by Ella Quinn
“I’ll just wrap it back up and put it away.” Curran carefully placed a large piece of linen around it.
“When you are finished, please order me a bath.” Dorie had gone straight from Alex’s—Alex’s and her bed—without washing. She had been so busy that she had not noticed the small aches in places she had not known were there before.
“I’ve already done so, my lady. I also asked for tea and biscuits to be sent up.”
“You are a gem, Curran. I do not know what I would do without you.” Dorie removed her spencer and placed it across the back of a chair.
“It is a pleasure to work for a lady who appreciates one’s work.” When Curran returned she began unfastening Dorie’s gown. “What will you wear this evening?”
It had to be something special. “What do you think about the peach silk with my pearls?”
The gown had netting dotted with gold spangles and pearls. Along the bottom quarter of the skirts a wide gold applique had been sewn to the netting. The bodice was ruched and trimmed with gold satin ribbon.
“I think the dress is a good idea. I do wish you had something other than your pearls to wear with it.”
“As do I.” Soon she would have the Exeter jewels, but until then, her pearls would have to do.
She drank the tea and ate several ginger biscuits while she waited for the bathtub to be filled. Instead of being able to relax in the warm water, her mind was full of things she had to accomplish in the next two weeks. Chief of which was to make her apartments in Exeter House livable. She knew from things her mother had said that the rooms would be the only place she could truly call her own. And how much time could she spend at her new home? Would she have to have a maid or footman with her every time she went there? Dorie would ask her mother this evening.
Shortly before seven, as Curran was putting finishing touches on Dorie’s hair, a knock sounded on the door.
“I’ll see who it is,” her maid said.
A few seconds later she set a large, shallow box on the toilet table. “From Lord Exeter, my lady.”
Inside was a heavy gold necklace with teardrop pearls hanging from it and matching earrings. “Oh, my goodness.” She lifted the necklace. “He could not have chosen better if he had known what I was wearing.”
“No, indeed, my lady. They suit you perfectly.” Curran removed Dorie’s pearls, replacing them with the new necklace.
Dorie took out her old earrings and put on the new ones. “What a difference they make.”
Another knock came on the door, but this time it opened and her sister came in, followed by Alex’s sisters. “Penelope and Phillida are spending the night. We came to look at you.”
Since the beginning of the Season, Ophelia had taken to coming to Dorie’s chamber to look at her gowns. She rose from the bench. “What do you think?”
“I think you look like a princess,” Phillida said.
“You are beautiful, and I am glad Alex is marrying you,” Penelope added.
“I am too.” Despite the misgivings Dorie had before, she was not at all disappointed to be responsible for them.
Ophelia leaned closer and wrinkled her forehead. “The new jewelry makes you look a little like Caro.”
“More like a married lady, you mean?” Dorie asked. That was it. The difference in the necklace and earrings. They were not what a young lady would wear.
“I suppose so.” Her sister nodded.
She noticed that they were very dressed up to be having dinner in the nursery. “Are you dining downstairs this evening?”
They all nodded, and Ophelia said, “And we will be allowed to look at the guests arrive from the landing as long as we stay out of sight.”
Dorie remembered doing that. It had been so much fun to see all the ladies in their gowns and jewels. “Do you know the best place to watch?”
Her sister smiled. “At the curve of the staircase on the second floor?”
“Yes. That’s it. You will be well out of sight, but be able to see everyone. We must find the perfect place in Exeter House.” Rising, she took Penelope’s and Phillida’s hands. “Shall we go down?”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
When Dorie entered the drawing room with the girls she was pleased to see Alex was already there. Then again, he had probably brought his sisters over. He took her hand and raised it to his lips, all the while gazing into her eyes. “I’m glad your mother arranged this.”
“I am as well.” Although Dorie did wish Mama had told her about it beforehand.
As if he heard Dorie’s thoughts, he said, “It was a surprise to me as well.” Stepping back, his eyes roamed from the top of her head to her feet. “You are exquisite.”
A slow heat rose in her cheeks as she remembered how he had looked at her earlier today. “Thank you. The pearls are perfect.”
“The moment I saw them, I thought of you.”
Ophelia groaned loudly. “You are going to be worse than Huntley and Caro.”
“You wait,” Dorie retorted. “You will be the same when you find the gentleman with whom you wish to spend the rest of your life.”
“Did someone mention my name?” Her brother and sister-in-law strolled into the room behind Mama and Papa.
“I think it is romantic,” Penelope said. “And I am glad they get on so well.”
Alex turned Dorie so that his back was to his sisters. “Especially after my parents.”
Banwell entered the room and bowed. “Viscount and Viscountess Knutsford.”
Once Mama had greeted them, Judith Knutsford came straight to Dorie. “I cannot tell you how happy I am that you have decided to marry my brother.”
“Welcome to the family.” Her husband bowed. To Alex he said, “I see you finally figured it out.”
To her surprise, he flushed. “It was just like you said it would be.”
She would have to ask him about that later.
Dinner was full of banter. Instead of wine, the children had been served lemonade.
