Millie held up an enchanting gown in palest damask rose silk. “Here is mine, Mama. The over skirt of sarsenet and the little rosebuds around the hem and neckline are quite exquisite. Show us which of your choices has been completed for tomorrow, Rose.”
Sadly Rose shook her head. “Mine does not appear to have come. I am disappointed my silver and violet gown hasn’t been completed.” She held up a delightful evening gown with a demi-train. “I shall wear this instead. The forget-me-not blue spangles are so pretty I’m sure nobody will notice it’s not actually a ball gown.”
“You cannot dance in that; you will trip over your train. Heavens above, child, didn’t you put your foot through your last gown and that didn’t even have a train?”
Millie pulled a face behind their mother’s back taking the sting out of the words. A bevy of chambermaids, headed by Mary and Rigby, began to gather up the items to take them upstairs.
By the time the drawing-room was cleared, Rose had recovered her equilibrium and was able to answer without showing how her mother’s careless comment had hurt.
“Dancing with Lord Bentley there’s no danger that even I, clumsy as I am, will trip over anything, Mama. Have no fear, I shall not embarrass you.”
Their mama departed, leaving Rose to talk to her sister. “I was so looking forward to tomorrow. I wanted to look my very best. I hope I don’t disappoint him when I appear inappropriately dressed.”
“You repine too much, dearest. I have noticed at least a third of all the women are in evening wear, not ball gowns. Millie smiled. “We are fortunate our mama has allowed us to wear colours for most debutantes will be in white. That blue gown is stunning—even lovelier than the silver—you will look beautiful and well you know it.”
“Thank you, you have restored my confidence. Still, it’s strange my gown didn’t arrive when we made it perfectly clear I should need it tomorrow.” She wandered to the window and looked out. “It’s a lovely morning; shall we walk to the park? I cannot bear to be cooped up inside today. I know I have already ridden this morning but I am far too restless to remain here.”
“Richard is coming to take me for a drive. I would ask you to accompany us…”
“I wouldn’t dream of doing so, my love. I shall take Mary and a footman and go for a walk on my own. No, do not raise your eyebrows at me. It’s perfectly proper for a young lady to promenade when accompanied by her abigail and a male member of staff.” She giggled. “Anyway, it’s a good excuse to wear one of my new ensembles. Which one are you going to change into?”
Half an hour later she was smartly dressed in a lavender velvet pelisse, matching gown and half-kid boots, Rose tied the ribbons of the pretty bonnet which completed her outfit. “There, Millie, I daresay even Mama would not recognize me now.” She scowled at her booted toes peeping from beneath the hem of her gown. “These are decidedly uncomfortable and I’m tempted to put on my old ones…”
A double shriek of horror at her suggestion made her laugh. Neither her sister nor her maid would hear of her spoiling the look of her new outfit by wearing anything but the matching footwear.
Sir Richard arrived as she was leaving and his stunned expression was worth the aggravation of pinched toes. She curtsied and he bowed deeply. “I say, Miss Rose, you look absolutely splendid. I scarcely recognized you.”
He was bemused by her delighted chuckle. “Millie will be ready in a moment, sir; I hope you have a pleasant excursion. Shall you be going to the park?” He nodded. “Then I might well see you as that is where I’m headed too.”
Still smiling, she ran lightly down the steps and out onto the footpath. Her appearance caused an unfortunate young gentleman to miss his footing. He stumbled into the road, narrowly avoiding being crushed by a passing carriage. How unfair beautiful clothes changed the way one was viewed, but nevertheless admiration was a most enjoyable and novel experience.
Although scarcely a mile to the park she was bitterly regretting her decision long before she reached her destination. Her toes were sadly crushed. She feared she would never walk normally again. “Mary, I must find somewhere to sit down. Perhaps if I take off these wretched boots…”
“You must not do that, miss, not in a public place. Look, there are the gates just ahead. I remember seeing a bench or two by the ornamental flower beds.”
