The Marquis' Mistake

by Giselle Marks

  Lady Sophia feared her ward was too aware of the magnificent Marquis of Farndon, who seemed unaware of Alicia’s existence. Sophia was afraid if her hopes lay in that direction, she would be doomed to misery. The Duke’s heir was turning the heads of every girl in town. Lady Sophia knew several young ladies who had thrown themselves at him, in the fastest of ways. Following Sebastian’s progress in seeking a bride; Lady Sophia had deliberately avoided introducing him to Alicia. Hoping Sebastian would make his choice soon, because she did not want to see him raise Alicia’s hopes, only to break her heart.

  Meanwhile Sebastian showed no interest in any of the eligible girls and spent the afternoons discreetly taking lessons in fencing from Lady Madelaine. The Duke and Earl both attended their first session where she tried out his skills with buttoned foils. Sebastian had been staggered by her speed and agility and had failed repeatedly to parry the quickness of her wrist. He was embarrassed to make such a poor showing. He had found the sight of her dressed in breeches very distracting, but soon found he had every respect for her as a swordswoman.

  Next she asked Edward to have a bout with the Marquis, so she could observe from a distance. Sebastian had more luck against the more muscular Earl scoring a couple of hits, but Edward had a few tricks, the faster Sebastian could not defend against. Sebastian was well aware Edward came out of the match a clear winner. Madelaine had some praise for Sebastian and stronger criticism for Edward, who she said had left openings all over the place and had tried to use his strength to power through rather than his skill and cunning. Sebastian was surprised at her next request. She told him to take off his shirt while she put on padded sleeves. He asked if they were going to fight with unbuttoned foils, somewhat warily as she had scored a number of hits upon his arms and body.

  “Not yet, I would waste too much time sewing you back together at present. When you can score a hit on me then we will fight unbuttoned. For now we will fight with wooden swords which will leave bruises, but will not require stitching.”

  What followed was both exhausting and painful for Sebastian as Madelaine drove him around the room with her wooden sword, not satisfied to merely poke him with the point but she swiped hard with the side of the blade wherever he left openings leaving already blackening livid bruises on his arms and chest. After half an hour, Sebastian was realising it did concentrate the mind considerably and was defending against her thrusts, with studied determination. He was dripping with sweat and his pulse was racing but she appeared as fresh as she had at the beginning of the session.

  She withdrew and threw him a towel as his breathing became ragged.

  “I admit I expected you to have more stamina, from the tales I heard of your much vaunted amatory prowess,” Madelaine teased the Marquis as he mopped his brow.

  The Duke chuckled and Edward looked shocked but remained silent.

  “I would be intrigued as to where you had heard that information. I don’t make a habit of bedding society ladies. Although a number of them have boasted of a success they didn’t achieve.”

  “I used to work at Claudette’s. We dressed a couple of your mistresses. I believe the competition to obtain that honour was as great, as the clamour currently to get you to make an offer. They were very complimentary about your skills in bed, but Claudette said unusually the bills were sent direct to them and they seemed determined to keep their spending down. She also found it unusual they insisted their wardrobes were sufficiently modest. The faster modes favoured by the demi-mondane were dismissed with ‘Sebastian wouldn’t like me to wear that!’”

  Sebastian laughed at what she said. “That sounds accurate. I wasn’t exactly a generous provider. The young ladies I kept were warned I wouldn’t offer a carte blanche. They kept to my rules, at least until they found a more lucrative admirer.”

  “Although this is not a conversation we should be having in mixed company, Lady Madelaine seems to know more of your activities than I do. I always wondered how you could afford the beauties you had in your keeping. I would be very interested to know exactly what your ‘rules’ were?” declared the Duke.

