Dizzy Dilemmas

by Mary Beeken

  Exerting a great deal of willpower, Marcus ended the kiss and released her. “Come along Gherkin, time for us to return to the ball” and so saying he took her hand in his and together they silently crossed the garden and entered the house via the small sitting room. Lady Fenchurch was there to greet them.

  “I am glad you have returned for I am afraid your dear Grandmamma is becoming suspicious. We have managed to cover for you thus far by telling her you were in the card room or that you were fetching refreshments but I do not believe she will be satisfied now until she has seen you for herself. Did the talk live up to expectations?”

  “Far exceeded them,” Dizzy replied. “I cannot thank you enough for your assistance tonight, Lady Fenchurch.”

  “Think nothing of it, my dear. Marcus and I are very old friends and so of course I was happy to help when he asked me,” she said placing her hand on his arm and smiling affectionately at him. “There is nothing that I would not do for him.”

  Marcus placed his free hand over hers and kissed her on the cheek. “Thank you, dearest.”

  Dizzy kept the smile pasted on her face although it nearly killed her and she just hoped that in the dim light, her companions would not see how brittle it was. Jealousy twisted her stomach into knots as she watched the two together, and her head began to pound but she refused to embarrass herself by outwardly showing the turmoil raging within. Somehow she had to remove herself from the room, from them and in particular from him as soon as possible, if not before. In her eyes, his intimacy with their hostess high-lighted her stupidity in allowing herself to fall in love with him when all along she had known it was a game; an amusing way to avoid the matchmakers. Had she not told him quite forcefully that she had no designs upon him? And he had most certainly been honest with her about his intentions and so saying she had no one to blame but herself if now she suffered through watching him flirt and kiss other women. Obviously he was very close to Lady Fenchurch and although he had denied it earlier, she believed they were lovers. In some strange, twisted way she wanted it to be true as she wanted to feel the acute pain in the forlorn hope it would cure her of this infatuation; unrequited as it was.

  Dizzy walked as casually as she could towards the door without making it look like she was running away.

  “You have not forgotten our rendezvous for tomorrow have you?” Lady Fenchurch was now saying to Marcus.

  “Am I likely to forget? I shall call for you at noon, as promised,” he assured her.

  “Good. Fenchurch has an appointment with his tailor and so will be well out of the way by twelve,” she told him.

  She closed the door softly behind her and the rest of the conversation was lost to Dizzy. She did not loiter but lifting her skirts hurried on tiptoe across the hall and into the service corridor, bumping her shoulder as she went. Once in there and no longer needing to be quiet, she raced back to the refreshment room and slipped in unnoticed to mingle with the other guests.

  “Thank goodness you have returned,” A voice said not two minutes later as she entered the ballroom and turning she saw Georgiana. “Grandmamma is becoming suspicious.”

  “I shall go to her immediately,” she told her; rubbing her head in an effort to ease the pain building up behind her eyes.

  “Is everything alright, Dizzy?” Georgiana asked her, concerned at her sister’s pale face and drawn expression.

  “I have a terrible headache and my leg starting to ache, Georgie. I just want to go home!” she smiled weakly, wanting to tell her sister just how foolish she had been but afraid to say anything at that moment lest she burst into tears.

  “I will take you home just as soon as I can arrange for the carriage to be brought round,” Georgiana assured her. “Meanwhile here is Robert who will, I am sure escort you to Grandmamma to allay any fears she has about your whereabouts.”

  Robert Prentiss was only too happy to assist and understanding that Dizzy was unwell was able to escort her to the Dowager and diplomatically extricate her from her clutches before an inquisition could begin. Thus it was that in a very short space of time, Dizzy found herself sobbing on her eldest sister’s shoulder as the door was closed and the coach pulled away.

  Georgiana knew better than to try and find out what had upset her sibling and was content with just hugging her close until the tears had subsided. She then dried her tears and hugged her again until they reached the family home where upon she accompanied her upstairs to her room.

  “Do you want to tell me all about it?” she asked as she helped Dizzy out of her clothes and into her nightdress.

  “Oh Georgie, I have been incredibly stupid,” she replied and, in between sobs and hiccoughs, proceeded to tell her sister all.

  “I am not sure Glenmore is as indifferent to you as you seem to think,” Georgiana told her when she talked herself to a stand still. “And as for Lady Fenchurch, I believe her to be very happy with her husband and have heard nothing to suggest she is having an affair with Glenmore. Come on let me tuck you in for you are exhausted.”

  A few moments later, having seen to it that her sister had been given a draught to ease the pain in her leg, Georgiana left her to sleep with the promise to return in the morning to talk things through when Dizzy was feeling better.

  Gideon was waiting at the foot of the stairs as Georgiana made her way down. “What is the matter with Dizzy?” he asked her. “Coulton said she was upset.”

  “She is in a lot of pain with her leg; a sure sign as you know that she is tired,” she told him.

  “I had better have all breakables removed then as she is likely to be more clumsy than usual over the next few days!” he said half serious, half in jest but Georgiana’s expression remained stern as she pulled on her gloves.

