Alanna offered an uninformative shrug while thinking for a moment. “I do not wish to rush him into an unwanted relationship, but you must admit he has to marry someday. It might as well be before he’s old and grey.”
Alfred suppressed his mirth to a low chuckle before drily replying, “I know you are a fair bit younger than him, but you do realize he is not that old, don’t you?”
She again lifted her shoulder in a lopsided shrug the baron was starting to find rather appealing. “He just has not appeared truly interested in a lady before. And I think it is time we expanded our family. Neither Drake nor I are ready to do it, but somebody has to. The house of Wychwood is a rather small little lot. It would be quite lovely to have a large family. It is too late to do it naturally, with cousins and aunts and uncles, so we must do it through marriages and children.”
“Well, if that is how you feel you ought to set your sights on some other lady for the duke. Lady Victoria is an orphan living with a rather nasty uncle. She does have five young cousins who seem to be quite lovely, but they cannot quite offset the negativity of the Earl of Pickering.”
Alanna fell silent while she contemplated this piece of information. Again she offered the same shrug. “Young cousins might be fun,” she grinned. “If you know about them, you must have met them, am I right? So have you seen my brother around this lady? Am I right in thinking there was more to his conversation than merely trying to divert me?”
Alfred debated how much to reveal to his friend’s sister. Obviously he could not tell her about their feud with the earl and he was still unsure of the wisdom of pursuing even a mere acquaintance with the lady given that feud, but he could also not argue with the truth of her words that there did appear to be sparks between the duke and Lady Victoria. And he too wanted to see his friend happily attached. Everyone knows a duke has to wed. It would be perfectly lovely if it could be to someone with whom he could find happiness. That decided, he smiled at Alanna.
“Yes, I have met the lady, and have seen your brother with her. You know how the duke is. He can so easily hide his thoughts from others, but yes, I did think there might be some warmer feelings from him towards her. But, m’lady, I must warn you, there are complications in the situation that may not be surmountable.”
Alanna tilted her head in question, absorbed in the baron’s words. “What kind of complications?”
“For one thing, and it is a major roadblock, she does not go about in Society.”
“Why ever not? She is the daughter of an earl, and I would think an heiress besides. Is she ill?”
“Not ill, nor deformed in any way,” Alfred said, laughing. “But she has the misfortune to have been left to the guardianship of an uncle who appears to think only of himself. He does not seem to concern herself overly about her future and is quite content to allow her to expend her energies looking after his children.”
Alanna gazed at him with eyes full of surprised dismay, and he could see that her intelligent mind was wrestling with the questions of this situation.
“Are there no other relatives that could take an interest in her affairs? I do not at the moment recall her entire family tree, but surely there must be some other aunts somewhere who should be able to arrange for her to enter and take her proper place in Society.”
“I would imagine there are, but none of them have yet to take an interest. She is not yet terribly old and she has been tucked away in schools for many years. It is not an excuse, but her relatives may have forgotten about her.”
Alanna felt her jaw drop open inelegantly at this statement. “How could anyone forget about their relatives?”
“Do you really expect me to believe that you regularly contemplate your family tree and wonder what you could be doing to make life easier for every aunt, uncle, or cousin?” Alfred asked in an effort to help her see reason.
“No, but that is because I am well aware that they are all taken care of.” Alanna heard the defensiveness in her tone and fell silent for a moment. “That is rather terrible, I must say. Well, that decides it then—clearly we must do something. Even if she does not wish to be the next Duchess of Wychwood, she is still the daughter of an earl and has the right to take her place amongst her peers.”
Alfred was full of admiration at her zeal for this project. “What would you suggest we do, my lady?”
“I am not yet perfectly sure. First you must introduce me to her. Once I have met her I will decide how we must proceed.”
“I fear I am not perfectly sure of the wisdom of this course, my lady. Nor am I sure that your brother would approve.”
