Alissa Baxter (16 page)

Consequently, she held them all at arm’s length, determined not to give any of her suitors the least bit of encouragement. This, had she but known it, far from detracting from her appeal, only added to it as her suitors began to look upon her more and more as a challenge, and as a prize to be won.

Unfortunately, a few of Alexandra’s more rapacious suitors came to the erroneous conclusion that she was somewhat more experienced in the art of dalliance than the average débutante. Why else, they reasoned, would the Duke of Stanford — that most notorious of libertines — pay such particular attention to her? Alexandra, therefore, to her dismay, increasingly found herself pursued by a few predatory gentlemen who had the singular misconception that she would willingly indulge in the kind of loose behaviour only practised by members of the daringly fast set. The rather frightening attentions of these sophisticated suitors not only distressed her, but also bewildered her, and at first she felt herself rather at a loss as to how to dampen their ardour. She was relieved to discover, however, that even the most persistent of her admirers turned sheepishly away from her when she failed to respond to their brand of suggestive conversation. These gentlemen, who were somewhat embarrassed when it became clear to them that the object of their salacious attentions was in fact a virtuous innocent, attempted to atone for their previous ungentlemanly behaviour by treating her with a mixture of deference and protectiveness instead.

However, one of her more persistent suitors, a Mr Thomas Kendle, continued in his familiar behaviour towards her, and Alexandra began to suspect that he held very little claim to the title of “gentleman”. Mr Kendle pursued her with the tenacity of a terrier, frequently appearing by her side at balls and routs to press his unwelcome suit on her, to the extent that Alexandra began to dread attending parties in the evening. Instead of being deflated by her cool manner towards him, he seemed to view it as marked encouragement of his attentions. Alexandra began to feel rather like a hunted animal, cornered on all sides by a predator with the express intention of tracking her down.

One evening, at Lady Bradshaw’s
soirée
, Alexandra was standing in conversation with Sir Charles Fotherby when she saw Mr Kendle threading his way through the throng towards her. Panic-stricken, she hurriedly excused herself from a rather surprised looking Sir Charles, and looked around in desperation for Lady Beauchamp, hoping that her grandmother would consent to leaving the party forthwith, if she asked her. Eventually, she caught sight of Lady Beauchamp engaged in conversation with someone across the room, but her relief at seeing her grandmother was short-lived when she noticed that it was Lady Jersey to whom she was speaking. Alexandra knew that that avenue of escape was definitely not an option! She had no intention of laying herself open to the prying questions that the sharp-eyed Lady Jersey would be bound to ask her if she descended breathlessly upon them, asking to leave the party immediately.

Alexandra chewed nervously on her bottom lip, wondering what she ought to do. Looking around the room, she breathed a sigh of relief when her eyes alighted on a pair of French doors, partially hidden by heavy rose-pink silk curtains, that led out onto a balcony. Hurrying towards the doors, Alexandra darted a quick look over her shoulder, before silently opening them and stepping outside. Breathing in the cool night air, which came as a welcome relief after the stuffiness of inside, she congratulated herself on a narrow escape. Nevertheless a frown marred the smoothness of her brow when she thought of her lecherous suitor. She knew that she would have to think of some way in which to discourage the man from pursuing her, because dashing out unaccompanied onto conveniently situated balconies whenever he approached her was surely not the ideal solution! Lady Beauchamp would not approve of her actions in the least. Alexandra’s frown deepened when she looked around her and realised that she was alone on the darkened balcony. She certainly had no desire to incur the wrath of the Duke of Stanford once again were he to discover her out here unaccompanied! Alexandra shuddered at the very thought.

Hearing a sound behind her, Alexandra spun around to see Mr Kendle step out onto the balcony and close the doors behind him. Alexandra stared at him in absolute horror, realising, with a sick feeling in her stomach, that she had laid herself open to a very compromising situation. Her eyes darted to the closed doors, but she knew that it would be impossible to run past Mr Kendle and return to safety, because he was standing directly in front of them.

Alexandra shrank back as Mr Kendle sauntered over to where she stood and took her hands in his. She tried to pull her hands away from his, but Mr Kendle’s grip only tightened. Finally, glaring up at him, she said in a forceful voice, “Kindly unhand me, Sir!”

