Judith had risen early one morning some days after the dinner party at her father's house. It had promised to be a beautiful, unusually mild winter day, and so she had decided on an impromptu morning walk to Beechen Cliff, having partaken of a quick and sustaining breakfast before setting out. She had ventured forth alone, as she had become rather partial to during her stay in Bath, and enjoyed the quietness and solitude of the early hour as well as the mild breeze that was her only companion.
Having paused to admire the view towards the town, she eventually turned to walk home when -
"Beg pardon, Miss!"
"Sorry, Miss!"
Judith had to almost jump aside so as to not be run over by two sturdy boys and their, by all accounts, irrepressible hound; its tongue lolling as it sped past her. If ever an animal could have been accused of being so reckless as to wink - this specimen must surely have borne the accusation, she reflected with a smile, as she looked after them.
"Dammit!"
Judith started. There was no mistaking the all too familiar voice.
„Miss Allington! Am I to infer that you intend to leave me to my fate?"
Judith, who had, having assured herself from a small distance that the gentleman seemed to be not very much the worse for his accident - her heart consequently beating in a more placid manner once again - indeed attempted to forgo the encounter, but had been sadly deterred by an unfortunately positioned - and rather noisy - branch; halted in her step. Sighing slightly, she stood still, her hands folded in front of her dress, the breeze attempting to induce the few curls that had escaped her bonnet to be even more frivolous in their behaviour.
"Good morning, Your Grace."
Aldworth, having freed his person of the evidence of some of the botany that so generously adorned Beechen Cliff, had risen once more, his face clouded in discontent in view of the earlier events. Judith was almost inclined to declare His Grace to be in a temper - however, she bit her lip before any such observation should escape her.
His Grace did not seem to care for this civility.
"And if I had suffered such severe injuries so as to render me at death's door?"
"I feel certain that you should not have indulged yourself thus, sir", came the calm, albeit smiling, response.
"I am obliged to you, madam. Evidently, you have more faith in this disgraceful animal's deportment than it should deserve. Thank you -" The Duke restrained the aforementioned specimen's attempt at reconciliation by disengaging himself from the nose that had gently, if persistently, nudged his shoulder - "- I am not in the mood for your assurances of comradeship. You might have considered the same before you subjected my pride to your wilfulness."
The elegant black stallion pricked up his ears as if to suggest that he had been wholly blameless for the unhappy incident - dogs should not be permitted to roam the woods freely, and, more importantly, not in front of his own hooves. And as for children -
His Grace had repossessed himself of the reins - and, adjusting the saddle, addressed himself to Judith once more.
"Where is your maid?"
Judith sighed. Of course he would. And frankly, she did not care for it. And there would be no point in lingering, as it was. Therefore -
"At home, sir. Where I am myself expected." She curtseyed so as to take her leave. "Good morning."
She was not to get very far.
"I wish, Miss Allington -" The Duke had swung himself onto the saddle - "- that you will desist from always running away from me. I make every concession for your sensibilities, but you will, I hope, permit me the assumption that I am not an ogre!"
Judith hardly knew whether to laugh or take umbrage at the insinuation. As neither seemed advisable to her, she betook herself of another option. And one that had, moreover, caused her sleep to be rather fitful that one evening.
She raised an elegant brow.
"Forgive me for being impertinent, sir, but I seem to recall that it was not my own person who called an abrupt ending to our last meeting?"
There it was - the smile that was as disconcerting as it was rare in its appearance. Now it really would be the best for her to -
"It appears it behoves me to make amends." Then - "Well?"
Judith stared at the hand that was held out in invitation, or rather - provocation. Oh, but he was being ridiculous!
"Certainly not!"
A flicker of the smile still glimmered in the dark eyes.
"Afraid?"
Judith sighed. Very well.
"No. But I wish you will not provoke me. You know I could not - even if I should wish to."
"Of course", His Grace replied soberly. Then, his voice a shade lower - "Should you wish it?"
Judith determinedly shook her head.
"No! It is, of course, very kind of you to ask -" Her eyes twinkled responsively - "- but I hope I am not so insensible."
The Duke appeared mildly affronted.
"When I consider, Miss Allington that it is I who should consider himself inconvenienced, I resent that remark!"
She could not but laugh at the misgiving tone.
"Please do not be absurd! I meant not offence. I merely strove to phrase it so as to spare you - oh!" Judith broke off, her shoulders shaking helplessly.
The dark brows lifted once more.
"Thank you - I need not hear more! I apprehend, Miss Allington -", His Grace continued in a voice of strained forbearance, "- that I may consider myself fortunate so as to have been spared your worst. Almost it induces me to agree that you may, upon consideration, have been justified in your position."
Judith shook her head once more, her eyes still smiling.
"Pray, sir - what has that to do with anything?"
The Duke paused, his eyes scrutinising Judith for a moment. Then -
"Everything." A parting nod - and he was gone
Judith was left to the reflection that there was safety in solitude during one's morning walks - and to find solace in the knowledge that the blush was slowly retreating from her cheeks.
"Well. Here you are at last. I see I was mistaken in my fear. But then - I did not think you could be a late riser." The old lady seemed to consider such a habit as no very desirable part of one's character. "As it is - with all your coming and going, I am inclined to believe I need not have taken the trouble to offer you Auguste´s considerably more refined culinary skills." She helped herself to a French pastry. "I do not even wish to contemplate what the may have fed you at that establishment!"
The resident dogs appeared to agree with this severe assumption; wagging their tails in support.
The Duke, having just come in from his ride, lifted his brows.
"Have I not shown myself a most exemplary guest?"
Her Grace clutched at her tea cup with sudden vehemence.
"Thank goodness you desire no entertainment! Of all the senseless endeavours in my time I found it most irritating to be obliged to conjure up countless numbers of dubious amusements so as to entertain those who would not have the decency to take themselves away after a day or two." The Dowager's cheeks had adopted an unusually bright hue at the memory of her toils. "Cards! Silly games! Theatrical performances! Picnics in the hothouse on unspeakably rainy days!" The old lady eventually took a sustaining sip. Then, in a calmer, if rather resolute voice - "Whenever you do get married, Aldworth, you will, I trust, make certain that your bride has no affinity for society."
"I hope she should be content with mine", His Grace offered almost meditatively.
The Duchess narrowed her eyes at her provoking grandson.
"Then I should advise you to behave. Guest indeed! Now -" She ignored the smiling lift of an eyebrow. "One of your brothers presented himself. No, do not ask me which - I can never remember names." This did not seem to unsettle her - she betook herself of another pastry; seemingly oblivious to the hopeful alertness of the two elegant greyhounds. "It was the younger, I believe."
The Duke did not appear to be shaken by the information.
"Where is he now?"
"He left, of course!" The Dowager smiled in what could only be described as great satisfaction. "Or did you think he would relish the task of exchanging chit-chat with what he must consider a harridan beyond her last prayers?"
"I should hope not." The Duke rose from his chair. "No doubt you encouraged him in his position."
The Dowager merely waved one frail hand.
"What do I want with a young sprig fresh from school? I already have you - and find the circumstance tiresome enough. And since you appear to be running off again -" She continued in accusing accents - "- Selina wishes you to strive to remember to present yourself at the ball next Tuesday. I am inclined to think that she should also wish you to consider the replacement of your valet -" Her Grace shook her head at the slightly dishevelled state of her grandson - "- but I suppose the one in your possession will scold you roundly enough for your negligence."
"You may console yourself with the knowledge that his preferences are most precise."
On that assurance, Aldworth left the room once more, the two greyhounds hard at his heels.
"Cecilia! Not the lilac! Must I tell you again that it does not suit your colouring? Annabelle - the white will do very well for you. We might have to have it adorned suitably, but the fabric seems to be of sufficient quality."
