Lady Alice's Dilemma (Regency Belles and Beaux Book 1)

by Michele McGrath

  “What else can I do?” Kitty asked plaintively, “You don’t understand. Charles and I are betrothed. I… I…want him, Alice, or at least some word from him so I know he is safe.”

  “Kitty, you’re still under age and Edward won’t give his consent. Is Charles really so important to you?” Alice wanted to be absolutely sure before she committed herself to any scheme which might prove completely harebrained.

  “Of course he is. I love him. I’ve never loved anyone else and I’m so unhappy. Edward will come around in time, you’ll see. If he does not, we’ll wait until I am of age. Edward won’t enjoy living for the next four years with a troublesome sister on his hands. I can be very troublesome if I want to be, believe me.”

  Alice could not help smiling. “I do believe you.”

  “But that does not matter. It’s in the future. What’s important is to find out where Charles is now.”

  “If the Baron has returned to France, Charles may have gone after him to confirm he has left.”

  “Follow him to France you mean?”

  “Or talk to the captains of the packets that go across the Channel. He may have waited for some of them to return to England.”

  “But that could take days and days! He should certainly have written to me in that case.”

  The dinner gong sounded at that moment and both girls jumped. Reluctantly they rose to their feet; their confidences at an end.

  “We’ll talk about it later,” Alice said. “I’m sure nothing has happened to him. We would have heard. Charles nearly always wears his uniform, so the Admiralty would be informed and the news would be all over London. But come, we mustn’t be late for dinner or Edward will ask questions. Don’t let him see that you are upset.”

  “No I won’t. Thank you for saying you will come with me.”

  I didn’t really, Alice thought, but I may have to. I can’t tell her that Philip said that Roper was spying on him and so he is probably still searching for him. Since he knows nothing of Fenny, his search will be long and fruitless, unless Philip and Celia have already left London and are on their way to Dover. Goodness! I hope they don’t meet there by accident. That would be the outside of enough!

  Chapter Eleven

  Dinner and the rest of the evening passed in a sort of blur. Alice could not wait for it to be over. She wanted to write to Philip with the news of Staunton, so although she was tired, she did not go immediately to bed after Sarah had left her. She wrote her letter, giving all the information that Philip needed and bidding him to make haste and leave the country before Staunton returned. She addressed the wafer to Miss Fennimore and hid it under her pillow.

  Next morning, when she and Kitty went for a walk, she took it to the post office.

  “You must be extremely fond of your governess,” observed Kitty, “to write to her so often.”

  “I am. Fenny was very good to all of us when we were little. It would not be right for me to neglect her now.”

  “You were lucky then. Most of my governesses were tartars. I’m so happy to have escaped from the schoolroom. I pity Lizzie and little Lucy.”

  Letter sent, Alice breathed more easily. Although she would miss seeing Philip again, she was content to imagine him speeding on his way to France where he and Celia would be safe.

  She set her mind to the task of helping Kitty out of her difficulties. Roper might have given up the chase by now and returned to his job at the Admiralty. He would have to return to London to give a report eventually. But, if he had, why had he not contacted Kitty? She would not be satisfied until she had found him. Alice realised that it would also be useful for her to know whether Roper was still searching for her brother or not.

  Captain Roper had lodgings in a house on South Audley Street. Greatly daring, Alice and Kitty took a hack there, as soon as they were out of sight of Aunt Maitland’s house. The carriage dropped them on the corner of the road. They walked slowly down the street, both uneasy about what they were doing, but driven on by Kitty’s determination. Alice had to admit that she was very nervous as Kitty knocked on the front door. A woman wearing an apron and a mop cap opened it to them.

  “May I help you?” she asked with a certain amount of aggression in her tone as she looked at the two girls standing before her.

  “Good morning. If you please, can you tell me whether Captain Roper lodges with you?” Kitty asked.

  “He does but he’s not in the habit of entertaining young females, let me tell you. Not in my house, he isn’t, that’s for sure.”

