Lady Alexandra's Excellent Adventure: A Summersby Tale (25 page)

C
HAPTER
T
WENTY-
F
IVE

F
lickering torches lined the steps of Willowbrook house as Lady Lindhurst’s carriage drew up and the steps were set down. A handsomely dressed footman helped the ladies alight, bowing to Lord Lindhurst as he too emerged from the carriage. They were deliberately late of course. Virginia had strategically planned to be the last guests to arrive so that everyone might be present as her niece made her entrance.

Alexandra knew that there was no doubt in her aunt’s mind that she would render even the most talkative ladies of the
ton
speechless this evening, and her unwavering support added to her confidence as she now stepped forward. She felt utterly divine in her gown and robe, which her aunt had remarked, brought out a pink hue to her creamy white skin. They’d solved the problem of her rioting curls with a couple of tortoise shell hair clips that seemed to work wonders for Alexandra’s overall appearance.

“Go ahead, my dear,” Virginia urged Alexandra. “We’ll be right behind you.”

Taking a deep breath as she glanced toward the stairs, Alexandra lifted the hem of her gown and began her ascent. When she reached the top, a footman asked for her name before leading her through to a grand staircase that descended into the ballroom. “Lady Alexandra Summersby,” he announced in a voice that rose above the music and the murmur of the crowd.

Holding her head up high, Alexandra ignored the butterflies that had just been unleashed in her stomach. She moved forward instead.

A hush spread like wildfire through the masses as every single head without question turned toward her. Only the occasional whisper could be heard. She might as well have been standing there stark naked, she realized, because it was highly unlikely that she would ever feel more uncomfortable than she did at that very moment under the scrutiny of the
ton
. In truth, she wanted to turn and run, but instead, she straightened her back, slapped a smile on her face, placed her hand upon the banister and started down the stairs.

She hadn’t gone down more than a couple of steps however, before she found herself surrounded. It seemed that every eligible bachelor in London and beyond was ready to assist in any number of ways imaginable. They all wanted to dance with her and each was equipped with more questions than the last so that Alexandra eventually gave up answering them altogether. It was quite dizzying really when in reality all she wanted to do was find Michael. “Perhaps a glass of lemonade,” she finally suggested to no one in particular. And just like that, they were off to do her bidding. No doubt twenty glasses would turn up, but by then Alexandra hoped to have vanished into the crowd.

“Alex,” a familiar voice sounded from just behind her right shoulder. She turned her head to find William and Ryan both staring at her with roguish grins upon their faces. “For someone who hates the spotlight, you certainly have a way of making yourself noticed. You look stunning.”

“Thank you, William.” Alex paused, not wanting to appear too eager, but unable to help herself. “Have you seen Michael?”

“Yes, we spoke to him about half an hour ago. He introduced us to his parents and his sisters—all five of them.”

“Summersby!” A tall and handsome gentleman strode up to them and placed a companionable hand on William’s shoulder. “So good to see you again, old chap.”

“Ah, Hamilton. It certainly has been a while.”

“Indeed it has,” Hamilton agreed as he glanced toward Alexandra. “Might I trouble you for an introduction?”

“Certainly. You remember Ryan of course.”

“Of course.” Hamilton nodded politely toward Ryan.

“And this is my sister, Lady Alexandra.”

“Charmed,” Hamilton crooned as he bent toward her in an elegant bow and lifted her gloved hand to meet his lips. “I was hoping to have the next dance if you’d grant me that favor.”

Alexandra’s lips pursed as if unsure of how to reply. Her eyes flittered past him to half a dozen gentlemen, all eagerly moving toward them as they did their best not to spill the lemonade they each carried—her lemonade. “I would be delighted,” she heard herself say and was swiftly marched off in the direction of the dance floor.

“It’s the waltz,” Hamilton noted. “I take it you have permission to dance it?”

“Yes, of course.” Aunt V had seen to it that every minor detail had been taken care of during the past week. It hadn’t hurt that she was close friends with all of Almack’s patronesses.