"Your ladyship will not find a more exquisite silk in all of Bath."
Madame Celeste, the proprietor of the elegant shop in Milsom Street, had been in her profession long enough as to enable her to state this with tolerable composure. Lady Clifton, if one of her more demanding and irritable patronesses, was also one who had no patience with such information as a dress being priced at a small fortune - and as such must earn her patience, if not quite her respect.
That the Marchioness's daughters should be furnished with a new wardrobe and their court dresses in Town was not something to induce Madame to give herself away to an air of dejection. There was no fear that her ladyship should become infrequent in her visits to her establishment due to the young ladies´ presentation at Court - too attached was she to the newest fashions to not indulge herself whenever it should strike her fancy; and the distance from Bath to Clifton Court was, moreover, of a much lesser proportion than the one to the capital.
And true to that assumption - Lady Clifton had descended upon Madame Celeste's establishment within days of her arrival at the fashionable resort.
"Mama - do you think our brother will come to the ball?"
Lady Cecilia, having possessed herself of a charming bonnet with a green satin ribbon, admired her reflection in one of the mirrors.
"Everad will be away on business, my dear. I am happy to think your brother is not one of those flippant young men who can think of nothing but their own amusements."
Her ladyship smiled at that motherly reflection, adjusting her hat.
"I meant Aidan, of course!" Cecilia wrinkled her pretty nose. "Why should we care what Everad does? He never thinks about us."
The fond mother was quick to repress such notions.
"Everad, my dear Cecilia, has all our interests at heart. Quite contrary to your half-brother. Now -"
"But mama -"
Her daughter's persistence left her ladyship decidedly irritated.
"Am I to send you back to the carriage, Cecilia?"
Lady Annabelle strove to come to her sister's assistance, even if she stood a little in awe of her mother.
"Mama, I am sure Cecilia did not mean to say -" She almost shrank under the penetrating gaze. "Aidan -"
Her ladyship's forbearance had reached its limits.
"I do not wish to hear his name spoken again today." She took one last look at her own reflection and then turned to the attendant maid, depositing the confection that had earned her approval into the young hands. "Your half-brother has proved himself to be of an entirely disobliging nature. He cares nothing for your happiness. Have you made your choice, Annabelle?"
Lady Clifton's tone left nothing open to misinterpretation - and both her daughters meekly obeyed the thinly veiled command.
"Rupert! What are you doing here?"
The young man thus addressed, a good-looking boy of seventeen years, had the misfortune to happen upon his parent and sisters as they were leaving the noble establishment. As such, there would have been nothing extraordinary in his presence in Bath - his mother had herself informed him by written word that it was to be considered indispensable - however, he had not quite appeared on his own - but with a rather daring arrangement of flowers in his left hand, which could not escape their combined notice.
Her ladyship furrowed her brow in mild consternation.
"I cannot very well take them with me now, as you see. The carriage is to be quite cramped with boxes and parcels." The fond mother almost rolled her eyes. "Really, I wish you would have put yourself in mind of our outing - they shall be quite withered when we get home!"
An apologetic smile on his boyish face, Lord Rupert Ware ventured to inform his parent that whilst he should be happy to furnish her with a handsome bouquet of her choosing at any time she wished to name, the present ensemble was meant for another.
"Whom can you be buying flowers for, Rupert?"
Lady Cecilia's cheeks dimpled in sisterly curiosity.
Rupert had the grace to blush, but made a quick attempt at recovery.
"They are for Aldworth!" Instantly realising his mistake, his cheeks turned even redder. "I - that is -"
"What your engaging sibling wishes to convey to you is that he has remembered his manners and means to present himself at the Dowager Duchess of Aldworth´s feet with this exemplary offering", came a cool, faintly amused voice from behind the afflicted young man.
Rupert turned on his heels and found himself confronted with his half-brother. A welcoming smile lit up his face - an occurrence that induced the Duke to lift his brows in mild apprehension. Rupert shook his head with a silent laugh and turned to address his mother.
"Yes, it was that. I mean - it is only polite. I meant to pay her a visit."
Lady Clifton, ignoring the appearance of her first-born with undisguised precision, favoured her youngest with an indulgent smile.
"Very handsome of you, my love, but I should hardly think it necessary. She is no relation of ours." Her ladyship took her place in the carriage. "Do make certain to return in time for dinner."
With not as much as a nod at the Duke, she signalled the driver her readiness to depart.
The young lord let out a sigh of relief.
"If you must seek refuge in ludicrousness, Rupert", the voice at his ear was somewhat strained, "- try to strive for a little presence of mind."
Rupert shook his head with a laugh.
"Aidan, I was never so glad to see you in my life! I fear Cecy would have interrogated me all day. And you know how she is." He rolled his eyes in brotherly affliction.
"Thankfully, I can claim little experience in the matter. And the next time you perceive the very great need to avail yourself of my illustrious name, I hope it shall be in connection with decidedly more taste." His Grace let his disdainful eye wander over the enormous bouquet. "What, in God's name, is that abomination?"
Rupert's spirits sank.
"Oh, do you not think it suitable?"
Aldworth raised a brow as he surveyed the full glory of the grotesqueness before him.
"That, my dear boy, largely depends on the purpose."
A slow smile appeared on his young lordship's face.
"Well, I wished to see you because -"
Rupert permitted himself a speaking, unmistakable, prolonged sigh.
"You have my sympathy."
His lordship, if a little shocked at the unfeeling response to his nonverbal communication, was not so easily deterred. He took possession of the lapel of the Duke's dark coat, and seemed disinclined to abandon his grip, quite oblivious to the fact that this ruthless approach might not necessarily endear his person to his formidable elder brother.
"Aidan! She is a goddess!"
The Duke calmly extracted himself from the fervent hold.
"You may console yourself with the knowledge that it never remains a permanent state."
Rupert accepted this dispassionate view with tolerable composure, his hand darting back to aforementioned piece of apparel, as if his life depended on the connection.
"Yes, but you see - I am in love!"
The Duke, his pained gaze resting at the offending hand, knew when it behoved him to act with circumspection. He sighed.
"And I am to infer that your firm intention is for me to be apprised of all the details."
His lordship was somewhat ruffled.
"Well, whom else am I to tell about it? Everad? And the girls read too many novels as it is. I would never hear the end of it! Do credit me with a little more sense," he added almost a little affronted, in an afterthought.
"I stand defeated. Very well." His Grace disengaged his person from the fervent hold once more. "Come and see me at Holbrooke tomorrow. And Rupert -", he added in ominous accents, as his brother ventured to set off down the street - "- if you must plague my senses with a botanical offer, do strive to restrict it in its proportions."
Rupert, looking back over his shoulder, cocked an eyebrow at the Duke.
"An orchid?"
Aldworth looked down at his sibling from atop his impatient stallion.
"Rupert."
The younger man smiled impishly.
"Yes, Your Grace?"
"Go back to bed."
"You are quite certain, sir?"
"Of indulging myself in evasion? Most certainly."
James Allington smiled at his sire.
"There will be cards, sir."
"Do not remind me." Sir John shook his head in a gesture of deeply felt relief as he proceeded to withdraw to his study. He paused at the door. "By the by, Judith - you may wish to keep an eye on your brother."
His daughter, having fastened the top button of her coat, looked up at Sir John with a questioning smile.
"I am told there will be regimentals."
Judith, fully aware of the implication, firmly bit her lip.
James Allington, however, did not appear to be much affected by the information. He waved it aside with unshaken confidence.
"They shall not dissuade me."
"Yes." Sir John heaved a sigh. "That is what I fear. Now be off with you!"