“Do not be a ninny, my lord, I beg you,” she chided. “Neither of us has to answer to the duke for our actions,” she declared with near honesty.
“I would hate to call you a liar, m’lady, but you must know that is not completely true. As the Duke of Wychwood, he is the head of your family, and as my dearest friend, while I do not answer to him, I do feel a hesitation to do something that would be contrary to any plans he might have.”
“Well, then, never mind about matchmaking. There is a travesty to justice taking place with a young lady of the realm. Is it not our aristocratic responsibility to ensure she has the opportunity to join Society? It really has nothing to do with my brother at all.”
Alfred grinned at this feminine logic and waited for her to continue.
“So how did you two meet her? And do you think there is any way that we could arrange for me to meet her? If her uncle is so nasty, perhaps it would not do for me to show up on her doorstep demanding entrance.”
The baron sobered quickly at her words, realizing how the duke would feel about his young sister associating with the Earl of Pickering. “Absolutely not, my lady. It would not do at all for you to simply show up.”
Alanna bristled at his tone. “Well, I do not see why not. There is nothing unacceptable about the daughter of the Duchess of Wychwood calling on the daughter of the Earl of Pickering.”
Realizing he may have overstepped and pushed her to rebel out of spite, he quickly sought to placate her. “That is not at all what I was trying to imply, Lady Alanna. The problem is that you might cause problems for Lady Victoria. There is no knowing what her uncle will do. He does not particularly wish for her to have friends, you see.”
Somewhat mollified, Alanna acknowledged that she really knew nothing of the situation. “Well then, what do you suggest?”
“Bryght and I met her in the park while she was out with the youngsters in her care. I would suggest that you and I go for a ride and see if we might run into them.”
Alanna grinned with delight. “What a smashing idea, my lord. What time should I be ready?”
Alfred was glad that he had been able to maintain a degree of control over this awkward situation, but he wondered if he was under obligation to inform his friend about this turn of events, and if so, how he would react. Alfred struggled momentarily with these thoughts and so did not answer her right away.
“Are you wishing now I had stayed out of it and regretting your offer, my lord?” Alanna asked, biting her lip in indecision.
Alfred laughed. “I must admit, I do rather wish you had stayed out of it. But no, I do not regret my offer of help. If you must know, I was wondering what Bryght would think were he to find out what we have in mind.”
Alanna lifted her shoulder in her signature shrug. “I do not see how it is any of his nevermind what efforts we make to rescue a young lady from her life of servitude. He would no doubt applaud our efforts were he to take any interest, which I am sure he is much too busy to do.”
Alfred didn’t quite believe her despite her airy confidence, but he allowed it to pass. “Would four o’clock be suitable for you? I think that was approximately the time we encountered them in the past.”
“That would be perfectly lovely. Thank you, my lord,” said Alanna, trying to suppress her grin of triumphant delight.
The baron shook his head with a touch of chagrin before bi
dding her adieu and moving on lest they draw unwanted attention to their prolonged conversation.
Alanna turned back to the crowded ballroom, surprised by the press of people all around. During their conversation she had been oblivious to the crowds around them. Despite her previous anticipation for this social event, she was now impatient for it to be over so she could get on with her plans to rescue the young noblewoman from her current fate.
Displaying a practiced smile, Alanna accepted the next gentleman that came to claim her hand for a dance and wiled away the rest of the night. No one watching her would ever suspect that she was not enjoying herself to the utmost, or that her mind was busily planning for the next day.
Chapter Fouteen
“But why can’t we go to the big park anymore, Aunt ‘Toria? It was ever so much better than that tiny little place you have been taking us to all week,” Vanessa whined.
Victoria winced at her cousin’s words. Crouching down to look her in the eye, Victoria held onto her patience by a thread as she replied. “I know the bigger park seems more exciting, little one, but your father has said he does not wish us to go there. Perhaps when Daniel is bigger we can go. He did not explain his reasons to me, and we just have to do as he said.”
