Maid of Honor

by Stephanie Lilley

  "I know you two are quite close so I shall not ask you to reveal anything—as long as he is well."

  Alianora nodded. Oh, why was he so understanding all of a sudden? She remembered well how William had shouted at Percy about the gambling losses. Both she and Percy had believed him an ogre. Katie's next words, however, explained all to her.

  "Alianora," Katie said, sitting down next to her and taking her hands. "We have something to tell you." She looked up at her husband.

  Alianora looked from one to the other, realizing that there had been rather an air of suppressed excitement about them.

  "Yes?” she prompted.

  "I am increasing," Katie announced.

  "Oh," Alianora said, stunned once again, then, "Oh!” This had been the cause of Katie's "illness.” She hugged them both. "How wonderful! Oh, Katie, I feared you were truly ill.”

  "Far from that," Katie assured her.

  "I shall visit our lawyers and then we shall return home to Grassmere," William told her. "I am certain that will make you happy, Alianora." He had resigned himself to the fact that she would find no husband this year and with Katie in need of company throughout her pregnancy, perhaps it was for the best.

  Alianora sat silently for a while as William and Katie spoke together, almost cooing. If ever there were a time for Percy to approach William for help it was now. William in a jovial, expansive mood; William revealed as a kindly despot—he would most certainly handle Percy's problems. For her it was too late.

  She looked at her brother, his normally stern face bright with happiness, at Katie who could not stop speaking of the miracle—and she sighed. How she envied them!

  Chapter Eleven

  It required only a little time to ready herself for the masque. She had dressed in just this way every day of her life at New Grassmere—a long plait bound with ribbons, an emerald velvet surcoat, a canary linen undertunic with a topaz ring as the only adornment. Staring into the mirror, she frowned at her appearance—too pale, too sad. The box containing the black domino lay on her bed. She had avoided it all day, feeling as if it contained a coiled snake.

  Katie and William had merely nodded when she told them she was attending a ball—no specific one was mentioned—with Miss Cressida Finsbury. It was, therefore, all too easy to walk outside and step into her carriage.

  A lamp inside lit Cressida's unsmiling face framed by the hood of her scarlet domino. She was busy looking out the carriage window and barely acknowledged the newcomer.

  "Ah yes," she whispered to herself, sitting back against the squabs as the carriage pulled away from the curb. "We are followed."

  "We are?" Alianora asked worriedly.

  "Quite a brute of a man, really. You need not worry, however," she added with a slow, cold smile. "Richard has all well in hand."

  Richard. Alianora could not bring herself to use his Christian name even now on the brink of marriage. Probably not even afterward, she thought wearily.

  "I must warn you," Cressida said. "Things may get quite lively before we reach the Blackworths."

  And things did. The carriage suddenly jumped forward tossing Alianora to the floor, then against the door, then back on the seat. She finally managed to catch a swinging strap and steady herself.

  Unruffled, Cressida laughed. "How clumsy you are. It strikes me as so odd that men are interested in you at all, especially men like Cerestone and Savernake. No conversation, only passable looks, no grace to speak of. For Richard I suppose it is the money. For Peter I truly cannot imagine—he must have temporarily lost his mind."

  "One day, Miss Finsbury,” Alianora said softly after listening to this stream of invective. "One day you shall poison yourself with such an excess of spleen. Or else someone shall strangle you."

  Cressida laughed again. "Too amusing. You must think of me with Peter when you are wed to Richard."

  A mace would do quite nicely about now. Alianora leaned forward. "You must think of me in Peter's thoughts when he is with you," she said.

  Miss Finsbury's eyes flashed, her face contorted. "I hope Richard beats you well."

  "He shall never beat indifferently." Alianora laughed, feeling a strange sort of hysterical control over the situation.

  "He thinks you quite stupid and provincial."

  "He is ever one for a compliment."

  "He loves your money well," Cressida continued, her voice rising.

  "Your mind appears to run along one wagon track, Miss Finsbury. How dull it must be for you when there is no company but yourself.'"

