At the end of the dance, he bowed.
“Thank you, milady.”
“Thank you, Lord Roderick.” She curtseyed. “I look forward to seeing you at my ball next week.”
“I shall be glad to be there,” Roderick said sincerely. He kissed her hand, then turned to walk to the refreshments table. As he walked across the room, Alicia stared after him.
What is it that makes me feel so different when I am with Leo, than when I am with Roderick? Leo made her feel excited, interested and alive. Roderick made her feel... nothing, really. She sighed, frustrated with herself. What was wrong with her! He was all any girl should want.
The heir to an earldom, he was sensible and kind. He was even rather handsome, in a solid, correct way. His hair was glossily auburn, his face square, his eyes wide and dark, with long lashes. He was tall, with a body lean from riding.
“Why don't I want him?” she asked under her breath, feeling tormented by her own reservations.
“Alicia?”
“Henriette!”
Alicia was startled to see her friend waltz up dramatically, a glass of Malmsey in one hand, a pastry in the other. With her was a tall young man Alicia did not recognize.
“Come on, Alicia!” her friend said, and took another drink of her wine. “Have some fun!”
Alicia smiled. “Coming, Henriette!”
Together, they crossed the floor to fetch some wine for Alicia.
At the refreshments table, they were surprised to find Roderick, standing with a group of men, some much older than him. He acknowledged Alicia and Henriette, and invited them to join the group, though he looked acutely uncomfortable when he noticed a lean-faced, dark-haired man staring at her.
Alicia had also noticed the man. He was tall, with intense, bloodshot eyes, and he had the mark of a recent wound down the side of his face. She swallowed hard, feeling uncomfortable. She looked away.
“Lord Roderick,” the dark-haired man said at length, “would you do me the favor of introducing me to the ladies?”
Roderick nodded. “Of course, my friend. May I introduce the honorable Miss Henriette Langford, and my affianced wife, the Lady Alicia.”
“Honored,” the man said gravely.
“Lady Alicia, Miss Langford, this is Lord Luke Rawlins, Duke of Lennox.”
“Pleased to meet you, sir,” Alicia said politely. He grinned at her, and Alicia felt a rush through her body. It was not a pleasant feeling. He kissed her hand, and his lips felt warm and slightly moist, even through the back of her glove. She felt the touch long after he released her hand, and it made her shiver. This was the man who was after Leo!
She excused herself after a few minutes of light conversation with the group, feeling uncomfortable, and stood across the room, watching the ballroom. A bright, riotous space, it was filled with color and laughter, a scene of young girls in pastel muslins, dowagers in deep-colored silks, and gentlemen in velvet coats of all shades. The air was lively with violin music and it smelled of rosewater and, faintly, of spice and musk, the scents of hair pomade. It was beautiful. She should feel so happy. Alicia sighed.
Instead, she felt somehow aloof, and strangely cynical.
I am solely responsible for a fugitive earl. The thought was so serious it had its own amusement. I am attending a ball with my betrothed, and I think I am in love with someone else. It was all a cause for worry.
She watched as Henriette allowed herself to be persuaded onto the dance floor by her current beau, another man gallantly agreeing to wait for the next dance. Henriette has no betrothal to worry about, she thought a little jealously, then stopped. Henriette has an uncertain future.
At least her own marriage to Roderick, however unpleasant it might seem, did offer Alicia certainty. She would be Lady Alicia Drosty, a countess. Henriette, the only daughter of a baron, had no such certainty.
I should be glad I will always be comfortable, Alicia reprimanded herself harshly.
As she watched the group, Alicia saw her mother, dancing with her father. She smiled, seeing them. Serene and graceful, dressed in rose pink, her mother was like a pale candle flame. And her father watched her as if she was an angel, supporting her gently in the turns and steps of the dance.
There is more to life than comfortable security, Alicia thought determinedly. And I will find it. It has something to do with how I feel about Leo.
“Would you care to dance, milady?”
Alicia looked up, to see a dark-haired young man in military uniform, grinning at her shyly.
She blinked. “Actually, yes, I would.”
