by Alec, Joyce
“It is more than I ever hoped for,” her mother responded gleefully. “Just wait until I tell Lady Cuthbert the news!”
4
Lucy hummed to herself as she wandered along the hallway, her mind filled with thoughts of the prior evening. She had managed to get very little sleep last night, as she had so much to think about.
Lord Caldwell would be calling today, and already there was talk of an engagement ball. Thankfully for her, his mother had been delighted, just as he had said she would be. She had grasped Lucy’s hand as though she would never let her go, apparently exclaiming that she had never believed her son, Edward, would actually find himself a bride. Lucy introduced her mother to the lady and had left the two of them in deep discussion, apparently both as thrilled as the other.
The same could not be said of her father. He was pleased, of course, for having a potential marquess as a son-in-law was nothing to be disappointed about, but his plans for a partnership with Lord Hutton had been broken to pieces.
Lucy had not even been introduced to Lord Hutton, what with all the excitement of the evening, but she had caught the displeasure on his round face as he glared at her. A shudder ran through her as she remembered how he grasped her father by the arm and spoke to him in rapid, hushed tones, gesticulating wildly at one point. His face had been bright red, beads of sweat trickling down his face, and his crooked teeth more than evident as he grimaced and growled.
Lucy had to admit that she was more than delighted with the outcome, meaning that she would not have to even entertain the idea of being engaged to Lord Hutton any longer. Lord Caldwell, however, was entirely another matter. Lucy could not deny that she found him handsome and believed him to be of a warm disposition and kind character.
Would another gentleman of her acquaintance do what he had? He had taken pity on her and helped her in the most admirable way. She found herself enjoying being on his arm, relishing the warm congratulations that had come from all parties. No longer the wallflower, she was the talk of the town, although there had been a great deal of amazement that she had managed to capture the heart and the hand of the earl.
She rolled her eyes, knowing that it was almost unbelievable. No earl would truly want someone like her for a bride. It was just as well, then, that their engagement was nothing more than a façade.
“This is utterly ridiculous!”
Her mother’s voice echoed from her father’s study, evidently having a heated exchange with her father.
“She is engaged to an earl, who will one day become a marquess!” Lady Withington exclaimed. “Lord Hutton has nothing on that. Besides, Lord Caldwell seems to make her happy.”
“Lord Hutton still wants her for his wife,” her father said heavily. “He wants this partnership as much as I do.”
“Then work out a partnership without Lucy being part of the bargain,” her mother answered firmly. “You cannot wish her to end her engagement with Lord Caldwell, surely!”
There was a brief pause. “No, of course I do not,” came the eventual reply. “Lord Hutton is angry, however, because I promised him our daughter’s hand.”
Lucy caught her breath, leaning against the wall for support. Her mother’s shrieks began soon after, echoing down towards her. Apparently, she was furious that her husband wanted their daughter to still consider Lord Hutton. Lucy’s engagement to Lord Caldwell was much more advantageous.
“I will sort the matter out, I assure you,” her father pleaded, apparently quailing under his wife’s fury. “Lord Hutton will have nothing to complain of soon, I promise.”
“He had better not ruin this engagement!” her mother screeched, slamming something down heavily. “I will not have our daughter’s new position ruined simply because of some old man’s fancy.”
Lucy’s stomach rolled at her mother’s words, but, on hearing footsteps, she rushed along the corridor and into the silence of the library.
Sagging against the door, she let out her breath, unease rippling through her. Her father had promised her to Lord Hutton, which meant that Lord Hutton had every right to be angry, for her father did not give his word without fully intending to fulfill it. Would he demand some kind of recompense? And, if so, in what form?
More than ever, Lucy was grateful for Lord Caldwell. Had he not stepped in when she had needed him the most, she might be awakening this morning to find herself betrothed to the repugnant Lord Hutton, who clearly wanted her to be his wife in all senses of the word.
