The Runaway Chaperone: A Historical Regency Romance Book

by Alice Kirks

  “No!” Alexandra said quickly. “No, Arabella. This is a gathering you wished to attend. I don’t need to leave. I would just like to go inside a moment.”

  “Of course. I will stay with Amelia at the gathering there, and not go anywhere by myself.”

  “Good. Capital,” Alexandra nodded.

  Inside, she found an alcove in the vast room, and stepped quickly into the darkened space, shutting her eyes a moment. Her heart thudded and she felt relief, getting away from the party.

  What if he spotted me?

  She tried to remember where she knew his face from. He was definitely employed at her home once, fairly recently, she was sure of it. She wished she could ask somebody here when he’d joined the staff.

  Why? She reasoned. It was quite reasonable to assume that he had come here for a better rate of payment, or some other personal need. How likely was it that he was here, spying on her, waiting to report back to her father? Surely unlikely!

  And besides, even if he’d spotted her, what was going to have got any idea as to her location? Unless he had noticed her with Arabella, and personally knew the address of the Duke, and Arabella’s identity, how would he?

  “Arabella might need you.”

  She hurried outside, but, as it was dark now, the guests were already coming back. She stood back to get out of the way of the crowd, and slipped through to Arabella and Amelia, who were – as they promised – standing waiting for her, beside the table.

  “There you are,” Arabella said, sounding delighted. “I was worried for you.”

  “Thank you, and thank you for waiting here, just as I asked,” she said. “You’re both so well-mannered.”

  “Oh, Alexandra,” Arabella teased.

  They laughed and went up the stairs together, joining the other guests in the marble-decorated room.

  The tea was served on three long tables, and Alexandra waited to see if the servant who’d been outside came in to help at the table. Luckily, she didn’t see him. She felt her body relax.

  “Shall we have some cake?” Arabella ventured. “It shan’t take the edge off my appetite!”

  Alexandra chuckled. “Of course. I am sure it would be taken very well if we help ourselves to plenty of good food.”

  “Grand!”

  They all laughed, and Arabella and Amelia hurried to fetch cake and tea.

  When they went back in the coach, Alexandra felt herself relax further. Finally, they were out of the frightening situation. She could stop worrying that someone would approach her, that she would feel a hand on her arm.

  Nonsense! As if he would apprehend you, in the crowded hall, just like that!

  She leaned back and shut her eyes. The coach was dark, the only light coming through the window as they rattled along the path. She felt soothed by the darkness and found herself sinking into sleep.

  It was only as Arabella got out of the coach that she woke up again. She took the coachman’s hand and jumped down, and headed up the stairs, trying to match her pace to Arabella’s brisk step.

  “Matthew! It was lovely,” she heard Arabella exclaim, as she walked up the stairs, her brother walking alongside her. “I had cake, and we talked, and it is such a pretty garden!”

  “I have heard it’s very fine,” Matthew said.

  Alexandra took off her shoes at the door, slipping her feet into indoor shoes, then hurrying up the stairs. She was delighted to see Arabella talking so happily with her brother, but she was confused and could see that he looked tense. She wondered what was troubling him.

  And she had other problems, too, which she pushed to the forefront of her mind: like what would she do if she were found?

  Chapter 16

  Matthew walked down the stairs, feeling agitated. He had been distressed ever since he had almost dismissed Alexandra. He had realized that day when he had felt so awful, what he’d done.

  I have fallen in love – with Alexandra.

  He swallowed hard. He was Duke of Blakeley. He couldn’t risk his reputation like this…he was going to risk losing everything.

  If society were to turn their back on him, he would be left without credibility, without the means to make business-agreements and invest in trade. And he would have totally ruined the prospects of his sister.

  No. I cannot.

  He reached the anteroom and went in. It was cold, the fire unlit. Unless they were expecting business related visits, the room was unused and so nobody bothered to keep it warm. Matthew sat down, glad that he was unlikely to be disturbed.

  He had to think.

  “I should leave.”

  The thought returned to him. If he got on a ship, and sailed to some far-off place, he would be able to forget all about how he felt for Alexandra – or, if he weren’t certain to forget, he would be prevented from acting on it, and he felt he needed that.

