Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
Over the course of the next week, Alice discovered that sharing a house with Lord Tonbridge was every bit as difficult and irritating as she had feared.
It was also, to her growing dismay, increasingly confusing, and, as much as she longed to ride Rosalind again along Rotten Row, she had not summoned the courage to suggest another outing.
For a man who was supposed to be a wild and notorious rake, Anthony spent an inordinate amount of time hanging around her aunt’s house like a particularly persistent bad smell, calling Alice silly nicknames and generally tormenting her.
There had been more than one occasion when she had been forced to stomp off out of a room to get away from him to the sound of his laughter echoing behind her.
At social events he played the overprotective older brother to perfection - perhaps too well.
Alice could feel the weight of his gaze whenever she conversed with any gentleman.
He would appear at her side within moments, hovering close and interrogating potential suitors about their estates, incomes, and habits until the poor men made hasty excuses and retreated.
Thankfully, no gentleman had yet stood out as a serious prospect, even when she managed more than thirty seconds of conversation before Anthony’s interference.
One evening after supper, Aunt Jane departed for her monthly bridge party, leaving strict instructions that a footman remain on duty in the hall for propriety's sake.
Anthony had mentioned he had business correspondence to attend to.
Left to her own devices, Alice wandered the house restlessly.
London still felt stifling and unnatural compared to the open fields and stables of Fairfax Hall.
Her gaze fell upon the copy of ‘Pride and Prejudice’ Anthony had given her, still lying discarded on her dressing table.
She found herself picking it up and taking it downstairs.
Assuming Anthony would work in the library as he had before, Alice curled up in a large armchair in the drawing room near the fire.
Duchess soon joined her, leaping onto her lap with a contented sigh and kneading her paws into Alice’s skirts.
The crackle of the flames and the cat’s warm, purring weight created a rare moment of peace.
For a blissful instant, Alice could almost imagine herself back at home.
But home was never this quiet. Charlotte and Margaret would be chattering or playfully bickering on the sofa, and Henry would likely be frowning over ledgers in the study.
A sharp wave of homesickness washed over her.
Alone in the room, she allowed herself the luxury of a single tear slipping down her cheek and landing on Duchess’ fur.
“So, how is your grand plan to save your family from ruin coming along?”
Alice looked up sharply and made no attempt to hide the scowl on her face at Anthony interrupting her evening. She blinked rapidly to get rid of any evidence of her little wobble.
“Come to think of it,” said Anthony, stepping further into the room, “your predicament sounds like a storyline from a novel with you cast in the role of the plucky young heroine.” When he did not receive a response, he continued, “Is your book entertaining?” His raised eyebrows indicated he had spotted it was the one he had gifted her.
“I do not know yet,” Alice replied shortly.
“How much have you read?”
“Lord Tonbridge,” said Alice, closing the book firmly and placing it on her lap. “I am attempting to enjoy my evening in peace. As much as you appear to delight in the sound of your voice, I would much rather silence.”
“As you wish, Miss Fairfax,” he replied with an exaggerated bow and a grin that made his blue eyes sparkle. He was clearly enjoying himself enormously. “Though I thought perhaps you might care to join me for a game of cards instead?”
“I am reading.”
“Just a little game. I shall even let you win my watch…”
Alice set the book aside with a sigh. “I do not want your watch, and I do not gamble, as you well know.”
“You are already taking a rather large gamble,” Anthony pointed out, settling into the chair opposite hers, “trying to secure a husband in a single, partial Season. What if no suitable proposal materialises? Or what if the gentleman who does propose hates cats? Or cannot abide horses? Will you return next year?”
Alice faltered. Of course, she knew there was a possibility that she might end the season without a fiancé - some might say a big possibility judging by her success so far.
But all she could do was try her very best to be the type of woman at least one of the young men she met would want to marry. Ideally a young man she liked.
She would dress the right way, wear her hair the right way, and do her level best to steer clear of any conversations involving her day-to-day life at Fairfax Hall and how she spent far more time with the horses than practising her embroidery or piano playing.
She would turn herself into the sort of woman a gentleman would want to marry.
And hopefully that would be enough. It had to be enough because she had no other plan if she failed.
“I… I don’t know,” she admitted quietly.
Seemingly realising he had upset her, Anthony expression softened. He cleared his throat and said, “I am quite certain you will have men falling over themselves to propose…”
Alice sat up straighter. “Just one will be sufficient,”she replied, with as much confidence as she could muster.
“You know you do not have to do this,” said Anthony, gently.
Alice glanced away from him, stroking Duchess’ fur. “I want to help Henry and this is the only way I can. If I marry well, he will no longer need to support me and it will open up opportunities for my sisters. It is not fair that he takes the burden for all of us.”
“As your older brother and inheritor of your father’s estate, that is his responsibility, and it is one he is more than willing to bear.”
“I know he is. Henry takes his role as big brother and head of the household very seriously and would never want to let us down, but none of us ever anticipated that our family’s finances would be in such a bad state when he inherited them.”
Anthony leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Your family’s finances are strained, it is true… But Henry and I have been working on them and we have a plan in place. Things are improving and will continue to.”
“Forgive me, but your involvement does not exactly fill me with confidence,” Alice said dryly.
“Oh really,” said Anthony, his lip twitching.
“You have not concocted some irresponsible plan to bet my family’s remaining fortune on a horse race, have you?”
“A boxing match, actually. But it is a sure win.”
The look of horror on Alice’s face made him burst into laughter - a warm, rich sound that filled the drawing room and did strange things to her pulse.
“You are aware that I have been running my own family’s estate for three years now?” he asked once recovered. “That I was brought up learning how to do so by my father before he passed away? And my estate happens to be thriving.”
Alice considered this. She had never truly contemplated the idea of Anthony running a large estate.
Her first thought was that it was a ludicrous idea, but, actually, having experienced a little of him in London society, she saw how he could lead and be quite…
masterful, in the right situation. She supposed she had always assumed he had an estate manager who organised everything for him.
Maybe he did and he was just trying to convince her that he was not going to be a terrible influence on her brother as he wrestled the family finances back into some sort of order.
Anthony’s face turned serious. “I hope you know how much your family means to me,” he said, carefully. “I would never do anything to jeopardise your future.”
Alice was taken aback by his tone, she could not recall Anthony ever being this earnest before and was unsure quite how to react. Her first assumption was that he was teasing her as usual, yet he sounded like he was being completely genuine.
“You and Henry have been friends for a long time…” she said.
“I am not referring just to my friendship with Henry. Your whole family has done a lot for me over the years. I have so many happy memories of being with you all at Fairfax Hall, especially as an only child myself. I am glad to be able to help in any way I can. That is why I offered to be here when Henry was not able to be.”
“I thought that was just to torment me,” Alice said, a reluctant smile tugging at her lips.
“That is merely an additional benefit,” he replied with a wink.
She shook her head, amused despite herself. “I knew it.”
Anthony shrugged, though his eyes lingered on her a moment longer than necessary. “I am here to help, Alice. In any way you will allow.”
“I do not need your help. I am perfectly capable of finding myself a husband all on my own.”
“I am quite sure you are, but I am here if you change your mind.”
He rose and left the room, leaving Alice staring into the fire, more confused than ever. She believed she knew Anthony, had him clear in her mind, but maybe she had only been shown the surface before.