Together they whirled onto the floor, Alicia feeling light-spirited as her feet found the familiar steps of a Polonaise. This is a ball! I should have fun.
Later, she joined Henriette at the refreshments, and drank sweet champagne. Giggling, she and Henriette were led onto the dance floor by Sir Andrew and Roderick. It was good to be finally enjoying the ball.
When the night ended, well past midnight, Alicia was tired, but soon felt her alertness returning. She had to get home! Had to see Leo...
Alicia fled up the stairs as soon as they arrived home again, looking left and right.
“Goodnight, darling,” her mother called as she passed her on the landing.
“Goodnight, Mother,” she replied. She walked faster.
“Leo?” she hissed at the door of the spare room, one story up. “Leo?”
She pushed it. To her surprise, it was not locked. She stepped inside, holding her breath.
A shaft of light falling through the curtains gilded his hair. He was on the spare bed, fully clothed, fast asleep.
Alicia stood watching him, feeling a strange pain fill her heart. She had never seen anything so beautiful, so strangely vulnerable. She had never felt the sensations that ran through her at that moment.
She did not mean to wake him, but the light falling through the doorway must have disturbed his sleep, for he stretched, and his eyelids opened.
“Alicia?” His voice was shrill with surprise.
“Leo!”
“Come in, quickly,” he gestured. “Someone might see...”
“It's late, Leo,” Alicia explained, pulling the door shut. “Everyone's asleep. No one will see us.”
He breathed out, clearly relieved. “Nevertheless, I just can't risk it. We have to be careful.”
Alicia nodded. She understood why he was worried. If she was facing a duel with one of the best swords in the country, she would be worried, too.
“I just returned from a ball,” Alicia explained. “So I thought I'd come in and check on you now, since I couldn't be here earlier.”
“Oh,” Leo said. “That would explain this burning desire to wake a man up when he's just fallen asleep.”
Alicia blushed. “I'm sorry,” she said, stung by his tone, “I didn't mean it.”
Leo sighed. “I suppose not. Well, then, how was the ball?” His expression softened, and he smiled.
Alicia smiled back. “It was lovely!” she said enthusiastically.
“Good,” he said gently. “I miss attending things like that.”
“You do?” Alicia asked, surprised.
“I do,” he affirmed.
“You didn't have them in Germany?”
“We did.” He smiled wistfully. “Though they weren't like the ones here – they were more formal, and the dancing was different, and the food...” He shrugged. “I miss hearty English meals.”
“I would, too!” Alicia agreed strongly. “I would miss game pies, and pudding, and...” Her voice trailed off.
Leo laughed softly. “That is exactly what I missed.” He smiled at her, eyes warm. “Funny that you would miss that as well.”
“It is,” Alicia agreed, feeling a spreading warmth inside her as he looked at her. “It must be good to be home.” Alicia felt suddenly sorry for him, spending so many years away from home.
“It is,” Leo said firmly.
“It's sad you have to hide here, th
ough,” Alicia sympathized.
“It is,” he agreed again. “I wouldn't mind going out a while... I miss people.”
“I would, too!” Alicia sympathized. “You also love parties?”
“Uh huh,” Leo agreed, smiling. “It seems we have some things in common.” He looked into her eyes. Neither of them blinked.
His eyes had little flecks of brown in them. The expression in them was like nothing she had ever seen. It touched her in a way that nothing else ever had, making her whole body shiver slightly.
“So…” He shook himself abruptly. “How was this ball we were talking about? Where did it happen?”
“It was at Newgrange, and it was wonderful! I danced with Peter, and Roderick...” Her voice trailed off. She really did not wish to think about Roderick now.
“Oh. He's still around, is he?” Leo asked flatly. His face was suddenly closed, as if she had snapped the cover on a book.
“Yes,” she said, puzzled. Why was he acting like he didn't like Roderick?
“Oh.” Leo blinked. “You and he have an... arrangement?”
Alicia felt embarrassed. “Yes,” she said softly. “Our parents made one years ago.”
