Lord Rakehell (24 page)

Impatiently, Anne put up her hand. “I overheard you in her bedchamber. You are lying to protect her.”

He sat back on his heels, neither denying nor confirming her accusation.

“Leicester, please don't lie to protect
me
. I came here for the truth. Are you my father?”

He got to his feet and the look on his face told her that he was fighting with his conscience. Finally, he spoke. “Anne, the absolute truth is that I don't know. I cannot deny that the possibility exists. But for your own peace of mind, I believe it would be best if you think of Richard as your father, and me as your brother, as you always have.”

“Thank you for telling me the truth, Leicester. I appreciate your candor.” She stood up. “Since the choice is mine, I shall continue to think myself the daughter of an earl.”

Anne walked to the door. “When do you leave for Ireland?”

“Since you insist upon the truth, my new posting is here in London.”

Her eyes widened. “I see.”
The possibility of Ireland never existed. The London posting is what you've both wanted for years.

Anne walked briskly down Jermyn Street toward St. James's, deep in thought.
She realized with a pang of regret that the things she'd discovered had robbed her of her trust.
How unworldly and naive I've been!
Perhaps it's a good thing that my eyes have been opened. Far better than going through life in ignorance.

She was momentarily disconcerted when she saw James Hamilton insert a key in the door of an elegant town house on the corner of Jermyn Street and go inside.
I wonder, what he's doing?
Her chin went up.
Since he's a male, I warrant it's something illicit!

“I
get the distinct impression that you are avoiding me.” James lifted Anne's fingers to his lips. The ballroom at Marlborough House was crowded and he had waited impatiently as she had danced with three other partners.

“Whatever makes you think such a thing?”

“In the last month there have been a dozen grand entertainments thrown at Marlborough House, and you've danced with me exactly twice.”

Anne's mouth curved in an enchanting smile. “I don't want to monopolize you, James. There are so many beautiful, noble ladies eager for your attention.”

“There is only one lady I am interested in.”

“Careful, James, or your reputation as a ladies' man will be in shreds. I'
m not naive. The parties here at Marlborough House are rife with flirting and dalliance. I sometimes wonder if even the prince is faithful to his new bride.”

You're right. His new hobby is adultery.
“Anne, I am not in control of the prince's morals. All I ask is a chance to prove my devotion to you.”

“How can I resist, when you ask so gallantly?”

He pulled her into his arms as waltz music filled the air. “Stop it! You are far too lovely to be brittle and mocking.”

He drew her close and their bodies swayed together in the slow sensual movements of the waltz. As always when she danced with James, the music made her feel desirable. She closed her eyes and gave herself up to the pleasure of being in his arms. No other man had this mesmerizing effect on her.

James watched her face, saw her lashes sweep down, and her mouth curve softly. His desire flared and he suddenly felt possessive of her. When other men flirted or danced with her, it was becoming difficult for him to control his emotions, and he knew he was experiencing jealousy for the first time in his life.

She doesn't take me seriously when I profess my devotion. She suspects my words are empty flattery. From now on I must show her by my actions that I am sincere.
He touched his lips to her brow where the red-gold tendrils curled so enticingly.
I won't simply court you, my beauty. I'll woo you with a vengeance,
he silently vowed.

•   •   •

During the following week, James gave Anne his undivided attention. When Princess Alexandra and her ladies attended the theater, he made sure he sat next to Anne. They shared a sense of humor that was infectious, laughing at the same witty lines in the comedy of errors being enacted onstage. During the intermission he brought Anne champagne and caressed her with his eyes as she sipped the intoxicating wine.

James, who regularly spent his days in Parliament, decided to skip a few sessions. When the princess and her ladies rode, as they did most days in the lovely spring weather, James joined the courtiers who acted as escort to the royal party, and unfailingly maneuvered his mount alongside Anne's. His attention did not go unnoticed by the others and when she saw their speculative glances, she smiled her secret smile.

When Frances informed her brother that the princess and her ladies were curious about Cremorne Gardens and would enjoy a visit, James made the arrangements. He chose an afternoon that included a hot-air balloon ascent, and afterward, while the Prince of Wales and his friends attended the famed equestrian exhibit, James escorted the ladies through the lovely public gardens that lay along the bank of the River Thames.

As evening descended, the families with children departed, and the fashionable people arrived to enjoy the myriad entertainments of stage plays, or to dance on the famous oval platform, lit artfully by gas chandeliers.

