“Mrs Jersey, I shall return in a moment.”
The woman frowned. “Where do you wish to go? Tell me, and I shall go with you.”
“No, no, I merely wish to get a fresh glass of wine. Would you like me to get you one as well?”
The woman's cheeks were already rosy with wine, but she still nodded. “Yes, my dear, another glass would do me well.”
“Very well, I shall return soon.”
Alice hurried away, but rather than do as she had told Mrs Jersey, she went in the direction of the door. Lady Hunstanton kept a beautiful garden that was always well lit and that was where Alice chose to hide from her chaperone. She needed but a small moment to herself if she was to put up with several more hours of this night.
The well-lit pathway made it easy for her to find the famous garden, smiling when she saw the statues. Lady Hunstanton was certainly not bashful about such things. A woman sat perched upon a stone, smiling coyly as a man whispered sweet nothings in her ear. It was enough to make her blush, undoubtedly the reaction that the countess wished for.
Alice looked away, her focus turning to her father. Despite his financial position, he was still gambling. The foolish man had no sense of danger, and with the Duke of Richley in attendance, he was sure to lose again.
Would the duke take their home this time around? She started to pace, peeling off her gloves in anger and throwing them upon the nearest garden chair. Her mind was so preoccupied that she did not hear the footsteps that approached her until a clear male voice made her pause.
“Miss, are you all right?”
Alice turned to see a man she could only describe as beautiful standing before her. Dark, tall, with striking grey eyes that searched hers with concern.
“Are you all right?” he repeated.
He must think her a fool for failing to answer him the first time. Uncharacteristically, Alice blurted out the precise reason for her anxiety. “I would be perfectly all right if it were not for gambling men!”
Stunned at her outburst, Alice covered her mouth and looked away. Goodness, he may be a gambler as well. What if he took offence?
“I could not agree with you more.”
***
Once Hannah had settled with her new friends, Luke had gone straight to the stairs to look for his father. He had found him, but it was already too late to do anything. The duke was well into his cups and knee deep in a game of cards. The Baron of Leeds had been there as well, proving him to be just as foolish as, if not more so than, his father. What was it about gambling that ensnared them so?
He could not understand it, and neither did he want to. Frustration sent him outside where he could breathe in something other than alcohol, cigar smoke and sweating bodies. Luke did not know where he was going, but he allowed the well-lit path to direct him to a quiet place where he could pause and think. The stony trail opened to a garden that was crammed with a variety of flowers as well as a statue that he would not want his sisters looking at. Frowning, he noticed a lovely looking young woman pacing back and forth, her face showing her distress. Luke approached her, clearly surprising her when he spoke to her. But she was the one to surprise him with her answer. He wondered if she spoke of a relative or suitor, and for some reason he hoped it would not be a suitor.
“I could not agree with you more.”
The woman cocked her head to the side. “Truly? Do you also abhor gambling? I thought that all men enjoyed drinking and gambling.”
“They are both useless activities to me, although my father differs. I wish he would not gamble, but his life seems to revolve around card games.”
“Your father gambles? I see that we have something in common. My father is also quite the gambler, but rather than win, he is losing.”
Luke smiled. “We do indeed have something in common. May I introduce myself?” He moved to take her hand, noting her gloveless state. His hand dropped to his side as he looked at her in question.
The woman merely shrugged. “I took them off, they were suffocating me.”
“I would do the same. Well, I am Luke Connolly, the Marquess of Shore, and you are?”
The woman narrowed her eyes. “I have heard of that name, and rather recently too. Are you the son of the Duke of Richley?”
“Yes. Do you know my father?”
She looked away, pursing her lips. What an odd reaction. When she looked at him again, her glare could have smote him where he stood.
“Lord Shore, you are the last person whom I wished to have had this conversation with. No, the second to last person. The last would have been your father!”
Luke felt the ire in the woman's voice, his frown deepening. “I am afraid that I do not understand. I have never met you until this day, Miss –?”
“Ha! As though I would give my name to the son of the man who has ruined my father!”
"Your father?" Luke thought on this information for a second or two. "Aha, I see now. Your father is that foolish Baron of Leeds, is he not? I heard my father speak of him. That would make you Miss Campbell. Am I right?"
