Christopher had stopped for some reason before following Graham, and caught sight of Alaina standing in her window. Close enough to see that her eyes were closed, he had kept the horse under a tight rein, feeling almost desperate for her to acknowledge his presence, the heady feeling of her in his arms still fresh in his mind. That memory overpowered every other doubt; in that moment, Christopher just wanted to see her smile at him, and him alone.
Alaina opened her eyes and found Christopher’s. She felt a shock as he gave her a crooked smile and his eyes twinkled with mischief. Alaina felt frozen in place, surprised by his reaction, and she raised a hand to wave, a soft smile coming unbidden to her face. Christopher returned her gesture with a nod of his head, finally turning in the direction where Graham had disappeared, kicking his horse into a gallop to catch up to his friend.
Alaina inwardly groaned and lay down on the bed, worried about how dinner would go. She closed her eyes to once again shut out the world, hoping a good rest would clear her head.
“Christopher, you look absolutely resplendent. It looks like the country ride did some good for both you and Graham,” Eleanor chirped as she swept into the parlor, where guests were starting to collect prior to dinner. “I just saw Graham in the hallway, and he looked much more chipper than when we arrived. I expect that is something to do with the ride this afternoon, and something to do with the anticipation of better company.”
“Yes, I am sure it is,” Christopher gave Eleanor a tight smile, hoping it passed for something warm. She had always been like a second mother to him, and in no way did he want to seem ungrateful or put off by her presence.
“Well, not to worry, I think more of the guests should be arriving for dinner shortly, and you will have more young people to converse with,” Eleanor stated simply, as if sensing his unease.
Christopher chuckled and shook his head, striving to allay any of Eleanor’s hurt. “Lady Eleanor, I assure you that your company is quite enough for me. I am afraid I will only know a few of the souls attending.”
“Pish posh, you have nothing to worry about. You look wonderful and I am sure any lady who joins us this evening will be agog.” And with that Eleanor detached herself from Christopher, making her way around the room, pausing only briefly at the pianoforte to adjust a flower in the vase that decorated the instrument. A candelabra also rested atop the piano and complemented the lighted sconces around the room, giving the air a warm ambiance.
Christopher surveyed the room, finding it much as he remembered from when he was a boy. Usually when he visited Graham at Ashford, they spent their time riding through the grounds or in Graham’s study on the other side of the house. As a boy, he remembered that this parlor in particular was in close proximity to the large dining room and was used by Eleanor to entertain guests when it was a small, non-familial gathering. A few sideboards were spaced strategically around the room, each with decanters of whiskey and wine, so anyone could easily access a refreshment without disrupting the socializing occurring in the room. It was not expected that people would stay in this room much beyond waiting for dinner, so only a handful of elegant chairs of varying patterns, all with soft rose-hued tones, were scattered along the outer walls. The pianoforte was in the corner, with a harp beside it, for musical entertainment. The floor was largely left bare save for runners at the edges beneath each of the sideboards and some of the chairs. This allowed for the center of the room to be used for whatever whim struck the dowager duchess, like charades. Christopher had often played charades with Graham and his family on holidays from school, when his family was not up for having him at home, or when he chose not to join his family. Tonight, it would allow for good mingling.
Christopher placed himself toward the opposite side of the room from the pianoforte, near one of the sideboards, and fixed himself a brandy, waiting for the other guests to arrive, or really one guest in particular. This afternoon he had been surprised to find Alaina standing in a window directly above the stables. Graham had not seen her, or had been too intent on the ride to notice, but Christopher had felt desperate for her to seehim,and his heart had leapt when she had waved.
The rest of the ride in the afternoon had been invigorating, with fresh air and a bit of a chill to bring clarity to Christopher’s thoughts. That afternoon, Christopher had chosen to ponder the first time they had met, at the Mansfield Ball. The range of emotions that played across her face had perturbed and amused him at the time, and now he held them close to his heart as a vision of Alaina fully as herself. Not only had her face, with her long lashed umber eyes that seemed to glow in the candlelight, and her full winsome lips, either curved in smile or pursed in thought, caught his attention, but her confident stature and grace also came to his mind. He may have been initially annoyed to be caught in the throes of the season, much less a conversation with a young miss, but to deny that Alaina’s lithe, athletic build, subtly displayed in a simple and bewitching frock, was alluring would be untruthful, to say the least. He had noticed her pert, full breasts, shown with just a small amount of cleavage over her low-cut bodice, long graceful arms, and, from what he could only imagine, long, lean, and strong legs to match. The vision kept him company more hours of the day than Christopher cared to admit.
Since he and Graham had been out for a vigorous ride, there had been little talk, allowing Christopher ample time with such thoughts. Only toward the end of the ride was he required to recount the last week to his friend, leaving out many of the more personal details, just giving a report on everyone’s safety and the uneventful trip out to Ashford.
Christopher and Graham had known each other almost their whole lives, and had become fast friends in school; it was this that made Christopher pause and ruminate over the implications of his own thoughts. Graham had been his lone friend at Eton, and he had quickly offered his own home as a refuge away from Christopher’s increasingly unhappy one. He had convinced himself that his fascination and attraction to Alaina would pass; Christopher certainly had no intention of interfering with his friend’s courtship of the lady. That thought, however, did little to calm his racing mind.
