A Most Improper Duchess by Alanna Lucas
Chapter Eleven
“It’s a success!” Aunt Imogene rushed into the sisters’ private parlor, scandal sheet in hand.
The sisters jumped up at the same time and rushed to their relative’s side. Theodora took the sheet from her aunt and began to read, “A certain young lady, who goes by the name Cabbage, has created quite a scandal for her family, for one of high birth does not associate with those found in the dirt, namely the potato.” Theodora paused, scanning the rest of the sheet. “That’s it. Nothing about us or the salon.”
“What is our next step?” Evelina said.
“I think we should wait a couple of days. We don’t want to raise eyebrows. Let those gossips simmer over this for a while,” Aunt Imogene suggested. She waved her hand with enthusiasm. “I have it. The next time I visit Lady Archibald, I will inquire after the latest on dits, and slip in some other gossip that I overheard about Cabbage and Potato. I just know she will take the bait. Mildred cannot resist a good piece of gossip.”
“That’s an excellent idea. We can also enlist some of the ladies from the salon to help,” Theodora said.
“Hmmm, I think we need to be careful. We still don’t know who tattled,” Evelina stated.
“I think you’re right.” Alexandra paced back and forth for a moment, her sisters and aunt watching. “For the time being, we should not discuss our usual topics at the other salon. We need to throw them off the scent while determining who we can trust.”
“But first, we need to ready for our afternoon promenade.”
A short time later, Alexandra, along with her sisters and aunt, was enjoying a pleasant ride in the open carriage. It seemed as if all of London had descended upon Hyde Park to enjoy the fine afternoon. It was a nice distraction from the turbulence that had disrupted her of late. If only Niall weren’t promised to another. A hard lump grew in her throat. Don’t think about him, she begged her mind. But how could she not when Niall was never far from her thoughts? Just enjoy the day.
“There’s Lord Raine,” Evelina said with exasperation as she rolled her eyes.
“He does cut quite a fine figure on that horse,” Aunt Imogene commented. She almost sounded like a silly schoolgirl. “He certainly would never do as a husband, unless he could be reformed.” The older woman leaned in and, on a giggle, added, “Reformed rakes make the best husbands in the bedroom.”
“Aunt Imogene!” Alexandra and Evelina exclaimed in unison.
Alexandra could not believe her aunt just said that in public, where anyone might overhear.
“I have so many questions,” Theodora said with enthusiasm as she tilted her head.
Alexandra leaned forward, too, and in a hushed tone, said, “Perhaps we should wait until we return home. There are eyes and ears everywhere.” Just then, she spied Miss Jerome and her mother in the carriage nearest to theirs. Of course, those two were notorious gossips, and the sisters did not need to give them any cud to chew.
“Oh, good afternoon, Lady Middleton, Miss Grace, Miss Evelina, and Miss Theodora. Isn’t it a pleasant day? And so many people. I can’t help but wonder if Miss Cabbage is present?” Miss Jerome eyed their party as if hoping to catch them in a lie.
“As a matter of fact, I overhead one of the passersby say they believed they saw Miss Cabbage and Mr. Potato strolling . . .” Aunt Imogene paused dramatically then continued, “without a chaperone, down near the Serpentine.”
Their aunt certainly had a way with words. Alexandra had greatly underestimated her. She was learning to appreciate and understand her relative in a way she never had before. She couldn’t help but wonder about the adventures Imogene had had through the years. She suspected her life had been quite exciting.
Miss Jerome seemed entirely too interested in Aunt Imogene’s tale. She always had been a tittle-tattler, but this interest in others’ downfalls was somewhat alarming. Reminiscences from the past tickled Alexandra’s thoughts. Although they had been careful not to say too much in front of Miss Jerome, or Lady Mavis, for that matter. She suspected that the former was more perceptive than she’d first realized and was responsible for exploiting the sisters’ salon for her own social advancement. Well, she would just have to throw Miss Jerome off the scent even more. And there was one man Alexandra knew of who could use a little scandal in his life, especially after he’d tried to blackmail Miss Ashton into marrying him last Season. Not to mention that he’d had the audacity to reenter society this Season with all the pomp and arrogance of a rake, scoundrel, and rogue intertwined into one.
“I have often wondered if a certain notorious rake, whose recent return to Town, is somehow connected to these letters.”
Miss Jerome gasped as she clasped her hand to her chest. “You don’t mean Mr. Markham? I hadn’t considered him,” she said, instantly coming to her own conclusions. “It would be just like him to try and seduce a reputable lady of the ton and then leave her to face the scandal on her own.”
Alexandra’s plan was working better than she thought it would. Not only had Miss Jerome taken the bait, but she had single-handedly concocted an entire tale.
“Well, if anyone can save Cabbage’s reputation, it is me,” Lady Jerome added. “Thank you, ladies.” And with that, mother and daughter went on their way.
