by Abby Ayles
* * *
“Our first stop will have to be here,” Lord Grebs said, walking up to a dark wood door and knocking on it.
* * *
He didn’t wait for a reply but directly opened it and entered. Inside Raven found himself in a rather spacious room that housed both an office and an experimentation lab. Standing at a table with various instruments around him was Mr. Lucas donned in gloves, a protective black apron, and a mask.
* * *
As soon as Lucas saw them both, he straightened up and began to remove his protective layer.
* * *
“Lord Grebs! How good of you to come here and visit.”
* * *
Raven realized that if they hadn’t just entered without response as the earl had done, there was a good chance that the scientist wouldn’t have heard them at all. He was busy at work with some sort of chemical compound.
* * *
“What is it you’ve been working on here, my boy,” Grebs asked, giving the gentleman a hearty slap on the back in welcome.
* * *
“I have been testing the substance recreated from the porcupine,” Lucas said with a sideways glance at the duke.
* * *
“Yes, Raven was just telling me the other day about his theories. I am inclined to believe him, of course. How many years did you say you lived in the Americas, Your Grace?” Lord Grebs asked, turning back to Raven.
* * *
“I’m not sure I could count them all up as it wasn’t consecutively. I would guess at least two or three of the last five, however.”
* * *
“Wouldn’t that be the adventure,” Lord Grebs said with admiration.
* * *
“Perhaps so,” Lucas said rather coolly, looking the duke up and down.
* * *
“Perhaps,” Lord Grebs scoffed. “I can’t even fathom how much information we can glean from the duke here. We all sit in our little rooms and look at specimens on a table, this man here has gone out and seen the real live breathing things.”
* * *
Raven did not doubt that Lord Grebs had the same taste of adventure that had driven his parents as well as himself to explore the farthest reaches of the world. The only exception was that Grebs lacked the funds to do so.
* * *
“Well, then we must be lucky to have you here, Your Grace,” Lucas said, though there was no feeling in it. “Lady Alexandra explained to me that you had made her a sort of proposition for the Zoological Society.”
* * *
Raven nodded his agreement. He hadn’t liked the man much at their first meeting. The second even less when it was clear that the gentleman also shared an affection for Lady Alexandra. His opinion of Mr. Lucas had only gone downhill from there.
* * *
“She does seem very excited for your temporary contributions. How long do you plan to stay in London? I am sure that someone like you with a taste for travel doesn’t stay in one place too long?” Lucas continued in friendly banter.
* * *
Though the earl took Lucas’ words for their surface meaning, Raven could easily read between the lines. Lucas wanted him gone so he could get back to courting Lady Alexandra.
* * *
Strangely this gave Raven hope. For the man to be threatened by his presence had to mean that Lady Alexandra had given some indication that she had interest in him as well.
* * *
“I’m not entirely sure. Naturally, I will stay the season through. I haven’t decided if I will return to my country home after that or not. My aunt is getting on in years, and I don’t feel as comfortable leaving her alone for long periods of time. Who knows, I could become quite the constant figure in this place.”
* * *
Raven narrowed his black eyes on the man making sure that he got his point across. He had the means to stay as long as he wanted.
* * *
“Oh, wouldn’t that just be wonderful,” Lord Grebs said with excitement.
* * *
They continued the rounds of several other scientists’ labs where they showcased to the duke and Lord Grebs their current projects or studies. Most of the men are middle aged if not a bit older.
* * *
“Lucas seems very young for his profession,” Raven said as they took his carriage back to Grebs house.
* * *
“He was practically a prodigy as a child. Smart as a whip that one. We had him study in the museum under the best minds once he was brought to us. He practically grew up in that building,” Grebs said with a fondness for the boy.
* * *
“So, you must know him and his family very well then,” Raven continued to prod as casually as possible.
* * *
“No family to speak of, I’m afraid. He had a mother when he came to us, but she succumbed to the fever not long after that, poor lad.”
* * *
“Well, then he must be very grateful to have someone like you to consider his needs and sponsor him as you did.”
* * *
“Ah, well,” Grebs waved off and looked out the window whimsically.
* * *
Raven could tell that the outing had already taken a toll on the man. He looked a bit pale and weakened by all the excitement of it. Raven was just glad that his spirits had held up the whole trip through.
* * *
Grebs looked down at his gold pocket watch again.