“Well, then,” Leo said, shrugging. “I guess I should let you go to bed. It's late, isn't it?”
“Yes,” Alicia ventured. Why had he suddenly gone so strange? What did she do?
“Well then,” he said again. “Goodnight.” He rolled over and lay down again. “And please close the door... I'll have to lock it after you've gone. See you tomorrow?”
“Yes!” Alicia whispered back. He wants to see me again?
Closing the door very slowly, she tiptoed down the stairs to her own bedchamber.
As she went, she thought about the conversation. It was very odd.
“I wonder,” she said to herself as she disrobed and slid under the blankets, “if he is jealous of Roderick?”
She shook her head at the thought. It was not possible. Leo didn't feel like that about her, whatever she felt. He never had. She dismissed it, feeling cross with herself for even entertaining the notion.
And he is on the run. He can't even come out in public, whatever he might or might not feel toward me. I still feel exactly the same about him as I did before.
What was she going to do?
I have a plan, Alicia thought as she dropped off to sleep. If not to help me, than to help Leo.
Tomorrow, she would put it into operation.
CHAPTER FIVE
SECRETS
SECRETS
“Mummy?”
“Yes, dear?”
It was evening, and Lady Valeria was sitting in the parlor with her sewing on her knee before the fire. Beside her, her husband Ernst sat, reading. They spent whole evenings in companionable silence, mutual closeness nourishing their souls.
“What is it, Sunny?” Ernst asked, smiling. It was his special name for her, and Alicia dimpled despite the fear that made her heart race. In the bedchamber two rooms down, Leo was hiding. And she was trying to act as if nothing had happened! Could she fool her parents, who were so good at reading her? She drew in a breath.
“I was thinking...” she began slowly,
“Yes, dear?” her mother asked again, cutting off some rose-colored cotton and reaching for her needles and thread.
“I was thinking, what I really want for my birthday...” she paused and swallowed, “is a new velvet gown.”
“Velvet?” her mother asked, eyebrow raised in a mild question, though she smiled. She smoothed her hands down her own gown, a simple one of white cotton, patterned with tiny lavender sprigs.
“Yes!” Alicia said enthusiastically. “Henriette has one, fresh from the best seamstress in London, and she says it is fashionable to wear velvet for a winter event, and...” Alicia ran out of words and stopped, breathing heavily. She hoped no one had noticed her hand trembled slightly with nerves.
“Well,” Valeria smiled her peaceful smile, “then that sounds perfect. I wondered when we would finally know what to give you for your birthday!”
“Sunny always has so many thoughts going on in that head.” Ernst grinned and ruffled her hair as she came to sit with them. “It's no wonder she takes time to make up her mind.”
Alicia, sitting beside her father on the white-upholstered settle, smiled to herself as she watched her parents talk.
“I don't know where she gets that liveliness.” Valeria grinned, not looking up from her work except to give a sidelong glance to her husband, who inclined his head in grave agreement.
“Not from me, certainly,” he agreed, laughing. “Perhaps from her mother?”
Valeria laughed. “Oh, no. I never had trouble making up my mind. I always knew immediately what I wanted.”
She was looking at Ernst, gray eyes full of love, and Alicia felt the sense of that deep connection. It warmed her heart. The fact that her parents had a legendary love story made her happy. She wondered, briefly concerned, if she would ever feel that way herself. She sighed. Leo was so strange! The way he had changed so suddenly that other night disturbed her. They had connected so deeply – she was sure that glance they shared was special – and then he had withdrawn the moment she mentioned Roderick. Was he really jealous? Was that it? The thought was delicious, but seemed impossible somehow.
“Sorry, dear?” her mother asked, and Alicia realized she must have made a sound.
“Nothing, Mother,” she said quickly. “Only, you are sure you would travel all that way, just to fetch my birthday gift?”
Inside, she was holding her breath. Her whole plan hinged on the answer to that innocent question.
“Of course, dear!” her mother exclaimed. She reached out and embraced Alicia, who sat beside her on the settle. “We would love to spoil you!”
