Valerie King (24 page)

He drew her more closely to him, whirling her around and around. “What are you thinking?”

“That I am a very great fool,” she said, wondering if there was even the smallest hope that Robert could return her regard openly.

He laughed, drew her up and back, round and round. “Then I believe we are a pair.”

 

 

Over the next hour, Robert watched Lucy. He had much to say to her, but he truly did not know how to go about the business. When she had completed a dance with Valmaston, he approached her, offering his arm. “Will you walk with me?” he inquired gently.

Though the light was but a scattering of flickers from the flambeaux, he saw the unmistakable answer in her eye. She took his arm quite willingly. “A stroll would suit me to perfection,” she said.

He led her in the direction of the maze, beyond the flambeaux, deeper and deeper into the shadows. The laughter from the revelers grew quieter with each step they took. When they were at last on the far side of the maze, and some distance from the ball, he heard Lucy sigh.

He whispered her name, turning toward her and placing his hands on her shoulders. He was strangely nervous and began haltingly, “I know that I have not always been . . . that is, I am not a gentleman of mild opinions and temper. I often speak my mind more forcefully than I ought, but I wish to assure you . . . Lucy, I wish to marry you!” The devil take it! When had he become so cowhanded that he must blurt out an offer of marriage as though he were calling the pigs to supper?

“What?” she queried, obviously stunned.

“Yes. I wish to marry you. I have for some time, well perhaps not a very long time, but recently when I realized how much I loved you.”

“You love me?”

He gripped her arms more tightly still, as though holding onto the sides of a small boat in heavy seas. “Yes. I love you . . . passionately.” To his own ears he sounded ridiculous.

“Passionately?”

“Yes. I have said so.” He groaned. “I am making a terrible mull of this.”

Lucy frowned. Even in the shadows he could see that she was frowning, as though suddenly full of doubts.

Well, there was one thing he knew how to do. Though every word and expression to be found in the English language failed him, he knew how to kiss her. With that, his body relaxed and he slipped his arms about her, holding her tightly. He found her mouth, kissing her hard until she parted her lips. He kissed her more deeply still, so that familiar warbling coos began gathering in her perfect throat. How he had grown to crave those sounds. How happy he was to be holding her in his arms once more.

“Lucy,” he whispered. “I do love you.”

“And I love you, Robert, but—”

He stiffened slightly and released her, but only sufficiently to once again hold her shoulders in his hands. The feel of the seas were heavy beneath him once more. He swallowed hard. “What is it?”

“I . . . I do not mean to offend you, Robert, but though your kisses are like heaven, I am not persuaded, that is, what if tomorrow we begin brangling anew? Though I do hold you in great affection and esteem, though I love you, I do not trust that we could ever be truly happy together.”

His hands slid down her arms as if of their own volition. “I would not press you to marry me for the world.” He felt he should say more, that he should offer a speech from his heart, words that would persuade her that the love they shared would overcome their tendency to quarrel, but he could not.

He watched as she breathed a deep sigh of relief. “Then we understand one another?”

No, we do not understand one another at all
, he wanted to say. Instead, he let her go. She turned away from him and only after several minutes had passed did he find he could make his feet move. He then returned to the ball.

Henry found him shortly after and was scowling. “What the devil did you do?” he cried. “For I can see that you must have done something. When I asked her what was amiss she simply spoke your name.”

“I have not your abilities. I am sadly unskilled. Henry, you would have been ashamed of me. I asked her to marry me as though I had not a single thought for her feelings, then I kissed her. The kiss was well enough, I suppose, but in the end she refused my hand in marriage because she said she did not believe we could be truly happy together.”

Henry appeared utterly aghast. He caught his arm hard. “Robert, am I hearing you correctly? Are you now telling me that you just proposed to and kissed Lady Sandifort?”

“What?” Robert exclaimed, aghast. “Good God, no! I was speaking of Lucy. Why would you think even for a moment I was referring to Lady Sandifort?”

“Because
I
was!” he cried.

“I am completely lost. I do not take your meaning.”

“Then you did not speak with Lady Sandifort just now, in the last ten minutes?”

“No. Lucy and I walked just past the maze and that is when I proposed to her.”

