by Janet Woods
‘Which is?’
‘Every detail of your family background and fortune, I expect. If you’d like to inform me of your circumstances now it will save me finding out when it’s been enhanced by somebody’s imagination.’
‘That shouldn’t take long then. Apart from myself I have a stepmother, two dogs and a brother, all of whom eat like horses.’
She ignored the impulse to giggle. ‘Are oats and hay so very expensive then?’
He grinned. ‘As for the fortune … I’m carrying it in my pocket.’ He took a coin from his waistcoat and spun it in the air before returning it to its hiding place with a huff of self-deprecating laughter that she found endearing.
Her aunt came between them. ‘Do stop your monopoly of the earl, Vivienne. He’s here to meet people, and I was about to introduce him to some of my friends and acquaintances.’
‘You still can, Mrs Goodman, but the evening is young and monopoly is too strong a word when I’m enjoying Miss Fox’s company. Besides, I promised your niece the first dance. Vivienne is, after all, the relative of a neighbour of mine, so is one of the people I came here to acquaint myself with.’
How beautifully the earl put her aunt in her place, and he’d made Vivienne feel important to him in the process. But Edwina wasn’t beaten yet.
‘I don’t suppose she’d fret if you changed your mind, would you, Vivienne?’ Without waiting for an answer her aunt turned to the earl and took him by the cuff. ‘Vivienne is one of those docile creatures. She’s such a dear.’
He smiled but there was a glint of irritation in his eyes. He gave a sharp tug and her aunt had no choice but to let go when the cuff came free. ‘Your niece is an absolute treasure, although she doesn’t strike me as being as docile as you suggest. How could she be when you need her to chaperone your own daughter, whose nature could be described as … lively. What do you think, Miss Fox?’
She thought that she could throw her arms around him and kiss him for defending her, if it were not for the fact that it would only make matters worse for her. ‘I think that you are teasing, My Lord. What is obvious to me is that you’re keeping my aunt waiting. When she has finished her introductions then you may approach me to claim your dance.’
He gave a little smile and bowed. ‘Your wish is my command.’
Her hackles rose at the thought that he might be mocking her. ‘I doubt it, since you don’t strike me as being a man who is that easily managed. Excuse me if you would, My Lord.’ She bobbed him a curtsey and turned to her cousin, who was gazing from one to the other with her mouth almost hanging open. ‘Come Adelaide, we must go and greet Mrs Carter and her daughter.’
‘I’ll look forward to our dance together,’ the earl said as he walked away.
You’ll have to find me first, she thought, but doubted he’d bother after her rudeness towards him.
But the earl did find her, even though she’d hidden herself in the most unexpected of places – seated in an alcove behind a palm tree in a pot. She’d left Adelaide with her friends. Her cousin would spend much of her time here in the public gaze, dancing, laughing at silly jokes and competing for the attention of men. She would laugh too much and for much too long … and tomorrow she would be tired and on edge.
The earl pulled the palm fronds aside and held out his hand. ‘I’ve come to claim my dance.’
‘How did you know I was here?’
‘I saw you go in.’
She gazed at him, curious. ‘After the way I spoke to you I’m surprised you still want to dance with me.’
‘I’m sure I deserved the reprimand.’
She gazed down at her hands and said in a low voice, ‘You know you didn’t and now you’re making me feel guilty.’
‘Look at me, Vivienne.’
She gazed at him – at a face that bore faint creases scored there by hours in the open air, and by laughter. His eyes were as blue and smoky as the evening sky as it darkened into night.
‘Tell me … is there any way I can please you?’ he asked.
She was quite sure he’d be able to please her in a thousand different ways if he put his mind to it. She liked him – liked him more than she’d ever liked any man. ‘I don’t know why you are paying me so much attention.’
‘I thought we’d agreed that we were to be friends.’
His hand was still outstretched and she placed her own in it. ‘Yes, we did. Thank you … Alex.’
‘See, that wasn’t so hard, was it?’