To her surprise, Alex said to his sister, “Do you know why the marchioness’s apartments at Exeter House have not been redecorated in some time?”
“I do.” Judith’s lips flattened. “They had just been redone before Grandpapa died, and Father decided they did not need to be changed. Mama was not happy about it, but for a few years put up with the rooms. When our father again said they did not need to be redecorated, she moved into the green rooms.”
“I see.” Alex glanced at Dorie and she could tell he wondered if his sister even knew about the other family.
“Well.” She smiled brightly. “They are being changed now.”
“Now that doesn’t surprise me at all.” Lord Knutsford raised his glass to Alex.
Two hours later, she and Alex were standing in the receiving line. As it was an entertainment hosted by both her mother and sister-in-law—Huntley and Caro did not have space for a large event—they joined Dorie’s parents. When Alex was successful in taking two sets away from gentlemen she had accepted, her brother laughed.
“You have no idea how often I’ve watched Dorie dance with other men and wanted it to be me,” Alex retorted.
“I had no idea you were so romantic.” If she had known, she would not have dismissed him so quickly when they first met.
“I also wanted to throw you over my shoulder and take you away,” Alex murmured in her ear.
Knowing him as she now did, she could imagine him doing just that. “That would have been much worse than Miss Chatham jumping into Dursley’s arms.”
Miss Chatham, Lord Dursley, and their parents were announced.
When the couple got to Dorie and Alex, Dorie said, “I take it all is well.”
“It is.” Miss Chatham gazed up at Dursley as if he was a conquering hero. “Although, I was severely reprimanded for the scene I caused
.”
He placed his hand over hers and grinned. “But as conduct not befitting a future countess.”
“We will tell you about it afterward,” she said as they moved on.
An hour later, Papa had announced their betrothal, and Alex led Dorie out for the first dance, a waltz. “I wish I could take you home with me tonight.”
“I do as well.” She wanted to sleep with his arms around her. “Two weeks seems like such a long time.”
When Lord Belmont came to claim Dorie’s second set, Alex scowled. Except for this dance, he had managed to secure the rest of them.
Lord Belmont laughed. “Look at it this way, Exeter. I will probably be the last man to dance with your betrothed other than you.”
Alex still did not like it. “I want her right back after the set is over.”
His beloved glanced at her dance partner and looked as if she wanted to roll her eyes. “I shall not be that long.”
Alex and Dorie sat out the next set with Miss Chatham and Lord Dursley.
“Did you ever discover who was taking your letters?” Alex asked.
“My mother,” Miss Chatham said without heat. “She did not think Tony was serious about me and she thought if we stopped our communication, he would forget about me and I could find someone who truly cared.”
“I wanted to ask for her hand before I left for the Continent,” Dursley said. “But my father thought I should wait. I have a feeling he was of the same opinion as Mary’s mother.” He raised her hand and kissed it. “They were both mistaken.”
Dorie glanced at Alex and smiled. “When will you wed?”
“Next week,” Dursley said. “I am not waiting any longer to make her my wife.”
“We shall stay in Town to attend your wedding breakfast, though,” Miss Chatham exclaimed. “More than anyone, you were responsible for our happiness.” She looked at Dorie. “I am so sorry we had to deceive you.”
“Do not be.” Dorie shook her head. “It was watching you with him that made me realize I loved him.” He placed a kiss on the palm of her hand. “And I would not have offered to instruct you otherwise.”
Now that was a surprise. “I knew there was another reason, but I never guessed what it was.”
A pretty pink painted her cheeks. “I knew, or rather Lady Adeline knew, that you were not in love with Miss Chatham. I also knew that she did not know anything about managing an estate. Since I had failed at finding you a wife who did know, I had to do something to help you.”
Alex wanted to take Dorie into his arms and kiss her. “And you never thought of yourself as my perfect wife.”
“No.” She had a small smile on her lips. “I never did. I was certain that you did not want a love match.”
“Well,” Miss Chatham said, “I knew he was in love with you when I saw the way he looked at you.”
“I have a feeling you are not the only one,” she admitted ruefully.
Earlier, Lady Adeline and Miss Stern had both told Dorie it was about time she saw what was under her nose.
Later that evening, Lord Huntingdon told Alex he had found one gentleman he trusted to help Alex manage his estates. “I’ll send him over tomorrow afternoon.”
“Do you mind if I join you when you interview him?” Dorie asked.
“Not at all.” He wanted her to be involved in every aspect of their lives. “He will be part of our household. Therefore, you should be part of the decision.” The last waltz began and Alex led her to the dance floor and took her into his arms. “I want to include you in every decision I make. Not because I don’t know what to do, but because I love you.”
“And I love you.”
* * * *
The next morning, Dorie sent Alex a message that she would be at the modiste, but she would see him after she returned. That ended up being shortly before the gentleman he was to interview arrived. “What took so long?”
“You have no idea the number of new gowns and whatnot I require now that I will be a married lady.” Coyne had brought a tea tray, and she poured. “If you paid attention, you would have noticed the difference in what young matrons wear as opposed to what unmarried ladies wear.”
