Chapter 7
Alaina stared out the front window of the parlor, focusing on nothing in particular.
There were few passersby on the street so early in the morning.
Alaina took a breath and closed her eyes, letting the light of the day warm her, her arms wrapping herself tight in an effort to banish the chill completely.
The book she had chosen as her escape, the latest volume of Mountville Castle, was momentarily forgotten on her lap.
Alaina picked at her modest mauve day dress, its pleated chiffon accents of pale pink gracing her throat and cuffs, providing the gown’s only adornment.
Alaina’s choice of a simple bun met perfectly with the simplicity of the dress, and her mood.
Alaina had been thankful that they had decided to leave after the run-in with Percy, and that kiss.
She had felt like a coward as they had made for the front door, but it was all she could do to steady her voice when she came face-to-face with Graham.
Her initial shock and, dare she think, pleasure after the kiss with Christopher had morphed into thankfulness at not being discovered by anyone in the ton.
Surely the scandal would have sent her parents running for the country and would have left her reputation in tatters.
That was provided a rumor started by Percy did not do its own damage.
To think that someone would be so cruel as to falsely indicate she had intimate relations with anyone, let alone someone she could not stand in the least!
Totally in a daze, Alaina missed the quiet knock at the door, but a gentle clearing of the throat that followed cut through her reverie and she looked back toward the open parlor door.
“Father,” Alaina murmured, breaking into a smile, as she got up from her seat at the window to meet him. “What brings you to the parlor this morning? From what mother tells me, you have been quite engrossed in managing the estates, I hardly thought you had time.”
“Now, now, I hardly think I have been so absent from this household as to not hear that my eldest daughter has caught the eye of this season’s most eligible bachelor.
” After a quick pointed look from Alaina, Edward continued, “Your mother has been keeping me posted, although I think it fair to say that if it should not work out between the duke and yourself, your mother will have at least made a lasting friend of the dowager duchess.”
Alaina giggled. “She and Eleanor have certainly become very close in the last few days. I half expected the wedding to be planned already with how much they talk, but truly they seem to have become the best of friends.”
Alaina, having closed most of the distance between herself and her father, stood awkwardly, unsure of whether Edward planned to stay or go. The earl seemed a man on a mission, but what exactly it was eluded Alaina.
Finally making his way into the room, toward the pair of chairs before the fireplace, Edward cleared his throat. “Are you alright, Alaina? You seem a bit unlike yourself this morning.”
Alaina huffed, wondering how long he had really been observing her at the door.
She had been sitting near the window for quite some time and had not even opened the book in her lap.
Choosing to avoid the heart of her father’s question, Alaina countered with barely contained contempt, “It is amazing that anyone can find love in this city.”
“Ah, yes, my dear, the London season can be tough, but you have been through that part already. From what I hear, the duke is quite smitten with you,” Edward said, picking up the poker to stoke the fire.
Staring into the fire, newly rekindled, Edward appeared happy to wait in silence.
Eventually, Alaina spoke. “So how did you know you were in love with mother?”
“Well, simple really. I just saw her from across the room and our eyes met. Luckily for the both of us, we were quickly introduced, and conversation just seemed easy.”
“I was hoping for something a bit more helpful than that,” Alaina sighed, finally placing her book on a side table with a clunk before pacing along the wall next to the fireplace, coming to a stop a few paces from her father at each turn. “Did you not doubt you were in love for a second?”
Edward turned toward his daughter and met her eyes, as she had stopped her pacing and was waiting, hands clasped in front of her skirt, a slight frown on her face.
“Alaina, my dear, everyone has doubts, but most of the time those doubts come about in love because one overanalyzes. From what your mother tells me, you and the duke get along splendidly well, and his family is quite pleasant to be around. She says you have been so happy these last couple of days, and that is a start. Sometimes love comes about at once, like it did for your mother and I, and sometimes it comes with time. You need to be patient.”
