by Diane Darcy
“I dinnae know? If you’re tae tell your mother? I suppose I ought to take ye straight to the bookstore. Mayhap I could purchase ye a book of poetry?”
She was already shaking her head. “I swear, I’ll not say a word.”
“Ye could always tell me that, and then tell your mother anyway. She might not let ye go out with me again.”
She grabbed his arm. “No, truly, I’ve said I won’t.”
“All right then. Let’s go.”
Her excitement was contagious, and his own mood lightened considerably.
It looked to him like he may have hit upon a strategy that would work beautifully.
He certainly hoped that turned out to be the case.
~~~
Lizzie was touched by what he’d said about the letters. How they’d made a difference in his life. She wished she’d known how he felt at the time she was writing them. His letters to her were more like travelogues. He’d written about where he was going, about who he’d seen. He never truly talked to her with any sort of depth of emotion, and to find out now that he’d felt something, well, it touched a place in her heart.
The carriage stopped. The door was opened, and Alexander climbed out first, then carefully helped her down. She had to admit she liked the care he took with her.
She glanced around, incredibly curious. “Where are we?”
“The north end of London. If I timed it right, the meeting should be starting verra shortly.”
He pulled something out of his coat jacket. A ladies’ scarf. “Here, I want ye to put this over your head.”
“You want me in disguise?”
“I’m not sure how well disguised you’ll be, with me as your partner, but let’s at least make the effort, shall we?”
She put the scarf over her head and tied it, knowing full well that if anyone there recognized her, it wouldn’t be much of a disguise.
But, she appreciated the effort. For some reason the subterfuge of it all was exciting. Her pulse raced a little as she put the scarf on, knowing she wasn’t supposed to be there and that she was trying to hide her identity.
She grinned up at him, and he smiled at her.
Shades of the boy she remembered from her youth—the sixteen-year-old she’d had a tendre for before he’d crushed her heart—floated through her mind.
She’d forgotten about the fun times they’d had, but this was a timely reminder. Especially if she ended up married to the man. He held out his arm. “Shall we?”
She slipped her hand in the crook of his elbow and nodded. “Let’s.”
They walked up the stairs to the residence, and Alexander knocked on the door. A butler answered, a short, odd-looking man, with an over-large head and a gold ring in one ear. He stared haughtily for a heartbeat, then bowed to them both and moved away from the door, indicating that they should follow. He didn’t ask for their names.
She stifled a giggle as he guided them into a sitting room, where the chairs had been organized in a semi-circle. Six of them were already occupied by other people—a young couple, an older couple, and two middle-aged men sitting next to each other. They joined the others, and moments later, two ladies entered the room and sat next to them.
Music filled the air, the sound coming through a curtain off to one side. The sound of a pianoforte, a tambourine, and some eerie flute music filled the air. On the other side of the room, a woman, dressed outrageously, pushed aside the curtain and walked into the room to stand before them.
She lifted her arms wide. “I welcome all of you who have come here seeking answers. I am Lady Griselda, and I do believe you have come to the right place. For those of you who have not indulged in spiritualism, know this. The spirits are strong this day, and the veil very thin. Perhaps this is because one or more of you are meant to get answers to your questions. I am at the whim of the spirits. I shall do their bidding, and try to do yours as well.”
She looked behind everyone and with the tips of her fingers gestured toward the back of the room. “Azar? Do you have the cards?”
“I do, my lady.”
“And they’ve been secure inside the box that sailors found at the bottom of the sea just last year, is that not correct?”
“Aye, my lady. They’ve been kept here unmolested. No hand but your own has touched them.”
“Bring the box forward then, and open it, will you?”
Lizzy clutched Alexander’s arm as excitement built, and he slanted her a smile, placing his hand atop hers and making her heart pound all the harder.
The short, bald man came forward, his gold earring glinting in the light. With a flourish, he set an old, weathered box upon the table in front of them, took a key from around his neck, unlocked the large padlock, and took it off. He replaced the key, opened the box, and backed away with a bow.
“Thank you, Azar.” She reached inside the box and carefully lifted out what looked to be a deck of cards. “I hold here in my hands, items that I acquired from a professional practitioner of the occult arts.”
The two ladies gasped, and clutched hands.
Lady Griselda pulled the long chain around her neck, and at the end was a crystal, which she swung over the top of the cards. “Perhaps there is someone here who would like to know how they shall make their fortune? The best way to cure their health? Or who their future husband is?” She glanced at each of the ladies in turn.
Her gaze stopped at Lizzie. “Young lady, I sense the man at your side is not your husband. Am I correct?”
She glanced at Alexander and could tell he didn’t like that at all.
“Please, come forward; let me tell your future.”
Alexander’s hand shot out to stop her, and she glanced up at him in surprise. “Isn’t this what we’re here for?” she whispered.
“Perhaps one of the other young ladies would care for such information? I’m quite sure you already know the answer.”
His disgruntlement was adorable. He didn’t like the woman telling him he didn’t have a claim.
