Chapter Three
After a week of activities at the house party, Annette was no closer to John than she had been over the past two years.
Clara had purposely placed Annette and John together at any seated meal, but he only performed idle chit chat with her and remained overly polite.
Clara had told her she needed to become bolder in her pursuit of him, but Annette couldn’t bring herself to become that kind of lady, though truth be told she was so tired of discussing the weather she wanted to scream.
Still, she had already witnessed Lady Torshell’s displays of unbecoming fawning to the point that Annette wanted to be sick. If John couldn’t see for himself that this woman only wanted to become his duchess and cared nothing for the man himself, then they deserved one another.
No… certainly it wouldn’t come to that now would it?
Her imagination ran rampant with how hurt she would be if he married another.
Now, she couldn’t stop herself from glancing across the lake to the couple casually strolling along the bank.
Lady Torshell—Jemina—held her parasol just low enough and to an angle that anything could be happening between the pair without anyone noticing anything inappropriate.
Oh, how she wished she could run over and push that obnoxious woman into the water.
Wouldn’t that give the gossipmongers something to talk about?
She clenched at the arm she held as she, too, walked along the opposite side of the lake.
“You’ll never win him over if you continue to scowl at him, Lady Saxton,” the man at her side drawled in a bored monotone.
She gave a heavy sigh, knowing anything she might say to the man next to her would be kept a secret.
After all, he was part of Clara’s plan. “I’m afraid I feel out of my element, my lord,” she declared as they continued their walk.
“I never did fit in with all the goings on with society ladies and their need for attention, especially the games they play to snare a husband.”
Alistair Fitzroy, Marquess of Beaumont, patted her hand. “You are a rare woman, Lady Saxton. You were meant to stand out, not fit in amongst the rabble.”
The compliment took her by surprise. “You are too kind, Lord Beaumont, but I’m afraid I’ll never rise to such a statement.”
He squeezed her hand as they continued their stroll.
“Of course you will. You were raised to become a duchess to a powerful man who, at the moment, doesn’t realize his mistake.
His grace will come around but only if you remind him of what he will be missing if he continues to reject the arrangement you once shared. ”
“John… I mean, his grace, never spent more time with me—other than what was required of him. There is no reason to think he will deal with me any differently than he has our entire lives. I’ve become used to being ignored by him and have no idea how one house party will change his thoughts of me, no matter how much his sister might wish it.
In fact, I think he’s become even more disinterested in me than ever before,” she said sadly wondering if this ruse would be worth all the trouble.
True, she’d loved John all her life, but why? Especially now that he seemed to wish she didn’t exist?
Her heart, it seemed, had desires of its own and they were out of her control.
Lord Beaumont halted their progress along the lake and turned her to face him, then lifted her chin with his fingertips.
To any witnesses, it might be seen as affectionate and perhaps this was the man’s ploy all along considering his next words.
“Smile… he’s watching us,” he demanded before he leaned down to whisper in her ear, “and I hardly think he’s indifferent to you, my lady. ”
Her breath caught in her throat. “He’s watching—?”
“Don’t give him the satisfaction of looking his way, my lady,” he warned, “or you’ll ruin all my carefully laid plans for the day.
You should know that His Grace has a habit of keeping an eye upon you when you’re not looking, if you haven’t noticed.
But for the sake of trying to make some headway to his affection, do at least make a small attempt to make it appear that you are happy to be with me.
A little bit of jealousy can go a long way. ”
It was something of which she was well aware. Annette gave a bright laugh and rested her hand on his arm before they took up their walk again with her closer to his side. “I never thought Clara would ask you to play such a role in getting her brother to see reason.”
His stare traveled ahead to her friend and Annette’s brother walking, side by side.
“I’d do anything that woman asked of me,” he grumbled before he cleared his throat.
“I mean, I’ve been a friend of the family all these years, so why wouldn’t I help her when she asked this of me.
At least you and I crossed paths whenever we visited Hardinge at the same time.
You are hardly a stranger, and I know you aren’t looking to become my duchess when I one day inherit my father’s title. ”
Annette watched him carefully and quickly came to a shocking realization. “You’re in love with Clara,” she exclaimed. He opened and closed his mouth several times before clamping his lips shut. “Your secret is safe with me, my lord. I won’t say a word to her.”
“I appreciate your discretion, Lady Saxton,” he answered, never giving voice to his inner thoughts, not that they were necessary, for his feelings were etched across his features for all the world to see.
“How long have you been in love with her?” she couldn’t resist asking.
“Probably since she came of age, but she never saw me as anyone other than a friend. She’s as stubborn as her brother,” he grumbled.
She gave another laugh. “Which would explain why you’re appearing to woo me instead of Clara.”
A snort left him. “Never let it be said I didn’t try to do everything in my power to make her happy, even if it’s at my own expense.”
“You’re a rare man, as well, Lord Beaumont. Clara should be thrilled to have you as a potential suitor if she would only give you the chance,” Annette said honestly.
“I can hardly pay my respects to two different women at the same time and party, now can I? What would his grace think of me?” He halted their progress again and then a wicked smile lit of his face.
“Perhaps that is exactly what needs to be done in order to progress on our true course of action. His grace will be livid, and it appears that my heart is divided between you and his sister. At the same time, I can try to convince Lady Fawsley that we might truly suit whenever you and the duke are together. What do you think?”
“I’m not sure how you can be so certain that the duke and I will be spending any time together at this party,” she declared with a frown. “He is clearly preoccupied with another lady.”
“Trust me when I tell you, His Grace is very much aware of you and clearly does not care for the clingy woman at his side.” He gave her an encouraging grin.
“You and Clara both keep asking me to trust your judgment but I’m still hovering in uncertainty.
Besides, Clara won’t like that her current plans are going to go astray if you put yours into motion.
Are you sure you want to deviate from what she expects of you?
” Annette asked as they began to walk again.
“Maybe that’s exactly what that young lady needs. Someone who will finally stand up to her instead of giving in to her every whim,” he declared with a smirk before gazing down upon her. “Will you help me with winning over the lady as I will help you win your duke?”
“I think you and I have just formed a new pact, Lord Beaumont,” she answered brightly.
He lowered his head again. “Call me Alistair so the Fawsley’s and anyone else at this damn party are aware that we’ve developed an understanding about our future.”
She nodded her head in agreement. “And you must then call me Annette.”
“Or ‘Annie’ as Lady Fawsley calls you.”
She smiled, thinking how personal that would sound to the others who might overhear them. “As you wish… Alistair.”
He gave a hearty laugh that carried over the water and even Clara turned back to stare upon them. “Then let the games begin!”
Annette watched in satisfaction when John stumbled in his steps as he appeared to notice what most likely appeared as the marquess’s attention to her.
She didn’t want to think that what she was playing was one of the very games she’d eschewed to trap John, but he’d left her with no other alternative.
If she had to flirt her way through this house party to gain his notice, then so be it.
As Alistair had just declared… let the games begin.