Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
Alice came down to breakfast the following morning tired from reading until the early hours, but dressed ready for riding and excited to be going out to clear her head before an afternoon of calls with her aunt.
Aunt Jane was already in the breakfast room enjoying toast and a boiled egg with her pot of tea, but there was no sign of Anthony.
“Good morning, dear. I hope you slept well,” said Aunt Jane.
“Yes, thank you, and you?” replied Alice, helping herself to coffee.
“Very well. I am afraid, however, that Lord Tonbridge will not be able to take you riding this morning as planned. He was out last night and has not yet returned.”
“Oh,” said Alice, feeling suddenly foolish in her riding gear. “That is a shame.”
“I am sure he has a good explanation for letting you down,” Aunt Jane said kindly.
Yes, like one of his mistresses making him a more exciting offer, thought Alice bitterly.
“Never mind,” Alice said as brightly as she could. “I daresay I should have felt quite exhausted riding a second day in a row.”
“I would imagine so,” agreed Aunt Jane. “Perhaps we could take a little stroll together before luncheon?”
“That sounds lovely,” Alice said.
“And I am sure Lord Tonbridge will be able to take you riding tomorrow.”
Alice nodded.
She ate her breakfast quickly and went back up to her room to change out of her riding clothes.
A terrible mood had settled over her. She was cross with Anthony for disappointing her, but even more frustrated with herself for having begun to trust him.
She had allowed his charm and their pleasant rides to make her forget what he truly was: a self-serving rake primarily interested in the pursuit of pleasure.
Of course he would choose his own amusements over honouring a commitment to her.
And it was not as though this was the first time he had let her down, she reminded herself, recalling the summer three years ago when he had failed to appear for their ride.
And she had been looking forward to seeing him and telling him now she’d read ‘Pride and Prejudice’ for hours last night, until she could no longer force her eyes to stay open.
She loved Lizzie, and despaired of Mr Darcy, and had planned to finish it after their ride.
She glared at the book by the side of the bed before turning her back to it.
She was wasting her time and energy on him when he was not worth it and there were far more important things that she should be focusing on.
The day dragged interminably for Alice. She was glad whenever she and her aunt were out of the house for it prevented her from listening out for Anthony’s return or being tempted to read the book he had given her.
She was, however, forced to spend far longer than she liked pretending to be interested in gossip about people she barely knew.
When she and Aunt Jane finally returned after paying calls on what seemed to be half of London, Anthony was waiting for them in the drawing room.
He rose as they entered. He looked exhausted, Alice noted.
A surge of unwanted pity rose within her, but she swiftly quashed it.
It served him right for staying out all night.
She hoped he was suffering the most dreadful hangover.
“Lord Tonbridge, I trust you had a good night,” said Aunt Jane, with an indulgent smile.
“I admit, I am rather feeling the effects of it now,” Anthony replied. “I hope you will forgive me if I retire for a time until supper?”
“Of course,” said Aunt Jane. “In fact, I believe I shall go for a lie down myself. Today has quite exhausted me.”
Once her aunt had departed, Anthony turned his attention to Alice. “I am sorry I had to cancel our ride this morning.”
“It is quite fine,” replied Alice, coldly. “I think I shall also go to rest in my room.”
She turned to leave.
“I am free tomorrow morning if you would care to go riding then?” Anthony suggested.
“That is very kind, but no thank you,” Alice said, continuing out of the door. There was no question of putting herself in the position of being let down by him again.
“I was not aware you had any prior engagements…” Anthony called after her.
Alice spun back around. “I do not,” she said, surprised at her own boldness in speaking so to an earl. Social decorum was the furthest thing from her mind.
Anthony’s eyes flashed. “I apologised for this morning, it really could not be helped,” he said, stiffly.
Alice rolled her eyes. “You could not help staying out all night, no doubt drinking, gambling and… womanising?” She took a deep breath.
“It was not like that…”
“It is none of my business what you do, Lord Tonbridge,” Alice said firmly.
She turned to leave once more, but Anthony strode across the room and caught her by the arm. “Please, wait,” he said urgently.
Alice looked up into his eyes and found herself transfixed. His gaze was so intense, she felt herself melt despite her best intentions to remain cross at him possibly for the rest of their natural lives.