Gritting her teeth Rose marched on, every step a torture. She had never been more grateful in her life to see a marble bench. She doubted she would be able to walk back without hobbling like an old crone.
Once seated, she turned her mind to the problem. There was only one solution. Fred, the footman, must return to the house and fetch transport. Then she recalled Millie and Sir Richard would be arriving soon. “Fred, if you wait by the main thoroughfare, do you think you would recognize Sir Richard’s carriage?”
“I will, Miss Rose. I’ll wave him down all right. Will I fetch him over?”
“No, just tell him of my predicament and ask Miss Bannerman to arrange for the carriage to be sent when she returns home. I shall be perfectly content sitting here; there’s no need for them to curtail their excursion.”
She had not been sitting long when she heard a strange sound coming from the clipped shrubs that boarded the garden. “Mary, do you hear that? Is a child crying over there?”
“I reckon it might be, I’ll go over and look.”
Bored by her enforced idleness Rose decided to investigate herself. Her feet did not hurt nearly so badly after sitting down. “I shall accompany you. I can’t imagine why there should be a lost child here as this is not a place nursemaids bring their charges.”
Without a second’s hesitation she dropped to her knees in the dirt and parted the branches. Instead of seeing an urchin’s face she saw a shaggy dog, trapped fast by his matted fur, in the twigs. “Oh, you poor thing. Quickly, Mary, we must release him. See, he’s so weak; he must have been here for days.”
Perry was driven from his home by the chaos caused by the preparations for the grand ball the following day. He decided to call at Grosvenor Square. Laura had said the first of the new garments would be arriving today. He would like to see what his blunt had been spent on.
He had an appointment at his lawyers later that afternoon so decided he would use his carriage. When he stepped out he saw Richard leading Millie towards his own vehicle. “Good morning, Miss Amelia Devonshire—I trust I see you both well?” From the elegance of the young lady’s attire he realized he was observing one of his purchases. The girl looked quite stunning—not as lovely as Rose—but she certainly dressed to advantage.
“Lord Bentley, Rose is not here. She has gone for a walk in the park. I’m sure if you go that way you will see her.” She smiled confidingly. “I expect she would be glad to be driven home, for her new boots are not as comfortable as she’d hoped.”
“In which case, I shall go at once to her rescue.” Grinning at his friend, he nodded and leapt back into his carriage. His coachman had overheard and needed no instructions.
Minutes later the vehicle bowled through the gates. He banged on the roof and it rocked to a standstill. “I shall proceed on foot. Jenkins, you’ll need to stay alert and be ready to turn if needs be.”
Where would his beloved go? This was a vast park and busy with walkers, riders and carriages. “Excuse me, your Grace, I believe Miss Bannerman is in the flower garden.” From his vantage point on the box the coachman had obviously seen what he could not as his view was blocked by the vehicle.
Perry stepped around and his jaw dropped. Sure enough there was Rose—it could be none other—on her knees in the mud whilst dressed in one of her new outfits. What the devil was she doing?
“Miss Bannerman, it’s the Duke; he don’t look too pleased neither.”
“Mary, he’s a godsend. I cannot release the poor creature on my own.” She scrambled to her feet and ran to meet him. “Perry, I am so glad to see you. There’s a dog trapped in the bushes. I cannot get him out, he’s stuck fast.”
> “Show me. I have my carriage nearby; Jenkins will have what we need if I cannot do it myself.” He dropped to his knees as oblivious of his immaculate unmentionables as she had been of her new gown. “Well then, old fellow, I’ll soon have you free. Good boy, lie still, your ordeal is almost over.” His reached in and wrenched the branches apart. “Quickly, darling, pull him out. I cannot hold these back for long.”
The dog was scarcely more than a puppy. The animal licked her hand feebly and his plumed tail wagged just once. “Poor little thing, you must be so hungry and thirsty. I shall take you home and make you better.” The animal weighed nothing in her arms for he was hair and bones, no substance at all. She held him close, willing him to survive.