* * *
“It will be getting close to dinner by the time we return. You simply must join us for a family meal tonight,” Grebs insisted. “I am sure if I tell Alexandra the work we accomplished, and how silly she has been for thinking it too arduous, she would simply wave me off. She would believe you, though.”
* * *
Raven hesitated. He had no intention of belittling all of Lady Alexandra’s hard work. Not to mention the fact, he wasn’t entirely sure if the lady detested him or not. He hoped he was warming up to her a little, but he couldn’t say for sure.
* * *
“Unfortunately, I already have plans this evening with my aunt.”
* * *
“Then tomorrow, and I won't take no for an answer. You will find I am quite persistent, Your Grace. Lady Rebecca Sinclair is, of course, welcome to join as well. The more, the merrier.”
* * *
Raven wouldn’t refuse the chance to be in Lady Alexandra’s presence again. He merely nodded his agreement. Already he knew his aunt would never agree to such a dinner let alone be happy with him going.
* * *
A private family dinner would be a clear indication that he had plans to grow a close connection with the offering family. Adding to the fact that in this case, the family in question having four unmarried daughters, it wouldn’t be hard for people to draw their own conclusions about the situation.
* * *
Of course, such a thing never even crossed Lord Grebs’ mind. All he saw was another opportunity to talk with the duke about creatures, flora, and fauna he had experienced in his travels.
* * *
His aunt, however, would not be willing to condone such a connection, not with her own plans contrary to that. He would have to find a way to get his aunt to meet Lord Grebs family in a different setting. He was sure that once Aunt Rebecca met Lady Alexandra, and he rectified Aunt Rebecca's desire for a board seat, she would be all too happy to give him her blessing on the match.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Lady Alexandra settled nicely into her friend’s private sitting room with her sister. She instead wished that one of them had thought to bring the mending along, even though the notion was an impossible one.
* * *
For whatever reason, Lady Alexandra had always felt that if her hands or mind was not doing something, she surely was slothful. Instead, she folded her hands neatly in her lap as the three ladies settled down from their morning of shopping for some light sandwiches and tea.
* * *
&nb
sp; “It seems so quiet in here,” Lady Josephine commented. “Not at all like home,” she added for good measure to show she was enjoying the stillness.
* * *
The only other time that Lady Josephine had entered the Eagleton home was for small gatherings and dinners. Even with small numbers the rooms often rang with merriment and laughter. Today the house fell in the calm silence of emptiness.
* * *
“Yes, Lord Eagleton is out looking at some horses today. Of course, there is just him and myself now, so even when he is home it is eerily silent in here,” Lady Eagleton said with a glazed look.
* * *
Though it was now clear that the chances of Lady Eagleton producing a child of her own was low, that still didn’t remove the desire from her heart. Lady Alexandra pondered on this. She always found her own home so noisy it was almost a relief when she could leave to do the shopping and the like. Williamina was always practicing on the piano, Sophia hardly knew how to keep her tone down to a proper ladylike level when she was excited, and then there was her father who would yell orders from the confines of his library, not wanting to leave it.
* * *
For Lady Alexandra the thought of a quiet, peaceful house was heaven. She saw now that deafening noise wasn’t always heard by the ear. In her friend’s case, it was the silence that caused her great discomfort.
* * *
“Soon you will be returned to your country home where you will wish you didn’t hear the happy sound of little children’s laughter,” Lady Alexandra said hoping to lift her friend’s spirits.
* * *
“Yes, your right,” she said with a smile and squeeze of hands. “Young Charles’ family has been such a blessing to me. With any luck, there will be a new babe as well for me to hold and love.”
* * *
They continued talking on simple matters for quite a while as they ate small sandwiches. A plate of petit cakes quickly replaced the light meal.
* * *
It was after Lady Eagleton retold how young Charles’ youngest daughter, not more than two, had crawled into a basket of laundry and fallen asleep leaving the rest of the house to search for her most frantically for several hours that all three girls had to dab their eyes from laughter.
* * *
“You know,” Lady Eagleton said after catching her own breath, “I think that is the first time I have seen you laugh since returning to town.”
* * *
“I know,” Lady Alexandra said, stuffing her handkerchief into her sleeve. “I haven’t had much cause to this year, I fear.”
* * *
“You do seem very overtaxed. I know you say this prospect with Raven is a good thing, but I do hope you will reach out and ask for help if you need it. I do hate to see you wear yourself out so.”
* * *
“If you mean asking for more help from Raven, the answer is absolutely not. That man is insufferable.”