Mr Kendle only leered at her, and said, “I see, my dear Miss Grantham, that you were of the same mind as I. A romantic assignation in the moonlight — how utterly delightful.”

Before she could utter another word of protest, Mr Kendle drew her closer to him. Alexandra stood rigidly still for a moment, completely taken by surprise. Then she began to struggle, but found to her fury that the man who held her so insolently was far stronger than she. Tears of rage burned her eyes, as she renewed her efforts to be free from her tormentor. She was about to kick Mr Kendle sharply in the shins when suddenly it was all over.

A deadly cold voice came from the doorway. “Unhand Miss Grantham, Kendle.” The Duke of Stanford strolled over to Mr Kendle and said, “I will not call you out for this night’s work, Kendle, as I wish no blemish to mar Miss Grantham’s reputation. But I advise you to keep your distance from her in future, or you will live to regret the consequences. You understand my meaning?”

Mr Kendle swallowed convulsively and nodded his head, prudently deciding that it would be in his best interests to depart the scene as quickly as possible. He sketched a bow in Alexandra’s direction, and hastily made his apologies to her before leaving her alone with the Duke.

Alexandra turned to thank her rescuer, but the words of gratitude died on her lips when she saw the Duke’s icy expression. Swallowing nervously, she said, “I can explain my — er — current predicament, your grace.”

“Please do, Miss Grantham,” he invited courteously, but Alexandra was not deceived by these polite words. She knew very well that the man standing before her was extremely displeased by her actions.

Licking her dry lips, Alexandra began nervously, “Thomas Kendle has been plaguing me with his unwanted attentions for quite some time now.”

The Duke frowned. “Why did you not inform me of Kendle’s behaviour? A word in my ear, and I would have made certain that he never plagued you again.”

Alexandra looked at him in surprise. “But, your grace, I am not a member of your family, and therefore am in no way under your protection! Although you have condescended to bring me into fashion, I cannot make such claims upon you!”

The Duke smiled. “My dear Miss Grantham, because I have — what was your phrase — ah, yes, “condescended to bring you into fashion”, it would be a matter of course that you would be my responsibility. In future you may regard me as your protector.”

Alexandra experienced a flash of annoyance at the unmistakably authoritative note in the Duke’s voice. For as long as she could remember she had had the running of her own life. When her mother had died, Aunt Eliza had arrived at Grantham Place to look after her brother-in-law’s household, but this lady had succeeded in exercising very little control over Alexandra as she had grown to adulthood. Her father, Sir Henry, had been an easygoing man who had placed very few restraints on his only daughter’s activities, and Alexandra had never felt the need to turn to anyone for much guidance, let alone protection. Yet, in the light of her recent escape, her annoyance immediately evaporated and, looking thoughtfully up at the Duke’s face now, she reflected that it was somehow reassuring to have his support. She nodded her head, and murmured, “Perfectly, your grace. I will remember that in the future.”

“You do that, Miss Grantham.” Offering his arm to her, he said, “I will escort you back to your grandmother now.”

Alexandra placed her hand on his arm. “Thank you, your grace. I am much obliged to you — for everything.”

He looked down at her for a long moment. “I know that you are an uncommonly independent young lady, Miss Grantham, but surely you must realise that it shows strength, not weakness, to admit that you need a helping hand sometimes?”

Alexandra swallowed. “I — I am beginning to realise that, your grace.” And looking up into the Duke’s handsome face, she reflected it could be all too easy to grow accustomed to accepting this man’s help. His solid dependability was so reassuring, and when she was with him, she felt that no harm could come to her.

Alexandra saw a great deal of Sir Charles Fotherby over the next few weeks. He escorted his godmother and Alexandra to various balls and parties, and often called at Beauchamp House to invite Alexandra for a drive in his curricle. When Alexandra’s mare, Starlight, was brought to London, she and Sir Charles rode together in the Park every day. They tended to favour the early mornings for their equestrian excursions, rather than the fashionable hour of the Grand Strut, because there were fewer people in Hyde Park at this time, and they could give the horses their heads. Alexandra found Sir Charles to be a delightful companion, and quickly came to view him in a fraternal light; their teasing friendship and occasional disagreements, emphasizing the brother-sister nature of their relationship.