Placing her hand in Hamilton’s as he placed his other hand against her waist, she couldn’t help but think how odd it was that she’d never danced with Michael. He was the only man that she had any interest in dancing with and yet she always seemed to be dancing with complete strangers.

“You look ravishing this evening,” Hamilton told her with a faint smile as he led her about the floor. He was a graceful dancer and seemed polite enough to allow Alexandra to relax a little.

“Thank you, sir. I did my best.”

“Might I ask for
whom
you did your best?”

Looking up, she found herself staring into coal black eyes that held an almost frightening intensity. “I beg your pardon, but that’s hardly your concern.”

“Quite right,” he told her after a moment’s pause. “My apologies. It’s just that when a woman of your beauty dresses so . . .” He leaned in close to her ear. “Provocatively . . . one has to wonder if she’s looking for a bit of fun.”

That did it. The man clearly hadn’t a clue as to whom he was dealing with. Releasing her hold on her dance partner, Alexandra pulled back, placed both hands against Hamilton’s chest and gave him the hardest shove she could manage. It caught him completely off guard and happened so swiftly that nobody else had a chance to see what actually happened. The effect however, was that Hamilton was instantly removed from Alexandra’s immediate line of sight as he fell backward, arms flailing before landing with a thump at her feet. She stood over him for a moment afterward as she regarded the man who was now sitting on his bottom in the middle of the dance floor with a stunned expression upon his face. “I believe he must have slipped and lost his balance,” she remarked to nobody in particular as she turned and walked away. “It seems the floor is quite wet.”

Now where the blazes was Michael? She still hadn’t caught the slightest glimpse of him. Surely, he must have seen her arrive. Perhaps he was avoiding her? The thought sent an immediate chill down her back. Considering how badly she’d treated him, he had every right.

“Alexandra!” She looked up to find Sir Percy beaming down at her. “What a lovely surprise. I’m so pleased to see you here. Might I add that you really do clean up rather well, my dear.”

Alexandra grinned. “You don’t look so bad yourself, you know.”

“Still trying to charm me I take it?”

“You know I always am.”

He laughed merrily at that before turning a bit more serious. “On a different note, I wanted to commend you for your fine work in Paris. Ashford told me everything in his report, and I must say I was quite impressed. You certainly lived up to my every expectation. In truth, I couldn’t be more proud.”

“That means a great deal to me. Thank you,” she told him sincerely as she picked a glass of champagne from a tray that was just then passing by.

“And because of how well you did, I thought I’d take it upon myself to offer you a more permanent job within the agency. What do you say?”

“That’s very generous of you, Sir Percy, but I’m not sure I can give you an answer just yet. I have a few loose ends to tie up first.”

“Hm . . . I don’t suppose any of those loose ends would have anything to do with Lord Trenton?” he asked with a wry smile.

“How did you—”

“Well, you tend to blush and get this distracted look upon your face whenever his name is mentioned. As for him . . . I do believe that during the two hours in which he and I spoke, only half an hour was spent discussing his assignment. The rest of it was used in singing your praises.”

“Truly?”

“You have my word,” he told her with a wink.

“Then if you’ll please excuse me, I think I’d better go and see if I can find him.”

Leaving Sir Percy behind, Alexandra headed back into the crowd. She hadn’t made it far before she heard her name called once again and turned to look in the direction from which it had come. She saw her father, handsomely dressed in black evening attire and waving for her to join him. “May I present your hosts, the Duke and Duchess of Willowbrook?” he asked as she sidled up next to him.

“Your Graces,” Alexandra replied in greeting as she presented the lord and lady before her with a graceful curtsey. “It is indeed a pleasure. Thank you so much for inviting us.”

“Thomas,” Bryce said, addressing the duke in the informal manner that spoke of many years of friendship. “This is my daughter, Alexandra.”