"And your father?"
"My father sends his apologies, madam. He was detained at home."
"Ah, dear Sir John! Always so mindful of his duty."
James Allington was all that was respectful deference; his posture perfectly straight, his tone suitably grave as he replied -
"Indeed, ma´am."
The Countess appeared to be appeased. She let her gaze travel across the room - until it halted on a small group. She frowned. Then -
"Yes. Well, I dare say we shall see him another time. Meanwhile - I hope you shall make up for his absence with respective gallantry."
James, shooting a quelling look at his somewhat afflicted sister from the corner of his eye, protested at the notion. He was far from being gallant, he feared, but naturally must consider her ladyship's opinion all that was gratifying.
"Pray do not put Mr Allington on a pedestal, mama! He may find it insupportable in us to expect such greatness of him." Lady Harriet, offering a friendly smile to Judith, briefly inclined her head towards the gentleman as she joined their group.
"I hardly know what we shall do - other than accost those young men present", the Countess reflected with something akin to determination in her voice. "Mr Allington - I shall count on you. In your case, my dear -" She patted Judith´s arm in a confident gesture - "- I know I shall have no cause to be worried."
Judith assured their hostess that she felt no apprehension in that regard - she hoped the evening should provide her some moments of respite.
"Very prettily said, my dear - but I hope to see you dance! Well, Mr Allington?" She raised a speaking eyebrow.
James was prompt to comply with his orders.
"Certainly, madam!" With great flourish, he turned and bowed to the daughter. "If Lady Harriet will do me the honour?"
Her ladyship gave the appearance of one resigned to her fate. "Thank you, I should be delighted."
James held out his arm -
"Then shall we?"
Lady Harriet accepted it with great composure, resolutely refusing, however, to favour the gentleman with a smile on her countenance as they proceeded onto the dance floor. It would not do to spoil him even more.
"It would appear that I must consider myself fortunate."
Judith, having watched her brother and his partner disappear between the forming lines in silent amusement, did not give into the temptation to jump at the low voice at her side. She had not yet met him that evening - and had banished all thought of insubordination on the part of her fickle resoluteness to the furthest part of her mind. It was to be expected after all, that he should be present.
A questioning look and -
"My Aunt."
She followed the direction of the nod - and could not but smile. Her ladyship quite evidently had not stopped in her recruitment.
"I hardly think my brother resents his fate, sir."
"He will."
Judith looked up at the Duke, a small crease on her forehead.
"I do not think I understand you."
Aldworth held her gaze for a brief moment. Then -
"Do you not?"
She was determined not to be unsettled by him. Directing her own gaze towards the dancing couples once more, she replied in a calm voice -
"Not at all, sir. But then, it has always been my understanding that it is the motive for a ball." Her tone had adopted a prosaic hue. "But I dare say I may have been misled in my conviction."
"Whatever your faults may be, Miss Allington - a lack of common sense is not among them."
Judith refused to be provoked.
"No doubt I should consider myself grateful for the assurance."
"You should -", His Grace replied coolly. "I never offer empty compliments."
She resisted the urge to respond in kind. There was no use in persisting in an argument. Therefore -
"I beg you will -"
"Aidan! I have been looking for you for an age! Must you always hide yourself?"
The young man that had appeared at the scene gave the impression of one greatly tried in his patience.
The Duke heaved a pained sigh, his brows lifting as he addressed himself to Judith.
"Miss Allington - little though it affords me gratification, I must beg leave to present my youngest sibling; Lord Rupert Ware. No doubt he will be able to offer you an explanation for his uncompromising descend upon us."
Rupert, if a little late, mindful of his manners, turned towards the unknown lady at this - a word of apology on his lips and -
"Oh!"
He stood still, his eyes wide as they rested on Miss Allington´s face. A slow smile lit up his youthful countenance. Then he executed a deep bow, muttering his apologies at his unforgiving conduct, his adoring gaze fixed on Judith.
Judith could not but be amused at the boyish demeanour. With a friendly smile, she held out her hand to him.
"How do you do? I hope I did not detain your brother from important business?"
Rupert eventually extracted himself from his daze. "It is of no consequence now", he assured her quickly.
"But of course", came a low murmur from the general direction of the Duke.
Rupert smiled impishly at his elder brother.
"Well, but you told me so!"
His Grace appeared to be little gratified by this communication.
"I must strive to remember never to show myself accommodating again." The dark brows lifted in mild enquiry. "Where are your sisters?"
"I hardly know." A dark cloud suddenly passed Lord Rupert's face. "Dancing with some buck or other, I suppose. They mean to do so all evening!"
"Rupert."
The Duke's voice was a little strained.
"Yes?"
"Take my advice and join them."
The boyish face lit up again.
"Can I - ?"
"No."
"Oh." Rupert accepted his dismissal with great composure, favouring Judith - who, though puzzled at first, had listened to the exchange in growing amusement - with an apologetic smile and a most respectful bow.
"Excuse me, madam."
A last lingering look - and he took himself off.
"My compliments, madam. It pains me a little that the evident solution should have so blatantly escaped my notice, but I must find consolation in the result."
Judith, the smile still on her lips, looked up at this quizzical statement, a frown in her eyes.
The Duke regarded her pensively for a moment. Then -
"You relieved me of a great burden."
Still puzzled, Judith sighed. Must he speak in riddles -
"I cannot image how I might have accomplished that, sir."
"No?" There was a hint of a smile in the well-bred voice. Before Judith could respond to the provocation - "My enterprising sibling, Miss Allington - if a little disorientated in other matters - has done his utmost to live up to a time-honoured schooling tradition. He has, er, formed an attachment."
Comprehension dawned on Judith, the frown giving way to a smile. She shook her head.
"Please do not be absurd!"
Aldworth smiled at her vehemence.
"Do you think so little of your own charms?"
She chose to ignore this.
"I hope your brother's feelings are reciprocated?"
"No -", the Duke reflected coolly, "- I dare say we may be fortunate in that respect."
Judith was inexplicably vexed by this unfeeling reply. But what had she been thinking - it should not have surprised her. Her own experience should have taught her to be wary.
"Then I am very sorry for him."
"Your compassion is entirely misplaced, Miss Allington. You had much better pity me."
The undeterred proposal almost induced Judith to smile, however reluctant she was to give in to the temptation.
"I see no reason for pitying you, sir. It is not your heart that deserves sympathy."
"You are mistaken."
Her eyes flew to the Duke's face in surprise - only to find that he had taken his leave.
She had no time to ponder their strange conversation, as her brother came across the room, a gentleman in his tow.
"Judith! Look whom I have found!"
"Oh Aidan! Is this not the most wonderful ball you have ever been to?"
Lady Cecilia, her cheeks flushed in pleasure, her eyes sparkling in the candlelight, had sought out her eldest brother. The novelty of her first public, proper, grand ball - even if only in Bath, though truth be told, she was well aware that it behoved her to be grateful to that resort for its role as a geographical host - had not yet worn off. The chandeliers! The beautiful gowns! The flowers! Did not he think that a red coat was far superior to anything else in the candlelight?
His Grace was strangely subdued in his enthusiasm.
"Of course - I wish we were able to stand up now, but mama would not permit us." She frowned. "Why are you not dancing? Should I ask one of our friends if they will partner you?"
"If you do not wish to be beaten, Cecilia, you will do well to restrain your generosity."
A gurgle of laughter escaped the unperturbed young lady.
"But how can you not wish to dance? And a waltz! It must be so invigorating!" She cast an envious look towards the twirling couples. "Oh, look, Aidan! Is she not beautiful?"
His Grace, his gaze flickering to where a delicately gloved hand had taken possession of his arm, resigned himself to his fate.
