Falling for the Earl (Regency Romance) (Regency Lords Book 5) (4 page)

She soon discovered, to her dismay, that her punishment would be to inhabit the same house as her betrothed, at his request, along with her parents, of course.

The invitation to go down to London whenever they liked, for the remainder of the Season, arrived on the very next morning after the disastrous end to the card party. Therefore, after a fortnight of preparations, they headed to London. They had already been in the Earl’s grand townhouse in Mayfair for a week, though thankfully, he had been absent, away on family business, his aunt, Lady Iris Haddington, informed them.

He was expected back that evening, and Phoebe’s mother was once again fussing over what her daughter would wear.

“Mama, this is a perfectly acceptable dress for an informal dinner at home,” she protested, looking at the pale yellow silk dress lying on the bed. “And I have no wish to appear to be dressing myself up, like a suckling pig for market!”

“Mind how you address me, young lady!” Mrs Alexander’s voice was ripe with frustration and hurt. “I am doing everything I can to make you presentable to his lordship, and you reward me with a sharp tongue and coarse comparisons.”

“Perhaps if you and Papa had allowed me to choose whom I wish to marry, we would not be quarrelling so,” Phoebe huffed, pulling away from her mother’s hands. “I have told you I do not like him, but you both insist on continuing this charade!”

“It may be of no account to you, but your father’s reputation, and the good name of our household, hangs in the balance. How you choose to conduct yourself with Lord  Beckton will decide what happens to them.” Mrs Alexander turned away and walked to the door. “I expect you to be ready to go down to dinner in an hour.”

She left the room, closing the door quietly, and the very deliberate way in which she did so made Phoebe want to scream in frustration. She hated the almost daily quarrels with her mother, and the silent disapproval of her father, and all over a man who had not bothered to be present for their arrival. If he did not have the manners one expected from someone of his station in life, why should she pretend to have any interest in him? She paused, admitting that she was being unfair. His aunt had explained the urgent family affair that had taken him away unexpectedly, and she fervently hoped that the situation could be resolved without his needing to leave the country for France. It was not a safe place for an aristocrat to be at this time, even one whom she felt no affection for.

When it was time for dinner, Phoebe descended with her parents to the dining room where she was seated next to her mother. The chair at the head of the table remained vacant. Her father sat across from his wife, and Lady Iris sat across from Phoebe. She wondered at the arrangement, but did not have long to wait, as she heard voices, and everyone turned to see who was arriving. Phoebe knew before he came into the room. She would recognise the voice anywhere, and she was momentarily startled by the discovery. Then she thought it must be because he irritated her so that he was therefore impossible to forget.

“Ah, Beckton, dear boy!” Lady Iris’s unrestrained greeting shocked her, and she watched as the young man went over to kiss his aunt soundly and with great affection on each cheek. “I am relieved to have you back with us.”

“No more than I am to be back home, Aunt,” he replied, before turning to shake her father’s hand. “Good evening, Mr Alexander.” Then, before taking his seat at the head of the table, he came round to kiss her mother’s hand, and waited until Phoebe remembered her manners and extended her own, which he took and kissed gallantly. “Good evening, ladies.”

Once in his seat, he waited until the footman had served the first course before saying, “Please accept my apologies for being absent when you arrived, Mr Alexander. As my aunt has no doubt explained, we have a second cousin who is currently trying to make his way out of France, and is experiencing some difficulties. I had to go to the city to deal with the matter.”

“I am sure we all wish him well, my lord,” Mr Alexander said. “It cannot be an easy thing to be hiding in one’s own country because of an accident of birth.”

“Indeed,” Lord Beckton replied, looking grim.

Phoebe observed him as the meal progressed, watching how he ate, listening to him talk freely with her parents and his aunt, noting his attempts to engage her in the discussions about the unrest in France, and trying to involve her in the conversation. She grudgingly decided that he was the perfect host, despite the first impression he had made. He did not seem to think, for instance, that she was without an opinion because she was young or female, and she appreciated his efforts to make her feel like well regarded at the table. By the time dinner was over and the women had repaired to the drawing room, leaving the men to their drinks in the Earl’s study, Phoebe was prepared to give him a chance to show his mettle. Perhaps she had drawn an erroneous conclusion on too little evidence.

