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

by Michele McGrath

  “Alice I have just told you that I love you, do you care at all for me?”

  “Yes.” The word was bald but Alice was afraid that if she said any more she would start weeping and would not be able to stop.

  They did not say any more, but, when he could, Edward put an arm around her shoulders and held her close. Some little time later, the curricle swung into the streets of the capital and pulled up outside the Maitland residence. One of the servants was on watch, for the door opened and several members of the household rushed down the steps to the carriage.

  “Are you well, Sir Edward, Lady Alice? We have all been most anxious about your welfare.”

  “No need. We are both very well but tired and thirsty. See that the curricle is taken care of and send Lady Alice’s maid to assist her if you please.”

  Edward climbed down from the curricle and helped Alice to descend. He held her as she walked the stairs and into the hallway. She was grateful, because, now that the tension was over she started to sway alarmingly.

  There was a bustle in the hall and running footsteps. It was with an incredible sense of relief that Alice found herself enveloped in the arms of Kitty and Miss Fennimore.

  “What happened to you?” Kitty asked.

  “Are you hurt, my lamb?” Miss Fennimore sounded terrified.

  “No.”

  “Edward, you are covered in blood!” Kitty stood wide eyed looking at her brother.

  “Don’t worry, little sister. The blood isn’t mine.” Edward grinned at her. “I had forgotten but I will change my clothes since they offend you.”

  “Don’t be silly. As long as you are not hurt, I don’t care. Whose blood is it anyway?”

  “Time enough tomorrow for the full tale. Alice is in no fit state to explain what happened tonight. She should be away to her bed and sleep late as should we all.”

  He caught sight of his stepmother, standing nearby. She came forward at once.

  “Edward is quite right. As long as we have you both safe, explanations can wait. Alice, go with Sarah now and rest. I am so glad you are home.”

  Edward’s will prevailed so it was not until mid morning that the family assembled to hear what had happened that eventful night. Captain Roper had been sent for and was present at Alice’s request.

  “He, too, should hear my explanation,” was all she would say. “He has the right to know.”

  Roper arrived, looking strained, as did both Kitty and Edward. When everyone was seated and the door was closed, Alice took a deep breath and started to speak.

  “This story properly begins on the night of Lady Ranelegh’s ball. Before that, I had, of course, met Captain Roper but I had never until then encountered his companion, the so-called Baron de Vezey.”

  “So-called?” Roper asked sharply and Alice nodded.

  “The name he gave you is genuine. The title of Baron was given to him by Napoleon when he was Emperor. Louis is one of his Christian names but not the only one. I could not believe my eyes when I saw him strolling towards us. You see, I have known him all my life under another name.” She paused, looking at the people around her who sat perfectly still, staring at her.

  “What is his other name?” Roper asked.

  “Lord Philip Sutherland, my youngest brother.” Everyone gasped.

  “Little Philip?” Lady Mary exclaimed, “But surely I would have recognised him?”

  “Obviously not, Ma’am,” Edward said dryly.

  “He has made some alterations to his appearance,” Alice told her. “If I had seen him in daylight, I don’t think I would have known him so quickly. It was the shape of his figure and the way he walked that first alerted me.”

  “You are sure of this?” Captain Roper asked. “I had no doubt at all that the Baron was a Frenchman.”

  “Quite sure. Our mother is French and we had several French servants, so we all speak the language fluently. Philip has been living in France for the last four years and has perfected his accent. All that he told you about himself is true.”

  “Why the disguise?” Edward asked. “Why not use his own name?”

  “As Mr. Staunton told you, Philip fled from England after the duel in which he wounded and nearly killed Mr. Staunton. Had he not gone away, he would have been charged with attempted murder. Uncle Jonathan smuggled him out of the country before that could happen.”

  Several people exclaimed and Edward looked grave. “Was that why Staunton kidnapped you?” he asked.

  “Kidnapped?” Roper gasped.