At ten o'clock the royal party dined elegantly in one of the infamous private supper rooms, then watched the brilliant firework display that ended at midnight. On the drive back to Marlborough House, James sought Anne's hand in the darkness of the carriage.

“Thank you for such a wonderful day,” she murmured. “You put a lot of thought into it. The princess enjoyed every moment.”

“It was my pleasure, sweetheart.” He squeezed her hand and whispered in her ear, “You are my pleasure.”

•   •   •

Princess Alexandra waited at Buckingham Palace for her monthly audience with Queen Victoria, but this time she had been determined to spare Anne from an encounter with her critical sister Emily, and had asked Frances to accompany her instead.

Her Majesty again wore black, accompanied by her usual dour expression, and Alix was glad that Anne had suggested she wear a dress in a drab shade of mushroom. She went through the motions of curtsying and sitting in the straight-backed chair and realized it was a ritual she had come to dread.

“My dear Alexandra, far be it from me to be critical; it is not in my nature. But when you entertain at Marlborough House, you must never forget that you represent the royal family. I would advise you to go over your guest list and eliminate any female whose name has been associated with scandal. It has come to my attention that a young woman by the name of Florence Rawdon attended one of your dinner parties. Are you not aware that she brought disgrace upon herself by eloping with the Marquis of Hastings?”

“Your Majesty, Lord Hastings was invited by my husband. They are friends who were at Oxford together, I believe.”

“I have no objection to Hastings being entertained at Marlborough House. But females are held to a much higher standard, and I think it would be unwise in future to include his wife.”

Alix was taken aback that the queen had one set of rules for men, and another for women, but decided to keep a wise silence in the face of such utter prejudice.

“Which brings us to another unfortunate incident. When I was told you attended Cremorne Pleasure Gardens, I could scarce believe my ears. As Queen of England, I have always held myself above the common masses, and I expect the same high standard from the Princess of Wales. I advise you to choose your pleasures wisely from now on.”

When Alix returned to Marlborough House, she found Anne waiting with a decanter of sherry and an abundance of sympathy. “Was it very bad?”

“I'm afraid that someone is carrying tales to her about everything we do.”

Anne immediately suspected her sister Emily, since she was the queen's confidant.

Princess Alexandra remarked, “I believe that the Irish refer to Victoria as the
Auld Bitch of a Quayne
, and now I understand why.”

•   •   •

The following day, the prince and half a dozen of his sporting friends planned to attend Sandown races in nearby Surrey. When Alexandra confessed to her husband that she would rather visit Hampton Court Palace, which was close to Sandown, Teddy asked James if he would forgo the races and escort the princess and her ladies.

Alix was enchanted with the gardens, and spent far more time outside by the river than she did inside the historic chambers of the palace.

James spirited Anne away from the others and they found a latticed bench beside a fountain in the knot garden, planted with herbs from the sixteenth century.

“It's rather gallant of you to give up Sandown races and act as escort to the princess.”

“Not really gallant. I'd far rather spend the day with you than the Prince of Wales.”

“I suspect that Alix is of like mind.”

“Teddy has all of the vices of a prince and none of the virtues, I'm afraid.” He bent and picked a sprig of rosemary and tucked it behind her ear.

“Rosemary is for remembrance. . . . I remember every detail of every encounter we've ever had, Anne.”

Her eyes sparkled with mischief. “I wager you a kiss that you don't remember the first time we met.”

His dark brows drew together. “It wasn't at the Newmarket races?”

She shook her head. “It was at Windsor Castle, under the arcade of the Horseshoe Cloister. I was about twelve.”

His mind flew back in time and he suddenly remembered the red-gold curls, and the lovely green eyes flooded with tears.

“I'd been crying, and you said—”

James put his fingers to her lips to stop her words. His mouth curved. “You are as beautiful as a wild Irish rose.”

“You remembered!”

“You owe me a kiss.”

When his lips touched hers, she felt as if her heart would melt.

•   •   •

“The prince and his friends have been talking about the Newmarket races for weeks. The topic dominates every dinner conversation.” Princess Alexandra was vastly relieved that her husband had chosen to travel with his male companions, leaving her free to share her carriage with her ladies-in-waiting.

“The
sport of kings
has become an obsession with the English nobility. The important races dominate the entire Season,” Anne remarked.

“I can understand why gentlemen enjoy the races. Their horses compete against each other and the men indulge in high-stakes betting, but why does it appeal to ladies?”