FIVE

Lord Beckton was determined to begin his transformation into a suave man-about-town as quickly as possible. However, he had to wait on Phoebe’s father’s pleasure, and the gentleman seemed determined to keep him in the library with conversation in which, on any other evening, he would gladly have engaged. Eventually, he managed to steer the conversation away from the mill workers’ unrest, and the problems in France, and on to the question of his family’s visit.

“Do you and Mrs Alexander have any plans for your visit, sir?” he asked the man who would be his father-in-law.

“My wife wishes to visit her good friend Lady Merton, and we of course wish to participate in one or two of the parties to be hosted at Almack’s. Other than those very general plans, we are open to suggestions, my lord.”

“My aunt and I have planned two dinner parties for the season, and would be happy if you and your wife and daughter were able to remain for both.”

Mr Alexander smiled. “I am sure my wife will be pleased at the invitation, my lord, and it will no doubt afford you further opportunities to acquaint yourself with Phoebe. A good plan, if I may say so.”

Lord Beckton cringed. He had not meant it to be so obvious what his intentions were, but now it was out, he wanted to press his advantage. “Perhaps we should re-join the ladies?”

He escorted the gentleman back into the drawing room, where his aunt was holding court, and the other two women were paying rapt attention to her. Well, at least his future mother-in-law was. Phoebe was staring politely in his aunt’s general direction, but he could see that she was not being particularly attentive. He chuckled, and she must have heard him because she chose to look up just at that moment and saw him standing in the doorway with a grin on his face. She coloured up quite prettily, and he smiled at her, and nodded faintly. She returned his smile, though it was more a small lifting of the corners of her mouth. Still, it was better than the disdain he had last seen on her face as she walked away from him at the Mariners’ Ball.

“Aunt Iris, I have just been telling Mr Alexander of our plans to host two dinner parties during the season,” he said, looking only at his aunt.

His aunt smiled. “Indeed. Perhaps you would be kind enough to help me plan them, Mrs Alexander?” she said, turning to Phoebe’s mother, who preened and glowed with pleasure.

“It would be my pleasure to help in any way I can, my lady,” she replied.

“Good, then that is settled. We shall begin our plans in the morning. I confess, though, that I am rather weary. But I would love to hear a tune from your daughter on the pianoforte before I retire.” She turned her gaze on Phoebe, adding, “If you are so inclined, my dear?”

Lord Beckton watched as more colour bloomed in her cheeks. “Certainly, my lady,” she said demurely, rising to sit at the instrument. “What would you like me to play for you?”

“Oh, I have no idea what to choose. Beckton, what do you think?” His aunt turned to him with a sparkle of mischief in her eyes, and he managed to keep his own colour even, by a sheer act of will. He knew what she was doing, and more importantly, why she was doing it, so he forgave her the transparency of the tactic.

“I think I would be pleased to hear Miss Alexander’s favourite piece,” he replied, and looked directly into Phoebe’s eyes.

The shock of contact with her green gaze was overwhelming, but he held it, refusing to look away before she did. He added a smile to the look, and when she returned a proper smile, he felt warm all over.

“Very well, my lord,” she said, and began to play. Lord Beckton knew the tune well, and closed his eyes to savour it. It happened to be a favourite of his as well…a Mozart sonata. She played with passion and consummate skill, and Lord Beckton found himself caught in the web of beauty she spun with her nimble fingers. When she stopped, he opened his eyes to find her looking at him, and he smiled and applauded her enthusiastically.

“Bravo, Miss Alexander! Well done indeed!” He had no problem speaking the words of praise, and when she lowered her eyes shyly, something swelled inside him. “Perhaps you will grace us with your playing at the parties? I am sure it will be well received, don’t you agree, Aunt Iris?”

“Most definitely,” his aunt replied with an approving nod. “It would be a pleasure to listen to you every evening, I’m sure, but we will not impose upon you.”

“I’m sure it would not be an imposition, would it, Phoebe?” her mother stated, turning a stern eye on her daughter.

