by Lara Temple
‘Very well, then, let us go “strut and fret our hour” on Lady Nesbit’s stage…’
He jumped down, handing the reins to the footman, who had run down the steps at their approach, and walked around to help her descend. She accepted his arm, trying not to let him see the impact of his words. She knew the continuation of the quote he had employed. And so their story was, in a way, ‘a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing’.
They walked into the blue drawing room and Alyssa noted with dismay but without surprise that they were not the only visitors. Lady Nesbit sat enthroned on her favourite sofa with Rowena at her side. And opposite them sat the Mott sisters, two of Lady Nesbit’s cronies and Mowbray’s chief gossips, who watched with avid, almost gleeful concentration as the matriarch greeted Alyssa and Adam with every appearance of approbation. Rowena, too, though pale and slightly defiant, came forward uncharacteristically to kiss Alyssa’s cheek.
‘Arthur is very much better,’ she said without preamble, but low enough so the others did not hear. ‘Dr Hedgeway thinks he may be allowed downstairs in a few days if he continues to mend like this. Grandmama asked me particularly to come to tea today and Arthur said I should, too. So I came.’
Despite the slightly sulky delivery of this message, Alyssa smiled, touched. She didn’t know whether to trust this side of Rowena, but she could not help being affected by it.
‘I’m glad, Rowena. And I am glad you came. Good afternoon, Cousin Harriet.’ Alyssa bent to kiss Lady Nesbit’s wrinkled cheek and then obediently went to sit on the sofa the older lady indicated with her fan. Adam followed, bowing over Lady Nesbit’s hands and then bowing politely towards the Misses Mott before joining Alyssa on the sofa.
Once the introductions had been made, there was a moment of awkward silence and Alyssa felt a spurt of panic that none of them would be able to think of anything to say. Then Adam took her hand casually in his and turned to address Rowena.
‘We were very glad to hear that Lord Moresby is better, Lady Moresby.’
The gaze of the two Mowbray gossips drank in the clasped hands and Rowena’s gracious inclination of her head. Alyssa knew their presence here was no accident and was even reassured by it. It was clear Lady Nesbit would not have invited them if she disapproved of the engagement. No doubt everything that transpired here this afternoon would be common knowledge in Mowbray by nightfall. She hoped Adam knew what he was doing. His hand was warm on hers and the insistent cold that had held her since the attack last night was dissipating slightly.
‘It was kind of you to invite us, Lady Nesbit,’ Adam said smoothly after a few moments of commonplace enquiries led by Lady Nesbit, his hand tightening on Alyssa’s warningly. ‘I hope you don’t mind, but we would like to seek your advice on a slightly sensitive issue.’
Lady Nesbit directed a shrewd gaze at him and the Mott sisters appeared to lean forward without even having moved.
‘Advice?’
‘Yes. We are having…a little trouble convincing Alyssa’s father to give his support to our engagement. While we do not formally need his approval, clearly we would prefer to receive it. I recognise that I may not be anyone’s ideal choice for a son-in-law, but whatever my past, now that I have come into the title I intend to take my responsibilities seriously. We were hoping that you might help us in convincing Mr Drake that I am worthy of his daughter.’
Alyssa looked down at their clasped hands and pressed her lips firmly together against the need to laugh. She had no idea how he had the audacity to talk such nonsense. It was so ridiculous she wondered that Lady Nesbit did not lean over and give him a good rap on the knuckles with the fan she was plying rhythmically. Alyssa decided to contribute her bit to the farce.
‘Do please speak with Father, Cousin Harriet. Adam…I mean Lord Delacort, would not have been in trouble in the first place if Papa would have allowed him to call on me at the cottage. I know it was wrong of us to meet unchaperoned, but I am of age after all, and what are we to do if Papa remains so stubborn?’
For a moment the verdict hung in the balance as Lady Nesbit inspected them. Finally she closed her fan with a snap.