The little girl looked as though she was going to argue, so Victoria cut her off quickly with a reminder. “Would you not agree that the little park is much better than staying home all day? I myself am getting quite tired of being inside the house, but if you prefer it, I will see if one of the maids could keep you company.”
“No Aunt ‘Toria! I promise I would ever so much rather go with you to the park. And you are right, any park will do if only we can get out of the schoolroom.”
Victoria hid her smile, relieved that her ploy had worked. Not fully understanding her uncle’s reasons, it was difficult to explain to the children why they could not go to the lovely big park they had enjoyed so much. But she had not lied to the little girl. At this point, it was true that anywhere outside would do.
Victoria was getting increasingly tired of playing the role of governess, no matter how much she loved her young cousins. She wasn’t even getting paid, but no amount of money would really be enough to compensate for the huge task, she mused, and wondered how real governesses managed. Realizing that in all reality she was a real governess, Victoria fell into a brown study of worry as she went through the motions of getting the children ready for their outing.
I keep telling myself that I am not truly the children’s governess, but what else am I? A governess is someone who must earn their way since they have no other options. What options do I have? My uncle is not paying me for my services, and I have nowhere to go. I am actually worse off than a real governess! I ought to have as open and honest a conversation as possible with the earl and establish what my position really is and what my future holds. Surely my parents left some sort of provision for my future.
Thus resolved, Victoria managed to pull her thoughts out of the dark clouds and return her attention to the children. As she reminded herself, This difficult position is not the children’s fault. Even if their father has not provided them with someone more qualified, I must do the best I can for them.
“Is everything all right with you, Aunt Victoria?” Gwendolyn asked, maturity sitting strangely on the shoulders of the nine-year-old girl.
“Everything is fine, Gwennie, I am just a bit dull today from not getting enough sleep last night. It is nothing a brisk walk to the park will not cure. Shall we be off?”
The group stepped out as always, the four young children being herded along by Victoria and one of the upstairs maids. Everett was busy with his tutor, as usual. Victoria tried not to think sourly of the unfairness of the tutor only having to watch over one adolescent boy while she had to look out for four children of such varying ages. But she loved the darlings, so she shoved away her resentment. As anticipated, the fresh air and sunshine soon brushed the cobwebs from her mind, and she was her usual sunny self by the time they reached the small parkette.
Little Daniel was so delighted about managing to hold onto his ball for the entire walk, he immediately set to playing with it. His three sisters quickly fell in with his plans and Victoria stood to the side watching fondly over their energetic play.
Meanwhile, a few streets away, a frustrated Lord Alfred was escorting a deeply disappointed Lady Alanna out of Hyde Park in his smartly turned out phaeton. Alanna had lost all delight in the sporting equipage when it did not succeed in carrying her on her appointed errand. They had circled the park twice in an effort to find the elusive Lady Victoria, but to no avail.
“What are we going to do, my lord? How am I supposed to help the lady if I cannot find her?” Alanna nearly wailed in her distress.
“Never fear, my lady, this is only the first day of our quest. Mayhap she shall be here tomorrow,” answered the baron in an attempt to soothe his companion.
“I cannot continue to ride out with you every day. My mother, your aunt, and Society will expect an announcement if we make such a display of ourselves.”
Alfred started in dismay at this pointed reminder, feeling the heat of a blush rising up his neck. “I apologize, m’lady, I never gave any thought to that complication. No one pays any attention to how often I am in the company of your brother; I plumb forgot that the same cannot be said of spending time with a lovely young lady.”
Alanna smiled distractedly at his compliment, wondering again if she should just go to the earl’s house and ask to speak to Lady Victoria. Alfred’s next words pulled her from her thoughts.
“There is one other possibility,” he mused, taken aback as Alanna turned with energetic eagerness at his words.
“What possibility? Do you know somewhere else we might look?”
