The dance wound to a close, and Sir Geoffrey bowed to Caroline. “Allow me to fetch you a lemonade,” he said politely, leading her to a chair.
“That would be kind of you,” said Caroline. “But I believe I would prefer champagne.”
If he was surprised, Sir Geoffrey was too polite to show it, and he moved away. Caroline sat for a moment, but then, too anxious to be still, stood up and paced a bit. Looking out across the room, she saw Tristan’s dark head above the crowd, once again joining the dancers. There was a brief parting of the throng, and she saw with a flash of horror the dark hair and primrose domino of his partner.
She took a step forward almost without noticing, but then stopped, realizing that she could hardly dash forward and tear Cecilia out of Lord Gresham hands. Not only would she thus expose Cecilia to unwarranted gossip, but Tristan would surely laugh at her. No doubt he had asked Cecilia to dance simply to plague her.
She seethed for a moment, recalling all Lord Gresham’s past iniquities. When Sir Geoffrey returned with her champagne, she accepted it with a charming smile and proceeded to down it at one gulp. Sir Geoffrey raised his eyebrows, but obligingly left to fetch her another glass.
When the dance ended, Caroline made her way to where Allegra stood, chatting with Mr. Troughton, her partner for the last measure. Caroline gave him a brilliant smile, and then took Allegra by the arm.
“A word with you, if you don’t mind, Allegra,” she said. “I’m sure Mr. Troughton will excuse you.”
Allegra looked surprised, but after thanking Mr. Troughton, followed Caroline away from the dancers.
“How lovely that you have decided to join us,” she said. “I saw you with Sir Geoffrey Arkwright. He seems to be quite attentive to you.”
Caroline waved away the implied question with an impatient gesture. “Allegra, how could you let Cecilia dance with Lord Gresham?” she asked. “I don’t think we need to encourage the sort of talk that will cause.”
“Why Caroline, not a day or two ago you assured me that Lord Gresham is a friend to our family, and has aided us in difficult situations,” said Allegra, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “And I seem to recall you have been thick as thieves with him any time these past weeks. Why would his dancing with Cecilia suddenly be unacceptable?”
Caroline fought back the urge to shake her sister-in-law. “I am eight-and-twenty, and a widow. Surely you know the difference between my situation and Cecilia’s. She is a babe, and seeking a husband.”
Allegra shrugged. “For all we know, Lord Gresham may be seeking a wife. Caroline, you cannot insist that you may dance with him but Cecilia may not. As you said to me not long ago, it’s just a dance.”
“Don’t be provoking, Allegra. We both know Gresham does not have marriage in mind. “
Allegra laughed. “Forgive me, Caroline, I could not help teasing you a bit. You have been defending the man to me these past weeks, and have spent enough time with him that the gossips have noted it, yet you suddenly attempt to convince me that merely dancing with him will besmirch Cecilia beyond redemption.”
Caroline looked slightly shamefaced, but continued to press her point. “Allegra, you must keep a closer eye on her. She has some ridiculous notion that she can attract Lord Gresham and induce him to marry her.”
“Well, I might have stepped in, but, truth to tell, Gresham helped to make the best of a bad situation. Mr. Wyman was importuning Cecilia to dance a second time, and I know that is a connection you do not wish to encourage, nor should she show that sort of partiality. When he would not let her be, Gresham simply whisked her away.”
“Oh.” Caroline absorbed that information. “I suppose we should be grateful then, though I doubt he did it out of anything but a sense of mischief.”
“I accept your judgment,” said Allegra tartly. “After all, by now you seem to know him far better than I do.”
Caroline gave her a sharp look, wondering what she meant by her comment, but further discussion was halted when Sir Geoffrey materialized at her elbow, carrying the glass of champagne.
“I apologize for the delay,” he said. “I could not find you for some minutes.”
“Thank you, Sir Geoffrey. I am sorry to have abandoned you, but I had to speak to my sister-in-law.” She accepted the champagne gratefully, and took a sip, fighting back the urge to once again drain it.
Sir Geoffrey bowed to Allegra. “Would you care to dance, Your Grace?” he asked politely.
