Lady Hastings turned, staring at her daughter appraisingly. “Alicia, I think that Martha was a little heavy handed applying your rouge this morning.” She sighed heavily. “How many times must I tell you that a lady needs just a rosy glow? If you start to wear much more, I fear you shall be mistaken for one of the tarts that frequent this street after hours.”
Alicia reddened a little. “I always instruct Martha to only apply the merest suggestion, Mama. I do not think that anyone could mistake me for a tart.”
But Lady Hastings had already turned towards the street, sighing impatiently. “Tell the girl to hurry up, will you? We can’t wait all day. We have a lot to do, and we need to leave by two promptly if we are to make it to Millington House for afternoon tea. We cannot keep the duchess waiting.” She swept away into the store.
Alicia sighed, turning back to the carriage where the maid was disembarking. “Do hurry, Martha. Mama is on the warpath and I shall never hear the end of it if we do not get to all the shops on her list. And she needs you to carry the parcels.”
“Yes, madam,” said the girl, scurrying towards her, eyes as round as saucers.
Alicia glanced at the maid. Martha was a sweet girl, but rather like a timid mouse, always quaking with nerves whenever she was spoken to sharply. When she was the duchess, she would make sure that all her lady’s maids were made of sterner stuff. One of the many advantages of being in such a privileged position was you could pick and choose the best servants.
As they entered the shop and started browsing the materials, Alicia touched the necklace again. It was fast becoming her good luck charm. She still couldn’t believe the moment she had reached into her reticule when she had got home after dinner at Millington House two nights earlier, searching for her handkerchief, and she had discovered it nestling at the bottom. She had pulled it out, staring at it in disbelief. How had this exquisite thing ended up in her bag? Had one of the other ladies at the dinner party placed it there, mistaking her bag for their own?
But then she had smiled. There could only be one explanation. The Marquis of Wharton had placed it in there, as a secret gift. Just like he had placed that beautiful peach rose on top of her scarf the other day. She had been astounded by that too. It seemed her mother’s plan of attack was finally working. Even though he outwardly remained the same towards her, he must be starting to admire her. She had fled to her mother, the necklace clutched in her hand like a prize.
Lady Hastings had stared at it avidly. “Look at the workmanship, Alicia! This has been made by one of the finest goldsmiths. It would not have been cheap. And the marquis had it made especially for you, my precious!”
Alicia had never felt so triumphant. “He must admire me, Mama, mustn’t he? Even though he still acts as if he does not want to converse with me.”
Lady Hastings’ eyes shone like diamonds. “Indeed he does, my sweet. Do not take any notice of his manner towards you. Gentlemen often play it very cool. Perhaps he does not want to overwhelm you with declarations yet. This gift, as well as the flower, tell us that he admires you unreservedly.”
Alicia had gripped the necklace tighter. “I simply cannot believe it, Mama.”
Lady Hastings sighed, staring at her daughter. “I believe it, Alicia. I always knew you were destined for greatness and would find a way to win his heart. I always knew you could not have been born so lovely for nothing.” She had smiled triumphantly. “You shall be the next Duchess of Richley. You shall have all the ton scraping at your feet, and our noble family and our home shall be preserved.”
Her mother approached her now, interrupting her reverie of that wondrous night when she had felt that all her hard work to impress the marquis was finally bearing fruit. Behind her walked Miss Thorne, the dressmaker, dressed in crisp grey muslin as always.
“I am ordering six new gowns for you,” said Lady Hastings, staring at her. “We must capitalise on recent events. I am thinking two morning gowns, two afternoon, and two evening.” She turned to the dressmaker. “Only the finest French materials, Miss Thorne, and the very latest designs, please. I want my daughter to make a statement, while still being appropriately modest.”
Alicia frowned, biting her lip. How was her father going to afford six new gowns? He was already grumbling about his wife’s lavish spending since they had been in London. Her mother, of course, had told him that it was all an investment. If he wanted their daughter to marry well, they had to impress, didn’t they? But even though Alicia understood that, there was only so much money to go around. Things were difficult for her family. That was the whole reason her mother had decided they must aim for the marquis.
As Alicia stared at her mother, she was forced to admit that it wasn’t the only reason for her mother’s single-mindedness when it came to the marquis. Lady Hastings was ambitious as well as money hungry. She wanted her only child to become a duchess. Otherwise she could have pursued other gentlemen who had similar wealth to the marquis but weren’t as prestigious. She might have even contemplated Lord Percy, the younger son.
Alicia thought of him now. His admiration of her was so obvious as to be as plain as the nose on her face. She had tried to discourage him, but lately she had succumbed to his charm, letting him chat with her. She liked him, and moreover he seemed to genuinely like her, making her laugh. He was just as handsome and rich as his brother. But she knew that her mother would never entertain the notion. Lord Percy was not the son and heir. He would never become the Duke of Richley, unless his brother died, of course. But Alicia couldn’t see that happening. The marquis was hardly sickly. In fact, he was the picture of robust health.
