Chapter 5
Chapter Five
Alice checked the little clock on her dressing table and sighed.
She had hoped for enough time for a lie down to recover after her gruelling morning at the modiste’s with her aunt.
Unfortunately, this was not to be the case.
She made do with splashing cool water on her face and pressing a damp cloth to her temples.
The appointment had been far more exhausting than she had anticipated.
She had stood for what felt like hours while bolts of silk, muslin, and gauze were draped over her, poked, pinned, and discussed at length.
Not that she was not grateful for her aunt’s help: Jane knew the latest fashions and was always impeccably dressed.
Aunt Jane’s generosity had been overwhelming; she had dismissed Alice’s hesitant offer to contribute her own small savings and had ordered a complete new wardrobe with the calm authority of a woman who knew exactly what the Ton demanded.
“It is an honour to be able to do this for you and my sister, God rest her soul,” Aunt Jane had declared, before pulling out yet another roll of fabric.
Thank goodness for her aunt, Alice thought to herself, especially after her experience the previous evening.
Alice felt she had stuck out like a sore thumb among the elegant, confident debutantes.
Her outdated gown, hesitant steps, and sun-browned skin had marked her as an outsider.
If she was to succeed in her plan and secure a husband who could save her family, she must adapt, and quickly.
The ball was supposed to have been a gentle introduction for her, yet it had felt anything but and she had had to keep reminding herself that she was Alice Fairfax and she had every much a right to be there as the other far more glamorous attendees.
She had spent the evening waiting for it to be over.
A soft knock sounded at the door. “Come in,” Alice called.
“Lady Marlowe asks if you will be ready to join her in the drawing room shortly, miss?” her maid, Beth explained.
“Thank you. Please help me change.”
A few minutes later, dressed in a fresh sprigged muslin morning gown, Alice descended the stairs with reluctant steps.
She had little taste for morning calls, but they were a necessary evil of London life and yet another reason why Alice preferred living in the country where visitors were far less frequent and interactions more relaxed.
Despite her misgivings and her wish to be alone with her thoughts, she could not help but wonder if she would have any callers.
None of the young men she had danced with had made much of an impression on her if she were to be honest, and she was pretty sure they felt the same way about her.
She had been so nervous and worried about stepping on her partners’ toes, she had been almost silent for the evening.
Her heart leapt when she entered the drawing room to see a tall, broad-shouldered gentleman already stood conversing with Aunt Jane in the drawing room. For one foolish instant, Alice’s heart lifted, until he turned and she recognised the familiar blond head and piercing blue eyes.
“Ah, here is my niece,” said Aunt Jane.
Alice dropped a neat curtsy. “How kind of you to find time in your busy social life to join us, Lord Tonbridge,” she said, glaring at him.
“No trouble at all, Miss Fairfax,” Anthony replied, his gaze moving over her new gown with unmistakable appreciation.
“Lord Tonbridge informs me he is in town for the season and that he had agreed with your brother that he would remain in London as your chaperone for as long as he is able. I imagine with all the excitement of my niece’s arrival in town she omitted to tell me this,” Lady Jane said, a smile twitching on the corners of her mouth.
She was well aware of Alice and Anthony’s frequent bickering.
As everyone who knew the Fairfax family was.
Alice scowled at Anthony as he replied, “Most understandable, but I am here to formally offer my services now.”
“Thank you, Lord Tonbridge. They are much appreciated. I know how active my niece likes to be, and it will be nice for her to have a companion to walk and ride with. My own daughters are all sadly too far away to join us.”
“It will be my absolute pleasure,” Anthony responded.
Alice felt her cheeks warm. “It is very good of you to visit, but I am sure you will need to be getting back to your own house,” she said, hoping to be rid of him before any callers arrived, or worse, before he saw that she did not have any callers.
She would never live down that particular mortification.
Wait until he told her sisters… “You must have so much to do with ….” What did he do in London other than drink, gamble and flirt? “Seeing to your horses!” she finished.
“Seeing to his horses?” repeated Aunt Jane, bemused.
“Why, of course,” explained Alice, feeling herself getting more flustered by the second as Anthony’s eyes bored into hers. “Anthony has horses here in town and he will be wanting to ride them and…”
Lady Jane rescued her floundering niece, “How is your London house, Lord Tonbridge? I understand you have not been there very much recently.”
Alice did her best to hide her surprise. Anthony was back and forth to London all the time to partake in all the pleasures it held for him and which the Kentish countryside was definitely lacking, but it was true that he rarely stayed in town for long now.
“Actually, it is a relief to be away from it,” replied Anthony. “I am having some improvements done and the noise is very distracting.”
“Oh no,” said Jane. “There’s nothing worse than the sound of building work.”