Allegra did not appear to be thrilled at the prospect, but she agreed pleasantly, and the two joined the dancers, leaving Caroline to drink her champagne. She looked around the room, and was relieved to see that Cecilia was now dancing with Sir Robert Hartnell, a young man of unimpeachable antecedents and manners.
The evening progressed, with Caroline keeping a sharp eye on Cecilia, and doing her best to ignore Lord Gresham, who did not approach her or once attempt to catch her eye. He seemed intent on enjoying himself, and flirted with any number of ladies, though Caroline noted he danced three times with Lady Lansdowne, who seemed to be on a more familiar acquaintance with his lordship each time. Thus, when Sir Geoffrey, who had attached himself to their party, asked her to dance a second time, she had no qualms in accepting his offer.
“How much longer do you stay in London, Sir Geoffrey?” she asked. “I believe you told me that you were not fond of leaving your estate.”
“I had not meant to stay this long,” said Sir Geoffrey. “But I have found some business to keep me here a few weeks more.”
As this statement was accompanied by a meaningful look, Caroline was momentarily taken aback. But then she saw Lord Gresham’s dark head in the distance, and turned a brilliant smile on Sir Geoffrey.
“Your estate’s loss is our gain,” she said. “I hope I shall see you again before you leave.”
“I feel sure you shall,” said Sir Geoffrey.
The dance wound to a close, and Caroline looked around, seeking out Cecilia. Allegra was nearby, seated in a chair and fanning herself languidly, while a gentleman Caroline did not recognize hovered at her shoulder, apparently attempting to attract her attention. Caroline sensed that her sister-in-law was becoming bored, and doubtless was missing Adam. Perhaps it was time to leave.
She saw Lord Barford, and, thanking Sir Geoffrey, moved to his side.
“Have you seen Miss Ashdown?” she asked.
“I have not seen her for some minutes,” he said. “I was looking for her myself. I wished to escort her to the fireworks, which should start soon.”
Caroline made an exasperated noise. “I will find her,” she said. “She cannot have gone far.” She looked around the room once again, but saw no hint of a primrose domino, and then started towards the doors that opened onto a terrace. She stepped out and looked around, but saw no one.
“Cecilia!” she called softly, but there was no response. Feeling slightly alarmed, she returned to the ballroom, and found Allegra.
“The silly child has disappeared,” she said. “I hope she has done nothing foolish, and I don’t wish to alarm Barford. I will see if she is outside, but please look for her as well.”
“I’m sure it is nothing; she probably is tired and resting somewhere. She has not sat out a single dance, I believe.” replied Allegra. “But I will see if I can find her to calm your fears.”
Caroline moved towards the door, but halted when Sir Geoffrey approached her. “You look concerned, Lady Eskmaine,” he said. “May I be of assistance?”
Caroline managed a little laugh. “Oh, my cousin is not to be found, and I am going to search for her. I have no doubt it is nothing, but I don’t wish the child to become lost.”
“Allow me to accompany you. You should not be alone here at Ranelagh,” said Sir Geoffrey.
“Very well, if you choose,” said Caroline. She had no wish to argue the point with him, and two sets of eyes might see more than one. The pair exited the pavilion and Caroline stood indecisively for moment, surveying the garde
ns. Though there were lanterns everywhere, it was still very dark, and several paths wound away from them into the dusk. Off on one side she saw a pair seated on a bench, half shaded by a large hedge, but she could tell quite clearly that they were kissing. With a sense of relief she realized the woman was not Cecilia, but she felt her alarm rising.
“Wherever could she have gone?” she asked out loud.
“Perhaps to the Chinese pavilion,” said Sir Geoffrey. “She might find that amusing.”
Caroline hesitated again, and then with a flood of relief saw a couple approaching down one of the walks. The woman wore a primrose domino, and Caroline moved hastily towards them.
“Cecilia,” she said. “Whatever have you been doing? I have been very concerned.”
Cecilia rushed towards her and threw herself into Caroline’s arms. “Oh, Cousin, I am so sorry. I did not mean to worry you!”
Caroline hugged her, and then held her at arm’s length, surprised to see that her cousin’s eyes shimmered with tears. “Whatever is wrong?” She turned to look at the man who accompanied Cecilia, and saw with a shock that is was Lord Gresham.
