by Anne Ashley
'And what's all this?' The familiar, attractive voice made her start. 'It isn't like you, my little bird, to skulk away in a corner.'
'I was not skulking, as you call it,' she responded, wondering if he had been watching her for some little time, 'merely trying to make myself as inconspicuous as possible. It's so very warm in here, Daniel. I wouldn't dare risk a further period on the dance-floor, and was doing my level best to avoid being asked.'
He appeared to accept this explanation readily enough. 'Yes, it's certainly oppressive. Would you care for a stroll in the conservatory? You might find it a little less uncomfortable out there.'
She didn't need to think twice about it, and linked her arm through his, willingly accepting his escort into the huge glass construction which was noticeably cooler and far less congested, though there were more than one or two couples lurking amidst the greenery.
'What were you thinking about, Robin?' he asked, after they had strolled to the end and seated themselves in two of the wicker chairs. 'You appeared to be in a world of your own. Aren't you enjoying these opulent royal surroundings?'
'Very much, though I do find them a little overwhelming.'
The answer came swiftly enough, but to one who had made an intense study of her moods, Daniel found the reply just a little too mechanical, as though part of her mind remained elsewhere. 'Is something troubling you, Robin?' he asked gently, but she made no attempt to respond this time. 'Come, child, we are friends, are we not? True friends should never be afraid to confide in each other.'
Friends...? Once she had found it such a comfort to think of him in that light, but now... 'I was thinking of how very much I've enjoyed my time here in Brighton. Surprisingly enough, much more so than I did my weeks in the capital.'
He appeared decidedly sceptical. 'You'll forgive me for saying so, Robin, but you looked anything but contented a few minutes ago.'
She couldn't help but smile at the swiftness and honesty of his response. 'If that is so then it was the thought of having to leave all this behind when I return to Abbot Quincey.' She discovered she was equally powerless to prevent a sigh escaping. 'I'm becoming far too contented with this kind of life, Daniel. It is quite worrying.'
He regarded her in silence, his expression quite unreadable now. 'What convinces you that you must abandon this kind of life? If you do not relish the prospect of returning to Northamptonshire, there must surely be other options open to you.'
'Such as what?'
'Marriage.' There was more than just a hint of cynicism in the smile he cast her. 'After all, it was with the intention of finding yourself a husband that you left Abbot Quincey in the first place.'
She wasn't in the least offended by this. Daniel would never be deliberately hurtful, but at the same time he was never afraid to, speak his mind, and she had grown quite accustomed to the occasional blunt remark.
'You make it sound so very mercenary,' she responded, not attempting to deny it. 'Which, of course, it is. Most young women who embark on a London Season do so with that very goal in mind. And I was, I suppose, luckier than most,' she continued, after a moment's reflection. 'I did at least receive two proposals of marriage, neither of which I regretted refusing.'
She decided not to add that this was done with her mother's full approval, and in the hope that a third and far more advantageous offer might be forthcoming from Daniel himself. 'Both gentlemen were very respectable, but my feelings were not engaged.'
Once again she found herself on the receiving end of one of those penetrating brown-eyed stares. 'And has no suitable gentleman succeeded in capturing your interest since your arrival in Brighton? Mr Frederick Ainsley, for instance? He has been increasingly attentive in recent weeks, and you do not appear averse to his company.'
She certainly wasn't averse to the gentlemanly Mr Ainsley's company. She liked him very well, had done so from their very first meeting. Whether she would be content to spend the rest of her life with him was quite another matter entirely.
Strangely enough, Robina had never once seriously considered the possibility of a union with Frederick Ainsley. She didn't doubt for a moment that he would make both a considerate and loving husband. In many ways he reminded her of her own father. Both were intelligent and both were sincerely dedicated to their chosen profession. Therein, she supposed, lay the reason why she had no intention of allowing her relationship with Mr Ainsley to deepen.
She had never made any secret of the fact that she had enjoyed a very happy childhood in Abbot Quincey. None the less, she experienced no desire whatsoever to exchange life in one vicarage for life in another.