“I could not agree more,” said Anthony.
“Why then, you must come and stay here until your improvements are done. I will not hear of any refusal. You are practically one of the family and it will be so nice for Alice to have another young person about the place. I fear she shall soon grow tired of my company.”
Alice’s mouth fell open in horror, what was her aunt doing?
She could not possibly stay in the same house as Anthony.
That would be a nightmare! It was bad enough having to see him at whatever social events she was invited to but having him across the breakfast table from her was asking too much!
Surely he would not agree to it. He was a grown man, used to doing whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted to.
He ran his own estate. Goodness only knew what time he staggered in every morning from the accounts she had heard.
And, as amusing as he obviously found teasing her, he did not actually enjoy her company.
Of course, he would not agree to stay in her aunt’s house…
“You are most generous, Lady Jane. I should be delighted to accept your kind invitation. It would be lovely to spend my time in London with friends.”
“Wonderful news!” said Lady Jane, clapping her hands with obvious satisfaction. “And I insist you call me Aunt Jane as my nieces and nephews do. Shall I tell Thomas to collect your things and inform your valet?”
“That would be marvellous, thank you, Aunt Jane,” replied Anthony. He turned to look at Alice. “This way I can be available whenever Alice needs me.”
“Alice, dear, would you mind checking what is happened with the tea? I cannot fathom what is taking so long,” Aunt Jane asked.
“Of course,” Alice said, grateful for the excuse to escape Anthony’s stares.
Just what was he up to? She knew he liked to torment her, but surely this arrangement would inconvenience him a great deal.
How could it be worth it for him? The thought of Anthony living under the same roof, sharing breakfast, occupying the same drawing room, and watching her every move, filled her with equal parts dread and an unsettling flutter she refused to examine too closely.
She delivered her aunt’s message to the kitchen and was making her way back to the drawing room when she heard a visitor being announced.
She quickly checked herself in the hall mirror; her cheeks were flushed from the vengeful thoughts she was having about Anthony, but, hopefully, this just gave her a healthy glow.
Returning to the drawing room, she found that she did indeed have a gentleman caller.
“Ah, Mr Edward Cawlston, here is my niece, Miss Alice Fairfax,” introduced Lady Jane.
Alice curtsied in response to Mr Cawlston’s bow. His name was perhaps familiar from her dance card, but she could not place him. But then, she had been so nervous last night, it was hardly surprising she was unable to recollect a great deal about anyone she’d danced with.
“It is an honour to see you again, Miss Fairfax,” Mr Cawlston said.
“Mr Cawlston brought you these beautiful flowers,” said Lady Jane.
A vase of lilies had been placed on a side table.
“Thank you,” Alice said, smiling at her visitor and ignoring Anthony, who stood by the fireplace, as best as she could.
She sat down and was joined by Duchess, who, if possible, looked even more judgemental than usual. She clearly saw it as her duty to take part in whatever was going on and ensure her mistress’ potential suitor was up to her exacting standards.
A tea tray was brought in and Alice took the opportunity to examine Mr Cawlston.
He was certainly young, his sideburns had not come in yet.
She believed she did remember dancing with him.
He had not been very accomplished if she recalled and she had been more than a little concerned for her feet. Not that her dancing was much better.
"Will you not sit down, Lord Tonbridge?" asked Lady Jane.
"I am quite comfortable standing, thank you," replied Anthony.
What was he doing? Did he think he was her bodyguard or something? Alice felt a wave of pity for poor Mr Cawlston. He really had not known what he was letting himself in for when he had decided to pay her a visit.
"I have not seen you around London before," commented Anthony, an accusatory tone to his voice.
Alice mentally rolled her eyes.
"No," replied Mr Cawlston, "I am newly arrived from my family seat in Northumberland. It is my first time in London and I am very much still finding my way around."
"How inconvenient to be situated so far from the capital…" said Anthony.
There was silence apart from the clinking of spoons on teacups.
"I find the country delightful, and far superior to town," said Alice, feeling someone should say something to relax her visitor.
"Indeed," said Mr Cawlston.
The next quarter of an hour dragged as Mr Cawlston was grilled on his family and prospects by both her aunt and Anthony who took it in turns to torment their prey. Finally, his visit was over. He left rather rapidly.
Alice turned to her aunt and Anthony, a scowl on her face. "You could have been nicer to him!"
"I was perfectly polite," replied Anthony with a shrug.
"It is not that I do not appreciate your help," said Alice, sarcastically, "but scaring potential suitors away may not be the best method to find me a husband."
"He was not a potential suitor, he was far too young."
"I have to agree, dear," said Lady Jane.
Alice was saved from hearing more by the announcement of another visitor. Hopefully, this one would be more to Anthony's liking, she thought frustrated.