* * *
“There you are!” Lady Tressingham exclaimed as her youngest daughter reappeared with two cups of orgeat. “I thought you might have gotten lost on your way to the refreshment tables or…” she added in a sarcastic drawl, “decided to redo all the floral arrangements.”
Alyssa bit her bottom lip, then turned a speculative eye on the jumble of vases packed with poorly arranged flowers and greenery. “Of course not.”
“Well, you could have done so,” her mother accused. “It took you so long.”
“There was a crush around the punch bowl and I—”
“Never mind.” Lady Tressingham took the cup of orgeat. “You’re here now. I was afraid that you would miss all the excitement.”
What excitement? Alyssa studied the mass of men and women crowded into the assembly rooms. The only exciting thing that had happened so far was that she’d accidentally overheard a fascinating conversation between three gentlemen who called themselves the Free Fellows.
A secret League fighting against Bonaparte. She hadn’t meant to eavesdrop, but she had had no choice in the matter, except to embarrass them by making her presence known. Not that Alyssa would ever breathe a word of what she’d overheard to her mother…especially since the conversation she’d heard was private and clearly unlit for her innocent ears. Her virginal ears… virginal ears that couldn’t help wondering, all of a sudden, what pleasures the marriage bed held and how many young brides were cursed with fools for husbands—
“Ouch!” Alyssa frowned as her mother elbowed her in the ribs once again.
“You haven’t heard a word I’ve said. Now, pay attention,” Lady Tressingham ordered. “And smile. He’s looking straight at us.”
Alyssa frowned. It seemed nearly everyone in attendance at Almack’s Assembly Rooms had been looking at them all evening. At least, that’s the way her mother made it feel, for she had elbowed Alyssa in the ribs and whispered the same order over a dozen times. Alyssa was certain she’d have a black and blue mark there tomorrow. “Who is it this time?”
“Him.” Lady Tressingham pointed discreetly with her fan.
Alyssa followed her mother’s direction and saw a lone figure standing in front of the potted palms. She wondered if he was the one the other men had addressed as Abernathy. “Who is he?”
“The Duke of Sussex,” her mother answered.
She was disappointed, but Alyssa paid closer attention to the rest of what her mother was saying. “The Sussex House gardens duke?” She hadn’t seen him since they were children, but Alyssa had had the privilege of touring his gardens on several occasions. They were, in a word, magnificent, despite the fact that she found the formal design and the statuary a tad too old-fashioned and perfect, a tad too predictable for her taste. Still, the gardens and grounds redesigned and planted by Capability Brown were a model for every budding gardener to strive toward.
Lady Tressingham frowned. “Of course the Sussex House gardens duke. He owns Sussex House. It’s been in his family for generations and you could be part of that family.” Sometimes she genuinely despaired of her daughter. How she could have given birth to a creature who was always digging in the dirt and puttering about was beyond her. One would almost think Alyssa was born of yeoman stock instead of some of the bluest blood in all of England. “Honestly, Alyssa! Trust you to think of his gardens instead of his property and title. Everyone is buzzing about their appearance here tonight, and all you think about is the duke’s gardens.” She elbowed Alyssa in the ribs once again. “First the duke and now them. It’s so exciting! Keep smiling!”
“Who?”
“The two viscounts and the marquess,” her mother explained with an excited, almost giddy edge to her words.
“What is so exciting about two viscounts, a marquess, and a duke at Almack’s?” Alyssa asked. “Everyone in society comes here. The rooms are packed with viscounts, marquesses, and dukes.”
“Not with these viscounts, marquesses, and dukes,” Lady Tressingham told her. “They’ve never been known to darken the assembly room doors. There have been rumors, but I didn’t believe it possible… Still, if Sussex, Shepherdston, Grantham, and Abernathy are here, they’ve come looking for brides. I wonder which one it is or if they’ve all decided to marry.”
“Did you say Abernathy?”
“Of course, my little Incomparable.” The countess shivered with excitement. “Lady Cowper and the other patronesses are beside themselves with anticipation and joy. This is a first, my darling girl. History is being made and we are here to play a part in it.”
Alyssa groaned at her mother’s histrionics. But Lady Tressingham took no notice. “These are four of the wealthiest and most eligible gentlemen in London.” She paused. “Well, three of the wealthiest. I’ve heard that Viscount Grantham is a bit pressed for cash, but no matter. He’ll find a suitable heiress.”
“How can you be so sure?” Alyssa was intrigued in spite of herself.
“There aren’t that many eligible viscounts left. What untitled heiress or heiress from a recently titled family wouldn’t want to marry a viscount whose family name and titles date back to the time of Macbeth?”
“I’m sure there must be one or two besides me,” Alyssa answered. “I cannot be the only forward-thinking girl in London.”
“You read too much,” Lady Tressingham said flatly. “And you think too much. It puts silly notions in your head.” She took hold of her daughter’s chin and turned Alyssa to face her. After quickly pinching color into Alyssa’s cheeks, Lady Tressingham placed her hands on Alyssa’s shoulders and turned her toward Lady Cowper. “Take a good look at them, my darling, and tell me that you wouldn’t be flattered to have any one of them single you out for a waltz.”
Alyssa looked, and what she saw made her jaw drop open in a most unladylike fashion.
“Close your mouth, dear,” her mother advised, “or use your fan to cover it. You’ll draw flies.”
Lady Tressingham was gratified to see that for once her daughter did as she was told. “Forget the marquess and the viscounts and concentrate your attentions on the duke. Her Grace, the duchess, has often reminded me that she intends to have the best for her son. And my girls are the best.”
Alyssa nodded in absentminded agreement, but she barely spared a glance for the tall, elegantly handsome man. Her attention was focused not on the duke but on the man in the center of the group of three.
He was staring at her, and Alyssa could feel the heat of his gaze from across the room. It wasn’t the first time she’d caught him looking at her. She’d seen him at Lady Cleveland’s earlier in the week and then again, two days later, at Lady Dorrance’s musicale. She remembered him, remembered the expression on his face when he looked at her and the heat reflected in his brilliant blue eyes. His was a face a woman dreamed about. And although she hated to admit it, Alyssa had found herself dreaming about it ever since she’d first seen him at Lady Cleveland’s ball for the simple reason that he was unforgettable.
Chapter Five
Barely a Bride Page 10