Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
Alice was grateful when they were back at Aunt Jane’s house and she could use the excuse of getting changed out of her riding habit to escape to her room while Anthony discussed the finer details of his plan with Aunt Jane.
She rummaged at the back of one of the drawers in the dressing table until she found her list. Sitting down at the mahogany writing bureau on the other side of the room, she unfolded the piece of paper.
It was so embarrassing. Not only the existence of the list itself, but the fact that she was no closer to winning the heart of any gentleman upon it.
Each crossed-off name now seemed like a failure rather than the sensible whittling down of possibilities she had originally intended.
In fact, she felt further away than ever from her goal, thanks to the unfortunate feelings she seemed to have developed for Anthony. And now it seemed he was to marry someone else, which was something she could not allow herself to think on.
With a sigh, she took out a fresh sheet of paper and began copying the list, including the names she had already rejected.
She wanted Anthony to know precisely whom he need not bother inviting as well as those he should.
She scribbled one additional suggestion at the bottom before folding the paper and placing it inside a book, which she carried downstairs with her.
By the time she came back downstairs again, everything had been settled between Aunt Jane and Anthony and the house party on his estate was officially going ahead.
“I think it is a splendid idea!” said Aunt Jane. “It will be delightful to get out of the city for a few days, and Lord Tonbridge’s estate sounds charming. We are decided that we shall journey down there on Thursday, a day before the rest of the guests arrive, to give us time to settle in.”
“Wonderful!” said Alice, forcing a smile. “It will be lovely to be home for a little while.”
“Of course you will visit your home and see your siblings,” said Aunt Jane, “but it is important you stay on Lord Tonbridge’s estate for the duration of the house party. I’ve known many a match made over the breakfast table.”
“Very well, Aunt,” Alice replied, hiding her disappointment. She had been looking forward to sleeping in her own bed for a few nights, but it would be interesting to stay in Anthony’s home and see it properly.
“I would be very surprised indeed if you do not return to London with at least one proposal and leaving a few broken hearts in your wake,” continued Aunt Jane. “We shall have to revisit the modiste and have some more dresses made for you, more suited to the country.”
“That is very kind of you, Aunt, but I have my clothes from home . . .”
“I think it is better that we order you some new ones, dear,” said Aunt Jane, patting her niece on the arm kindly.
Alice caught Anthony stifling a laugh, and could not help smiling herself. There was something about him and the way he appeared to understand her that always seemed to have that effect.
Alice slipped him a neatly folded copy of her list as he took his leave, watching anxiously as he surreptitiously tucked it into his pocket.
She breathed a sigh of relief once it was safely out of sight.
She did not think her aunt would consider it very ladylike to have a list of potential suitors, and particularly not to be handing out a copy to Anthony.
Anthony returned to his house and went straight to his study, his favourite room, where he poured himself a large whiskey.
He sat sipping it for a moment, torn between relief at being back in his own space where he did not have to constantly guard his reactions to Alice, and an immediate ache of missing her presence already.
What hold did she have over him? The sooner she was happily married to someone else and he could properly accept that he must move on with his life, the better.
He rubbed his forehead as he took Alice’s list out of his pocket.
He took another fortifying sip of his drink, and unfolded it.
The lavender scent Alice favoured wafted up from the page, catching him unawares.
His stomach gave a little dance and he cursed under his breath before crossly flattening the sheet of paper out on the desk in front of him.
The sight of Alice’s rather unruly handwriting made him smile: she never had been very interested in penmanship, much to the despair of her tutors.
A stricter father would have insisted she be kept behind after her lessons had finished to perfect her letters, but hers was more easy-going than most, and indulged his outdoor loving daughter, understanding how hard it was for her to be sat at a desk writing or sewing for hours on end.
Anthony found Alice’s handwriting charming and individual, portraying her spirit and non-conformity.
She had written out all the names she had included in her original list, with crosses next to those she had presumably already decided against. A quick glance through these and Anthony immediately agreed that none of these men would be a suitable match.
Of the remaining men, there were question marks by some - presumably she had met them and was still undecided.
Inviting them and giving her the opportunity to get to know them better seemed a sensible idea.
There were only two with no marks against their names.
He guessed she had not had a chance to meet them yet.
One, he knew, had been stuck up on his estate in Derbyshire until very recently. He would contact them both.
At the very bottom of the list, Alice had added: The gentleman you spoke to when I travelled in the barouche with Sarah. He had dark hair and brown eyes and rode a chestnut stallion.
Damn it. Anthony had hoped she had forgotten about him.
An old acquaintance from Oxford, Sir Marcus was generally envied by all who knew him.
He had been on the continent for years, but Anthony had heard he had recently inherited a large estate only a few miles from his own from an uncle he had known very little of.
Presumably he was not in London for the Season officially as the only time Anthony had come into contact with him was that once on Rotten Row.
Though a little pompous, there was nothing objectively wrong with Sir Marcus, and he was certainly eligible.
Logically, he would be an excellent match for Alice.
His estate was even close to her family’s.
Anthony could not imagine Sir Marcus making Alice happy, though .
. . Was he being selfish? Worried that if she had the chance to meet him properly, they might suit?
Perhaps. But being so newly returned to the country and in the midst of taking over such a large estate, Sir Marcus was undoubtedly busy.
It would be inconsiderate to expect him to take days away for a house party.
Anthony crossed through Sir Marcus’s name, ignoring the stab of guilt that rushed through him, and began to pen invitations to the remaining names on Alice’s list.
The following day, Beth announced that Lord Tonbridge had requested Alice’s company in her aunt’s drawing room while Alice had been enjoying a pleasant half an hour reading in the sunshine in the garden.
The maid’s pronouncement made her jump. Alice had been listening out for her aunt, who would certainly scold her for ruining her complexion by not sitting in the shade.
She had become carried away in her book and had not been as vigilant as she had planned.
Grateful she had not been caught out, though flustered at the prospect of a visit from Anthony, Alice went into the house, requesting that tea be brought through to them.
Anthony stood as she entered the room and indicated the seat next to where he had been sitting. As Alice sat down, he began speaking. “I was wanting to discuss further arrangements for the house party with you, if you are amenable and available to talk about it now.”
“Certainly,” Alice said, “but I am not sure how much use I will be. I have never organised any sort of social event and would have no idea where to start.”
“I am in a similar position,” Anthony admitted.
“We never entertained much at home due to my father not liking to. Your Aunt Jane has very kindly offered to help me, but I wanted to make sure it was organised to be as painless as possible for you while also being efficient and producing the desired effect: a marriage proposal.”
Alice blushed. How had she ended up in this ridiculous situation?
She appreciated Anthony’s help, but other women did not have to resort to this!
And they certainly did not have events organised for them by a man they were concerned they had fallen in love with, and who, it turned out, had no idea what he was doing.
Perhaps sensing her discomfort, Anthony quickly said, “I have already sent out invitations, but when it comes to arrangements for dining and the like, I am afraid I am a little at a loss.”
Alice could not help laughing. Anthony always seemed so capable; who would have thought he would be asking for help with organising a social event?
She would have been sure he was an expert at such things, but it was true that his father had only very rarely allowed his home to be opened to guests.
When in London, she supposed Anthony socialised mainly at his club.
“I think we might be best off taking Aunt Jane up on her offer of help. She is an excellent hostess, and will enjoy doing it.”
“I suspect you are right,” said Anthony. “She will do a much better job than either of us. I shall place it in her hands and it will be a resounding success. You will be inundated with very suitable offers.”
Alice smiled back, though she did not quite share his confidence.