‘Your father is a fool, Alyssa,’ she said categorically, and though Alyssa was not watching the Mott sisters, she could feel the quiver of excitement that went through them as even the swish of their fans seemed to pick up speed. The sentence had fallen and it would now be reported that Lady Nesbit had given her seal of approval not only to the engagement, but to Lord Delacort as well.
‘I will speak to him myself,’ Lady Nesbit stated grandly and nodded briskly to herself. ‘Meanwhile, you are more than welcome to meet under my aegis here at Nesbit House and under my chaperonage where necessary now that Mrs Aldridge has travelled north. As your poor mother is not here to guide you, Alyssa, I will also willingly act in her stead. As such we should also discuss the marriage arrangements. Lord Delacort, my agent informs me you have already made significant progress in restoring the estate and that there is general approbation amongst the tenants, who quite frankly were less than content under Timothy’s and Ivor’s mismanagement, and even under old Delacort, who was a crotchety old fool. I am of the opinion that a marriage at the Hall chapel would be very well received in the valley and go a long way to put to rest all these grossly exaggerated tales of your exploits, young man.’
‘You are very kind, Lady Nesbit,’ Adam replied so meekly Alyssa had to struggle against the urge to giggle. It didn’t help that she was so aware of the warm hand resting on hers and the way his fingers were almost imperceptibly caressing her palm through her glove. She had no idea if he was aware he was doing it as he listened so intently to Lady Nesbit, or whether it was pure absence of mind, but those tiny movements seemed as loud as a scream echoing inside her body. Part of her wanted to pull her hand away and remove this proof of her susceptibility, and the other part wished she could strip off her glove so she could feel his fingers directly.
She tried to concentrate on Lady Nesbit’s lecture, which had somehow moved on to a discussion of the best dates for the wedding. She listened, fascinated, as Adam and her elderly cousin debated August or September. Lady Nesbit suggested August, since some families might remove to London for the Small Season in September and therefore might miss the ceremony. Adam countered that September had more clement weather and when he added offhandedly that he had been hoping to take advantage of the good weather in Europe in September for their honeymoon, before the cold set in, the two Mott sisters all but tittered excitedly. Lady Nesbit smiled serenely and conceded he had a point and the deal was closed on September.
It was to be a small family ceremony at the chapel followed by a ball for the neighbourhood and there were to be separate festivities organised for the Delacort tenants and their families. Adam accepted this graciously and even managed to remain quite calm when Rowena suggested that Adam’s mother be invited to oversee the bridals. Thankfully Lady Nesbit smoothly countered this, stating that she herself would be only too happy to assume the roles required by the mother of the bride.
Once the negotiations were complete, Lady Nesbit wrapped up the meeting with resolution and suggested that Adam take Alyssa back home, while she herself would immediately write a note commanding Mr Drake’s presence so she could, in her own words, ‘set him straight’. Her final edict was that they attend the Assembly the following day in her company and held out her hand imperiously to Adam. He stood up and smiled as he bowed over her hand and for a moment Lady Nesbit’s bony fingers closed tightly on his.
‘You’re a clever one, Delacort, and providential. But luck only gets you in the door. It don’t keep you in the room,’ she said, too low for the Mott sisters to hear, and he inclined his head.
‘I am well aware of that, Lady Nesbit. Thank you for this.’
She nodded and let his hand go.
‘You might do,’ she said
dismissively and raised her cheek for Alyssa to kiss.
Adam guided Alyssa out the front door and she narrowed her eyes against the high summer sun as she tied the ribbons of her straw bonnet and descended the stairs towards the awaiting curricle. She was relieved the show was over and had been so successful. No doubt, back in the drawing room Lady Nesbit was putting her finishing touches to the story that would be delivered by the Mott sisters to all and sundry in Mowbray.
‘That woman should have been a field marshal,’ Adam said as he handed her up into the curricle and Alyssa laughed despite her nervousness.
