“I look forward to it,” Samantha replied, giving Julia a quick look. “Until then, we’ll be at the refreshment table,” she said as she curtsied and led Lily off toward the ballroom.
Julia watched them go and then turned her attention back to the groom. “Will you escort me?” she asked, lifting one arm toward his.
“Of course, my lady,” Alistair answered as he turned and led them in the direction of the ballroom. The hallway, now crowded with guests, made it hard to converse. “As I was saying before your friend appeared, I really need to speak with you,” he said, trying to keep his voice low.
“Perhaps after we get to the ballroom,” Julia answered, finding it hard to hear.
Alistair nodded, leading her to the stairs where a bewigged man announced each attendee. “Mr. Alistair Comber, Lady Julia Harrington,” he said to the man, and then stood at the top of the stairs. This wasn’t the entrance he and Julia used when they were engaged in lessons, but he wished he had used it at least once to practice descending the stairs.
As his name was called out, he gave a nod and glanced over at Julia. She gave him a smile. Nervous, she is, he thought as he made his way down. A few ball goers looked his way, but it was early, and most were engaged in conversation and ignored him. Suddenly, though, his mother appeared in front of him.
“Alistair!” Lady Aimsley breathed, grasping onto one of his hands and shaking it as if he was some long-lost soul.
“My lady,” he answered. “You look well,” he managed to get out, daring a glance back up at Julia. Her name had just been called, and she was making her way down the steps.
“As do you,” his mother said with a smile. “I was so worried when your father told me what he’d done,” she said in a hoarse whisper. “I very nearly demanded a divorce.”
“Mother!” he responded in surprise.
“Then I received your note and was so relieved. Where have you been?”
Alistair dared a glance back up at Julia. She still had a few steps to go before she would be on the ballroom floor. “Here,” he whispered. “I am a groom in Lord Mayfield’s stables. But you mustn’t say anything to anyone.” He turned to Julia. “Lady Aimsley, do you know Lady Julia?” he asked just as Julia turned to regard his mother. At just that moment, he remembered the conversation he’d had with Julia about names. Aimsley, he had suggested, thinking she wouldn’t be familiar with his family. And she hadn’t been. But now …
“Lady Aimsley, so very good to meet you,” Julia said as she gave his mother a curtsy.
Alistair realized that if she remembered the name from their conversation, she didn’t show it in her expression.
“And you, Lady Julia. I understand you’re making your come-out this evening,” his mother said lightly. “I rather imagine you’ll have several marriage offers before the night is over,” she said with an arched eyebrow.
Blushing, Julia’s smile wavered. “Really? Why, thank you for saying so,” she murmured. Several marriage offers? She’d been so busy with preparing Mr. Comber for the evening, she hadn’t given a thought to it being her first night on the Marriage Mart!
The Countess of Aimsley gave her son another glance. “I look forward to a dance with you this evening,” she said before flitting off toward another lady nearby.
Julia leaned toward Alistair. “Who is she?” she asked in a whisper.
Alistair stared at Julia for several seconds. Tell her the truth right now! “She is my …”
“Alistair!”
The groom straightened, not recognizing the voice right away. “So glad to see you among the living,” Baron Sommers said as he passed by. “That set of matched greys you put me onto at Tattersall’s three years ago are my best team,” the viscount added before joining a group of men near the table of lobster patties.
Taking a breath of relief, Alistair shrugged when he noticed Julia watching him. “I used to spend a good deal of time at Tattersall’s,” he said in a whisper.
Julia nodded her understanding. Of course, the groom would have spent time at the best horse market in London. “You were saying?” she whispered back.
Before Alistair could respond, one of Julia’s friends approached, asking for an introduction to the handsome man at her side.
And so the evening went on, with Alistair dancing when necessary, engaging in conversation with those who recognized him for who he really was, and generally avoiding Lady Julia. He could only hope she didn’t discover his true identity until he had a chance to get her alone. The Cotillion, he remembered. He would tell her during the dance.