“Well then,” Thomas exclaimed as he studied Alexandra with much interest. “The pleasure is entirely ours. We’ve heard a great deal about how you aided our son in his very important assignment. Indeed, Wellington himself has told me he’d undoubtedly have lost the battle if it hadn’t been for all of you.”

Alexandra cringed inwardly. Just how much did they know exactly? Well, she supposed that if they were aware of just how cruelly she’d treated their son’s heart, she very likely wouldn’t be standing there before them right now. “I did what I could to be of assistance. It was no more than anyone else might have done.”

“Oh, come now, my dear, you mustn’t be so modest,” the duchess chided her. “Michael has done nothing but recommend you for your excellent swordsmanship.”

“Perhaps you ought to give my daughters some lessons,” the duke added. I’ve always considered it useful for a woman to be able to defend herself. London’s hardly getting any safer. I should find it quite reassuring if they could at least fire a pistol with some degree of accuracy.”

Alexandra’s eyes lit up instantly with the prospect of imparting her skills on others. “I should be delighted to teach them,” she said.

“Thomas, I never knew you were quite so liberal in your thinking,” Bryce told his friend with an honest smile.

“No? I would have to be to marry a woman like Isabella.” He cast an adoring look at his duchess. “She was quite the willful little devil in her youth. I’ve seen her fight a bull, you know—not the sort of thing we like to discuss in polite conversation, but you are certainly the sort of friends who might appreciate such a tale.”

“Thomas, really . . .” Isabella admonished.

“Now who’s being modest? You should have seen her—dark hair streaming out behind her as she faced the beast without a single sign of fear upon her face. She was beautiful, strong, and undefeatable. I do believe I lost my heart to her that very moment.”

It was Isabella’s turn to blush.

“That’s quite remarkable, Your Grace,” Alexandra said with much admiration. “Ashford never mentioned it.”

“Oh, I don’t believe he even knows about it—he’s not the sort of man who’d approve of his mother having done such things.”

Alexandra grinned. “I believe you’re right about that. Well, your secret’s safe with me.”

Isabella offered Alexandra her arm. “Would you be kind enough to walk with me?” she asked. “You don’t mind, do you gentlemen?”

“Not at all, my dear,” Thomas replied as he leaned closer to Bryce and whispered something incoherent in his ear. They both chuckled as the women walked away.

“What Thomas doesn’t seem to realize,” Isabella remarked when they were safely out of earshot. “Is that bullfighting’s quite a commonplace thing where I come from. It’s true that women don’t usually participate in the sport, but I insisted on being taught, and my papa eventually indulged me.”

“I must say that you and I appear to have quite a lot in common, Your Grace,” Alexandra ventured.

“Please, my dear, you must call me Isabella.”

Alexandra nodded in response to that and they walked on for a while in silence, regarding all the guests and admiring the various gowns.

“My son’s a great admirer of yours, you know,” Isabella suddenly said. “To the point where one cannot help but wonder if there are other feelings at play.”

Alexandra felt slightly uncomfortable at that statement. She liked the duchess a great deal and wished to be friends with her—she did not want to lie to her. “I’m afraid I may have wounded him deeply.”

“Ah, so I’m correct then. Do you mind if I speak plainly?”

“Indeed, I would encourage you to do so.”

“Well then, it’s my impression that you’re just the sort of woman who would make an excellent wife for Michael. I wish for you to know that you have my blessing and my support, should the two of you decide to marry.”

“And you know this from speaking to me for a mere five minutes?” Alexandra asked with a significant amount of shock.

“Of course, I know a great deal of you from Michael, but yes, I know my son and what his needs might be in a life companion. You fit the type so extraordinarily well.”

“Really?”

“Really. Listen to me. Michael needs someone with whom to spar, so to speak. He needs a wife who’ll not only speak her mind but also who’ll be brutally honest with him. He needs not only a challenge but an intelligent and adventurous woman or he’ll tire of the marriage in no time. Now, if you’ve wounded him as deeply as you say, then your reason for coming here this evening and having to face him can only mean you’re ready for the chase.”