  Cressida shrieked. The carriage door opened.

  "Cressida, I see you are in fine form this evening," greeted Lord Savernake. He was dressed from hat to pumps in black but for a snowy cravat and diamond stickpin. "We had no trouble eluding your pursuers," he told Alianora.

  She nodded, feeling oddly cold and distanced as he handed her out. She had already managed to tie the tapes of her mask and looked about from tiny eyeholes. There were linkboys on the steps to light the way, a noisy crowd in the street shouting at the guests, horses neighing and prancing, and guests pushing past on the way into the Blackworth mansion.

  "Is Percy here?" she whispered anxiously.

  "One might say so if one were not within earshot of half of London," he warned her then led the two of them into the house and up to the ballroom.

  She was struck immediately by how dim the room was. From the entrance where they waited to greet the hostess, she could see many black dominoes interspersed with flames of scarlet and gold, pale blue and lustrous green. It was also quite warm, she noticed, and filled with exotic perfumes.

  "Just as I imagined it!" breathed Cressida.

  It was like nothing Alianora had imagined. It was like a nightmare filled with faceless demons. She briefly took the hand of their hostess then Lord Savernake pulled her onto the dance floor where a waltz had already begun.

  "Shall I see him now?" she asked, careful to mention no names.

  "What, escape to a private room already? Quite unseemly, my dear. First we must dance."

  The waltz was danced quite differently at this ball. Lord Savernake held her against him, his arm pressing tightly into her back. She endured it knowing that it was the price she must pay before seeing Percy.

  And at last Lord Savernake did lead her away, the scarlet domino close behind. They walked down a dark hallway then entered a small drawing room to the left. It was lit by one candelabra on the mantel, the flames throwing flickering shadows over the furniture and across the walls.

  "Your sister is here, dear boy," Savernake announced. "We are quite safe, I believe."

  A shadow detatched itself from a chair. Alianora removed her mask, put back her hood.

  "Percy?" she called softly and was suddenly enveloped in a tight hug.

  "Oh, Allie," her brother moaned into her shoulder. "I have made such a mess."

  She touched his head. "It would seem so, but it will soon be taken care of, dear brother."

  He sighed and raised his head. "I shall never gamble again."

  She smiled. "Such rash promises. Perhaps if you were to gamble more moderately."

  "That is difficult," he admitted. "One is caught up in the excitement and before the evening's over one might be out a fortune."

  "How affecting this is," commented Cressida.

  Alianora turned to Savernake. "Please leave us a moment, my lord. I shall speak to my brother alone." It was not a request and he acknowledged her determination with a slight bow. Cressida tugged at his sleeve.

  "I have not yet danced and I quite wish to do so, Richard—with you in particular, my lord."

  He smiled, amusement in his hooded eyes, and led her from the room.

  Alianora then pulled her brother to a sofa and sat down.

  "Percy, I must tell you something. It is good news." She quickly repeated her conversation with William.

  "So I am to be an uncle again," he said with a laugh. "That is good news. I can't wonder at William's s
udden goodwill then—but—" He shook his head, pushing back the pale hair that had fallen into his eyes. “He has no notion of what I have done, how much I owe. In truth, I cannot tell you an exact amount myself.”

  “I believe it truly would not matter now. No one can replace their Robert, of course, but this new baby has lifted his spirits. He seems unusually generous."

  “He would have to be to help me."

  A little exasperated, she asked at last, “Give me an idea of how much do you owe?"

  He grimaced. “No more than five thousand, I believe."

  “Percy! How could you! It is a fortune!"

  “You see! I cannot approach William; besides, Savernake, who holds most of my vowels, has been taking care of my debts, with the money you have given him. I do thank you, Allie."

  “Lord Savernake has assured me he is seeing to your creditors, but I cannot like this sneaking about.”

  “There are those who would see me jailed.”

  'They must be quite unreasonable."

  “They make their living fleecing young greenheads like me," he sighed.

