“And I had no qualms about doing so.” She laughed warmly and gestured to Alaina. “Come, sit down, Lady Caroline. There is much we need to discuss.”
Chapter 11
“This is not good!” Caroline hissed as Alaina finished getting ready. Caroline was so panicked that she fumbled with Alaina’s hair, not doing a wonderful job of the updo. As Alaina was far more practiced at such a task anyway, she took over the responsibility from Caroline and fixed her hair alone.
“What can I do, Caro?” Alaina asked with a sigh, fixing the final pin in place. “Marcus said she arrived unannounced, eager to meet her future niece.”
“Marcus!? You call him Marcus now?” Caroline practically fell on the vanity table in her eagerness to catch Alaina’s eyes. Fixedly, Alaina looked at her own face in the reflection, not wanting to meet her friend’s gaze. “He’s a duke, Alaina.”
“Yes, yes, I know. I know very well, Caro, what the problem is. He is a duke, and I am nothing more than an orphaned maid. What right do I have to raise my gaze to him or call him by his Christian name at all.”
“You know what I mean.” Caroline fell onto the footstool beside her. She took Alaina’s hands and turned her around so they could look one another in the eye. “You are the best woman I know. I know no other in this world who deserves a chance of happiness and love as you do. You deserve it all the way, but …” She trailed off, chewing her lip.
“I know,” Alaina whispered. “I cannot fall in love with him.”
“It could only lead to heartbreak,” Caroline cried in panic. “You know this.”
Alaina adjusted the bracelet on her wrist, which Caroline hastened to correct.
“Do not do this at dinner. A lady never fusses with her jewellery in such a way.”
“Yes.” Alaina held herself back. She had nearly called Caroline “my Lady,” something she hadn’t done in years, though she had wanted to at that moment. It was a way to remind herself of the difference between them, that Alaina didn’t deserve to be sat on this stool, dressed in this fine gown, about to go down to a posh dinner with Marcus and Lady Sarah Silverton.
“Maybe you should feign a headache and miss this dinner,” Caroline murmured, sitting back on the stool.
“What? Why?” Alaina stood, panicked at the idea.
“I saw the way Lady Silverton looked at you today when I came to collect the tea from the terrace.”
Alaina crossed the room and pulled on her shoes, wishing she could ignore Caroline’s words, though she knew it was impossible.
“I thought she liked me,” Alaina whispered. “We had a very happy tea. She even said I could call her ‘aunt’ after the wedding.”
“Listen to yourself!” Caroline was suddenly on her feet. “Ally.” She ran around the vanity table, rushing towards Alaina. “You know as well as I that there will be no wedding.”
“What sort of fool do you think I am?” Alaina asked, her voice turning cold as she straightened up. “I know I can never marry him, Caro. I know that. I’m pointing out that she liked me, that’s all. Surely, we have nothing to fear from her.”
Caroline did not look convinced and shook her head.
“And as for feigning a headache tonight to avoid dinner, no chance.” Alaina adjusted the bracelet on her wrist another time, much to Caroline’s annoyance. “As you have pointed out, I only have a certain amount of time with the Duke of Peddleton.” She was careful this time not to use his name. “Therefore, I will make the most of this.”
“Oh goodness, Ally, just how much do you care for him?”
Alaina didn’t answer. She hastened to the door and strode out of the room. Caroline didn’t let her go alone, though, and ran after her.
“This is not a good idea,” she hissed as they reached the stairs.
“I told you that when we arrived in the carriage, yet you wanted to go ahead. Do you regret your decision to be a maid? Tired of it yet?” Alaina asked.
“No. It’s rather fun, actually.” When Caroline, this time, was the one to blush bright red, Alaina halted halfway down the stairs and caught her arm.
“What does that blush mean?” Alaina whispered. Caroline didn’t answer. She looked away, then cleared her throat, pointedly shooting her gaze down to the bottom of the staircase.
Alaina released Caroline’s arm as she watched Marcus and his aunt walking along the corridor, heading towards the dining room. They paused when they saw her.
“Ah, Callie.” Marcus smiled so much as he looked up at her that Alaina couldn’t help the way she practically skipped towards him. She hastened down the rest of the stairs and took the arm he proffered to her. As her hand slipped through the crook of his elbow, he smiled in such a playful way.
Do not make me think of the times we have been alone again.
