It was just before noon when Arthur entered the parlor to announce the duke, his sister, and the marquess. Arthur may have been as discreet a butler as they came, but he passed an affectionate stare to Alaina. She truly could not remember a time in her life when Arthur was not present, and she had come to value him as a friend and a kind of second father figure.
After the brief introduction, all the presented persons entered the room, with the duke sweeping in first, hat in hand, and the marquess and Georgiana entering second. Each of the gentlemen gave a brief bow to the ladies in the room, with Charlotte, Alaina, and Evelina repaying the gesture with curtsies of their own. Alaina pointedly avoided making anything but brief eye contact with Christopher, attempting to focus almost all of her attention on Graham and Georgiana.If he could ignore the kiss, as he seemed so inclined to do, so could she!Even with that effort, she had a prickling sensation that told her Christopher’s eyes rarely strayed from her person. And yet, after a quick glance toward the marquess, Alaina found him focused on the sibling pair.
After pleasantries, Graham was quick to offer an outing. “I hope you are prepared for a walk. It is quite brisk today, and your dress certainly seems quite delicate. I hope you have a good cloak?”
Alaina found it difficult to focus on the duke, the kiss with Christopher and her embarrassment at the front of her mind. She pushed aside those thoughts and gave a quick answer. “Your grace, I assure you my outerwear should suffice for an outing. I assume we are headed to the park?”
A look crossed Graham’s face and he expounded on their plans. “Why yes, Alaina, I was planning on taking a walk through Hyde Park, if it is ok with your mother? Christopher and Georgiana can provide us with a proper chaperone arrangement.”
Charlotte quickly gave her assent. “Alaina has been hoping you would call today. I am certainly ok with the outing and will await your return. I assume barring anything too exciting, we can have refreshments for you when you return?”
“Yes, that would be most delightful. Shall we?” The duke turned toward Alaina, offering his arm to punctuate his question.
“I would be delighted. Arthur will most certainly have my cloak and muff at the door waiting for us.”
They all made their way out of the parlor. Having successfully avoided eye contact with Christopher for the whole of the exchange, Alaina found her eyes roaming over Christopher’s broad shoulders and crisp dress as she and the duke followed behind the marquess and Georgiana, her mind wandering to their kiss once more. It was easy enough to consider the kiss they had shared the previous evening when the marquess’s attention was not focused on her person, but it was Alaina’s most fervent hope to avoid any conversation with Christopher. Thinking of his body pressed against hers was one thing, but having to find words in his presence would be quite another task, and one Alaina would most likely fail.
“I just do not see how that is relevant,” Georgiana said, not bothered by her brother’s discontent.
“How is it not relevant to determine the size of the gathering that is supposed to be happening atmyestate in a few weeks’ time?” Graham countered. Alaina could certainly tell that he was annoyed with his sister.
“Oh, dear brother, you always say it is the family’s estate. Why is it suddenly such a concern that I am using it to plan a small gathering you would hardly notice at any other point in time?” Georgiana paused ever so slightly to deliver this final point, and gave her brother a flippant smile before turning forward again and continuing down the path.
Alaina heard Graham sigh and witnessed an ever so slight shake of his head. He obviously was annoyed with his sister, but not angry.
“She does have a point, Graham,” Christopher added.
Graham fixed his attention on Christopher. He cleared his throat, leveling a pointed stare complete with a raised eyebrow. Christopher quickly turned back to face forward, getting the hint that he was not to interject.
Alaina had not known what to expect from this outing, but she was certainly surprised by the turn of events. Conversation had flowed easily out of Georgiana about the weather, the play currently at the Royal Theater, and this latest conversation about the garden party. Graham, usually confident and quick to engage in conversation and banter with his sister, was unusually quiet. His engagement on the matter of the garden party and his perceived annoyance only grew more pointed with Georgiana’s constant needling and interruptions when he had tried to engage with Alaina in any type of conversation.
“Come along, Christopher. I feel my brother is quite annoyed with us at the moment,” Georgiana chirped as she dragged Christopher along the path, giving Graham and Alaina a bit more privacy.
Another sigh from Graham brought Alaina’s concentration back to her companion, who to this point had rigidly led her through the park on their walk. Feeling a certain relaxation of his posture and softening of his arm muscles under her hand made Alaina curious. Tilting her head to the side to get a better glimpse of her escort, she caught him staring intently at her.
“Is everything alright, Graham? I hope you are not too put out by Georgiana’s garden party. When she asked me if it was a good idea at the ball, I thought nothing of it being an inconvenience.”
“Alaina, my dear, everything is alright, and the garden party is of no consequence to me. It was just striking that my sister chose today to unnecessarily needle me at every turn. She knows I was hoping for a comfortable, somewhat private walk in the park.”
“Oh,” the small word escaped from Alaina’s lips as she broke the stare between them, suddenly uncomfortable.
Graham gently placed his hand over the hand Alaina had rested on his arm and squeezed, starting up again with their walk, now at a sufficiently far distance to not be overheard by Christopher and Georgiana. Alaina was surprised, as she had not even realized they had stopped walking.
“Alaina, I apologize if I make you uncomfortable,” Graham started. “I was quite hoping that my need for a semi-private audience would be met naturally today, and that the reason for it would come out during the normal course of conversation, but it seems that Georgiana had other plans altogether.”
Graham’s hand remained overtop her own and she remained mute, really unsure of how to best respond to such a statement. She was truly happy to be with the duke, to have him showing interest in her, just as she had hoped and planned. He was sweet, kind, and respectful of her person, of her mind. But the close enough proximity of Christopher tied her stomach in knots, the memory of their interlude wheedling its way into her mind at the most inopportune moment. His glacial eyes, looking at her as if he could see through to her soul. It was unsettling. There was no opportunity there, his snarky remarks on marriage and obvious distaste for her made that quite clear.
Graham forged ahead. “Alaina, have you enjoyed my company over the last several days?”
It was this question that she could not avoid. “Why yes, your grace, I certainly have enjoyed our time together, even with some moments cutting the interactions or events short.”
“Good, I had hoped you felt the same as I did, that the last few days have been most pleasant. I do share your consternation that we have not been able to spend more time alone in conversation, but I do hope we can continue to get to know each other over the course of the next few weeks and months.” Graham paused, and Alaina could tell that he was wondering how to continue. “Would I be permitted to embark on a more formal courtship with you, Alaina? Not engaged, obviously, that will come with time if we each wish it.”
Graham again stopped them on the trail, in a small copse of trees that provided a bit of coverage and space, away from any prying eyes in the park. The duke faced Alaina and clasped both of her hands in his own. They locked eyes and Alaina could see the earnest plea for her time, her person, and maybe her future.
Alaina hoped that Graham could not feel her pulse race. She certainly was touched by his interest. He was kind, and genuine, and it did not hurt that he was handsome. But, Alaina found it difficult to banish the prior evening and her scandalous interlude with his best friend. She had been so worried about the threat of a rumor from Percy about her virtue. Alaina could only imagine if they had been caught! It was not like the marquess was in search of a wife, or even liked her. Their kiss seemed to have no effect on him, either after the ball or even on their outing. And every other interaction, from their first meeting, was confusing at best and confrontational at worst. It would be silly to let their connection, whatever it was, mar a wonderful courtship with the duke.
Pushing the kiss and all other thoughts of Christopher from her mind, Alaina responded kindly, steeling her emotions. “Why yes, Graham, I would like that very much.”
