Rogue Grooms

by Amanda McCabe

  A fire danced in a marble grate, while Lady Kate napped before its warmth. Daisy was already unpacking and hanging gowns in the large wardrobe.

  “Oh,” Georgina sighed. “It is grand, Lady Emily.”

  “Please! Do call me just Emily.” Emily sat down beside Lady Kate, and rubbed the ecstatic dog’s tummy. “I hope,” she went on shyly, “that we shall be friends.”

  “I know we shall.” Georgina tossed her muff, gloves, and hat onto the high bed, and sat next to Emily and Lady Kate. “And you must call me Georgina. Or Georgie, as all my friends do.”

  “Georgie,” Emily repeated. “What a nice name! I cannot tell you how very, very happy I am that you have come here, Georgie. We have not had visitors in such a long time, not since I was a child really.”

  “Truly? Did your parents or late brother never have company here?”

  Emily snorted inelegantly. “Damian never came to the country, if he could possibly help it. My parents used to have parties here all the time, until Mother’s accident. Things became very quiet then.”

  “Her accident?”

  “Did you not know? She cannot walk. When I was eight years old, there was a riding accident, and she has been confined to her chair ever since. After Damian’s death, I became convinced our family is cursed when it comes to horses.”

  Georgina was shocked. “I confess I had no idea! She seems so healthy.”

  “Oh, she is! And her mind is sharper than ever. She simply cannot walk. She would be happy to know that you could not tell it; she so hates pity.”

  “I certainly do not pity her. Rather, I admire her.”

  “Excellent! For we certainly admire you, you know.”

  Georgina laughed, causing Lady Kate to sit up and bark at her. “That is most flattering, but how can you admire me when we have only just met?”

  “We have read all about you, as I said. The routs you attend, your paintings, your clothes...” Emily stood and went to examine the gowns Daisy had laid out on the bed. She carefully touched the skirt of a cream-and-gold striped satin gown. “Your clothes are truly wondrous. Even Lady Anders, our neighbor, has nothing so fine!”

  Georgina rose, and came to hold up the gown, measuring it against Emily’s blonde curls and fair complexion. “You will have far finer, I am sure, when you make your bow.”

  Emily shook her head, turning away to examine a violet silk. “Even if I did go to London, I would have nothing so grand. Mother says white is what a young lady wears.” She pulled a face. “I loathe white! I should much prefer a gown like this one.”

  “I quite agree about white; it can be rather insipid, except on a very few fortunate women. I always looked ridiculous in it! But that gown is too old for you. The blue color you are wearing looks very well on you, and would be quite suitable for your age.”

  Emily shrugged again, obviously uncomfortable with talk of her own attire and forthcoming debut.

  Georgina thought it best to change the subject. “Tell me, why is this room called the Queen’s Room?”

  Emily brightened a bit. “Because Queen Elizabeth slept here, hundreds of years ago! It was right after she gifted the first duke with his title. She stayed here for four days, and slept in this very bed.”

  “Truly?” Georgina cried. She kicked off her shoes and clambered onto the bed, climbing over her gowns to lie down full length against the bolsters. “Queen Elizabeth lay right here, where I am now?”

  Emily laughed. “Yes! Well, perhaps not exactly there, but very near.”

  “How very exciting! I have never slept in a queen’s bed before.”

  Emily sat next to her, and Lady Kate leaped up to join in the excitement. “It is said that she haunts Fair Oak. That every year, on the anniversary of her stay here, she walks the corridors again.”

  “Have you ever seen her?”

  Emily shook her head. “Never. Though when I was a child, I used to sneak in here every year on the day, to hide under the bed and wait for her. Alas, she never appeared. My brother Damian tried to scare me with tales that he had seen her, as well as her headless mother Queen Anne, but I never believed him. He was usually in his cups, you see, and therefore all his visions were suspect.”

  “And Alex? Did he ever see her?”

  Emily laughed. “Dear, military, proud, rational Alex? He, of course, says it is all a Banbury tale.”

  “Hm. Well, I think it is all quite bone-chilling, like something in a novel. My own house in Italy dates back to medieval times, but I have never heard a report of a ghost there.”