  "As William has said, young men need to sow their oats. I suppose those oats don't have to be made of gold," she mused.

  “I do promise never to throw myself into the River Tick again." He had to explain that bit of slang to her—to be in great debt. “And Savernake has been the best of good fellows. Now that you are to marry him he shall always be about to rescue me if I should fall again. You do not mind wedding him, do you? I know that we must all marry sometime and he is not so terrible. I know you have no one else."

  She went quite still then reached out and brushed back his hair. “I would do anything for you, dearest brother."

  “I know that," he said, then looked closely at her. "You do not seem happy for me or is it this wretched dim light?" It had never occurred to him that she might actually mind, not until now.

  "I am worried for you," she said.

  “I shall come about. Why, only yesterday I won ten guineas on a carriage race and before that thirty-five pounds on a horse race. You see, my luck is already changing.”

  She was silent.

  "I know, I know. I promised I shall never gamble again and I won't."

  "Then promise also that you will go to William."

  He looked stubborn. "William will merely stomp about and yell."

  "He has said that what you have done is normal, for the most part, and even expects that something like this will happen. Go to him. For my sake, if not yours."

  "You are truly worried," he said in surprise.

  "I do not wish to see you in Newgate. William does not either."

  He looked thoughtful. "I suppose not." Like a little boy, he wanted everything to be taken care of, no matter what horrible things he'd done, but a maturer light came into his eyes as he looked at his sister. Her smiles and laughter seemed forced. He thought of something. "Savernake has not compelled you to marry him, has he?"

  “He has not forced me."

  "But I know you—and I believe you would be dancing about the room and singing if it were what you wished."

  She then smiled, eyes burning a little. "No, I never could dissemble well, could I? But, as you say, I shall come about."

  Percy stood up, agitated. "Savernake gave me to believe you were madly in love with him, that you had begged him to marry you."

  She looked astonished.

  "I had wondered a little on that score," he admitted, embarrassed now by his thoughtlessness. "Forgive me! I've been so obsessed—perhaps it needed this—"

  He didn't finish. The drawing room door burst open and slammed against the wall. Three rough-looking strangers rushed in and made straight for Percy. Alianora stood up and tried to place herself between them and her brother, but she was pushed out of the way.

  "Bailiffs!" Percy whispered hoarsely.

  "Got you at last, young blighter," said a raspy voice. "You play the game, you pay."

  Two men grabbed Percy and started to take him from the room with a third man directing them. Percy struggled and managed to cry, "Allie!"

  That cry pulled out all her protective instincts and she rushed after them.

  "Percy! Wait! You cannot take him. I have money. Our family has money—“

  The man following the others ignored her. She reached the door in time to hear him say, "No problem, milord. We'll take him to your place as agreed."

  "Quiet!" It was Savernake. "She mustn't suspect as I told you."

  She stopped in the doorway, staring at Savernake, who frowned fiercely, staring after the men taking her brother. She started to follow, but Savernake held her back.

  "Let me go!" she ordered. "I must stop them! I must get to William!"

  "If you follow, they'll take you as an accomplice," he drawled. "Let them take your brother. He needs just such a lesson. It shall be a simple matter to rescue him tomorrow after we are married and I have access to your portion."

  Cressida joined them as they reentered the room. She sniggered. Alianora narrowed her eyes, looking from Cressida to Savernake, suddenly recalling the words he had spoken in the corridor. Breath hissed in through her clenched teeth.

  "You arranged this," she said softly.

  "Arranged what, my dear?"

  "You laid information against my brother. You brought the bailiffs here."

  "Why would I do such a thing?" She had overheard the conversation! Blast! He lowered his eyelids.

  "To force my hand," she answered quite honestly.

  "It is all your brother's doing. No one forced the boy to gamble."

  "No, but you preyed on his weakness. I see it all now, my lord. You were right. Even Miss Finsbury was right. I am stupid and provincial." She was breathing deeply, her face like marble in the flickering light, her eyes cold. "I love my brother and though I am not blind to his faults, I cannot like it when someone takes advantage of him. Or me. You, my lord, are not an honorable man and I believe I must refuse to marry you."

