Slowly turning his horses, he nonchalantly tried to observe any movement in the alley as he tooled quietly back the way he had come, Harlow noticed that the black coach had slowed down and pulled off the main street into an alley.Odd, that, he thought. He circled the block and peered through the alley. He saw nothing moving except the heads of what appeared to be the same horses which had just passed him. The horses’ heads were tossing back and forth in some irritation, white flecks of foam spotting their forelegs. The vehicle and the animals’ hindquarters were hidden behind a well-respected public house.
“Very odd place to park a coach…unless someone has died in the tap,” he mumbled to himself, making a mental note to discuss this oddity with his friend Max. Satisfied with his resolve, he turned about again, signalled his horses to pick up speed and, ten minutes later, pulled his curricle into the circular drive to Avalon House on Norfolk Street.
The beautiful, combined grey stone and pink brick mansion stood three storeys tall and was surrounded by black iron railings. Window boxes filled with flowers known for their fragrance hugged the sills of several upstairs windows, while white and pink rose bushes dominated the gardens that framed the house. The soft fragrance of roses floated on the light breeze, welcoming Harlow and reminding him of the flowers he had brought as he handed the reins to his tiger. He reached for the bouquet of purple forget-me-nots, kept safely in a hidden box behind his feet.
A moment passed, and the door opened. “Good morning, my lord.” The butler stepped back, allowing entry, and held his hand out to receive Harlow’s hat and gloves. “Shall I take the flowers for you, Lord Harlow?”
Harlow shifted the bouquet as he removed his gloves, handing both them and his hat to the butler.
“Thank you, Chambers, but I would like to give them to Lady Lilian myself.”
“Of course, my lord. Please follow me.”
Harlow thought he caught a faint smile cross the old retainer’s face before it disappeared, as if he was pleased for Lady Lilian. Harlow’s heart warmed.
The door to the parlour opened before Chambers could knock and a young lady rushed through the door, her attention still on a person behind her in the room. She slid to a stop, just short of toppling the old man, who had already begun protective measures, stepping against the wall and holding out his hands.
“Oh, good gracious. Please accept my apology, sir. I thought Lord Yarstone…” She stopped in mid-sentence; a smile crept up her face and she gave a quick curtsy. “Lord Harlow, do forgive me.” The smile lit her face. “I expect you have come to see my sister, Lilian.”
“I have, indeed.” He smiled pleasantly. The girl looked almost identical to her sister, except for the slate blue colour of her eyes, a contrast to her sister’s deeper, blue-green. Lady Lydia’s reddish-brown hair had been gathered into a modest knot, framed by curls and small white flowers. “Beg pardon for staring, but this is the first time I have seen the two of you so close together. You are almost identical twins!” Harlow felt a fool as soon as he made the observation out loud.
“Yes, my lord, we are, and I am afraid we filled our childhood with pranks. She smiled mischievously and nodded toward her sister. “Those around us tried to make us look different in our dress, a tactic I fear we…ah…put to good use.”
“Lady Lydia, please accept my apologies.” The voice of the butler interrupted any further indiscreet confidences. The old man had recovered his wits and his balance.
“Chambers, it is I who should apologize. I am at fault, not you.” Lady Lydia stepped aside to allow him entry into the parlour and quickly moved to stand behind a winged-back chair near her sister. “Lilian, I believe Lord Yarstone has just arrived.” While Lady Lydia’s voice was almost a whisper, she could not refrain from smiling widely. “Would you mind if we also took a turn in the park? He said he would bring his phaeton.”
“Oh, gracious! Lydia, please…daughter, your manners!” The Countess blustered into the room with evident frustration and gave a piercing look in the direction of her errant child. “Lord Harlow, what a pleasant surprise this is.” Her voice was at once calm and even.
He extended his leg and gave a slight bow.
“An excursion as you describe would be most pleasant, I am sure, ladies,” Harlow interposed. He could not help hearing Lady Lydia’s whispered request.
The room offered a bright and cheery respite from the world, and Harlow imagined they must use it more than just when they received guests. A soft yellow and blue damask wallpaper covered the walls. Light blue velvet curtains framed the front window, hanging over thin curtains. The delicate fabric beckoned light into the room. A deep blue velvet settee with walnut edging sat against the far wall, and a yellow and white striped winged-back chair stood in a slight, diagonal angle from the wall opposite the door. Resting on a small, adjacent wooden table was a vase of potted greenery. To his left, near the door, a tall walnut secretaire, with colourful leather-bound books lining two upper shelves, stood sentry against the wall.
Looking beyond the twin sister and her mother, Harlow spotted his quarry sitting in her chair near an over-large window, holding a small blue book which she had evidently been reading. Lady Lilian placed her book in her lap and looked up at him, smiling shyly.
His mouth ran dry and he suddenly felt as if he had stuffed it with cotton. He tried to swallow and clear it; coughing instead, he was left feeling very much like a tongue-tied schoolboy of twelve. Unnerved, he thrust the handful of forget-me-nots in front of him, wiping with his free hand at sudden moisture that had formed over his brow.This is a new occurrence. When has giving flowers to any woman ever made me nervous?I have never been at a loss for words.This woman—the woman who has haunted my dreams—appears to have affected all cogent parts of my being. Tomfool!Despite the inner turmoil, he pressed forward.
“These are for you, Lady Lilian.”
“My lord, what lovely flowers!” Her hands gripped the wheels of her chair to move them.
“Lilian…please, my dear, allow me to help you.” Her mother stood up and moved towards Lady Lilian, and released the brake on the chair, pushing it closer to the parlour couch.
Lady Lilian relaxed her arm. Harlow stepped closer, continuing to chastise himself for acting like an idiot.
“Thank you, Mama,” Lady Lilian replied. She accepted the flowers from Harlow, and lifting them to her nose, inhaled deeply. “Thank you, sir. They are a favourite of mine. They smell lovely.
A deep voice sounded from behind him. “Lord Yarstone, my lady.”
“Please show him…in…” Lady Lydia’s voice faltered. Glancing up, Harlow was in time to see the withering look she received from her mother.
“Thank you, Chambers,” Lady Avalon answered tersely. Harlow recalled seeing his father deliver a similar look, once upon a time, and swallowed, suddenly feeling sympathy for Lydia.
“Lord Harlow, I had not expected to see you.” Richard, Viscount Yarstone, stiffened and slowly withdrew a large bunch of white roses from behind his back.
“Relax,” Harlow uttered under his breath. Yarstone appeared slightly more irritated each time they met near the DeLacey sisters. Clearing his throat, he said aloud, “Lady Lilian, are you still amenable to a drive in the park?”