  Emily looked down at her lap, suddenly shy. “Will you—will you tell me about Italy sometime, Georgie?”

  “I will gladly tell you more than you ever wanted to know!” Georgina answered. “I am always eager to talk about my home. But should we not be dressing for supper?”

  Emily glanced over at the small clock on the mantle. “I had not realized it had grown so very late! Yes, I must be going. But...” Impulsively, the girl kissed Georgina’s cheek. “Oh, Georgie, I am happy you have come here with my brother.”

  “So am I, Emily,” Georgina answered quietly. “Very happy indeed.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  “What do you think of Fair Oak now, Georgina?” Alex asked as he and Georgina strolled about the overgrown garden after supper.

  Georgina turned to look back at the house, serene in the pale moonlight. The doors to the terrace were open, spilling out firelight, and Dorothy and Emily were seated there with their embroidery. It all looked so comfortable and cozy, and in the darkness there was no sign of overgrown ivy or peeling paint.

  “I think it is lovely,” she answered truthfully. “I do believe it is the first English country house I have ever visited that feels like a true home. Not just a showcase for country weekends, or a place to come shooting.”

  “It is a home,” Alex agreed. “My parents came here soon after they were wed, and seldom lived anyplace else. They only went to their London house for a few weeks every Season, then hurried back. My mother adored the country, where she could be near her horses and her dogs. And her children, of course, though we were a distant third!”

  Georgina laughed. “Oh, yes!” They had come to a small summerhouse, and she went inside to sit down on one of the benches. Some of the roof slats were missing, and moonlight fell in silvery bars across the leaf-strewn floor. “Emily told me there were often parties here when she was a child.”

  Alex sat down beside her, stretching out his long legs before him. “Yes. Just because my parents preferred the country, that does not mean they were in any way unsociable. They belonged to the local hunt—my mother was the only female member for quite a long time. They would give the hunt breakfasts, and the hunt ball. And there was a grand ball every Christmas, which Damian and I, and later Emily, were expected to attend for an hour.”

  “Only an hour?”

  “Quite long enough to gorge ourselves on sweetmeats and make ourselves very ill! Damian especially was rather greedy.”

  Georgina laughed merrily. “Oh, Alex! It sounds like you had quite a delightful childhood.”

  “It was delightful. I fear I did not fully appreciate it until much later. During the most difficult times in Spain, it was memories of my family, of life at Fair Oak, that kept me sane.”

  “Then, I am very glad you have brought me here, and have chosen to share it with me.”

  Alex smiled down at her, and reached for her hand. “There is no one I would rather share it with than you. You seem such a part of it all, after only one evening.”

  Georgina curled her fingers around his, wishing that she had not worn gloves, that she could feel his skin against hers. “I wish that were so. I do so admire your home, Alex, and your mother and sister, as well. They are not at all what I expected!”

  “What did you expect?”

  “Oh, very grand ladies. A dowager duchess and duke’s sister, who were high in the instep, and who insisted on all the proprieties. Exactly how the few
other duchesses I have met behaved. I was rather anxious.”

  “You, Georgina? Anxious about a mere duchess? Now that I cannot believe.”

  “It is absolutely true, I assure you! I wanted so much for them to like me, but I feared they could not, as our lives are so dissimilar.”

  “Well, I could certainly have reassured you on that point. Mother is very like you; she was always very independent, and quite indifferent to the high sticklers. And Emily looks as if she will turn out exactly the same.”

  “Yes. They are so very nice, all that is welcoming! I am very relieved.”

  “Excellent!” Alex lifted her hand to his lips, his breath warm and sweet through the thin kid of her glove. “Perhaps we should rejoin them?”

  Georgina smiled. “Before your mother recalls her duties as chaperone, and sends Emily out here to fetch us?”

  “I doubt Mother would care if we stayed out here for hours!” Alex laughed.

  “Truly?” Georgina leaned just a bit closer to him, her hand still in his. “Then, perhaps we should.”

  “Georgina.” He stared down at her, his eyes shining and silvery. Then his arms came about her, warm and safe and sheltering. “Blast it all, Georgie, but I cannot be a gentleman one second longer!”