Lucy knew very little of the intimacies between husband and wife, but the thought of him extracted another shudder from her. Lord Hutton was a leech, and she would not allow him to even touch her, not once. Should he ask for a dance, she would refuse him. Now that she knew his intentions, as well as what her father had promised, Lucy swore to herself she would not go near the man.
A short rap on the door startled her, and she opened it to find the surprised face of the maid looking at her.
“I beg your pardon, miss, but your mother wishes to see you.”
“And you were sent in search of me, were you?” Lucy replied with a wry smile. “Where is she?”
“The drawing room, miss,” the maid answered, bobbing a curtsy before Lucy dismissed her.
Wondering what it was her mother could want, Lucy made her way to the drawing room, only to find her mother waiting for her with a tea tray on the table. Apparently, they were to have a discussion.
“Yes, Mama?”
“Sit, my dear,” her mother beamed, her face wreathed in smiles. “We have so much to discuss and I had hoped we might start this very day!”
“What could you mean, Mama?” Lucy asked, blankly.
Her mother let out a loud trill of laughter. “Oh, my dear! You are engaged now, so of course we have a great deal to discuss. There is your trousseau, and of course, your wedding gown as well. I think we should also go to the modiste and purchase a few more.” She ran a critical eye over Lucy’s dress. “We must fit you in the best gowns now. After all, you are the talk of the town.”
Lucy swallowed the sudden ache in her throat and attempted to smile. She had not truly considered what might happen when she told her mother about her supposed engagement. In truth, she had never before seen her mother as delighted and as happy as she was now. What would happen when it all came to an end? Would her mother be heartbroken?
“I do not think I need new gowns, Mama,” she replied quickly. “Lord Caldwell has proposed to me already, so it is not as though I need to catch his eye.”
“Nonsense,” her mother declared, pouring the tea. “You are to be seen all over town, my dear. In fact, I have arranged for the carriage in around one hour.”
“The carriage?”
“Yes, yes,” her mother answered, almost impatiently. “To the modiste, of course!”
Lucy hated the thought of being swathed in fabric, of being pinched and prodded. “Mama, Lord Caldwell is coming to call this afternoon.”
Her mother waved a hand. “We shall be back before he arrives, of course. You need not worry, Lucy.” Her face softened as she handed Lucy a cup of tea. “You have done very well, my dear. I never imagined you would capture such a man. To think that you will be a marchioness one day…” She trailed off, regarding her daughter with something like wonder in her eyes. “I hope you know just how proud I am of you, Lucy.”
The ache in Lucy’s throat reappeared almost at once, and she managed a wobbly smile. Her mother had not often spoken to her so, and she still remembered what Lady Withington had said about her only the day before, but still, the words hit her heart with a great deal of force.
“Thank you, Mama,” she murmured, furiously blinking so that no tears would slip down her cheeks. “I do hope you like Lord Caldwell.”
“Of course I do!” her mother exclaimed. “He is handsome and titled. What is there not to like?”
Those words haunted Lucy all through her fittings, allowing her mother to dictate the color and cut of the gowns whilst she
stared at herself in the mirror. Was that all there was to Lord Caldwell—his title and handsome features? She did not want to admit it, but she knew almost as little about him as her mother did. It did not seem quite right to know so little about one’s betrothed, even though it would not last all the way to matrimony. He was of a kind heart, having taken her out of her miserable predicament and promising that he would bear the burden of the broken engagement when the time came.
Did Lucy want to know more about him? Would that not put her into dangerous territory? She stared at herself in the mirror, noting the slight blush in her cheeks. Her mother was right; Lord Caldwell was a wonderfully handsome man. She could not pretend that she was not attracted to him, for even the memory of his smile sent a shiver through her.
She would have to spend a lot more time in his company over the next few weeks, until their betrothal came to an end. She would have plenty of time to get to know him, but Lucy reminded herself that she would have to ensure her heart was not in the least engaged by that time. It would not be a good thing to fall completely head over heels for Lord Caldwell, only for their acquaintance to come to an end. She certainly did not want to add a truly broken heart into their already complicated relationship.
