And there was the opening Alex needed. He smiled broadly, allowing himself to look both surprised and grateful.
“You would do that, Mr Rumble? Leave London to speak with your father directly? Why that level of commitment from you seals the deal as far as I am concerned. I look forward to working with you as we learn the ancient history of our county.”
“It will be Capital, your Grace! Absolutely capital!” the young man replied with boyish enthusiasm.”
Alex smiled. “Excellent! I shall await your direction for the particulars. Now please excuse me, I must go and speak with Lord Pocklington. Enjoy the rest of the evening, Mr Rumble.”
He was rather pleased with his deft avoidance of discussing his sister’s marriage; especially as Mr Rumble seemed rather happy with the result of their conversation. It had the additional benefit of reminding him to speak with Lord Pocklington as well, and he made his way straight over to the where the older gentleman was in conversation with Lords Colbourne and Gloucester.
“My apologies for interrupting, gentlemen, but I have something I particularly wish to say to you all,” he began.
Colbourne looked faintly amused. “About the Northumberland property, is it? Don’t worry, I’ve seen the error of my ways and decided not to interfere any further. You are free to discuss the purchase from Pocklington without my meddling ways.”
This disclosure caught Alex off guard, and he found himself frowning. “That was unnecessary,” he said.
Pocklington looked amused. “There’s nothing to be concerned about, your Grace. Whatever Colbourne says, I’ve assured him that I myself witnessed your solicitous demeanour toward his sister, and am quite convinced that you treat her with the respect due to her station.”
Alex felt his good mood evaporating. “I treat Kate with affection and respect because she is my wife, not for Colbourne’s ultimatum and not for the fact she is a Duchess.”
“Naturally you do,” said Gloucester, and Alex was hard pressed to decide if the Earl was deliberately condescending, or if he was incapable of being anything else.
“You misunderstand me, gentlemen. I am no longer interested in purchasing the land.”
There was a moment of silence from the three men, the sounds of the ball around them filling the void.
“My apologies, your Grace, but I was under the impression that you only returned to England so that you could view my property?” said Lord Pocklington, all trace of his usual geniality replaced by a hard businessman.
“That is correct.”
“And this sudden change of heart is down to Colbourne’s ill-advised meddling?” he asked, the look on his face suggesting that Colbourne and Pocklington would be having harsh words in the near future.
“No,” he said, enjoying the surprise on the faces of the other three lords. “I don’t deny that it had some small influence on my decision, but not in the way that you think. I have decided that it is high time I stopped being selfish and accept my responsibilities, both as a Duke and as a husband. I can indulge my interest in the ancient world on my own estates, after all, so there is no excuse for me to neglect my family any longer.”
Pocklington studied him for a long moment. His shoulders sagged as he sighed.
“You’d have paid through the nose for that property as well,” he said mournfully.
Alex smiled. “Most likely I would.”
Colbourne shook his head. “Damned if I understand your logic.”
“You don’t need to,” replied Alex. “Now if you will excuse me, gentlemen, I must see to my other guests.”
He walked away, his chest filled with a mixture of irritation and relief.
“Looks like you’ll be buying some land soon, Colbourne,” he heard Gloucester say with obvious mirth.
Alex allowed himself a smile and decided that Lord Gloucester wasn’t such a bad sort, after all.
*
Kate kept a smile plastered across her face as she mingled with the guests, sparing a few minutes to everyone who crossed her path. Her eyes were drawn often to the ballroom doors as late arrivals were announced by the butler, but Arthur was still nowhere to be seen.
Everything else, at least, seemed to be a smashing success. The décor was creating a minor sensation, and Kate had little doubt that she would be honoured by seeing the same classical style at a raft of parties in the near future. The musicians were exceptional, the dance master experienced, the champagne excellent, and the guests in good cheer. She lost track of the number of people who complimented her on her triumph, but the praise tasted sour in the face of her worry.
She could barely bring herself to look at Lady Eugenia or the girl’s parents, although she donned her best society mask long enough to pass a few words with Lord Flamborough. He betrayed no expectation of an announcement regarding his daughter, which went a little way to soothing her nerves.