He tried to bring up a memory of what other ladies were wearing and failed. “Other than a few outrageous turbans and feathers, I only noticed you.”
“That is very nice.” She took a sip of tea. “Although I do not think Lady Bellamny would appreciate it.”
“Is she the one with the turbans?”
“The most colorful ones.” Before he could question Dorie further his butler knocked on the open door. “Mr. Sterling to see you, my lord, my lady.”
Sterling? A tall, lanky man using a cane entered the study grinning. “I tried to tell the man not to give you my name at all.”
“John?” Standing, Alex walked around his desk and pulled his long-lost friend into a hug. “I thought you’d died.”
“I don’t mind telling you it was a near thing. By the time they found me, I was so ill my commander decided to leave me in Portugal to heal.”
Releasing his friend, he glanced at Dorie. “My love, allow me to present Mr. John Sterling. We were roommates at both Eton and Oxford. John, my betrothed, Lady Dorie Calthorp.”
“A pleasure, my lady.” He bowed. “I wish you both very happy.”
“Thank you.” Rising gracefully, she held out her hand and John bowed over it. “Would you like me to leave?”
“No.” Alex would have time to talk to his old friend later. For now, he meant to go on as he meant their marriage to proceed. “Not at all. John, please have a seat and a cup of tea, and tell us what you’ve been doing.”
“How do you take it?” Dorie asked.
“Just sugar, please.” He lowered himself onto the chair in front of Alex’s desk and took the cup. “Thank you, my lady.”
“Once I was well enough to travel, I went home, but it was not just my body that had been injured. You know I only bought my commission because of what happened.”
Alex nodded. John had been devastated when the lady he loved disappeared. “I know.”
“I’m afraid I was not meant to be a solider. I was good at it, but I didn’t like it the way many men did.” He drank some of the tea and took a biscuit. “To make a long story short, I became interested in how the estate ran. Silly really, I am not the heir, but it fascinated me. I’ve been working with my father’s steward for a few years now. But my family was concerned that I was hiding myself from the outside world, and began pushing me to go out and find employment doing the job.” He set the cup down and opened his arms. “So, here I am.”
“You come highly recommended by my future father-in-law.” Alex looked at Dorie and slightly raised one brow.
“You do,” she agreed. “He told me that you have been instrumental in modernizing your father’s estates, and even gave him some advice.”
He was still amazed at how in tune they were. Alex was glad Lord Huntingdon had suggested a salary to which John had agreed in advance of the meeting, leaving nothing more to discuss. “I think that settles the matter. If you would like to work for us, are you willing to start tomorrow?”
John swallowed the biscuit. “I’ll see you then.”
Something about John Sterling niggled at Dorie. Still, she smiled politely, and bid him adieu until tomorrow, staying where she was as Alex walked the man out. She poured another cup of tea, and thought about what he had said. It was the part about his buying a commission that had given her a feeling. Not a bad one. Simply that something was about to happen.
“What is it?” Alex’s tone was slightly suspicious. “Do you not like him?”
Well, that would cause a problem. “I like him, but there is something I would like to know.”
Alex came back around his desk and sat. “What exactly?”
Placing he
r elbow on the desk, she propped her head on her hand. “What caused him to join to the army?”
Her betrothed’s brows lowered as he thought. “I suppose I can tell you. We were very young, barely twenty, and there was a young lady. John thought he was in love with her, but her father betrothed her to Lytton. After Lytton—”
She interrupted Alex. “After he jilted the lady when her father died by his own hand.”
He gazed at her for a moment, before saying, “Yes. He went to her family’s house, but she wasn’t there.”
“Of course she was not. She had gone to stay with her maternal grandmother, changed her name, and became a governess.” The only part she did not understand was if Miss Holliwell was in love with another gentleman, why did she leave? Had she solved one mystery to be presented by another? “How did Mr. Sterling know her?”
“They grew up together on neighboring estates. Why, and how do you know about it? Not many people do.” Then his eyes widened. “Miss Holliwell.”
“Precisely.” She finished the rest of her tea. “The question is, was she in love with him?”
Alex leaned back in his chair and put the tips of his fingers together. “You know, I do not recall him ever mentioning that she returned his affections. Her father was a peer, and he was a younger son who had to work for a living. He was meant to be a barrister.”
Why was it heartbroken young men always wanted to join the army? The son of one of her father’s tenants had done the same thing. “This should prove to be interesting. I wonder if he is still in love with her.”
Alex shook he head and shrugged. “I have no idea.”
“I think we should warn one or the other of them.” She waited for his reaction to what she had just said. After several moments he nodded his agreement. “Very well. I shall tell Miss Holliwell.”
“I’ll talk to John when he gets here tomorrow.” Alex stood and held out his hand to her. “Speaking of that, you should decide which rooms he will have.”
She placed her fingers in his and rose, and he drew her to him. “Perhaps there is something else we can do first.” His lips touched hers and Dorie felt as if a flame had been lit. “There is only one problem—”