  “Of course, you know nothing of our doings, Roper. Last night Staunton abducted Lady Alice from her governess’s house and took her to his own. I got there in time to prevent him doing her a mischief.”

  “Mr. Staunton wanted me to tell him where Philip was.”

  “Then why did you not do so?” Roper asked. “Surely your brother would not expect you to protect him in such a situation?”

  “Philip knows nothing about it. By the time I arrived at Miss Fennymore’s house, he had already left.”

  Roper sprang to his feet. “Where is he? I must go after him.”

  “No need. By this time he is in France and he has no intention of ever coming back to England. He is no threat to this country and he never was. He had his own reasons for being here for a few months, but none of them were treasonous and so you may tell your superiors.” Alice stared at him defiantly and Kitty took his hand, pulling him down onto his seat again.

  “Alice, my dear,” Lady Mary said, “why did Philip return to this country after all this time?”

  “It is a delicate matter, Aunt.” Alice hesitated.

  “I think you have gone too far to stop now, Cousin,” Edward remarked, giving her a reassuring smile. Alice’s eyes met his and she nodded.

  “Very well. Four years ago, Philip fell in love with Celia Blackwood. He offered for her but was rejected by her father. She married Evelyn Staunton instead. After her marriage she went into a decline and Philip discovered that Staunton used to horsewhip her. He forced the duel on Staunton with the intention of killing him and setting her free.” A gasp rang around the room.

  “Kitty, Lizzie, leave us now,” Lady Mary said. “This is not a tale fit for your ears.”

  “There is little more, ma’am, I promise you,” Alice said. “Please let them stay or they will plague me until they wheedle the story out of me, won’t you?”

  She looked at Kitty who nodded and smiled.

  “Indeed, I did not want to tell you but you asked me to,” Alice continued as the two girls resumed their seats after a nod from their mother. “I realise that Philip should not have acted as he did but he was young and he has paid the price for his actions. My father disinherited him, so he has had to make his own way in exile. He has always loved Celia and he loves her still. He returned to find out what had happened to Staunton and whether all was well with her. When he found out that Staunton was slowly killing her, he determined to help her escape from him if that was her wish.”

  “Where are they now?” Captain Roper asked, breaking the sudden silence.

  “In France, I hope,” Alice replied. “They left Fenny’s house a few hours before I came to my senses after the accident. That is why I did not tell Staunton anything. I had to give them as much time as possible to leave the country unmolested.”

  “So that is why you ran out of the house in the middle of the night!” Kitty exclaimed. “I thought you had run mad. You were really brave; I’d never have the courage to do such a thing as that!”

  “I should hope not!” Lady Mary said caustically.

  “Where exactly did they go?” Captain Roper turned to Miss Fennymore and asked.

  “Master Philip said he intended to go to Newhaven,” Fenny replied and then dabbed away a tear. Alice stood up and went to put an arm around her shoulders.

  “Don’t cry, dear Fenny. Philip loves you and so do I. He was at his wit’s end to find somewhere to take Celia. I suggested he came to you because you’ve never l
et us down in all our lives, even when we were very naughty.”

  Miss Fennymore sniffed and then said,

  “Nor would I dream of doing so, Miss Alice.”

  “Why did you run out of the house in the middle of the night, Cousin?” Edward asked. “Surely you knew that you could come to me for help?”

  “Could I?” She looked hard at him. “You gave me no reason to believe you would do so. You could easily have stopped me or delayed me until it was too late. When I awoke after the accident, I remembered that Sarah and I had been followed to Fenny’s house. I didn’t know that Philip and Celia they had already left. I went to warn them that they must leave at once; it was not safe for them to stay any longer. If I had not been knocked down, I would have returned straight away, not in the middle of the night. I am so sorry I upset you all.”

  Everyone was staring at her and she looked away, afraid of reading censure in their faces.

  “Having caused so much trouble, I will leave for Kirkmore in the morning, Aunt.”