  “My rules were never to embarrass me. I asked them to dress like a lady and behave in public as one at all times. I demanded absolute fidelity, but was faithful for the duration of their tenure. I would accept no scenes or endearments. I provided a house, servants and carriages; the bills for which I paid while they were under my protection. I arranged a generous regular allowance for their wardrobes which they were told to stick to. When they left anything unspent they could keep it. I always gave them a month’s notice to find a new protector if I tired. I could have afforded to be more generous, but the ladies understood what I offered before they took the position. I never had to pay. I turned down plenty of offers from society ladies. The girls did the chasing, they saw becoming my mistress as a way to progress their careers. Lady Madelaine is correct, there was avid competition. When they received a better offer I did my best to counsel them. Warned them off the bad eggs and advised them how to invest their money. Relayed a few offers from friends who wished to take them on.”

  He paused and rubbed himself down.

  “As for my finances, I am good at making money. I invested carefully and my small inheritance is now a rather large fortune. I started when I was at Eton with a few small enterprises. By the time I’d left Cambridge I was fairly plump in the pocket. I used the allowance you paid me, Father, mostly to pay Peter’s gambling debts after you refused to do so. I did try to tell you I had no need of it.”

  “I had some inkling you had made money. My banker suggested I took your advice over my investments, but was discreetly tight-lipped when I asked why. May I enquire how much?”

  “More than double my future inheritance. I support a few charities, but I can always make more. In addition I own a small estate, about a thousand acres in Shropshire with a rather charming house. It is leased to the end of the year, but I will have it redecorated when I find a bride. I’m sorry Father, but I didn’t expect to inherit the Dukedom and made my own plans accordingly.”

  The Duke had looked rather aghast at his son’s pronouncement, as it had made him realise he had never really known him at all. The news of Sebastian’s academic brilliance had been a shock and the Duke had been berating himself since he had heard it; for how little notice he had taken of his son but this bombshell hit him hard. He sat down to mull over this information. Hot water had been brought for Sebastian and he washed and redressed while his father tried to comprehend what he had just grasped.

  “I see some improvement, Farndon, I think you will learn fairly quickly,” Madelaine declared generously.

  “Being thwacked every time I allow you an opening, concentrates the mind enormously. I begin to feel sorry for your husband.”

  “I don’t beat Edward. Although I might start if he doesn’t take more exercise. He enjoys Henri’s cooking too much. I don’t like fat men, so perhaps I should chase him with my riding crop until he shapes up.”

  Sebastian who had seen the Earl stripped at Gentleman Jackson’s saloon, had seen little for Madelaine to complain of. Her husband had a fine physique heavily covered with rippling muscle.

  “I haven’t put on weight, besides you are too thin! You lost weight far too quickly after your confinement. You should eat more,” Edward declared thinking attack the best form of defence.

  “I’ve always been thin. It’s a family trait, besides I still can’t get back into my dresses. I eat double what the other society girls do.”

  “And you exercise three times more than the most energetic man.”

  “You said you would let me exercise if I wished. If you want a fat woman then there are plenty you could take as a mistress…”

  “You’d kill me if I dared take a mistress. If you didn’t then Louis or Henri would.”

  “I advise you not to forget it, my lord. You are mine and I won’t share.” Madelaine said embracing her husband and kissing his cheek.

  “Do yo
u mind if I work out before I change for dinner, Edward? I will have to bath anyway.”

  “If I were to say no, you’d do as you wished anyway. So please continue. Gentlemen can I offer you a glass of sherry or brandy in my library?”

  “Not for me. I need to keep my head to fend off tonight’s batch of would be Marchionesses. I would be interested to watch my Lady’s exercises. I want to know how she has so much energy and speed.”

  “Some ballet movements and a little tumbling is all, Sebastian. It would bore you to watch.”

  “I doubt you could ever bore any red-blooded man, you are so graceful you are always a pleasure to watch, Lady Madelaine, I would like to observe too if I may?” said the Duke with charming finesse.

