Nevertheless, she was merely glad that he had returned. Shewas almost starting to fear that he’d left for his country estate. What a devastating thing that would have been to have her possible entertainment ripped away so quickly!
With her aunt nearby, she would have to ensure that she was covert about finding a way to gain the duke’s attention, but as she turned her head and sought him out from the privacy of the supper box her aunt had secured for them, she realized she had no need to seek him out because he had already spied her. From a distance, the crowd buzzing between them, Lexie could still feel the heat of his gaze and it thrilled her to no end to be the recipient of it.
Suddenly restless, Lexie turned to her chaperone and kept her voice low. “Aunt, I need to use the necessary.”
“Naturally, dear.” The gray head bobbed in turn. As Lexie stood, her aunt’s next words caused her to groan inwardly. “Make sure your maid goes with you. Vauxhall has not always been known to be respectful of single ladies out wandering on their own.”
“Of course.” Lexie signaled her maid, and the servant followed her obediently. However, as soon as they were out of earshot of her aunt, she turned to the girl. “Jane, I was wondering if you might grant me a favor? But you must do so with the utmost discretion.”
The girl nodded. “Yes, miss.”
“Good.” She smiled broadly. “Then wait here a moment. I need to speak to a particular gentleman, and I should like a moment of privacy to converse.”
The maid’s brow furrowed slightly. “But miss…”
“Please.” Lexie grasped her hand. “I will be indebted to you. Just a few minutes is all I ask. I can’t get into that much trouble in such a short time.” Her mind scrambled for something else to say to convince her maid that all would be well. “I promise I won’t stray to the Dark Walks. I will remain in full view for the entirety.”
It took a moment for the maid to waver, but she finally sighed heavily. “Very well. It is a nice night for romance.”
Lexie wanted to shout her elation, but she kept her face a careful mask of composure as she headed toward her quarry, hoping no outward sign of her excitement was showing through. It wouldn’t be good to appear too eager to “accidentally” run into the duke again.
However, as she came abreast of the covey of gentlemen dressed as Roman gods, she found that Hades had fled from the rest of the flock. She muttered a curse as she surveyed the surrounding area, but there was nothing to indicate to where he might have disappeared.
Annoyed at the loss of her one opportunity to impress the duke in a casual flirtation, Lexie turned back to rejoin her maid. That was when she happened to glance across the lawn—and found the cretin in conversation with her aunt! She clenched her fists. The very idea that he should dare to approach her when she’d had the same thought in mind was frustrating, to say the least.
But then she wondered…
Hastening her steps, she started to head toward the supper box, her stunned maid struggling to catch up as Lexie nearly sprinted across the expanse.
By the time they arrived, Aunt Bonnie was sitting alone. It was all Lexie could do not to huff in exasperation.
“Ah, Alexandra, there you are.” No matter how much Lexie had asked her aunt to call her by her preferred nickname, she refused, stating her given name wasmuch more refined. But that wasn’t what bothered her now. It was the pinched expression to the older woman’s face. “I was afraid you might have been waylaid by that…man.”
Lexie sank into her seat and reached for the tea, wishing it was something stronger. She could certainly use a splash ofbrandy about now. Taking a dainty sip, she asked innocently, “Whomever do you mean?”
“The Duke of Cuthbert, that’s who,” Aunt Bonnie snapped irritably. “He dared to walk up to me as though we had something in common.” She shook her head. “In my day, gentlemen weren’t nearly so bold.”
“Perhaps he wanted to gain your favor?” Lexie murmured, hoping that her aunt took the hint.
She sniffed. “I can’t see why. I have nothing to offer His Grace. The doors to society will remain open to him because of his position. He doesn’t need my approval.”
Unless he wishes to court me…
Lexie yearned to blurt out the words, but she was wise enough to stay silent on the subject. It was not one that would endear her to her aunt, nor was it the appropriate time to discuss the duke and end up in a potentially heated argument that would strip the enjoyment of the festivities to come.
Regretting that she hadn’t spoken to the duke, Lexie enjoyed supper and the soft glow of the bonfires set around. There was a mock play about the failed plot to blow up Parliament and the assassination of King James I. As the night wore on, Lexie could almost forget that she was supposed to be mourning the duke’s absence, and instead, began to have fun in earnest. In the countryside there was some celebration around the holiday, but nothing that could possibly compare to what Vauxhall delivered.
Just before the fireworks burst into the air, Lady Margaret rushed over to their box. “He’shere!” she hissed animatedly.
Immediately, Aunt Bonnie sat up straighter and patted her hair, as if the king was walking over to her in that moment. Of course, he wasn’t, but that didn’t stop her from rising to her feet and peering out into the crowd. “Oh, I must greet His Majesty properly!”
She turned to Lexie, but she waved a hand. “I will happily await your return right here.”
“Very well.” Bonnie gathered her handkerchief and fluttered it about in a dismissive gesture. “I will return as soon as I am able.”
Together, the two of them rushed off as if they had been given a personal invitation to the palace. Lexie rolled her eyes. She could care less for the royalty. There was only one person in London that turned her head.
“Miss Givenwald. We meet again.”