  “This is something that must be discussed but not now and in private,” Edward said and Alice thought she read disgust in his steady grey eyes.

  Captain Roper rose. “Lady Mary, Maitland, I beg that you will excuse me. I must go back to the Channel Ports and find out whether Sutherland and Mrs. Staunton have indeed left the country. If they are gone, then my task is completed. When I return to London, with your permission, I would like to return and speak to you on quite another subject.” He glanced towards Kitty, who smiled at him.

  Lady Mary rose to say goodbye and when he had left, she did not immediately resume her seat. She looked around at her family.

  “I am sure that we’ve all had enough excitement for this morning. I need to reflect on what I have heard. Please excuse me.”

  One by one, the party broke up. Alice sat still, looking at Edward, who said nothing to her as he left the room.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Alice went to her room and indulged herself in a hearty bout of tears. She was drying her eyes when Sarah came in and said that Miss Fennymore was asking for her before she returned to her own house. Alice roused herself, washed her face and came down to say goodbye to her governess.

  Fenny still looked white and shocked, but she squeezed Alice’s hand.

  “I am sorry to draw you into our troubles, Fenny,” Alice said.

  “He’s your brother and you have always loved him. Where else would you send him? I only hope he is safely away by now. He’s an extremely silly boy, ruining his life like this. If he was here, I would spank him!”

  This drew a reluctant chuckle from Alice. “You did not spank any of us when you had the chance!”

  “That’s better, dear. Keep up your courage. This trouble will pass.” Fenny stood on tiptoe and kissed her cheek. “Come and see me again if you can before you return to Kirkmore.”

  “If I can’t, I’ll certainly write to you.”

  “Give my love to that scamp and tell him I have a rod in pickle for him.”

  “I will. Goodbye, dear Fenny.”

  As she watched the little governess walk down the stairs, Alice felt very alone, as if her last friend in the world had departed. Fortunately, she was not given long to reflect on her thoughts. Almost as soon as her governess’s hack bowled away, another carriage drew up at the door and Mr. Hardwick descended.

  Alice choked. He was the last person she wanted to see but she could not, in all decency, escape. She responded with difficulty to his greeting. Then he begged the privilege of a few moments conversation with her, so. Alice preceded him up the stairs into the salon. She was rather startled to find that no one else was in the room but it was too late for her to withdraw now. So she asked him to be seated and prepared herself to listen to him with what patience she was able to command. His first words came as an unexpected relief and certainly not what she expected to hear.

  “I have come to take my leave of you.”

  “You are going away?” she tried desperately to keep the pleasure out of her voice and she must have succeeded for he smiled as he continued.

  “Yes indeed. I have never undertaken such a long journey before.”

  “How exciting. Where are you going?”

  “To a little place on the borders of Scotland.” He looked at her coyly. “You will never guess where.”

  The last thing that Alice wanted to do was play guessing games with him but politeness compelled her to say,

  “I’m sure I shouldn’t be able to, so you must tell me.”

  “I shall do when I return, I promise you. I am going to ask a certain gentleman a question and when I have his answer, I will hurry back to tell you all about it, since it concerns you rather closely.”

  Oh dear! Alice thought. Just as I feared, he intends to visit Papa. I must write to him tonight and hope he receives the letter before Mr. Hardwick arrives. Then he knows my mind and perhaps I can persuade him to refuse his consent.

  She suppressed a grimace. Lord Kirkmore, although not an indulgent parent, was not very interested in the marriages of his offspring. He did not need either status or money. His primary concern was to avoid any unpleasantness, so forcing an unwilling daughter into matrimony would not be in his interest. Selfishness and a desire to avoid a scandal would mean more to him than any concern for her welfare. If she expressed herself properly, she might persuade him. She took a deep breath and schooled herself to say all that was proper to Mr. Hardwick.

