Entangled with the Duke: A Clean & Sweet Regency Historical Romance Book
Page 8
Raven spent another hour with the Lady of the house though there seemed to be little he could glean off of her regarding Lady Alexandra.
* * *
Though the duke tried to include their now mutual acquaintance in conversation casually, Lady Eagleton was always quick to change the subject.
* * *
The only information he received was the fact that Lady Alexandra was a wonderful dear friend to the countess and is very beloved once people get to know her.
* * *
He couldn’t help but feel any mention of the lady’s name put the countess in the defensive. It was clear that she did care much for this friend of her’s and seemed very much at odds over talking the matter over with Raven.
* * *
Still unsatisfied with the day's events, Raven finally retired from Eagleton’s house to return back to his own. Aunt Rebecca tried her best to engage him for the night, but in all honesty, he still had had little time to recuperate since his long travels. Instead of joining his aunt for an evening of cards and socialization he retired to bed with his apologies.
Chapter Nine
“Alexandra! Alexandra! Where are you, child?” Lord Grebs called out in a fit as he marched up and down the narrow hall outside his library.
* * *
“Father, I am here,” Lady Alexandra said, hearing him as she came in the door.
* * *
Lady Alexandra had spent the morning out looking over fresh produce at the bi-weekly market. She handed her basket of fresh cheese, bread, and some dried apples to Polly before rushing to her father’s aid.
* * *
Rarely was he removed from his library, but often as was the case these days, it was in a fit of discomfort.
* * *
She took her father’s hands and eased him back into the room. Though the day was still warm, she lit the small hearth for comfort.
* * *
“It is just all a disaster,” Lord Grebs was saying walking the small room.
* * *
“It can’t be all that bad Father. Just tell me the problem, and I shall find a way to fix it.”
* * *
“It is the dear animal,” he said pointing down to the oversized pincushion still in its place of honor.
* * *
“Are you having trouble in your studies then?” Lady Alexandra asked, taking a seat.
* * *
She found that when her father was in such a state the best aid she could give him was a calm, relaxing atmosphere.
* * *
“John Lucas needs the specimen and my notes today,” Lord Grebs said with finality only half noticing his daughters presence. “Hellen in the kitchen is being so unreasonable,” he added.
* * *
“I don’t think Hellen is trying to be unduly difficult. What concern does she have with the creature? I can’t imagine she would desire it on a dinner menu,” Lady Alexandra said smiling at her own wit.
* * *
“It’s not that, Alexandra,” Lord Grebs said with a huff.
* * *
His hair was exceptionally unruly this morning. Lady Alexandra had a feeling that today was going to be an exceptionally difficult one.
* * *
“I called for Thomas to come and pick the creature up. The porcupine needs to be at the museum by tomorrow morning,” Lord Grebs repeated.
* * *
“ Thomas has the day off; you know that,” Lady Alexandra said though she was sure her father didn’t know that nor did he know what day it was, save in relation to the museum’s schedule.
* * *
“Well, then Hellen must hitch the cart and take it to the museum. It must be there before tomorrow morning, as well as my notes,” he said, as if the thought just came to him.
* * *
Lord Grebs fisted a small notebook and waved it in the air.
* * *
“Hellen has her own duties to attend to. She hasn’t the time to hitch the cart and run errands. After all, it is why I go to the markets for her every second Monday.”
* * *
“Well, it doesn’t matter what other duties there are, this is far more important.”
* * *
Lady Alexandra took a long steady breath. Everything that had to do with that museum took far more precedence than anything else in her father’s eyes.
* * *
“I’m sorry, Father but it just can’t be done.”
* * *
“Well then you take it,” Lord Grebs said pointing his book at his daughter.
* * *
“I wouldn’t know how to hitch the cart nor how to drive it.”
* * *
“Then hire a hackney,” Lord Grebs interjected.
* * *
Lady Alexandra looked down at the hands in her lap. They were ghostly white against the grey of her muslin morning dress.
* * *
“You know, Father, that we have limited funds for such a thing each month. The last was used up not two days ago for Sir Hamilton’s ball.”
* * *
Lord Grebs made a sound that suggested that such a use was a shameful waste compared to his emergency.
