Forever My Love (Historical Romance) (10 page)

"Did you know it was Kathleen who placed the broach under your mattress?"

"I suspected as much."

"When I found out what she had done, I insisted she tell Mrs. Fortescue."

"So that was what happened. I never knew."

"I don't expect you to believe this, but Kathleen was never a friend of mine."

Royal shrugged. "It's in the past."

"Can we forget about what has passed and be friends, Royal?"

"I would like that."

Lady Alissa smiled and plucked a small twig from Royal's hair. "Tell me all about yourself. I want to know what your life was like before you came to England. I have been most curious about you, but would not allow myself to ask you before now."

The carriage ride home passed all too quickly, as Royal and Lady Alissa became better acquainted.

When they reached the edge of London, Lady Alissa reached forward and clasped Royal's hand. "I wonder if you are willing to help me?"

"Yes, but how?"

"I want to learn to walk again."

Royal's eyes were dazzling with delight. "Oh, do you think it's possible?"

"Yes, I do. As we have been talking, I have begun to feel a tingling sensation in my legs. There is feeling there—and if there is feeling, I will surely be able to walk."

"I will help you. But shouldn't we inform Mrs. Fortescue so she can have a physician examine you?"

"No, not just now. I have a plan, and I will need your help to carry it through."

"What is it?" Royal asked eagerly.

"The school gala is just two months away." Excitement stirred in Lady Alissa, and she giggled. "I want to be able to dance."

"Would that be possible?" Royal asked, hoping her new friend was not in for a disappointment.

"Will you come to my room every day at—" Lady Alissa was thoughtful for a moment. "Every day at three when we are supposed to be resting?"

"Yes. How will we keep the other girls from getting suspicious?"

The two conspirators put their heads together. "I know," Lady Alissa said at last. "Do you play chess?"

"Yes, of course."

"Perfect! We will tell everyone that you are teaching me how to play chess. So that it will not be a lie, you will teach me twenty minutes of chess each visit. The rest of the time we will devote to restoring the feeling in my legs."

"How can this be accomplished?"

"Our family doctor had encouraged leg massage and hot compresses. We shall try that."

Royal caught Lady Alissa's enthusiasm. "You will walk—I know you will!"

And so it happened that each day Royal would take her chess set and go to Lady Alissa's quarters. Soon, all thoughts of chess were abandoned as Lady Alissa's legs became stronger and stronger.

It was a long and painful ordeal for the lame girl, but whenever she grew weary and wanted to give up, Royal would encourage her to continue.

One day Lady Alissa took her first step, then another, and another.

10

Dearest Papa,

I can hardly wait for the social tonight. It will be such a wonderful surprise when Alissa's family learns she can walk. You would like Alissa, Papa. She is brave and determined in her character. As for me, life is quite wonderful. I awaken each morning knowing I have a friend. No more loneliness. Oh, Papa, you were so wise to insist I come to Fulham for my education.

Tonight was the social all Fulham students looked forward to with great anticipation. It was the event where the young ladies could show off their newly acquired refinement to young gentlemen who had received the coveted invitations. They would be allowed to parade around in their finest frocks and bedazzle their family and friends.

Royal stared at her image in the mirror. Her year of mourning still not up, she wore a black velvet gown that fit snugly about her waist and flared out over a polonaise petticoat. Her hair was arranged in a soft, windblown style without a trace of formality or sophistication, making her feel colorless and insignificant.

She clipped a pearl broach at her high neck and turned to Hannah. "You should see Alissa's new gown. It's lemon-yellow taffeta. The collar and cuffs are embroidered with gold thread and pearls. It's simply breathtaking."

"You look very nice, Miss Royal," Hannah assured her.

"I appreciate your loyalty, but my gown can hardly compare with a Paris creation. But no matter."

Royal could not have known how lovely she looked with her golden curls spilling down her back, the youthful blush on her cheeks, and the healthy glow in her blue eyes. Royal saw only the drabness of her costume and her yet undeveloped young body.

"You will stand out in a roomful of strutting peacocks with their fine feathers and bright colors."

"Oh, Hannah, you do say the funniest things. Imagine calling my friends peacocks." She stepped into her black kid slippers. "It doesn't matter how I look anyway, no one will notice me."

"If I was you, Miss Royal, I'd be right happy to be fluttering around, meeting all the grand gentlemen."

"In the first place, I am still in mourning for my father. And as for meeting gentlemen, I am not acquainted with any in London."

"You will be singing, and that'll get the gentlemen's attention. Your voice is pure like an angel's. With Lady Alissa playing the harp for you, the two of you will be the center of attention."