“Give him to me, sweetheart, he will be vermin infested…”
She shook her head. “I don’t care; it’s far too late to worry about such things.” She turned to carry the puppy towards the waiting carriage and stumbled. Immediately his arm encircled her waist.
“In which case, I shall carry both of you. I gather your new boots are not to your liking.”
Astonished by his perspicacity she forgot to admonish him for his definite breach of protocol. An interested crowd of spectators had gathered to witness this unusual happening. Rose hid her face in his collar, her face hot with embarrassment. Unperturbed by the spectacle he was creating he lowered his head and whispered conspiratorially in her ear.
“I believe we will be the subject of dinner table conversation again this evening, sweetheart. I doubt anyone has seen a Duke with a young lady in his arms who is herself carrying a flea-infested stray. They will think us both touched in the attic.”
If he could find humour in the situation then she must be braver. She raised her head, smiling up at him. “I doubt there’s a gentleman in London who would do as you are. I cannot think why I ever thought you proud. I would not find a kinder or more generous husband if I were to search forever.”
His arms tightened and the dog whimpered in protest; immediately he slackened his grip and increased his pace. The under coachman was standing at the steps, ready to offer his assistance. Perry ducked his head and stepped in, depositing her and her precious burden on one side and folding his lean length on the other. The carriage was in motion almost before she had time to draw breath.
“Good heavens! We have forgotten Mary and Fred.” He raised an eyebrow in query.
“My maid and footman; I have abandoned them in the park.”
“I should think on balance, my dear girl, they would much prefer to walk home than be closeted in here with that miserable object. He is distinctly malodorous as well as having crawlers the size of cockroaches.”
Rose giggled. “I fear you’re right. I have a distinct tendency to ruin the beautiful clothes you give me. I wish you had seen me when I set out. My finery caused several gentlemen to miss their step.”
His smile sent her pulse rocketing. “I’m not surprised, even in your disarray you are quite lovely.” His expression changed; he pressed himself back into the corner where she couldn’t see his face. He obviously regretted his remark and had spoken without thought, not something he was wont to do.
There was no time to dwell on this as she must concentrate on her charge. Her mother would forbid her to bring the animal in the house. With luck she would be able to smuggle him in before he was discovered. The carriage halted and the door was opened promptly. Before she could protest Perry removed the creature from her arms and gently propelled her down the steps.
These were raised, the door shut and she was left standing on the pavement whilst he drove away with her dog. He must have planned this with his coachman. He had never intended she take the dog in. Ignoring the startled glances of the matron and her daughter who chose that moment to walk by, she hobbled up the steps and in through the open door.
Collapsing on a convenient chair she unhooked her boots and threw them unceremoniously across the hallway. Symonds remained impassive; merely pointed and a boot boy ran and fetched the offending objects. It would be some time before Mary returned to help her disrobe and Rose needed to remove the garments forthwith before she spread fleas about the house.
Symonds sucked his tooth loudly. “You’ll be wanting a bath, then, Miss Rose?”
“I will, thank you. Have Daisy sent up; she can take care of me until Mary returns.”
The offending garments had been safely removed for laundering and she was bathed and reading quietly in her sitting room when Millie bounced back. Her sister had heard nothing of her exploits and sat wide-eyed whilst Rose explained.
“Lord Bentley has taken your stray dog away? How sad, he might have had a chance if you kept him here.”
“Millie, he will not harm my pet; he will take care of him for me. He has taken the dog in order to save me the inconvenience. It’s far better the little chap is with him than here upsetting Mama.”
Her sister shook her head in bewilderment. “The more I know about Lord Bentley the less I understand him. Did he not cavil at you ruining your expensive outfit? I believe that even my dear Richard might complain if I did something so extraordinary.”
“That’s why I am marrying Lord Bentley and you are marrying Sir Richard. Now, I believe I heard Mary returning. She will be agog to know what happened.”
A discreet knock on the door proved she was mistaken. A footman entered with another dressmaker’s box in his arms. “Miss Bannerman, this has arrived for you. The girl apologised and said this had been sent to the wrong address.”
