Chapter 22
Violet saw the wicked smile on Ambrose’s face at the same time as she felt the tension rise in Alexander. The muscles in his arm went rigid as steel. Startled, Violet looked up at him and saw the same tension in his face that she could feel in his body.
“Well, well. Your Grace! Well met!” Ambrose gushed.
His tone was of jovial, good fellowship but the look in his eyes was that of a predator. Violet patted Alexander’s arm gently and smiled at Ambrose.
“My Lord Ambrose. How nice to meet you again. You must frequent the park often.”
“It is quite the place to see and be seen at the moment. I’m sure that will change next month, you know how fashion is, Lady Violet. I believe we touched on that subject when we dined together yesterday.”
“You dined together?” Alexander asked, without looking away from Ambrose.
The other man’s smile went a little wider, showing a hint of teeth.
“Indeed. I found Lady Violet walking down to the Corner, quite alone. I invited her to luncheon.”
Violet wondered at the relationship between the two men. They were eyeing each other like a pair of dogs, trying to decide whether to bark or bite to frighten the other away.
Is this jealousy? I have no suitor pursue me, until now. Do I have two?
“She was departing my house, I believe,” Alexander replied, matching Ambrose smile for smile. “As we are all three departing it now. And taking luncheon together. Would you care to join us?”
Whatever response Ambrose had been expecting, that was not it. His smile faltered for a moment and he looked quickly from Violet to Alexander and back.
“With regret. I have dined already.” He seemed to recover something of his demeanor, tugging on the lapels of his coat. “I have business in the House to attend to. A Bill by some upstart Opposition MP to defeat.”
Violet could almost hear the growl beginning in Alexander’s chest. He moved forward imperceptibly and she tightened her grip on his arm. She now understood. The remark about a Bill was undoubtedly aimed at Alexander. The Bill in question must be the reason that Alexander had sought her help.
I had considered Ambrose a bore but basically a respectable gentleman. Now it seems he has a spiteful streak. Not content with opposing Alexander in the House, he must taunt him in public?
It angered her to see the effort Alexander was putting into his self-control. She could almost feel the force of the anger he was holding behind his smile. But holding it he was. Beneath her own anger at Ambrose, she felt pride.
“I have had some success in that arena myself and intend to toast that success with my friends,” Alexander said, smiling brilliantly. “Let us say, may the best man win.”
Ambrose’s self-satisfied air slipped. His smile faltered and his eyes narrowed slightly, darting from Alexander to Violet and then to Lillian.
His expression tightened, lips pressing together into a firm, white line.
It changed his demeanor, robbing him of his elegant beauty and giving him the expression of a petulant child.
“If you will excuse us, Lord Ambrose. We will not detain you from your vital Parliamentary work,” Violet added.
Alexander took the cue to begin walking, lifting his hat to Ambrose. Violet gave a gracious nod as did Lillian. As they were walking away, they heard Ambrose clear his throat.
“I say. I quite forgot to mention to you yesterday the very reason I had asked for the pleasure of your company. A topic I wanted to discuss with you. Our conversation was so enthralling that it quite went out of my head.”
Violet heard Alexander’s sharp intake of breath as he fought to keep his annoyance concealed. She smiled gaily and turned to look over her shoulder.
“Pray tell, Lord Ambrose,” she said.
“It was concerning your late mother. I knew her, you see,” Ambrose said casually.
Violet was struck dumb, finding herself with mouth hanging open. She turned fully to face Ambrose, her hand falling from Alexander’s arm.
“Did you, indeed? Well, that is quite the coincidence. It is a small world in which we live,” Lillian said brightly.
“I would gladly put off my business in the House in order to talk about her with you. Reminisce,” Ambrose said, walking back towards Violet.
His voice was confident now, his charming smile projecting that confidence with the force of a sun. For a moment, Violet considered asking Alexander to excuse her. For a moment, she thought that he would surely understand that she could not ignore an opportunity to learn more about her parents.
“I would also dearly love to hear more about Lady Violet’s mother. A man should know about the family of one he cares for,” Alexander said, moving to Violet’s side.
Ambrose stopped in his tracks, briefly glaring at Alexander. But only briefly. Then, he got himself under control, his arrogant smile returning.
“Care for? I had not heard that Lady Violet was…courting. What lovely news for the Ton.”
Violet put her hand through Alexander’s arm once more.
“Alexander and I have become close and no longer wish to keep it secret,” she said.
“Well, I sincerely hope that our Scotch friend proves himself worthy of you.”
“Perhaps you could join us to talk about my mother. If your business is not so urgent after all,” Violet said.
“Alas. I have just remembered something more urgent. Forgive me,” Ambrose said, sweeping a bow.
He turned on his heel and began to walk away. Lillian watched him go and then turned back to Violet and Alexander. She clapped her hands twice.
“Bravo! I have been privileged to see a master at work. Two in fact. That was a quite superb job of deflating an arrogant fop,” she crowed.
“I wanted to deck the fella,” Alexander growled.
Deck? What language he comes up with in a pinch. Descriptive and to the point.
“I’m glad you didn’t,” Violet replied faintly.
“Do you think he really knew Aunt Fiona?” Lillian asked as they resumed walking.
“It’s possible. Mama moved in similar social circles to us. It is entirely likely she could come into contact with Lord Ambrose,” Violet said.
“Does her diary make mention of him?” Lillian asked.
“It makes no mention of anyone. Not by name. There was certainly a gentleman in her life, one of whom she was fond. She describes going to his country estate,” Violet replied.
“I hope for Aunt Fiona’s sake that it was not his. He is odious. A more arrogant man I have never met. And to think I wished to speak with him,” Lillian said.
“You are a fine judge of character. The man is a reptile,” Alexander replied.
“But he is also a Lord of the Realm and a central figure in the Ton and the Court. Respected and wealthy. And with the social capital to make anyone he chooses into a pariah. It seems he is also your political opponent?” Violet asked.
“Aye, he is that.”
They proceeded through Hyde Park, emerging onto Oxford Street.
Violet led them to a restaurant overlooking Portman Square.
It was quiet and discreetly located but those who had found it were all of London’s social elite.
Heads turned as Alexander entered and Violet could feel the furtive attention directed towards him as he dealt with the maitre de and led his companions to an excellent table.
The luncheon proceeded and Alexander acquitted himself well, projecting the image of a perfect gentleman.
After their meal, Lillian took Violet aside while Alexander blithely talked to a Baronet who had come to the table to introduce himself to the Duke.
“I am going to take a cab back to Brompton Row,” Lillian said. “I think you and Alexander would rather be alone anyhow.”
Violet felt mortified, thinking back over the entire luncheon, and wondered how badly she had been neglecting Lillian.
Surely, we weren’t so occupied by each other that we made her feel excluded. Oh my, poor Lillian!
She began to speak but Lillian put a hand up and whispered, quickly.
“It is quite alright, sister. I love you and I am so happy for you and the man you have found for yourself. He is handsome and strong and such a lovely gentleman. Despite his rough edges. I think you have found your perfect match, Vi.”
Violet blushed deeply, looking towards Alexander. She could not deny anything that Lillian had said, though she knew it was too early for such superlatives. But, it gave her a warm happy feeling for someone else to be thinking it.
“I feel terrible that you feel the need to run away,” Violet said.
“Don’t. I have already spoken to Alexander and got his permission to go back to the house and study the accounts. I shall be as happy as anything with that. Good luck.”
She kissed Violet’s cheek and then left the restaurant.