“It is not what you think, I was not out… doing any of those things, especially the womanising,” he said with a little smile Alice had to fight very hard not to return.
“What were you doing then?” she asked quietly.
“You said that was none of your business.”
Alice glared back at him and Anthony sighed.
“Can I trust you?” he asked.
“Of course you can.”
“Because this is very private, and it cannot go any further.”
“It will not.”
“Very well…” There was clear hesitation in Anthony’s voice. “Meet me in the entrance hall tomorrow morning at ten o’clock. Wear your riding clothes. If your aunt asks, we are simply taking the horses to Hyde Park again.”
He gently released her arm. Alice had been so focused on his face that she had not even realised he was still holding it. She managed a nod and continued upstairs to her room, her head full of questions and emotions, her arm tingling from his touch.
Alice did not wear her riding clothes to breakfast the next morning.
Part of her still wondered whether Anthony would appear, but when she entered the breakfast room he was there, sitting beside her aunt, sipping coffee and reading the newspaper with a pile of scrambled eggs and bacon in front of him.
“Good morning,” he said. If Alice had to guess, she would say he looked nervous. It was strange to see his usual confident demeanour unsettled, and it made her feel a little uneasy.
“Good morning,” Alice replied. “And good morning, Aunt.”
“Good morning, dear,” said Aunt Jane. “I understand you two are going riding this morning.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“I hope it stays dry for you, the weather seems rather undecided.”
“I don’t mind getting a bit wet,” said Alice.
Aunt Jane laughed. “The weather’s never bothered you! I imagine the park will be rather devoid of other riders though.”
Alice ate her breakfast quickly and then returned to her room where Beth was waiting to help her change into her riding habit and plait her hair.
She felt a mixture of excitement and nervousness.
Where exactly was Anthony planning to take her?
She trusted him to keep her safe - Henry would doubtless kill him if he took her anywhere unsuitable - but she still could not quite believe she had agreed to this mysterious outing.
Deep down, however, she knew Anthony would never do anything to truly harm her. He might tease and infuriate her, but he would never place her in real danger. Of that she remained strangely certain.
She pulled on her riding boots and gave herself a last once over in the dressing table mirror before thanking Beth and going downstairs.
Anthony was waiting for her as promised. He gave her a questioning look, silently checking she was still willing to go through with their plan. She nodded back and followed him from the house and to the horses waiting outside.
“We shall return in a couple of hours,” he told the groom as Alice greeted Rosalind and was helped up onto her.
They rode down the street. “We’ll leave the horses in my stables,” Anthony said. “I have a carriage waiting for us there.” Alice felt herself becoming more anxious by the minute. What exactly had she got herself into?
They rode into the mews built behind Anthony’s house again and climbed into the carriage all set up with horses and driver, who seemed to know their destination without being told.
“I am sorry for all the secrecy,” Anthony said quietly as they set off. “It will become clear soon enough.”
He tapped his foot nervously against the floor of the carriage. Alice had never seen him so tense. Even as a younger man, when he had landed himself in all sorts of scrapes, he had usually appeared remarkably unconcerned. This was different.
After only ten minutes the carriage stopped and they climbed out. They were on a smart street with rows of neat terraced houses behind tiny front gardens. The area looked quite respectable, though not one Alice was likely to frequent when she went on calls with her aunt.
“This way,” Anthony said. She followed him through a gate of one home and up a little path. He knocked on the sage green front door.
The door was opened by a very pretty dark-haired woman, who appeared to be a few years older than Alice.
Alice instinctively took a step back. Was this Anthony’s mistress? One of his mistresses? What on earth were they doing here?
“Hello Sarah,” Anthony said warmly, “How is he?”
“Doing much better. He will be pleased to see you,” the woman said.
“This is my friend, Miss Alice Fairfax,” he introduced.
“I’ve heard a great deal about you,” Sarah replied with a kind smile.
“I apologise for the way I am dressed…” Alice said, gesturing to her riding habit.
“My doing,” explained Anthony.
“It does not matter at all,” Sarah reassured. “Come in, both of you. It looks as though it is about to rain.”
A very confused Alice followed Anthony inside the house and along a hallway to a small, comfortable parlour, where a little boy who looked about five or six years old lay on a sofa. He had a blanket over him and was very pale.