“I see,” Henry said, nodding slowly. “Then I now must warn you that Lady Sandifort had just come from the direction of the maze when I spoke with her. She must have seen you kissing Lucy. I tell you, brother, she looked as mad as fire.”

Robert shook his head. “Good God!” he whispered, horrified.

“Well,” Lady Sandifort said, hooking Lucy’s arm and drawing her into the house. “Are you not the most clever girl! You quite put me to shame.”

Lucy immediately felt uneasy. Lady Sandifort was smiling but there was just such a look in her eye and a cold tone to her voice that she knew something was amiss, only what? She could see that she was offended, but in what way? Unless . . .

Lucy therefore asked quietly, “What do you mean I am a
clever girl
.”

Lady Sandifort drew her up the stairs and into the library where, once within, she closed the door. “Have you never wondered why I was particularly interested in Valmaston?”

Lucy felt a sudden chill that had nothing to do with the temperature of the chamber. “You wished to make Robert jealous,” she said.

Lady Sandifort stared at her for an intense moment. “Then you can understand now why I am overset, for I counted you a friend.”

Lucy saw the venom in her blue eyes and realized that her worst fear was true—she must have seen Robert kissing her. She did not even know what to say to her ladyship except, “I did not know of your interest in him, at least not until this evening at dinner.”

“Then why, once you knew, did you kiss Robert, and do not deny it, for I saw you?”

“You saw us just now?” Lucy asked, gesturing in the direction of the gardens. Her heart was pounding. She did not know what else to say to her.

“Forever the innocent. Well, I fear I have grown weary with being so patient with everyone. No one knows the trials I suffer. In you, I thought I had at last found someone who understood my sacrifices as well as my desires. Yet, you would use me as badly as Valmaston.”

A scratching sounded on the door.

“Come,” Lady Sandifort called out.

Mr. Colbury entered the chamber. He was a tall, thin young gentleman who had been in attendance at the assemblies. He was the third son of the vicar of a neighboring parish and appeared quite nervous as he made his bows.

“Lucy, I beg you will fetch Alice and Robert, for I have something of import to say to them both,” said Lady Sandifort.

Lucy glanced at Mr. Colbury and understood instantly what it was that Lady Sandifort meant next to do. Lucy left the chamber at once and the moment she quit the room, panic seized her. How on earth was she to prevent so unexpected a betrothal?

She found Alice first and as calmly as she could explained that Lady Sandifort was quite overset for her own peculiar reasons, that she had Mr. Colbury with her, and that she most particularly wished to speak with Alice and Robert, together.

Alice paled, a certain sign that she too apprehended the implications. “I see,” she murmured. “Very well.”

“You know about this then?” She was not certain if Alice knew of the conditions of her father’s will.

Alice nodded. “A few minutes ago, Lady Sandifort said that she thought I should be married off before I was allowed to ruin my life. She seemed very angry. I know Robert thinks that Anne and I are in ignorance of the fact that Lady Sandifort has the right to arrange marriages for us both. But because neither Anne nor I could comprehend why he was not more forceful with Lady Sandifort, Hetty felt compelled to tell us the truth not a sennight past.” She appeared very sad suddenly. “I do not know how my brother has borne this burden over the past twelvemonth.”

“For your sake and Anne’s I believe he would have borne anything. Only what is to be done?”

“Lucy,” she said, taking her arm strongly. “Do not be overly concerned. I . . . I believe all will be well.”

“But I suspect she means to arrange, perhaps even announce, the betrothal tonight.”

“So I understand, but even were she to do so . . . well, let me just say that whatever schemes she hopes to accomplish tonight can be undone later.”

Lucy marveled at her. “I wish I could be so certain, but for the first time since my arrival at Aldershaw, I am truly frightened.”

Alice merely smiled in her stoic manner. “Again, I beg you will not distress yourself. Instead, if you will find Robert, I will meet you both in the library as Lady Sandifort has requested.”

“Yes, of course.”

With that Alice turned on her heel and was gone.

Lucy moved to the center of the terrace and searched through the lively dancing crowd for Robert. He was going down a set with Anne so there was nothing for it, she must wait.