  Alice felt herself blushing. The woman was starting to close the door when Kitty said,

  “I’m not a ‘young female’, I’m his sister. He was supposed to meet me last Tuesday.” She had obviously thought about what to say. “He didn’t arrive and I’m worried about him. When did you see him and was he well?”

  “What do you think I am?” the landlady asked indignantly. “I don’t gossip about the people who lodge with me. Sister indeed. He’s never mentioned any sister to me.”

  “Why should he?” Kitty said in a haughty tone. “My brother isn’t one to relate our family history to all and sundry. I only want to find out if he was well. What harm is there in telling me that?”

  The landlady looked hard at her. Kitty met her eyes with an innocent glance and the woman unbent a little. “He was well when I saw him last.”

  “And when was that?” Kitty persisted. She saw the woman hesitate and hastened to add, “Does it matter if you tell me which day he went away?”

  “No I suppose not. He left on Tuesday, in a hurry. He said he would be gone several days. I don’t know anything more and I wouldn’t tell you if I did. Don’t call here again. I don’t approve of young girls calling on young men, even if they are sisters. If you do come, I won’t speak to you. Good day.”

  The woman closed the door in Kitty’s indignant face.

  “Well! What manners!” Kitty spluttered.

  “Come away.” Alice urged her. “People will stare if we stay here, gawking up at the house. She’s told us what we wanted. He’s not here.”

  The two girls turned and walked back along South Audley Street.

  “Shall we go home?” Alice asked. “Charles intended to be away for a while, just as I told you. He’ll be back soon and everything will be well again.”

  “He left on the day after the ridotto, so he should be back already. The Admiralty will know where he’s gone. He wouldn’t leave without telling them. I’m going there to find out.”

  “Kitty, you can’t. What a scandal there would be if you walk in there bold as brass and ask for a young man. It would be all over London before the cat could lick her ear and you might do great harm to Charles’s career.”

  “No I won’t. I have a friend whose brother works there. I’ll tell the porter at the entrance that I have a letter from his sister and ask to speak to him for a few moments. Frederick can find out where Charles is for me.”

  “Why should his sister write to you, rather than directly to him?”

  “Lord, I don’t know, but the porter won’t ask me that. Fred will, but he’ll understand once I explain it to him. I’ve known him ever since I was eleven.”

  Although she tried, Alice was not able to make Kitty change her mind. She therefore had no choice but to accompany her. Another hack dropped them at the imposing white building that was the Admiralty in Whitehall. Alice was even more nervous as they climbed up the steps and entered the marble hallway. A servant in naval livery appeared beside them as they stood hesitating on the doorstep.

  “Good morning. May I help you, ladies?”

  “If you please,” Kitty smiled up at him. “I have a letter for Lieutenant Leighton from his sister in Cornwall. Would you tell him that Lady Alice Sutherland and Miss Maitland are here and are desirous of seeing him?”

  “Perhaps I could give him the letter for you and save you waiting for him?”

  “Unfortunately, his sister charged me with all sorts of messages for him
and I have not written them down. I would like to see him if it is not too much trouble. I won’t keep him more than a few minutes.”

  “If you will take a seat, I will step up to his room and enquire if he is here.”

  The girls sat down on one of the small marble benches that stood against the wall.

  “Your scheme worked; I never thought it would,” Alice said in a low voice to her cousin.

  “I told you it would. I worked it all out last night before I went to sleep. Only then I was unsure whether I would be able to coax you to come with me. If you did not, I would have had to make another plan. Hush, the porter is coming back.”

  A tall gangling figure wearing a uniform with the epaulettes and stripes of a lieutenant followed the porter down the stairs. He was another man who looked young for his rank, Alice thought, just like Charles. The porter indicated where they were sitting and the young lieutenant came straight over to them.

  “Kitty, what a pleasant surprise,” he said, holding out his hands to her.

