Chapter 19
Having had a wonderful day in the company of her closest friend, and her husband, and with Thomas at her side, Alice could not have been happier to find herself being escorted into dinner by the handsome gentleman.
A part of her had expected for things to be awkward after the night they had spent together and yet it appeared that she could not have been more wrong. Alice had never felt so at ease as when she placed her hand upon Thomas’ forearm and allowed him to walk her into the dining room.
He pulled back her chair for her and swept it in behind her knees as she sat, dropping swiftly down into the chair beside her. His eyes and smile were focused on her, perhaps for longer than was appropriate, and Alice was not surprised when Nancy spoke up from the other side of the table, “I am surprised at how well the two of you have gotten on today.”
The first course was brought out as she spoke, yet it was not touched until Alice answered, “It would not have done for us to spend all day grumpy due to the weather now, would it?”
A veiled snort from Thomas suggested his amusement at the mischievous response. Nancy’s own good nature prevailed, and her only response was a smile. It was clear from the glint in her eye that she was almost certain something had occurred between the two of them.
I doubt she would ever guess just how much has happened between us,Alice thought, sure that Nancy believed her closest friend to be the sweetest, most innocent woman she knew. It was the way for most close friends to believe, or at least they would never admit to the contrary.
Before Nancy could question them further, Alice turned to her mother who was sitting between Nancy and Mr Tulk, opposite her. “Mama, how was your day? I regret that I have neglected you somewhat.”
“Oh, do not be concerned over me,” Lady Skeffington responded with a firm shake of her head, “Mr Gouldsmith and I had a lovely morning in the library, and I fear it quite exhausted me as I slept for most of the afternoon.”
Alice was relieved to hear it. She did not like the idea of causing her mother any discomfort, especially while she had been having such a good time with Lord Warrington. Her relief was short-lived when the butler disappeared at the sound of the doorbell being rung.
Everyone at the table looked quite shocked at the idea of anyone coming to the door while the rain was still hammering down outside. It had not let up all day. There had been a moment during the afternoon when it had eased off slightly and the sun appeared to be trying to break through the clouds, but it had lasted only a half-hour before the torrent continued.
The sense that something might be wrong quickly spread about the table. The butler returned momentarily, and Alice and Thomas shared a quick glance of concern as the old man lowered himself between Lord and Lady Kendall to whisper something into their ears. The way the two of them glanced in Thomas’ direction left Alice feeling rather uneasy. She heard his sharp intake of breath as Nancy cleared her throat and excused herself from the table.
“What do you believe that is all about?” Alice heard Mr Gouldsmith mumble, and a part of Alice wanted to snap at him that it was absolutely none of his business. Though she could not be sure that the disruption had anything to do with Thomas, she could not help but feel defensive of him. Instead, she kept his mouth firmly shut, only opening it to eat as Nancy had insisted that they all continue without her.
The dining room, which had been well lit with candles and the fireplace at the far end, suddenly seemed much darker the moment Nancy passed by the archway that led into the hallway. The problem was that she was not alone. As soon as the dripping wet guest stepped into view behind Nancy, Thomas jumped to his feet.
The shock and the second sharp intake of breath that sounded from him only confused Alice. She peered at the newcomer, trying to recognise them, but all she saw was a tall and slender young woman with her brown hair and her gown plastered to her flesh by the rain.
That was until Thomas exclaimed, “Rachel! Whatever are you doing here?”
There was a friendliness to his tone mixed with a little hostility and Alice felt the tension descending upon the room so heavy that it began to weigh her down.Rachel? Rachel?She wracked her brain, trying to remember where she had heard the name before.
“Lord Warrington, I am so glad to see you,” Rachel announced through chattering teeth, turning to look through the archway, and Nancy gripped hold of the woman’s back, urging her down the dining room toward the fireplace.
“Come and sit. Warm yourself beside the fire while you talk,” Nancy insisted. Alice was not sure why, but she held her breath.
“I…I was travelling nearly when my carriage got stuck in the mud,” Rachel explained. She appeared undaunted by the entire party who were watching her. Not only were they watching her, but they were also watching Thomas. Alice knew not why but she also could have sworn they were watching her also.
Who is this woman?Alice wondered, trying to imagine where she might have seen her before. There was something familiar about her though Alice could not quite put her finger on it.
“I…I knew that you would be here and, as Kendall Hall was so close, I walked from the carriage in the hopes that I might throw myself upon Lord and Lady Kendall’s mercy and request to stay the night,” Rachel told them all though she kept her gaze firmly on Thomas. Alice did not like the way she looked at him, her eyes glinting with affection even as her jaw trembled with cold.
“I have already instructed the butler to have a room set up for you and your aunt,” Nancy announced, and Alice’s stomach clenched. For whatever reason, she did not like the idea of being under the same roof as this woman, not with the way that Thomas was gazing at her. “Come, I will show you there now so that you can dry and change.”
Alice could not feel any relief at her friend removing the woman as she heard her also add, “Once you are freshened up, you and your aunt can join us at the table.”
The only thing that appeared to be holding Thomas up was Rachel’s presence and the moment that she was gone from the room, he dropped back down into his seat. His gaze continued to stare after the two women long after they had disappeared, and Alice felt an odd sensation clawing in her stomach.
It was not in the least bit pleasant, and bile began to rise in the back of her throat, making her feel as though she would not be able to eat another bite if she tried. She would have liked to have excused herself from the table right then but the only thing that stopped her was the thought of leaving Thomas and Rachel alone together.
It did not matter that they would be surrounded by other people. Alice needed to see them both for herself, she needed to know the truth, especially when Thomas did not immediately look at her and explain what had just occurred.
At least tell me how you know the woman!Alice thought, wishing that the man sitting beside her, the man she had thought she had been getting to know, would merely put her mind at ease. She was certain that he could feel the deep-rooted tension building up inside her. His own shoulders were lifted so high that they were almost touching his ears and he looked most uncomfortable.
Things did not get any better when Nancy and her new guests returned to the table. Alice was most alarmed to realise that rather than sitting further down the table, the two new women joined the rest of the guests at the head. With several of the previous party already having left, there were plenty of seats available and yet, as Alice had feared, Rachel chose to seat herself directly beside Thomas. The earl looked most uncomfortable to find himself stuck between the two of them.
“Oh, Lord Warrington, I am most relieved to find you still here,” Rachel said almost as soon as she had been seated, a plate of food placed before her. Yet she seemed uninterested in the food, instead placing a hand upon Thomas’ forearm. She did so with such an easy manner that Alice’s gut twisted with instinct. It was clear that the two of them were known to each other, and not merely acquaintances.