Still, she would feel better once Arthur arrived, she was certain of that.
“Dearest, can you come quickly? Your- I mean, one of your guests has had a small mishap, and requires your help,” said Bella, walking quickly toward her.
Kate paused as a sense of dread overwhelmed her, but she did not allow her manners to slip. “How unfortunate! I shall come right away,” she replied for the benefit of the people around them.
She was desperate to ask if it was Arthur, if something had happened, but did not dare do so in public, lest her mask slip. Nevertheless, panic began to spread into her limbs until her arms began shaking.
“Everything is fine, dearest,” murmured Bella. “Emma had it all under control.”
As cryptic as Bella’s words were, they had a soothing effect on Kate’s nerves. If something terrible had happened to Arthur then her brother’s wife would no doubt be acting far more cut up than she was at present.
“Is it terrible?” she asked in a low voice.
“It depends on your perspective,” replied Bella. “Personally, I have no idea how you put up with such theatrics.”
Kate let out a groan. “Helena?”
“Who else?”
Kate did not bother to answer. They climbed the stairs as quickly as they dared, Kate’s friends having the forethought to remove Helena from the ball itself and install her into the parlour.
If Kate had expected another tantrum, she was far more shocked by what she saw as she entered the room.
Illuminated only by the fireplace and a small candle, Helena was curled up on the sofa beside Lady Loughcroft, heartily crying into that good lady’s arms. No ornaments appeared to have been broken, no furniture was thrown about in a rage, simply the gut-wrenching sobs of a broken-hearted girl onto a sympathetic shoulder.
Emma looked up as they entered. “Kate is here now, my dear. She will help make everything right, I promise.”
Kate winced, ready for the torrent of screams and accusations to come flying from Helena’s lips about whatever perceived sin she had committed, yet none came.
“Katie? Oh, Katie, I am so miserable!” said Helena, sitting up on the sofa.
Emma stood to allow Katie to take her spot, pausing only to murmur to her, “Abby has gone in search of her mother.”
“Thank you,” Kate murmured before taking her place beside Helena. Her two friends left without a word, the door clicking shut behind them.
Kate turned to her sister-in-law, holding out her hands.
“What has happened, my love?”
“He doesn’t love me,” said Helena, fat tears spilling over her cheeks.
“Oh dear,” said Kate, pulling her sister-in-law into a tight embrace. “But it seems so unlikely, my love! Mr Rumble has doted on you for an age!”
“Until something better comes along,” said Helena with thick bitterness.
Kate bit her lip, wondering if she had so misjudged Mr Rumble’s character, and if so, who it was that had caught his fancy. “Something better?”
Helena choked on a small sob. “He is to leave London tomorrow, and it did not even cro
ss his mind that it would mean us being apart for weeks, if not months. He even thought I would be happy for him.”
“That seems sudden,” said Kate.
“Apparently Alex asked him to partner on some excavation to do with dead Romans. I so want to be angry at my brother, Katie! I am angry at my brother! But he isn’t forcing Jonathan to do anything, and I can’t blame Alex for Jonathan forgetting to ask for my hand, even though I want to. Oh, I desperately want to!”
She began crying again, clutching onto Kate as though her world had ended, utterly oblivious to the knot of numb coldness her words had brought about in Kate’s heart. Her brother must have removed his objections to the purchase of the Northumberland property, and Alex had not even had the decency to tell her he planned to leave.
“I had no idea that your brother was still planning the excavation,” she said softly. “I’m so sorry, Helena.”
“Is this how it feels to love someone and not be loved back?” Helena asked. “I didn’t know it hurt so much, Katie. I’m sorry that I ever took Alex’s side over yours.”
Kate kissed the top of Helena’s head. “The important thing is to never let them see it, my darling. Let them go play in the dirt looking for old things, we shall laugh and smile and bring the Ton to our feet. Why, didn’t I see the misters Putney laughing with you earlier? Three handsome brothers, to be sure!”
