The Earl, the Lady and the Song of Love by Fanny Finch
Chapter 4
Imogen cleared her throat as she recovered, not trusting herself to speak easily. When she was certain that she could do so without embarrassing herself, she responded,
“When you said you would be calling soon, I did not realize it would be so soon. Nevertheless, you must know I too am glad to see you, my lord.”
“Ah . . . I am glad you are. I had hoped you would not be offended to see me so soon. It is such a relief to know that you are not,” he replied warmly.
He turned to Alicia then. “I did not come at a bad time, did I? I see you have company.”
Imogen was quick to assuage his fears. “Oh, not at all. You must meet my dearest friend, Miss Alicia Fitzwilliam. Alicia, Lord Jerome Wilkins, the Baron of Exeter. I have just told you about him.”
Imogen watched as the two of them exchanged pleasantries.
An ugly feeling gnawed at her insides when Lord Exeter’s lips appeared to linger on Alicia’s hand for too long, but she immediately pushed it away.
Nonsense. Alicia only has eyes for the earl and Lord Exeter for me. There was absolutely no reason to fret.
“It is an honor to meet you, Lord Exeter. Imogen here spoke very fondly of you,” Alicia said when he finally let her hand go.
“The honor is mine, I assure you.” Lord Exeter turned to Imogen then. “I must admit, it is thrilling to know you think of me well enough to speak fondly.”
Once again, Imogen found her tongue tied. What was she to say at a time like this?
Yes, she was beginning to care for him, but she was not willing to tell him so soon. She narrowed her eyes at Alicia and made a wordless promise.
Next time she saw the earl, she would do well to tell him just how fond Alicia was of him.
Alicia’s eyes bulged as she understood, and Imogen smirked.
This was another reason why she valued their friendship—the ability to communicate so easily without words. It was even better than it was with Lewis.
The servants arrived then, bearing a tray of tea and biscuits. They left as soon as they finished setting the table and Imogen got busy with pouring tea.
“I hope you did not have any trouble locating our residence?” Alicia asked.
The Baron was quick to respond. “Not at all. It was quite easy to find. My coachman happens to be familiar with the street. Even if I had any troubles, they would all be worth it. Miss Hartford made quite the impression on me last night or shall I say . . . on my heart. I planned to wait a few days, but I could not stay away one more hour. I knew I had to see her again today.”
Imogen stilled for a moment, holding the teapot in the air. Those words washed over, thrilling her secretly, making her insides rejoice.
She soon recovered, quickly filling the cups so she could pass everyone theirs.
“Thank you,” Lord Exeter murmured as she handed him his. His fingers brushed over hers when he accepted it and a sweet tremor racked through her. The mischievous glint in his eyes told her it had been deliberate.
Oh my!
“Hmm.” He mumbled as he had first sip. “This is good tea.”
“Made from the finest of herbs,” Alicia responded before Imogen could.
Leaning closer into the baron, she whispered but loud enough for Imogen to hear.
“I would never admit it to another, but the reason I visit ever so often is the tea. For the life of me, I cannot seem to get enough, and the cook has refused to share her recipe.”
She sighed dreamily as she took another sip. “I do not know what heaven tastes like, but I am almost certain this tea is not so far off. I wonder how Daria manages to get it right, every time.”
Lord Exeter raised his brow. “Daria?”
Imogen opened her mouth to answer but Alicia beat her to it once again.
“Yes, the cook. She is quite the charming old lady, I tell you. I would love her entirely but for her tight-fistedness where her recipes are concerned. Many times, I have asked her to share with me so that I might give them to Nancy. Each time, she has refused.”
“And Nancy would be?” Lord Exeter asked again.
“My cook. She is not as warmhearted as Daria, I admit, but she does have her angels. She also puts together a superb meal. Imagine Daria and Nancy sharing recipes . . . both our households would get to enjoy the finest of meals. However, for some reason, they both continue to keep these recipes secret. Do you not also agree that it would be best to share?”
The Baron nodded. “I do. However, I hear recipes are a sacred thing. My mother did her fair share of cooking before she passed away and she would never share her recipes. She said they had been passed down from generation to generation and she would only pass it on to her daughter.”
“Ah. I see. When you put it that way, I suppose I do understand. Family traditions should be respected. You are indeed a wonderful man, Lord Exeter. Charming and understanding as well. Now I understand what Imogen sees in you.”
Imogen sighed then, happy that she had finally been remembered.
Her chest had become tight, watching Alicia and the baron tattle off as though they were old friends, seemingly forgetting her presence.
She knew Alicia was a better conversationalist than she, but was it not rude for Lord Exeter to so awfully ignore her when she was the reason he had come?
“Miss Hartford? If I might ask, what is it you see in me?”
She was happy to finally have his attention again. To have those blue eyes look at her.
She found it, with startling realization, that for the first time ever, she cared. She cared that it was Alicia getting all the attention.
I suppose I am more smitten than I believed I was.
For a short while, she could not say anything. Partly because she was trying to recover from that realization. The other reason was she did not know exactly how to answer his question.
No one had ever asked her, all the more, so directly. What was she to say?
“Miss Hartford?”
She swallowed then, pushing down the clump in her throat.
“Uhm . . . I suppose your wit, your gentle spirit. You are quite the charmer as well,” she said, finally answering. It was not nearly all that she thought of him, but it would have to do.
The Baron appeared to be pleased by her response, though.
He chuckled as his cheeks turned red. He even broke eye contact, looking away as though he could not bear to hold her gaze.
Knowing that she affected him so thrilled Imogen. At the very least, it was even more proof that she was not alone in this.
He held her eyes once more before speaking.
“I am happy to know you think so highly of me, Miss Hartford. I hope that as we continue to be friends, you will find more reason to do so.”