She had now grown accustomed to a completely different lifestyle. And she loved it! It wasn't that she wished for a future that was just one long round of socialising and parties. Oh, no, that would not appeal to her in the least! She wanted marriage and children. But most important of all she wished to marry a man whom she could love and respect. Her perfect mate was out there somewhere, she felt certain of it, and yet his image continued to elude her, remaining just a blur in her mind's eye.
'Yes, I should like to marry, Daniel. But, if and when I do, it will be to a man I love,' she admitted at last, thereby betraying her inmost thoughts. 'I would never marry just for security, or just to have a home of my own.'
There was a discernible note of self-consciousness in her little trill of laughter. 'Oh, I don't know, Daniel. Perhaps I expect too much from life. I've been luckier than most, I know. It's just that... How can I explain it?...I suppose it's just that nothing very exciting has ever happened to me. Every girl dreams of meeting her knight in shining armour, a brave Sir Galahad who will rescue her from danger, and then fall hopelessly in love with her.
'Yes, well, may you laugh,' she went on when a rich masculine rumble greeted this confession. 'You're a man. No doubt you've enjoyed a deal of excitement in your life; whereas mine, up until a few weeks ago, has been singularly uneventful.'
Daniel's smile remained, but there was no mistaking the sincerity in his voice as he said, 'Yes, I rather fancy I do understand, my little bird. A little excitement from time to time does no one any harm. So, you're hoping to meet your Sir Lancelot.'
'Galahad,' she corrected, feeling extremely foolish now at having confessed to a rather childish fancy. 'But as that is unlikely ever to happen, I'm desperately striving to resign myself to life as a governess.'
'Dear me,' he murmured. 'That's a comedown from a life with a brave knight.'
'True,' she agreed, 'but possibly more realistic.'
Easily removing the fan from her clasp, Daniel opened it to its fullest extent to study the decoration of delicately painted flowers. 'Have you forgotten Mama's suggestion that you might like to consider becoming her permanent companion?'
Robina clearly recalled the subject being raised, but hadn't taken her ladyship's remarks seriously. 'She was jesting, surely?'
'No, I do not believe so, child. She's extremely fond of you.'
He looked as if he was about to say something further, but then evidently thought better of it, and promptly handed back her fan before rising to his feet. 'There will be time enough for you to consider my mother's proposal. The Brighton Season is far from over, so let us return to the Saloon now and continue to enjoy it.'
They were halfway down the huge glass construction when they noticed a number of persons beginning to gather near the door. The little group suddenly parted, and into the conservatory strolled Daniel's very good friend Montague Merrell, accompanied by none other than the Regent himself.
Robina knew, of course, that Mr Merrell was a close friend of the future king. She had seen Mr Merrell, together with several others, enter the room with the Regent shortly before it was time to go in to dinner. There had been no opportunity of being introduced to the Regent then; there was no chance of avoiding it now. His Royal Highness took one glance down the conservatory and his plump features creased in a smile of instant recognition.
'Exmouth, old f
ellow!' He came forward, moving with surprising grace for a gentleman of his ample proportions. 'Monty here informed me that you were amongst the guests tonight. How good it is to see you in society once more!'
'Thank you, sir.' Daniel noticed the future monarch's eyes stray in Robina's direction, and hurriedly presented her before the totally wrong conclusion could be drawn.
Robina, executing a graceful curtsey, discovered her hand captured in warm, podgy fingers. 'Delightful! Delightful!' beamed the Regent, eyeing her approvingly, and making her feel like a particularly tasty morsel presented to him on a plate.
'Miss Perceval is at present residing with us in Brighton, sir... And is here under my mother's protection,' Daniel added, just in case the Regent should still be harbouring any doubts as to Robina's respectability.
'Excellent!' The future king, after one last squeeze of the slender fingers, released his hold on Robina's hand. 'And how is your dear mother, Exmouth? In good health, I trust?'
'In fine fettle, sir, as always.'
