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They finished lunch and then sat down to tea in the drawing room. When Emma finished explaining about Henry's proposition to the Board of Governor's, Isabel was quite impressed with the story she'd heard. She'd never thought of Henry Jekyll as capable of being such a bold and determined man.
"Henry can never do anything only half-way with second guesses. He is completely dedicated to his research." Emma said, "It is his way of dealing with difficult problems I suppose." His unbending idealism and lofty goals must have rankled the conventional thinking of the board, Isabel thought to herself.
She took hold of the tea tray and then put it aside. "Emma, did he say anything to you before this sudden vanishing act of his?"
"He only left me a note saying that he was sorry for leaving me, that he done something terrible, and he would return when he was better."
"That was all he said?"
"Well," Emma finished softly, "It said he loved me and he will always love me." Isabel smiled.
"Of course, I should have known that."
"I have a photograph of him. " Emma removed the locket from around her neck and handed it to her. "I always wear it to keep him close to my heart. Open it...isn't he handsome?"
"Yes, he always was." she looked at the picture of her cousin for a few seconds, then smiled, and returned the locket back to it's owner. As the time pasted, the conversation turned to Henry's proposal of marriage.
"...then Henry knelt down on one knee and held my hand and said, 'Miss Carew, I must know. Even if the answer is not now, not yet, but perhaps sometimes in the future...am I to have any hope of success?' Do you believe him Isabel?"
"You mean, he thought you weren't interested in courting him?"
"Exactly. His words were, 'What would a rich girl of society want with a doctor?' But I told him that the moment I laid eyes on his face, I was in love." Suddenly, there was a ring at the door, several rings, in fact. "Who might that be? I was not expecting my father until later this evening." Poole entered.
"Miss Carew, I tried telling him you were busy with a friend, but he insisted on seeing you."
"Whomever it is, it sounds important. I'll leave the room while you talk."
"No, Isabel, I'd like to have you here with me for support. I know who this man is and he's been bothering me for the past few weeks. You may show him in, Poole." He left quickly, returned, and announced the name of her visitor.
"Mr. Simon Stride to see you, miss." A tall gentleman with a rather haughty demeanor entered the room.
"You must face the facts, Emma." he said, "It's been over two months; your Dr. Jekyll is gone, and probably dead somewhere. You have to move on with your life."
"I'm fine, and yourself, Mr. Stride?" Emma responded sarcastically to his rude and abrupt manner of addressing her. She then continued with her cool reply, "Simon, you know nothing of my true feelings or you would not be standing before me with the audacity to be a judge over what I should or should not do." If Stride even had remote feelings of addressing Isabel, he certainly did not show any signs of it. She wondered if he had even noticed her sitting directly next to Emma.
"Emma, we were once such good friends. I was sure you loved me because of the extreme kindness and sweetness you'd always display towards me. But, when you accepted that_doctor_over me, I nearly--"
"Simon, I was not aware of my common courtesy to you leaving such a strong impression." she said, interrupting him.
Isabel chimed in. "Why must one assume that simply because a woman chooses to befriend a man, she is in love with him." He stared at her for a moment.
"Oh, Simon, I would like you to meet Miss Isabel Durum...Henry's cousin."
Stride looked at Isabel as if seeing her clearly for the first time. For a brief instant, he could not conceal his astonishment at the sight of this elegant creature with dark-brown hair seated next to fair-haired Emma. "How do you do, miss?" he came forward and placed a lingering kiss on the hand she had offered. She gave a little nod and quickly withdrew, he was much too familiar. It was no surprise why she did not like him. He turned back to Emma and resumed his speech,
"If you will not say that you love me; then, please, at least promise me that we will marry if the doctor fails to return."
"Even if I_did_love you, I still would not marry you and I certainly will not agree to marry you any time in the future. There are plenty of women who appear to 'enjoy' both you and your wealth. You can find one of them, I'm sure."
"No," he said, "none of those women are you nor can they ever be like you...I love you, Emma, even though you despise me."
"I would like you to leave, Mr. Stride."
"Why are you being so stubborn? You know I only want what is best for you." He could not understand why she was treating him with more indifference than usual.
"I know that some men are very fond of believing that they know exactly what is best for their lady friends," Isabel said, "But I think you need to let_Emma_decide what is best for her."
"Pardon me, Miss Durum, but what do you know of this?" He glared at her with a patronising air.
She coldly returned his gaze. "This may come as a shock to you, sir, but women have their own minds to reason with." Isabel rose and walked away with the grace of a queen to the window. He ignored her statements and resumed his speech.
"Emma, if you will not give me some encouragement that you do care, I shall get worse instead of better."
"Why would I give you encouragement??" she was growing extremely angry, "Your friend would dislike it and so would mine. My father would think it a disgrace if I accepted a man who drank all night and gambled as a way of gaining more money."
"That was to be_our_secret. I hardly think you should be speaking of this in front of your friend here--"
"Neither should_you_be speaking of this supposed 'love' you hold for me."
"Should I have_no_enjoyment in my life, Emma? What do you want me to do?"
"That is not the point. You have a conscience of your own, I suppose. The fact still remains that I will not marry you, Simon. I do not wish to hear anymore of this."
"Very well, I hope_yours_hurts you." He said coldly, pulling himself together he left the room and headed out the front door.
Emma gave a sigh once he was gone. "I apologize if he upset you. I'm rather use to his arrogant behavior myself."
"Is he insane, or hopelessly in love?" Isabel asked.
"He doesn't know what love is." Emma said. "but I think I may have been too hard on him."
"I'm sure he'll recover soon enough."
A short while later, Poole returned announcing that Sir Danvers had arrived. "I saw Simon leaving seeming rather angry. Even more so than usual. Dare I ask what that was all about?"
"Just Simon being himself, father." Emma said as she rose to greet him. Then she introduced him to Isabel. He was indeed very pleased to meet her. "One would be absolutely delighted to make the acquaintance of a lady as beautiful as you." He said with a smile.
"Now, now. You promised me that you wouldn't embarrass me in front of my friends." Emma scolded gently. "You mustn't mind my father, Isabel. He's from the old school of great charmers."
"Actually, I was one of the teachers." He said, winking.
"It's fine, Emma. I am very flattered by his compliments."
"I can see you've made my daughter feel much better, Miss Durum. I have been very worried about her."
"I'm grateful if I can be of some help, sir. I like your daughter. She is a thoughtful and amiable lady."
"And I have a new friend who is clever and witty," Emma said as she smiled warmly. Sir Danvers told about what Emma was like as a young girl. Then Isabel went on to share the story of her many visits to the Jekyll's when she was a child.
Later on, even Poole said, "I_do_recall you now, miss. What a lovely woman you have grown to be." She thanked him graciously and said how glad she was that he finally remembered her. "May I make a suggestion? Why not live here while you are in town?"
"Oh yes!! That's a wonderful idea!" Emma replied. "Someone needs to be here until Henry returns..."
"Well, I don't know about that--" Isabel began. Poole fetched the keys and gave them to Isabel.
"Now, Miss Durum, you have been here before. You are the master's cousin, and you are more than welcome to stay here for as long as you wish." She stared at the keys in her hand for a minute.
"But surely Henry would have wanted you, his fiancee, to have the run of the house."
"Perhaps, but I will be going to stay with my father." Emma said.
"Besides, Miss Durum," Sir Danvers finished, "You are his cousin. It should be your domain for a while," he ended with a grin.
"Since you insist, then I'll stay." Isabel said, "But_only_until we find Henry Jekyll."