Margaret held her hands out in expectation of taking the puppy away. Yet, Debra refused to budge. “I am happy with my gift.”
Laughing Margaret sat on the bed. “Debra, darling, you cannot be serious. A puppy is not a practical gift for a lady. What will you do with it while you are on your wedding tour? Who will care for it while you are in London?”
“I will take her with me.” Debra pulled the puppy closer as though Margaret being in the same room would result in an abduction. “I plan to keep my little Portia with me at all times.” Holding the small little imp up, Debra allowed Portia to lick her face.
“I must admit I am surprised at your insistence on keeping it. I will let you alone on this, but when you tire of the pet, I will be ready to accept you back in the arms of my friendship.”
Debra ignored Margaret as she left the room. Looking to Portia, she snuggled the bundle. “I will never let anyone take you away from me.
True to his word, Alex danced with Debra twice during her ball and the introduction to society. Two dances were the limit; a third was tantamount to having the banns read, which they were in the process of doing anyway. One more Sunday and he could dance with her three times during the same ball. He’d secured the dinner dance, which allowed him to lead her into supper.
“Are you still nervous? Or are you enjoying yourself?”
“I am surprisingly calm,” she responded giving him her most gracious smile. “Thank you for your concern.” She’d spent a great deal of time thinking about their conversation from the horse ride when they’d both avoided the question of falling in love and wondered why she made it sound like she could never love him. He’d gallantly saved her life more than once. He was everything a woman should want. Her continued reticence didn’t make sense, especially because she was falling for him. It might have been a way to try and injure him. But she did not understand her desire to cause pain. He had not done anything to her.
“Your father plans to make an announcement after supper regarding our union, which means we will have a third dance of the evening.”
“A third dance? Alex, we should have realized this and not have used our two-dance allotment.”
“Do not worry, dearest, no one will begrudge us the third dance. The third week of banns is only days away. You must play the part and look happy about our decision. Look as though you are a blushing bride to be.”
“I will be blushing,” Debra said looking back at her plate. “There is no need to deceive anyone.”
“The announcement will be made when supper has finished,” he whispered taking her hand.
“I think I will take a moment to myself, if you do not mind?” Debra said taking her hand out of Alex’s. She walked toward the ladies resting room. Although wearing a new dress of white muslin silk, it didn’t do anything to make her look like the other women at the party. She noticed every flaw in herself as she stood in front of the long mirror in the resting room. She thought about the clear complexions of her sisters, Margaret, and other women, and how hers was filled with freckles.
Debra checked to make certain her lace hadn’t slipped. She made a few adjustments to her waist band but stopped when she heard Alex’s name.
“I was surprised to see Lord Trenton and the duke and duchess in attendance. Do you think the rumors of the engagement are true?”
“Kate confirmed it for me.”
Debra couldn’t put a name to the voices, but she was curious as to the purpose of their conversation. Normal women would chat about the people in attendance, but Alex was her intended, and she felt knowledge of the conversation wouldn’t hurt. These women must not be locals, or they must not attend church otherwise Alex’s presence wouldn’t be a surprise or topic of discussion.
“It must be a political move. I cannot imagine the union being anything else. He has danced with her twice.”
“Debra’s dress is pretty, but I cannot believe a man such as Lord Trenton would pay any attention to her. He can have any woman he wants in London. This further goes to show it is a marriage of convenience.”
“Her hair is far too red, and did you see all of the freckles? I do not care how hard she tries to hide them with cosmetics. There is not enough rouge in all of Europe to hide the blemishes.” They giggled cruelly at the mention of her freckles. Debra scowled and wondered why these women were invited to her party.
Tired of hearing their assessments, Debra turned to leave when she suddenly stopped as she would not leave once she heard Lady Margaret mentioned.
“If Lady Margaret has it her way, she and Duke Midhurst will be engaged before the end of this next season.”
“I heard Lord Trenton proposed and was refused. He was supposed to spend a few weeks with her family this summer, which is why she came here.”
“Lady Margaret was angry about this sham of an engagement, from what I heard.”
“Engagement? Everyone within a hundred miles of here knows this marriage will not occur. What a lark!”
Debra was confused by the rudeness. Why would these ladies come to her party if only to be petty and rude?
“Rightfully so, Laura.”
The name brought the face of her sisters’ friend Miss Laura Bradbury to her mind. The other had to be Miss Tina Young. Both were known as two of the biggest gossips in all of Sussex. Although as Adele and Kate’s friends, they should be nicer and not speak so negatively about her.
Miss Young continued, “If I were Lady Margaret, I would make certain Lord Trenton knows his place before the night is over. He has not even danced with Margaret yet.”
“To be sure!” Miss Bradbury said with a laugh, “I would love to be a fly on the wall at Woodland Manor. Especially when Margaret found out he had been here in Sussex for the house party and fancied himself engaged to Lady Debra only days after her refusal.”
The women walked out of the curtained off area to see Debra standing mid-stride in stunned silence.
“Debra!” both squealed as if she hadn’t heard anything they said.