* * *
“I don’t think so,” Lady Josephine chimed in.
* * *
“Of course, you don’t,” Lady Alexandra said with a roll of her eyes.
* * *
“Well, your father must not either, if he has awoken from his illness at his arrival,” Lady Eagleton added. “Perhaps you are just jaded from your first meeting?”
* * *
“What happened at your first meeting? The ball, right?” Lady Josephine asked, a little surprised that there was something her sister hadn’t told her.
* * *
Lady Alexandra let a long breath out preparing herself. Then she began to tell it all. From their first meeting, for her sister’s benefit, to all the other things that had happened between her and the duke since that moment. Lady Eagleton sat patiently and listened while her best friend told all her woes and frustrations of the man.
* * *
“You don’t blame him for what happened at the steps of the museum?” Lady Eagleton said after Lady Alexandra finished speaking.
* * *
“No, it’s not that I blame him. I just despise the joy he found in the situation.”
* * *
“I don’t,” Lady Josephine said plainly. “You must have been quite a sight. I wish you would include me more. I would have liked to help you.”
* * *
“You have your own needs to focus on,” Lady Alexandra countered with her usual excuses. She sighed again. She had already spilled so much information, she didn’t feel much resistance to continue on. “The truth of the matter is, if you don’t find a husband by the end of the season, I will have to keep Sophia at home another whole year. You know she won’t take to that well. I have no choice though. The house simply can’t afford it.”
* * *
“Or you could find someone,” Lady Eagleton suggest.
* * *
Lady Alexandra gave her friend a glance that said ‘I won't even dignify that thought with a response.’
* * *
“I think you are taking this whole situation with Raven all wrong. Once you see the truth of it, I don’t think you will find your own match by the end of this year so unlikely,” Lady Eagleton continued.
* * *
“Well, then, dear friend, please do enlighten me.”
* * *
“I should think it quite clear. Almost laughable that you don’t see it yourself. The duke has taken an interest in you.”
* * *
“The duke is interested in Lady Charlotte. The whole of society knows that fact. The only interest he has in me or my family is our entertainment value,” Lady Alexandra responded.
* * *
“Perhaps there is talk that the duke has been considering a match with Lady Charlotte, and I am sure some of it is true. But that doesn’t mean he has started to court her. It was clear from the moment Raven came to London that he was here to find a wife. If Lord Eagleton was right in his telling to me, it seems his aunt, Lady Rebecca Sinclair, is most insistent on him doing so. She is even said to have faked a severe illness to get him to return home with haste.”
* * *
“I couldn’t imagine anyone doing such a thing,” Lady Josephine said.
* * *
Both girls gave her a look that said, ‘we know you couldn’t.’ It was a pause of silence that sent all three girls giggling again.
* * *
“No matter what got him here,” Lady Eagleton continued once they had gained composure again. “I believe he settled on acquiring a wife, and I see no other reason why he would be showing you so much attention beyond his interest of a romantic nature.”
* * *
Lady Alexandra opened her mouth to protest again, but her friend wouldn’t let her.
* * *
“Now, I am not saying I know the duke well. Lord Eagleton does, however, and has spoken to me quite a bit on his character. Young Charles and Raven were great friends all through their school years. My husband described Raven as a most honorable, kind, and considerate man. I don’t think someone with that nature would use other’s misfortune for their own personal entertainment, no matter how boring they find London,” she added with a soft smile.
* * *
Lady Alexandra pondered over her friend's words on the road in the Eagleton carriage back home. Lady Eagleton had been quite insistent that they take it. In fact, she had insisted that should the need ever arise to transport a creature resembling a large pincushion she should seek her friend out first for aid before walking the street with the said creature in a baby carriage.
* * *
Lady Alexandra thanked her friend for all her goodness and kindness. She loved Regina as if she were her own sister and adored Lord Eagleton. For that reason, she paused to consider the picture that their opinions painted of the Duke of Raven.
* * *
She still couldn’t wrap her head around the notion that he might have taken an interest in her for a romantic reason. Lady Alexandra hadn’t considered herself a poss
ible candidate for marriage to anyone let alone a duke.
* * *
She was the eldest daughter of Earl Grebs and technically set to marry before her younger sisters. That was not an option, however, as from the moment her mother passed she took on the maternal role in her stead. She didn’t even think her sisters had ever considered her one to spend a season looking for a proper gentleman to marry.