  Madelaine acquiesced to their presence but blushed at the Duke’s compliment. She changed only her shoes to pointed ballet shoes, although normally she wore more tight fitting garments to practice in. She went through a series of ballet exercises beside a barre that had been attached to one side of the room. She pretended her unwanted observers were absent as she exercised her arms and legs, most of the time on points, before sliding into splits. Then moving to the furthest corner of the room she took a run up and threw herself into a series of somersaults and cart-wheels, barely touching the floor. She repeated the tumbling, twisting backwards to the middle of the room before launching a huge leap into the air, landing on the point of one toe. Then she spun in a series of perfect pirouettes without moving from the spot.

  Her audience applauded and she curtseyed deeply. She was now a little shiny and her breathing was slightly quicker.

  “I thought I was fit but I could never do that. I see I will have to exercise seriously if I am to get into good enough condition to beat you, my lady,” the Marquis exclaimed.

  “You can always start by giving Edward a good pasting at Jackson’s if you think you can?”

  “I fought middle weight for the Cambridge boxing team and won all my bouts. Unlike my late brother, my nose has yet to be broken. I learnt when to duck and when to swerve.”

  “If you flirt like that with my wife, I might just be tempted to break it for you,” growled the Earl in mock jealousy.

  “Well you can try. If you can hit me?” the Marquis teased in reply.

  Chapter Nine

  Having not seen Lady Madelaine for a few days except at formal occasions, Alicia resolved to see if she would take a walk about town and visit a few shops with her. She was driven by Greenways in Sir Anthony’s barouche, but sent the carriage back on reaching Grosvenor Square. Sally did not accompany her as she was suffering from a bad cold. Lord Edward would send her home in a carriage with one of their maids if necessary. On arrival she sent a message up to Lady Madelaine, but was informed she was bathing. Madelaine would love to take a walk with Alicia, however she apologized it would be about an hour before she was ready. Alicia said that was fine she would wait in the library.

  She settled in her usual position tucked up behind the curtain on the window bench with a book of obscure mathematical theorems she found on one of the shelves. Taking out the notebook she always carried with her and her small sketch book to lean on, she tried to work out some equations. Lewis, one of the Chalcombes’ footmen had opened the door to her knock. Pemberton, their butler had been engaged in discussions with Henri, their chef supreme and Mrs Forbsham, their housekeeper over a dinner party Lady Madelaine was intending to hold a few days later. Alicia had already received her invitation and was looking forward to doing justice again to the delightful fruits of Henri’s genius.

  Alicia was deep in her mathematical problems when Pemberton admitted two more guests to the Library. Lewis, who had been sent out on an errand had failed to inform him of Alicia’s presence. So after explaining the Earl was imminently expected, Pemberton offered the gentlemen refreshments which they declined and ushered them into the Library without announcing them. Alicia recognised Sebastian Vernon’s and the Duke’s voices at once. Not wanting to meet the Marquis, she remained hidden behind the curtain, hoping they would soon be borne off by Edward. Father and son sat at a small table and helped themselves to a glass of Edward’s finest sherry. There was a chess set on the table and the Duke proposed a game while they waited.

  They played quietly for a while and Alicia resumed her calculations. Then the Duke asked how his son’s search for a bride was progressing.

  “I’ve been introduced to all the toasts and they don’t have a brain between them. Grandmother, Lady Henderson gave me a list of the pretty girls she thought suitable. I’ve been working my way through it, but so far they are as brainless as the diamonds. I’ve been introduced to nearly all of them and quite a number of other girls, most are pretty enough, some have been very well dowered. Few of them have any conversation and those that do are spiteful or fawning. I asked grandmother to write a new list and to put all the blue-stockings, antidotes and girls who have been on the shelf for more than three seasons on it.”

  “Grandmother was appalled. I told her I didn’t care if the girl was plain or downright ugly, if she was healthy and had some degree of intelligence. She told me I would have ugly children. I told her I doubted with my looks, my children would be ugly but I was determined they wouldn’t be stupid. So she hit me with her fan and told me I was far too vain.”