A few moments passed before her youngest sister commented with a giggle, “I wonder how Mr. Markham will react when he learns that he is Potato?”
“It will be an improvement on how he’s been recently referred to,” Aunt Imogene said. Then quickly added, “Just to clarify, I do not usually spread rumors, but I do enjoy the undoing of those who deserve it.”
“Now, on to more important matters. Why exactly do reformed rakes make the best husbands?” Theodora said, revisiting the topic from only a short time ago.
“Theodora, you shouldn’t ask such a thing in view of so many,” Evelina scolded in a hushed yet firm tone.
“Now is as good a time as any,” Aunt Imogene informed them. She looked this way and that, then leaned forward once more, expecting the sisters to do the same, forming a tighter circle of confidence. “Reformed rakes make the best lovers. They’re quite practiced in the art of intimacy.” The older woman rendered the three of them absolutely speechless. And then she shocked them even more. “I may not have enjoyed being married, but I have enjoyed other pleasures.”
Alexandra shook her head. Why did women have to talk in riddles? “I have so many questions, I don’t know where to start.”
“I will tell you what I told your mother before she married your father. Never be afraid of desire or passion.”
That was what Mother had written to them.
Alexandra wanted to return to the house and reread the letters her mother had left for them. She suspected they contained more insight than they first thought. Although she could not be with the man her heart desired, and it might take time for her heart to accept that, it did not mean she was prepared to settle for a marriage of convenience. No, there would be plenty of time to marry. The first order of business was to survive the Season.
She was thankful that her aunt did not query it when she decided that she would stay in that evening instead of attending Mrs. Fleming’s dinner party. She had faith in her sisters’ abilities to keep to their task and report back to her. Once everyone had departed, she took one stack of neatly folded and tied love letters out from the trunk and began to reread them.
Hours later, she was still reading the beautiful correspondence between her parents when her sisters entered the parlor.
“How did the evening progress?”
“Lord Grimsby and his cousin, Mr. Eastwick, were in attendance. Although the former kept to himself, did not join us for dinner, and departed early. It was as if he wanted to ensure his cousin didn’t bolt. The poor fellow seemed nervous,” Theodora said with empathy. “It was mentioned that this is Mr. Eastwick’s first visit to Town. Lady Dorothy was also present and—”
“And Miss Jerome.” The disdain in Evelina’s voice was thick. “Thankfully, she was too consumed with herself to notice most around her. She announced that she’s caught the eye of a gentleman and hopes to make an announcement soon. Why everyone hangs on her every word, I will never know.”
“It’s not because those around her like her. It’s more likely because they are afraid of the poison she spews. No one, especially a young debutante trying to make a match, wants to be cast in an unfavorable light,” Alexandra offered with the wisdom of an older sister.
“Once she’s off the marriage market, she should be more tolerable, I suppose,” Theodora commented.
“I highly doubt that. Aunt Imogene said Lady Jerome seems to get worse with age. I cannot imagine that her daughter will be any better,” Evelina chimed in. “And let’s not forget Mr. Rodney.” Her sister let out a long huff of frustration. “He gets worse with each passing event. His boisterous tales of chivalry were most—”
Alexandra interrupted her sister’s tirade, hoping to the turn conversation to something more pleasant. “I’ve been rereading our parents’ letters.” She handed one to Evelina. “This one is my favorite.”
“It’s a beautiful love poem,” Evelina sighed with contentment. That was one of the positives about her. Annoyance with any topic or person usually did not last for long once poetry was involved.
Theodora rested her head on Evelina’s shoulder and read the poem as well. “I miss them both so much,” she said on a whisper.
Alexandra went to her sisters and brought them within her embrace. “As do I,” she murmured as the words lodged in her throat.
“Me, too,” Evelina said as she burst into tears, startling both her sisters. Alexandra pulled back and stared at her. It was unlike Evelina to give into such tears.
“What’s wrong, dearest?”
“Nothing . . . I don’t know . . . everything!”
What on earth had happened at the dinner party?Theodora caught her gaze and mouthed some words several times, but Alexandra struggled to guess what she was saying.
“Lord Raine!” Theodora huffed as she backed out of the embrace. “Evelina had words with Lord Raine. Really, Alexandra, you used to be so efficient at this—”
“Theodora Hera Grace, that man is not to be mentioned.”
Alexandra and Theodora eyed their sister. Since her first encounter with Lord Raine, Evelina had been irritated, upset, disturbed, and altogether outraged whenever that man was present or even mentioned. No amount of poetry was going to ease the current situation.
Evelina threw up her hands and began to pace, airing her displeasure in the process. “Fine. I will tell you, but I will not speak his name,” she stated with an air of absoluteness. “That man has to be without a doubt the rudest to ever walk the earth. He accused me—me!—of chasing after him, attempting to gain his attention, and . . .” She stopped, turned to face the sisters, then bellowed, “Of trying to seduce him.”
