by Carla Kelly
Alex watched Urmston deal out the cards, but his mind was on Frances’s words.
‘That might be possible,’ he said slowly. ‘If she were to marry she could no longer look after the girls. And why not school rather than another governess? My brother’s will provided Miss Grensham with a handsome sum, so she would not be a penniless bride.’
And she was not unattractive, if one liked dainty, red-headed women, he thought, regarding Lady Frances’s voluptuous form.
‘Yes,’ he mused. ‘It might just work. I know several fellows in want of a wife.’
‘Well, there you are then,’ murmured Sir Charles. He finished giving out the cards and turned over the last one. ‘Hearts,’ he declared. ‘Hearts are trumps.’
* * *
The second meeting with Lord Davenport had left Diana angry and unsettled. She was appalled at her own behaviour in encouraging the earl to kiss her; just the thought of it sent a shiver running through her. She was even more appalled to realise how much she wanted him to do it again. Quite reprehensible! Clearly in future he must not call unannounced. She decided, therefore, that she would write to him, telling him as much. The letter was written and despatched before she broke her fast the following morning, but even before it could have reached its destination she was regretting the rash impulse. Her tone had not been at all conciliatory and she was sure the earl would take offence. However, when the timorous side of her nature suggested that she should write again and apologise her spirit rebelled strongly. Lord Davenport must acknowledge that he was as much to blame for the lapse in decorum.
Why should he? He is an Arrandale, after all.
The thought came unbidden and Diana was obliged to acknowledge the truth of it. Even the late earl, for all his staid and respectable nature, had possessed the famed Arrandale arrogance. They went their own way, convinced of their superiority, and she had no reason to think Alex Arrandale was any different from the rest of his family.
The thought remained with her for the next few days, contributing to her mood of restless anxiety. It became so bad that one evening, after saying goodnight to the children she did not go immediately downstairs but instead went to the schoolroom, walking around and idly touching the familiar objects.
Was she being unreasonable to keep the children at Chantreys? It was perfectly understandable that the new earl would wish to make use of his properties and since he was an Arrandale, she was in no doubt that any party he brought to Chantreys would be far from respectable. The society pages of the newspapers she read often mentioned his name in connection with the more notorious of society’s hostesses. She had a shrewd idea that he considered Chantreys would be the perfect place to bring his latest flirt.
That he refused to do so with the children in residence showed he had some sense of honour, but Meggie and Florence were not his children and it was clear he saw them as an inconvenience. She had learned a great deal about the family since becoming governess to the late earl’s children. James and Alex had been brought up to want for nothing, an army of servants to obey their every whim, but their parents had been shadowy figures with little time to spare for their offspring. Margaret had always said it was a blessing James had turned out as respectable as he had done, but was it any wonder if his younger brother had grown up to consider nothing but his own pleasure? No, Diana was sure he would not give up the fight to remove her and the girls from Chantreys.
Well, perhaps she would write to him again and suggest a compromise. She would offer to take Meggie and Florence away for a few months. The earl had offered her the use of any of his other properties, or perhaps they might remove to the coast. A spell of sea bathing might prove beneficial, as long as Meggie and Florence knew they could return to their home afterwards.
‘It is certainly worth pursuing,’ she murmured as she blew out her candle that night. But her encounter with the new earl of Davenport had roused her spirit and she was reluctant to capitulate too easily. No, she thought as she settled down to sleep. She would not write immediately. It would do the new earl no harm to savour his defeat for a little longer. However, a little over a week after the earl’s visit, a letter arrived from him that sent all thoughts of compromise from her head.
Chapter Four
‘How dare he?’
Diana screwed the paper into a ball and threw it into the corner. She paced about the morning room, hands clenched and muttering angrily, thankful that she was alone and could allow her temper full rein. The letter had been waiting for her when she returned from a walk with the girls and, recognising the seal, she had sent the children off with Nurse as soon as they had all removed their muddy boots and outdoor clothes.
She had braced herself for the earl’s response to her letter, expecting at best a suggestion for another house where they might reside, or at worst an angry condemnation of her presumption in opposing his will, even an ultimatum, but not this missive couched in the politest terms, telling her that he intended to bring a party of friends to the house and was giving her a month’s notice of the visit, that she and the children might be prepared.
‘How very considerate of you, my lord!’
Her words echoed around the morning room, but although her indignation remained, her anger was cooling. She picked up the paper and smoothed it out, then she sat down on a chair to read it again.
Perhaps he expected her to panic at the thought of his visit, to demand that he find another home for his wards immediately, but what if she did not do so? She nibbled her finger. He might be selfish and hedonistic but she did not believe he would hold a truly outrageous party while Meggie and Florence were living in the house. Diana made a quick mental survey of the building. The nursery and schoolroom were on the top floor, there would be no reason for visitors to venture so far. The children would not be able to have the run of the house, as they did now, but it would be May, so they would be able to spend much more time out of doors. She glanced at the clock. There was no time now to reply, but once she had concluded the children’s lessons she would compose a letter to the earl. A polite note that would leave him in no doubt that she would not allow the children to be chased out of their home.