  “It can’t be as bad as that. Have none of them interested you at all?”

  “Oh, Miss Maria Watterson interested me. She made some very interesting suggestions as to why I should choose her. I don’t think I’ve had a more blatant invitation from a professional light-skirt. Don’t look so worried father, I like my women clean. From what I hear half of Brooks have already sampled her delights. If I am to marry to continue your line I would prefer to know any child she bears is actually mine. I made my excuses and bolted.”

  Alicia was fascinated by their conversation, but was beginning to regret not having announced herself to the men. She should not be listening to any of this.

  “You did right Sebastian. I wouldn’t want a girl like that as my daughter-in-law but it gets me no nearer to dandling a grandson on my knee. You really must try to like one of the girls that are out.”

  “I have tried, but if you want to dandle your grandsons on your knee then you have already have two and a very charming granddaughter.” Sebastian stated provocatively.

  “Your by-blows cannot inherit. You must know that.”

  “Not mine, I have none. I was always careful. Peter’s, his daughter is eleven and at school in Bath. I found her mother, one of your tenants’ daughters, a husband when she wrote to tell Peter she was with child while he was in Portugal. I pay to have Emily educated as a lady. I’ll give her a generous dowry when she reaches eighteen. Your grandsons are in Oporto. I told Peter he should marry Josefina, but he said you would kick up rough. Juan is nearly seven and Jorge is five, they are fine boys who look just like Peter. I moved them from Lisbon to Oporto and bought a house for them and have settled a decent income on Josefina, who pretends to be a soldier’s widow.”

  “Why couldn’t Peter have told me? I would have made sure they were properly provided for.”

  “Frightened of offending you I expect, but he always got me to deal with his scrapes. He knew I’d solve any problems he couldn’t cope with. While we are washing the family dirty linen, father. I had a note from the ‘Incomparable Miranda’ the other day. Asked me to go riding with her in Green Park,” Sebastian paused and watched his father who said nothing, but looked guilty. Sebastian continued with his tale.

  “Miranda thought I should know you were visiting her, before I heard from another source. She needn’t have bothered. Prescott is walking out with her dresser. However, she did tell me something interesting I hadn’t heard though,” Sebastian paused once more watching his father shuffle in his seat uncomfortably.

  “She promised she would not accept your proposal and had no intention of embarrassing me by becoming my mother-in-law.”

  “I am very fond of Mir
anda, but I was rather drunk at the time. I apologize for causing you embarrassment,” the Duke replied somewhat penitently.

  “Why should I be embarrassed? Miranda and I finished our affair seven years ago. If you want to marry her, you have my blessing. I wish you happy. I told her I would not stand as your groomsman, but I thought it appropriate in the circumstances if I gave her away. If you can stand the gossip then so can I. Although if I had known you intended remarrying you could have chosen a younger woman and then have another spare and I would not need to rush to find a bride.”

  “You really wouldn’t mind, Sebastian? I know I haven’t been much of a father, but if it makes you uncomfortable I will withdraw my proposal.”

  “Miranda and I are good friends. I still manage her other investments. She’s a wealthy woman. I told her if she wants you, she’ll have to close the house and become respectable. I gave her warning you are foul tempered if anyone talks to you before breakfast, but I think she’ll accept you.”

  “There will be an awful scandal if I do marry her.”

  By now Alicia was feeling uncomfortable overhearing such private information. It was too late for her to emerge gracefully and apologize for not mentioning her presence.

  “It will be a nine day wonder and I doubt many will dare to cut the Duke and Duchess of Langsdown. Especially if I put it around I will cut anyone that does. Miranda was quite complimentary about you, but I should warn you she disapproves of your drinking. She said if I thought she’d force you to an early grave, just so I could wear strawberry leaves, I could think again. I am actually quite proud of you father, I didn’t know you still had it in you.”