“Kindly refrain from calling my father foolish, Lord Shore. It is your father who should be ashamed of himself for taking another man's money.”
Luke crossed his arms. “No one forced your father to gamble his money away, Miss Campbell.”
“I do not remember giving you the use of my name, Lord Shore.”
“What would you prefer for me to call you? Foolish woman? Incensed woman?”
Her finger went up. “I would be careful of your words, I am not some silly woman who remains quiet at the sight of a man, Lord Shore.”
Luke tilted his head, taking in the fiery woman before him. No, she could not be married. She had not succumbed to submission. He found that interesting, quite interesting. “No man will marry a woman with such a sting in her tongue, Miss Campbell.”
She blew air out of her nose, one short burst that reminded him of a raging bull. "I will have you know that I do not have the intention to marry. What use have I of an overbearing husband? However, here I find myself in an infuriating situation where I am obliged to find a suitor. And it is all thanks to your father."
“My father? How can he influence you in such a way?”
She looked away, crossing her arms. “My parents believe that the only way to pay our debt is to have me married.”
“That is a ridiculous solution, Miss Campbell. Surely your parents jest with you?”
“So speaks a man with the world at his feet.”
“I shall speak to my father, Miss Campbell. This is not acceptable.”
She turned to him, shaking her head. "You will do no such thing, Lord Shore. To do so would anger my father, who is a proud man. The debt will be paid, and in the manner my parents have chosen. I may not like it, but I am aware of my duty as a daughter."
Luke admired the woman's devotion to her family, but that did not lessen his resolve to speak to his father. He would not inform her of it, however, lest she breathe fire and burn him to a crisp. “We have one more thing in common, Miss Campbell.”
“What would that be?”
“In addition to our hope that our fathers would cease to gamble, we both do not wish to be married.”
She sighed. "Goodness, what a position we are in. You are the eldest son of a duke. Therefore, you must marry and produce an heir to carry the family name and title. I am the eldest daughter of my father, and I must marry to settle a debt. Both our fathers have a terrible habit of gambling, but your father is currently on a winning streak. You are more fortunate than I, Lord Shore, but we do find ourselves in a similar situation."
“On that note, perhaps we should introduce ourselves once again? Only without the animosity this time?”
She smiled. “Lord Shore, I am Miss Alice Campbell, eldest daughter of Dougal Campbell, the Baron of Leeds.”
“Enchanté, Miss Campbell. I am Luke Connolly, also known as the Marquess of Shore, eldest son of George Connolly, the Duke of Richley.
”
The woman laughed, the sound strangely warming to him. “Your introduction is far longer than mine, Lord Shore. It is quite the mouthful. Surely you do not always introduce yourself in such a manner?”
“Heavens no. I would be here all night if I did. Besides, there are not many people who do not know who I am.”
“Is that a boast, Lord Shore?”
“No, merely a fact. I imagine that my father has a lot to do with that.”
“Or perhaps it is because you are sinfully handsome.”
Luke could not stop his lips from stretching. “Is that so, Miss Campbell?”
***
Alice could not believe that she had allowed that to slip out of her mouth. The words of her sister from days before had been playing on her mind as she spoke to him, and she had let her tongue run away from her.
"Well, that is to say, that I have heard of young women describing you as such."
“But you did not know who I was until I introduced myself.”
“But I knew of you, Lord Shore.”
“That is a shame.”
“A shame?”
He nodded. “I would have liked you for an admirer, Miss Campbell.”
Alice laughed. “Goodness! You think much of yourself, Lord Shore.”
She watched as he gallantly shrugged, his face full of amusement.
“I am but a man at the end of the day. So, have you found any potential suitors?”
"I have not given any man a chance yet, and I do not know if I shall. It is one thing to know that you need to marry, and quite another to go looking for a suitor."
“My sentiments exactly.”
He certainly was not how she believed he would be, not at all. She had conversed with him for quite some time and had no need to flee his presence. She could potentially become friends with him, but that may send tongues wagging. Speaking of which, anyone could happen upon them and think something untoward about them.