Her hand enclosed by his was warm and comfortable. ‘We have yet to discover if we can dance together.’
‘Or if I can dance at all without making a fool of myself.’
‘This is a Contredance Anglais, and there will be a caller to begin with. If we place ourselves in the middle of the row you will be able to follow the other dancers without too much trouble.’
And so it was. Vivienne enjoyed the dance. She had a popular partner in Alex and the other ladies flirted with him. As promised, his second dance was with Adelaide. She was dainty, like a butterfly, easily one of the best dancers there. She drew the eyes of the men, including Freddie Lamington, who had informed her aunt that he’d just inherited a baronetcy and intended to call on Adelaide – with her mama’s permission.
While he had not got it then – since Aunt Edwina was disinclined to offer him that liberty before she’d made the proper enquiries – Freddie and Adelaide exchanged long flirtatious looks.
Aunt Edwina was seated with two of her friends and looked on Freddie with a certain amount of speculation in her eyes.
The music changed and a waltz was announced. The scandalized gasp from the older people in the hall went almost unheard under the spontaneous burst of excited chatter and clapping from the younger members.
Freddie Lamington relieved Alex of her cousin and escorted Adelaide on to the floor. A pair of soldiers in colourful uniform joined them with ladies on their arms and the music began. The merry-makers were thin on the floor to begin with, but gradually the more daring joined in and the dance floor became a whirl of flaring skirts while the perfumed air rang with their laughter.
After a short while Alex raised an eyebrow. ‘This dance doesn’t look too difficult. One-two-three, one-two-three, tread on your partner’s toes, two-three. Shall we try it?’
A niggle told her she might appear to be fast, and then contradicted itself by suggesting she was being too prissy for words. So what would happen if her actions were out of character? There would be plenty of time to do what was generally expected of her – to sit and look disapproving – when she was twenty years older and set into spinsterhood like a fly in amber. She might never be asked to dance again, especially so scandalous a dance as a waltz. So she stepped into Alex’s arms and was soon whirling gracefully around the floor with him. For a big man he was light on his feet and Vivienne felt secure in his arms.
As they circled and dipped, Adelaide and Freddie danced past. They slowed and the two men danced their partners around each other in a neat manoeuvre. Adelaide said, ‘I’ve been avoiding you, Vivienne, I didn’t expect to see you waltzing away the night on the dance floor.’
‘Why not?’
Adelaide shrugged. ‘You don’t usually. I’m having so much fun, aren’t you? Be careful Mama doesn’t see us, cousin. Lord, we’ll get such a roasting if she does.’
Idly fanning her face, Aunt Edwina wasn’t watching the dancing, but was engaged in an earnest conversation with Viscount Statham.
Vivienne swooped in a breath when Alex took her by the waist and spun her in the air, then laughed as he set her lightly on her feet again.
And as Freddie twirled Adelaide away she left a breathless burst of laughter in her wake.
It would be awful if Adelaide were pushed into marrying Viscount Statham. She was so young and shouldn’t be hidden away to languish in a cold castle and be used for breeding purposes. Someone like Freddie Lamington would be a much better prospect, especially now he’d become a baron. He’d lo
ng been an admirer of Adelaide, and Vivienne hoped his persistence in the matter would pay off. Now he had a title and estate he would need to marry and get himself an heir.’
The music ended with a flourish amid a buzz of laughter and a spattering of applause from the onlookers.
Uneasiness touched her as they walked from the floor. What if the conversation with Viscount Statham wasn’t about Adelaide? What if her aunt was trying to arrange a match for herself with the Scottish peer?
Vivienne shook the thought off. She wasn’t in a position where she’d have to accept him.
‘You look flushed, Vivienne. I’ll fetch us some refreshment to drink and we can cool off in the garden for a while.’
She looked around and located Adelaide by her laugh. Her cousin was in the middle of a group of young hopefuls who were pairing off and forming long lines for the next dance.
‘She won’t come to any harm for the next fifteen minutes,’ Alex said quietly.