Something passed between them that Lord Beckton did not understand, but he sensed that Phoebe was reluctant to comply. He wanted to spare her any undue discomfort, but could not for the moment think of a way to do so. The moment passed, and then his aunt declared herself ready to retire. That was the signal that everyone should retreat to their respective bedchambers, and Lord Beckton said, as they were leaving, “I look forward to seeing you all at breakfast.”

After a series of murmured goodnights, he was alone, and he took himself to his study for a last drink. Taking the glass with him to his bedchamber, he sat in the armchair by the window and looked out into the starlit night. Phoebe Alexander’s smile rose before his inner eye, and Lord Beckton thought back to their brief eye contact, which had made his body heat up. She was beautiful, and self-possessed, even in the face of whatever was going on between her and her mother. He wondered what it was, and judging by the look on her mother’s face, he imagined it must be something of sufficient gravity to make a normally feisty Phoebe retreat. He knew he would enjoy sparring with her, once they were married. He liked a woman with spirit.

Next morning, he was the first down to breakfast, and he waited anxiously for his guests to appear. When Phoebe walked in, he made sure to address her first, walking over to her to say, “Good morning, Miss Alexander. I trust you slept well.”

She looked into his eyes briefly before replying.

“I did, thank you, my lord. Between a soft bed and a weary mind, I fell asleep quickly.”

“Then I hope that your stay will provide ease of mind for even better sleep,” he replied.

She rewarded him with a smile, and then went to help herself to her preferred breakfast items. The meal passed pleasantly enough, and Lord Beckton found a moment, as they were leaving the dining room, to invite the family to take a carriage ride with him around the Ring in Hyde Park later in the afternoon.

“I’m afraid Mrs Alexander and I have already made plans for the afternoon, my lord,” Phoebe’s father said. “However, I’m sure Phoebe would be happy to ride with you and your aunt, if that is your pleasure.”

Lord Beckton turned first to his aunt. “Aunt Iris, will you be able to accompany us this afternoon?” When his aunt consented, he turned to Phoebe and let her see his desire in his eyes as he spoke. “It would give me great pleasure to drive you in the park, Miss Alexander.”

Phoebe bowed and smiled prettily, though she hid her eyes from him. “Thank you my lord. What time shall I be ready?”

Lord Beckton turned to his aunt. “Aunt Iris? Shall we go at five o’clock?”

“That sounds like an excellent plan,” the older woman replied.

With the plan in place, Lord Beckton retreated to his study to catch up on his correspondence, and left the others to their own devices, after offering them the use of his library. As the hour for the drive approached, the Earl grew more anxious, but he steadied himself as he changed, and reminded himself that his goal was to show Phoebe that he could be as suave and smooth as any other man of her acquaintance, and was worthy of her regard. He went down and waited for the ladies while the footman called for the carriage. It arrived as they did, and Lord Beckton was once again struck by Phoebe’s delicate beauty.

“You look lovely, Miss Alexander,” he told her, clearly shocking her with his directness.

“You are very kind, my lord,” she replied with a small curtsey, avoiding his eyes as she accompanied his aunt out to the carriage.

Once they were both settled, he got in and sat across from them, and gave directions to the driver for where to take them. Then he sat back and watched her face as she took in the streets and buildings that they passed on their way to the park. At this hour, the Ring was bustling with horse and carriage traffic, and as they rode along, Phoebe said,

“I wonder what it would be like to ride here.”

She spoke almost to herself, but he heard her, and took it as a question he ought to respond to.

“It is enjoyable on horseback,” he told her, “though sometimes the air can be bracing.”

“Oh, I remember how you sometimes returned with ruddy cheeks from your rides in Hyde Park, Beckton,” his aunt interjected.

“I’m sure a gentle lady such as Miss Alexander would prefer to forego such an outcome, Aunt,” he replied with a chuckle.

“I must agree with you, Lord Beckton,” Phoebe said, chuckling with him. The sound warmed him from the inside out. “However, I must say it is most entertaining to ride along in the carriage and watch the rest of the world go by on a pleasant day like today.”

“If you do have a wish to go riding, however, I am very happy to accompany you,” he added, and she smiled her thanks for the offer. “What else have you done since your arrival?” he inquired.