'Excellent, excellent!' he said again, before turning to Merrell. 'Well, Monty, let us leave Exmouth to escort this delightful young lady to the safety of his mother's side, and go and find Wilmington. You said he was also here tonight, I seem to remember.'
'Indeed he is,' Mr Merrell responded and, after casting a sly wink in Daniel's direction, accompanied the Regent back to the Saloon.
Daniel and Robina followed at a discreet distance, and eventually found the Dowager amidst a small group at the far end of the room.
'I have been ordered by no less a personage that the Regent himself to restore Robina to your protection,' Daniel divulged, after extricating his mother from the small group. 'And as I wouldn't dare to disobey a royal command, here she is.'
'Where on earth have you been, child? The last time I saw you, you were dancing with Lord Farley.'
'Oh, she has gone up in the world since then, Mama,' Daniel put in before Robina could even attempt to offer an explanation for her long absence. 'She has been hobnobbing with royalty.'
'Truly?' The Dowager's excited glance darted between the two. 'You've met the Regent, child? Did you introduce her, Daniel? I was hoping to present you. What did you think of our future king?'
'Rather overwhelming, ma'am.'
'Rather overweight, you mean,' the Dowager corrected.
'Careful, Mama,' her son warned. 'There are those who have been banished for saying less.'
Lady Exmouth was about to say that she had spoken no less than the truth, when an undignified squeal reached her ears, and she turned to discover a vivacious damsel, dressed in an amber-coloured gown, bearing down upon them.
'Heavens above!' she exclaimed, wrapping her arms about the perpetrator of the unladylike squeal. 'What on earth are you doing here, child?'
'The same as you, I should imagine, Aunt Lavinia.'
Disengaging herself from the loving embrace, the new arrival turned to Daniel and unashamedly placed a smacking kiss on his cheek. 'Never expected to bump in to you here, my dear cousin,' she admitted, staring up at him with more than just a hint of devilment in her dark eyes. 'Always thought you had more taste. My, my, how you have changed!'
'Which you patently have not, you outrageous baggage!' he retorted, smiling down into twinkling brown eyes. 'Now, behave yourself for a moment, and allow me to present Miss Robina Perceval to you...Robin,' he added turning to her, 'this is my cousin, Lady Arabella Tolliver, the scourge of my life.'
'Horrid creature!' Laughing, Lady Tolliver reached for Robina's hand, and held it fast in both her own. 'How very pleased I am to make your acquaintance, Miss Perceval. I had heard rumours that dear Aunt Lavinia had taken a pretty girl under her protective wing.'
'And before you are tempted into further indiscretion,' her ladyship put in hurriedly, 'I think we had better find ourselves some quiet corner, preferably somewhere where we are able to sit down.'
She turned to her son in time to catch the amused glint in his eyes, and hurriedly asked if he would be kind enough to fetch them refreshments. Then without further ado, she ushered the young ladies to the farthest corner of the room, where she was lucky enough to find three vacant chairs.
'Now, Arabella,' she began, when they had all seated themselves. 'What brings you to Brighton? You never mentioned you were planning a visit in your last letter.'
'Good gracious, Aunt Lavinia! You ought to know me better than that by now. I never make plans. I do everything on the spur of the moment. Besides, why shouldn't I be here? My period of mourning was over weeks ago.' She cast a rather wistful glance down at the skirts of her fetching amber-coloured gown. 'Pity really...I looked quite becoming in widow's weeds.'
'Arabella, really!' her aunt reproved, striving not to laugh. 'What are people to think when you talk that way!'
She then turned to Robina, who was also doing her level best not to laugh at the lively Lady Tolliver's remarks. 'If you have not already guessed, my dear, this outrageous young woman is my niece, the only daughter of my dear departed sister Emily. Sadly my sister died giving birth to a stillborn child, and my niece spent long periods during her childhood with us at Courtney Place. I believe she looked upon the house as her second home, and Daniel as her brother.'
'I certainly looked upon the Place as home, Aunt, but whether I ever thought of Daniel as my brother is quite another matter.'
