The Season (10 page)

With a loud laugh that caused the other four members of their party to look over, he flashed her an admiring glance. "Much better, and exactly what I imagine the elderly ladies of the
ton
would want you to think. After
all
, if the rumors are to be believed, I eat young ladies fresh on the marriage mart for breakfast."

"Ah,
well
, then, I am safe from you. I am not 'on the marriage mart.'"

"Oh, you aren't?" His reply was laced with interest.

She shook her head with a smile, "No. I'm not. I'm not interested in marriage."

One of his eyebrows cocked. "You're not?"

"No. When you were seventeen, were you thinking about marriage?"

His response was
filled
with humor. "Certainly not."

"Aha!" She pointed at him with emphasis. "You see? That answer proves my point! You think it's completely unfathomable that a boy of seventeen even think about marriage!"

"Yes. I do."

"So why should I be thinking about it?"

"An
excellent
question."

His frank response surprised her and she
pulled
back to assess him. "You
really
mean that."

"To be sure. I've never understood the expectation that women and men should adhere to different rules and protocols when it comes to courtship and marriage. I say, stay unattached as long as you like. From the marriages I've witnessed in the course of my life, the institution isn't quite what it's cracked up to be anyway." Leaning closer, he wr
iggled his eyebrows in mock vill
ainy and continued, "I shouldn't like to see you married off too soon, anyway, my lady."

The extreme flirtation inspired a burst of laughter from Alex, which forced Stanhope to chuckle himself and to offer,
«Well,
what did you expect? I have a reputation to keep up!"

Alex's eyes twinkled with humor, and she grinned broadly. "Why, Frederick, Lord Stanhope. You're a fraud!"

He leaned close to her ear and spoke in a voice too quiet to be overheard by their neighbors, "Shhh. Don't let that get around. 'Twil ruin me."

So thoroughly had Alex been enjoying their banter that she hadn't noticed the approach of two newcomers to their idyl ic afternoon. Looking up from Lord Stanhope, she noticed that they had arrived just as she had burst into laughter, and her humor died in her throat. There, standing at the edge of the linen square, gazing down with expressions that could only be described as, respectively, bored uninterest and supreme aggravation, were Penelope Grayson and Gavin, Lord Blackmoor.

***

From his place on the linen blanket, Lord Stanhope, curious about Alex's sudden change in demeanor,
followed
the direction of her gaze and, as proper etiquette demanded, immediately stood to greet Penelope and Blackmoor, along with the already standing Nick and Kit. "Lady Penelope, as always, it is a pleasure to see you. You've only made this pleasant afternoon more lovely."

One of Alex's eyebrows shot up.

"Thank you, my lord. I admit that I was skeptical about a walk in the park. I prefer to ride, but the day is bright and sunny, if on the cool side. I hope I do not catch a chil
l
."

At this, Alex
rolled
her eyes, only to be caught by Blackmoor, whose gaze sharpened. Pretending not to notice, Alex smoothed her skirts and looked over at
Ella
, who had stopped sketching to send an
Is she serious?
look in Alex's direction.

"You must join us!" Nick exclaimed. "What luck that we would meet!" With a resigned sigh, Alex stood to move closer to
Ella
—
secretly afraid that the expanse of linen that had been unoccupied would be
filled
with the odious Penelope, and Alex would be forced to ruin a perfectly charming afternoon by interacting with the unpleasant young woman.

Before she could move, however, Blackmoor intercepted her, speaking quietly while bowing low over her hand. "Lady Alexandra, I trust that you don't object to our company for the afternoon. I would hate to ruin your outing." Their gazes met and Alex noted the warning in his grey eyes; she knew he was daring her to say something negative about his arrival with Penelope, and she stiffened, wishing she could wipe the expression from his face without causing a scene that would be discussed in London
ball
rooms for years. Of course, she didn't. In a feat of good manners that rivaled those of Queen Charlotte herself, Alex plastered a smile on her lips and spoke brightly, albeit through her teeth, "Certainly not, my lord. I cannot think of two more welcome additions to our little gatheri
ng." Removing her hand forceful
y from his grasp, she continued, "I think I
shall
take a walk
—
I do so enjoy them ...
especially
in the cool air." Her remark, designed to underscore the ridiculousness of his companion, hit home and his eyes narrowed at her boldness.