Miss Bradbury gave an insincere smile. “You look so beautiful tonight. I never would have done an introduction to society with those freckles, but you look so lovely no one will ever notice them.”
“I would rather have freckles and red hair than a sour expression and hair that looks like a log of poo on my head,” Debra said with a simpering sweet smile. She turned and walked from the room as both women stood in stunned silence.
Anger lead her actions as she reentered the ballroom. She searched until she located Alex. He stood in a circle with some of his friends and her brothers. In her anger, she rushed up to him not thinking of the consequences or the scene.
“My Lord,” she said giving a curtsey as he turned to her.
“Lady Debra,” he said in the kind voice she had come to associate with him.
“My Lord,” she said again, “if you have a moment, I would like to speak with you.”
He gave her a questioning look but held his arm out and escorted her to the patio. “Is there a reason you are fired up? You left me minutes ago with sparkling eyes. Now all I see is lightening. What could have happened to make your face all red?”
She scowled at him and drew her arm away, “Everywhere I go people talk about you and Margaret.” It wasn’t an exact statement of fact, but there was some truth to it.
“What have you heard?”
“I would prefer a cottage where I can write freely without notice and drama. Instead I am plagued by Margaret wherever I go. She is even my new best friend.” Tears welled up in her eyes as she realized Alex had told her not to let Margaret into her life.
“What have I done to earn the scowl on your precious face?” he asked as he led her to a bench. “I already told you I do not care to be married to Margaret. You know I asked for her hand. She refused me, and now we are not even friends. Merely acquaintances. And might I say, you will never do well in a cottage. You have too much personality for the confined space.”
“I
do not want to sit, my lord.” His teasing manner enraged her anger.
Alex looked to the door of the patio and pulled Debra further away so they wouldn’t be overheard. “Debra, I do not know what has put you in this mood, but I assure you Lady Margaret is no longer the forefront of my thoughts. You are.”
This admission caused her to stop speaking and gaze into his eyes. “You think about me?”
“All the time, if I am honest. I cannot get you out of my mind.”
“Are they good thoughts?”
“Debra,” Alex said pulling her further from the door. He dragged her down the steps and out into the grounds. “Will you please tell me what has caused you so much hurt? Have I done something to make you mad?”
“Tell me about Lady Margaret.”
Alex sighed. “We have already had this discussion. Lady Margaret and her family have been close friends to my family for many years. I usually go to a house party every summer along with my siblings and my parents.”
Debra glared at him. “You are telling me she is a friend?”
Alex shook his head. “No, I am telling you she is a close family friend. Two days before I met you, I asked for her hand in marriage.” She saw the pain in his eyes as he spoke. “She turned me down for the Duke of Midhurst. She plans to capture his heart this season.”
“Do you despise me for the situation we are in?”
“No, Love,” Alex said going back to his pet names for her, “I am confused by this turn of conversation.” He looked back at the crowded ballroom and continued, “You have spent more time with Margaret than with me over the past week, and suddenly you think I still hold feelings for her?”
Debra turned from him she was no longer angry, just embarrassed for her outburst. She walked toward the trees so she could hide among them. Alex rushed after her.
“Debra, will you please tell me what happened to make you so upset? Did Margaret say something?” He took her arm and turned her around. “Do not run away from me.”
She looked up at him and could see the earnest look he gave her. “I’m sorry,” she apologized knowing she was in the wrong.
“What has put you in this mood?” His eyes softened pleading for an answer.
“Did you give Margaret a puppy on her eighteenth birthday?”
His look of confusion told her the words Margaret had spoken to her earlier during the day were untrue. Perhaps she had misheard or misunderstood Margaret’s intentions. Her new friend had only been kind, and suspicion was not helpful.
“No. Margaret would not care for a pet. The poor thing would die of loneliness. Why do you ask?”
“She said you had.”
Alex shook his head and smiled at her. “If you must know, I have never presented a gift to Margaret. It would not have been appropriate, as we were not engaged. Our relationship was only more serious the last year.”
She turned to walk from him so they could go further into the garden when he grabbed her around the waist and held her in his arms. Without any notice he pulled her into him and placed his lips on hers. Debra thought about pulling away and bestowing a slap on his face for the forward behavior, until she realized he was kissing her. This was the moment she’d waited for since meeting him, and instead of elation she panicked.
Releasing her from his arms voice husky and deep he said, “Please do not be angry with me.”
Disappointed with the kiss, she looked down at her hands. What had they been doing when he kissed her? Hanging limply by my side. I am pathetic! She’d always planned for a kiss to be so romantic she’d desire to run her hands through the man’s hair, and Alex’s dark brown hair was perfect for such an action. She hadn’t done any of the fanciful things she expected to do during a kiss. She merely stood there and allowed him to kiss her. She didn’t know if she even kissed him back.
“I was not ready for a kiss,” she said looking up at him and blushed as she noticed he was gazing longingly down at her.
“Neither was I,” he said. They stood awkwardly looking into each other’s eyes.
“I thought it would be… different,” Debra said as she noticed his hazel eyes looked dark brown in the moonlight.