  He had already been quite out of character.

  He wanted to find calm, but he was worried. His actions thus far had disturbed him. He’d been treating Alexandra like a person he could talk to, when she was a servant, and his sister’s chaperone. He couldn’t understand himself.

  Understanding that he was in love with her made it all more understandable, but also brought problems.

  He could not act on this.

  “I need to talk.”

  He walked out and went upstairs. He would ride to Albert’s and spend the morning there. He knew he was avoiding the house, but that was something he couldn’t help. He was sure Arabella would understand. Besides, as far as he knew, she would be sitting with the seamstress to make new gowns for her upcoming debut. He got out his riding things and got dressed.

  At the manor, he walked up the stairs and knocked.

  “I need to speak with his lordship,” he said to the butler, the instant he opened the door. “Is he in?”

  “Yes, your Grace. He’s upstairs. I’ll announce you now.”

  “Thank you,” Matthew said, following him through to the hallway, where his boots echoed on the stone staircase. He waited there while the butler announced him, feeling agitated.

  What can I say to him?

  He felt as if it would be wrong, just to come out with it. Yet, he had been keeping this secret buried inside for too long. He felt sure it was time to let it out.

  “Matthew! Why, what brings you here at this time of the day?”

  “I’m in love with my chaperone.”

  Albert stared.

  Matthew blushed. He had, he reasoned, not said it in front of the butler, which was good. He coughed.

  “Not my chaperone, I mean: my sister’s. Of course, I am the head of the house, but…”

  “Yes. Come and sit,” his friend said.

  Matthew, feeling embarrassed, followed him in. He took a seat by the table, looking up at Albert. His friend frowned.

  “How long has she worked there?” he asked.

  “A couple of weeks,” he replied. “And I am sure. I can’t doubt. It’s been too long of me ignoring it, since I felt, well, something, the moment I saw her.” He dove into silence.

  “I see,” Albert agreed. “Is there any reason why you can’t…”

  “If you mean, why I shouldn’t do what anyone else would do, and impose on her, then yes. There is.” His voice was tight.

  “Oh.”

  Matthew coughed. “I feel too deeply. I cannot risk ruining her or burdening her with the fact that I cannot support her.”

  “Yes,” Albert said. “But many…”

  “Yes, I know many other lords would do it. But I cannot. As I said, I feel too deeply for her.”

  Albert frowned. He leaned back, with the air of a man thinking about something. The butler came in, placing a teapot and cups on the table. Matthew watched the reflected light on the pewter tray and tried thinking about anything other than the problem at hand.

  “Matthew, you know,” Albert said after a moment, “you could run away. I mean, you could…”

  “I would,” Matthew said. �
��I would take Alexandra and run, but I cannot. I have too many responsibilities. My sister, the estate, the house.”

  “Yes. I see.” Albert frowned.

  Matthew shifted, uncrossing his legs, feeling uneasy. It was embarrassing, discussing this, even though Albert was a fine friend. He felt silly, and yet he knew it was nothing to be embarrassed about. If anything, he should be feeling excellent – and he was. Just thinking about Alexandra made his heart glow.

  If only she was someone he could make into a Duchess, without the whole peerage objecting utterly.

  “I need to think of something better – at the moment, all I can think of is running away.”

  “With Alexandra?”

  “No. My plan was to take a passage on one of your trading vessels. I thought maybe South America?”

  “Why, no!” Albert sounded shocked. “You can’t just leave! What sort of a solution would that be?”

  Matthew sighed. “Well, you think of something. I don’t have any ideas, and your censure of the only one I have isn’t helping.”

  “Sorry,” Albert said. “But that – besides ennobling her – is the only thing I can envisage.”

  “You think I could?” Matthew was serious. He would never have considered it or imagined himself entertaining the thought; but in this case, it sounded like the best option.

  Albert stretched in his seat, then turned to look at Matthew, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “Well…I couldn’t. But you’re a duke. Maybe you have some sort of ennoblement ability I don’t? Could you knight someone, maybe?”

  Matthew chuckled. “No. Unfortunately not. It’s a good thought, except I don’t know what I’d knight her for, even if I could.”

