by Alice Kirks
“What?” Matthew had said, knowing it was rude and not caring too much. How dare this fellow disturb him? This was the evening of his sister’s first ball! He was needed here.
“I apologize, you Grace. He seemed to be rather firm that he needed to speak to you.”
Matthew, not knowing what to say – or not being able to think of something to say that wasn’t rude – followed him.
“What are you doing here?” he hissed, as his coachman came over. “Didn’t I tell you to find somewhere and remain until the ball was finished?”
“Yes, your Grace.” The man looked very uncomfortable.
“Well?”
“Your Grace,” he said, wincing. “I have a message for you. It’s important. Miss Alexandra…she’s outside.”
“What?” Matthew shouted. He looked around, then nodded to the coachman. He followed him out and down the stairs, heading swiftly across to where many coaches stood, unoccupied. Not looking at the people who thronged about them, or the coachmen who waited there, or even at the people in the street beyond the coaches, he walked between the stationary transport, following the coachman.
“Alexandra?” he said, stopping at the door. He could see through the window of his own coach, and he could see a pale, worried face, the door opened. “Alexandra! Why are you here?”
“I’m sorry, your Grace,” she said softly. “I had to leave quickly. I was…I saw a dangerous man. And he knew me.”
“What?” Matthew said. That made no sense. What was she trying to say? The thought of a man being any kind of threat to Alexandra made his blood freeze.
“I saw a man. He knew me from…when I didn’t work for you yet. He has reason to wish to harm me. I feared him, your Grace.”
Matthew stared and, to his consternation, recognized that she was crying. She was terrified and he had no idea what to say.
He had been so angry with her. But, he thought, I should have known she does nothing without reason.
He took her hand. He was standing outside the coach, but now he stepped in and it felt all to natural to wrap his arms around her. She was sobbing and needed comfort and it was the most natural thing in the world to give it to her.
“Alexandra…it’s safe,” he said softly, whispering the words. She was clinging to him, her head on his shoulder, and, through the anger and the worries, his heart melted. He could feel her arms around him, and he held her close and knew he felt honored to hold her. Her head rested against him and she buried her face in his shirt.
“Please,” she whispered. “I don’t know what he’ll do, and I know you need me in there for Arabella.”
“Shh, now,” the Duke said softly. He was thinking fast. It was clear that she couldn’t go back. Arabella was, for the most part, safe. She had friends at the ball, and she had him. He wasn’t going to make her leave, but at the same time, he couldn’t leave her there unchaperoned.
“I wish I could go in,” Alexandra sobbed. “I wanted to take care of the young lady.”
“I will be there,” Matthew said softly. “You can stay here. But you’re so cold! The coachman must go back to fetch your cloak. I’ll send him directly.”
“I’m n…not,” she started, but she couldn’t speak because of how cold she was, and he shook his head.
“Yes, you are,” he said. He went to the door. “Please, fetch Miss Alexandra’s cloak. It’s in the entranceway, hanging up. One of the footmen will know which it is.” He thought, privately, that the coachman had already proved he could get full co-operation with the footmen.
“Yes, your Grace. I will find it, be sure I will…she is going to freeze without it, so she will.”
Matthew hid his irritation and turned back to Alexandra.
“You stay here,” he said gently. “Nobody will find you. And if they do, it’s the coachman who will see them off. And don’t forget, he has a rifle behind the seats there.” He grinned. He had wanted to make her laugh, and, though she didn’t giggle, he saw her expression soften.
“Thank you, your Grace.”
“Not at all. Now, you stay here. I’ll go back and make sure Arabella is safe.”
“Yes, your Grace.”
Matthew walked swiftly back across the stone paved area, and across the road and to the hall again. He hung up his coat by the door, then slipped quickly inside.
“Arabella!” he said, relief making him feel quite uplifted. “There you are!”
“Yes, I am.” Arabella frowned. “Why? Weren’t you over there at the table?”
Matthew blinked. Had she really thought he was still here, watching her? He nodded.
“I just had to slip out a second or two. Back now,” he added, and, without saying anything more, went over to stand by the wall, perhaps six feet away. He didn’t want to listen to her talking to Jessica, since he was sure they were discussing things older brothers would do best not listening to – but at the same time, it was important that he was close.