The garden was decorated with flickering candles in coloured glass lanterns. A table on the terrace served punch, lemonade and ginger ale. He brought her lemonade and ginger ale for himself. They wandered round the garden, and finding a vacant bench in an alcove, took possession of it.
‘We must be careful people don’t get the wrong idea about us,’ she said, putting some space between them.
‘Yes … I suppose my attention towards you could be misconstrued, and that might be of concern to you. Someone might think I’m your lover rather than your brotherly advisor.’
Shock tore through her at the thought he’d voiced, but it wasn’t entirely unpleasant, rather it was a shivery feeling that sent tiny, glittering ice shards skittering up her spine. ‘Tell me, what do you know about the pretty Miss Stephens?’
‘She’s only sixteen and has just come out. Her father is a lawyer. Surely you are not considering her … she is much too young for you, Alex.’
He laughed. ‘Believe it or not her youth and shyness is half her charm. She will soon be snapped up, I imagine.’
‘I misunderstood … I thought …’
‘You jumped to a conclusion. I’m not taken in that easily. The young lady is well trained, wealthy and will go to the highest bidder, as is expected of her. I’m not one of them.’
‘I didn’t jump … you led me there by asking my opinion, and now you’re being unkind as well as a little mercenary. You make it sound like a horse sale.’
Quietly, he said, ‘Isn’t that what the marriage market is all about, value for money as regards to breeding, property and fortune, but there’s very little value in the way it’s acquired. People are judged by what they have to barter with. The first attraction would be appearance, and that’s deceptive.’
‘How?’
He shrugged. ‘Here we both are, wearing our finery but with our pockets empty. What would we do if we were attracted to one another, but circumstance forced us to wed another?’
‘Ah yes … but people learn to love after marriage, surely.’
‘Do they?’ He gazed at her, the candlelight flickering on the surface of his eyes. ‘Is it emotional love you’re referring to or physical love?’
She was thankful he couldn’t see her blush. ‘It’s not a subject I’m familiar with since I’ve never been in love. Besides, I’m uncomfortable at the thought of discussing the subject with you.’
‘My pardon, Vivienne.’ He took her hand in his and changed the subject. ‘Tell me about your mother. Can you remember her?’
She shook her head. ‘Sometimes I can picture her … or think I can. I was too young to remember her properly, a child of about four years, and I get her mixed up with Pa’s second wife. Five years later she passed away too. My sister Caroline had just celebrated her first birthday when my stepmother died giving birth to Bethany. We never lacked for mothering though because Grandmother Fox moved in to care for us.’
‘And your father never married again?’
‘No … though I think he’s reached a stage where he’d like to. When my grandmother died I was old enough to take responsibility for the house and the welfare of my sisters. Papa was always there for me when I needed him, but he found the presence of three young girls in the house a little overwhelming at times … especially when we needed to be disciplined. We grew up with a comfortable roof over our heads, but we’ve always had to economize. It became a little easier when Bethany and Caroline wed.’
He gave the little huff of laughter that seemed to be peculiarly his. ‘Hopefully they made a good match.’
‘Yes … they’re very happy. They married cousins who are partners in a law office and moved north.’
They both fell quiet and she smiled at him. ‘My apologies, I’ve been talking far too much.’
‘I prefer hearing you talk than listening to the empty-headed prattle going on inside. You have a voice that’s pleasant to listen to.’
‘Thank you.’ She finished her lemonade. ‘We’d better go back in. I’m supposed to be looking out for my cousin.’
‘I’ve enjoyed tonight. Thank you for your company, Vivienne, and forgive me.’
‘For what?’
‘For this.’ He took her face between his hands and kissed her gently on the mouth. The moon and stars seemed to be stirred by an invisible spoon, for they circled all around her.
When he was through kissing her she gazed at him. ‘As this is the first time you’ve attended a season in London I should inform you that a kiss generally represents an intention or a promise. This time I’ll overlook it, but you should bear it in mind if you intend to kiss any more women else you’ll end up with more wives than you bargained for. Beware, Lord LéSayres.’