She sighed now. It was no use. Her mother was convinced they needed the new gowns and she was tenacious when she wanted something. Alicia had learnt that the hard way. If she wanted to catch a man who was going to become a duke, she had to be bedecked like a duchess.
“As you wish, Mama,” she said slowly. “I will defer to Miss Thorne’s expert opinion about what is required.”
Her mother smiled. “Of course you will, my dearest. Of course you will.”
***
They were longer in the dressmakers than they intended, and Lady Hastings was in a fluster when they finally left, her heavy bosom heaving as she stared up and down the street. Then she turned to Alicia.
“We are running late,” she said crisply. “I shall go to the tailor’s for your father’s new cravats by myself. You are to go to the haberdashery and purchase the ribbons that I ordered. Martha shall accompany you.”
Alicia nodded. “As you wish, Mama.”
Lady Hastings was already walking down the street. “But do not linger over the silk stockings as you are wont to do, Alicia. I shall meet you in the carriage in fifteen minutes precisely.” She scuttled off, the white lace of her train trailing along the cobblestones.
Alicia set off towards the haberdashery with Martha behind her. She was about to enter the store when she glanced down the street. A gentleman was alighting from a carriage. She frowned, trying to see him clearly. Then she slowly smiled. It was the marquis, dressed smartly as always. He gazed up and down the street, and then started slightly when he saw her.
Alicia’s smile widened. She must approach him, mustn’t she? He had seen her. She touched the necklace once again. It was time to acknowledge what he had given her. The gift of the necklace was a bold declaration of his admiration, after all. She couldn’t pretend that she hadn’t received it.
“Come on, Martha,” she whispered to the maid. “The haberdashery can wait. My mother shall understand.”
The maid nodded quickly, and they set off, towards him. Alicia’s heart was thumping so wildly that she could barely hear herself think. This was it, she thought. Finally, he might see fit to stop this pretence that he was indifferent to her, and things could start moving along towards a swifter conclusion. A courtship, then an engagement, and finally a wedding …
She took a deep breath. Yes, it was finally happening, just as her mot
her had always told her it would.
He bowed politely. “Miss Drake. It is a pleasure.”
She curtseyed, smiling at him as prettily as she could. “My lord, the pleasure is all mine.” She touched the necklace, inviting him to comment on it, but his dark eyes drifted distractedly down the street, as if he were searching for someone.
Alicia frowned slightly. Why wasn’t he acknowledging the gift? It was plain that she was wearing it. Perhaps he was embarrassed? But why should he be? She stared at him, momentarily at a loss. Should she follow suit and not mention it?
Suddenly, she felt a flash of irritation. This was intolerable. She had spent weeks pursuing him at her mother’s instruction, with no result. He seemed to be completely indifferent to her, even actively avoiding her on occasion. She had never experienced anything like it in her life. Usually, men fawned over her, entranced by her beauty. But not the marquis.
Now, he had changed. The rose and then the necklace told her that he wished to make his admiration public. Yet he was still standing here pretending to ignore her. Alicia took a deep breath. She wanted things to move on between them and if he was still too coy, then she wasn’t.
“My lord,” she said quickly. “You did not have to go to so much trouble and cost to give me such an exquisite gift as the necklace.” He gazed at her, his eyebrows drawn together questioningly.
“Excuse me, Miss Drake?” He kept gazing at her as if she had taken leave of her senses entirely. “Your necklace?”
“Yes, my lord,” she said, her voice a little less certain. “The necklace which you so charmingly left in my bag when we dined at Millington House two nights ago.” She hesitated. “The rose you gave me was sufficient, my lord.”
Lord Sebastian resumed his stare up and down the street. “I am afraid that I do not understand, madam. I have not given you any such things.” He gazed at her, his green eyes snapping. “Perhaps it was my brother Percy. I know he has visited the goldsmith in the last week. I rather think you should be thanking him for your unexpected gifts.”
Alicia stared at him, dumbfounded. What was he saying? That he hadn’t given her the necklace or the rose, but that his brother Percy may have? Was he teasing her?
He drew a deep breath. “If you will excuse me, Miss Drake, I have an appointment. It was charming to converse with you, as always.” He bowed quickly, then strode down the street without a backward glance.
Alicia stared after him, rooted to the spot. People stared at her curiously as they walked past her. She felt her fists start to clench, and then the reality of it came crashing down on her, as though the bricks of the shop she was standing in front of had decided to suddenly fall.