  “I shall look forward to your return then.” She rose and held out her hand to him. Instead of shaking it, Mr. Hardwick planted a moist kiss upon her knuckles. Alice stopped herself from shuddering and was forcibly reminded of another kiss from another man, on a midnight journey to London. As soon as Mr. Hardwick took his leave, she ran up to her room and wrote a hurried letter to her father. She ruined several sheets of hot pressed paper in the process but it was finished at last and Sarah was dispatched to post it.

  Sorely tried after this interview and with the melancholy thought that she had not spoken to Edward since she had told her story this morning, she felt exhausted. She lay down on the couch that stood beneath the window in her room. She laid her head on a cushion and closed her eyes. She did not intend to go to sleep, but she only awakened when Sarah came into the room to help her dress for dinner. For once, Alice had little interest in her appearance. She allowed Sarah to choose her least favourite outfit. After all, what did her frock matter when she was in disgrace with the whole family? Pride gave her the courage to enter the salon to face them all but, when she did so, she found only Lady Mary, Kitty and Lizzie were present.

  Alice went forward to kiss her aunt, then wondered if her kiss would be unwelcome. She hesitated until Lady Mary pulled her down and completed the action.

  “You look better than you did this morning, Cousin,” Kitty said.

  “I have been able to sleep, so I am rested now.”

  Reynolds came in at that moment to tell them that dinner was served. Lady Mary stood up and started to walk towards the dining room.

  “Where is Edward?” Alice wondered, anxiously.

  “He has gone on a journey. He would not tell us where.”

  “How mysterious.”

  Edward’s whereabouts were speculated upon by the three girls but Lady Mary was noticeably silent. When they went into the salon afterwards, Alice asked her aunt if she might have a word with her alone. Lady Mary led her into the morning room, telling her daughters to remain where they were and not to disturb them.

  “Aunt, I want to know if I must tell Sarah to pack my trunks or not,” Alice said when they were both seated. “I realise that I have, to some extent, abused your hospitality but it was never my intention to hurt you or any member of your family.”

  Lady Mary nodded. “I understand that, yet you will agree it was not conduct I would expect from my niece and your father’s daughter.”

  Alice said nothing, having nothing to say. Her aunt was quite right and she could only
be thankful for her forbearance.

  “However, to answer your question, no. Don’t order your trunks to be packed. We must wait on events. Edward left specific orders that you should remain in this house until he returns.”

  “He did? Did he say anything else?”

  “No. You have caused him a lot of trouble you know. Better that he stays away until he can keep his temper under control.”

  “I see. Thank you, ma’am.”

  Alice rose and made her way unhappily out of the door. She could not help comparing Edward’s attitude to her last night with the one he had adopted after her revelations this morning. She believed that she was the unhappiest girl in the world, having love snatched away from her before she had any time to enjoy it. Kitty, however, would dispute her claim. She would say that her own unhappiness was worse than Alice’s. Edward had refused even to mention her marriage before he went away. Everyone was quite worn out and happy to seek out their beds the moment the tea tray had been cleared away.

  Edward did not return the next morning. The under valet told Lady Mary at breakfast that the master had taken Parry, his valet, and enough changes of clothing for a week. Questioned further, he told them that he did not know his master’s destination or when he was likely to come back. With that, the ladies had to be content.

  The days that followed were dull. A feeling of flatness fell over all of them. No one said anything, but they understood that they were all waiting for Edward. Kitty’s nerves occasionally played up, and she gave sharp answers to innocent questions, apologising afterwards for her rudeness. Roper did not come back, so she was without his support. Although the family pursued their usual round of activities, the balls and suppers seemed to be commonplace and lacking in interest. Alice danced and dined and even flirted a little with her admirers but she found no joy in it.

  It is as if we are all waiting for a storm to break, she thought. Whatever happens, anything is better than this. She had a melancholy thought that as soon as Edward returned she would be leaving London, perhaps forever. In her present mood she believed she would be glad to sink back into the life she had always known. There she was neither aux anges one moment and in the depth of despair the next. A little peace and quietness would be very nice for a change.