Francesca Shaw - The Unconventional Miss Dane

by The Unconventional Miss Dane (lit)

  Hewitt, deciding that being belittled by his grandmother in front of Lord Allingt6n was detrimental to his dignity, smiled at Marcus as though. to indicate that the old lady was ca'ca and bowed himself out with a meaningful stare at Antonia.

  Marcus sat under the penetrating stare and smiled back, apparently at his ease, but inwardly reflecting that he had never met such a terrifying old woman in his life. The grey eyes regarded him shrewdly but not unkindly, and the wreck of the very great beauty his grandfather had once described was still there in the fine bones of her face and the spirit that still burned strong.

  "So you think I am like my grandfather, ma'am?" he enquired.

  "Cut from the same cloth: I would have known you anywhere as an Arlington,"

  "And I would have recognised you, ma'am, from his description."

  "Get away with you, boy!" Lady Granger waved a hand dismissively but Antonia could tell she was pleased.

  "I'll wager he did not tell you everything about our acquaintance."

  Antonia blushed at the improper implication, but Marcus laughed.

  "Enough to make me envious, ma'am."

  The two settled into a conversation that subtly excluded Antonia. She sat to one side, watching Marcus's face, the play of expression, the movement of his hands, listening to the laugh in his voice. She loved him, wanted nothing more than to run across the room to him, bury her face in his chest and hear his heart heat under her ear.

  It was so painful to see him here in her old home, talking to her great-aunt but to know that nothing had changed, nor could it.

  Ruthlessly she reminded herself that she could not ally herself with a man so unprincipled he would flaunt his mistress he fore her. And if that meant she had to live out her life in spinsterhood, well, so he it. If she could not have Marcus Arlington, she did not want secon~! ~ best.

  Not that she any longer had the choice. He had made it quite clear that he was not here to see her and his reaction to Hewitt had been one of total indifference.

  Antonia he came aware that Marcus was on his feet taking his leave. As he bowed over Lady Granger's hand once more, Antonia saw her great-aunt give a decisive little nod as though she had reached a conclusion to a difficult puzzle.

  Antonia curtsied slightly. "Good day, Lord Arlington." And goodbye for ever, she whispered to herself.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Antonia discovered, as she dressed for Almack's that evening, that deciding on a life of spinsterhood did not diminish her pleasure in putting on her newest gown. The confection of silver cobweb gauze over a deep jade green underskirt was outrageously he coming especially when worn with her great-aunt's diamond set, newly returned from the jeweler.

  As she waited for the carriage to come round, Great-Aunt Honoria regarded her critically and observed, "You look very beautiful tonight, my dear: that simple Grecian hairstyle he comes you. But you are not in spirits, are you? It is Arlington, is it not?" Antonia nodded silently. "Well, I can see why you have fallen for him. Can you not forgive him? Men are but fallible creatures."

  "No, never!" Antonia said emphatically, "He flaunted his mistress before me--and besides, he does not love me."

  Further conversation was curtailed by the arrival of the carriage with the Granger party. Reluctant as she was to accept Emilia's chaperonage, Antonia knew she had little choice, for Great-Aunt Honoria could not be expected to attend every evening party with her niece.

  Emilia thoroughly enjoyed being able to patronise her husband's alarming cousin. Mrs. Granger sensed that Antonia was not only more beautiful and better bred than she, but also far more intelligent and at ease in Society.

  As soon as Antonia took her place in the carriage, Emilia scanned her appearance, noting with dismay how both her husband and her brother-in-law stared openly at the gentle swell of Miss Dane's breasts in. the low-cut gown What was the old lady about, to let an unmarried girl flaunt herself in such a gown? Something:like her own modestly cut bodice would have been more appropriate. Emilia arranged her own lace complacently across her thin chest and basked in an unaccustomed feeling of superiority.

  As soon as they reached the exclusive establishment, Antonia accepted an invitation to dance and: was not displeased at the end of the measure to find herself on the far side of the room from her relations:

  She was pleased to see the family of Sir George Dover, another Hertfordshire neighbour, and was soon in conversation with his two pretty daughters.

  Miss Kitty fell silent in the middle of a description of the most ravishing silk warehouse she had visited the day before 'and two dress lengths for ~ly more than you would expect to pay for one. " and blushed.

  Antonia, turning to follow her gaze, saw Marcus Arlington enter the room. Few men could carry off the severe evening wear insisted upon by the Patronesses of A! mack's to such advantage. Antonia's heart beat wildly and she fanned herself, lest her cheeks were as flushed as Miss Kitty's.

  "Is he not the most handsome man in the room, Miss

  Dane? " Kitty Dover whispered in Antonia's ear. "In fact, I do declare him the most handsome man in Town. "

  Antonia could only stare dumbly across the dan' floor, lost in hopeless love for Marcus. A ltunp in ~ throat prevented her from answering Miss Dover and s could only hope her feelings were not written plain ~ her face.

  "Oh! He is coming over here! Why, I shall just die he asks me to dance," exclaimed Kitty's younger sis~

  Marcus strode across the floor as the next set w forming. Antonia was aware that many pair~ of female eyes followed his elegant progress, and when he stopped before the three young women, bowed and then addre~ her, she was conscious of several dagger-like looks.