  “I hope, Gideon you know what you are about with your scheme to match-make Dizzy and Glenmore. There is a very real danger she could be hurt and if she is I warn you now, I will find it very difficult to forgive you.”

  A restless night followed for Dizzy where sleep was scarce but filled with disturbing images of Glenmore with Lady Fenchurch where they alternated between kissing each other and mocking her for her naivety and foolishness in thinking he could love her. In the frequent bouts of wakefulness, she tossed and turned in bed or paced the floor even though her leg was causing her a great deal of discomfort, and played over and over again the events of the evening before. By the time the clock struck six and the servants could be heard moving around, she had had enough and so donned her riding habit and headed downstairs to await her brother.

  Self preservation urged her to avoid Glenmore for the foreseeable future but pride wanted her to appear as normal at least for today, so that he would have no inkling of the pain she was suffering or suspect that she held him in any other regard than that of friend. Riding with her brother would afford her some protection as she could avoid a tête-à-tête with him and more importantly perhaps, being on horseback would mean he could not touch her.

  Gideon, arriving downstairs just before seven was taken aback to see his sister dressed for riding and waiting for him.

  “Dizzy, you look dreadful,” he told her bluntly, concern for her making him frown. “Are you sure you are up to riding today?”

  “Yes, I am fine. Stop fussing and help me do up these last couple of buttons that I cannot reach on my own,” she replied and turned her back so that he could fasten her dress.

  He complied but insisted on asking her if she would not be better going back to bed. “Honestly, you look warn out.”

  “A good gallop is what I need,” she assured him and after hesitating added “But I must ask you to stay by my side today. I have no wish to converse overly long with anyone; just exchange greetings as politeness dictates.”

  He heard the unsaid plea asking for assistance in avoiding a conversation with Glenmore and although he wanted to ask what had happened between them to distress her so, he wisely refrained. He had been convinced that the two were well on the way to a happy marri
age and hoped this setback was just a minor hiccough that would soon be resolved. He hated to see his sister so unhappy.

  “I shall scowl at anyone who comes too close!” he told her as together they headed for the stables which by necessity was a slow process for Dizzy’s leg was aching abominably; making her limp very pronounced.

  Gideon was true to his word and scowled at anyone who looked like they were considering stopping for a chat. It seemed to do the trick because they were left alone to enjoy a gallop along the length of the park and Dizzy relished the wind in her face which massaged her aching temples and filled her lungs with clean air, easing the tension in her chest.

  They were on their return leg and she was beginning to relax, thinking he was not going to turn up after all and she would be saved from having to put on an act of unconcerned normality, when she saw him cantering towards them. He was accompanied by Trevellyn who called a cheery greeting as he pulled up before them. Glenmore however, dismissed the social niceties and just demanded to know where Dizzy had disappeared to the night before.

  “I turned around and you had gone and when I sought you out in the ballroom your Grandmother said you had left.”

  “My sister was taken ill,” Gideon said, saving Dizzy from answering.

  “Rather sudden wasn’t it?” Marcus persisted. “Why did you say nothing to me?”

  This time Dizzy got in before her brother, acting for all the world that there was nothing troubling her even though she was sure her heart was being squeezed to pulp inside.

  “I did not want a fuss. Georgiana was there to take me home. Besides you know I wish very much not to be a buffer between you and the matchmakers. Did you think I was going to wait around and have you pretending to be my suitor for I have told you all along I would not fall in with your plans.”

  “I am not a monster, my girl. There was no need to trouble Georgiana. If you had confided in me I would have escorted you home,” he told her.

  “Georgie does not see me as a trouble Glenmore and was happy to help me. She was preparing to leave anyway and as she lives across the square it made sense for her to see me home.”

  Glenmore tried to manoeuvre it so that he could ride alongside Dizzy leaving Ross to converse with her brother but Gideon, conscious of the strain she was under, refused to move from her side.

  “Gentleman, we must be going as the Dowager has called for a family meeting over breakfast and we must not be late!” he told them and Dizzy breathed a sigh of relief that he had taken her seriously when she had told him that she wished to avoid getting into a conversation with anyone..

  “Is she a bit of a tarter then if crossed?” Ross asked and then laughed when Gideon replied.

  “No but all the bacon will be gone!”

  “Good day, gentlemen,” Dizzy said and urged her horse forward but Glenmore leaned over and grabbed her reins.

  “I will call on you this afternoon at one.” Then thinking that he was meeting Lady Fenchurch at twelve and was unlikely to be finished by one, he said “No actually we had better make that two.”

  As they walked away, Ross remarked, “That was odd. Normally Brockton takes every opportunity to throw you and his sister together and yet today it felt like he was trying to protect her from your attentions. Have you done something to upset her?”

  “Not that I can think of,” Marcus replied. “We had a lovely time yesterday but then when we returned to the Fenchurch ball and were met by Hester she just sneaked away without a word.”

  “Hester met you, you say? Well there you have it!” Ross exclaimed and when Marcus looked puzzled he continued. “I expect you and Hester behaved as you normally do with each other. Lady Dizzy Brockton is jealous. She saw you and Hester together and came to the wrong conclusions which I might add, is perfectly understandable given how you two behave. Do not forget she has no idea about you and Hester and the rest of us for that matter. Very few people do.”