  “Hello, Freddie. Thank you for seeing us. This is my cousin, who has been kind enough to come with me today. Lieutenant Frederick Leighton, Lady Alice Sutherland.”

  The Lieutenant bowed over Alice’s hand. “Delighted to make your acquaintance, Lady Alice.”

  “Freddie, I have something to ask you. Is there somewhere more private where we can speak to each other? It’s rather urgent.”

  Freddie looked startled.

  “If I take you to one of the side rooms, people will say dreadful things about both of us. Let me think.” He was silent for a few minutes and then he said, “There’s a small garden not far away. Wait until I get my hat and we can go there,”

  He hurried up the stairs and came back looking flustered, carrying his hat in his hand. He led them around the corner of the building and down a lane. A gate at the end opened into a square where benches had been set out and a few rosebushes were in bloom.

  “I’m sorry to bring you here, but no one will be able to accuse us of any impropriety if we are outside with people walking by all the time. Now tell me, why did Emily write to you, and why is it so important?”

  “She didn’t. She has written to me, of course, several times but I couldn’t find another excuse to ask for you. I need your help, Freddie. You will help me, won’t you?” She smiled at him.

  “If I can, but you shouldn’t do such things, Kitty. It might have been all right when we were children but it isn’t now we are grown up. I have a responsible job and my department is very busy at the moment. You have dragged me away from something important.”

  “I’m sorry, Freddie, really I am, but this is important too and you will forgive me when I tell you all about it.”

  “Tell me then.”

  “Are you acquainted with Captain Charles Roper?”

  “Of course, we served on the Agamemnon together when we were both midshipmen.”

  “This is a secret, Freddie, so you must promise me not to say anything about it until I give you leave to do so.”

  “Go on.”

  “Promise me first,” Kitty said determinedly.

  “Please don’t be silly. When have I ever told your secrets?”

  “Never, you’ve always been kind to me. Well, Charles has asked me to marry him and we are engaged.”

  “I must congratulate him, when I see him, though I expect you’ll lead him a merry dance. I wish you both very happy. His life certainly won’t be dull that’s for sure. Is that what you wanted to tell me?” His face looked puzzled.

  “No. The engagement is to be announced in the next few days but now Charles has gone away without saying a word to me or even writing a letter. Alice saw him at Lady Sinclair’s ridotto but no one has seen him since. Alice thought he might have been sent on a mission somewhere. I’m dreadfully worried, Freddie. Can you find out where he’s gone and when he is due back? He is supposed to be attending a supper party to meet all my relatives tomorrow evening. If he doesn’t appear, it will make such a scandal and I would never be able to hold my head up again,” Kitty improvised freely.

  “I can try, but I may not be allowed to tell you,” Freddie said. “Some of our work is confidential.”

  “I don’t need to know anything about what he is doing or where he is. Tell me only if he has really been sent out of London and when he is expected back. Please, Freddie, will you help me?” She took his hand and looked beseechingly into his eyes. Alice could not help but admire her address. It would have had an effect on anyone although long friendship caused Freddie’s reaction to be less enthusiastic.

  “I’ll try. I can’t promise more.”

  “Will you call on me tonight and tell me what you have been able to find out?”

  “Yes, if you let me go back right now.”

  “Of course. Thank you so much, Freddie.”

  Freddie stood up, bowed to them both and hurried away. Alice thought he looked rather harassed and unhappy but then wondered if her fleeting impression had been correct. After all, it would not be improper to ask after a colleague.

  She was delighted when Kitty appeared to be satisfied at last. She agreed to abandon her quest for now and turn to other things. Alice suspected that her sudden acquiescence was more due to lack of anywhere further to search than to any desire to oblige her cousin. Alice could only be thankful, whatever the reason. She had had enough of alarms for the moment.