Royal picked up her black feathered fan, the only frivolity she had allowed herself, and moved to the door. "I'm so nervous about singing for all those people. I doubt I can manage the high notes." She turned back and looked at Hannah. "Did you place the two bouquets of flowers in the music room/"

"Yes, Miss Royal, just like you told me to."

Royal swept out the door and down the stairs to the music room, where her performance would take place. She paused, going over in her mind the surprise she and Lady Alissa had contrived for her friend's mother and brother. The plan was that after Royal finished singing, she would take a bouquet of flowers to the music teacher. Then Lady Alissa would rise, pick up a bouquet, and walk to her mother, the dowager duchess of Chiswick. Royal was so excited, she feared she would forget the words to her song, so she went over them in her mind. Tonight was so important for Alissa. Nothing must go wrong!

When Royal entered the music room, servants had already begun to seat the guests, and Lady Alissa was behind the harp. Royal's legs were shaking and her palms were damp as she moved to stand beside her friend.

"Are you ready?" Royal asked nervously.

"I suppose."

Royal's gaze moved around the room until she located Lady Alissa's brother, Lord Preston. He nodded at her and smiled slightly before turning back to his beautiful companion. Royal had no notion who she was but assumed the older woman seated at his right would be Lady Alissa's mother. She nervously worked her fingers in and out of her black lace gloves until a look of disapproval from Mrs. Fortescue caught her attention.

When everyone was seated, Mrs. Hargrove gave the signal that the performance was to begin. Lady Alissa pulled the harp to her, and her fingers nimbly rippled across the strings. Royal stepped forward and in a clear soprano voice began singing:

Her lilies and roses were just in their prime,

Yet lilies and roses are conquered by time:

But in you, my love, age such a benefit flows,

That we attend it more sweetly the bolder it grows.

No one in the audience stirred; all eyes were glued on the lovely young singer who held them spellbound. Lord Preston leaned forward, his gaze fastened on Royal. There was such a sweetness about her that it touched his heart.

"She is but a child," his companion reminded him in spitefulness when she saw where his attention was aimed.

"You are right, of course, my dear. But that does not keep me from admiring her lovely voice."

When Royal finished singing, and Lady Alissa's fingers had plucked the final vibrating refrain, the guests broke into vigorous applause. Royal was so astonished by the crowd's overwhelming reaction, she could only stare at them in wonder, until she caught the music teacher's stern glance that reminded her to curtsy to the guests.

Royal looked back at Lady Alissa and received a nod and an eager smile. Picking up a bouquet of flowers, she walked over to Mrs. Hargrove and presented it to her. The teacher smiled in appreciation and acknowledged Royal's thoughtful gesture.

Now the moment had come for Lady Alissa to reveal her surprise. At first no one but Royal noticed that Lady Alissa was standing on her own. She took a small step—her eyes on Royal for encouragement.

Hesitantly she moved toward her mother, who by now stood in shocked silence. The dowager gasped in disbelief while her eyes brimmed with tears. She would have rushed toward her daughter but for the restraining hand her son placed on her arm.

Preston, too, was moved by his sister's accomplishment. "It is important that you let her come to you, Mother."

By now everyone was watching Lady Alissa as she made her way slowly across the room, sometimes stopping to steady herself, sometimes almost stumbling, but always keeping her gaze on her mother.

Mrs. Fortescue's eyes opened wide in amazement. The students were silent, each girl willing Lady Alissa onward to her goal. Royal raised her hands and wiped the tears from her face. She could not remember any moment in her life where she had felt so proud. She would always remember how Lady Alissa looked in her triumph. Could anyone in this room understand how unceasingly her friend had worked to surprise her mother tonight?

Lady Alissa stopped before the dowager and handed her the bouquet. "For you, Mother."

The dowager embraced her daughter, and everyone pressed in around them, expressing their delight.

"I do declare," Mrs. Fortescue proclaimed. "I do declare!"

Royal was crying openly when a deep voice spoke up behind her. "Hello, Miss Bradford."

She turned to find Lord Preston at her elbow. "She is wonderful, is she not?" she asked, nodding at his sister.

"Yes," he agreed, his eyes resting on her small upturned face, noticing that tears clung to her silken lashes. "Truly wonderful."

***

Royal stood in the shadows of the ballroom, observing the dancers with a strange detachment. It did not matter to her that mourning kept her from joining in the festivities. She was too happy about Lady Alissa's accomplishment to think of anything else.

She did not realize that her foot was tapping to the music until Lord Preston appeared at her side. "My sister has told me all about your daring rescue. A fine feat of horsemanship, Miss Bradford. You are to be commended."

"You give me too much credit, Lord Preston. It was not nearly as daring as it sounds."