"I must trouble you for more precision. Which lady am I to subject to my reluctant observation?"
Please with her brother´s submission, she tightened her hold on his arm until -
"There! Oh, I wish my hair was not red! I could never wear such a lovely colour." Her envious gaze followed the pale pink vision. "The gentleman is quite handsome, too. And a soldier!" She permitted herself a dreamy sigh. "Do you think they might be in love? I think they must be!" A sudden crease appeared on her forehead as she looked up at her brother. "Why do you frown? Do you know the lady?" Then a thought occurred to her. "Lady Mary?"
"What?"
Cecilia almost jumped at the sudden vehemence. Well, but she had only asked. And Everad had said -
"I thought that - Everad said you -" She puckered her brow in confusion.
"I should advise you not to rely on Everad´s confidences." Upon her stricken look, the Duke flicked her cheek in a careless gesture. "Do not frown - it will only encourage wrinkles."
Cecilia's eyes widened at the suggestion.
"Aidan! I am not so very old!"
His Grace lifted a smiling brow.
"Go and torment one of the unfortunate youths."
Consternation giving way to a bubble of laughter, Lady Cecilia promptly followed her brother´s suggestion.
"Miss Allington - I must tell you that I find you considerably improved!"
She laughed.
"I promise you I have long outgrown my partiality for getting myself into a scrape, sir."
"You relieve me. I own myself still shaken at the discovery of that exemplary toad in my soup." The gentleman shook his head in a mournful gesture. "It has never been the same again to me."
Judith raised a speaking brow.
"I recall, sir, that your partiality for the dish had not been very marked on the outset."
"True." He smiled. "But you provided me with an excellent excuse for my resistance. Will you be remaining in Bath until Christmas? Allington was rather stubbornly elusive on that point."
"That may be as we have not fixed our plans yet, sir."
"Ah, then you give me hope."
"Indeed!"
"Yes. I might, as yet, acquire an invitation to your family dinner - before my Aunt can entrap me in the scope of her grander schemes."
"I hope Mrs Warren is well?", Judith enquired with a twinkle.
The gentleman heaved a sigh.
"Tragically so."
Judith shook her head. He had not changed at all. Well, apart from his dress - and the red uniform certainly did not do him any disadvantage.
"Pray, sir, are all members of your profession so unfilial?"
"Why - I should hope so, madam!"
She could only laugh at his imperturbability.
"But I shall be very serious", the gentleman continued after a brief moment, "- when I tell you that you look very well this evening."
Judith smiled.
"Now I know you are not in earnest - I distinctly recall you telling me that I had the complexion of a boiled turkey."
The gentleman raised his brows in mock outrage.
"Never!"
"Well, it may have been a headless chicken, but I am quite certain it was poultry of some kind."
Her partner appeared to be shocked.
"Miss Allington - I give you leave to call me out!"
Judith smiled serenely as they took another turn across the room.
"Thank you, but I am not a morning person."
Captain Warren threw back his head and laughed.
"It is good to see you, Judith!"
Judith inclined her head in acknowledgement.
"Will you be staying long in the country?"
The Captain nodded.
"I have taken a prolonged leave of absence. The old man has ordered me back to his skirts, so, dutiful son that you find me, I have responded with adequate haste."
Judith smiled as he eventually led her from the floor, the dance having come to an end.
"I believe I heard my father mention that the General had been hopeful to see you at Michaelmas?"
"Precisely!" The gentleman inclined his head in confirmation. "I considered it a particular priority, as you see."
"Has this rattler been pestering you, Judith? One word -" James Allington had approached them from behind - "- and I will challenge him for you, red coat or not!"
Captain Warren held up an appeasing hand.
"Rest easy, Allington - I have already offered my estimable person to your sister; but she has refused me."
"What!"
The brother's eyes flashed, his cheek flushing.
"A duel, my dear James. Merely a duel!" The Captain patted his friend's shoulder in a subduing gesture. "And I promise you I should have deloped." He bowed to Judith. "Miss Allington - a pleasure! Allington - I shall see you tomorrow. Mind that you sleep off your agitation!"
"Well upon my word! His uniform seems to have gone into his head!" James Allington still found himself in a mild rage as his friend diminished among the throng of guests.
Judith, though slightly amused at her brother's uncharacteristically sour mood, was quick to attempt to unruffle the ruffled feathers.
"I assure you, I was quite safe with him." She smiled up at his still thunderous face. "What has happened to put you so out of temper? Were you not dancing with Lady Harriet?"
"I was. Or I did think I should be. But she refused to waltz with me."
"Did you not engage her in advance?"
A cloud passed the handsome face.
"Well - could I know that she should be spoken for for almost every damn set tonight?"
Judith eyed her brother in mild exasperation. There was only one approach to the matter.
"James - you are behaving like a ninny."
The calm assessment shook James Allington from his high ropes. He turned to his sister - an expostulation on his lips, when -
"Oh, be damned with you, Ju!" A reluctant smile was drawn from him as he ran his hand through his thick, fair mane. He sighed. "I believe I should make Lady Harriet my apologies."
He pressed Judith's hand and then walked away to seek out the object of his wrath.
Judith, shaking her head so as to clear her mind a little, made towards the refreshment table. She was not to be granted her wish for a glass of the cooling punch.
"Miss Allington! No, this will not do -" The Countess possessed herself of Judith's arm, putting an end to any aspirations she might have had, and let her speculative gaze wander across the room. Her voiced slightly raised, she called out to a tall, dark figure. "Aldworth! Oblige me and lead Miss Allington into the next set." Her ladyship, having arrested her nephew in his stride, ruthlessly presented the younger woman's elegantly gloved arm to the same.
"I beg your ladyship will not -"
Judith attempted to draw her hand away, a little flustered at the proceedings. That His Grace took no gratification in his prize was all that was apparent in the sudden tensing of his features.
"No need to be missish, my dear - if I were not convinced that his consequence should not intimidate you, I should not subject you to it. His, I dare say -" The Countess closed her fan with a snap, her eyes already fixed on another prospective victim, "- shall not suffer any serious injury. Now do enjoy yourselves!"
Judith hardly knew where to look as their hostess left their side. Raising her eyes was out of the question, lest she should be provoked into giving voice to the mixed - and not all of them quite charitable - emotions in her head. She could only shake her head by in a barely perceptible movement.
"Shall we?"
She was recalled to her surroundings by the curt voice at her side. Lifting her face to the Duke's - resisting the urge to flinch at the coldness in the dark eyes - she strove to rectify the situation.
"Please excuse me. There is no -"
A muscle at the corner of the Duke's mouth tensed.
"Do not be nonsensical."
She found that she had no choice but to let herself be led out onto the floor.
She was aware of the many pairs of inquisitive eyes.
Their insolence should not trouble her; it never had before, yet she could not help but feel her ire rise at the thinly veiled curiosity - and presumptuous speculation. How little they knew that they were past those inspired expectations. Almost it was comical. However, and quite in contrast to her usual management of the situation, she felt little inclined to tolerate its insufferableness. Would there never -
"May I suggest, Miss Allington, that you endeavour to at least give the appearance of being not displeased with your situation?"
The cool voice - and its reprimand - did nothing to appease her already ruffled temper. If she had shown herself not quite in charity perhaps - and she had been merely surprised at the uncompromising assault - her partner had shown himself to be possessed of no less misgiving. Nevertheless, politeness demanded some cooperation on her part. Well then -
"I might hope to expect the same courtesy, sir."
"I have never expressed a partiality for the entertainment."
Judith's eyes blazed at the Duke's tone.
"Then I can only wonder that you should have let yourself be tempted into participation!"