  Freddie, indeed, was as good as his word, and called at Lady Maitland’s house shortly before the family went out to dine with some friends. Lady Maitland exclaimed at the sight of him and it quickly became evident that he was a prime favourite with her. She asked after his parents and his numerous brothers and sisters. It took some time before Kitty was able to detach him from her parent and gain a few minutes to speak to him alone. With the bustle of leaving for the dinner party, she managed to do so at last. Alice was watching her closely while trying to distract the attention of Edward and her aunt, to enable the tête-à-tête. Kitty’s face fell while Freddie was speaking to her. Alice seized a moment when the young ladies were led upstairs to take off their wraps to hiss,

  “Well?”

  “Nothing certain. Charles is not in the Admiralty. Freddie could not find out any more in the short time since I asked him, but he says he will keep trying and will tell me as soon as he hears anything.”

  Her shoulders drooped and Alice felt sorry for her but she said,

  “You must have patience. Either Charles will return or Freddie will have news of him. Try to show Edward that you are not repining. Otherwise he might take you to task again.”

  Kitty nodded. “That would be unbearable, especially now.”

  Kitty tried to be cheerful and put Charles out of her mind but it was hard for her. Anyone who knew her well could see that her smile was strained and her laughter false. Several times she answered questions at random and Alice was only grateful that Edward was at the far end of the table and not able to overhear Kitty’s conversation. Indeed, Alice was only too pleased when the evening ended peacefully without further alarms or quarrels.

  The following day brought another missive from Lady Kirkmore. Alice immediately seized her chance and exclaimed, “Oh!” as if she had had a shock.

  “What is it, my dear?” Lady Mary asked.

  “Mama writes that Miss Fennimore has had a relapse and begs me to visit her again. She wants me to procure a doctor for her if it is needful. She asks me to act in her stead.”

  “What is wrong with her?”

  “Nothing infectious or Fenny would not allow me to enter her house,” Alice said quickly, to dispel any anxieties. She did not want to be banned from visiting entirely. “She has flutters in her heart and a constant pain in her side. I am worried about her.”

  “Well then if your Mama directs you to go, you must. I cannot come with you unfortunately, because I am promised to Lady Sefton this morning and will need the barouche. Edward, would you be kind enough to drive Alice to Miss Fennimor
e’s?”

  “I am happy to walk, ma’am,” Alice interjected quickly. She certainly did not want Edward to see Fenny’s smiling face if she should open the door herself. He would immediately realise that there was nothing wrong with her at all. “There is no need for my cousin to bother. The day is so fine.”

  “You will take Sarah?”

  “May I come with you, Alice?” Kitty asked.

  Alice hesitated, trying to think of an unexceptional way of refusing, but Lady Mary saved her the effort.

  “I doubt Miss Fennimore is in a fit state to receive visitors, Kitty. Alice is well known to her and obviously welcome, but we are strangers and she is ill. Try to be a little less shatter-brained, please.”

  Kitty glowered at her mother but she said nothing more and Alice breathed a sigh of relief.

  Accordingly, Kitty set out with Sarah immediately after breakfast. She walked at a brisk pace, choosing streets that were less crowded so the journey was soon accomplished. When they reached Portman Square, Alice said,

  “Wait in the square for me please, Sarah. I will not be long.”

  “Are you sure, my lady? You will be on your own.”

  “Quite sure. I cannot take you there. My governess only has a small house. She keeps no servants so there is nowhere for you to sit. It is only a step and in a respectable part of London. I will be safe enough. You may watch me from here until I go in.”

  Alice hurriedly walked away, happy that Sarah did not attempt to argue any further.

  It was not Fenny but the elder Miss Fennimore who opened the door to her. She looked surprised and a little anxious when she saw Alice standing there alone.

  “Good morning, Miss Fennimore,” Alice said quickly. “I am Alice Sutherland and I have come to visit my governess if she is able to receive me.” Alice smiled at the elderly lady and held out her hand. Miss Fennimore returned her smile and shook hands.

  “Good morning, Lady Alice. I am happy to meet you at last. My sister has often spoken of you and of all Lady Kirkmore’s children. She will be delighted you have called. Please come in.”