And if it is true that she has to go all the way to Scotland for a decades-old betrothal… well I rather pity her." Said Maggie, an approving look on her face.
"It doesn't excuse her behaviour but, yes I think you are right." Pen put in reluctantly.
"Well, you all are no fun!" exclaimed Helen "But, it is your secret Rachel so I suppose I will abide by your wishes. I do wish I could tell my sisters though!"
"It is not as if we have to keep it a secret for a very long time. From what her cousin said Lissa will be out of our lives rather sooner than all of us could have ever hoped!" said Rachel excitedly. Maggie rolled her eyes and Helen grinned conspiratorially at Pen.
The night passed pleasantly enough. Rachel danced with the local gentleman and even accepted Edmund's nervous requests. But her attention kept wandering back to George and Lissa who were barely apart for two minutes at a time. Rachel watched them carefully as they moved through the glass doors onto the balcony, out of her view. Perhaps Lissa was finally telling George about her betrothal!
As the dance finished, Rachel made her way discretely towards the doors, fanning herself as if she was overheated. She quietly slipped through the doors and onto the balcony but was surprised when she didn't see anybody else there. It was a bright night, the moon shining down judiciously and she decided to venture a little further... she loved gardens, it was perfectly excusable for her to wander along the path. She carefully walked down the steps and onto the gravelled circuit, stepping as lightly as she could. A gazebo emerged from the shadows and Rachel decided it might be a very pretty place to sit and cool down… or so she pretended to herself. She stopped short as she noticed it was already occupied, two people stood very close to one another, softly speaking. Rachel crept a little closer, discarding all pretence, and crouched behind the foliage of a well-trimmed hedge, straining to hear what was said.
"I have never met somebody quite like you Lissa, you really are a mystery" she heard George's distinctive voice. Lissa murmured something in reply but Rachel couldn't quite hear what was said.
"Well in my case I fear you are living up to your reputation as a heartbreaker" George replied to her murmer, Rachel scowled as she heard Lissa's tinkling laugh but again missed her reply.
"Exaggerated? I don't believe that for a second. Everybody knows a man can't resist a mystery." George whispered. Rachel strained to hear Lissa's reply but nothing was said. She carefully peered around the leaves and almost gasped aloud. Lissa was on her tiptoes latched to George like some sort of leach! And he certainly wasn't complaining, his hand was cupped gently on her cheek with the other around her waist. As Rachel saw him shift closer to deepen the kiss and she turned away abruptly, furiously. How could he! And she! She was engaged! Rachel moved hastily away from the terrible scene, hardly caring as the gravel crunched under her shoes – if it would break them apart sooner so much the better! She hurried inside and made a beeline for the ladies room, brushing aside casual greetings until she was safely alone and could breathe again. Rachel angrily dashed away tears, she felt shaky and she had no idea why. The scene of Lissa and George kissing kept replaying in her mind and she felt more and more sick each time it did, her chest aching. George was everything admirable in a person… and Lissa was the exact opposite! Lissa was a liar and George deserved far better. And he most definitely deserved the truth. Resolute, Rachel stood up and splashed her face with water. As she returned to the gathering her eyes narrowed as she saw Lissa and George chatting amiably in a group, as if they hadn't just been cavorting in the gazebo. Rachel joined the conversation just as Lissa was saying:
"It has been such lovely balmy weather these last few weeks, I can hardly believe we are already in autumn!" others nodded agreeably and without hesitation Rachel interjected
"It really has and you especially ought to soak up all the sunshine while you can Lissa, I hear they are already getting frosts in Scotland." Lissa's eyes widened as she stared at Rachel, shocked. George narrowed his eyes suspiciously, but didn't have a chance to close the conversation before another young gentleman asked:
"Scotland? And why should the weather in Scotland worry us, so far north as it is?"
Rachel laughed nonchalantly her gaze pinned to Lissa's
"Well no, it doesn't worry the likes of you and I, but Lissa will soon call the heathlands her home, given her betrothal…"
All eyes turned to Lissa, who was blushing profusely, completely at a loss. Rachel raised an eyebrow questioningly. George prompted quietly
"Lissa?"
"I…" Lissa looked at the crowd "It… was only decided recently…"
"Really?" George said darkly.
"George" Lissa said pleadingly, putting her hand on his arm "Can we speak.."
"I daresay you have revealed all you need to for tonight Lissa" interrupted George "Congratulations" he continued curtly before turning to leave.
"George, wait, I.." Lissa started, but George had already walked away. Lissa turned to Rachel, her glare like daggers.
"Rachel, may we speak privately?"
"Oh… I…" Rachel begun
"Wonderful!" Lissa said, linking her arm with Rachel's and pulling her towards a secluded alcove.
Lissa turned furiously to Rachel in their relative seclusion, "I knew you were a snake Rachel, but even for you this is low." Lissa hissed as they walked.