Aldworth briefly fixed his intense gaze on her. Then -
"There was no temptation."
There it was. She had known the truth, of course, and it should not surprise her - and yet, its cold specification had the instant power to deflect any further hope of - her temples began to throb painfully. She could only be grateful that she had had the presence of mind to see sense that morning. However much she might have had only herself to blame.
No. She would not indulge herself in self-pity. It was much better to concentrate on her anger. And fortunately, the dance had come to an end. She raised her eyes to his once more, her chin high.
"You need not think that my vanity may have presumed otherwise. I have not forgotten how little, in general, you hold my sex in esteem and dare say you will now see that I was thoroughly justified in my decision."
The Duke's face was set into an expressionless mask.
"No doubt it affords you great gratification."
"Certainly!" The aloof tone robbed Judith of her last composure. "You should have found little satisfaction in being bound to one of it merely because you were so heedless as to forget that she was precisely that." Her hand shook a little as she attempted to withdraw it from within its confinement. "I beg you will -" The words froze on her lips at the thunderous expression on the gentleman's face, the grip on her arm briefly tightening. Then it became set again, the voice that addressed her decidedly cool.
"Little though you may credit it, madam - I am not in the habit of proposing to every beautiful girl that I kiss."
A curt bow, her arm released - and the Duke was gone.
"Leave it."
"Very good, Your Grace."
A little pained, though quite respectful in his suffering, Johnson, casting one last glance at the discarded object, made to leave the dressing room.
He had heroically borne the unscrupulous treatment of the fine specimen, not flinching when it had been tossed onto the floor; but that he should not be permitted to retrieve and thereby save it from even worse injury suggested to the valet that it might, in hindsight, not be wisest to try oneself in audacity at that present moment. If he permitted himself the assumption - and Johnson was generally studiously impartial to such frivolity - he should state that His Grace was in a fine temper.
It was not that his noble employer had favoured him with definite proof for this momentary presumption - and he was immensely obliged to the same for not subjecting his reluctant person to - he shuddered inwardly at the reflection - a scene. Not that he had reason to assume that His Grace indulged himself in such decidedly female inconsistency; he had, however, learned enough from his sister-in-law, an erstwhile lady's maid, to abhor the mere notion of the pastime.
No, His Grace, he reflected quite proudly, was much more subtle - and precise - in his discontent. Nevertheless, if it were rooted in womenfolk, one tedious way or the other, the Lord knew where it might take them. He permitted himself the indulgent hope that it might be far from that disreputable fashionable resort. The removal to My Lady Deverell´s seat had been an improvement, but one never knew with His Grace.
As it was, Johnson felt himself stubbornly secure in the knowledge that the uncharacteristic crease on his employer's forehead had been the happy result of one or other of His Grace's altogether uncompromising siblings escapades.
And they - and he stood firm in his resolution - should at least never be permitted to come between himself and his art.
Unbuttoning his shirt sleeves, Aldworth walked over to a desk, a glass and decanter having been laid out on the same.
He picked up a missive, on which the seal had been broken; the lines in a confident female hand.
The Countess of Stockmere begs the honour of His Grace of Aldworth´s presence at a soirée in honour of her daughter Lady Mary Trevellyan on December -
His fist closed on the elegant sheet of paper; the aristocratic face set.
"Well, Judith? Am I to infer that your brother is still abed?"
Judith looked up from her plate, at which she had been picking rather listlessly, at her father's entrance.
She had spent a restless night. Not even burying her head under her comfortable pillow had resulted in dispensing with the memory of the clearly visible anger in his face at their parting. Oh, they had had their disagreements before - but never, not even that one morning, had she so clearly understood that there was much more to that aloof, aristocratic, outward façade he had cultivated so efficiently.
And then, their arguments had usually resulted from prolonged debates. Much as she had come to respect his opinion and appreciate his well-informed mind, it had not automatically induced her to agree with all of his views, and thus, during that summer, she had often found herself constrained to favour His Grace with her own understanding of a specific matter or other. And, when engaging in debate with him, she had found herself quite liberated from the constraints her position in a world dominated by the male species had forced upon her. Amidst her family and closest friends, the luxury of frankness and showing oneself possessed of a mind of one´s own had always been available to her; but certain rules governed the world, and it was, to a certain extent, advisable to not take up arms against them on the whole.
That His Grace had taken equal pleasure in her calm, if decided profession of what she considered to be of validation, and her resolute disagreement with one or other of his outrageous philosophies, had occurred to her - and before long, they had formed such a good understanding of each other that it had felt only natural to regard him as not only her brother's friend - but her own as well.
She had, for all his consequence, felt totally at ease in his company - until she had become more consciously aware of how much she had come to look forward to seeing him and how her heart had started to beat a little more wildly when she happened to meet him during a walk. Judith was no fool and whilst her experience in that field had been of limited proportions, she recognised it for what is was - or was endeavouring to be. She had striven to distance herself a little, not wishing to join the ranks of those who had suffered a severe disappointment in that direction - and she had known there to have been many a more hopeful candidate to have fallen into that exclusive category.
His Grace had not appeared to notice any change in her manner, or so she had surmised at the time. Indeed, and the reflection had put a small smile on her troubled face that night - he had remained all that was his autocratic, challenging, sometimes infuriatingly cool self - and she had fallen in love with him.
"Good morning, papa."
"Well, so much the better for us, I dare say. I really have no idea where he may have that strange affinity for pastries from. Your mother was not at all partial to them." Sir John helped himself to a generously proportioned exemplary and began to butter it with dedication. He took a slow, savouring bite. "Let us hope he keeps to his bed a little longer. Now -" He paused, his brows knitting. It was only one of his children who had a strong predilection for brooding at his breakfast table - and it was generally not the one sitting before him, stirring her cup listlessly, fatigue clearly written over her lovely face.
"Should I have Alice turn up the covers again?", he enquired conversationally, over a jar of marmalade.
Judith quickly shook her head, straightening in her chair.
"Thank you. I am not tired, sir."
"Ah." Sir John's brows lifted. "You must forgive my uncharitable assumptions then. Perhaps I am so used to seeing your brother's suffering countenance at my table that I begin to jump to conclusions."
"I must protest, sir!", came a jovial new voice from the door. "I never indulge myself in suffering."
Sir John greeted his son with a mild scowl.
"Then I beg you will not add to mine. What, no muffins?" He was not one to mince his words. That his heir should not only present himself at such an, by his reputation, unholy hour - and dressed for going out, too - raised his suspicion.
James bowed.
"No, I thank you - you may indulge yourself at your leisure." He turned to his sister, one brow raised in smiling provocation. "Or you may congratulate my sister. She has returned hope to the bosoms of many a doting mama by her performance of last evening."
On that suggestion, Mr Allington took himself out of the room - much to the gratification of Judith, who found that she should find it too strenuous a task to reach for one of the aforementioned items to respond in an adequate, if perhaps a little vehement, manner.
"But why must you be off? I thought we might ride out!"
Lord Rupert, having met his formidable elder brother in front of a bookshop in Broad Street, was strongly at odds with his fate. He had promised himself, if perhaps not a ride in his curricle, the opportunity to try his seat on one of his brother's famous chestnuts - only to learn that His Grace was leaving for Town.
The Duke, who had been adjusting his gloves, looked up and cast his apprehensive eye at the hopeful young gentleman.
"I find your penchant for my society rather alarming. Why did you presume I should be gratified by this ominous notion?"
Rupert smiled impishly.
"Well, may I drive with you then?"
The dark brows lifted.
"My dear boy, I really should not dare. Henry has very tender sensibilities."
The tiger merely grunted in response, continuing in his duties.
"I did not mean to - Aidan!" Lord Rupert shook his head with a laugh. "I meant for you to drive me!"