* * *
The cavalcade of carriages rattled through the park and swept around the curling drive that snaked towards the front door of Chantreys. Alex was leading the way in his curricle, with Lady Frances beside him. As he drew his team to a halt she placed her hand upon his leg, saying with a laugh,
‘My dear Alexander, it is quite, quite charming!’
He had to admit it was looking particularly well in the late-spring sunshine, a perfectly proportioned little confection of a building. Rather than ruin the aesthetics by extending the house itself, successive generations had added two pavilions to flank the house and provide extra accommodation.
Alex glanced upwards. The rooms under the eaves had once been the servants’ quarters but his parents had moved the staff outside into one of the pavilions and converted the whole top floor into a nursery. He wondered if Diana and the children were looking out for their arrival. Or perhaps they were waiting just inside the wide door, which was now thrown open as the servants came spilling out to welcome Lord Davenport and his guests.
Alex jumped down and walked around to help Lady Frances alight. He led her past the row of wooden-faced servants and into the hall, cool and light with its pale marble floor and white-painted walls. He paused there, waiting for the rest of the guests to follow them inside. It was a small party, only six guests, as many as the house could hold without opening up the south pavilion to accommodate them. Gervase Wollerton was the last to come in, looking about him in appreciation.
‘You are right, Alex,’ he declared, ‘it is a very pretty place. Is this where you plan to put the Canova, opposite the stairs? The plainness of that wall would be the perfect foil for it.’
‘Yes, but
not while the children are in residence,’ murmured Lady Frances. ‘One dreads to think of what might happen to such a precious statue with little ones running riot through the house.’
‘Quite,’ replied Alex. He beckoned to a hovering servant. ‘And talking of children, where are the girls, Christopher?’
The footman gave a little bow. ‘Miss Grensham begs that you will advise her what time you would like your wards sent to the drawing room.’
Alex felt a hand on his arm and heard Lady Frances softly laughing beside him.
‘Dear me, I hope you will allow us time to change out of our travelling clothes and rest awhile, my lord.’
‘If you wish it,’ he replied, ‘although I had thought this an easy distance from town.’
‘It is, of course,’ she returned smoothly. ‘But I should like to refresh myself and look my best when I meet your wards.’
‘Then I shall hand you over to Mrs Wallace.’ He beckoned to the housekeeper, who was hovering expectantly. His glance swept over the guests now assembled in the hall. ‘She will show you to your rooms while Fingle and Christopher deal with your baggage. If you will excuse me.’
With a brief smile he left them and ran up the stairs two at a time, a pleasurable anticipation speeding his steps as he made his way to the schoolroom. He opened the door on a particularly domestic scene. A sofa had been placed beneath one of the windows and Diana was sitting there with Meggie and Florence on each side of her while she read to them from a large, leather-bound book.
At his entrance all three rose, the young girls’ faces breaking into smiles of delight, while Diana’s conscious look and sudden blush told him she had not forgotten their last meeting. Neither had he, Alex thought ruefully as he stifled a sudden rush of desire at the memory of that one, sizzling kiss.
‘Uncle Alex!’ Margaret ran forward and he scooped her up in his arms, laughing.
‘Yes, I am here, Meggie.’ He hugged his niece, then set her down and turned to greet Florence, who had followed more slowly. That gave him a few moments to compose himself before he looked up and acknowledged Diana with a friendly nod. ‘Miss Grensham.’
She dropped a slight curtsy to him.
‘Lord Davenport.’
He surprised a slight, puzzled look in her eyes.
‘Is anything amiss?’
‘Your neckcloth...you are no longer in mourning?’
He put his hand up to the froth of white linen at his throat.
‘I shall always mourn my brother, but I decided it was time for a change.’ He wanted to say more, but the words would not come. All he could think of was how her simple cream gown enhanced her flame-red hair, which was pulled back from her face into a knot, almost tamed, save for a few silky curls that had escaped and now kissed the back of her neck. His eyes regarded that neck, noting the elegant way it rose from the folds of the muslin fichu covering her shoulders. Demure as a nun. Was that for his benefit?
‘Look, Uncle Alex, we have new gowns.’ Meggie was pulling at his sleeve. ‘Diana ordered them. Do we not look well?’
‘As fine as fivepence,’ he told the girls as they twirled before him.
‘They are ready to meet your guests, my lord, as soon as you wish me to send them downstairs.’
‘I wish you to bring them downstairs, Miss Grensham,’
‘There is no need for me—’
There is every need,’ he interrupted her. ‘You are as much their guardian as I am. In fact, more so,’ he added, ‘since you are in charge of their education.’
A mischievous gleam put to flight the rather anxious look he had seen in her eyes.
‘I think that rankles with you, my Lord Davenport.’
Alex’s lips twitched.