The evening wore on. Matthew couldn’t stop thinking of Alexandra’s story. He looked at every man who passed, as if he might have been the one who scared her.
“What happened to her, and why was she so frightened?”
“What was that, old fellow?” A man frowned. Matthew shook his head.
“Sorry, old chap. Just muttering to myself.”
“Ah. As you wish.”
Matthew stepped back towards the wall and tried to make a plan. Alexandra was clearly terrified. He had no idea how to get the information out of her, since she seemed reluctant – or not able – to share. He wondered if she had confided anything in anybody else.
The evening wore on.
Matthew was distracted, and no matter how many people he saw who he’d been on good terms with, he still couldn’t enjoy himself. It was London and, for the most part, it was his home. Second home, anyway. He should have been having a nice evening and celebrating Arabella’s maturity.
He kept on seeing Alexandra’s terrified, pale face.
If I catch the fellow who did this to her, he thought, I will be sure he regrets whatever he did.
He watched the crowd and noticed that they were starting to thin. The dances had started, and he watched Arabella go onto the dancefloor with a young man. He felt his heart fill with pride.
“Your sister looks lovely,” Lord Lonsea said. “And she dances the Polonaise so finely. What an accomplished young lady she has grown up into.”
“Yes,” Matthew murmured. “I know.”
He was so proud of Arabella. He was also happy that, no matter what happened, he could give her the best possible debut.
Chapter 29
“And I danced twice with Lord Longton. And once with Lord Broughford, whom everyone says is the best dancer, in Town!” Arabella said.
Alexandra nodded. They were in the drawing-room. It was just after breakfast, and Arabella had insisted she join them for more tea, though her head hurt, and she didn’t feel like company.
I want to find somewhere by myself and take time to be alone.
She was still frightened.
That night, she’d curled up in bed, the door locked. It was the first moment, since returning to the house, exhausted and drained, that she felt safe.
“Arabella, how many dances did you take part in? Five?”
“Nine!” Arabella said. Matthew smiled at her. Alexandra thought he knew it was nine, and he was just letting her say it herself, because she was clearly delighted by the total.
It was, Alexandra knew, an impressive total for a young lady for her first ball.
I’ll have to keep an eye on her.
She looked across at the Duke. She wanted to tell him how grateful she was to him that he’d stepped in and taken over from her and chaperoned his sister. He could have insisted she did the job he had hired her to do, but instead he’d let her be safe, and done the work on his own.
“Arabella, it was finely done”. She wished she could have praised her, but she’d not seen her dance.
>
“Thank you, Alexandra!” Arabella said. “I hope you’re not still feeling sick.”
“No,” Alexandra said, shaking her head hastily. “No, I feel fine.”
She was still feeling sick, but it wasn’t that Arabella referred to. Alexandra explained her disappearance by saying that she’d eaten something that affected her. Matthew had instantly supported the tale, and the two of them had a mutual agreement. There was no need for her to know what happened.
Alexandra watched Arabella, who sipped her tea, her cheeks red and eyes bright, clearly very satisfied with her first ball. Matthew smiled.
“Arabella? Maybe we should go upstairs and plan your next ball? I think Alexandra might need some time to recover from last night. I understand she was quite sick.”
“Oh!” Arabella nodded. “Of course. Brother, can we attend Almack’s twice in three days?”
Matthew looked slightly ill. Alexandra wanted to laugh. She had noticed he didn’t seem to be enjoying the event himself. She was sure he would rather avoid going back.
“I don’t know, Arabella. Shall we try somewhere else first? I believe Lady Sheffield has a salon.”
“Oh! A salon? Please, brother! I want to go!”
Alexandra tried not to smile as the two of them left. Arabella was such a delight – she got excited about everything and was quite easy to distract. She loved her dearly. She regretted she couldn’t be there for her first real dance.
“I should go.”
She stood and collected her sewing-kit, planning to at least do some mending in her bedroom. She could spend time planning at the same time. She went upstairs and locked the door.
“Whew.”
Sitting down on the bed, she let herself think objectively about what had happened for the first time. She knew that she was recognized. But the man had no idea where she was. He’d just seen her face. He probably hadn’t even noticed how she’d dressed.
He would not be able to gather any intelligence.
