CHAPTER XX
The last performance was approved, and all moved towards the supper-room, where Emma found herself at a table without one person to interest her. Lord Osborne was witty at the expense of a deaf old lady, and Tom Musgrave must of course be so too. Margaret, sitting beside Tom, was prepared to be as bad as either and, as the young men passed the wine, Emma was forced to exert all her powers to keep the conversation within bounds. She was much relieved when a stir was made amongst the company to leave the room. Mrs Blake and Elizabeth approached their table, the former saying:
“Miss Elizabeth wished that we might all move together.” Mrs Blake shouted in Lady F----’s ear, and they stood up, Margaret and Tom Musgrave remaining seated.
Emma spoke to Margaret. “Let us all move out together.”
“Yes, in an instant,” replied Margaret and, turning to Tom Musgrave, said something not audible to the others.
Emma lingered, and the whole party was hindered.
“Do not trouble as to Margaret. She will be only the more obstinate, if we delay. She is used to do for herself,” whispered Elizabeth, and Emma had perforce to move with the party.
On reaching the ball-room, the party was joined by Mr Howard, who began to speak with Miss Watson. At the same moment Sir William Gordon applied to Emma for the privilege of standing up with her. She could not do otherwise than accept, and in the enjoyment of the dance with a lively partner, forgot her disappointment, after seeing that Mr Howard and Elizabeth stood up together. Sir William did not return to the subject of Lady Osborne’s marriage, and Emma was almost able to persuade herself that he had spoken in jest.
As she neared the end of the set, however, Emma was recalled to anxiety. Elizabeth on passing whispered to her:
“Where is Margaret? I cannot see her.”
Emma gazed around, when the opportunity offered, without success, and then, just before the two dances ended, saw Margaret enter with Tom Musgrave, saw them sit down together, and noticed that while Margaret talked on, Tom Musgrave seemed always silent.
The dance being over, Emma sought Elizabeth.
“Can you not induce Margaret to join us, and sit with Mrs Blake?” she hazarded. “Do you not think that she has sat with Mr Musgrave too long?”
Elizabeth looked surprised.
“I do not know. I had not thought of it, but I am sure that you know best. I will try and persuade her.”
Margaret, on this occasion, was ready to do as desired, and they found chairs by Mrs Blake, who was chatting with Miss Carr.
Presently Emma saw Mr Howard coming towards their party. He was delayed by one of the officers, but was again on his way to herself, their eyes met and then--he hesitated, turned aside, and it was Lord Osborne who was addressing her.
“I want to show you something of interest in the hall, Miss Emma.”
Emma replied that they would be happy to accompany him, and looked at Elizabeth.
“No, no,” said he, “I want you to be the first to see it, and then the whole room may come.”
Emma still kept her seat, but Elizabeth said in a low voice:
“You cannot refuse, Emma.”
She rose, and they made their way out to the hall, and then stood silent. Emma was much annoyed and, gaining confidence as she spoke, asked:
“Is it the name of the object of interest, or the direction in which it lies, which your lordship has forgotten?”
“Do not be so hard,” he replied, “you are usually so good-natured. I want to speak to you.”
He said no more, and it was Emma who broke the silence.
“As there is nothing to be viewed,” she said, with the directness and sweetness of manner which Lord Osborne described as good-natured, “perhaps we had better return to Mrs Blake’s party, and you can talk to me there.”
Lord Osborne appeared much agitated. “Can you not see that I have something to say?”
Emma grew desperate.
“If you have something to say, say it, my lord.”
“Let us sit down,” he replied. “I shall talk better sitting down.”
“Then pray let us return to Mrs Blake,” said Emma again, “and find seats by her.”
She turned towards the ball-room. Lord Osborne was now to make the most serious effort of his twenty-one years.
“Miss Emma,” he said, “will you--will you be so good-natured as to be my wife?”
Emma’s surprise was great, so great that she would have found it impossible to make any immediate reply. The door behind Lord Osborne opened and Lady Osborne sailed out. She took no notice of Emma, but, as she passed her son, she commanded.
“Find Howard for me,” and crossing the hall entered her private apartment. Lord Osborne, however, remained looking at Emma, whose thoughts were now sufficiently clear to make a courteous reply possible.
“I am conscious of the honour you do me, my lord, and trust I do not pain you, but what you ask is impossible to me.”
A slight curtsy, and she turned away, leaving the young man red-faced and embarrassed, to swallow his disappointment, and to forget his mother’s commission. Emma had now but one thought, to return home with all possible despatch. She returned to the ball-room, excused herself to Mrs Blake on the grounds of fatigue, left a message to reassure Elizabeth, and hurrying up the great staircase, gained her own apartment, and re-packed her belongings, determined to get away from the Castle that night by returning in the chaise with her sisters.
Without doubt, Lord Osborne’s proposal had brought about this decision, and yet the words of Lady Osborne, and her preoccupied manner, seemed to Emma to be the cause of her own extreme longing for home and quiet. Lady Osborne had indeed spoken as if Mr Howard must necessarily be at her side, and the strangeness and restraint of Mr Howard’s own manner were perhaps to be explained by the same cause. Was it possible that Sir William Gordon was correct, and that Lady Osborne was to marry Mr Howard?
Emma debated whether she should seek out Lady Osborne to make her apologies, and explain the necessity for her returning home. She tried to arrange some words of explanation, but it was not to be done. She could not speak of Lord Osborne’s offer, and was aware that to Lady Osborne her refusal of it would appear incredible. She decided to leave without explanation, and writing a few formal words of apology, stating that she was obliged to return home, but giving no reason, she folded it into a note, and resolved to hand it to a servant at the moment of her departure, with the request that it might be given to Lady Osborne. She would remain upstairs, creep down at the last moment, whisper an explanation to Elizabeth, and at last be safe in the chaise, perhaps altogether unperceived. At length a change in the music informed her that the last dance had begun. It seemed endless, and gazing round the elegantly furnished apartment, she was driven to the consideration of what her situation would have been had her answer to Lord Osborne been different. These thoughts were a relief from the agony of her former ones, and she strove to keep her mind fixed on these less agitating ideas, as she feared that longer dwelling on the possible situation of Lady Osborne and Mr Howard would weaken her self-control, and make it impossible for her to carry out her plan with dignity.
At last the music ceased with a flourish, and then she heard voices in the hall, and going down to the head of the lowest flight of stairs, she awaited her opportunity.
She saw her sisters in their wraps and heard Elizabeth say.
“I must see Emma before we leave.”
In a moment Emma was by her side, and had hurriedly announced her plan. Elizabeth showed much surprise, but Emma only repeated that she must go home. There was further delay before Margaret could be convinced that she might not remain instead, but at length they were in the chaise, the door was shut, the horses started, and Emma sat in the darkness holding Elizabeth by the hand.