She moved to the lawn and positioned herself so that the moment he finished dancing she could take him aside. How the music played on and on! She vowed she had never before realized just how long a country dance could be!

Finally the music drew to a close and Lucy fairly pounced on Robert. “Forgive me, Anne, but there is something of great import I must say to your brother.”

“Of course,” she said. Since three young gentlemen approached her, each begging for the next dance, Lucy did not give her another thought.

“What is the matter, Lucy?” Robert asked, obviously concerned. “What has happened?”

Once away from the crowds, Lucy whispered, “I believe Lady Sandifort is about to betroth Alice to Mr. Colbury. She asked me to bring you and Alice to the library. I have already sent Alice to her.”

Robert shook his head. “Who is Mr. Colbury?”

“He was at the assemblies, the vicar’s son?”

“Colbury,” he mused. “Do you mean that sallow young man with scarcely two words to say for himself?”

She nodded. “The very one. I . . . I believe she means it as a sort of punishment to you. She saw you kiss me.”

“So I have been given to understand,” he said.

Lucy turned to walk in the direction of the house. Robert walked beside her, even taking her arm. She had never felt so helpless. Panic still rippled through her, for she could not think of a single thing she could do to alter the situation. Not one! “I do not know what to do,” she cried.

She heard Robert chuckle and looking up at him she saw that he was watching her closely and shaking his head.

“What is it?” she asked.

“I believe this may be the first time since your arrival at Aldershaw in which I have seen you at a loss.”

She waved a dismissive hand. “Why are you speaking of me in this moment when Alice’s entire future is at stake?”

“You are right, of course,” he murmured. Yet again he chuckled.

“Why do you laugh? Why are you not overset? For I vow I am ready to scream in vexation!”

“Lucy, pray calm yourself. If I do not seem so wretchedly overset it is because you have taught me that even the most hopeless situation can have a solution. I think we must be patient.”

She was dumbfounded.

“Let us hear precisely what it is Lady Sandifort has to say to us.”

Once within the library it was as Lucy had feared. Lady Sandifort stated her case, that Sir Henry had given her the right to choose husbands for both Anne and Alice if she felt it necessary. She had therefore decided it would be best if Alice accepted Mr. Colbury’s hand in marriage. “Tomorrow we shall settle the matter with Mr. Colbury’s father—who was unable to attend the ball because of the gout—and begin the process of having our solicitor compose the proper papers. Is that clear?”

Robert stood beside Alice and spoke softly. “Whatever you wish me to do, I will do.”

Alice smiled faintly. “I beg you will say nothing, Robert,” she responded in her quiet, studious manner. “My stepmother was given the right to choose a husband for me. There can be little use to argue the point now.”

Lucy saw that Robert was rather awestruck by his younger sister’s demeanor and speech. “As you wish,” he responded, but he was frowning.

“I see you mean to be sensible,” Lady Sandifort said, addressing Alice.

“Indeed, I strive to be. But I do request that any announcement of the betrothal be delayed until the engagement papers have been signed. Will that suit you, ma’am?”

Lady Sandifort lifted a brow. “Since you are being so reasonable, I do not see why I should oppose the idea. Mr. Colbury, I suggest you take your bride-to-be to the garden and dance with her.”

Alice waited for him to approach her. He was nervous and the tips of his ears were bright red. As he led her from the chamber, he was heard to whisper, “Miss Alice, I am sorry . . . I had not the smallest notion . . . I did not know for what reason she asked me to come to the library . . .”

Lucy watched as Alice patted his arm. “Pray be easy, Mr. Colbury. All will be well.”

With his free hand he ran his finger around the inside of his neckcloth. “I hope you are right!”

Lucy did not wait but followed them out. A new panic seized her. She would have asked Alice to stay a moment and speak with her, but Alice was busily engaged in whispering to Mr. Colbury as they made their descent down the stairs. She wondered if Alice had some scheme of her own in mind.

For that reason Lucy followed them onto the terrace and watched with some interest as Alice sent Mr. Colbury off to amuse himself however he wished. Alice in turn began wending her way through the crowds, not stopping until she had found Lord Hurstborne. She drew him aside and spent at least ten minutes speaking rather intensely with him.