“I don’t feel much like bringing the Ton to my feet,” said Helena.
“Which is precisely why you must do so,” replied Kate.
The door to the parlour opened, and Sarah came rushing into the room.
“Helena my love what has happened? Lady Gloucester said you needed me most desperately. Kate, is everything well?”
Helena sat up, her eyes still brimful of tears, but a determined look on her face. “It seems that I was mistaken in the depth of Mr Rumble’s affections, Mama, but I will be well with time. Katie says I must bring the Ton to my feet.”
“Excellent advice,” replied Sarah, “but that is going to be difficult with your eyes all puffed from crying. I shall ask one of the maids to bring up a damp cloth, and we shall have you looking well within the hour. Your heart can break after the ball, my darling girl, but one must never let the Ton see weakness.”
“I had better return to our guests,” said Kate, rising from the sofa. “I shall tell everyone that your gown needed repairs and that you were quite devastated by the tear.”
Helena gave a weak smile. “That is very clever of you. And… and thank you, Katie.”
“Just do as your mother suggests,” said Kate, and left the room before she succumbed to tears of her own.
*
Moments before the supper dance was due to begin Arthur arrived in a spectacular fashion, and Alex resolved to throttle his younger brother at the earliest opportunity.
“Ladies n’ Gennlemen, introducing the Most Hon’rabul Lord me,” boomed out a voice from the ballroom doorway. All eyes, including Alex’s, were drawn to the voice, and the mixture of gasps and laughter quickly reverberated around the room.
Arthur, leaning heavily on a gold-laquered cane, plodded his way into the ballroom, pausing only to make elaborate bows to the peers who flanked his path. For some unknown reason he was wearing a long frock coat of palest rose pink that was embellished with more golden embroidery than good sense would have permitted. A profusion of lace swamped his neck and wrists, the latter stained with snuff, and a collection of fobs at his waist jingled like tiny bells as he walked.
If the clothing were not bad enough, he had seen fit to don a powdered wig, whiten his face and place a large, heart-shaped patch upside-down on his right cheek. The clothing had been the height of fashion perhaps twenty years before if one were a macaroni, but in the modern world he looked utterly ridiculous.
Alex was too far away to call his brother to account without making an even greater scene. Neither his mother nor Kate were to be seen, so he was forced to weave his way, slowly, through the unforgiving crowd, all the while cursing the orchestra for not striking up a lively, and preferably very loud, dancing tune.
“Good evenin’ milady,” said Arthur as he bowed so deeply to Lady Gloucester that Alex was afraid he would fall over. “Glorious day; celebrate m’brother, you know! Home, and all that!”
Lady Gloucester, at least, appeared to be amused. “Indeed so, Lord Arthur. May I presume that you lost a bet, and are being punished in a similar fashion to myself not a fortnight ago?”
Arthur gave a theatrical stagger, holding one hand to his chest. “You wound me, Madam! Am cutting a dash, you see, and everyone’ll be wearin’ my coat t’morrow!”
“I heartily hope not,” said Lady Gloucester with a smile. “Will you be a dear and escort me to the refreshment room, Lord Arthur? I find myself in need of some lemonade.”
He was getting close now, and Alex could have kissed his wife’s friend for her excellent attempt to divert his brother, but Arthur was having none of it.
“My ‘pologies, milady, but cannot consort with the enemy! Laid a monkey on Katie to beat you in the shooting thing in the morn’. Fam’ly honour and that! Besides – lemonade. Never touch it. Gut rot, or some such thing. Ask Snowley! He knows!”
Alex, who had almost reached them, stilled at these words. Around him the Ton began to chatter loudly, calling out their own bets for the event the following day.
The event his wife had promised him she was not to compete in.
Before he could shake himself out of his reverie, another female voice joined the conversation.
“Arthur, are you inebriated?”
Alex winced as Lady Eugenia walked up to his brother, who looked mightily offended at her question.