Lady Letitia Beaumont sometimes accompanied Alexandra and Sir Charles on these expeditions. She and Alexandra had struck up a close friendship since the evening of Lady Derringer’s evening party when Alexandra had rescued her from incurring the Duke’s wrath. Alexandra, who had not attended one of England’s select ladies seminaries in her schoolgirl years, and had few female friends of her own age, was delighted to have found a bosom bow with whom she could share confidences and discuss the goings-on of Society.

Letitia was also acquainted with Sir Charles, as he was a lifelong friend of her brother, Lord Stephen Beaumont, and had frequently visited Stanford Court during his Harrow and Cambridge days. Letitia treated the baronet with a casual familiarity which her strict chaperone abhorred, but she refused to pay any attention to Cousin Amelia’s lectures on the correct manners a young lady should employ when speaking to a gentleman. She merely informed her cousin that she had known Sir Charles since she was in the nursery, and saw no reason why she should suddenly stand on ceremony with him, just because she was in London for the Season.

One afternoon, Letitia called at Beauchamp House to pay Alexandra a visit. Alexandra took one look at her stormy face and, after asking her friend to be seated, worriedly inquired what was amiss.

Letitia sniffed. “Oh, Alexandra, I am so angry I could cry! Charles has been the veriest beast! He... Oh!” Letitia stopped abruptly and scowled at the absent Sir Charles.

Alexandra, by now used to Letitia’s tempestuous mode of speech, asked patiently, “What has he done to upset you, Letty?”

“What has he done?” Letitia wailed. “I’ll tell what he’s done! The odious, reprehensible, despicable beast!” Letitia glowered at Alexandra, before continuing, “Yesterday morning, I informed Cousin Amelia that I had arranged to go on a shopping expedition with you, Alexandra. She believed me, of course, because we are often together. But... instead I made arrangements to meet the — the gentleman you saw me with at Lady Derringer’s party — George Winters — in Green Park. I had not seen him since that evening, and — oh Alex! — I have missed him so! We met in a secluded area of the Park, and I thought that we would be
perfectly
safe from discovery, when Charles came into view. George and I hid behind a few bushes, and I thought that he had not seen us. However, this morning, Charles called and in the most odiously highhanded manner you can imagine, informed me that he was taking me for a drive to Richmond Park. Cousin Amelia, of course, was delighted. She deems Charles to be a most eligible catch — although I cannot begin to think why! Charles lectured me in the most horrid manner all the way there, and informed me that it was beyond the bounds of propriety for me to meet a gentleman clandestinely in Green Park. He then told me the most
wicked
lies about George. He said that George was a gazetted fortune hunter and that I was a fool to imagine myself in love with him.” Letitia paused for breath and her eyes sparkled militantly. With a grim little smile she continued, “I informed Charles that not every gentleman I have met in London treats me as though I were a child. I told him that he was a stuffed shirt and that there was nothing wrong with me falling in love with a perfectly respectable gentleman. I also said,” Letitia carried on, warming to her theme, “that he was too dull to know the meaning of the word “love”, and that he wouldn’t know love if it hit him on the head! He then told me that I was a foolish child. A foolish child, Alexandra!” Letitia finished angrily.

“Perhaps it was only out of concern for you that he took you to task, Letty,” Alexandra suggested. “I have noticed that Sir Charles appears to be very fond of you.”

“Fond of me!
Fond
of me?” Letitia said indignantly. “You have not heard the worst of it yet, Alex! Charles actually had the audacity to inform Cousin Amelia and Robert about my meeting with George. He did so after we returned home this afternoon, and Cousin Amelia invited him to partake of luncheon with us.” Letitia’s eyes snapped together in a frown. “Cousin Amelia lectured me endlessly on the impropriety of my behaviour. And Robert! Robert informed me that if I continue to “behave foolishly”, he will send me home forthwith to Stanford Court, and only allow me to come out next year. Next year! Why next year I’ll be an old maid! On the shelf. A veritable spinster!”

Alexandra carefully refrained from pointing out to Letitia that, according to her calculations, she herself, being a year older than her friend, was already “a veritable spinster”. Instead she said calmly, “I agree, Letty, that it was unsporting of Sir Charles to reveal your rendezvous with Mr Winters. But is there any chance, my dear, that Sir Charles may be correct in assuming that Mr Winters is courting you only for your fortune’s sake? In the brief time I have known him, I have found Sir Charles to have an uncommonly level head on his shoulders.”