"Oh and I was just supposed to let you lead on one of my dearest friends was I?" Rachel pulled away from Lissa as they reached the alcove, bristling with indignation. How dare she call her a snake!
"Hah! We both know you were motivated by jealously. And how did you even find out? Weasel it out of my mother? Or cousin? I know how you love to turn on the charm Rachel, before stabbing people in the back."
Rachel looked at Lissa, astonished. "You of all people are accussing me of false charm?! If you choose to air your dirty little secrets in public arenas, is it any wonder that others should hear of them?"
"Oh so you were eavesdropping? No wonder George thinks you childish."
Rachel turned red. "Well after that scene you won't have to worry what George thinks about anybody, as I doubt he will speak to you again!"
"So it was about George!"
"I would have done the same for anybody to save them from your lies Lissa, you can't keep a betrothal a secret. I have done you a favour by taking the decision out of your hands. You will have leave us for Scotland at some point. And I for one can hardly wait." Rachel hissed.
"Now that you've told everybody I do. Any hope I had of escaping marriage to a man I have never met before is now gone, thanks to you Rachel. I hope you are happy and that one day, you get what exactly you deserve!" Lissa spun abruptly and left. Rachel blinking after her, slightly bemused. Lissa had really been trying to escape the marriage? Had she been planning on eloping? But then she would have received none of her inheritance… Rachel shook her head. No, Lissa was probably just trying to make her feel bad, to get inside her head. Well, she would not succeed.
Rachel started to move away from the alcove but was accosted by Helen.
"Well! I daresay I would have chosen a more dramatic way of revealing the betrothal, but nonetheless it was quite the delicious scene!" Helen declared delightedly. Rachel smiled weakly, but could not muster much enthusiasm while feeling so emotionally drained. All she longed for was her bed at this point.
"Yes, it just slipped out really…" she said tiredly
"Funny thing to just slip out, I hope you don't make a habit of it with other secrets." Helen responded archly.
"Never fear Helen, our secrets will always be safe with me. But I must admit, all of this excitement has made me quite fatigued… have you seen my Aunt?"
"I saw your Aunt there near the entranceway but a minute ago; but don't say you are leaving so soon!" she exclaimed.
"I think I must; but I will see you at our picnic… as certain somebody rightly said, the weather has been so fine lately, it would be terrible to waste it." Rachel mustered a sly grin for Helen before making a beeline for her Aunt.
Rachel, George and her Aunt had a quiet carriage ride home. Rachel kept sneaking glances and George, who fastidiously ignored her; and her Aunt's attempts at conversation quickly fell flat. Finally her Aunt exclaim
"Oh, very well, I give up, what on earth happened tonight, to cause such dour faces?"
George continued to look resolutely out of the window, forcing Rachel to say.
"It's nothing really Aunt, nothing to concern you." She saw George shake his head almost imperceptibly but he said nothing.
"Very well" Aunt Mary sighed, understanding that she would get no further explanation on the matter, not tonight at least.
As they arrived home George jumped out of the carriage as soon as it stopped. Rachel quickly followed, chasing him up the stairs and reaching him just before he entered his room.
"George I wanted to say!' she said breathlessly
"What Rachel?" he said angrily "What bit of salacious gossip would you like to spread now?" Rachel gasped.
"You are lucky I told you! Who knows how long Lissa would have stringed you along for…"
"Oh and you had to tell me in front of all of those people? No Rachel, you enjoy seeing people squirm, embarrassing them. You are a mean-spirited person Rachel." He said coldly. Rachel felt as if she had been slapped, she blinked away tears and said weakly.
"I didn't think… I hadn't meant to tell you in front of everybody… I had thought Lissa would say something and when she didn't. I just knew I had to tell you immediately George. I never planned..." she couldn't believe it. George hated her now, and all she had been trying to protect him. She could feel the tears coming faster now and tried to hold back a sob.
"I was just trying to protect you… I never meant to hurt you, and now you despise me." Rachel sniffed loudly, but looked up as she heard George sigh and move towards her. She felt a thrill as his warm arms surround her in a gently hug.
"I don't hate you Rachel." He said softly "I have had a tough night but… I know you would not mean to hurt me. Lissa, maybe, but not me."
"She was all wrong for you George"
"That is not for you to decide Rachel." He said, beginning to loosen his arms. Rachel looked up at his face, so close she could see his stubble, and his defined lips, he was so handsome. Without a thought Rachel rose to her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his, she felt his surprise and her heart fluttered as she felt him return light pressure before he pulled away and set her away from him.
"Rachel, we are both tired. Let's forget about tonight and retire. I am sure we will both feel our usual selves in the morning." Rachel nodded and turned away, her cheeks red. Had he meant to return the kiss? And what did 'forget about tonight' mean? Did he mean the awful scene at the ball or what had just happened? Or both? One thing was for certain. She would not get much sleep tonight.