“Lord Shore, it is better for us to return to the ball. I would not wish for anyone to see us here and, well...”
He raised his eyebrows. "Oh, I see. Yes, yes. Do let us return. You may go first, and I shall follow after a moment or two."
Alice nodded before walking back into the ballroom. The memory of promising Mrs Jersey another glass of wine surfaced. She would not be impressed once Alice returned to her side. It was best that she got a glass and found her chaperone, giving some excuse as to why she had been absent for such a lengthy period.
As the night continued, Alice's eyes travelled through the throng of people only to find Lord Shore looking at her. Flattered, she would look away, only to return her gaze. What was she doing? Had she not learnt her lesson? Had the same thing not happened a year ago? Love did not favour her. Alice determined not to look in Lord Shore's direction again, choosing to focus on her chaperone. It was safer, if not a bone-weary solution. Safe was good.
Chapter 3
Violet could not sleep. Despite having returned to their townhouse some hours earlier, she found herself still awake. The ball had been fascinating, a delightful experience that begged to be spoken of again and again until she tired of it. Perhaps Alice wished to speak of it.
Her sister had not wanted to go, but surely she had had a lovely time? Alice had not seemed too unimpressed by the ball, in fact. She had been in her own world for much of the carriage ride home. Had she met anyone interesting? There was only one way to find out. Violet sprung out of bed, tiptoeing out of her room and into her sister's bedroom. She expected to wake her sister up but found herself staring into chartreuse eyes much like her own.
“Goodness, Alice, are you awake or asleep?”
“I was not aware that I slept with my eyes open, Vi.”
"Oh, good, you are awake. Why is that? You are near fanatical about getting enough sleep."
Her sister lifted a thick eyebrow. “Are you not awake as well?”
“Yes, but that is because I cannot sleep, I am far too excited.”
“About the ball?”
“Yes!” Violet tapped her sister on the bottom when she rolled over and covered her head with her blankets. “Alice! That is most rude of you. Do turn around and speak with me.”
“Tomorrow, please, Violet,” said Alice. Her voice was muffled beneath the covers.
“Humour me, Alice. I shall not sleep until I speak something of the ball.”
She heard her sister sigh before turning around, dropping the blankets to her chest. “Very well. What is it that you wish to talk about?”
“Let me sit next to you, I cannot stand here all night.”
“You demand my attention, and you demand my bed. What else would you like?”
“Hush, Alice, and let me get into bed with you. I would sit in the chair if I could, but I must whisper to you lest Mama scold us.”
Her sister shifted to the side, propping her arm up that she may rest her head on it. “I am in position, tell me what it is that you so desperately wish to talk about.”
Violet could hardly contain the excitement that bubbled up and out of her as she spoke of her experiences at the ball. Everything from the way the guests were dressed to the number of times the same woman and gentleman danced together, the rivalry between women and the new friend she had made.
“Hannah is a lovely girl. Shy at first, but she soon overcomes it once you get to know her. Did you know that she is Lord Shore's sister? I saw her the other day in Hyde Park. Do you remember that I mentioned it?”
Her sister nodded. “Yes, you did speak of seeing them there.”
“Yes, but Beatrice and I also spoke with her. That is why she came to us at the ball. She actually looked for us, Alice. How wonderful is that?”
“Why would it be wonderful?”
“She is the duke's daughter!”
Alice sighed. “I am afraid that I do not understand you at all but do continue.”
“Yes, well, she informed us that her brother was also in attendance. I did not see him in the beginning, more so towards the end. He does cut a dashing figure, does he not? He must have been the most handsome man at the ball!”
“If you go for that sort of man.”
Was her sister mildly irritated, or was it just her? Perhaps she was tired. “Which woman would not wish for Lord Shore to notice her?”
“Do carry on, I do not wish to discuss one man for the remainder of this conversation.”
“Oh, all right. Did you find anyone interesting at the ball?” Violet saw a glimmer of a smile on her sister's lips.
"I may have found a friend. He was different from the rest and easy to speak with."
The Way to Capture a Marquess's Heart: A Historical Regency Romance Book Page 4