He could not possibly know she was in the townhouse of the Duke. How would he have any information as to her whereabouts? And nobody he could have asked would have known anything about her, either. It was the first time she had chaperoned Arabella this season.
“So, for the moment, I am safe.”
She shut her eyes. Her relief made her feel ill. She didn’t have to be afraid of anything, for the next days.
But she couldn’t show her face in London.
“Not unless…” she blinked. An idea suddenly hit her. She only had to avoid events that the viscount was at! She could attend anything else in London, provided that nobody who knew where she was going.
“Yes!” She grinned to herself, delightedly. She couldn’t believe how simple it was! If she could obtain the guest-list for every single party Arabella would attend, then she would be safe.
But how would she do that?
“I’ll need to work with Brenna. I am sure she’ll know the maids in all the fashionable homes.”
That was, she decided, her only chance of being able to do her job and stay out of danger. If it seemed as if anyone she knew was going to be there, she’d have to tell his Grace something or other.
Or I could just tell Lord Blakeley who I am avoiding, and he can help me avoid him.
She shut her eyes. It was an impossible situation. Either she would have to trust his Grace – which she was almost sure she could do – or she would have to use her elaborate plan.
“Miss?” she heard someone knock at the door. She looked up.
“Yes?”
“Miss?” Brenna called. “Her Ladyship asked me to ask you if you needed anything. She said you’re feeling unwell.”
“I am,” Alexandra said. She went to the door. Brenna smiled at her, though there was concern in her dark eyes as well.
“Miss Alexandra? Is something the matter?”
“Yes,” Alexandra nodded. “Brenna, I need to ask for help.”
“I can try,” Brenna said, frowning. “What manner of help do you need?”
Alexandra felt relief flood through her. She smiled. “Brenna, do you happen to know people in London?”
“Of course,” Brenna nodded, when she had finished describing what she needed. “Well, I can’t promise I know many people, but I do know some. And they are likely to know others, and, well…at very least, I can promise to be able to tell you if this Nailsworth is going to be there. I don’t reckon I can find out more. But I can try.”
“Oh, thank you!”
Alexandra surprised herself by embracing Brenna. She had never realized how valuable the other woman’s friendship was and had always been, since her coming to work. She felt a tear run down her cheek and a wash of gratitude filled her.
“Oh, Miss,” Brenna said, seeming more surprised than she was. “Now, no need to thank me. Of course, I’ll help. All of us could do with someone keeping an eye on those people who are a bad sort.”
“Yes, we could,” Alexandra nodded. “We could, indeed.”
When Brenna had gone, she felt relieved. Now that the immediate danger of bumping into anyone unpleasant while on duty had been eliminated, she felt much safer. She took her sewing-things and went down to the drawing-room.
She settled down to a work she was making as decoration for the cuffs of one of her severe gowns. It was a section of white linen, and she was working a design of flowers onto it. She was concentrating so firmly that she didn’t hear someone come into the hallway.
“Miss Alexandra? A word with you.”
“Oh!” she jumped, setting the needle hastily aside. She didn’t need to prick her finger. She looked up, blushing deeply as Lord Blakeley entered. “Of course. I would be pleased to talk with you.”
Lord Blakeley smiled. It was a fleeting smile, but his eyes were bright. “I will only take a moment.”
“Of course.”
She stood, and he came in and sat down opposite her. She felt self-conscious. She hadn’t really call for using the drawing-room – but he hadn’t objected. She settled into the chair and rested a hand on her skirt, nervously.
“Miss, I had to first inquire after your health. What happened yesterday was…unfortunate.”
“Yes,” Alexandra murmured. “It was. I am still sorry for my neglecting of my duty as chaperone.”
“I didn’t come to speak with you about it because of that.” He shot her a look.
“Oh. Sorry.”
Alexandra felt her head reel. The way he constantly stepped between master and ally was confusing. She had never known how to fathom him.
“I came to ask you how you are feeling. I know you were truly afraid.”
“I was,” Alexandra nodded. She didn’t think anyone could now just how afraid she’d been – nobody who hadn’t actually met Lord Nailsworth, or who hadn’t had the bad luck to dent his pride.
“I was sorry that Arabella’s ball was endangered, of course,” he said. “But I was more concerned for you. I wish I knew more of what happened.”
