Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
Alice woke the next morning and for a few blissful seconds could not remember where she was.
Then the memories of the previous night came rushing back - the rain-soaked walk, her foolish disguise, and her mortifying discovery by Anthony’s groom.
She groaned and pulled the covers over her head, wishing she could remain hidden there forever.
But she could not avoid the consequences of her actions indefinitely.
With a heavy sigh, she rose and prepared to face breakfast.
Charlie was such a lovely boy; he would make a fine earl one day, Alice was certain. If she truly had to watch Anthony marry someone else, she was glad it would be Sarah, and that Charlie would be so well cared for. She should be happy for them. She must be happy for them.
Sarah had been exceptionally kind the previous evening. She must have found Alice’s sudden, rain-drenched appearance exceedingly strange, especially as they had just returned from a pleasant family outing, yet she had asked no awkward questions.
Instead, she had chattered warmly and provided a soft linen nightgown trimmed with delicate lace, along with a fresh morning dress for the following day. Alice had been deeply grateful for her kindness, even if it had done little to ease her embarrassment.
Even now, the following morning, she had no idea what on earth she’d been thinking with her little escapade and very much wished she was in bed in Aunt Jane’s house, where at least no one thought she was crazy.
A soft knock sounded at the door. A maid entered carrying a pitcher of warm water scented with rosewater and offered to help Alice dress and arrange her hair. Though Alice would have preferred solitude, she accepted. It was better to face the day looking composed.
The maid worked efficiently, fastening Alice into a simple but elegant morning gown of pale blue muslin with delicate white embroidery at the cuffs and hem.
She dressed Alice’s hair in a neat, becoming style with a few soft curls framing her face.
To her credit, the girl made no mention of the previous night’s unusual events, limiting her conversation to the weather and compliments on Alice’s hair.
Once ready, Alice descended the stairs with considerable trepidation.
Her heart sank when she was shown into the bright breakfast room and found Anthony, Sarah, and Charlie already seated together.
Sunlight streamed through tall sash windows, illuminating the polished mahogany table set with fine china, silver, and fresh flowers.
“Good morning,” Alice said, trying to sound cheerful as she entered.
“Alice!” Charlie cried with delight. He jumped up and ran to hug her. “Mother said you were here! We had such fun last night. We saw Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the theatre!”
“That sounds wonderful,” Alice replied, managing a genuine smile for the boy.
“Let Alice sit down and have something to eat, Charlie,” Sarah said gently, giving Alice an understanding smile. Alice did her best to return it while carefully avoiding Anthony’s gaze.
As Alice took her seat, Anthony stood. “If you are finished, Charlie, there is something I wished to show you in the garden while Alice has her breakfast. Then I need to speak with her privately.”
Dread settled heavily in Alice’s stomach. Food suddenly seemed impossible.
“I am finished!” Charlie announced, wiping his mouth hastily. “May I go, Mother?”
“Yes, darling,” Sarah said. “But no traipsing mud back into the house, either of you!”
Once they had gone, an awkward silence fell. Alice focused on her plate, though she had little appetite.
“I can just imagine you as the mistress of Anthony’s earldom when you boss him around like that,” Alice said lightly, attempting to fill the silence.
“Me?” Sarah laughed. “Now that would be something to see.”
“It will,” Alice said softly. “You will make an excellent mistress when you marry Anthony.” Though the words pained her, she believed them to be true.
“Marry Anthony?” Sarah’s tone was one of pure astonishment. The surprise on her face told Alice everything.
“In what world would I marry Anthony?” Sarah said, her eyebrows raised. “What is going on?”
“I thought Anthony would have spoken with you about his plans . . .”
“His plans to marry me?”
“Yes,” Alice said slowly, embarrassment flooding over her. “Plans he only shared with me by way of explanation for his . . . actions.”
“His actions in not offering for your hand, which he quite clearly should have done long ago,” Sarah said, shaking her head. “The fool.”
“He is only trying to do what he thinks is best for everyone,” Alice murmured, her cheeks burning.
“Without actually asking anyone what they want,” Sarah pointed out dryly. “Men,” she muttered.
“His idea is to marry you now that his mother has passed away. So that Charlie will inherit from him. He would have done it before, but he was trying to protect his mother from his father’s actions . . .”
“I can understand that, but if he had actually spoken to me about this instead of keeping it all bottled up, I would have told him in no uncertain terms that I have absolutely no intention of marrying him,” Sarah said with an exasperated sigh.
Just then Anthony returned to the room. His eyebrows shot up, he had clearly heard at least part of the conversation. Charlie followed behind him, clutching a book.