  His lips came down to meet hers. Georgina’s eyes widened in surprise, then fluttered closed at the delicious warmth that flooded through her like fine brandy. She looped her arms around his neck, burying her fingers in his soft curls as his mouth slanted on hers.

  Oh, it had been so long! So very, very long since she had felt this way. So full of love and longing and hope. Not since Jack. Maybe not even then.

  And never had she felt so cherished, so safe, as she did now, with Alex Kenton’s arms about her.

  “Oh, my dears, there you are!” Dorothy called as Alex and Georgina appeared again in the drawing room. “I feared I would have to send a search party after you.”

  Georgina laughed nervously. She and Alex had carefully straightened their attire and smoothed their hair, but Georgina feared she might still appear scandalously disheveled. Or perhaps her guilt and delight shone in her eyes?

  She peeked up at Alex, and he winked at her.

  Georgina laughed. She squeezed his arm gently one more time, then went to take a seat before the fire, where Dorothy was still bent over her sewing. “Oh, no, Lady Wayland! Your son was just showing me your lovely garden.”

  “Lovely? Pah!” answered Dorothy. “It is quite an overgrown tangle. But once it was very nice.” She looked over at Georgina slyly. “My husband and I were especially fond of the old summerhouse.”

  Georgina could feel herself becoming uncomfortably warm—and it had naught to do with the fire. “Oh! Yes. It is very—pretty.”

  “I knew you would think so.” Dorothy set aside her sewing. “Emily and I were just saying we should have a party for you while you are here.”

  “Oh, yes!” agreed Emily. “It would be such fun.”

  “A party?” Alex asked doubtfully as he sat down next to his sister. “I am not certain that would be a good idea.”

  “Oh, nothing at all grand,” Dorothy said quickly. “No great ball or anything of that sort. A great many of our neighbors are in Town, of course, but there are many left who would enjoy some cards, perhaps a little music, an informal supper. I am sure they would delight in meeting the famous Mrs. Beaumont!”

  “Oh, yes, Alex, please!” Emily laid her hand on her brother’s arm beseechingly. “We have not had anyone here to dine in such a very long time, excepting the vicar and his wife. And we would not want to bore Georgina to death while she is here. She might never come back!”

  Alex’s doubtful frown turned to a smile then. “Heaven forfend anyone should be bored at Fair Oak!”

  “You could scarce bore me at all, Emily,” protested Georgina. “And I vow it would take a very great deal of tedium to bore me to death.”

  “You should meet the neighbors, Georgina,” said Emily. “Should she not, Alex?”

  “Oh, very well,” he agreed, much to Emily’s bouncing delight. “But no balls!”

  “No!” said Dorothy. “Just supper and cards, as I said. We must invite Reverend and Mrs. Upton, of course. And Lord and Lady Anders are still at Thistle Hill, with their daughters. And dear Mr. Arnum ...”

  “Oh, Georgina, I cannot thank you enough!”

  Georgina looked over at Emily, who had lit Georgina’s way to her bedroom door. “Thank me? Whatever for?”

  “For giving us an excuse for a party, of course. It will not be what you are used to, I fear, but it will be people in the house for you to talk to.”

  “Nonsense! I am sure it will be vastly agreeable. You must only let me know if I can be of any help in the arrangements.”

  “Oh, no! You are here to enjoy yourself. Mother and I will see to everything. But perhaps...” Emily hesitated.

  “Yes?”

  “Perhaps—you would loan me a gown? Everyone here has seen my old evening frocks, and Mrs. Jones in the village could never create anything as lovely as your gowns.”

  Georgina laughed. “Oh, Emily! I would be more than happy to loan you any gown you choose.”

  “Truly?”

  “Truly.”

  Emily threw her arms about Georgina impulsively, and kissed her cheek. “I am glad you have come to Fair Oak, Georgina! Good night.”

  “Good night, Emily.”

  As Georgina sat down at her dressing table to remove her earrings and hairpins, she couldn’t help but smile at her own reflection in the mirror.