  "Miss Dane, Miss Dover, Miss Amanda. Good eveni to you. Miss Dane, will you do me the honour of standi up with me for this cotillion?"

  "You must forgive me, my lord, I have a headache and cannot dance.

  Excuse me." Without a backward glare Antonia pulled back a curtain and stepped into one the small retiring rooms.

  The room was. deserted without even the presence the maidservant who was normally in attendance arm with smelling salts, a pincushion and other essentials ~ rescuing ladies at a disadvamage.

  Antonia laid one hand on her breastin a vain at ten to steady her hectic breathing. It was so foolish to respo so-after all, she' told herself with an attempt at lighin~ if she came to the most fashionable resort in Town s must expect to find Marcus there. She must accustc herself to the sight of him. A footfall behind her sent her whirling aronn

  "Marcus!" she gasped. "You should not be in here, it is most improper. Were we to be seen ... people might believe ... assume..."

  "Then they would be correct," he remarked calmly, taking her in his arms in a manner which brooked no argument.

  Nevertheless, Antonia tried to break free, but his arms were strong around her waist and when his lips neared hers she stopped struggling.

  All propriety, all thought of what was correct flew from her mind the moment his teeth nibbled delicately along the sensitive curve of her upper lip.

  Antonia gave herself up to the sensation of being kissed by the only man she would ever love and when he deepened the kiss she responded in kind, kissing him so fiercely that she felt rather than heard his answering groan.

  At length be freed her mouth, although his arms 'continued to support her. That, Antonia acknowledged shakily to herself, was a good thing, for her legs were too tremulous to hold her up.

  Marcus's eyes as they smiled down into hers were dark with desire, yet sparkling with mischief. "Now confess--That preposterous cousin of yours does not kiss you like that."

  Antonia freed herself with an angry shake. "So that was what prompted your kiss, was it? A desire, not for me, but to best my cousin Hewitt?

  Well, for your information, sir, i have never permitted Mr. Granger to embrace me, nor will I ever do so!"

  Marcus' looked down into the angry eyes, sparkling magnificently in the indignant face, saw the ris
e and fall of Antonia's bosom and judged the time was right to do what he had intended ever since he came to Town in pursuit of her.

  "But you permit me to embrace you. Come, madam, let us end this foolish charade: say you will be my wife and have done with it."

  "It isno charade, sir. When I give my hand, it will be to a man whom I can love and respect, not to one seemingly prompted by an unwarranted possessiveness."

  "Antonia, enough! Stop behaving like an outraged old maid. After all, you have not always shown such delicacy." Marcus groaned inwardly as soon as the words were out, for there was hurt as well as anger now in ~ face. Even so, he was not prepared for ~the stinging rebuttal that followed as her palm met his cheek.

  With a sob, Antonia whisked out of the retiring room, carried onto the dance floor by the speed of her exit. A stately measure was in progress with complicated sets moving slowly the length of the ballroom. Her intrusion set several couples out of rhythm, but they were even more discommoded when Marcus strode to her side, seized her hands and forced her into the line.

  "What do you think you are doing?~ Antonia hissed, sending apologetic glances to the couples on either side..

  "I had not finished with you," Marcus ground out, the social smile on his lips at variance with his tone. "And if the only way to stop you' boxing my ears again is to converse on the dance floor, then so be it."

  They had reached the head of the set. To her horror, this brought them directly under the scrutiny of Lady Jersey. From her raised brows, Antonia gathered that their irregular entrance had not escaped the Patroness's notice. Beside her, Marcus directed a channing smile at her ladyship and was rewarded by a relaxing of her adamantine gaze.

  He whirled Antonia around and they took their place in the centre of the circle, Antonia convinced that every eye in the hall was on them.

  She curtsied and began the complex sequence of steps with her parmer while the other couples circled around them. Miss Kitty, brown curls bouncing, was agog with excitement at Miss Dane's unconventional behaviour.

  "Will you stop this nonsense and say yes?" Marcus demanded, in an almost conversational tone that was surely audible to those around.

  Antonia's cheeks flamed. "Shh!" The steps took them apart and then together again.

  "I mean it, Antonia!"

  "You cannot force me!" she flashed back, still in a whisper.

  Now they were hand in hand, sidestepping down the long row. "You will stay on this dance floor until you give me an answer." Marcus's eyes were hard with determination.

  Antonia was conscious that heads were turning and amongst the watchers some women were whispering behind their fans. She half-turned, looking to flee through the throng, but Marcus was too swif~ for her, seizing her wrists and keeping her to the measure.

  "Marry me, Antonia, you know it was meant to be," he insisted as they whirled around.

  "Never! Nothing you can do or say will induce me to marry you, Marcus Arlington!" The words fell into a sudden silence as the band came to a halt in a flurry of strings.

  Aghast, staring wildly about her, Antonia realised her words had been audible in every corner of the room. The floor failing to open up and swallow her, she picked up her skirts and fled, the crowd parting before her.