“I hope so too,” she breathed.
“It will be the greatest honor.”
For a long moment, neither of them said another word. The world seemed to fade away and for Imogen, he was all that was left.
The butterflies in her belly fluttered harder and her heart would not stop thudding heavily. Those eyes held her captive, and she was hopeless to look away.
“If you two keep at that, I might have to leave. Then, Lewis will come be your chaperone.” Alicia said, only half joking.
Just like that, the spell broke, and Imogen returned to her senses. She turned to Alicia, narrowing her eyes at her.
Alicia simply shrugged as she chewed her biscuits, appearing not in the least bit perturbed.
“I had to say something. Any longer and it would have become improper,” she defended.
Lord Exeter laughed, lightening the ambience.
It was such a beautiful sound and Imogen captured that moment, tucking it safely away in her memories. She would always remember it fondly.
“You two have quite a beautiful friendship, I must say. How long has it been?”
“Thirteen years now. We met when we were only six. We have been inseparable ever since,” Alicia responded.
“I see. You grew up together. Now I understand.”
Alicia nodded. “And you, my lord? Do you have any such friends?”
He shook his head. “Regretfully, no. The oldest friend I have, I have only known for three years. We are close, but not as close as you and Miss Hartford evidently are.”
And so, it continued. Alicia and the baron kept speaking with each other, getting along easily.
Once or twice, Imogen gave a remark or two, but that was all. Even in those times, it felt intrusive, wrong, to utter a word.
Alicia and Lord Exeter seemed so attuned to each other, it was as though she was the chaperone and they were the couple.
Imogen could not help but struggle with the discomfort that overwhelmed her. It was so awful that when he finally declared his wish to take his leave, she first felt relief.
True, she would have to say goodbye, but at the very least, she would not have to watch him get on so well with her best friend.
“I shall be taking my leave as well!” Alicia announced, rising to her feet just as the Baron did. “I promised my cousin, Laura, that I would meet her at the pavilion today at two o’clock. It is almost time,” she explained.
One glance at the clock that hung on the wall told Imogen there was still an hour left until then, but she said nothing of it. Alicia probably wanted to get an early start.
“Oh? It has been a while since I last saw Laura. Do send my love, will you?” Imogen asked as she too rose to her feet.
“I will make certain to. Lord Exeter, you do not suppose I could ride with you? The pavilion is just on your way. You could drop me off.”
Imogen frowned as those words tumbled out of Alicia’s lips. She felt terrible for even thinking it of her friend, but she could not shake off the feeling that Alicia’s intentions were anything but pure.
“I would be happy to,” the baron responded. “However, a young lady and a gentleman riding alone in a carriage, would that not raise concern? It is hardly proper.”
Imogen breathed in relief at his words. At least, he was being reasonable.
Alas, Alicia was simply too stubborn to listen.
“It is a carriage, my dear Lord. No one would know but us. I am certain it will be okay. Please? I shall feel safer riding with you than in a hired coach driven by a strange man.”
That was a first, Imogen thought. Alicia had never minded before. Besides, she had only just met the Baron. How could she trust him so easily?
Lord Exeter turned to Imogen then. “If you insist and if Miss Hartford would not mind, I suppose it could be done.”
I do mind.
“Hm? Oh, not at all. I should be asking you. If you are certain it will not be a bother, you would have my earnest gratitude.”
The baron shook his head. “A bother? Not in the least. On the contrary, it will be a pleasure. A service to any friend of yours is a service to you and I do want to serve you, Miss Hartford, very much so.”
Imogen’s heart warmed again and whatever worries she might have been nursing vanished. He was simply perfect.
Looking away as she could no longer hold his gaze, not with her cheeks flaming, she muttered. “You are too kind, my Lord.”
“And you, Miss Hartford, are utterly lovely.”
“Thank you,” she muttered simply. They were the only words she could think of.
She saw the two of them to the door and as they reached it, Alicia lingered behind.
Leaning into Imogen, she gushed.
“If I did not just see it for myself, I would never think it possible that you would manage to arrest the interest of such an impressive young man, and a nobleman for the matter.”
She was smiling from ear to ear. “You made an excellent choice, Imogen. I never thought this day would come, but I am actually envious of you—in the best possible way, of course!” she added quickly, laughing as she finished.
Imogen brows furrowed in confusion. She did not know what to think of Alicia’s words, but she certainly did not find them funny.
“Envious? Whyever would you be? That earl of yours is just as impressive. You said so yourself.”
Alicia huffed, waving her off. “He is alright, I suppose, but not as charming as Lord Exeter.”
Imogen grew even more confused. She opened her mouth to speak again but the baron called out just then.
“Miss Fitzwilliam? Are you coming?”
“Yes! Yes! Certainly! Goodbye, Imogen! I shall see you soon!”
With those words, she was out of the house. Imogen stood at the door, watching as the baron helped Alicia into his carriage.
There was something there . . . in the way Alicia smiled and looked at the baron. It made Imogen even more than uncomfortable, it annoyed her.
Suddenly, she started to regret the decision to let them ride together.
When Alicia had settled, Baron Exeter turned to Imogen and waved. She waved back, returning his smile. Then, he climbed into the carriage and shut the door.
She watched as the carriage rode away, down the street until she could see them no more.
Only then did she turn around to go back into the house and straight to her bedchamber, needing to be by herself with her thoughts. As she curled up in her bed, she took her time to go over the events of the afternoon from the time Lord Exeter had arrived.
Alicia had thought Lord Wimbledon held the sun in his hands just that morning. Suddenly after meeting the baron, she believed he was not all that impressive?
It was probably nothing, Imogen was probably thinking too much of it. Yet, she could not ignore the fact that Alicia’s behavior was strange. Very strange, and Imogen did not like it!
She did not like it one bit.