Chapter 40
Julia Learns the Truth
Julia gave a curtsy to Lord Chamberlain as he gave her a bow, the Scotch reel having just ended. “I understand you’ve been engaged in the same manner of preparation as my niece has been these past couple of weeks,” Matthew Fitzsimmons said as he stepped a bit closer.
“Oh?” Julia replied, just then realizing he was referring to the dare Samantha had made in regard to the groom. “Lady Samantha has been very successful in her work with Lady Lily,” she commented. “I do hope she thinks I have done as well with my charge,” she added.
Lord Chamberlain gave her a grin. “She cannot find fault with how Alistair Comber has conducted himself this evening,” he said with a shake of his head. “Congratulations on your success,” he said, just as he seemed to recognize someone in the crowd. “Do have a good evening.”
The older gentleman moved off toward the refreshment table as Julia glanced around. To her left was a beautiful woman standing with her second cousin. Gabriel Wellingham, Earl of Trenton, bowed to Julia and lifted the lady’s hand in her direction. “Lady Julia, I wish to introduce you to my wife, Sarah,” he said as he indicated the blonde who had moved to his side.
Julia tried hard to hide her surprise, but she found she could not. “You’ve married, Gabriel? But … but when?” she countered, forcing her look of surprise to turn to one of happiness.
The woman to her left grinned. “Do not be concerned for my sake,” Sarah said as she took Julia’s hand to shake it. “I am just as surprised. We said our vows in Wolverhampton just a few days ago.”
Julia smiled as she realized Gabriel’s wife was probably not a daughter of the aristocracy. She’s too nice, she thought as she regarded her new relation. The sapphire bracelet that adorned one gloved wrist and the beautiful gold sarcenet gown she wore made her look the part of a countess, though. “Congratulations, my lady. Gabriel is my second cousin,” she explained, realizing she had called the earl by his given name twice.
“Julia’s mother, Temperance Harrington, is my mother’s cousin,” Gabriel continued the explanation. He turned his attention back to Julia. “My sister seems to be doing quite well with her come-out. How is your come-out going? I saw you conversing with Aimsley earlier,” he said with a cocked eyebrow. “You two looked rather cozy. I do hope he’s being a perfect gentleman.”
Julia’s brow furrowed. “Aimsley?” she repeated. She’d met Lady Aimsley when she first entered the ballroom …
“Alistair,” Gabriel clarified. “His father is around here somewhere. Probably in the card room,” he said as he glanced around the crowded ballroom. “Is Alistair still pretending to be a groom?” he wondered, one eyebrow lifted with his look of amusement.
Julia stared at Gabriel for several seconds, struggling to keep an impassive expression on her face. Pretending to be a groom? Mr. Comber?
If he wasn’t a groom, then what was he?
“Yes. Yes, he is,” she answered with a slight smile. “And doing a fine job of it. My father is quite happy with his work in the stables,” she went on, hoping she didn’t sound like a ninny.
Gabriel’s expression wavered. “His situation is rather unfortunate,” he allowed, turning to include Sarah in his remarks. “His father cut him off when he sold his commission,” he said to his wife. “He was an officer in the British Army. Served on the Continent for three years.”
; Sarah nodded, a look of recognition crossing her face. “He is the one that made the promise to a fellow soldier’s widow?” she wondered, remembering Gabriel’s talk of his friend when they were on their way to London.
“He’s the one,” Gabriel agreed, turning to regard his cousin. Julia stood staring into space, one gloved hand pressed against her chest, her breaths shallow. “Julia?” he spoke in a concerned voice.
Moving to take Julia’s other hand, Sarah realized their discussion about Alistair Comber had the young lady off-kilter. “I think it’s time for a moment in the retiring room,” Sarah said in a quiet voice, giving her husband a raised eyebrow.
“Of course,” Gabriel agreed, his face still showing concern. “I’ll escort you there and wait for you outside,” he said, leading the way through the crush toward the lady’s retiring room.
Chapter 41
Two Chits in the Retiring Room
Sarah found a chair and saw to it Julia was seated before she knelt on the Aubusson carpet in front of her. “I apologize if I assume too much, but I believe my husband must have said something that did not abide well with you,” she whispered, hoping Gabriel’s cousin wouldn’t faint.