The horrible thought went through Lucy’s head that Alice was arranging to elope with Lord Hurstborne, but that was ridiculous. Alice would never do so. For one thing she was far too sensible, and for another her object was Cornwall, not any sort of romantic attachment.

What then was she about?

In the end, Lord Hurstborne smiled broadly upon Alice, bowed to her, and quit her side. Lucy found herself utterly intrigued and, rather than dance, set about to watch what next would happen.

Interestingly, Alice went about her business, continuing to enjoy her come-out ball as though nothing untoward had happened. Even Mr. Colbury, who fairly ignored his “bride-to-be,” seemed to take pleasure in the ball. As for Lord Hurstborne, he greeted Lady Sandifort shortly after leaving Alice’s side and from that moment danced attendance on her.

Lady Sandifort accepted his attentions with pleasure, even permitting him to dine next to her at supper.

When the hour neared midnight, Lucy was again speaking with Robert about Alice’s betrothal. “But what can be done?” she asked.

He shook his head. “I have not the faintest notion. However, Alice does not seem to be concerned in the least. Indeed, I have never seen her so . . .” He seemed to be searching for the right word to describe her.

“In command of herself and her surroundings?” she queried.

“Precisely so!” he cried.

Lucy caught sight of Alice waving to them.

Robert waved as well. “I wonder what she means to do now,” he mused as Alice made her way to them.

“I need your help, Robert,” she said. “Will you oblige me with something?”

“Yes, of course, dearest,” he responded. “You have but to tell me what it is you wish me to do.”

“As to that, I have put a scheme in motion and you have but to follow my lead.”

Robert appeared as though he wished to inquire further, but she laid a quick hand on his arm. “Please, Robert. Will you trust me?”

At that Robert relaxed. “Of course.”

“And Lucy, I most especially wish you to come join us,” here she smiled, “merely to observe that I have learned a great deal from you.”

“As you wish,” Lucy said, but she could not imagine what Alice meant to do or why she had spoken of having learned “a great deal” from her.

Alice then smiled and in her eyes was such a look of joyful mischief that Lucy could only turn to exchange a wondering glance with Robert.

“Follow me,” she said, lifting her lovely muslin skirts carefully and turning to walk back to the terrace and into the house.

A minute later, Lucy found herself once more in the library. Mr. Colbury was present again, but this time he sat in a chair and appeared absolutely miserable. Hetty, Henry, and Anne stood to one side near the windows. None of them seemed to know what was going forward. Surprisingly, Lord Hurstborne stood next to Lady Sandifort. He whispered to her, though what he was saying could not be heard.

Alice directed Robert and Lucy to a sofa near the door. Robert obeyed and Lucy followed suit. Once seated, they again exchanged a surprised glance.

“What is the meaning of this, Alice?” Lady Sandifort cried haughtily. “You said earlier you did not mean to contest the betrothal. If that is so, I cannot imagine why you summoned all of us here.”

“I did not come to argue, contest, or quarrel, merely to inform you that I have no intention of wedding anyone at present.”

Lady Sandifort smiled in her habitually high-handed fashion. “You have no say whatsoever in the matter. Your father gave me the power to select a husband for you and so I have. Mr. Colbury will suit you far better than the Cornwall sea cliffs.”

Mr. Colbury found his voice. “If Miss Alice is not wishful of marrying—”

“Silence,” she cried, turning sharply toward him. “This does not concern you!”

Mr. Colbury appeared properly shocked but, given Lady Sandifort’s heightened complexion, he refrained from speaking further.

Alice moved to stand but three feet from her stepmother. Lucy noted that a faint sliver of doubt entered Lady Sandifort’s eye. Alice said, “I have no intention of obeying you,
Stepmama
, for you do not have my interests at heart. You never have.”

“How dare you speak to me in that insolent manner, ungrateful girl!”

“You are correct. I am not grateful. What have you ever done for me that was not a matter of self-interest?”

A lovely shade of red climbed Lady Sandifort’s cheeks. “Why I . . . I have never heard such words from you! You who were always a mouse, never speaking save to echo Anne.”

“You have the right of it, but I am a mouse no longer. I will not marry Mr. Colbury and all your fussing will not see the deed done.”