Vivi, who had overheard their conversation, stood and offered, "I should like to join you, Alex. I would benefit from a turn about the green."

Ella
spoke from her perch on the blanket, "I
shall
come, too!"

And with that, the three were off, walking down their little
hill
and onto the greensward. Alex set the pace, her long legs eating up the ground as she marched away from the group,
Ella
and Vivi rushing to catch up.

"It's utterly remarkable how a perfectly pleasant afternoon can be ruined by the arrival of one unpleasant person."

Vivi spoke drily, "Are we talking about Penelope? Or Blackmoor?"

"If we keep going at this pace," said
Ella
, "I'm not going to be talking much at
all
...
I’ll
need
all
the breath I have just to keep from swooning for lack of air."

Alex slowed her strides. "We're talking about both! Though, to be fair, she's
always
unpleasant. What befuddles me is that he seems to be becoming unpleasant himself... as he becomes more and more enamored of her!"

"With
all
due respect, Alex, you seem slightly more than befuddled. You seem ..." Vivi paused, searching for the word.

"Furious,"
Ella
supplied frankly.

"I'm not furious," Alex said in frustration, "but besides not understanding what he sees in her ... I simply find it unbelievable that he would think he could speak to me as if I were a child! It makes me ..." She stopped, at a loss for words.

"Furious?"
Ella
offered.

Alex threw her a glare. "Irritated."

"Blackmoor seems just as chivalrous as always to me," said Vivi. "Although, considering his prior warnings to you about Stanhope, it wouldn't surprise me if he were slightly unnerved by the portrait the two of you were making."

"It would serve him right!" Then, forgetting her ire momentarily, Alex turned to Vivi. "What portrait? We were simply enjoying our afternoon. Stanhope has been a perfect gentleman."

"That may
well
be the case, Alex, but the two of you did appear rather ..." Vivi let her sentence trail off. "Cozy." This, again, from
Ella
.

"Must you finish
all
her sentences?" Alex gave
Ella
an exasperated look.

Ella
smiled brightly. "It's a particular
skill
."

"Stanhope and I were not 'cozy.' We were having a perfectly harmless conversation until Blackmoor appeared with that awful ..."

"Penelope." In the pause that
followed
her addition,
Ella
looked innocently at Alex, a twinkle in her cornflower-blue eyes.

Unable to be angry with her friend, Alex chuckled and wagged a finger in warning. "
Ella
. You tread on thin ice."

"Ah, but you must admit, my ability to exasperate is part of my charm."

"You have charm?"

Vivi answered with laughter in her voice, "A very
small
amount. If you blink, you might miss it."

"Oh!"
Ella
cried out in mock offense, and the three laughed together.

Alex smiled and continued, "I suppose I shouldn't let them mar an otherwise lovely day. I
shall
rise above it."

Vivi nodded. "Very generous of you."

"Thank you. I rather thought so."

Ella
spoke, squinting at a figure approaching them. "Is that Baron Montgrave? It is! Vivi, you have to meet him. He's got some fascinating tales
—
you're going to just adore him."

«Well,
considering your eagerness to reacquaint yourself with him ... I find I am quite eager myself." Vivi looked toward the
tall
Frenchman and continued, "If what you both say of the baron is true, he's bound to be the most interesting part of the afternoon."

Alex spoke under her breath as the baron drew near, "That's not saying much, considering the recent less than scintil ating addition of Penelope to the afternoon."

Ella
turned back at Alex's sarcasm. "As your friend, I feel I must
tell
you that you're becoming obsessed."

"I am not obsessed! I simply
—
"

"Baron Montgrave!"
Ella spoke cheerfull
y as the Frenchman reached them. "What a pleasure to see you!

You've rescued us from an afternoon
filled
with repetitive conversation!"

Standing slightly behind her friend, Alex poked
Ella
in the back none too lightly and over her quiet "Ow!" pasted a smile on her face to rival her friend's.

"Indeed, my lord, you are
well
met."