“Charlie, would you go and play for a little while? The grown-ups need to talk,” Sarah said.
The little boy nodded and left, clearly relieved to escape the tense atmosphere.
“Maybe I should leave as well?” Alice suggested, half-rising.
“I think it is important that you stay,” Sarah said firmly. “This rather affects you too.”
Alice sat back down, not knowing where to look.
Sarah turned to Anthony. “So,” she said, a note of steel beneath her pleasant tone, “Alice has informed me that you and I are to be wed.”
Anthony looked supremely uncomfortable. Alice opened her mouth to explain, but Sarah held up a hand. “It is quite all right, Alice,” she assured her. “You have done absolutely nothing wrong. I am very glad I have now been made aware of the situation so I may set the record straight.”
“It appears I should have involved you more in my plans,” Anthony said sheepishly.
“I think that would have been a good idea,” Sarah replied. “Would you care to enlighten me now?”
Alice watched as Anthony swallowed before speaking. “My thoughts were that now my mother has passed away and a respectable time has passed, we could marry. I would claim Charlie as my own child if necessary, or adopt him so he would inherit from me. But I believe I cannot.”
“What do you mean you cannot?” asked Sarah. “According to Alice you have got it all planned out.”
Alice tried to make herself as small as possible. This was mortifying.
“I thought it was the best option for everyone,” Anthony explained.
“I had never truly considered marriage before. I suppose I had always assumed I would marry to continue the family line if nothing else, but who I was to marry I did not know . . . because the only woman I could see myself being truly happy with for the rest of my life hated me.”
Alice felt her cheeks turn bright red. Surely he was talking about her? His eyes met hers, intense and searching, before Sarah broke the tension.
“Thank goodness you saw sense before you proposed!” she laughed. “I have no desire to marry you and I certainly do not ever want to step foot on your estate again.” Sarah’s face softened. “Charlie and I are quite happy as we are. Thanks to your generosity we have everything we could possibly need.”
“But Charlie’s paternity . . .”
“Is not your problem to fix,” said Sarah, gently.
Anthony nodded. “You are quite sure you understand why I cannot marry you? I know it would make your and Charlie’s lives far easier. And it was what I had planned to do.”
“Yes. It would have been a very generous proposal, but a ridiculous one as I do not love you and you do not love me. It would not be right for me to accept. Especially when there is someone else you should be proposing to who will make you very happy.” Sarah smiled warmly at Alice.
“I think I shall go and see what Charlie is up to and leave you two to talk.”
Sarah gave Alice a meaningful wink as she left the room.
Alice did not know what to do with herself.
Should she leave Anthony alone to think about what Sarah had said?
He was standing with his arms folded, looking deep in thought.
She could just sneak out . . . Sarah had been very clear.
It did not sound as though there was any chance she would accept a proposal.
Alice could not help wondering if this meant any change in his feelings about marrying .
. . someone else. She knew he must have some feelings for her.
The way he had acted toward her proved that.
Now that he was effectively free of the obligation he had placed upon himself, could they be together?
Alice took a deep breath, readying herself to speak, but before she could, Anthony said distractedly, “I fear I have a business meeting I must attend, so you will have to excuse me.”
“I had better return to my aunt’s,” Alice said, hoping he would ask her to wait for him until he returned. He had said they needed to talk after all.
“Yes,” he replied. “I told her you would leave here after breakfasting. I shall call for my carriage to be got ready for you. I shall be quite content to walk, and no doubt the fresh air will do me good.”
Anthony bowed and left.
Alice stayed seated for a couple of minutes, trying to make some sense of what had just happened, until Wilson came in and announced that the carriage was ready.
He offered to send someone to gather her things, but Alice thanked him and said she would do it herself.
She hurried upstairs to collect Beth’s clothes.
She would have to wear what Sarah had lent her back to her aunt’s house and have it returned later.
She shuddered to imagine Aunt Jane’s face if her niece came back dressed as a maid.
When she returned to the entrance hall, Wilson was waiting to escort her to the carriage waiting outside. She was helped in, her mind still reeling.
She wondered if everyone was being especially nice to her because they considered her behaviour the previous evening concerning. She knew the news of her escapade would have spread through the household and could only hope they were all as discreet as Anthony claimed.
As the carriage pulled away from Anthony’s townhouse, Alice pressed a hand to her chest, trying to calm the wild hope and fear warring inside her.
Sarah’s words had changed everything . .
. and yet Anthony had chosen to walk away without a single word about the future.
She was left with more questions than answers, and did not know what to think.