The courses were passed and the evening flew by. The duchess stood to lead the ladies out and Bryghton was left to preside over a somewhat abbreviated session of port drinking. It seemed that all the men were of similar mind, and wished to join the ladies again as soon as possible. There was very little conversation as the gentlemen broodingly stared into the bottom of their port glasses, seemingly finding more consolation from their depths than in the few stilted words from their fellow gentlemen. Bryghton was relieved that Drake continued to steadfastly ignore Lord Dalton and the viscount too confined himself to a few words to the gentleman on his left. Gazing down the length of his mother’s dining table, the duke stood as the last man placed his glass on the table with a satisfied thump. The rest of the gentlemen hastened to follow his lead, not waiting for another round to be poured.
The duchess looked up with a charming smile as the gentlemen filed in to rejoin the ladies. She dearly loved to entertain but she was not sad over the prospect that her guests would soon be departing. It was obvious that her sons had things they needed to discuss and she wondered fleetingly if they would ever confide in her. Eyeing her youngest son with some misgiving as he stalked towards his sister, she wondered if she would again have to create a diversion.
“I need a word with you,” Drake said through his clenched teeth while keeping a tight smile affixed to his face.
Alanna could feel her eyebrows inching towards her hairline over her brother’s unusual tone. “You can have all the words you would like, my dear Drakey,” she said, smiling.
He was not in the mood to allow her to cajole him, and he increased his efforts to keep his feelings off his face, momentarily distracted by wonder at Alcott’s ability to always appear implacable. Drake was able to keep his anger under control, and taking Alanna’s elbow, he steered her away from the crowd for a degree of privacy.
“What did you think you were doing flirting with Dalton?” he demanded.
Alanna’s own quick temper was ignited by his low but fierce tone. “Whatever do you mean, Drake? I am in Town for the Season. It is my job to flirt with all eligible partis.”
“He is not an eligible parti.” Drake was proud of his firm and controlled tones.
Alanna was decidedly not. It might be one thing for the duke to try to tell her what to do, as he was the head of the family, but there was no way she was going to tolerate this behaviour from Drake. It would not do to cause a scene in her mother’s drawing room, however, so she made an effort to keep her voice down.
“How can you say that? He is a guest in our mother’s home, he is a viscount, and from what I can see he is well respected by others, even those here for our mother’s dinner. What do you have against him?”
“It does not matter why. You just have to accept that he is dead to our family.”
“You are being ridiculous, Drake. He is not dead. He is right there living and breathing. In fact,” she said, being unable to resist taunting her brother for his inexplicable behaviour, “he is doing a remarkably handsome job of it.”
“If you will not listen to me, ask Bryghton.” Drake fell back on his best defense, knowing he was about to lose his control if he did not quickly end the conversation.
“I do not feel the need to discuss Lord Anthony Dalton with Bryghton. There is nothing to say. We were seated next to each other at the table. We talked. There is no reason for you to be so worked up over it.” Both of the younger Alcotts were so caught up in their argument they failed to notice their brother approach.
“I trust you children are enjoying your evening.” Bryghton could not help smiling over their guilty faces as they turned to him in surprise.
“Drake is being a toad, if you must know,” Alanna said coldly, trying to regain the composure she had allowed to slip.
“Was this conversation absolutely necessary while our mother’s guests are milling about, cub?” Bryghton asked. Judging by Bryghton’s face, any onlookers would think this conversation was perfectly cordial. The duke’s ability to keep his face completely impassive while his voice dripped with disdain was a thing to marvel at.
Drake did not have that ability and his angry disgust was plain to see. Luckily, his back was to the crowd and he kept his voice down as he explained himself to the duke. “She was flirting with Dalton, Bryght, what else was I supposed to do? I could not stand by and watch calmly.”
“Actually, you could have, but that is a conversation for another day. Surely you realize our sister is not a chit fresh from the schoolroom. You really could have waited until later to discuss this.” The duke carried on before his brother could interject. “Now, why do you not go help our mother entertain our guests, or better yet, go find someone to flirt with yourself. You know that will bring delight to the duchess’ heart.”
Bryghton had to bite his lip to keep from grinning at the disgruntled look his younger brother shot him before he went off to do as he was told. The duke doubted Drake would be able to strike up a flirtation in his current mood, but he looked on with pride as the younger man did approach a young lady and began speaking to her.
“Drake said Dalton is ineligible for me and I was not to flirt with him.” Alanna’s angry huff brought Bryghton’s attention back to her.
“That was a rather bold statement for him to make. Did he say why he felt that way?”
Alanna needed to exert strong effort not to roll her eyes at her brother’s dry tone. “No, he did not. Instead of explaining himself, he told me to ask you about it.”
“He must have been truly desperate if that was the only explanation he could come up with,” Bryghton smiled at his sister’s chagrin. “You really should talk this over with Drake later. Now is hardly the time for it. I overheard you telling Drake that it is your job to be flirting with all the eligible gentlemen. You were right, so why are you not doing that?”
“Because Drake dragged me over to this corner to demand that I not speak to the viscount,” she reminded him as her patience slowly drained away.