‘I am not deceived by your demure tone, Miss Grensham,’ he growled. ‘You revel in your superiority in this matter.’
‘That would be ignoble of me, sir.’
She was smiling, clearly more comfortable when they were teasing one another. As was he.
‘It would indeed,’ he replied gravely. He glanced down at his dusty boots. ‘I beg your pardon for appearing in all my dirt. I wanted to come up immediately to see the girls.’
The faint blush was on her cheek again but she spoke calmly enough.
‘Not at all, Lord Davenport, your eagerness to see your charges does you credit.’
* * *
Diana hoped he could not see how he discomposed her. From the moment she had heard his booted tread outside the door her heart had been racing. She would have liked to say it was from anger, or indignation, but she had to acknowledge the frisson of pleasure that ran through her at the thought of seeing the earl again. And when he had appeared, she had thought for an instant how much less severe he looked, but that might have been merely the fact that he was no longer wearing the black neckcloth, which had certainly heightened the glowering effect of his heavy black brows. Really, she must be desperate for adult companionship if she had been looking forward to this visit! That is what she told herself, but in her heart she suspected it was specifically Lord Davenport’s company she enjoyed. The verbal sparring. The kiss.
No!
As the children took their visitor to the table to show him their drawings she busied herself with gathering up the books and slates and putting them away. The kiss had nothing to do with it. That was a mistake, the result of too much wine, nothing else. She had been alone too long at Chantreys. Since the death of her sister and brother-in-law she had shut herself away too much with the children. That was all.
‘I must go and change.’ The earl’s voice broke into her thoughts. Diana turned to see that he was moving towards the door. ‘You will bring the children to join us after dinner, Miss Grensham.’
Diana would have preferred to send the girls downstairs with Nurse, but there was something in the earl’s tone that told her he would brook no defiance. She would not argue. At least not in front of her charges.
‘As you wish, my lord.’
The hard look he gave her suggested he was surprised by her meek acquiescence, but after regarding her silently for a long moment he gave a little nod and was gone. The girls ran about, chattering excitedly. For Meggie and Florence the hours could not pass quickly enough but it was quite the opposite for Diana, who could almost wish for a disaster to save her from the forthcoming ordeal.
* * *
At the appointed hour Diana accompanied her charges to the drawing room. There were seven persons awaiting her, three ladies and four gentlemen, including Lord Davenport. He had a voluptuous blonde at his side but it was not the lady’s striking beauty that drew Diana’s attention, it was the fact that she was standing rather closer to the earl than was necessary and had one hand resting possessively on his sleeve.
Resolutely Diana turned to the other two ladies in the room. The younger one was Miss Prentiss, a single lady with all the poise and confidence Diana lacked. She also had a rather strident voice and a harsh laugh that grated upon the ear. Her companion was considerably older. The young lady addressed her as Mrs Peters, not her mother then, but Diana guessed she was here to act as chaperon.
So, thought Diana, she had been right about the earl, he would observe the proprieties while the children were at Chantreys. Considerably relieved, she turned to consider the gentlemen. They were all of a similar age and all fashionably dressed, but it was Lord Davenport who caught and held her gaze.
She was surprised. With his broad deep chest and craggy features she had not thought the earl would look so well in the plain dark coat and pale pantaloons that Mr Brummell had made de rigueur for evening wear, but she saw now that it enhanced his powerful frame and the lithe, athletic grace of his movements as he walked towards her. Hastily she looked away and forced herself to concentrate upon Meggie and Florence.
Diana had
prepared them well. They accompanied Lord Davenport around the room while she followed, hoping that everyone would be so charmed with the little girls with their pretty dresses and glossy ringlets that they would not notice the ungainly creature in the lavender gown following them with her awkward, dragging step. Any thoughts she had of retiring unheeded to a corner disappeared when the earl took her arm and led her forward. She was puzzled when he introduced her as his sister-in-law but she recalled their conversation, when she had told him that governesses were of no consequence and she realised, with something very like gratitude, that he was endeavouring to give her some standing amongst his guests.
That thought and the earl’s presence steadied Diana as the introductions continued. The guests showed little interest, although she felt their stares upon her as she crossed the room. As always when amongst strangers Diana was painfully aware of her shortened leg and found herself limping even more. She was relieved, however, when the introductions were over and she could at last sit down upon a vacant sofa and watch the proceedings. The girls were received kindly, no one petting them so much as the blonde, whom Diana now knew to be Lady Frances Betsford. However, the novelty of having children in the room soon palled and Diana called them back to sit with her while the ladies exhibited their skill upon the harpsichord. When Lady Frances was begged to take her turn at the harpsichord she modestly declined at first, but when the earl added his entreaties she capitulated.
‘Very well,’ she said, casting a melting look up at him. ‘But only if you will sing a duet with me.’
The suggestion was met with such approval that Diana knew it was not the first time they had performed together. She folded her hands in her lap and fought down the uncharitable hope that Lady Frances might prove inept and tone deaf.