‘I know. I had no idea she was going to make such a production of it. Reports of the meeting will be delivered verbatim to everyone within an hour. Having Rowena there was a stroke of genius, but not quite fair to Rowena herself.’
He swung himself up beside her and took the reins from Lady Nesbit’s under-groom.
‘She did it for you,’ he said offhandedly. ‘They both did. They care for you.’
Alyssa shook her head.
‘I am occasionally useful to them, that is all. I suppose Lady Nesbit considers this some kind of repayment of a debt, or an act of duty, I don’t know.’
Adam glanced at her with a slight frown.
‘You were the one intent on convincing me they weren’t completely unfeeling. Why is it so hard to accept that possibility now?’
She shrugged.
‘They are just caught up in the excitement of their own part in this farce. If there had been any genuine feeling for me, there were plenty of opportunities for them to have shown it when there was a real need for their help. Caring is giving when someone really needs you, not when it suits you to give.’
‘It may be too little too late, but I think they do care—’
‘Please stop,’ Alyssa interrupted, putting up her hand abruptly. A wave of misery welled up so powerfully and without warning that she clutched her hands together, pressing them to her chest as though to hold something in by force. Her eyes were burning and she was grateful that her bonnet hid her face. She wished they would get back to the cottage before she broke. At the moment she could not cope with any more dispassionate discussions about their engagement and whether people cared for her or not.
Adam broke off, surprised by the sudden change in her manner. She had acted her part well, with a mixture of serenity and modesty that clearly found favour with Lady Nesbit. But now that he thought about it, he was not surprised she was upset. There was a wealth of pain and disappointment in her history with family members who should have stood by her and her siblings and had done nothing. Except, as she had said, when it had suited them. Before he could respond she spoke again, not looking up.
‘I am sorry. I dare say I’m just tired. I did not sleep well.’
Adam breathed in. It was just a sign of how tenuous his self-control was that he would find her words in any way seductive. He was tempted to tell her he had not slept well either and that she was to blame. But she looked too fragile to deal with him on any level and he had no idea how to help her. Not that he had anything of value to offer. Or rather that whatever he had of value, at least what most society considered of value, held no interest for her.
‘I’m sorry you have to go through this because of me,’ he said at last, aware of the inadequacy of his words.
‘I wish it was all over,’ she said urgently and her words sliced through him.
‘Well, if whoever is plotting this finds me before I find him, you might have your wish.’
She finally turned to him, her eyes widening in shock.
‘That is not what I meant! How could you think…?’
He shrugged and guided the horses over the bridge. He knew she hadn’t meant that. He had no idea why he had lashed out at her. It was childish and unfair. Instead of easing her pain he was selfishly and unnecessarily adding to it.
‘I don’t think it,’ he said more calmly. ‘I’m sorry. I just don’t know how to help you.’
Her expression relaxed almost into a smile.
‘You don’t have to. My family always brings out the worst in me. But I am all right, really I am.’
He shook his head at that obvious lie, angry that he was starting to succumb to precisely the kind of notions of responsibility he found so annoying in her. His role was to make sure she came through this whole episode with minimal damage. It was not to try to help her come to terms with her parasitic and manipulative relatives and it was not to offer her comfort. Especially not when he knew very well he had powerful ulterior motives in wanting to comfort her. It was ludicrous that he had to remind himself so often she was not seduction material.
‘No, you are not all right,’ he said tersely, ignoring his better instincts. ‘I would have to be a fool or blind not to see what it costs you to be in this situation. You don’t have to confide in me, but don’t bother lying.’
She turned away again to look at the passing trees, clasping her hands together more tightly.
‘Fine. I won’t. I’m too tired to fence with you anyway.’
They had reached the cottage and he drew up his team. He wanted very much to go inside with her, but he couldn’t leave his horses outside unattended. He had purposely not brought Jem so he would be forced to resist the temptation of going inside with her. If he was going to have to behave, he would have to keep their encounters as much as possible to public venues. Now he regretted his good resolution. She looked brittle and cold and he hated leaving her in this state. She started rising, but he placed one hand over hers, stopping her.