"Yes, that is what I feared." A flicker of a smile passed the noble features at the subsequent outraged expression before him. "I see I must make amends. Very well. Henry -", Aldworth addressed himself to the disgruntled gentleman who had been seening to the fine animals, and now looked up in thinly veiled apprehension - "- you will swallow your pride and other cherished possessions and assure that my enterprising sibling is returned to his parental doorstep not very much the worse for the wear. Come back when you have disposed of him."
"Yes, guv´nor", came the gruff response. "Mind you don't unsettle them ´orses, m´lord!", the highly stung gentleman advised his lordship as he jumped onto his seat.
"Oh, I am quite handy with the whip, you know", Rupert informed the tiger in soothing accents, his eyes shining at the prospect of being permitted to handle the beautiful pair.
Henry eyed his lordship disparagingly from head to toe and then turned his head away, his arms crossed before him; muttering something that sounded strangely akin to audacity and degradation under his ill-disguised breath.
Judith had stepped out in the street, briefly closing her eyes at the sun that had by then intensified in its strength. It was difficult to imagine that one found oneself in what should be considered winter with such mild temperatures before - or around - one. But then, with the recent icy cold, a brief respite came as a welcome relief.
Opening her eyes again - she halted in her step.
She had no wish to meet him so soon after their ill-fated encounter, but hiding was impossible, lest she should make a fool of herself by seeking refuge within the jeweller´s premises once more, which would be entirely silly. She was a grown woman, after all.
She therefore remained at her current position, in wait for her companion; hoping that his line of vision should not fall towards her person. Her own fell upon a trunk that had been positioned behind the seat. He was leaving?
"Judith, I must tell you -"
She saw the Duke's head turn at the sound of her companion's voice, his brows registering surprise - before narrowing in cold formality as his eyes rested on her person.
"Do you know that gentleman?"
The Captain frowned in observation of the curt bow he had witnessed.
"Oh. Yes. A friend of my brother's", Judith added, after a brief pause.
"Quite high in the instep, if you ask me." Captain Warren held out his arm, a smile on his lips. "Well, shall we go on? I have been commissioned by my niece to present myself with the prettiest doll to be found in Bath."
Judith took the offered arm, relinquishing a small, elegantly wrapped parcel into his care.
"An evening party! What am I to do with an evening party?"
The Dowager had worked herself up into a mild rage. It was her understanding - or rather, expectation - that she should be spared such blatant attacks on her time and patience by the sheer protection of her advanced years, and yet, there were those who refused to abide by this time-honoured rule.
"Well, if I must go - my grandson shall do his duty by me. It will teach him not to be so erratic in his appearance."
"But dearest Duchess - your grandson, I mean, His Grace -", the tiny lady on the darker shade of forty ventured forth timidly, "- he left for London this morning."
"He did, did he?" The elder woman drummed her frail fingers on the writing table. "I hope for his sake it was not to chase after the skirts of that girl! I should be obliged to conjure the energy to rewrite my will if he showed himself possessed of so little common sense." Miss Heeley confidently suggested that His Grace should never comport himself with less than the utmost decorum.
An almost proud, albeit thin, smile appeared on the Dowager's lined face.
"Then you do not know the boy at all."
"Indeed, my dear Mrs Ludlow, you can have no notion of the trials one faces - but I do not wish to complain. My dear girls´ happiness is compensation enough for me."
"Did you not bring them tonight?", her hostess enquired warmly in the face of such motherly devotion. "I should have loved to meet them again - Lady Cecilia especially seemed to be all that was promising when I had the pleasure of seeing her last."
"Both my girls have been given only the best of instructions and had only the most capable of masters to teach them." The Marchioness stood high on her maternal pedestal. "I have always considered it of the greatest importance to pay their upbringing every attention. And yet -" A soft sigh escaped her ladyship - "- not the most exemplary staff can replace the infinite care and attention of a mother."
"Your son will be happy to hear it!"
Lady Clifton blanched momentarily at the brusque voice behind her, but quickly composed herself so as to be able to greet her former mother-in-law with all that was affected pleasure, an affectionate smile firmly stuck to her alabaster face.
"Oh, dearest Mama-Duchess, I mean - Your Grace -" Her ladyship leaned in to kiss a wrinkled cheek. "How you still like to joke me!"
"You should recall well enough that I never extort myself where I must not." The Dowager subjected her former relative to her piercing eye. "Well, I see you have not quite lost all your bloom yet. But with two grown daughters, it can only be a matter of time. Heeley -" The old lady markedly turned on her heels - "- attend me to the drawing room!"
Her ladyship was left forced to fix the smile to her face with a little more determination.
"And have you been able to enjoy the company of your son?"
"Everad?" The Marchioness lifted her brows in mild surprise. "Oh no, he has no time to be idle. He had to leave for Town almost the moment we arrived at Bath."
"He must be a great comfort to you." Her friend pressed her hand reassuringly. "But did you not know that Aldworth is in Bath? Of course you must - he should not reside at the same resort as his mother without paying his respects."
A dark cloud of no smallish proportion appeared on her ladyship's face.
"Pray do not remind me - I am quite out of charity with him." She applied her richly embroidered fan to its best advantage, her green eyes surveying her growing audience. As no further communication was forthcoming -
"It pains me to think unkindly of any of my children, but I must blame it on a deficiency in his upbringing. Had I been there to raise him, he should not have become so -", her ladyship permitted herself a speaking sigh, "- unfeeling!"
"Indeed!"
Lady Worthington seemed shocked at the information. Nevertheless, she knew when to offer encouragement.
"Dear Lady Clifton, I am convinced it can only be of momentary duration. While His Grace may, perhaps, appear a little aloof at times, I am sure he has many excellent qualities."
"Oh, I would not wish you think that I did not hold him in the tenderest regard! Aldworth is, after all, my first-born, but he has shown himself so uncompromisingly disobliging, so disinterested in the advancement of his dear siblings, that I cannot yet forgive his conduct." She pressed the gloved hand in return, her voice suitably constricted. "And what must he do but add to my anxieties by permitting Lord Rupert, my youngest son, to drive his infamous pair, with only his tiger to escort him! It gave me such a fright to learn that he had been so heedless with his brother's health. It only proves how little he holds his family in esteem!"
Judith could bear it no longer.
She could not but overhear these motherly confessions - and the strong suspicion that they had been voiced so as to enable those of a rather more curious disposition to satisfy their longings only appealed to her mounting anger on his behalf.
"Your ladyship must excuse me -", she interjected in her calm way "- but did not his lordship express a wish to betake himself of the opportunity?"
The Marchioness appeared little pleased with this intervention, turning her head ever so slightly.
"Well, yes, however -"
"Then I am convinced he must have considered himself honoured that his brother should show such faith in his skill." She rose from her seat. "Excuse me."
She had taken refuge at one of the tall windows, under the pretence of admiring the view offered onto the elegant architectural wonder that was the Royal Crescent; the sandy-coloured stone illuminated softly in the wake of the many lights that had been lit in its path.
Her mind was racing.
That his own mother should -
Judith resisted the urge to clench her fists. However justified she had felt herself in her anger towards him; however it pained her to think that - she could not bear the injustice of the offences laid at his door. She had never - not in her most foolish of notions - regarded him in any way of Perfection, as so many were quick to declare him - she was all too familiar with some of his more overbearing traits, but she knew him too well to, not even for a moment, believe him to be the cold, heartless being that one that should be closest to him so unashamedly - and openly - professed him to be.