“What have you done to her?” she demanded, moving to stand between Cecilia and his lordship. “How dare you take her from the ballroom?”
Lord Gresham met her eyes, and she saw a spark of anger there, before he assumed a bored look.
“I? I have done nothing at all, Lady Eskmaine,” he said.
“You should know better than to lure a young woman from the ballroom. And you have clearly frightened her badly. This is not kind of you, Lord Gresham. If you wished to avenge yourself on me, you might have—” She broke off when she realized Cecilia and Sir Geoffrey were staring at her in astonishment.
Lord Gresham, his face a blank, opened his snuff box with a flick of his thumb, and elegantly took a pinch. He gracefully offered the box to Sir Geoffrey. “Pray continue, Lady Eskmaine,” he said. “I beg that you will not spare me your opinion of my actions.”
Caroline colored and stepped back a pace, and Cecilia clutched at her arm. “Oh no, Cousin, it is not what you think,” she said. “Lord Gresham has been most kind to me, and helped me out of an awkward situation. Truly, if it had not been for him I don’t know what might have happened.”
Caroline turned astonished eyes on Cecilia, who sniffed slightly and then dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief embroidered with Gresham’s crest. “I am very sorry for not listening to you, Cousin, but Mr. Wyman asked me if I would walk with him, and I thought that no harm could come from a stroll outside. The gardens are so lovely, and I was warm from dancing. But I think he had drunk a bit too much champagne, for though he promised to show me the lily pond, when we were out of sight of others he—”
“He what?” demanded Caroline.
“He tried to kiss me!” wailed Cecilia, tears threatening to burst out again. “I told him I did not wish to kiss him, but he insisted, and I didn’t know what to do. I ran away, but he followed me, and I lost a slipper, and then—” She snuffled into the handkerchief.
“What happened, child. Are you hurt?”
“No, not at all! Lord Gresham came upon us, and he was so helpful!” She turned shining eyes on his lordship, who was standing slightly to the side, apparently quite bored. “At first I thought he would hit Mr. Wyman, but instead he grasped him by the neck and hauled him away. He returned in a moment and comforted me, and gave me his handkerchief, and assured me that all would be well. He even found my slipper! Then he told me that you would be missing me and brought me here. Oh, Caroline, I am so relieved to see you! I am so sorry if I worried you, and I know it was very wrong of me to go with Mr. Wyman.”
Caroline stared at her fixedly, her thoughts in a shambles. Tristan had rescued Cecilia from a very uncomfortable situation, and she had, instead of thanking him, accused him not only of something incredibly improper, but of doing it to be revenged on her. Caroline could hardly believe she had behaved in such a way, and inwardly cursed her unruly emotions. Of course, she had not had unruly emotions until Lord Gresham had come into her life. Slowly, attempting to gather her thoughts, she turned towards his lordship, who regarded her coolly.
“I see I misunderstood the situation, Lord Gresham, and that I must thank you for rescuing my charge, and offer my apologies for my initial words,” she said in as calm a voice as she could muster.
Tristan’s eyes glinted coldly behind their heavy lids, but he bowed politely. “I was glad to be of service to your cousin, whose only fault is her enthusiasm on this lovely night.”
“I am truly grateful that you happened upon them,” continued Caroline, wondering if perhaps Tristan had been pursuing his own interests with Lady Lansdowne.
“I did not happen upon them,” said Lord Gresham. “I saw Mr. Wyman leading Miss Ashdown from the ballroom and, as you were dancing with Sir Geoffrey and so were not watchful, I followed them, fearful that something of this nature might happen. Miss Ashdown is new to London, and I sought to keep her safe.”
Caroline flushed at the implied rebuke. “Again, Lord Gresham, you have my thanks,” she said stiffly.
“I’m glad I could be of assistance.” His lordship bowed over her hand, barely brushing it with his lips. “Your servant, Miss Ashdown.” He bowed politely to Cecilia, nodded at Sir Geoffrey, and strolled back into the pavilion, leaving Caroline feeling both angry and embarrassed.
“Oh, he is so marvelous,” chirped Cecilia. “Everyone says he is so forbidding, but he was very kind to me, and made me feel so comfortable after he removed Mr. Wyman. I was sure that something dreadful would happen, but even though Mr. Wyman struggled, he could not escape. I have no idea what Lord Gresham did with him; I heard a splash, so I fancy perhaps his lordship threw him in the pond.”