He hadn’t given her the necklace. Or the rose. He was indifferent to her, just as she had always known. Why had she assumed that he had done it?
But she knew the answer. She had wanted the rose and the necklace to be from him. She had wanted it so badly, to please her mother, that she had chosen to ignore that for the short time she had known him he had never gazed on her with admiration, let alone talked tenderly to her.
“Madam?” Martha’s timid voice seemed to reach her from a great distance. “We should go to the haberdashery. Your lady mother shan’t be happy if we do not do as she asks.”
Alicia spun around, glaring at the maid. The girl shrunk back, as if she had been struck.
“I do not need to be instructed as to what I must do, Martha,” she hissed, through gritted teeth. “I am well aware of what my mother requires me to do.”
“Yes, madam,” said the maid, in a small voice, eyes wide.
But at that moment they both saw Lady Hastings striding towards them. She was frowning.
Oh Lord, thought Alicia, taking a deep breath. She was going to have to tell her that the necklace and the rose hadn’t been gifts from the marquis after all. If she was so bitterly disappointed, how was her mother going to react? Yet she had to do it. She had to do it quickly. Rather like taking a bitter draught, she thought. You had to down it in one, before the taste overwhelmed you.
Lady Hastings reached them, staring at Martha. “Why are you not carrying a parcel? Did they not have the ribbons I wanted?” She spun around, glaring at her daughter. “I have been waiting in the carriage for five minutes, Alicia.”
Alicia took a deep breath. She would tell her in the carriage, on the way to Millington House. When she was seated and calm. It would not do to tell her in the street.
A surge of anger flashed through her, jostling her disappointment aside. Lord Percy. He was the reason for this upset. She was going to give him a piece of her mind and tell him that it must stop. The wide-eyed sheepish looks, his eagerness to talk to her, was too much. Even his brother had noticed it. That was why he had suggested that it was Percy who had given her the gifts. Percy’s admiration was so blatant that it was putting off Lord Sebastian, she thought. He was very fond of his younger brother, after all, and would not want to encroach on his feelings.
“We were delayed,” she said to her mother sharply. “I shall explain all in the carriage, Mama. We shall have to leave the ribbons for another day if we are to get to Millington House on time.”
Chapter 16
Alicia wandered down the garden path at Millington House, gazing at the rose bushes in full bloom. Her face burned as she saw the bush with pale peach roses. That was where he must have got it from, she thought furiously. She was going to tell him exactly what he could do the next time he had such an inclination.
It hadn’t been easy to ditch her mother, who was still stuffing her face with scones in the drawing room. Lady Hastings was reluctant for her to leave the room while the duchess was entertaining them. But Alicia had pleaded faintness, saying she needed air and that a walk in the garden would revive her. Her mother had given in eventually but insisted that Martha accompany her.
“In case you suddenly swoon,” said Lady Hastings, sipping her tea. “But come back directly, Alicia, as soon as your turn around the garden is complete.”
Alicia had nodded, eager to get away and confront Lord Percy. She had spotted him lounging in the garden, reading a newspaper, when they had first entered the house. She then had to endure ten minutes of small talk with the duchess before she could safely excuse herself. She had lost courage in the carriage ride and still hadn’t told her mother. But she knew she couldn’t delay it indefinitely. One thing she could add when she finally did was that she had dealt with the situation. It might make her mother less angry – or so she hoped.
She glanced around anxiously. Had he left? But then she spotted him in the distance. He wasn’t reading anymore. Instead, he was standing in front of the large water fountain in the centre of the garden, staring at it as though he had never seen it before in his life.
“Come on, Martha,” she hissed at the maid. “I have something to do.”
She strode off without waiting for a reply. She could hear the maid struggling to keep up behind her. Let her run, she thought angrily. She wasn’t waiting for anyone. She had to confront him, before he escaped. She was going to end this, once and for all.
***
He jumped violently when she approached, gazing at her as though she had suddenly fallen from the sky.
“Miss Drake!” His voice was almost a squeak. “I did not hear you approach …”
Alicia gazed at him witheringly. “Really, Lord Percy? I thought that I was rather stomping like a horse down the path.” She paused. “I am afraid that we need to talk.”
He gazed at her in astonishment, reddening slightly. “You wish to talk with me?” His gaze drifted towards the necklace, still hanging around her neck.
It’s true, thought Alicia furiously. He did give it to her. His eyes betrayed him.
“How could you?” she hissed, staring at him. “I thought the necklace was a gift from the marquis! I thanked him for it and he told me that I was quite mistaken, and that perhaps it had come from you.” She took a deep, shuddering breath. “You have made m
e look ridiculous in his eyes, sir. Why would you think it was a good idea to give me such a gift?”
Lords to Be Enamored With: A Historical Regency Romance Collection Page 69