  “You could be right though when she asked me if Hester and I were lovers I told her we weren’t!”

  “Asked you outright did she?” Ross laughed. “No prevarication then or maidenly reserve? Do not let her get away Marcus because she is definitely the girl for you.”

  “I agree wholeheartedly but still this could be fun if, as you say, she is suffering from jealousy.”

  “Be careful my friend, when Erica was jealous of my ex-mistress, she punched me and it set our courtship back by several days. Bearing in mind we were already married, you do not have that advantage and may jeopardize everything.”

  “Not married no, but I plan to remedy that very soon. Do not worry Ross; I have no intention of letting her get away and will result to your nefarious ways of obtaining a bride should the need arise.”

  Keeping her head averted, Dizzy hoped her brother would not notice her forlorn expression or the tears that seeped out of the corner of her eye and slid down her cheeks. A large lump had formed in her throat which made talking impossible and so she was glad that Gideon remained quiet on the way home making only the occasional comment that needed no response from her. She was glad for the business of the streets on their journey home as it delayed their arrival and gave her time to compose herself and therefore it was with a relative normal voice that she asked Gideon if he could have some tea and toast sent up to her room. “I intend to have a soak in the bath and return to my bed for a while.”

  “That sounds like a good idea. You are exhausted by the looks of you.” he replied and then as he followed her into the house he continued “Dizzy, I know you do not want to talk at the moment but if I can help in any way you need only ask!”

  “Thank you Gideon,” she said “But I shall be fine, honestly. It is just that I have been very foolish and am feeling somewhat annoyed with myself, that is all. I knew the rules of the game; set some of them in fact and so have only myself to blame.”

  “I cannot say I fully understand what you are on about but I am going to blame Glenmore whether he is guilty or not and recommend you to do the same. Would you like Gabriel and me to go and sort him out? Or better still we will send Grandmamma.”

  Dizzy laughed which is what Gideon had intended. “Perhaps tomorrow,” she told him “after I have had time to think up a suitable punishment. It needs to be something grisly.”

  The clock had just chimed the hour of two when Dizzy heard the doorbell ring. She had planned to walk over to her sister’s house to be well out of the way but then reasoned that Coulton was more than a match for unwanted visitors and she could safely leave it to him to see Glenmore on his way. Ensconced in the drawing room with the French doors open to allow the warm breeze to waft in, Dizzy had been leafing through a book but put it down and edged closer to the door which she had left slightly ajar.

  “Good afternoon, Coulton. I am here to see Lady Dizzy,” Glenmore said when the butler opened the front door to his knock.

  “You might be but that does not mean you’ll see her,” Coulton replied.

  “I beg your pardon? I don’t quite follow.”

  “I mean you might want to see her but you can’t. Lady Dizzy ain’t seeing no-one,” Coulton announced crossing his arms over his chest and staring belligerently at the Duke.

  “You have just uttered a double negative which makes a positive,” Glenmore smiled “and therefore she is seeing someone; me!”

  “Oh bad move” Dizzy winced on hearing this from her position behind the door.

  “Are you trying to be funny?” Coulton asked quietly, which was always an ominous sign according to the two latest generations of Brocktons.

  “Absolutely not!” he assured him. “Please give Lady Dizzy my regards and inform her I shall see her shortly.”

  The door closed with a decided thud and Dizzy relaxed. Coulton was a gem when it came to unwanted visitors no matter what rank they held; from king to pauper he would send them away, usually with a flea in their ear. ‘Glenmore should consider himself fortunate’ she thought ‘as he has got off quite lightly
.’

  She softly closed the door and went in search of her cat that she found on the lawn playing with a mouse. “Oh Minerva, let it go,” she called and tried to rescue the poor creature from her pet’s clutches but with her leg still hurting, she was not quick enough.

  Thus it was that she did not hear the second knock on the door which when opened, revealed a Duke holding out a basket laden with every chocolate delight imaginable. Coulton who was about to launch on his trademark tirade against persistent, unwanted visitors was halted in his tracks before even one syllable had been uttered.

  “I believe this may belong to you, Coulton.” Glenmore said placing a great emphasis on the word ’may’.

  “Now isn’t bribery a bit beneath a grand Duke like you?” he asked prevaricating as he was not completely lost to his role of protector to his employers.

  “Nothing is beneath me if it gets me in to see Lady Dizzy,” Glenmore said swinging the basket gently to and fro in front of the butler’s popping eyes.

  “You are a cruel man Duke and no mistake; tempting me to betray my ‘family’,” he grumbled.

  “Do not look on it as a betrayal but more that you are helping her to find happiness,” Glenmore suggested, picking up a box and making a great show of smelling the contents.

  “She was none to happy this morning and she expressly said no visitors.”

  “She did not mean to include me in that, but if you are sure I will return these to the confectioners in Mayfair. They make their own chocolates and they are delicious. Have you ever sampled their chocolates?” he asked conversationally.

  “Yes on many occasions and very superior quality too,” Coulton croaked, holding out to temptation by a very fine, much stretched thread.