“Obviously, we have encountered each other in the early part of the season.” Alaina did not feel the need to freely share her humiliating experience.
“Why, yes, that is clear. How did you meet and why such a cold greeting?” It was Georgiana’s turn to prod.
“Well,” Alaina sighed, fortifying herself to tell a quick version of the first weeks of her season. “I met Lord Finch at my first ball of the season, and he took quite a possessive course of action. He asked for more dances than was proper, and called upon me the next day only to suggest that a quick marriage was in my best interest. I had to claim illness for him to leave me alone.”
“And I hope that you turned him down straight away?” Graham leveled a questioning glance at Alaina. This certainly was not the conversation she thought she would be having with the duke.
“I was so stunned that my father had to plead a moment for me to escape and then turn him down himself, making the excuse that a match so early in the season would not serve either of us.”
“What happened then?” Georgiana pressed.
“Well, Lord Finch seemed quite embarrassed by the rejection, and once I was back out in society, he initially avoided my presence and my family’s presence, which did not particularly upset us.” Alaina paused, and she swallowed hard before she continued, “Eventually, though, he worked up the courage, or enough drink, to make a public spectacle, this time joined by his foolish friends, with Lady Barbara cheering them from the crowd. My parents and I had to flee the ball.”
Christopher let out a laugh, and Georgiana giggled. Alaina fell silent to await their mocking to commence, but after a few moments, Graham spoke up in a soft voice. “I am sorry to hear that Lord Finch and his sister caused you such grief, but I might add that anyone who keeps company with Percy automatically falls out of favor with us. And ignore their laughter,” Graham indicated Georgiana and Christopher. “It is not directed at you. I have to admit, to watch one of Percy’s friends embarrass themselves would prove quite amusing were it not at the expense of another.”
Alaina nodded her head, and attempted to change the subject. “Now how about tea?”
“Yes, tea would be lovely,” Georgiana acquiesced, and the group continued home to the Norwich townhome.
Tea proved to be uneventful, thankfully, and Evelina was treated to some afternoon fun with their newfound friends. Refreshments were plentiful, but as the time in the day grew short, everyone seemed spent, and Georgiana even had to suppress a yawn. They decided to make their goodbyes.
The riding companions bid Evelina farewell, and they all headed to the front steps of the townhome as the Ashford carriage was readied. Graham clasped Alaina’s hand in his own and executed a bow before bringing her gloved hand to his lips. “Until we see each other again.”
“Thank you,” Alaina murmured, touched. Graham handed his sister into the awaiting carriage. Georgiana graced Alaina with a broad smile and a wave before she disappeared into the coach.
Christopher was the last to alight, but not before he paid Alaina farewell. He mulled over the afternoon’s events, and was surprised to find the threat to Alaina’s safety had affected him more than just a mere acquaintance. He had felt an overwhelming urgency to gather her in his arms and ensure that the terrified, haunting look in her eyes once he had stopped her runaway horse would never again take root. Taking her hand in his own, Christopher paused as he bowed over her hand, and could not resist the urge to place a gentle kiss on her knuckles.
Alaina was jolted by the whisper of breath across her skin. She hoped he could not feel the acceleration of her pulse. Almost unable to breathe, Alaina whispered, “Thank you for everything.”
Remembering his defense of her against those who ever seemed to be her tormentors, Alaina added, her voice more forceful than she intended, “You did not have to defend my honor, I can do so myself.”
Christopher looked into Alaina’s eyes and paused, before dropping her hand, his gruff reply belying his words. “I am sure you can, although you should not always have to. It was truly nothing, or at least nothing I did not already owe you.”
With that, Christopher practically leapt into the conveyance and Alaina watched as her riding companions left just as quickly as they had arrived.
Chapter 5
Slap!
Lady Barbara smacked her gloves in her hand as she stalked through the front door of her family’s townhome. Percy and her brother, Lord Richard Finch, followed on her heels, but both held back a bit as the tirade continued.
“It seems Lady Alaina foils us at every turn. First the humiliation of her rejection, and now she has set her sights on the Duke of Ashford!” Lady Barbara exclaimed.
The men remained mute, as the butler collected their outer garments and hurried off to put them away.
“Well?!” Came Barbara’s final exasperated question.
It was Percy who braved a response. “Well what? How were we supposed to know that we would happen uponherat Hyde Park?”
Lady Barbara let out a huff and rolled her eyes, turning on her heel and leaving the men to stare at one another in the foyer. Once she made it to the parlor, she heard a shuffle of feet as her brother and Percy came out of their trance to follow her.
Percy entered first and straightened his jacket before making another attempt to placate Barbara. “My dear, it was just a coincidence that Lady Alaina was there with Graham. He is no closer to matrimony than he was last season.”
Barbara, who had been angrily tapping her foot as she waited for some explanation from her brother or her would-be fiancé, stopped and strode toward Percy.
“And what makes you think that,my dear?” Lady Barbara sneered. “There is no guarantee that Graham will fail once more this season to secure a match. With Lady Bella last season, I had her ear as a ‘friend’; but if Lady Alaina is the object of your cousin’s desire this season, I am afraid I will have no sway there. We can no longer delay! My parents demand that I marry someone with money and status, and the Duke of Ashford and his future wife, whoever she may be, stand in your way.”
Percy shuffled from one foot to the next uncomfortably. “Like I said, I will find some way to supplant Graham, some scandal, or… Well, something. You will be my duchess very soon, but we must remain calm.”