* * *
“I’m sorry I can’t be of more help, Father, but if Mr. Lucas does not come here himself to pick up the item, then it will just have to wait till Thomas can hitch the cart tomorrow,” Lady Alexandra said standing to leave the room.
* * *
There would be no calming her father today. She was already doing her best to bridle her tongue against telling him what she really thought of his outlandish emergency.
* * *
Though she found his mind's workings to be beyond reasonable at this moment, he was still her father, and she would not dishonor the man by speaking harsh words to him.
* * *
Instead, she left the room, knowing there was little chance of him following. It didn’t stop the long stream of explanation on why the distinguished scientist Mr. John Lucas could not leave his work for even a moment that day to collect the porcupine himself.
* * *
Lady Alexandra had finally thought the discussion was put to bed and the day could continue on until she heard her father calling again.
* * *
“Look! Look, Alexandra,” he said as she left the drawing room where she was overseeing Sophia's painting lesson.
* * *
“I found this in the back garden shed,” Lord Grebs said, wiggling a baby pram in the hall.
* * *
Bits of dust flew up from the black material head cover and wicker basket. Lady Alexandra had a moment of a coughing fit.
* * *
“Whatever is that old thing for,” Lady Alexandra asked not even knowing how Lord Grebs had ventured into the back garden and shed and dug it out.
* * *
“Look, it fits just perfectly inside,” Lord Grebs said wheeling the small baby carriage closer to her.
* * *
Much to Lady Alexandra’s surprise, the stuffed porcupine was set in the wicker baby carriage with an old baby blanket covering its bulky size so that only its face stuck out looking directly at the driver.
* * *
“That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen. What do you expect me to do with that?” Lady Alexandra said forgetting her wishes to keep her father calm.
* * *
“You can take it now, obviously,” Lord Grebs said motioning to the carriage. “I couldn’t bring myself to ask you to carry it on account of the quills. There is no danger of it shooting them at you, but they are still very uncomfortable to touch.”
* * *
“How very kind of you, Father,” Lady Alexandra said with little feeling as she studied his suggestion. “Are you asking me to wheel your stuffed creature in a baby pram all the way to the museum?” She asked, attempting to wrap her mind around her father’s crazy wishes.
* * *
“Well take P
olly with you, of course. You can have her wheel the cart if it would make you feel better,” Lord Grebs said not seeing anything wrong with the idea.
* * *
“The whole of the ton would think I was walking a baby around the streets of London. Me? I am an unmarried woman. I can’t even begin to imagine the gossip such a thing would cause.”
* * *
“Oh nonsense,” Lord Grebs waved off. “It will be quite all right. It is imperative that this work reaches its destination today,” he reiterated, returning to his manic tone.
* * *
As much as Lady Alexandra dreaded the idea, the only one she feared more was that he would call one of her other sisters to do it in her stead. She couldn’t risk that happening to them.
* * *
“Alright, I’ll take the thing to the museum,” Lady Alexandra said.
* * *
She watched as her father’s face washed over with relief and split into a smile. She couldn’t help but feel some satisfaction in knowing that she at least calmed her father for today.
* * *
She highly doubted that such satisfaction would be enough as she made the long walk through London, past Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens to her father’s favorite museum.
* * *
For the trip, Lady Alexandra did accept the company of the housemaid Polly. She put on her most unnoticeable brown walking dress, and a large matching hat that covered much of her face.
* * *
Her one and only hope was that she could get to the museum without anyone spotting her. There she would drop off the items and instruct the carriage be destroyed so that she would never be forced to such a degrading task again.
* * *
For the beginning of the journey, there was little worry. It wasn’t until she got into view of Hyde Park that her nerves really set in. Of course, her father had insisted such a request to occur right at that moment causing her to arrive at the park at the height of the fashionable hour.
* * *
Though it was still early in the season, the park was already full of ladies and gentlemen riding in gigs or just walking along the park's pathways.
* * *
If she could but make it past the park, she would be relatively safe as not many continued on past its lanes and into Kensington Gardens.
* * *
Lady Alexandra decided to take the longer route going entirely around both parks instead of straight through as she usually did. It would cost more in time but also make it less likely she would be spotted by a member of the ton.
* * *
It was with relief that she saw the museum steps come into view. Lady Alexandra was sure that a moment in her life had never occurred where she was so happy to see the place.