Over the course of their acquaintance, when she had occasionally, through something he had said - or the reverse - been led to wonder as to the extent of his affiliations with his extended family, the suspicion had more than once occurred to her that whilst he might not feel a greater interest in their advancement as such, some of its members might have to thank him for more than she should have judged to be their due. She knew little of the family of the present Marquess of Clifton, other than his lady having been previously married to the present Duke of Aldworth´s father, and that the His Grace had, following his father's early demise, been raised by his ducal relations rather than in the care of his mother - a fact that she had witnessed her ladyship bemoan grievously, and rather unconvincingly, at least to her opinion, just then.
She had, at such moments, been loath to pry and so her curiosity had been left largely dissatisfied, but having seen him with his half-brother, who, by all appearances, had seemed largely untroubled by his consequence, and some remarks by her brother James, who, though it had seemed strangely improbable to her when she had first come to know him, had added the Duke to the ranks of those he should trust completely - and considered a firm friend - had led her to form a picture of the actual state of affairs that was rather closer to the truth than one would otherwise have been led to believe.
And he could be kind - when it suited him. An uncharitable addendum perhaps, but she would not put him onto a pedestal. Nevertheless, a man who had no patience for the general silliness of the world, who only considered his own comforts, should not ensure that his sister should be regularly presented with such trifles as a copy of the newest literary offer of a genre that should hold little interest to a person of his standing. It was not that he had apprised her of this himself - she had, by fortuitousness, his cousin to thank for that knowledge, having met the same in the circulating library some days before the ball, and their conversation having fallen to the works of Mrs Radcliffe.
Lady Harriet had expressed her envy at the good fortune of Lady Annabelle Ware, who, though through no support at the hands of her nearest family, found herself the regular recipient of an edition or other of what she could only describe as frivolous generosity (her ladyship's own brother had shown little inclination to accord his sister the same treatment).
Seeing that she had confused her friend, Lady Harriet had been quick to explain herself.
"Aldworth." She had rolled her mischievous eyes. "Almost I think he does it to spite his mother. But no - Annabelle is a sweet girl. However little she may have that lady to thank for it", she had added, a sudden severity in her voice at the reflection.
Dinner having been announced, Judith eventually felt herself composed enough to rejoin her father.
Making her way to his side, she became aware that she had been the subject of study at the hands, or rather - eyes, of another member of their party. She raised her own - and found herself appraised by a piercing, blue pair of the same in the face of an elderly woman. Smiling slightly in return - she could not recall an introduction - she found herself favoured with a thin smile - and an approving nod.
Then the lady turned away towards her companion, who had been in the process of putting a shawl over her frail shoulders.
Slightly puzzled, Judith proceeded to her father's side.
Judith stepped out of the library in Milsom Street, drawing her shawl a little tighter about her.
The weather had taken a more seasonal turn again - and Christmas was drawing closer. Her father had not yet brought up the matter of their return to their ancestral home in Wiltshire for the holidays, and Judith felt in no hurry to have that decision made for her. In truth, she felt little inclination to let the holiday spirit shake her from her occasional dejectedness - and the fact that it was rooted in her own folly only encouraged her in this unprecedented frame of mind.
Had he not come to Bath, it should have been much easier for her to forget. She was not one who usually indulged herself in despondency, and as it had been her own decision - which she still could not regret in so far that her reasoning for it had been just, if perhaps, in some less fastidious persons´ opinions, had they been apprised of it, not at all sensible - which had brought her current situation upon her, she had striven to trust to the time-honoured wisdom that was that it would come in time. She would be herself again, even if her fickle heart might be a little less reasonable in the proceedings for a while.
But to see him again, to talk to him, to laugh - even to argue with him -
In any case, he had left and there was no sign that he meant to return. She should be relieved by this circumstance, she told herself, but her heart and her mind seemed not to see eye to eye on that subject.
Deep in thought, she was roused by a thread of information she overheard in passing two matrons in front of Molland´s.
"- finally got their prize! I do not say that it is not a good match for him, she does not want for connections, after all - but Lady Stockmere must be aware of her excellent luck. Well -," one of the matrons continued with the air of one having known how it would be all the time, "- her daughter will make him an excellent wife, I have no doubt. And it must be a relief to his family, too - His Grace quite took his time. Miss Allington - good morning! Such a shocking freeze has descended upon us, has it not?"
Judith mumbled an affirmation in return and quickened her step, her frozen fingers wiping a single tear from her face as she hurried on.
"Will that be all, Your Grace?"
"Has Mrs Rempstone seen to the arrangements?"
The secretary bowed.
"Very well." The Duke rose from his desk. "Try to keep the well-wishers at bay."
"Well, he has done it."
Miss Heeley looked up from her embroidery, confusion clearly written over her normally serene face.
"Your Grace?"
"I suppose we must go. But first -", the elder woman applied her hand to the finishing of a note, "- have Branning see to this letter. Then I shall go into town."
"Town, my lady? But it is so very cold outside!"
The companion's voice bore a hint of entreat, her discomfort at the notion all that was evident.
"So much the better," The Dowager expressed with undisguised satisfaction. "They shall all be sitting at home, bemoaning the injustice of their fate."
Miss Heeley dropped her embroidery.
"But what can have happened?", she exclaimed in an attack of mild panic.
"Happened? Pray, what do you suppose may have happened?" The old lady appeared to be a little irritated as she searched for her reticule. "Ah. I knew I could not have -" Her piercing eye fell onto her companion's stricken face. "For God's sake, Amelia - must you read so many novels? Happen, indeed! They are sitting in front of a blazing fire, that is what they shall be doing - feeling all the disadvantage of not being able to venture abroad in pursuit of some gossip or other, for fear of freezing off their sensitive noses!" The Dowager discouraged one of the resident animals in its attempt at partaking of the remains of her repast by a withering glance, which prompted the unfortunate creature to retreat with its tail between its legs and curl up on a nearby sofa in deep misgiving. "And we, my dear Amelia, shall take advantage of that heaven-sent opportunity. I have no wish to be ogled at by every impertinent buck on the street!"
The unwavering Miss Heeley, her pulse slowly adopting a more sedate pace, ventured to kindly suggest that surely she should be paid the greatest deference.
"Yes, that is what I wish to avoid. Now - Branning!"
She was pleased to learn that at least one in her entourage was apt to not misinterpret her meaning, as the footman promptly appeared at the door.
"Ah, there you are! Branning - the carriage, we are going out!"
"Well, Ju? Why that dismal look? I see what it is -" James Allington lifted a speaking brow at his sibling. "You, my dear sister, are suffering from a broken heart!"
"I wish you will not be so nonsensical, James!"
Judith, who had been staring out of the window, had turned her face at her brother's entrance, her misgiving clearly written on her lovely countenance. And not least because there may have been a very small inkling of truth in his statement.
Mr Allington merely tapped his nose.
"Ah, but what else can have you in such a state of dejection? Do not tell me you have succumbed to the prevailing infliction, too. I really could not bear it!"
"James, if you will not be sensible, I shall leave the room."
She was in no mood for her brother's frivolity, having been forced to forgo her daily outing for five days then by the heavy fall of snow one night - and the subsequent even greater drop in temperatures, which made any expedition in such a place as Bath not advisable, if one should not wish to risk to embarrass oneself - and unsuspecting witnesses - by tumbling down the street in one's skirts.
He smiled.
"A serious threat. Very well - I take it you are restless, having been obliged to stay indoors all day?" At her small nod - "Then I shall try myself in the role of compassionate companion and will show myself so solicitous - and mind, I do not take these subjects lightly - or not at all, if I can help it -" The mischievous sparkle had returned to the blue eyes - "- as to enquire whether you have begun your packing. I know these things cannot be taken too seriously by your sex - and you will find me your most attentive audience if you should wish to acquaint me with all the glorious details with regards to the gown you think best for dinner the first evening at Aldworth, and which shall be the most practical when I take you driving in the park. Pray do not forget your shawl!"
