Trying to remember her father’s sage advice, Alaina smiled and reveled in the moment, convincing herself that it was best to give the duke a chance. Graham released a breath as a smile appeared on his face. “Well then, Alaina, I have accomplished my most fervent wish for the day.”
After a slight pause as they regarded one another for a second or so more, it was back to the walk. “Unfortunately for us, Alaina, I feel we should rejoin our companions up ahead. They seem to have stopped to wait for our slow plodding.” Graham pointed up ahead on the pathway where Georgiana and Christopher were still within sight.
“And may I suggest that on our next walk we take our mothers along? It seems that Christopher and Georgiana are much too interested in inserting themselves into our conversation,” Graham stated matter-of-factly.
Alaina was more than happy to concur on that point. “That sounds like a good idea to me.”
Without the marquess around, Alaina could hope that the memory of their kiss would fade, and her courtship with Graham could flourish. All Alaina could hope was that Christopher’s silence on the matter meant he wanted to forget their kiss the same as she.
Chapter 8
Alaina took in the sights at the Bond Street Bazaar, shifting the packages in her arms as she followed next to Georgiana. The countess chattered incessantly about what was needed for the party: a seemingly endless list. The cacophony of sound, from the hawking of vendors to ladies and their maids haggling over prices, made it difficult for Alaina to hear exactly what the countess was saying. Graham had insisted that if they were to be out and about in London, he and Christopher should both join them, for safety, and the marquess’s presence was stretching Alaina’s nerves more tightly than she cared to admit. Alaina had certainly welcomed the past week without Christopher as a shadow.
True to his word, Graham had engaged her in more private outings over the past week, including a couple of walks in the park with both of their mothers, one walk with Evelina and Charlotte, and even one afternoon tea with Georgiana in tow. Alaina found a small smile on her face as she remembered their witty conversations and the duke’s solicitous nature. He was kind, intelligent, and an overall wonderful person. However, Alaina often found herself imagining another pair of eyes, ones the color of the ocean, in moments of silence, in her dreams, and haunting her at every step. Alaina’s smile turned to a grimace as she realized it was the first time she had seen Christopher since the walk in Hyde Park, and now she was faced with the object of her wandering thoughts.
The past week had disappeared quickly. When she was not spending time with the duke, Alaina found her time commandeered by Georgiana with all manner of party planning.
The first order of business was to send out formal invitations, which Alaina helped Georgiana pen. The next day of planning had consisted of mapping out a few days of activities, including rides about the grounds at the Ashford estate, some luncheons and teas complete with card games or charades, and culminating in a small garden dance at the end of the third day, leaving the fourth day of the gathering to be relaxed as people took their leave of the Ashford estate. The idea was for the country gathering to last only four days total, so that the impact to everyone’s social season in London would be minimal.
With all the details of the party set, Georgiana had declared their need for an outing to acquire all the necessary supplies. Alaina had thought it merely an excuse for her to leave the Ashford townhome. Without chaperoning duties, Georgiana had attended fewer society events in the preceding week, and seemed a little perturbed.
At the bazaar, Alaina was amazed by the crush of people and wares. Each stall was filled to the brim with all types of trinkets, and Alaina found it difficult to imagine needing much else for the party in the country.
“Gentlemen, would you mind overly much if Alaina and I stopped at the dressmaker and the milliner?” Georgiana chirped, a triumphant smile marking her face after a full day of shopping.
Alaina leveled a perturbed stare at her companion. “Georgiana, we agreed no additional wear would be required for this event. Not only is there not enough time for anything to be made before we have to travel to Ashford, but I am quite sure the men do not want to tag along with us for that.” Alaina felt acutely uncomfortable with the idea of shopping for clothing with Graham and Christopher in attendance. The only shopping she had ever done in her life had been with her mother and sister; not even her father joined.
“Alaina, you must at least look for something special for the dance on the third evening. And besides, five days is plenty of time for the dressmaker and seamstresses to make a few day dresses as well. Everyone has already procured their wardrobes for the season, so I imagine the shops are in need of some business.”
Sighing, Alaina resigned herself to an acutely uncomfortable trip to the dressmaker’s shop. Even if Alaina’s enthusiasm was lacking, Georgiana did not seem to notice as she hurried off in the direction of Madam Benoit’s. Alaina was quick to follow, not wishing to be separated from her only female companion. Graham and Christopher followed at a distance.
Georgiana made it to the door of the shop and looked at the group and then to Alaina.
“Shall we, Alaina?” Georgiana motioned to the door. “Graham, you and Christopher can wait outside and stand watch in case any brigands seek to accost us.”
“Yes,” Alaina answered, as she met Georgiana at the door, glancing back sheepishly toward Graham, pointedly ignoring the marquess, before entering just ahead of Georgiana.
“So, how long do you think they will be in there?” Christopher asked.
“With Georgiana, who knows,” Graham chuckled. “As a child, whenever she and my mother went out shopping it felt like the whole afternoon passed before they returned.”
Christopher groaned and shuffled his feet, looking up and down the street. A couple caught his eye.
“Look who it is,” Christopher pointed.
Graham looked up and set his jaw. “Percy and his lady.”
The walkway was busy, but certainly not enough to hide their presence. Both men stood their ground as the Baron and Lady Barbara approached.
A brief nod of acknowledgement was all that was offered before the insults began. “Ah, cousin, what are the odds we encounter you?” Percy remarked, then he addressed Lady Barbara. “My dear, I am sorry to have our outing ruined.”
Lady Barbara sniffed and raised her head a bit. “Certainly not something we could have anticipated. No matter, I had planned to go to the dressmaker, and so I am here. I will leave you all to talk, just do not come to fisticuffs in the middle of the street.”
Barbara made her way into the shop, a small tinkling bell punctuating the silence between the three gentlemen. It was Christopher who attempted to fill the quiet as they waited.
“So, Percy,” he started, “you and Lady Barbara are often in each other’s company. Shall we offer a congratulations?”
Percy’s eyes narrowed a bit, but he responded blandly. “No congratulations are necessary. We just encountered one another on the street moments ago and were just chatting when we came upon the two of you.”