“It's the fashionable thing to do, I suppose,” Frances declared. “It provides an opportunity to parade about in gorgeous clothes and congregate with wealthy, eligible men. Husband hunters will find far more men at the races than on the dance floor.”

“Well, I can understand the allure of the Royal Ascot—the racetrack adjoins Windsor's Great Park—but Newmarket requires an entire day of travel.”

Anne noticed that the princess had gone very pale. “Are you feeling ill, Alix?”

“I'm afraid the swaying coach makes me nauseous,” she confessed.

“We are close to Hertford, where the horses will be changed. We'll go into the coaching inn. Perhaps a drink will settle your stomach.”

When the carriage stopped, the three ladies went inside, and Anne asked for a private room. She ordered tea with lemon, but after a few sips, Princess Alexandra declared, “I'm going to be sick!”

Anne grabbed the china bowl from the washstand and held it before the princess, who clutched her stomach and began to retch. When it was over, Anne brought fresh water and a towel and cleansed Alix's face.

“It must have been what you had for breakfast,” Frances suggested.

Alix shook her head. “I haven't been able to face breakfast for a week. I . . . I think I may be having a baby.”

“Oh, that's wonderful news,” Anne declared.

“Yes, it makes me very happy, but I don't want anyone to know just yet. Will you help me keep my secret?” the princess pleaded.

“Of course we will,” Anne promised. “But I know your husband will be extremely proud, whenever you decide to tell him.”

“I don't mind Edward knowing. I don't want Queen Victoria to find out. You know what she's like. . . . She will take over our lives.”

“I understand completely. The tricky part will be keeping it from the other guests at Apethorpe Hall. But we'll manage,” Anne promised. “It will be a conspiracy of three.”

“I fully understand why you don't want to spend the summer attending one race after another,” Frances commiserated.

“Perhaps if you tell the prince, he won't expect you to accompany him.”

“That would be wonderful,” Alix said wistfully. “I daydream about spending my summer in a beautiful garden by the river, like the one at Hampton Court.”

•   •   •

“Where on earth have you been?” the Prince of Wales demanded when the carriage arrived at Apethorpe Hall. “Lady Westmorland ordered dinner for seven o'clock. We've been awaiting you for more than an hour!”

Anne stepped forward and gave Teddy a ravishing smile. “It was completely my fault, Your Highness. I was indisposed and Princess Alexandra insisted we stop until I was fully recovered. My sister Adelaide is such an accommodating hostess that late guests don't bother her in the least.”

Adelaide curtsied to the princess. “Welcome to Apethorpe Hall, Your Highness. This is such an honor for the earl and me.”

Princess Alexandra took her hand. “The honor is mine, my lady.”

Anne kissed her sister's cheek. “Adelaide, why don't you take the Prince of Wales and your other guests in to dinner? I'm sure the princess would like to freshen up and change her gown. There is no need to inconvenience the gentlemen longer. We can join you for a late supper.”

“Excellent suggestion,” Teddy agreed.

•   •   •

“Alix, I recommend a relaxing bath, while Frances and I unpack for you. I'll pick out something pretty for you to wear that shows off your flawless complexion.”

“Thank you, ladies. You are unfailingly kind to me.”

Two hours later, the princess and her ladies joined the other guests. Alix was gowned in shell pink, her delicate cheeks rouged artfully to disguise her pallor.

Among the other guests was Lord Hartington, heir to the powerful Duke of Devonshire. Though he was a steward of the Jockey Club and owned a stable of racehorses, he relied upon Henry Fane's expert advice. Both men had horses running tomorrow and the conversation—centering on such edifying subjects as racing colors, jockeys, odds, and the amount of the purses—was interrupted by the arrival of the princess.

When the gentlemen stood to greet the ladies, the princess waved her hand, “Oh, please, carry on as you were. I find the subject of horse racing endlessly fascinating.” Anne had advised her that all she had to do was relax in a comfortable chair, and pretend to listen with a rapt look on her face.

At eleven, when a footman announced the buffet supper, Hartington offered his arm to Lady Frances, who accepted gracefully, since the Duchess of Manchester was conspicuous by her absence.

James escorted Anne to the supper room. “I very much doubt if it was you who was indisposed. I suspect it was the princess.”

“How did you guess?”

He smiled down at her. “That's the sort of thing I do for the prince.”

“Yes,” she murmured. “I've learned all sorts of tricks from you.”