“What happened—”
“I wasn’t even trying to discover anything. I went to the retiring room, and when I left to rejoin the ladies, he was there in the corridor, leaning casually against the wall as if waiting for someone. He claimed that I had followed him, and when I informed him of my utter disdain for someone of his ilk, he accused me of trying to seduce him.”
“And what did you say?” Alexandra questioned.
“I informed him that if I were trying to seduce him, I would not be so coy as to sneak around in a dimly lit corridor, but would perform a bold act, leaving him and any one present with no doubt of my affections.”
In her sister’s current mood, Alexandra didn’t know what she’d expected Evelina to say, but that certainly was not it.
“But it would ruin you,” Theodora stated with concern.
Evelina’s features were red and flushed with rage as she ranted. “But that’s exactly why I said it, so he would comprehend how little I thought of him. I would never perform such an act, and I would certainly never do anything to satisfy the gossips.”
Alexandra could not remember the last time she’d witnessed her sister in such a state of fury for any length of time. Certainly, she was dramatic at times, and she had a temper, but she never let anyone get the better of her. Alexandra could not help but wonder if there was more to the evening than Evelina was letting on. But now was not the time to delve into that. She would wait for her sister to calm down.
“It’s getting late. You will feel better in the morning,” she offered.
“I suppose,” Evelina accepted with a huff, sounding more like a little girl of five who didn’t want to go to bed than a grown woman of two and twenty. She went to her room without further words.
“Are you going to retire?” Alexandra questioned Theodora.
“No. I’m not tired.” She caught Alexandra’s eye, then added, “You needn’t worry. I am not going to play the pianoforte in the middle of the night again.”
“Poor Aunt Imogene’s imagination hasn’t yet recovered from seeing you play in the wee, small hours of the morning, illuminated by moonlight.”
“I still don’t know why she thought I was a spirit come to haunt her.” Theodora let out a sigh. “I wish we were back in the country and had the freedom to move about.”
Alexandra was concerned about her youngest sister. Ever since their dearest papa had taken ill, and even after he’d passed away, Theodora had kept odd hours and wandered about the house and grounds. Alexandra had hoped with time it would improve, but Theodora’s nighttime disquiet seemed worse than ever here in London. “I know, but we cannot change our current course.” She brought her sister into her embrace. “Try to get some rest.”
By the next morning, none of the three sisters were well rested, as evidenced by the dark circles under their eyes, and yet the sun still rose, and guests still arrived. Thankfully, no unwanted gossipy ladies darkened their doorstep that afternoon, so the attendees were free to discuss whatever was on their minds.
“I overheard my mother and Lady Archibald talking about Lord Grimsby’s plans for a summer house party.” Miss Ashton’s mother was quite well connected and always seemed to have the most recent information on all activities within the ton. “It would appear that Lord Grimsby is frustrated with his cousin.”
“Mr. Eastwick? Why? He seemed a pleasant fellow, albeit very shy,” Theodora said.
“Do you know anything about him?” Miss Ashton questioned with interest, leading Alexandra to believe she might have formed a tendre for the gentleman. Perhaps all they needed was a little encouragement.
“We were paired together at Mrs. Fleming’s dinner party. I thought him most sincere, once he had got past his nervousness, that is. We had a pleasant conversation about sailing.”
“Oh, I do love being near water. When I was little, my father and I enjoyed skimming pebbles across its surface.” The love in Miss Ashton’s voice touched Alexandra’s heart. Memories such as those were precious.
“Pardon me, Miss Grace,” Roger started as he entered the room, “Lady Nerissa has just arrived.”
No sooner had Roger announced the daughter of the duke, then she rushed into the room, excitement following on her hem. “I apologize for my late arrival.”
Alexandra swallowed the hard lump that was edging its way up her throat. Guilt wrangled its way through her body as remembrances of the kiss she’d shared with Niall fought their way to the forefront of her mind. Why couldn’t she simply forget that it had ever happened?
Because you’ve finally realized you’re in love with him and you can never declare your feelings.
She shook those thoughts away and focused on their newest arrival. “Please join us. We will be having tea and—”
“I have an announcement,” Lady Nerissa exclaimed with excitement.
Alexandra’s stomach churned and her chest tightened. This was the moment she’d been dreading, the moment when their engagement would be made officially known. Her breath came in short spurts, spinning her world on its axis. She grabbed the edge of her chair to steady herself. Smile and be happy for them.
“But you have to promise not to say a word to anyone.”
The ladies, practically on the edge of their seats, nodded their heads in unison.