In the parlor, more of the party’s attendees had started to arrive. It was his understanding that there would be twenty in all, an equal matching of gentlemen and ladies, though he was unsure of the exact guest list. As the parlor became more crowded, Christopher withdrew to the far corner by the pianoforte, lightly touching the keys as he tried to remain nonchalant, waiting for the one who haunted his thoughts. Soon, Christopher watched as Georgiana walked into the room followed by her guests of honor.
“My wonderful friends, may I welcome you to Ashford Estate! I know most of you are well acquainted, but may I be the first to introduce Lady Charlotte, Lady Alaina, her eldest daughter, and Lady Evelina, her youngest daughter. They hail from Norwich, and are the wife and daughters of the Earl of Norwich, Lord Sinclair.” Georgiana finished with flair, the Sinclair family surrounding her as they acknowledged the rest of the guests.
As Georgiana made the introductions to each guest personally, Christopher moved forward, unable to see Alaina from his vantage point at the back, as she was much shorter than some of the gentlemen currently blocking the way. He did catch sight of Graham and his mother on the other side of the intimate group, both of them involved with the introductions. Christopher heard Georgiana finish with the formalities, and the group seemed to disperse, gentlemen making their way to a few of the sideboards for drinks, while the ladies seemed to collapse on Georgiana, Alaina, Charlotte, and Evelina in salutations. It was at this moment that Christopher caught sight of Alaina. She was smiling at her newly introduced companions and chatting. She seemed so happy and at ease, and Christopher wondered if she shared any of his trepidations for the evening.
He had just a moment to take in the sight of her before she made eye contact. She was garbed in a rich velvet sapphire gown. Since this evening was indoors, she had opted for the low-cut evening gown she had procured from Madam Benoit’s dress shop just a few days prior. The bodice of the gown dipped quite low in the front, almost exposing the rosy peaks of her breasts, but dipped even lower in the back, exposing the graceful column of her neck and upper back. The skirt was simple but narrow, and grazed her hips and derriere ever so slightly, letting the imagination do the rest. The sleeves were almost iridescent, a stiff chiffon of the same color that covered her whole arm, collected by a simple cuff, with silver buttons. The sleeve itself was translucent, so even as it covered her whole arm, it gave the observer a vision of graceful limbs, slim and strong. In society, this would not be deemed indecent, but it was certainly a departure from the demure frocks he had seen her wear in Hyde Park. It made Christopher wonder if she wore any chemise underneath, doubting it was even possible, making his mouth go dry.
The ladies had been twittering together when they finally noticed Christopher’s presence, having unknowingly inched ever so slightly forward.
Georgiana was the first to speak. “Oh, dear, I seem to have missed introducing you, Christopher. Ladies, this is Lord Kendall, Marquess of Rochester. Please do not set your sights on him though, he detests the veryideaof commitment. Christopher, I expect that you heard all my introductions earlier?”
Christopher gave a noncommittal grunt, tearing his eyes away from Alaina and acknowledging the rest of the group politely. He was happy that a grimace did not cross his face at Georgiana’s barb. Everyone seemed satisfied with the brief introductions, and the ladies parted like the sea around him, making their way across the room to the musical instruments in the corner to inspect them. He could hear Georgiana giving the group a tour of sorts.
Graham stayed behind and he greeted his friend warmly. “Christopher, I trust you were able to get some rest after our ride. This past week in the country has made me loathe to return to the stifling air of London at the end of the party, even if it means being done with these tenant issues.”
“Yes, I find the air much more invigorating here. I am not sure I rested so much as just enjoyed being here again. I know it has only been a couple of years since I made a proper visit to your country seat, but it feels longer,” Christopher said. “What do you think is at the root of the mischief?”
“I am not sure I would say mischief, per se, but there are too many coincidences to be ruled only unfortunate accidents.” Graham paused and scrubbed his hand through his hair. “A broken plow here, a stolen cart there. Tenants have been blaming their neighbors, and some have gotten into rows. I have mostly been playing mediator, but I feel there is something more to these minor offenses.”
Eleanor walked over to the two young men, and Graham placed a peck on his mother’s cheek.
“Lady Eleanor, it has beenages,” Christopher greeted her with a short bow and a smile.
Eleanor waded into her next statement with care. “Oh, Graham, I have missed you this last week. Might I trouble you for an escort to dinner? I wish to hear how things are going on the estate.”
After a moment of silence, Graham answered, “I would be delighted. I think Christopher was slated to escort you, so we can just swap.” Turning to his friend, he asked, “Christopher, I pray you will deliver Alaina safely to dinner.”
“Of course,” was all Christopher said, swallowing uncomfortably. Even the short walk to the dining room seemed a daunting task.
After what felt like an eternity, Georgiana proclaimed that dinner was ready for them, and deftly paired people, bringing Alaina over to Christopher last. Christopher silently accepted his charge and stretched out his arm to offer her escort to the dining room. Alaina placed her hand on his forearm, and they made their way to the hallway.
It took a considerable effort from Alaina to ignore the sinewy muscles of the proffered arm as Christopher deftly led her to dinner. Her fingertips tingled and she felt that sensation creep up her arm and down her back. They only touched at the one point, but their connection did much to bring to her mind a different moment, one she had been both yearning for and wishing to forget. Christopher and Alaina were followed only by Georgiana and her escort, Lord Blackmore. Graham and Eleanor then led the procession, as true hosts. Each of the pairs were generally spaced out, allowing for quiet conversation as they processed along the long corridor, passing sconces every few steps.