  “We could fabricate something.”

  Matthew grinned. He was glad that he had a friend like Albert, who hadn’t once said anything to condemn or insult him, despite the fact that most people would probably think he was completely mad. And all the ideas he’d come up with were good. Matthew had to admit that: even the ennobling one was a good idea, if it was possible.

  “I hadn’t considered any of those ideas,” he admitted.

  “There you are, then,” Albert chuckled. “There are plenty of ways.”

  “Yes,” Matthew admitted. “I see there are. I just have to think of the best one and do that.”

  Albert chuckled. “A bit like a business-venture.”

  “Not at all.”

  They both laughed. Matthew helped himself to a lump of sugar, lifting it delicately with the servers left on the table beside them. Albert stretched again.

  “Try some of the cake, do. It’s good.”

  “I will, I think,” Matthew admitted. Breakfast seemed to have been quite meager – his stomach rumbled hungrily. “Worrying seems to tire one.”

  “Absolutely,” Albert grinned. “Don’t even mention it. I have a business-meeting this afternoon to discuss ginger trading. I am so worried; you wouldn’t credit it.”

  They both laughed. Matthew talked with him for a while – not about any business-meetings – and they walked down the drive to get some exercise, Matthew ready to go back home.

  “I’m glad I called,” he thanked his friend.

  “And so am I,” Albert agreed. “Come and visit anytime. You know I benefit too.”

  “Thanks,” Matthew grinned. He vaulted into the saddle and rode off.

  As he rode, the morning growing to sweet warmth around him, he allowed himself to feel positive about the situation for the first time. He had never considered the possibility that anyone would receive his news favorably; that someone would not think he’d lost his sense.

  He also hadn’t considered just how many possibilities there were.

  “If she was noble…”

  He let his mind consider the possibility. It would be easy, then. And, frankly, he thought with a grin, the members of the nobility in his circles would be better for meeting her. They needed her quick mind and inability to see rank. They would benefit considerably from her fresh views.

  “All I would need to do would be to make it so.”

  He smiled, imagining how wonderful his life would be, if only he could make Alexandra noble.

  He rode back to the estate and dismounted at the stables, still thinking about the problem. And still thinking about the joy that would be his, if only he could solve it.

  “Thank you, Brockton,” he called to the man who led his horse to the trough. “I’ll be staying here for the rest of the day.”

  He would, he thought, grinning, like to spend the day with Alexandra. Everything seemed possible now.

  Chapter 17

  Alexandra walked to the bench in the garden. It was her chosen spot to sit, the bench overlooking the wildflower garden. She laid her embroidery out on her lap and leaned back, looking out over the sunny garden and enjoying the warmth of the afternoon quiet.

  “A fine day.”

  She closed her eyes a moment, enjoying the sunshine. It was quiet out here, and she was glad of that, because she needed time to think.

  These sightings are becoming unnerving.

  She recalled the tea-party and the man she’d spotted. He hadn’t seen her; she was fairly sure of it. And, if he had, why would he have recognized her or gone straightaway to her father?

  All the same, she shuddered.

  “The man in the village did know.”

  Every day, she felt as if they were creeping closer. As if her days in this safe place could be counted on one hand. It was a disconcerting feeling.

  What would they do? She imagined people swarming into the garden, hauling her off. But, in broad daylight? Would anybody risk trespassing? And at night, the gate was locked. Nobody visited then.

  “Only if I was out.”

  The thought was no less uncomfortable, and she stood, planning to walk about the garden. The fear was making her unable to sit still.

  As she strode down the path, she stopped.

  “You are out early,” she said to Lord Blakeley, who bowed low.

  “I know,” he said. “It’s not my usual habit to walk until an hour after luncheon, but I had wanted to take some sunshine. And I thought I might find you here.”

  “Really?” Alexandra said before she could stop herself.

  He chuckled. His lips lifted in a small smile, eyes sparkling. “Yes. I can’t say it was through any intelligence of mine…I saw you walk down the pathway, there.”

  “Yes,” she nodded. “I came through the side exit.”

  He smiled and she felt her heart pulse quickly as he looked at her. He was smiling, and she could see the warm look in his eyes. It made her face redden.