‘Are you cold?’ he asked and the corners of her mouth lifted slightly and a glinting smile warmed her eyes.
‘As you said once—I’m not a child.’
‘No. You’re not,’ Adam said, but did not release her hand, holding back the need to take more than that. He would have thought that after a decade of having become acquainted with all forms of women and expressions of passion, a simple hand clasp wouldn’t have this uncomfortable effect. But even with the barrier of gloves, or nothing more than her glinting, half-mischievous smile, somehow she set this feeling off, without effort or intent. And that was the worst of it. It would almost be easier if he could convince himself that this was simply a very clever trap, one that preyed on the almost forgotten need to receive and give comfort and to trust someone other than himself. He felt as tense as the reins holding a team of horses at a headlong gallop. He forced himself to let go.
‘Do you think your father will answer her summons?’ he asked and she laughed faintly.
‘Of course he will. Cousin Harriet is the only one who truly scares Father. I wish I knew her secret.’
‘Everyone is scared of something,’ he said curtly. ‘I will come by tomorrow to escort you to the Assembly. Meanwhile, if you must go somewhere, take Betsy with you, all right?’
She nodded and stepped down from the curricle, her smile fading as she moved towards the gate.
‘I will see you tomorrow,’ he said again and set his horses in motion again before he found an excuse to follow her inside.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Once again Adam and Nicholas stood at the entrance to the Assembly Rooms, surveying the already crowded dance floor. But this evening, although only a week had passed since their last appearance, their reception was markedly different.
Most obviously, they were not alone. Alyssa stood on Adam’s other side, her hand on his arm, looking very lovely and serene and unconcerned in her simple but elegant sea green evening gown held together in the front by silver clasps over a white muslin underdress. Another marked difference was that this time most of Mowbray nobility nodded politely and exchanged greetings with them as they made their way towards Lady Nesbit’s usual corner of the hall, where she sat flanked once again by the Misses Mott and several other imposing dowagers
.
‘Oh, how the mighty have fallen,’ Nicholas murmured under his breath.
‘Quiet, Nick, or I will send you home.’
‘Lissie won’t let you. She likes me, don’t you, Lissie?’ Nicholas protested and Alyssa flicked open her fan to hide an undignified giggle.
‘Her name is Miss Drake to you,’ Adam said. ‘Call her anything else and I will send you home with a broken nose.’
‘How did the two of you survive ten years together without throttling each other?’ Alyssa asked interestedly.
‘Who says I didn’t throttle him? Now quiet, both of you. The curtain is up.’
They stopped in front of Lady Nesbit, aware everyone was watching them, either overtly or covertly. Adam bowed to Lady Nesbit and introduced Nicholas, hoping his troublesome friend didn’t indulge his worst nature too far. Lady Nesbit listened to Nicholas’s practised charm for a moment with a small, appreciative smile before turning to Adam and Alyssa.
‘Your father was kind enough to call on me today, Alyssa, and we had a most…fruitful discussion. I was very glad to hear that he has come to regard your alliance with Lord Delacort favourably. I believe you will find that Lord Delacort is most welcome at Drake Cottage from here on. I will convey you home in my carriage this evening and we can discuss some details of your nuptials on the way, child.’
Alyssa nodded modestly.
‘Thank you, Cousin Harriet. You have been very kind—’
Lady Nesbit waved her fan dismissively, cutting her off.
‘Nonsense. Now go and dance, you two. They are just striking up a waltz and I seem to recall you danced very prettily together last time,’ she added archly. ‘You, Mr Beauvoir, go and find some young lady to charm. With any luck someone from the area will snare you. Mowbray could use some new blood. All this excitement is doing us good. Well? Go on now!’
Adam bowed and withdrew, meeting his friend’s alarmed look with a grin as he led Alyssa to the dance floor.