"Aldworth!"
The shocked exclamation induced Mr Allington to subdue his cordiality.
"Why, yes - have you forgotten? We shall be leaving in little more than a fortnight, after all."
Judith shook her head.
"I have not -" She strove to regain her composure. "James, you must be jesting. Papa has not said anything to me - I had assumed we were to stay in Bath for Christmas!"
"Yes, and so we are." James furrowed his brow in mild confusion. Then -" Oh Christ, Judith, I am sorry! I thought I had told you - and so I informed our father. Aldworth invited us to spend the New Year at his ancestral seat. Did he not speak of it to you? I made sure to accept on our behalf at the Hartington ball, just as we arrived. Do not look at me like that -" He entreated his ashen-faced sister. "I promise you I shall help with all your packing! Even the petticoats!"
At another time, Judith would have felt induced to laugh at the sincere dismay on her outrageous siblings´ face, but her mind refused to process any further information. She could not possibly go to Aldworth. She must make her excuses.
"I must speak to my father."
She rose from her seat at the windowsill, and quit the room.
"Have Mary come to me. And then bring some tea."
The servant responded to his mistress's command with alacrity.
"Girls, I do not wish to be disturbed this afternoon. I have so many things to see to, my head is quite in a whirl." Her ladyship disengaged herself from the fashionable construction on her head, depositing it into an attending servant's hands. "Miss Reed shall attend to you - you will do well to practise your French before she will desert us next week."
"But we are sending her away, mama!"
"Cecilia - I have had enough of your impertinence. Miss Reed must feel herself fortunate to have been one of the family for such an extended period of time."
Whether that lady, fond as she was of her two charges, should agree with this assessment of her situation was left open to debate.
The two young ladies subsequently retired to the schoolroom, hoping that they should also benefit from the welcoming warmth that the aforementioned sustaining beverage should provide.
"Mama!"
Her ladyship deigned to look up from her reclining position on her elegant chaise longue. She held out her hand.
"Everad!"
"Will you inform that insufferable woman that I am not a visitor", exclaimed her favourite son hotly. "She had the impertinence to try and stop me from seeing you! Me! Does she not know who I am?"
"Did she? My dearest - I shall speak to Mary later, but you are quite right - she should know that I am never to busy to see you!"
On that smiling assurance, the young Earl, high on his dignity, pulled up a chair. His mother had by now adopted a more practical position, patting his hand fondly.
"Well, my dear, has your business been successful? I have no doubt it was - indeed, I do not know a mother so fortunate as myself in her eldest."
His lordship did not seem inclined to correct his parent´s momentary lapse in memory. Instead, he rose from his seat once more, and began to stalk around the boudoir with the air of one greatly tried by his fate, his circumstances - and the world in general.
Her ladyship was suitably alarmed.
"Dearest! Do, I beg you, stop to be in such a fidget. My head -" She brought a hand to one pale cheek. As her son showed no sign of desisting in his occupation - "Is anything the matter? Have you met with bad news?"
"Bad -" Lord Weston stopped in his stride, turning to face his parent, his agitation clearly written on his noble face. "Aldworth!", he exclaimed wrathfully - "I wish, mama, that you may tell him to keep his nose out of my affairs!"
Lady Clifton was now fully alert, her brows knitting.
"Aidan? My poor dear, whatever can he have done to you?"
Satisfied by this motherly interpolation, his lordship took to his seat again, one elegantly booted leg crossed over the other.
"It was not enough for him to accost me in Bath - you may imagine the consternation I felt on behalf of my companions, when he burst upon us," he waved a dismissive hand into the thin air,"- but it was nothing compared to his audacity to seek me out at the club and embarrass me in front of my peers! He frankly accused me, mama, of - of wasting his time! His time!" The thunderous look had returned to his face. "I say, he takes his high-handedness a trifle too far. For all his airs and graces, His Grace has the comportment of nothing but a brute!"
A hand flew to her ladyship's mouth, her face quite aghast at the notion that had sprung to her mind.
"He did not beat you!"
"What - no !", Lord Weston rolled his eyes as if to suggest the mere idea of him bearing such a treatment should not occur to one of his noble lineage. "As if I should have provided him with the opportunity. By all accounts, he may be quite handy with his left, but I fancy myself I need not fear his expertise. No, but he acted on his high horse - practically threatening to have me sent to the gallows if I should not heed his commands!"
The outraged mother was quick to soothe her son's agitated spirits.
"He should not dare! He should have me to contend with first. And your father!", she added, as if in an afterthought.
This somewhat appeased his lordship. Still, he felt all the injustice of his situation. He should not be constrained to endure such treatment at the hands of one so little connected with him. To assume that he should be intimidated! What was it to him that His Grace should have felt himself called upon to meddle with a situation that could not be of the smallest interest to him, seeing how little he held his family in esteem? He, the hope and heir of his House, should have easily extracted himself from the small, hardly necessary to be mentioned, muddle without His Grace's intervention. And furthermore, they were both gentlemen, after all. Of noble blood. Even if his adversary may have been in the military. Surely they should have deloped, and there would have been an end to the business. It was usually done, or so he had been told, and so he should have gone on tolerably well.
On that thought - another issue sprang to his much tried mind.
"Yes - and there is another thing!" Her ladyship, all apprehension, gripped the edge of her seat. "He wants - he practically ordered me to spend the New Year at Aldworth! Aldworth - of all places!"
His lordship appeared to consider this as the greatest trial he could be forced to endure in the course of his entire existence. He was therefore more than mildly astonished at the contemplative expression that had suddenly appeared on his parent's face.
"Mama! You cannot mean for me to accept!"
Lord Weston stared at his mother in utter disbelief. Why, she had always been the first to confirm him in the conviction that he was not meant to cater to His Grace's every whim - that it was rather his even nobler sibling who should strive to show a little more obligingness in his conduct towards his own person.
"It is Aldworth we are speaking of! You know how it should be - he should parade all his consequence before him!"
Still Lady Clifton did not answer her son. Then her brow unfurrowed, a smile directed itself at her afflicted son.
"Dearest, I do believe you should go." At his aghast expression - "Think of it - you should prove that you are his superior in both conduct and deportment, you shall have the company of those similar to you in sense, upbringing and education (thankfully, her ladyship had a very maternal view of her son's accomplishments in that field) - and poor Lady Mary! You shall be able to compensate her for the tediousness of her situation. I know you have always been very good friends with her."
Her son seemed struck by this new notion. After a moment's pause -
"Well, if you think that I should - " He rose and brushed some imaginary dust from his coat. "Mind, I shall not tolerate any impertinence from him!"
"Of course not, dearest." The Marchioness kissed his still heated cheek, entwining her arm with his. "And I think your father means to procure that pair for you after all. But I knew how it would be."
His thoughts strategically diverted towards happier expectations, mother and son proceeded into her ladyship's sitting room.
"Me? Well, if it will please you -" Her ladyship seemed doubtful as to that, even as the words left her lips.
"It will. Or should you wish to explain to our esteemed grandmother - and I have no doubt that she shall descend upon us with unprecedented timeliness - that not only had her host the impudence to abscond from his duty, but that he has shown himself so lost to all sense of propriety as to not enlist the services of a substitute - apprehensive though he may have been?"
Lady Harriet eyed her cousin in acute indignation.
"I do not relish the task in any way more than you do!"
"Thank you, I am reassured." The Duke mounted his stallion. "I expect to return by the evening. Try for a little charm!"
Her ladyship was left to reflect that she had been wise to, thus far, firmly adhere to her single state.
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