“My mother will be furious when she discovers what I’ve done, but I do not care. I need to follow my heart.” Lady Nerissa looked to Alexandra and her sisters. “I have you to thank for my current happiness.” And then with a wide smile that revealed her nearly straight teeth, she announced, “Lord Jacobs has asked for my hand, and I’ve accepted,” she ended on an excited squeal.
Alexandra’s heart stopped for a moment before pounding back to life. Lady Nerissa and Niall weren’t to marry? She took in a deep breath, then exhaled slowly, releasing the tension and anxiety that had been consuming her only a moment ago. She had not even contemplated what the news meant when, out of the corner of her eye, she spied her sisters’ eyes upon her. Oh dear, what did they suspect?
“How wonderful!” Miss Raine offered as she went to their friend and embraced her. “He is quite an amiable gentleman.”
“Since we’re making announcements,” Lady Dorothy said as she stood, “Mr. Greenford and I are engaged.”
Once again, Alexandra was rendered speechless. Thankfully, Theodora asked the question that was on her mind. “Isn’t he a fortune hunter?”
“He is in need of funds, but not because of his mismanagement. His father left a mountain of debt and the estate in near ruins.”
“But he boasted about the recent renovations,” Evelina said as she shook her head.
“Because he thought that’s what a lady would want to hear. He has begun to turn things around but of course it takes money. Before he declared his intentions, he was honest about the state of his home and finances. My father was not too keen on the match at first, but Mr. Greenford has been asking for his advice and talking to him about improvements. My father always wanted a son and the two have become very close.”
“Are you certain he is all that he claims to be?” Evelina’s question was thick with doubt.
Had they been wrong in their assumptions of other gentlemen?
Alexandra was about to pose her question when Lady Dorothy responded, “Yes, and more. He is quite romantic and the kiss we shared was perfect,” she ended with a dreamy sigh.
The declaration took Alexandra back to that glorious moment when Niall had kissed her. She knew the feeling all too well. Now that Lady Nerissa was promised to another, what did it mean for her and Niall? Hope soared through her veins. Perhaps . . .
*
As usual, oncethe ladies took their leave, the three sisters retreated to their private parlor to talk about the events of the afternoon. Alexandra’s head was spinning from all the news that had been announced, but her mind was still centered on one person. Niall.
She had no clue as to what she should do. Should she wait for him to come to her? Or should she go to him and tell him how she felt? What if he didn’t feel the same? He’d confessed that he’d always wanted to kiss her, but that didn’t necessarily mean that he was in love with her. If she’d learnt anything this Season, it was that physical attraction did not equal love.
She slumped in the chair beside the fireplace trying to sort through all the questions storming her mind, when Theodora blurted out, “Why didn’t you tell us Lady Nerissa was promised to Niall?”
Alexandra bolted upright, completely stunned. “How did you guess who it was? Lady Nerissa did not say who she was promised to and—”
“I saw the look on your face when Lady Nerissa announced it was Lord Jacobs.”
“You can’t keep secrets from us. We know you too well. We know each other too well,” Evelina said.
Alexandra worried her hands, feeling horrible for deceiving her sisters. “I should have told you, but I made a promise to Niall. Can you ever forgive me?”
“You have nothing to be sorry for, but always know that we’re here for you,” Evelina said with tenderness.
“For each other,” Theodora reinforced the sentiment. “Now, what did you promise Niall?”
Alexandra chuckled. She should have known that since Lady Nerissa’s secret was mostly out in the open, her sisters would be full of questions. “Years ago, he confided that his family and the Duchess of Harewood arranged for their children to marry.”
“Why did he agree?”
“I don’t think he had much say in the arrangement. He was just a young lad at the time. Plus, you know how the dowager duchess can be once she sets her mind to something.” Over the years, the formidable woman had caused many a woe with her incessant behavior regarding everything from the trees that bordered their property in the country, to the balls she’d hosted where the sisters did not attend due to their mother’s illness. It seemed as if the dowager was always enraged by something or someone.
“She is a master of guilt.” Theodora tsked several times. “I understand why Mother never cared for her. Although I do wonder why she never cared for us?”
“Perhaps she suspected Alexandra’s feelings for her son,” Evelina stated matter-of-factly.
Alexandra was speechless. How did her sisters know when she’d only recently discovered her feelings for Niall?
“You needn’t look so shocked, Alexandra,” Evelina said. “Even when you were oblivious to the obvious, Theodora and I would discuss when you would finally realize it.”
“How . . . how long have you known?”
Theodora blinked several times as if doing the calculations in her head. “At least three years.”
“Three years?” Had she really been that unaware of her own feelings for that long? “How did—”
“We know?” Evelina finished her question. “One would have had to been blind not see how he looked at you, and you him.”
“And hard of hearing not to notice the concern in his voice for you after Mother, then Papa, died,” Theodora added. “You were always the first person he asked about.” She placed a gentle hand on hers. “The question now remains, when will you go to him and confess your feelings?”