“How very enterprising of him,” said Caroline. “Cecilia, dear, I think perhaps we should find the duchess and go home. I’m sure you’ve had enough entertainment for tonight.”
“Oh, not before the fireworks!” protested Cecilia, who seemed, with the resilience of youth, to be quickly recovering. “I promised Lord Barford I would view them with him!”
“But you must be very tired after your ordeal,” protested Caroline.
“Oh, but nothing happened, and indeed, Lord Gresham’s rescue of me made it seem like an adventure! I’m quite sure I could stay for the fireworks. Please say that I may, Cousin.”
“Very well,” sighed Caroline, and watched as Cecilia ran lightly into the building.
“How fortunate that Lord Gresham was able to assist Miss Ashdown,” said Sir Geoffrey. “It is a pity that she allowed herself to be lured away, but I presume this will be a lesson to her. Tell me, Lady Eskmaine, are you a close friend of his lordship’s?”
“What?” asked Caroline. “Oh, no, not at all, we are only acquaintances, though of some years’ standing. The relationship between our families is not close.”
“Ah,” said Sir Geoffrey. “I ask only because you addressed him in a familiar way. I thought perhaps that there was a connection of which I was unaware.”
“No,” said Caroline sadly. “There is no connection between Lord Gresham and myself.”
“I cannot say I am disappointed,” said Sir Geoffrey, tucking her hand in his arm and leading her into the ballroom. “He is not the sort of man with whom a lady of your quality should associate. His birth is good, but his actions argue for a coarseness of temperament that must necessarily disgust a woman of good breeding.”
Caroline felt a prick of annoyance. “He was truly helpful to my cousin tonight. He was not obliged to concern himself with her well-being, and yet he did.”
“No doubt he was attempting to curry favor with her, or with you,” said Sir Geoffrey severely. “I am sure that it is unnecessary to tell you that Lord Gresham is not to be trusted with the fairer sex.”
Before Caroline could deliver the tart reply that danced on her tongue, Allegra approached them. “I have found Cecilia,” she said brightly. “She has gone to watc
h the fireworks with Lord Barford. Shall we join them?”
Caroline decided that trying to explain the situation was impossible, and allowed herself to be led off to view the fireworks.
Mr. Wyman sat on the edge of the lily pond, his sodden domino on the ground next to him, a puddle growing around it. He made a sound of annoyance as he stood up slowly and his dripping clothes clung to him. Getting back to his lodgings would not be pleasant.
He heard a soft step approaching, and he looked around, wondering whether to conceal himself. He had no desire to be seen in this state, as the resulting gossip would surely not reflect well on him. But the footsteps approached quickly, and Lady Manning appeared in the lamplight. When she saw him, she could not prevent laughing a little.
“What has happened to you, Roland?” she asked.
“As you can see, I fell in the lily pond,” he said shortly.
“Fell?” asked Lady Manning. “Don’t tell me the Ashdown chit pushed you in. I saw you lure her out of the rotunda. And I saw her return without you as well.”
“I see that you continue to involve yourself in my doings,” he said sharply.
“How can I not?” asked Louisa. “You seem to constantly put yourself in the way of trouble. I must admit I am curious to know what it is you were doing that made Miss Ashdown have to defend herself in this way.”
“It was not the girl, it was that self-appointed guardian of hers, Gresham,” he said angrily. “I’d like to do something about that.”
“Calm yourself,” said Louisa. “You certainly could not emerge from a meeting with Gresham creditably, and you have no grounds to challenge him, unless you mean to admit that you were attempting to compromise that child.”
“Your interest in my affairs seems excessive, ma’am,” said Mr. Wyman coldly.
“Does it?” asked Louisa. “I would think you would be grateful. My carriage is here; I can take you home in far more comfort than if you had to seek out a chair for yourself. You do look ridiculous, you know. Water is dripping from your nose.” She handed him her handkerchief, which he used to wipe his face.
Sense & Sensuality: Caroline's After Dark Georgian Romance (The Gravesmeres Book 3) Page 19