Julia raised her eyes to regard her new relation. She’s a countess, and yet she’s kneeling on the floor! “I … I feel like such a fool,” she whispered back, tears collecting in her eyes.
Frowning, Sarah shook her head. “But, why?” she wondered.
Julia sighed, her shoulders sagging. “I accepted a challenge from my best friend. I claimed I could make our new groom into a gentleman, and … and I have,” she said, one tear escaping to leave a wet trail on her cheek. “But, he …” She stopped to swallow and lifted a hand to her cheek.
“He already is,” Sarah finished for her, realizing just then why the poor girl was so upset. “You are speaking of Mr. Comber, are you not?” she asked in a quiet voice. She glanced about, hoping their conversation wasn’t being overheard by any of the other women who lounged about. A few were looking in their direction, but none seemed to take a keen interest in them.
Julia nodded. “No wonder he didn’t require elocution lessons,” she murmured, remembering how she feared he might be from one of the northern counties. “He’s an Aimsley.” She closed her eyes as she remembered when they spoke of names. He had even suggested the name ‘Aimsley’ when they were trying to invent one for him! “And I didn’t recognize the name as that of an earldom,” Julia whispered, her gaze directed toward the carpet below.
But, what did that make him? The son of an earl?
Having spent some of the coach ride to London reading deBrett’s The New Peerage, Sarah could understand how difficult it would be to know all of the aristocratic family names. Certainly Julia could be excused for not knowing the Aimsley name. “Gabriel said that Mr. Comber has been away – as an officer in the British Army,” Sarah said with a shake of her head. “He has not been seen as a gentleman on these shores for several years.”
Julia’s eyes widened. “True,” she acknowledged, allowing a small sob as she remembered what he’d said the day they practiced the Cotillion.
I have something I need to tell you, he’d said when they met in the hall earlier this evening. And then they’d been interrupted.
“And he seems rather … taken with you,” Sarah went on, remembering seeing the two of them in the ballroom before most of the guests arrived.
“Do you think so?” Julia wondered, her face suddenly brightening. She remembered him introducing her to Lady Aimsley earlier in the evening. She is my … he started to say, and then they were once again interrupted.
Mother! He had introduced her to his mother!
Sarah nodded. “He is rather handsome,” she stated with a shrug, “If you have an attraction to men who are tall and dark-haired and have those very blue eyes.”
“Oh, he is,” Julia nodded, sniffling. “And I do. I think him the most handsome man in all of London,” she whispered, her head continuing to nod.
Frowning, Sarah angled her head to one side. “I find I cannot agree, as I am of the opinion that my husband is the most handsome man in all of England,” she countered, allowing a bit of humor to color her voice. “Although, I must admit I have not seen all of the men in England … and I do admit to a preference for men who have blond hair.”
Julia allowed a smile. “May I ask a rather … personal question,” she wondered, her manner suddenly timid.
Sarah shrugged. “Of course.”
Taking a deep breath, Julia whispered, “Is he truly a horrible kisser?”
Covering her mouth with a hand, Sarah had to suppress the laughter she felt was about to burst out. “He was, it’s true. But he is not any longer,” she whispered happily. “I was his … tutor, in fact,” she admitted, her face pinking up in a most becoming blush. Sarah was stunned when Julia suddenly wrapped both of her arms around her shoulders. “Oh!”
“Thank you for marrying him,” Julia said, her voice muffled in her hug. “I … I do not believe he would have found a woman in London worthy of him.”
Sarah pulled away from Julia, giving the younger woman a look of puzzlement. “In time, I’m sure …”
“None like you,” Julia replied with a shake of her head. “I am glad to claim you as a cousin now,” she whispered. “If no one else has said it to you this evening, then let me be the first to welcome you to the family.”
Staring at Julia as if she’d been slapped silly, Sarah finally nodded.
Family.
She had that now, she realized. A husband, a son, a sister, cousins … “Thank you,” she replied, tears collecting in her own eyes. “Oh, dear, now look at us,” she said suddenly, rising from her knees in order to search for a handkerchief.