“Was it disappointing?” he asked, one eyebrow raised.
“It was… unexpected.” Suddenly a flood of words came from her mouth, “I did not run my hands through your hair, and I do not know if I even kissed you back and I panicked. I didn’t know what to do.”
He cut her off as he drawled, “Well, Love,” his crooked smile put her nerves on end. “I did not know Lila Betts and Lieutenant Fredricks were experts on kissing. Tell me, where are my hands supposed to be during a kiss? I did not read that far in the story.”
The inflection in his voice caused her heart to pound. Heat entered her cheeks from embarrassment. He was never going to stop referring to the stupid story. “I do not know.”
He leaned forward and whispered, “I will warn you next time I plan to kiss you so you may run your hands through my hair.” He looked back at the manor before continuing, “And please give me instructions on where my hands should be as I do not want to disappoint you again.”
She blushed even more as she whispered, “I was not disappointed with you. It just less passionate than I expected.”
“Ahh… well, you are making me feel much better, Love. I was wondering if I needed some practice.” He gave her another dashing smile and asked, “Are you ready to go in and finish this debut of yours without the temper… oh and have all our well-wishers occupy our evening?”
She nodded and took his offered arm. “I am sorry for being angry with you. Sometimes I get enraged and I do not stop to think about it before I rush to conclusions.”
“Do not worry, my love. No harm has been done.”
As they entered the ballroom, her father motioned for them to join their parents. They stood waiting for Alex and Debra. He led her over, her hand shaking on his arm. I should be happy about this. I am entering society and engaged before the season even begins. Those words ran through her mind as she smiled prettily, listening to her father speaking to their guests.
As people clapped, Alex led her to the dance floor for their first official dance as a couple. It was surreal, scary, and yet exciting. She had a hard time deciding what her feelings were. Am I in love with him? He is so kind. Does he love me? Did he kiss me because he loves me? Or was the kiss to stop me from speaking? Her mind swirled with thoughts of love until she was convinced; she must be in love with Lord Trenton.
When the dance ended, men flocked to her side with offers for dances. Every man in the room seemed to want her attention. Was it because this was her party? Or was it because they wanted to dance with Lord Trenton’s future bride?
She watched Alex for the rest of the evening. Both Miss Bradbury and Miss Young flaunted and flirted with him making fools out of themselves, but she wanted to see his interactions with Margaret. Knowing what he said and witnessing the separation for herself eased the angst toward her future husband. She knew it would be rude to turn down the many offers of dances, but it was disappointing to not be by Alex for the entire night.
As she lay in bed, she thought of the short sweet kiss he had given her. Next time, she would be ready and make certain to kiss him back. Her hands would run through his beautiful brown hair, as a debutant but more importantly as a fiancé should do while kissing.
Chapter 18
Alex always expected to be married out of Waverly Keep, but with circumstances being as they were, he agreed to marry at Woodland Manor. The drawing room emptied of furniture the day before so the servants could set out chairs for fifty guests.
His mother arranged for him to wear gray britches with a deep blue coat. As he viewed himself in the mirror, his mind wondered to Lady Margaret. Why were they here? What was the purpose of friending his wife? It would not be fair to Debra if Margaret held ulterior motives. I am a fool. The words nearly came out of his mouth, until he noticed his valet was still in the room. In
stead he considered the internal thoughts, Margaret had done nothing to be vindictive or vicious since arriving. She’d been a good friend to Debra, or so he imagined as his future wife seemed to enjoy her company.
“My lord, the guests are all seated.”
“Thank you, David.”
“I believe Lady Debra’s maid said she is nearly ready.”
Taking a deep breath to ready himself for the moment when he would be wed, Alex turned from the mirror and found his way to the library where the vicar and his parents waited. Thoughts of walking toward a sudden and quick death consumed his mind. He smiled as he realized Debra would imagine something a bit more dramatic. What would his bride think of as she walked to their marriage? Would she pretend to be Cordelia? With this thought, he remembered her inquiries of handfasting. As a husband he would need to consider his wife’s thoughts and dreams. She’d mentioned the subject of handfasting twice that he could remember.
“Mr. Robbins, thank you for taking the time to conduct our wedding.” Alex shook the man’s hand while pushing his nerves down. “May I ask you for an addition to the ceremony?”
“What sort of addition?” his mother asked while brushing imaginary flecks of dirt off his jacket, as his valet had already done the job.
Looking to the vicar he continued his request. “Debra mentioned a handfasting as part of the ceremony.”
Clearing his throat before speaking, the vicar considered the question. Nodding his head in a noncommittal way, the vicar looked at Alex as though burrowing into his soul. He was asking for Debra, and now felt a bit silly for doing so. Perhaps it was something the vicar didn’t know how to perform. “It is not normal for a wedding such as this, but if you are requesting the addition to the ceremony, I need only a ribbon.”
With a sigh of relief, Alex nodded. “Mother, do you have a ribbon we can use?”
“Alexander, I do not understand why you are asking for this addition. Is not the normal ceremony enough?”
Wit & Intrigue (An Assignation to Remember Book 1) Page 12