“Ah, yes!” her mother exclaimed, her voice intruding on Lucy’s thoughts. “This is lovely. I believe you can keep this on for the time being, Lucy. Lord Caldwell will simply adore it, I am sure.”
Lucy lifted her eyes to the mirror and found herself clad in a beautiful day dress. Its warm red tones highlighted her brown eyes, whilst also illuminating her golden hair. It was one of the loveliest dresses she had ever owned.
“What do you think, Lucy?” her mother asked, grasping her hand in an unexpected gesture of affection. “Will your betrothed like it?”
“I am sure he will, Mama,” Lucy whispered, unable to take her eyes from her reflection. “In fact, I am not sure he will recognize me!”
“Wonderful,” her mother sighed happily. “Then we will purchase it, and then we must return home at once. It would not to do keep Lord Caldwell waiting.”
Lucy stepped down onto the floor, brushing her hands over her skirts in an attempt to calm her jangling nerves. She had not expected to feel this way, not after only just meeting the man the day before!
Control your heart, Lucy, she warned herself, following her mother out to the front of the shop. There is no use in falling in love with the man, especially when it is all a sham. Remember that it is all a pretense.
Stepping out into the cold, Lucy lifted her chin and tried to smile, pretending she did not feel the sinking of her heart.
5
Lucy drew in a long breath and tried to smile as the door opened and Lord Caldwell was announced. Deep within her heart, she wondered whether he had changed his mind over their engagement, having had the night to think on it. Not that much could be done about it now without causing a severe scandal.
“Lord Caldwell,” she murmured, curtsying gracefully before lifting her head to look at him. “How are you this afternoon?”
His smile was warm, alleviating her nerves almost at once. “I am all the better for seeing you, my dear,” he said, taking her hand before bowing to her mother, who was gushing with sentiment. Lucy gave him something of a wry smile before sitting down, allowing her mother to witter on for a few moments before delicately clearing her throat.
“Shall I ring for tea, Mama?”
“Oh, yes, yes, do,” her mother replied, her face more animated than Lucy had seen in a long time. “You shall stay for tea, shall you not, Lord Caldwell?”
“It would be my pleasure,” Lord Caldwell answered, his eyes twinkling as he glanced towards Lucy, apparently entirely at ease with her mother’s overly enthusiastic manner.
Lucy smiled back and allowed her mother to continue her discussion with Lord Caldwell, noting that something warm was settling in her stomach. Was it because she was glad to see her mother so happy? Or was it because Lord Caldwell appeared to be such a kind gentleman to be so willing to entertain her mother’s enthusiasm?
“And, my dear Lady Lucy, how are you today?” Lord Caldwell asked the moment her mother paused for breath. “I am sure after last night’s commotion, you must be exhausted!”
Heat rippled up into her cheeks as she remembered how he had found her in the garden arbor, and her ridiculous exclamation about how handsome he was. “I am quite well; I thank you,” she mumbled, dropping her eyes for a moment. “I am glad your mama thinks me acceptable.”
“More than acceptable, I assure you,” he replied, his smile widening. “In fact, she has requested that we throw an engagement ball, but I insisted that I ask you first before she begins making any plans.”
Lucy opened her mouth to answer, only for her mother to interrupt with a gasp and a clap of her hands.
“A ball! How wonderful! Yes, of course we should have an engagement ball. It is very kind of your mother to think of such a thing. Lucy would be delighted with such an event, is that not true, Lucy?” Her mother turned to her for a moment but gave her no time to answer before turning back to Lord Caldwell. “You must allow me to help in some way.”
Lord Caldwell reached for one of her hands and patted it gently. “My dear lady, my mama has requested that you call upon her at your earliest convenience. I believe she hopes you might organize the ball together, as it will give you the opportunity to get to know one another a little more. In addition, with my father currently out of the country on diplomatic business, I believe she could do with some company.”
Watching her mother with amusement, Lucy saw the way her eyes widened and her mouth formed a perfect circle as she was robbed of speech for a moment.