Bowing deeply, the baron returned the girls' smiles. "Surely it is you who have rescued me, my ladies. Fortune appears to have smiled upon me to have provided me with such elegant company."

Alex turned to Vivi. "My lord, may I introduce our dear friend Lady Vivian
Markwell
? Lady Vivian, I present the Baron Montgrave."

"Enchantée."
The baron bowed low over Vivian's hand. "I know your father
well and
have heard him speak of you with great pride. It is an honor to meet you
finall
y."

Vivi
fell
into a deep curtsy and met the baron's warm gaze. "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, my lord. What brings you to this meadow by the Serpentine today?"

"One can never have too many afternoon walks in the beautiful weather. That is something I learned in the country and I am loathe to forget it now in the bustle of the city."

Alex smiled.
«Well
said, Baron. I imagine that, after a lifetime in France, you must find us rather soggy."

With a chuckle, the baron nodded in agreement as
Ella
spoke. "We were taking advantage of this lovely weather ourselves, as it happens. Would you care to join our little party, my lord?" She extended her hand to indicate the cluster
of young people up on the knoll
.

Foll
owing her gaze, the baron sho
ok his head to decline gracefull
y. "Thank you, no, my ladies. I fear I would ruin such a youthful outing."

"Nonsense!" Alex's unladylike outburst drew startled looks from
all
three of her companions. Looking at her friends, she lowered her voice defensively,

«Well,
it is."

"What Lady Alexandra means to say, my lord," Vivi offered, unable to hide a wide, amused grin, "is that you are more than welcome at our little gathering; we would very much enjoy your company."

Laughter came to Alex's eye and she interjected, "Isn't that what I said?"

The baron laughed again and spoke warmly, "Certainly, my lady, that is what I heard." Offering an arm, he continued, "May I escort you back to your party, although I regret I
will
not join you?"

Alex took the aging Frenchman's arm and spoke in a conspiratorial tone, "Thank you, my lord
—
both for the escort and for your failure to mention my bad behavior. I assure you, my parents have done their best and
all
discernible flaws are entirely my own."

"And I assure you, Lady Alexandra, I have seen none of these flaws that you speak of. Surely, they do not exist."

Alex laughed. "My family
—
particularly my brothers
—
would disagree with you on that point, Baron." She lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "No matter what you say, you are a welcome addition to our little world
—
mine especial
l
y."

"I
shall
happily defend you to your brothers, Lady Alexandra. Being a brother myself, I am sure I speak their language
well
. There are four, are there not?"

Alex shook her head with a quick laugh. "Thankful
l
y, no. I've only three brothers
—
three too many, it seems some days."

"Of course ... I do not know why I thought there were four."

"You are not alone. It sometimes feels that way. Lord Blackmoor and they are thick as thieves, which explains his constant presence and the confusion about the number of Stafford siblings."

The baron
still
ed, looking at Alex quizzical
l
y. "Lord Blackmoor, you say
—
friends with your brothers?"

"That is correct."

"Ah, that is interesting."

"Is it? After seventeen years of their combined company, good sir, I'm afraid I find it rather more tiresome than interesting."

He chuckled good-naturedly at her response and continued, more seriously, "If I may, how is the new, young earl faring with the loss of his father?"

It was a common enough question, one that Alex had heard a number of times. She answered without thinking,

«Well
enough, I think. He does not speak of it much, and he seems to have
—
matured
—
if that makes sense. Our families have always been very close and I was
well aware
of how important his relationship with his father was to Lord Blackmoor." Alex's voice had softened and her gaze, of its own accord, had moved to Gavin up on the
knoll
, smiling at something Kit was saying. She couldn't help thinking that even his smile was subdued in comparison to that of a year ago. "I am
filled
with sorrow for the pain he must feel."

She trailed off, realizing that
Ella
and Vivi were both looking at her with surprised expressions. She was sharing too much with this little-known companion
—
too much about Blackmoor, but more importantly, too much of her own emotions. Young English ladies were not supposed to have such opinions and thoughts. They were not supposed to speak so freely. Looking at the Frenchman, Alex couldn't help but notice his obvious discomfort with the situation
—
he was looking slightly desperate to escape.