Millie clapped her hands. “Your missing gown. Open it immediately, I wish to see if it is as lovely as the last one.”
“No, I shall not look now. I shall wait until tomorrow night and then it shall be a surprise for both of us.”
That night she lay awake thinking about Perry’s comment. From whichever way she viewed it she could come to only one conclusion—something so wonderful—so unlikely—she could scarcely credit it. The only possible explanation was he had fallen in love with her. Why else would he have called her beautiful when she knew she was not? Only a gentleman in love would be so blind to her obvious imperfections.
She hugged this knowledge to her heart; she couldn’t wait to see him the next morning. She would not embarrass him by mentioning his slip. Time enough for him to tell her how he felt when Papa was back and they were officially engaged. Perry was certain to be there to accompany her on her ride tomorrow morning. He would know she would be anxious to have news of the stray they had saved between them.
Chapter Fourteen
Rose was dressed and on her way to the stables just after seven o’clock the next morning. She was bubbling with excitement. Perry would be there to ride with her. Symonds waylaid her as she reached the bottom of the stairs holding out a silver tray.
“This arrived a moment ago, Miss Rose, a smart looking cove brung it—never waited for no reply.”
She removed the letter and nodded her thanks. The note was from Perry; she’d recognized the black scrawl at once. She stepped across so the light from the long window by the front door fell upon the missive.
My dearest girl,
I cannot ride with you this morning and I know you will have been expecting me.
Unfortunately business matters detain me. I cannot wait until this evening; do not forget you are engaged to dine with us at six o’clock.
The puppy is much better, now he is bathed and vermin free I could almost like him. His coat is grey. Indeed, sweetheart, he so resembles a mop head that I have decided to name him Mop. I hope that meets with your approval.
When he is well enough he shall come to you. I’m quite certain Lady Bannerman will be overjoyed to make his acquaintance.
I shall expect you to wear your betrothal ring.
I remain yours—
The letter was signed with the indecipherable squiggle that could be his given name or something else entirely. If the curmudgeonly footman had not been hovering across the vestibule watching her sh
e would have kissed the paper and pressed it to her bosom. She loved him so much, especially his sense of fun. She pursed her lips as she re-read his demand she wear the ring. In time, she would become accustomed to his dictatorial manner.
Pushing the paper into the pocket of her riding habit she continued to the side door and out into the stable yard. Even Orion was subdued this morning; her mare missed the company of Perry’s stallion as much a she missed his master.
Rose and her sister were curled up comfortably in armchairs in front of a roaring fire in the small drawing-room when their mother returned from her morning calls. She sailed in and immediately began her tirade.
“Rose, what is it about you that is so determined to draw unwelcome attention to this family? What were you thinking of, child, to be scrabbling around in the dirt after a mangy cur? How could you think to involve Lord Bentley in your nonsense? I have been told by three separate acquaintances of your extraordinary behaviour.”
“If the Duke of Essex has no complaint then I am content. I beg your pardon if you have been embarrassed, but I answer to my future husband. He sent me a note to say the little dog is progressing well, and to tell you that we are to dine with them before the ball.”
This was a timely reminder and distracted her mother immediately. “I had quite forgotten. Good heavens, girls, why are you sitting here reading when you should be getting ready? It’s already almost four o’clock. Run along immediately, you must both look your best. Millie, my love, is Sir Richard to join us here?”
“He is. I hope you don’t mind if he travels in our carriage?”
“Of course not, he’s the most charming gentleman and not given to eccentric behaviour as others I could mention.” She sniffed loudly and dabbed her eyes with a lace handkerchief. “If only your dear papa was here he would know what to do. I have grave doubts about your betrothal, Rosamond. Lord Bentley might be a Duke but he is decidedly peculiar and a bad influence on you. If he was not so rich, and in a position to save the family from destitution, I do declare I would have your father forbid the marriage.”
Miss Bannerman and The Duke Page 12