‘The thing is, Vivienne … did you enjoy being kissed?’
‘Enormously. It was unexpected.’
‘The best kisses usually are.’
‘Are you an expert on kissing then?’
‘Could be.’ He took her shawl and draped it around her shoulders. ‘Let’s go in. It must be nearing supper time.’
After supper came more dancing, and this time Vivienne didn’t lack for partners. She danced the night away until the crowd began to thin out.
Dawn was breaking when they left for home. The air felt raw and sooty. Her aunt was weary and complaining. Adelaide had a fit of the sulks when Freddie’s set went in a different direction and she was forbidden to go with them. Alex joined her at the back of their little procession and Vivienne smiled when he drew her hand into his, while Matthew led the Goodman ladies. It was as if Aunt Edwina had made the grand gesture of arriving with an earl, and as there was nobody to see them depart, so the need to repeat the gesture was superfluous.
‘May I call on you the day after tomorrow, ladies?’ Alex said. ‘With your permission I thought we might go and listen to the band in Hyde Park.’
‘Viscount Statham is calling on Vivienne at eleven.’
Dismayed, Vivienne said, ‘I wished you’d asked me first, Aunt.’
‘Beggars can’t be choosers, my girl, and you have no other serious prospects. Besides, I couldn’t find you to ask your permission. You were whirling around in that dreadful dance with your skirts flying like a hussy. That’s what comes of growing up without a mother. Thank goodness my Adelaide has better sense than to flaunt convention.’ When Vivienne opened her mouth to speak, her aunt hissed, ‘It’s no good denying it, I saw you. Then you were gone.’
She hadn’t gone, she’d been kissing Alex in the alcove … rather, he’d been kissing her. She flicked him a glance and he grinned and said, ‘Miss Fox was in safe hands with me. We joined a party of people admiring the gardens. It was very pretty with all the candles flickering in the trees, and quite informative.’
Vivienne turned to him. ‘Your company and your attention was appreciated, My Lord. Do feel free to call at eleven-thirty. Perhaps Viscount Statham would enjoy the music too and will come to listen to the band with us. I’ll ask the staff to pack us a picnic basket.’
They
said goodnight and left him on the doorstep.
As soon as Vivienne reached her room she looked out of the window and blew the back of his head a kiss as he turned the corner. Taking out her book she wrote a note. The earl kissed me on the mouth. It was a proper kiss, like a man would kiss his lover. I will never forget how wonderful he made me feel … I think I’m in love.
She gazed at what she’d written for a few seconds then scored through think and ended with a flourish – I know I’m in love!
Eight
Alex strode through the night contemplating the situation he was in. So far, he hadn’t met a woman who was entirely suitable for his purpose. Those with money didn’t attract him … the one exception was a young woman he liked, who had a sense of humour as well as good sense. The sad thing was, she was as poor as he.
He wondered if John Howard would provide her with a dowry, because it was obvious the broker had planned for them to meet. What would he stand to gain from the union though – control perhaps? He thought further. Howard was a forward planner. Vivienne’s children would be blood kin to Howard as well as the LéSayres family if they married. Their firstborn son would inherit the title of earl on his own death. Howard had no children to pass his considerable fortune on to, so it would be likely to merge with the LéSayres estate.
That bore some thinking about but it was all supposition. The man supported many charities and would leave them well provided for. It was doubtful that Howard would live long enough to see Alex’s son become the earl, but he was the type of man who planned well in advance, leaving very little to chance. Alex appreciated the fact that Howard hadn’t placed any pressure on him. The man had been generous with accommodation, and Alex was beginning to suspect the suit of clothes Mrs Crawford had offered him had come from Howard’s pocket. The quality was too fine to belong to a man of business, unless he was a very wealthy one.
The faded crescent of white moon was leaning against a chimney top, the night hawkers had gone with their carts, and a few street women were still advertising their charms to rapidly disappearing customers. Two cats were swearing like fiends at each other.