* * *
Sadly, as they got closer a new realization dawned on her. The door leading into the museum was ushered in with a rather large row of stone steps. It would be impossible for her to get the baby carriage inside the building.
* * *
“Polly,” Lady Alexandra said as they came up to the bottom of the steps. “You go inside and inform Mr. Lucas that I am here and that if he wants his specimen for tomorrow, he should come and collect it presently.”
* * *
Polly nodded in understanding before turning to hurry up the steps. Lady Alexandra looked around, one hand resting on the carriage as she waited. She was sure the worst was over.
* * *
This part of the street was all but deserted with few venturing to the museum. The only landscape in front of her was the rear entrance of Kensington Gardens.
* * *
The chance of anyone coming upon her and her strange carriage contents was almost next to none.
* * *
She almost wholly relaxed at that moment until her heart stopped.
* * *
She was almost sure she could see the top of a hat coming around the bend of the garden wall towards the exit gate. She tightened her grip on the handle of the carriage, begging the person silently to go the other way.
* * *
The person didn’t turn away, however, but instead turned to go through the gate. She saw the hesitation of recognition in the Duke of Raven’s dark eyes as they went immediately to the museum and her at the bottom of the steps.
* * *
In a sheer moment of panic, Lady Alexandra could only think of one thing that would save her from the embarrassment of being confronted by the duke with Lady Charlotte currently on his arm and that was to get rid of the carriage and return home.
* * *
In the act of pure desperation, she looked between the front door and her place at least twelve steps apart. Mr. Lucas had still yet to appear, but that would not stop her.
* * *
Perhaps it was momentary insanity, but with her goal in mind, Lady Alexandra gripped the handlebar tight and proceeded to pull the carriage up the steps of the museum.
Chapter Ten
The Duke of Raven picked up his afternoon date right on time. Clearly, the lady had been anticipating the interaction as she was produced the instant his name was given to the butler. Though he was glad not to be made to wait, he also couldn’t dismiss the gnawing question of what prompted the lady to be so excited.
* * *
Though they had danced two sets at Sir Hamilton’s ball, they in truth had spoken very little to each other. Had Raven been slightly less exhausted he might have been keener to produce conversations to entice information out of the reserved lady. As it was, that night, and he dares say every night since, his mind had been occupied with images of Lady Alexandra. Little beyond intrigue over the lady had filled his mind that night.
* * *
Raven was determined that today's outing would be much different. After all, he was here at his Aunt Rebecca’s wishes. It would serve him little to honor his promise to her by actions without at least taking the time to truly get to know Lady Charlotte.
* * *
She certainly was a well-bred lady, and he scarcely could find a companion so adequately suited for the Duchess of Raven. When he greeted her within the foyer of her family townhouse, the exquisite and fashionable decor of the residence, as well as her dress, were not missed on him.
* * *
Lady Charlotte was wearing a well-tailored walking dress in cream with lace trimmings. Her waist was accentuated with a rose embroidered ribbon, and in her white-gloved hand, she carried a matching cream parasol with painted roses. He was sure it was of her own work as was the perfectly accented walking hat with silk ribbon roses tipped just to the side.
* * *
He studied her as they walked to the gig he had parked outside. She was beautiful indeed. Her golden-brown hair was pulled back into a tight twist with a pair of perfect ringlets cascading down the opposite side that her hat titled to. Her skin was of a fine ivory texture with just a touch of rose at her cheeks to give her vibrancy. Even her very movements were that of a refined lady.
* * *
Though such things were undoubtedly taught to her from a young age, there was still an air about her of refinement that could never be taught, only bred. Raven was confident that if he did choose to make her his bride by season’s end, she certainly would do the position justice.
* * *
“I thought you wouldn’t mind if we went to Kensington Gardens today for a walk,” Raven said after assisting the lady to her seat and taking his next to her.
* * *
He motioned for the chestnut stead before him to proceed forward and they moved with a slight jolt.
* * *
“Are we not to take a ride then?” she asked back in her delicate voice before popping open her parasol and holding it overhead to shade from the sun.
* * *
It was still early in the afternoon, but without a cloud in the sky the sun shone down bright on them. In truth it was much hotter than most spring days Raven had experienced in London. In her
fine dress, Lady Charlotte had probably hoped for a slow ride under the shade of the large trees within Hyde Park.