“I understand there will be dancing later. Would you do me the honor of saving me a dance?”
Violet wondered if he could hear the pounding of her heart. This was what she’d hoped for—to dance with him. “I would be most delighted.” When they entered the dining room, she was happy to see she was seated next to him. Her nerves were on edge and she wondered if she’d even be able to eat a bite. She didn’t want to say the wrong thing and embarrass herself in front of him.
Lord Alesbury soon put her at ease by asking about her life at the Edgerton Country Seat. “Do you ride, Miss Bainbridge?”
“I do indeed. It’s my favorite pastime in the country. At home I ride every day when the weather permits.”
“Perhaps you’d be amenable to a ride in Hyde Park with me as your escort?”
“I would love to, but unfortunately, my mare, Blossom, didn’t make the trip to London with us.”
“A carriage ride then?”
“Yes, thank you. I would like that very much.”
“I shall seek permission from Edgerton to escort you.”
Violet hoped he would ask her brother when the men gathered after dinner. What little of dinner she ate was delicious, but she was looking forward to the dancing and being in Lord Alesbury’s arms. It seemed an eternity before Lady Tisbury stood and escorted the ladies into the parlor. Violet talked with Lady Tisbury’s daughter-in-law, on the way and was pleasantly surprised to learn they had much in common.
“I’d love to invite you and your mother for tea. Shall I send a note around after your presentation to the queen?” Mrs. Colby Tisbury said.
“Thank you. I’d like that very much.”
When the gentlemen finally joined them in the parlor, Violet was dismayed to see that her brother and Lord Alesbury weren’t with the other gentlemen. Where were they? Was Charles refusing to grant Alesbury permission to dance with her or escort her in Hyde Park?
“Shall I play for the dancing?” Courtney asked the hostess.
“That would be wonderful, Lady Edgerton,” Lady Tisbury said. “You play so beautifully.
Violet kept her attention on the door, but she could hardly refuse to dance when Lord Blake asked for the first dance. She wasn’t previously acquainted with him, and after he dominated the conversation by talking about his stables, she was ever so glad when the dance ended and he escorted her back to her mother.
Neither Charles nor Alesbury had returned to the parlor yet. Had Alesbury left before she had a chance to dance with him? Why would he have asked for a dance if he didn’t intend to stay? Violet mentally shook her head trying to dispel her doubts.
Chapter 3
“IWAS HOPING TO TALK WITHyou before dinner. Why were you late arriving this evening?” Edgerton asked.
“My apologies. I was listening to a rather pertinent conversation in Billericay,” Alesbury said, sipping his brandy after the other gentlemen had left to join the ladies. He was eager to inform the spymaster what he’d discovered. They’d been monitoring the situation in the north for a while now, and it was finally producing results.
“Oh?”
“Seems Carlisle has a man trying to keep the Bellericay men in line.”
“In line? For what?”
“There was apparently some kind of operation that flourished under the old magistrate. Carlisle’s man, who I overheard being referred to as Ray, mentioned he didn’t have a new contact and threatened one of the farmers with injury if he abandoned the operation to seek employment at the mill.”
“Did they mention what the operation entailed?”
“No, but Ray was very unhappy that you were reopening the mill and offering good wages to the locals. It wouldn’t be good for a smuggling ring to lose able-bodied men, if that’s what this operation is.”
“Could very well be smuggling, but why in Billericay? The village isn’t near the sea or any port.”
“True, but it’s on the main road out of London. Perhaps Carlisle was looking to expand his smuggling operation along a land route.”
“Maybe. How did you connect Carlisle?”
“Stable boy remembered a name, and it was Carlisle’s shiny black carriage that brought his man back to London. I assume he’s reporting the situation to Carlisle as we speak.”