Julia held out hers. “Thank you,” she responded as Sarah took the proffered hanky. After a moment, she stood up from the chair. “I do believe we have left our handsome gentlemen unchaperoned for too long,” Julia said suddenly. “And the next dance is about to begin,” she added as she heard the faint strains of instruments being tuned.
Sarah smiled, amazed at her new cousin’s sudden change in mood. “Gabriel has promised me this dance,” she said with a grin. “Although I have danced every dance with him, and I do not believe I am supposed to dance with him more than twice,” she murmured uncertainly.
“And Mr. Comber has promised me this dance,” Julia said, smoothing her skirts and dabbing at her eyes with another hanky she had pulled from a hidden pocket. “And since you are newly married, I think you’re allowed as many dances with your husband as you wish.” When she noticed Sarah giving her a raised eyebrow at the sudden appearance of another hanky, she said, “My mother warned me that I would probably need to cry at least once tonight.”
Sarah was about to say something but merely nodded her understanding.
The two left the retiring room arm-in-arm, both intent on claiming their gentlemen for the Cotillion.
Chapter 42
The Cotillion
“So, tell me Lady Julia, how many offers of marriage have you entertained this evening?” Alistair asked with a hint of amusement as they lined up for the Cotillion. Julia had appeared at his side in the company of Trenton and his new bride, the three looking rather … determined, just as he had completed a conversation with the Cunninghams. And had the girls been crying? he wondered. They both seemed rather happy at the moment despite their slightly reddened eyes.
Julia’s eyes widened, but her blush made it evident he had guessed correctly. “Two, but I am quite sure one was made in jest. And, as for the other, everyone knows Mr. Weston just needs a dowry to pay off gambling debts,” she said lightly, hoping her earlier tears didn’t make her eyes appear reddened.
Alarmed, Alistair stared at Julia. Two proposals? How did a young lady know of such things as dowries to pay off gambling debts? And Samuel Weston was old enough to be her father!
He was about to ask for more details when she leaned in and said, “I kn
ow I’m not supposed to know such things, but I overhead my father mention it during a dinner party a few weeks ago,” she explained. “Besides, Mr. Weston is old enough to be my father.”
Suppressing the urge to chuckle, Alistair gave his dance partner a nod. “I am glad to hear you have an understanding of such things,” he said, leading her in a perfect Cotillion. “After this dance, we shall have to take a turn in the gardens,” he added with an arched eyebrow. “I do believe it’s getting rather warm in here.”
A thrill passed through Julia just then. “I would like that,” she replied, giving him a smile. “I would like that very much.”
Alistair might have continued to stare at his partner, but he was forced to break eye contact as the dance continued. Julia had looked at him as if … well, he was quite sure there would be a kiss in his immediate future.
A kiss, perhaps two.
Chapter 43
Enlightening the Earls, Part 1
Stanley Harrington, Earl of Mayfield, stood watching his guests from the top of the stairs leading down to the ballroom. Although Porter had asked if he should announce him, Mayfield deferred, saying he only intended to watch his guests for a moment. When he was ready to join the growing crowd, he would do so from an entrance on the ground floor.
From his vantage point, he spotted Lord Trenton dancing with a rather attractive blonde he’d never seen before, and another curly-haired blonde chit who could have been Cupid’s sister was dancing with a young man he thought might be related to the Fitzsimmons. Lord Mayfield’s gaze moved to his own daughter, and he was trying to make out with whom she was dancing when his wife joined him on the landing.
“Not quite a crush, but I am quite satisfied with the turnout,” Lady Mayfield commented lightly as she surveyed the ball goers below.
“As am I, although I must admit to wondering about a few of our guests,” her husband replied with a furrowed brow.
“That’s the downside of not having a receiving line, I suppose, but I certainly prefer how we did it this evening,” Temperance countered with a nod. “Who amongst our guests don’t you know?” she asked then. “Besides my cousin’s new wife?”
My Fair Groom (The Sons of the Aristocracy) Page 28