  He grabbed her chin and held it, forcing her to look into his eyes. "A pity, really. Fire is quite lovely in a mistress, but one wants a docile wife. Come, we are leaving now. I have the special license by me and a minister waiting at an inn just outside the city."

  She looked up at him. "No."

  "Yes, my dear bride-to-be."

  Alianora heard "This is such a lark, Richard!" just before something crashed against her head and all went dark.

  * * *

  "Welcome home, my lord," said Beeley as he opened the door.

  Lord Cerestone removed his hat and gloves and handed them to the butler. "A quick uncomfortable ride. Any messages?"

  "A number of them, my lord, arriving quite regularly on the hour today. I have left them with your man.”

  "Good. Miss Georgina?"

  "Readying for this evening, I believe, my lord."

  "Yes, of course. I shall be here for supper unless my friends decree otherwise."

  "At the usual time, my lord?"

  "Yes." He went up to the drawing room where Lady Cerestone greeted him, setting aside her glass of sherry as he kissed her cheek.

  "Fanny and Bobbin are settled in?" she asked.

  "Happy as grigs. Fanny had first thing to visit her pony."

  "She did not ride it, I trust."

  "No. I believe Miss Tavisser will see that she does not until she is fully recovered."

  Cerestone walked to the sideboard, picked up the decanter, and refilled her glass. He then crossed to the door.

  "I am sorry to leave so abruptly, but Tench is holding messages for me."

  "Oh yes." She brushed her hand across her forehead. 'That knocker has not been still all day."

  He bowed and left. He found Tench sitting at his ease before the hearth, an open book in his lap. He shut it and rose at the viscount's entrance.

  "Ah, my lord, thought it was you below." He immediately began to help Cerestone off with his coat.

  "I returned as quickly as pos
sible. Beeley says that there are messages for me?"

  "I should say so. Every hour like clockwork, another one due no doubt any moment now."

  The viscount took the sheaf of notes and sat in the chair, glancing through them. All from Buck, all hinting that Something Was About to Happen.

  "Anything from Mr. Carnaby?" he asked, studying one note.

  "Nothing, my lord."

  "Well, I don't know quite what I am to make of this, but my friend Mr. Rasherly seems quite worried. His copperplate is not the most easily read. He's heard rumors that the duns are closing in on Lord Savernake, that Savernake plans something with the Lady Alianora."

  "It is a great pity that the Lady Alianora intends to wed such a Greek dealer."

  "Not if I may prevent it. Mr. Carnaby has discovered how Savernake led her brother to play too deeply. I believe he holds that over her head. Marry him or her brother goes to debtor's prison! She would choose to save her brother, I know that now." He laid the notes aside and sighed. "I don't believe I shall allow her to sacrifice herself even if I must pay his damned debts."

  "A proper hero, my lord!"

  "A hero would have handled it more skillfully, I think. Whether she will wed me in the end or no, I must stop this wedding."

  "She is far too fine for Lord Savernake."

  "A warthog would be too fine. Have Beeley send a message to the Albany and let my friends know I have returned."

  Tench left and Cerestone had only begun to loosen his cravat when Beeley knocked at the door.

  "My lord, your friends are below. I have put them in the library."

  "Ah, that is convenient," Cerestone muttered as he bounded down the stairs in his shirtsleeves.

  "A pleasant trip, I trust," Buck greeted, raising a simple quizzing glass to his eye, that glass in one ring with another ring at the end of a short gold stick for his finger. He studied his friend. "How utterly outré of us. You've not even had time to change."

  "Never mind." The viscount laughed a little and invited Buck and Henry to some claret, which they immediately accepted.

  Henry lounged in a wing chair. "Kept an eye on her. Glad you've returned. Something untoward."

  Cerestone sat on the edge of his desk, letting one foot swing. "So Buck said. I was about to send a footman to you—"