  “Yes,” she told herself. “I am quite glad I have come to Fair Oak, too.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Georgina leaned over her sketchbook, tears of helpless laughter streaming from her eyes as she watched Emily cavorting around the morning room with Lady Kate. The two of them raced from one end of the room to the other, Emily holding Lady Kate’s chew ball high above her head while the terrier barked wildly. Finally, Lady Kate gained the advantage, leaping up on Emily’s skirts and knocking her back onto a chair.

  Lady Kate seized the ball, and pranced about victoriously.

  “Oh, you naughty dog!” Emily gasped. “Give me back that ball this instant.”

  Lady Kate replied by laying down, dropping the ball between her forepaws and grinning up at Emily.

  Dorothy was giggling into her handkerchief. “Emily Kenton! Here Georgina will think I have raised a hoyden.”

  “Certainly not,” said Georgina. “Lady Kate is impossible to refuse when she wishes to play.”

  “Indeed she is,” answered Emily. “But I am quite done in now, Lady Kate. You must find another playmate. Perhaps you should have gone off to the farm with Alex.”

  “She would have enjoyed that,” Georgina said. “However, she would have made herself impossibly dirty, and been completely unfit for polite society.”

  “Never! Lady Kate, you will never be unfit for my society,” Emily protested.

  Lady Kate barked joyously, and jumped up into Emily’s lap.

  “Good girl, Lady Kate!” Georgina praised. “Now, if you will just stay there as you are, I can finish my sketch.”

  “Oh, yes! Of course.” Emily straightened her skirt, and tugged Lady Kate into the proper pose. “Is this right, Georgina?”

  “Perfect.” Georgina took up her charcoal again.

  “You know, I really ought to have gone to the fields with Alex, to tell him what everything is. I have been watching over them these three years,” Emily mused. “But this is ever so much more fun!”

  “I should hope so!” Dorothy cried. “I never liked you mucking about the farm, even if there was no one else for it. And you should be helping with the guest list for our supper.” She waved about the sheaf of lists she had been bent over on her lap desk.

  “Oh, Mother, you are doing an excellent job all on your own,” said Emily. “I do think, though...”

  “Sh!” said Georgina. “I am trying to capture just th
e right curve of your cheek, Emily. No talking at present, if you please.”

  “Of course,” replied Emily, then snapped her jaw shut.

  Lady Kate barked.

  “You must be quiet, too, Lady Kate,” admonished Georgina.

  Lady Kate lowered her muzzle to her paws with a sigh.

  Georgina resumed her work, humming a happy little tune as she traced the pretty lines of Emily’s face. She had been quite absurdly happy ever since she had woken that morning, and had floated through her toilette and breakfast. She had soared when Alex kissed her hand before he rode out, and she still felt rather light and silly as the morning moved toward luncheon.

  And all because a man had kissed her in the moonlight!

  But not just any man—Alex. Alex had kissed her!

  She had not felt so very giddy over a mere kiss since Jack Reid had slipped her behind the chicken house at Miss Thompson’s School, and placed his lips on hers so quickly and furtively.

  She had been almost eighteen then. She was thirty now, almost thirty-one. Surely it was quite absurd for a woman of her years to be so giddy over a mere kiss!

  Yet it had not been just any kiss. It had been wonderfully thrilling, and sweet, and dear. Surely she deserved this happiness, this moment of soaring delight? Surely she had earned it with all her years of loneliness.

  Yes. Of course she had!

  “Of course,” she murmured aloud.

  “Did you say something, Georgina?” Dorothy asked.

  Georgina looked up from her sketch, startled. “What? Oh, no. I just have the tendency to talk to myself when I am working. It is of no matter.”

  “Ah. Well, I think I have finished our guest list at last!” Dorothy straightened her papers with an air of great satisfaction. “I do so want everything to be perfect. This will be our first supper here in a long time.”

  “Of course it will be perfect, Mother,” said Emily, shifting a bit in her chair. “How can it help but be?”

  Later that afternoon, when Dorothy and Lady Kate had gone off to take an après-luncheon nap, Georgina and Emily sat out on the sunlit terrace to play a game of Beggar My Neighbor.