She smiled at him, pushed his hand aside, and stood and addressed the flamboyant woman. “I would love to see what you have to say upon the subject.”
The box had now been removed from the table, and Madam Griselda gestured for Lizzie to sit across from her. “I am proficient in most of the common forms of fortune-telling. I will read your cards, my dear, after you choose cards at random. Soon you’ll know what is to be.
She spread the cards out in front of Lizzie. “Choose wisely.”
Lizzie reached for one.
“Carefully!” The woman’s word was a warning. “Choose thoughtfully and carefully.”
Lizzie glanced at Alexander and smiled. He wasn’t smiling himself, but she was still having fun. She let her hand hover over the cards for a moment until one seemed to call her and she chose it, tapping it with a finger.
“If you will please pick it up and turn it over.”
When she did so, the woman looked at the card for a long moment. Even in her chair she seemed tall, but perhaps it was the hat she wore with the wild feathers sticking about everywhere. “The Ace of Diamonds. It means you are soon to receive a letter.”
Lizzie exchanged a meaningful glance with Alexander and thought of all of the letters they’d exchanged over the years.
“Choose another card, my dear.”
Again, Lizzie let her fingers hover over the cards. This time she chose one and turned it over without being asked.
“Ah. And the king of spades. My goodness, my dear. You are flying high tonight. In this case, there will be a jealous man in your life.”
Again, Lizzie glanced at Alexander. She thought about the way he didn’t like the cowboy, and considered that the woman might have incredible talent.
“Another, my dear.”
Lizzie turned the card over.
The woman’s green-eyed gaze met her own. “The nine of spades. Tidings of death.”
Lizzie sat back. “Oh dear, I don’t like that one nearl
y as well.”
There were titters in the audience, and some masculine chuckles.
“Once more, my dear.”
Lizzie turned a card over.
“The eight of clubs. There is darkness around a person whose affections you seek. If you return them they’ll be the cause of great prosperity, if you do not, you shall receive great unhappiness.”
Once again she glanced at Alexander,
He smiled. “Well, Lizzie. It looks like you’re to be rich.”
That caused more laughter in the room, though Lady Griselda did not so much as blink.
“Do me next!” The youngest of the girls raised her hand.
Lady Griselda quickly went through the other girls, and then switched to palmistry toward the end.
Lizzie wasn’t sure if she believed in any of it, but it was fun.
Alexander chose not to have his cards or palm read. “Stick in the mud,” she whispered to him.
Alexander reached out, clasping her gloved hand within his own.
She ought to pull away, but her chest tightened and her heart started to thud as the simple gesture, though wildly improper, made her very aware of the man next to her, and in the most pleasant way.
About thirty minutes later, they were out the door again, walking toward the carriage, which was parked on the road.
“Did ye have fun?”
“I did! I’m still not sure what my fortune meant, however.”
“It means you’re to marry me, have prosperity for the rest of your life, and I’ll write ye as many letters as ye like.”
Lizzie laughed and held onto his arm.
“Excuse me.”
They turned around to see one of the men who’d been inside with them approaching. “Lady Elizabeth, I believe you forgot your scarf.”
She glanced up at Alexander. In the excitement, she’d lost the scarf and been recognized. “I’m sorry, sir. Have we met before?”
“My apologies, for being so forward.” He gave a slight bow. “I am Mr. Harry Andrews, and no, we’ve never met.”
Alexander took the scarf from the other man. “Thank you, sir.” He turned Lizzie in the other direction and headed toward the carriage.
“Alexander, he knew who I was! What if this gets back to my mother?”
“What if it does?”
“She might think you’re a liar and break the engagement.”
He laughed. “Then I should simply kidnap ye in my carriage, drive ye to Gretna Green, and marry ye forthwith.”
The thought of it gave her another thrill. She laughed. “I don’t believe my mother would ever talk to you again for the rest of your life if you did such a thing.”
“Then I suppose you’ll just have to convince her that I’m not a liar.”
She laughed again as he helped her to the carriage. When they’d settled across from each other, Alexander grinned at her, and once again she remembered the boy she’d once loved with all of her young heart.
Looking out the window, she sighed.
Why did life have to be so complicated all the time?
Chapter Six
Alexander looked at Lizzie in the darkening light of the carriage, at her brilliant smile, and as he listened to her excited chatter, he felt content. He didn’t want to let her go quite yet, but knew he could not keep her out too long, or her mother wouldn’t allow her to go with him on another occasion.
“I have something for you. Something quite amazing in light of the fact that Lady Griselda predicted it.”
Her eyes widened. “She did?”
A grin on his face, he pulled out the letter he’d written the night before. He held it up, and watched her excitement turn to amazement.
“You wrote me a letter?” She breathed the words. “I can’t believe she predicted that!”
He chuckled and handed it to her. “Read it later, when you’re alone. Do ye suppose she has spies wandering about?”
“Do you mean like ghosts? Spirits who do her bidding?”
He chuckled. “Ah … no. That is not what I meant at all.”
