“Oh, he’ll hate it. He’s the jealous sort, so I hear.”
Alice laughed and took his hand. “Very well, but only the waltz, as it’s the only one you’ve taught me so far.”
“Oh, I’ve plenty to teach you yet, Mrs Seymour, just you wait and see.”
Her new husband winked at her, such a wicked glint in his eyes that Alice blushed scarlet, aware of precisely what he meant.
The Mermaid Hotel, Little Valentine, 29thJanuary 1816.
The party was showing no signs of breaking up when Aubrey and Alice slipped away. Reverend Honeywell had been beaming his pleasure as he guided Mrs Fairway about the room in a lively polka that had left them both red in the face, and all the young ladies had flocked to Sherry, making calf’s eyes at him, much to Hawkney’s disgust. Still, even the sober duke had not seemed displeased to see the people of the town celebrating with such enthusiasm. Their happiness was infectious and the future suddenly spread before Alice, filled with such possibilities that she felt quite overwhelmed.
As wonderful as the day had been, she was relieved to leave them all to their merriment and exclaimed with delight as Aubrey let them into their room at The Mermaid.
“You’re honoured, you know. Mrs Fairway doesn’t give keys to just anyone,” Alice said with amusement.
“Obviously not, but I’m the honest, trustworthy sort,” Aubrey said gravely.
Alice snorted. “How little she knows you. Shall I tell her about your skills at breaking and entering?”
Aubrey glanced over his shoulder at her, occupied with lighting the lamps. “Not if you don’t want to get us thrown out.”
Alice moved to the windows, which in the daylight must give a splendid view out over the sea, and tugged the curtains closed. The room was cosy, increasingly so as Aubrey lit the rest ofthe lamps. Golden light spilled over the lush furnishings, and a large fourposter bed. Decorated in shades of rich yellow, amber and gold, the entire room seemed to glow. Alice hugged herself, making a mental note to ask Anne, the hotel’s stylish owner, for advice when it came to decorating their own home.Their own home. Hers and Aubrey’s. She grinned stupidly.
Aubrey moved to her, an identical expression on his face, and Alice laughed.
“I couldn’t be any happier, could you?” he asked, taking her in his arms.
Alice shook her head. “Impossible.”
He looked at her thoughtfully. “Actually, I’m not sure. I think I could manage something.”
Alice wondered what he meant as he took her hand and led her to an adjoining door to a spacious dressing room. “I’ve got a present for you,” he said, winking and pushing the door open. He went ahead of her, holding the lamp up to illuminate the space.
Alice took a step inside, gasping as she entered what appeared to be an Aladdin’s cave.
Every inch of the space was crowded with clothes. Gowns in rich jewel colours, bonnets with jaunty feathers, and pelisses, shoes, stockings. Trunks lined up, one beside the other, spilled their contents: lace and ribbons, everything of the finest quality. Alice stared in awe, unable to take it in, eyes darting from one thing to the next.
Silently, Aubrey moved towards an elegant dressing table and set the lamp down, drawing her attention to a large box. He opened it, lifting the lid as the light sparkled on a diamond parure.
Alice’s throat tightened, emotion welling inside her as she moved closer.
“These are yours, Alice. The first of many, I hope, for I intend to spoil you. You’ve never asked me, and I’m not sure if you’ve even thought about it, but I’m rather a wealthy fellow, and I intend to ensure you have everything you could possibly want.”
Alice gave a choked laugh. “All I want is you, Aubrey, but… but I cannot deny—” She ran a reverent finger over the diamonds, hardly able to believe her eyes. “Oh, they’re stunning. I never believed I could own anything so extraordinary. Not legitimately, at least!”
“I never dreamed I could love anyone so extraordinary.”
Alice turned back to him, the diamonds forgotten, for his words meant more to her than anything else ever could. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him with all the love and passion she felt, the force of it making him stumble against the dressing table stool. They fell in a tangle of limbs, a swathe of red satin spilling over them as they rolled together, laughing at their own idiocy.
“There’s actually more, but it was impossible to arrange in seven days,” Aubrey admitted.
Alice straddled his hips, her skirts hiked up around her, her hands pressing down on his chest.
“More?”
Her breath hitched as she felt how impatient he was for her, his arousal burgeoning, beckoning her closer.
Aubrey’s hands grasped her thighs as he nodded. “I’m taking you to my tailor when we next go to town. He’s a discreet fellow, but he makes the finest coats. Better than Weston inmy opinion, and… well, you’ve seen my waistcoats,” he added smugly.