Robina certainly detected the wry edge in Lady Tolliver's voice. Whether the Dowager did or not was difficult to judge, for her attention was diverted in the next moment by her son's approach, bringing with him a footman, bearing four glasses of champagne on a silver tray. Once they had all sampled their refreshments, Daniel turned to his cousin, asking where she was staying.
'Dear Roderick rented a house for the duration of the summer. The poor dear would not hear of leaving me behind when I contracted a troublesome cold, which I simply could not shake off. We planned to arrive in the middle of June, but only succeeded in leaving Devonshire a few days ago.'
'And you are fully restored to health now, I trust?'
'Yes, Cousin, and eager to make up for all the time we've lost.' Her rather wide mouth curled into a sudden smile. 'Oh, there's dear Roddy now,' she announced, glancing in the direction of the main door. 'Do go over and rescue him from Lord Crawford, Daniel. I do not wish for him to be persuaded into indulging in a game of chance with that inveterate gambler. Roddy's no card player, and I should hate to discover in the morning that he's lost the entire family fortune.'
She laughed as her cousin moved away to do her bidding. 'It is so amusing having a stepson virtually the same age as oneself. Most people seeing us together automatically assume that we're husband and wife.'
Robina, having followed his progress across the room, saw Daniel shake the hand of a sandy-haired gentleman of medium height, and thought it highly likely that most people who were not acquainted with them would possibly think that Lady Tolliver and Sir Roderick were married. She was intrigued to learn more about Daniel's spirited cousin, but was destined to discover nothing further that evening, for they were joined by several of the Dowager's particular friends, and Lady Tolliver soon afterwards drifted away to mix with the other guests.
Robina caught sight of her again on only three occasions throughout the remainder, of the evening. Each time she was clinging possessively to Daniel's arm. He appeared not in the least displeased at being monopolised by her. In fact, he looked far happier than Robina had ever seen him look before. It ought, she knew, to have given her a great deal of pleasure to think that Daniel was blissfully contented in his cousin's company, but it did not. Perversely it had the opposite effect, and she left the Pavilion later that night feeling decidedly dispirited.
Chapter Eight
The following morning Robina received a letter from her family, confirming the surprising notice she had read in the newspaper two weeks before, announcing her cousin Hester's betrothal to Lord Dungarran.
She shook her head, still finding
it difficult to believe. 'Well, apparently it is true,' she declared to Lady Exmouth, who sat opposite her at the breakfast table, happily nibbling her way through a second delicious buttered roll. 'Yet I'm still finding it hard to believe. Hester never displayed the least interest in finding herself a husband. Her first Season was a complete disaster. It put her off the idea of matrimony altogether.'
'No, not entirely, my dear,' Lady Exmouth corrected. 'Evidently Lord Dungarran persuaded her to change her mind, though I must say I cannot recall your cousin betraying much interest in any gentleman on the occasions I saw her in London. But, then, some young ladies are more adept at concealing their feelings than others, are they not?'
After debating for a moment, she weakened and reached for a third buttered roll. 'Does your mother reveal any other details in her letter?'
Robina scanned the single sheet written in her mother's beautifully flowing hand. 'Only that the engagement was announced on the day of the fete. What a pity I wasn't there to celebrate with the family! Uncle James and Aunt Eleanor must be absolutely delighted.'
She shook her head, smiling to herself as a thought suddenly occurred to her. 'Do you know, ma'am, before we, Lady Sophia Cleeve, Hester and myself, that is, left Northamptonshire all those weeks ago, I never imagined that I would be the only one amongst us who would return home not betrothed. In fact, if I'm honest, I would be forced to admit that I considered it more than likely that I would be the only one to find herself engaged at the end of the Season.'
The hand raising the Dowager's coffee-cup to her lips checked for a moment. 'There's still plenty of time for you to become so, my dear. After all, you are not scheduled to return home until the autumn.'
'That is precisely what Daniel himself said,' Robina responded before she quite realised what she was disclosing, and noticed the sudden alert expression flicker over her interested companion's features.