Laughing over her enthusiasm, Alfred canted his head in an inquisitive angle. Alanna blushed brightly. “I do not wish to wait, m’lord. I am eager to get on with our project.”
“I understand, my lady. But I pray you do not get your hopes up overly. I was just remembering that the last time your brother and I encountered Lady Victoria, when she told us very briefly the troubles she was having with her uncle, she and the children were returning home from the opposite direction of Hyde Park. And if memory serves correctly, there is a tiny little park at the end of their street. Perhaps they might be taking the air there.”
Clapping her hands with delight, Alanna bounced beside him on the seat, causing the horses to toss their heads in protest. “Sorry,” she said sheepishly before impatiently prompting, “Well, let us make haste, my lord. It would be terrible if we missed her.”
Laughing with delight over her contradictions, the baron did as he was instructed, directing his horses towards the nearest exit from the park and heading towards the fashionable neighbourhood where the Earl of Pickering lived. They rode in silence for a few minutes while his companion looked about curiously.
“You do not put on an air of boredom like the other ladies of fashion,” he remarked.
Alanna grinned and shrugged. “Oh, I can be bored with the best of them, but I see no need to act so nonsensically with you, my lord. You have known me since I was in the schoolroom. Surely you would see through any airs I would put on.”
Alfred felt his admiration for the lady growing, and he had to remind himself that this was his best friend’s little sister, and there was a strong need to tread carefully. He was distracted from his thoughts by her urgent whisper.
“Is that her, my lord? The young lady over there watching the four youngsters?”
Following her discreetly pointed finger, Alfred was surprised to see they had arrived at their destination. “How ever did you know?”
“You told me all about her, you ninny, it was easy to figure out. Now hurry and stop the horses, I must go and make her acquaintance.”
Without another word and before he had brought the team to a complete stop, she was out of the carriage and hurrying across the street. Alfred had
his hands full with his spirited mounts and was unable to stop her. Castigating himself for not having the foresight to make a plan, all he could do was watch as Alanna dashed across the street, narrowly avoiding being run down by a hackney driver. Throwing the reins to his tiger, Alfred climbed out of his phaeton and too crossed the street at a much more sedate pace.
As soon as Alanna made it safely across the street, her pace began to slow. She almost halted completely, as it began to dawn on her that it might be a trifle awkward to run up to a stranger and announce, “I am here to save you.”
She dithered on the sidewalk long enough for Alfred to catch up to her. “Is anything amiss, my lady?” he asked with concern.
He admired her pinkened cheeks as she admitted her embarrassment. “I have absolutely no idea what to say now that we have found her.” Alfred’s eyebrows rose in expression of his surprise. He never thought it would be possible for this particular young lady to be at a loss for words.
“Come along. I shall introduce you and you can take it from there.”
Alanna held back a moment longer. “What if I make matters worse for her, my lord? I came on this errand thinking I knew just the thing for this lady I have never even met. But I truly know nothing of her circumstances. What if my impulsiveness causes her distress?”
Smiling over her attack of conscience, Alfred took her arm in a gesture of comfort. “I do not think an offer of friendship coming from you would cause anyone distress. For that is truly what you are here to do, is it not? You wish to offer Lady Victoria Bartley your friendship. And friends help one another. That is how I understand our errand. Is that not how you understand it?”
Her sunny grin returned as reward for his efforts. “Of course, my lord. What are we doing dithering here on the sidewalk? Let us make haste.”
With those bracing words, Alfred was dragged along into the park. Amazingly, the occupants of the park had not noticed them until then, so they were unaware that they had been pursued to this spot.
The children noticed them first. “It’s m’lord Fred, Aunt ‘Toria! The duke’s friend. Are we allowed to talk to him?” Daniel had begun with great enthusiasm but then dwindled down to confusion on his last words.
The Reluctant Debutante: A Sweet, Regency Romance (Ladies of Mayfair Book 4) Page 12