“I met someone recently that you might know, a young lady.” Bryghton gave up trying to get her to let it go and decided to try distraction instead.
“Lady Victoria, the earl of Pickering’s niece. Did you know her when you went to finishing school for that year?”
This brought his sister’s full attention. Bryghton never asked anyone about ladies, especially not his little sister. Alanna realized he might be trying to distract her away from talking about Lord Dalton, but there was something about his tone of voice when he mentioned Lady Victoria that caught her attention.
“I know whom you are speaking of, but I do not think I have ever made her acquaintance. She is at least one or two years younger than me, so if we had been at school at the same time she would no doubt have been beneath my notice.” Her voice carried notes of snobbishness but her brother could see the twinkle in her eye that belied her words.
“Are little girls as beastly as boys?”
“Mayhap worse, Alcott, I will admit.”
“And our mother thinks I should be setting up my nursery?” he asked, amazement colouring his tones.
“Are you thinking to set it up with Lady Victoria?” asked Alanna incredulously.
“Good heavens, how did you jump to that conclusion?”
Alanna’s shrug was uninformative. “It seemed that was where you were heading when you asked if I knew her.”
“You distracted me. No, I am not thinking of my nursery at this time,” Bryghton struggled to keep his voice even as he remembered watching Alfred play with little Daniel. Seeing his sister’s speculative look he quickly marshalled his thoughts. “I merely asked because I thought you might know her. Alfred and I met her recently and it struck me that she might be in need of a friend.”
Bryghton, irritated by the grin on his sister’s face, decided to end the conversation. “It is of no matter. Shall we mingle?” He remained stoic as he heard her amused giggle following him. Alanna’s gaze followed him, her head tilted
in what everyone knew to be her thinking pose. If Bryghton had seen it he would have been wary, but instead he strolled away as nonchalantly as possible.
“Are you having a good time, dear?” the duchess asked him.
Bryghton could not help grinning at his mother’s tone of concern. “You should walk the boards at the theatre, your grace.”
The innocent look on her face did not quite reach her eyes but she batted her eyelashes nonetheless. “I have no idea what you are speaking about, my dear.”
“You would have us all believe you know nothing but the latest fashions and gossip, but you are fully cognizant of all that is going on, are you not?” Despite his best efforts, he could not quite keep the incredulity from his voice.
“I pray you do not sound so surprised, your grace.” The duchess kept her usual, pleasant smile pinned to her sweet lips but she allowed her voice to harden. “Do you think the duchy ran itself between the time your father died and you graduated from school? Now, be a good boy and go make Miss Symmington’s evening by telling her how ravishing she looks. We can discuss all the strange things you have been keeping from your poor mama of late on the morrow.”
Bryghton felt his chin starting to drop in shock but managed to clamp his lips together just before they fell open. His mother walked away calmly and he would have sworn he heard her whistling. She glanced back and again allowed her eyelid to dip into a wink.
Shaking his head with amazed admiration, Bryghton watched her stroll gracefully through the mingling guests before he turned to do as his mother had bade him, and approached Miss Symmington for a brief, pleasant conversation.
Before long the assembled guests began to take their leave of the duchess in order to move on to other engagements for the rest of the evening. The four Alcotts stood in the foyer and waved off the last of the duchess’ guests before returning to the withdrawing room.
“Thank you, children, for all being here and helping me entertain my guests. I think everyone had a good time, don’t you?”
“You, my lady mother, are a lovely hostess and everyone had a smashingly good time, including me,” Alanna grinned in delight. “Now shall we ring for the carriage? We should be at the Roxborough ball by now.”
“I am certain the butler has already seen to it, as the entire household is aware of your eagerness to practice your dance steps. Now run upstairs and have your maid run a comb through your curls. Somehow you have managed to disarray your hairstyle. Whatever could you have been doing to accomplish that during dinner?” There was no answer to be had as Alanna dashed from the room before her mother had even finished speaking, which perhaps was answer enough.
Turning to her sons, the duchess said with a fond smile, “That girl has yet to comprehend the word slow.”
“’Tis true, Mother, but you can comfort yourself with the fact that she does hasten gracefully.”
The duchess could not resist chuckling at the duke’s comment.
“Shall you two be joining us at the Roxborough ball? I am certain they should welcome you even if you did not reply to their invitation.”
Drake and Bryghton looked at each other with consternation, neither wanting to disappoint their mother but both dreading the prospect of such a crush as the ball promised to be.
“I am promised elsewhere this evening, m’lady,” answered Bryghton, striving for a measured tone of regret despite not feeling the least regretful to miss the event.
The duchess did not appear to be discomfited in the least. “It is just as well. I will have enough trouble keeping an eye on Alanna, and I should not wish to worry about the two of you on top of it all.” She trilled a happy giggle over their bemused expressions as she swept from the room. The clatter of the carriage being pulled to the front door was heard just as Alanna skipped down the stairs from her rooms.
“Shall we go, my darling daughter?”
“Yes, please.”
The two Alcott gentlemen stood in the drawing room as the two ladies departed. There was a moment of silence before Bryghton burst out laughing. Drake was unsure what the mirth was about, and his brother shook his head and elaborated.