His eyes twinkled. "Perhaps we can ride together sometime, and I will judge for myself." He stared into the clearest, bluest eyes he had ever seen. "My sister has told my mother and me all about your devotion to her. Of course, we already knew you had saved her life. And now you've given her the courage to walk. How can we ever thank you?"

"Oh, no, you must not think that it is because of me that Lady Alissa can walk. Her brave spirit and perseverance have been an example to me."

Lord Preston had never met a girl who was so uncomfortable with a compliment. In his experience, more often than not women seemed to thrive on praise. Alissa was right—she seemed too good to be real. And he was fascinated by her.

"My sister also told me that you are in mourning for your father. Even so, you are very young to be denied a chance to dance, Miss Bradford."

"Even if I were not in mourning, Lord Preston, I have not yet come out. And I don't know any of the gentlemen here; so therefore I would not be dancing anyway," she answered, glancing up at him. Her smile was shy and hesitant.

"We have met before, Miss Bradford, so you are acquainted with me. Am I to take it you do not consider me a gentleman?" he said with mock seriousness.

"Oh," she said, hurrying to make amends. "I would never expect you to dance with me, Lord Preston."

His laughter was soft. Here was a girl who did not play coy games. Her face was so honest and open, he could read much of what she was thinking. Apparently she had not learned to mask the truth about her feelings—he hoped she never would. His laughter deepened when he realized that she was openly assessing him.

Lord Preston was tall, Royal thought, perhaps as tall as Damon Routhland. His shoulders were wide, and his tailored clothing fit him to perfection. He had a boyish look, and when he smiled at Royal, which he did often, she noticed that there were dimples in his cheeks. His hair was powdered and drawn back in a queue. She noted his blond eyebrows and lashes and guessed his hair would also be blond. He was so handsome, her heart was fluttering, and she thought she would faint.

As she gazed into dancing blue eyes, for just a moment Royal forgot about the golden eyes of Damon Routhland.

"If you were not in mourning, and if you had come out, Miss Bradford, I would surely ask you to dance with me. But by the time you are out of mourning, you will be surrounded by admirers, and I doubt I would be able to get near you."

She could not seem to find her voice, and she felt giddy. "I doubt I shall have any admirers. I am no beauty."

He stared at her in astonishment. "Has no one ever told you that you are lovely?"

She smiled. "Of course. My papa thought I was an 'incomparable.' But you see, he also thought I was brilliant. My mathematics teacher would tell you that's not the case."

Preston looked deeply into the little charmer's eyes. "I wonder if you will make me a promise, Miss Bradford?"

"Of course, if I can."

"The next time we meet at a social, and I can assure you there will be a next time, will you remember that you owe me at least one dance?"

"I will remember," she said in all sincerity.

"So shall I. Now, I wonder if you will do me another favor?"

This time her smile was not so hesitant. "Yes, I will."

"My mother has asked if you would attend her. She has been most anxious to thank you and pay her respects."

"But I told you I did—"

He extended his arm to her. "Shall we?"

Shyly she placed her gloved hand in the crook of his arm. She could feel her chest swell with pride to be escorted by such a handsome and important man.

"Let me warn you that my mother can appear reserved," he advised. "But don't be put off by her. She is really quite nice when you get to know her."

Royal took no comfort in his words. As they crossed the room, she felt the piercing scrutiny of the dowager's gaze. Lord Preston gave her a supportive smile.

"Courage," he said, as if he knew she was nervous.

When he presented Royal to his mother, the girl met the cool blue eyes that swept her from head to toe.

The dowager duchess of Chiswick leaned heavily on a pearl-handled walking stick. She was older than Royal had thought. Her gray hair needed no powder, and rather than styled in the latest fashion, it was reminiscent of the simpler, less extreme coiffure that had been popular twenty years earlier. Her rococo Watteau gown with silk cords and tassels was also a reminder of days gone by.

"My dear," the dowager said in a voice that was warm and soft. "I am so delighted to meet you. Come"—she motioned to the empty chair beside her—"sit with me so we can talk. I want to know all about my daughter's friend."

Royal slipped into the chair and folded her hands demurely in her lap. She was aware that Lord Preston had moved away to dance with the woman who had accompanied him to the social.

She spent the remainder of the evening sitting beside the dowager duchess, and in no time at all the older woman knew all about her life.

***

That night Royal's sleep was sweet as she dreamed of dancing with Lord Preston. She laughed and played coy as he whirled her around the dance floor, declaring she was a beauty. But when she looked into his handsome face, his image slowly began to fade and another took its place—a face with startling golden eyes... a face that always haunted her dreams.