  Outside, careless of cloak or bonnet, she hailed a passing hackney carriage. The driver seemed startled to find a lone gentlewoman hailing him outside A! mack's, but he was polite enough when she stammered out the direction.

  Hodge, with the licence of an old family retainer, was frankly scandalised to find her alone. "Miss Antonia! Where's Mrs. Clarence?

  And your cloak ... and your bonnet! What is amiss?"

  "Oh, never. mind Please pay the driver and send my maid up to me."

  Antonia managed to maintain her sang-fro id until the maid had helped her into her nightgown, then ~ed to dismiss the girl. "Thank you, that will be all. Please make sure Lady Granger knows I am returned, but tell her I have a headache and will see her at breakfast."

  Antonia sank down on the bed, put her head in her hands and despaired.

  Under her fingers her temples throbbed and she could still feel the heat of humiliation bunting her cheeks.

  The whole of Seciety would know by tomorrow that she had made an indecorous exhibition of herself at Almack's and humiliatingly rejected Lord Arlington into the bargain. He would never forgive her for that very public rebuff, even though it was he who had been to blame.

  Antonia groan eeL To think she had come to London for sanctuary! Now she would have to retreat once more into Hertfordshire and mstieate until some other scandal arose to titillate Society and she was once more forgotten.

  And Great-Aunt would never forgive her, broad minded though she was.

  At that moment the knocker thudded, audible even through-her closed door. Hewitt, no doubt, with Erailia squeaking in his wake, ensuring that no sordid detail of her disgrace remained untold. There were footsteps on the landing and her great-aunt's sitting-room door opened and closed, but strain as she could, Antonia could not hear voices.

  The visit lasted half an hour. When carriage wheels rumbled away in the street outside, Antonia sat tensely, awaiting the summons to account for herself. It never came and eventually she fell asleep.

  Nervously, Antonia entered the breakfast parlour the next morning to be met by a benign smile from Lady Granger. "Good morning, my dear. I trust you had a pleasant evening last night."

  "No, AUnt, I did not." Antonia sat down, gazing miserably at her plate. "Surely you have heard ... surely Hewitt told you last night when he came?"

  "Oh, Hewitt! I never pay any attention to what he says." Lady Granger fell silent as a footman brought in a fresh jug of chocolate. As he left, she remarked, "I suppose you will be wanting to go out of Town for a while?"

  Antonia raised troubled eyes and the old lady saw with a pang the depths of her misery. But years of experience had taught her how to keep her thoughts from her countenance and she merely added, "You may take my travelling carriage and Blake my coachman will, of course, drive you into Hertfordshire."

  Antonia accepted gratefully. She was a little surprised that her great-aunt had not offered one of the maids to accompany her, but concluded that, despite her call, the old lady was displeased with her and so she did not care to ask the favour.

  It was only a few hours later that Antonia found herself driving out of London, feeling not unlike an unwanted package being returned to its sender. Great-Aunt Honoria had been affectionate, but somehow distracted. Antonia concluded miserably that the old lady was concerned with limiting the damage to the family's reputation and did not press her to talk.

  Blake was a middle-aged man used to driving an elderly lady. and so progress was steady and smooth. Arriving at last in the late afternoon at the Saracen's Head in King's Langley for the last change of horses, Antonia declined the landlady's offer of refreshment in a private parlour and sighed to see the coachman lumber down from the box and stride into the taproom.

  Antonia picked up a book, resigned to wait at least half an hour, but scarcely had she found her place than she saw the skirts of his great coat as he once more mounted the, box. Soon they were bowling through the green countryside with surprising speed~ The new horses must have been an excellent pair but, even so, Blake's driving had acquired a verve and flair he had not demonstrated in the previous miles.

  She thought little of it, "however grateful to be making such good progress and hopeful of being hack at the Dower House by nightfall.

  Blake made the correct turning in Berkhamsted, wheeled left by the castle and began the long steady climb to the Common. Antonia dozed fitfully, but was woken with a start as the carriage lurched.

  Strange, she did not remember the road being quite so rough. Puzzled, Antonia looked out and realised she had no idea where they were. Blake must be lost, and she had given him such careful instructions before they set out from Half Moon Street!

  Irritated, she knocked briskly on the
carriage roof with the handle of her parasol, but Blake took no notice, nor did the conveyance slow.

  Antonia's annoyance increased. Was the man deaf? They could end up miles out of their way and the shadows were lengthening. She dropped the window and, clutching her hat firmly, leant out.

  "Blake! Stop the carriage. You are going the wrong way!" To her relief she felt the pace ease off and saw a clearing ahead with a barn beside it. At least he could turn the carnage there.

  As they drew up, she opened the door without waiting for him to descend and jumped down on to the grass. "Really, Blake, this will not do!

  Heavens knows where we LIFE."

  He had turned and was climbing down from the box. Antonia waited impatiently. "There is no need to get down. Just turn the carriage..." The rest of the sentence died on her lips as the man reached the ground and turned to face her. "Marcus! What are you doing?"

  Lord Arlington shrugged off the heavy greatcoat and tossed the battered beaver hat up on to the coachman's seat. "Why, I am abducting you, of course." His manner was so matter of fact he might have been offering her a cup of tea.