She laughed, tilting her face back as she did so, and he yearned to lean down and kiss her. He wished they were married already, that she was already his, and that they were on their way home. That he didn’t have to give her back to her parents tonight, and, quite frankly, that she’d be in his bed tonight.
She stopped laughing to smile at him. “What? You have a funny look on your face.”
“Just contemplating the chances that Lady Griselda has an army of spirits who spy upon us and report back to her.”
She giggled. “Well, you did write the letter, so I’m not ruling anything out. Is there any chance that you’re jealous? Of anyone? Or that we know of someone at death’s door? Do you know anyone rich I might marry?”
“Ye are tae marry me,” his tone was confident. “And ye’ll be happy about it.”
She laughed again. “Well, perhaps next time you’ll get your fortune told when Lady Griselda invites you to the front.” She sighed. “Just think, we could have known for sure.”
He looked at her smiling face, and relished the teasing, the mischief, and the fun. “I do know, lass.”
Whether she was ready to admit it or not, they both did. He was going to marry this girl, but first, he just had to make her fall in love with him.
~~~
After Alexander dropped her off at her house, Lizzie ran up the stairs.
She heard her mother call out to her, but kept going. “I’ll be down in a little while!”
Without so much as looking back, she rushed up the stairs down the hall into her room. She quickly shut the door, and with her back still against it, she tore open Alexander’s letter.
She couldn’t believe how eager she was to read it, but then, considering the many times that she’d been eager to read his letters over the years, it shouldn’t be so surprising.
His missives had always been a bright spot in her day. When she’d received one, she’d always been most anxious to read of his latest exploits and would run upstairs and respond almost immediately.
How quickly she’d forgotten that over the last year, as her marriage to Alexander had drawn near.
She left the envelope on the ground, straightened the paper within, and began to read.
Dearest Elizabeth,
It has recently come to my attention that things are not as they should be between a future husband and wife. Mayhap I’ve taken you for granted over the years. If so, I most humbly apologize. I would like to make it up to you. Tomorrow, I plan to take you to a fortune-teller. If that works out well, I thought perhaps another adventure the next day might be to your liking. Of course, I’ve no intention of telling your parents about the fortune-teller or the new adventure. I wish to assure you that I do not believe in such nonsense myself, but to please you, I find myself willing to go to great lengths. If you are amenable, I will pick you up in the morning for another stroll in the park. Where I actually take you, I will leave to your vivid imagination. I wait in hope of an affirmative answer.
Yours ever and truly, Alexander.
Lizzie read the letter through one more time, before pressing it to her chest. Within moments, she realized that she was smiling, in a most ridiculous manner.
And that made her laugh.
She quickly rushed to the small desk in the corner. She withdrew paper, reached for her quill, and quickly scratched out an affirmative response.
This didn’t mean she intended to marry the man, she assured herself.
But the fact that he was trying, that he wanted a chance with her … well, she found it meant a lot.
Adding a few flourishes at the end, and her signature, she quickly folded and slipped the paper into an envelope and sealed it.
She’d wait a couple of hours to send it off.
She wanted to go with him on the morrow, but, it wouldn’t do to seem overly excited now, would it?
~~~
The next day, Alexander found h
imself highly anticipating seeing Elizabeth again.
He’d hardly slept a wink the night before as he had replayed their conversation, her laughter, and the sheer pleasure that he felt just being in her company.
His parents had chosen well.
Now if he could just convince her that her parents had done so too, then he’d have her right where he wanted her.
Quite frankly, that was at his side, in his arms, and in his bed at night.
When he’d arrived in London, he had anticipated marrying Elizabeth as quickly as possible. He’d planned to place the announcement in the paper, post the banns, and give Elizabeth just enough time to pull the wedding together. He already had the license.
He’d not really thought beyond that, and so this was turning out to be much more difficult than he’d envisioned.
Why didn’t she want him?
He had to admit it was a question that was keeping him awake at night.
He thought about some of the letters she’d written him over the years: lively, filled with interesting things happening in her life, people she felt like telling him about for one reason or another, and her interests.
He’d felt close to her, and was slightly confused by the fact that she didn’t seem to feel the same.
Hadn’t he told her of his life, his interests, and even somewhat of the war and his feelings there?
Mayhap it was simply that someone had turned her head, because he wasn’t around?
No matter. If his girl had been seduced away from him, he would seduce her right back. He’d ignore the fact that he’d had his own doubts over the years, wondering if they’d suit. Why shouldn’t they? The girl had been raised well, came from good stock, and would make a good wife.
And then there was the fact that she was the only one he wanted.
When he arrived at her house, he found her mother had already approved their latest adventure, so he waited at the bottom of the stairs for Lizzie to show herself.
When she did, he found his heart speeding in his chest at the sight of her. The red hair that had beleaguered him so as a young man was now her most glorious feature. Her figure had filled out in such a way that it made his hands ache to touch her, and her eyes, a brilliant, shining amber, sparkled with intelligence and mischief. He couldn’t wait to see them darken with passion.