“As well as teasing and terrible jokes,” his wife said.
Lord Fenwick laughed. “All true.”
“In any case, my husband and I hope you have a long and happy marriage, just like ours.”
Alice had tears in her eyes when she thanked them and moved away so they could receive other guests.
“They are wonderful people,” she said to Adam, who was searching for guests he knew.
“I’ve always thought so,” he agreed. “I don’t know anyone who doesn’t.”
“They had knowledge of my previous marriage, it seems.”
“I believe Lady Fenwick was alluding to it, yes, but nothing more. They were genuinely glad for us, as everyone shall be.”
Unfortunately, Adam was incorrect. The party was large and spilled over into every public room in the Fenwick’s large home. Adam took her to the dance floor as soon as the musicians signaled the first dance. She relaxed as they moved together easily. Yet she could see heads turning when people realized who she was, back from obscurity.
When they walked toward Adam’s friends to whom he wished to make introductions, fans raised and heads leaned together as they passed. Alice was certain guests were whispering about her.
The whispers would reach her husband’s ears, eventually.
While Adam remained by her side nearly every moment, and all the people she met were kind, there was a few minutes when he was diverted by his father and a member of parliament. Alice remained talking with his sister, Purity, and her husband, Lord Foxford.
“We’re leaving early,” Purity said. “We’ve stayed the perfect amount of time so as not to insult Lord and Lady Fenwick, but our youngest is having nightmares. We like to be there if he awakens.”
“Some people think we’re a little over-indulgent with our children,” Lord Foxford said. “But we don’t give a rat’s arse for their opinion.”
Alice laughed at his words, although Purity frowned slightly.
“Come along, Foxy,” she said before addressing Alice once more. “I will see you at Mother’s luncheon at the end of the week, won’t I?”
“Yes,” Alice said, thrilled to be included, truly as if she were one of the Diamond sisters. “I am looking forward to Gunter’s. It’s been a long time since I was there.”
“I don’t like to leave you standing here,” Purity fussed. “Where is that brother of mine?”
Alice shrugged. “He’ll return any moment. Please, go, look after your children.”
Conveniently, Lord and Lady Foxford also lived on Belgrave Square, which was how Lord Foxford was able to gain an introduction to Purity at another of the Fenwicks’ parties.
The dutiful parents disappeared into the throng, and Alice took a moment to look around her. There wasn’t anything to be afraid of. She was an upstanding woman, married to a good man. No one had cause to drag up the past or say anything untoward.
“Lady Fairclough,” came the voice of the last man she wanted to see, his low tone close in her ear like a lover.
She whirled around to see Richard’s younger brother, the current Lord Fairclough. With her heart beating hard in her chest, so she was sure he could hear it, Alice tried to gather her wits.
“I am no longer that,” she reminded him.Thank God,she added to herself.
“I must admit, I am surprised to see you back in London, out in public as if you hadn’t a care in the world.”
She wished that were the case, that she was nothing more than a carefree newlywed, enjoying a party amongst her husband’s friends.
“What do you want?”
His eyes flickered coldly over her face. “I want what I have always wanted. For you to pay your and your husband’s debts.”
“Youare the new Lord Fairclough.”
“I did not inherit his wife,” he said with a sneer, “for which I am eternally grateful, but somehow, I inherited Richard’s debts. And he had vowels a plenty.”