“That mother of ours is far more knowing than she lets on.”
Drake’s eyes rounded in surprise. “I find it hard to believe that you are just noticing. I have learned in my life that nothing gets past her. I had thought the same was true of you, but now I am not so sure. How did you not realize that she knows everything?”
Bryghton shrugged rather negligently. “I suppose she does such a good job of being frivolous. She bamboozled me along with the rest of Society into believing that all that’s going on inside her pretty head are thoughts of fashion and her next entertainment. I wonder why she hides it?”
“Makes her much more effective, I would think.”
“Astute observation, cub.” Bryghton remained in thought for a moment before turning his own astute gaze upon his younger brother. “Now why don’t you tell me what you were thinking when you confronted our sister during our mother’s party.”
Drake blushed hotly under his brother’s piercing eyes and began a rather disjointed explanation of his intentions.
Chapter Thirteen
Alanna smiled in satisfaction as she stood at the top of the grand staircase leading into the Duke of Roxborough’s ballroom. The room below her was a flowing sea of bright colours and twinkling lights as the candlelight glanced off the jewels of all the well-born ladies swarming about the more drably attired gentlemen. Despite how she had jested with her brothers earlier, she loved the Season with all its complexities, especially at the beginning. She knew by the time it was wrapping up she would be looking forward to heading back to their estate, but for now she was anticipating the thrills that were in store over the coming weeks.
Picking up her skirts, she gracefully glided down the stairs as quickly as the crowds and her elaborate dress would allow. Acknowledging her mother’s admonition not to stray too far from view with a slight inclination of her head, her eyes began their task of scanning the crowds. Just before she reached the bottom of the stairs, her eyes finally alighted on whom she was searching for. With a slight wave to her mother as the duchess turned to the side of the room where other matrons were gathering, Alanna braved the gathered mass and struck out to intersect with Alfred, Lord Lynster, her brother’s best friend.
“Lady Alanna, what a delight to see you here this evening,” Alfred greeted politely. “I was not sure if any of you Alcotts would be attending this evening, as the duke had told me your mother was entertaining tonight.”
“It was merely a dinner party. Everyone has left for other events, so here we are.” Alanna contemplated how best to proceed. She began with the usual niceties. “How have you been, my lord? Are you enjoying the beginnings of the Season?”
Alfred could not help grinning. “I do not think gentlemen enjoy it nearly as much as ladies seem to do, but I am having a fine enough time, thank you for asking, my lady. My aunt and sister just arrived in town, so that has been a pleasure thus far. I do not have separate lodgings as your brother does, so I may not be feeling that way later as my house becomes overrun with their guests,” he concluded drolly.
Alanna smiled distractedly at his dry attempt at humour, preoccupied by her own thoughts. “How lovely,” she replied without thought. Giving up her attempts at trying for a subtle approach, she decided to get straight to her point.
“My lord, do you know Lady Victoria Bartley?”
Alfred blinked at the abrupt turn of the conversation before glancing around to see if Alanna had been overheard. No one was yet taking any notice of them, but he made an attempt to guide the conversation and his friend’s sister away from any unwanted attention.
“As a matter of fact, I have made her acquaintance. Could I fetch you a glass of lemonade, my lady? I find it is a trifle close in these rooms now that the crowds have gotten so large.”
“Do not try to fob me off, my lord. I would dearly like to have a co
nversation with you,” Alanna said in a low but definite voice.
With a resigned sigh, Alfred extended his elbow to her. “Then shall we take a stroll about the room? It would not do to appear to be in a heated debate over something as inconsequential as a mere acquaintance.”
“Thank you, m’lord, that would be delightful,” she answered, playful now that she had gotten her way. Alanna was careful to smile at her acquaintances as they slowly inched their way through the room and allowed a few moments to pass before returning to her subject of choice.
“I apologize for putting you on the spot, my lord. It is just that my curiosity is near to killing me. Bryghton mentioned the lady to me this evening in an attempt to divert me from a different subject and now I find that I must know what the story is behind his encountering her.”
Alfred admired her honesty and lack of artifice while also feeling profound relief that his own little sister was not as smart as the duke’s. It did not do to underestimate an intelligent woman, and he was amazed that Bryghton had evidently forgotten this universal truth. His own curiosity was now enflamed. “What was the subject he was trying to divert you from that was so engrossing he made the drastic step of asking about a lady?”
Alanna grinned, delighted that the baron caught onto the same train of thought. “That is a subject for some other lengthy discussion. I will not allow you to use the same tactic in reverse, my lord. Suffice it to say that he and Drake did not want me associating with Lord Anthony Dalton.”
“Ah, I see,” replied Alfred, comprehension dawning. “So what did you wish to discuss?” he asked.
“I know Bryght was just trying to distract me, but you should have heard his voice. There was a note in his tone that I have never heard from him before. I think he has feelings for this lady, feelings he may not even be aware of himself. And I want to help.”
“Are you about to try your hand at matchmaking, Lady Alanna? Do you not think the duchess is doing enough of that for your entire family?”
The Reluctant Debutante: A Sweet, Regency Romance (Ladies of Mayfair Book 4) Page 11