“S’not a question delicate ladies ask, m’dear,” Arthur announced, to much sniggering from the surrounding peers. “Besides, am only a trifle bosky.”
Eugenia scowled. “You’re drunk.”
Arthur smiled and shrugged. “S’only way I could bring myself t’follow your lead in fashion, m’dear.”
The horrified gasps of laughter and the rose-red blush on Lady Eugenia’s cheeks finally spurred Alex toward them.
“Arthur, there you are,” he said, pointedly ignoring his brother’s intoxication and ridiculous outfit. “Did you forget it was the Ball tonight?”
Arthur executed a ridiculously over-the-top bow. “Nothin’ of the sort, Brother Duke. It simply took a little longer t’get dressed. Can’t think why.”
Another ripple of laughter. Alex forced himself to smile. “The Duchess was concerned. Let’s go find her, shall we? Put her mind at ease.”
Arthur looked wary for the first time as instincts of self-preservation kicked in despite his drunkenness. “Which one of ‘em?”
More laughter. Alex gritted his teeth. “My wife.”
His brother brightened up at this.
“Katie! Laid a monkey on her to win, you know. Should tell her that.”
“Very good,” said Alex, finally starting to move his brother back toward the door. A shared glance with Lady Gloucester led that wonderful woman to start talking loudly about the competition in the morning and doing a fine job of diverting attention away from Arthur.
It likely would have worked, had Lady Eugenia not spoken up.
“I never took you for a drunkard gamester,” she snapped as they passed her by, evidently still smarting from the insult Arthur had delivered a few moments before.
Alex groaned as his brother stopped dead in his tracks, and turned slowly to face Lady Eugenia. Arthur grasped at his waist a few times, finally locating a garish monocle that he raised to his right eye.
“Disappointed?” he said.
“Undoubtedly,” she replied, looking down her nose at him.
“There’s not a man in here who’s not indulged, m’dear,” he replied, his hauteur diminished by the way he was swaying side to side.
“Leave it alone, Arthur, this is neither the time nor the place.” commanded Alex, but both his
brother and Lady Eugenia ignored him.
“I cannot abide men who think that it is amusing to pull such childish pranks as your current get-up, or who think it the height of entertainment to risk their fortune on a public spectacle.”
Arthur cocked his head to one side. “Sounds like husband material to me.”
The laughter was uproarious from the Ton as Eugenia’s scowl darkened. “I should rather die a spinster.”
“Rather be a spinster than marry a bosky gamester?” said Arthur, looking as though this was the greatest surprise he had ever encountered.
“Beyond a shadow of a doubt.”
Arthur grinned. “D’you hear that, Brother Duke? Eugenia don’t want to marry a drunkard gambler.”
“I heard,” said Alex, “now let us go find Kate.”
“Not yet! Sefton, old chap! Are you here?” he bellowed.
“Indeed I am, my boy,” replied the Earl – a man notorious for his gambling addiction.
“I’ll wager you my entire fortune that Kate wins the competition tomorrow.”
“No!” said Alex, but it was too late.
“Done!” replied Sefton, and a mighty cheer went up from the surrounding members of the Ton. More bets were called and accepted so that any veneer of respectability for the shooting contest was shredded to pieces.
“I’m a drunkard, a gambler, and likely a pauper in the morning,” Arthur said with a smile aimed at Eugenia. “But at least I shall remain a bachelor. After all, you publicly declared you won’t marry a man like me.”
“I hate you,” Lady Eugenia seethed.
“Mutual, m’dear,” replied Arthur with a lazy smile.
For one horrible moment Alex thought she was going to slap his brother right there in front of everyone. Instead she cast a hate filled glare at Alex, who unconsciously took a step backwards. “I wish you well with him, your Grace.”
Alex blinked as she walked away. Someone, somewhere (he suspected Lady Gloucester or Lady Colbourne) had the good sense to convince the orchestra to strike up a cotillion. There was no sign of any of his female relatives, and for that, he did not know whether to be alarmed or grateful.
The Rebel Wife: Book Four in the Regency Romps Series Page 15