“Yes, of course!” her father enthused, and nudged Alicia in the ribs, winking at her. “Besides, it gives me an excuse to get out.”
“And,” Valeria added, archly, “it gives me an excuse to make your father take me into Town. I haven't been for ages. It would be nice to see somewhere civilized.”
Valeria and Ernst both chuckled, and Alicia joined in.
“Oh, come!” Ernst said, affectionate. “You like it here. You always did.”
“Oh, dear, you know I do.” Valeria smiled patiently at her husband. “But even I would like to catch up with the latest fashions, and hear the news, and see old acquaintances.”
“I suppose you are right, as always. She is, isn't she, Sunny?” He grinned.
“Yes, Father,” Alicia added, and kissed the side of his head. He blushed and smiled back at her.
“Well,” Valeria said after a moment of quiet comfortableness, “If we are going to go to Town and come back before Alicia's birthday, we should leave tomorrow morning, I should say?”
“You are right, my dear,” Ernst added peaceably. “As always.”
“In which case,” she smiled, “we should retire early. What say you?”
“I think that is a very sensible plan.”
Ten minutes later, Alicia had said her goodnight and was slipping through the door and out into the corridor, heart thumping.
She’d done it! Her parents would travel to London tomorrow, leaving her alone and the house empty. Empty. Empty besides Leo. And the servants, Alicia reminded herself. Including her own maid, Annette. Oh, and Henriette! They would still have to be careful not to be seen.
Tiptoeing to the bedroom, she walked past and to the wardrobe, a separate room divided from her bedchamber by a locked door.
She tapped twice on the door, as they had agreed, a repetitive pattern of knocks. “Leo?” she hissed through the key-hole.
“Yes?” he replied. As usual, he sounded impatient. “What?” She heard the key turn in the lock and then the door was flung open. “Inside! Quickly.”
Alicia stepped inside, and he locked the door.
She could not keep the grin off her face.
“It worked!” she said
triumphantly.
Alicia had the rare experience of seeing Leo relax. Slowly, he sighed and leaned against the side-wall of the wardrobe room. The tension seemed to flow out of him, and he sank down the wall to the floor, eyes shut, breathing slow.
“Thank goodness,” he sighed.
Alicia went over quickly and sat down beside him, bubbling with excitement.
“Isn't it wonderful?”
Leo shut his eyes.
“Alicia, do you ever stop being happy and excited about things?”
“No!” she said brightly. “Why should I? Everyone should be happy all the time. It's what we were meant to do here on Earth! Why be sad?”
“I suppose,” Leo said, “I have no argument to that.”
“Good!” Alicia beamed and clasped her hands, enraptured.
Her parents were leaving. Leo was safe. And it was all according to her plan!
Leo cast a glance sideways, and, catching the look on her face, he grinned. When Alicia looked back, the grin had almost vanished. But she had seen it.
She smiled, realizing suddenly that he was teasing her. Surprised, she swallowed hard, wishing she could quell the butterflies in her stomach. The fluttering excitement would not stop.
Tomorrow she would be all alone in the house, with her Leo. And she had rescued him. What more, she asked herself, could anyone hope for?
CHAPTER SIX
BEGINNING AN ADVENTURE
BEGINNING AN ADVENTURE
“Pies.”
Alicia blinked.
“Sorry, Leo?”
It was late morning, and Alicia and Leo were sitting in her bedchamber at Wilding, trying to be quiet, in case any passing servants heard them and came to investigate. Her parents had departed earlier that day, and Henriette was riding with Roderick and Ada, who lived at the neighboring manor. Alicia had feigned illness to remain behind with her hiding fugitive.
“What I really want, after five years of German cuisine, is pies,” Leo expanded on the theme, sighing. “You don't get them in Germany.”
“Oh.” Alicia breathed. “Well…” She paused, chewing her lip. Her mother had proudly entrusted her with the household accounts, and in them there were careful lists of meal-plans, put together by her mother and Mrs. Houston, the cook. There was not any mention of pies this week.
Does The Earl Love Me (A Yorkshire Downs; Love, Hearts & Challenges Book 2) Page 3