“I know love can take many forms, it is just…” Alaina paused as her mind wandered once more to the embrace with Christopher, not quite sure how to continue.
She thrust her reaction away in favor of her logical plan.
“It is just that I seem to have gained the attention of the duke, and he is charming, and kind, and we have the most wonderful conversations, but I am still unsure if the connection is really there or ever could be.”
“Well, not every love story is the same. Maybe it will take time for you to know your mind and your heart with the duke. I mean, it has only been a few short days. It may turn out that he is not your match,” Edward stated.
Alaina glanced toward the floor, hoping to avoid her father knowing everything about what the last few days had been like.
In particular, the kiss from the marquess had been surprising and unsettling.
It had been so unexpected that she had no time to think in the moment of its implications, but since then her mind had been filled with unwelcome thoughts.
How was it that she could find such pleasure with someone with whom she seemed to consistently argue?
What if they had been caught by someone in society?
Would she be forced to become an outcast?
Was it the magic of the ball? Alaina’s fear of Percy and Christopher’s rescue? Or was she just wanton?
And all that was not even mentioning the fact that the marquess had seemed outwardly so unaffected after the moment had passed.
He had easily seen her back to the ballroom, into the care of the duke.
He had then gone back to escort her mother, the duke’s mother, and Georgiana to the front foyer to meet them in order to retire for the evening, all the while giving no indication of any of it meaning anything to him.
Meanwhile for her, the kiss had been all she could think about.
Not wishing to expound on all the events of the previous days, she merely rejoined, “Perhaps you are right. Love at first sight is not so common, I would think.”
“Certainly, my darling daughter,” Edward stated. “All you can do is follow your heart. I am sure whatever man you choose to marry will feel like the luckiest on earth.”
He crossed the small distance to where his oldest daughter stood and brought her into an affectionate hug. Alaina returned the hug with fervor and when she pulled back from her father’s embrace, she found his eyes misty and brimming with pride.
Edward cleared his throat. “Well, I should leave you to your musings before any callers should find me all emotional over the prospect of my daughter finding a husband and a wonderful life outside of the confines of our family. That may put a damper on any courtship.” He must have thought better of his last statement and added, “Although, you know I am glad to lend my assistance if the need should arise to show someone the door.”
“Of course, Father,” Alaina smiled, watching as he exited the room.
“Well, I have no idea of what to expect from today,” Alaina sighed, sitting once again on the front sofa, trying to occupy her mind with a book instead of the duke, Christopher, and that kiss!
“Graham, for the last time, you do not need me to join you on any more outings,” Christopher practically growled, as he looked at his friend across the parlor.
Graham and Georgiana had joined him for breakfast. It was Christopher’s thought that they would just depart from the Rochester townhome when they were done and, hopefully, leave him in peace.
Georgiana was the one to answer Christopher’s protest. “Christopher, you have seen Percy’s maleficent motives up close, and I fear that our interaction last night was not even the worst of it. I would feel better if you were to join us today.”
Christopher sighed and looked between the siblings, ruminating on how to say no to Georgiana, when she added, “And, if I were to guess, Graham prefers to have you there to keep me from monopolizing Lady Alaina’s time. He may have certain questions to ask her today.”
Finally, Graham broke his silence. “Georgiana, I would beg you to keep your conjectures to yourself.”
“Am I wrong?”
Graham snorted, but did not answer, and Georgiana broke out into a self-satisfied smile.
First Christopher’s presence was to provide additional protection in case they should run into Percy, which was unlikely, and now it was to provide a walking partner for Georgiana, so she would not invade any bit of privacy between Graham and Alaina. Both valid, but thin reasons.
It was in Christopher’s mind that the last thing he wanted to do was to see Alaina today, or ever again.
Last night, he had been convinced that their kiss had been borne out of the moment, out of his concern for a lady in distress, but when the kiss still plagued his mind this morning, he was forced to admit that being in her presence may be ill-advised.
Christopher certainly did not want matrimony; he had watched his parents make each other miserable.