“What say you, Mama?” Lucy asked drily. “Shall you write to her this very moment?”
She had not expected her mother to take to her suggestion immediately, but to her surprise, Lady Withington stood up in a flurry of skirts and practically rushed from the room, saying something about how it was an excellent notion and she would press her note into Lord Caldwell’s hand before he left.
Clearly, her mother had not realized that she had left Lucy and Lord Caldwell completely alone. Even as a betrothed couple, this was not entirely seemly.
“Well,” Lucy murmured, suddenly unsure as to where to look. “I think you have my mother in the palm of your hand, Lord Caldwell.”
“She appears to be quite delightful,” he replied, leaning forward in his chair. “But I am not sorry that she has left the room, for it gives us some time to speak freely.”
Lucy’s stomach swirled with sudden nerves. “I do hope you are not regretting our scheme, my lord.”
His surprise was evident. “No, not in the least!” he exclaimed, his dark eyes searching hers. “Are you?”
“Not at all,” she responded, aware of just how quickly her heart was beating. “My mother has never been so delighted, as you can see!”
His eyes lit with humor. “Neither mine,” he said, his lips quirking into a smile. “It appears you have done what so many other ladies could not, according to Mama. She is utterly besotted with you, even more than I am!”
Lucy managed a smile, her breath catching as she took in the warmth in his eyes, the easy smile on his lips. Had he meant such a sentiment, truthfully? Or was he simply playing the part?
“I must confess I was a little surprised to hear that Mama wished to throw an engagement ball for us both, but given the circumstances, I was unable to do anything but agree.” Lord Caldwell’s hand reached for hers, his fingers brushing her skin. “I do hope you are not upset.”
Jolted by his touch, Lucy felt tension ripple through her body, making her more than aware of just how close he was to her, despite being in an entirely separate seat.
“You believe I might be upset over a ball, my lord?” she asked, hating that she was a little breathless. “It is quite the contrary, I assure you.” She gave him a tight smile, relieved when his fingers left her hand and he sat back
in his chair.
“I am glad to hear it,” he replied quietly.
Lucy, deciding to be honest, lifted her chin. “In truth, my lord, I have had very little attentions from my parents who, as you were aware, practically wrote me off. Since yesterday evening, that has changed entirely! My mother is insisting on a trousseau and even a few new gowns for our betrothal period.” She shook her head as a slightly sad smile crossed her lips. “I cannot remember the last time mother was so willing to spend both time and money on me.”
Her words trailed off, her eyes leaving his only to land across the room, focusing on nothing in particular. Her mother’s attentions would die away again the moment Lucy’s engagement came to an end, and Lucy knew she would feel the loss keenly. For the first time in many years, she felt as though there was nothing of ill-feeling or frustration between herself and her mother. It was a feeling Lucy realized she truly appreciated.
“You must make the most of this then, my dear,” Lord Caldwell said gently, his words intruding on her thoughts. “Your mother may give her sympathies towards you for some time after our engagement comes to an end. Now that she knows you have the ability to catch the eye of a man who is, one day, to become a marquess, she will not push you towards Lord Hutton again.”
Lucy frowned, remembering the strange conversation she had heard taking place between her parents only earlier that afternoon.
“I do not believe Lord Hutton is entirely thrilled with our betrothal,” she said wryly. “I heard my father talking earlier.”
Lord Caldwell snorted. “I care very little for what Lord Hutton thinks,” he muttered darkly. “And whilst I will admit that the man is not used to being refused what he wants, I am delighted that I have saved you from his clutches.”
At that very moment, the tea tray arrived, preventing further discourse on the matter. As Lucy prepared to pour the tea, her thoughts would not leave the discussion she had heard previously. She knew very little of Lord Hutton, but if what Lord Caldwell said was true, then they would have to take care around the man. Not that she intended on seeing him again, but if he was going into partnership with her father—even without her hand as part of the deal—then there was a chance she might be introduced to him at some point in time.
