Alice had barely dared to touch Thomas all day for fear that Nancy and Owen might become wise to what they had done the night before. And yet, here this woman was, clearly smiling and batting her eyelashes at the lord, her smile more than a little friendly. She appeared quite affectionate.
At first, Thomas appeared far too tense to enter into too much of a conversation but as the mood in the room began to ease, Alice’s mother entering into conversation with Rachel’s aunt, Alice quickly became aware of Thomas lightening toward the newcomer at his side.
Though they spoke openly and even addressed things to Alice herself, she found she was answering automatically and could not have said what was spoken about afterwards. Her mind was fully focused on what a fool she had been. She had given herself to this man without even bothering to find out where things might be headed, or even where he might have been previously.
Now, the answer to that was written plainly before her. It had been given the visage of a beautiful brunette with a slender body and a graceful air, a bubbly manner that left everyone at the table laughing. She almost reminded Alice of Nancy, but the Viscount’s daughter quickly pushed the thought away.
She would not allow herself to associate her closest friend with this woman, this party-crasher. The woman had dropped in uninvited, during a storm. Alice could not help but feel as though there had to be more to the story than met the eye.
No answers came at the dinner and by the end of it, she felt so sick that she could think of nothing else but going to bed. Even as everybody else, Rachel and her aunt included, began to make their way into the parlour for another drink and some music, Alice wandered over to Nancy to make her excuses.
Meeting her in the hallway, she said, “Nancy, please forgive me but I fear it has been a long day and I find I am quite tired.”
A look of understanding and pity passed over Nancy’s face and Alice gritted her teeth, bracing herself for whatever her best friend was about to say. She was surprised when her only response was, “Of course. I understand.”
Though Alice was relieved not to have the matter dissected by her friend, she could not help but feel that for once she might actually have liked to talk it out with her. Yet she did not get the chance as she suddenly felt a hand on the small of her back.
“Lady Kendall, will you allow me a moment to speak with Miss Skeffington?”
His voice made Alice’s skin crawl, remembering how he had spoken to Rachel so often during dinner. Yet the moment that she turned to look at him, seeing Thomas’ face wiped away any disgust she’d felt. All she could think about was their night together and how good their day had been, how she wished nothing had spoiled it.
Alice offered her friend a pleading glance, begging her not to leave them alone together. Though she sensed the maids and footmen hanging about the edges of the hall, she did not like the thought of sharing a moment with him, fearful that she might get answers to the questions that had been reeling in her mind all throughout dinner, or worse, that she would not get any answers at all.
Nancy seemed not to notice. If she did, she chose to ignore it. Instead, smiling at Lord Warrington and offering him a curtsey, she said, “Of course, Lord Warrington. Though do not keep her too long as I fear we have tired Miss Skeffington out today.”
Lord Warrington dipped his head in acknowledgement before turning to place himself between Alice and Nancy, the latter already turning away in the direction of the parlour. Alice gritted her teeth and tensed her shoulders as she awaited whatever it was that the earl had to say.
“Are you well, Miss Skeffington?” he asked, glancing over Alice’s shoulder as if he thought someone might be listening. One glance out of the corner of her eye told her that the servants had their heads bowed, at least offering them a little privacy. A part of Alice wished they were glaring at them just so she could be sure she would resist the urge to reach out and touch the man standing before her.
Alice forced herself to nod and smile. “I am merely tired.”
“If you intend to go up to rest so early, perhaps you might join me later on?” Thomas suggested in a tone far too low for anyone but her to hear. At his invitation, Alice’s heart fluttered while her stomach simultaneously began to sink.
How dare you!she wanted to scream the words at him but knowing that it would bring far too much attention, she stepped away from him and offered a curtsey.
“Good night, Lord Warrington.”
Without awaiting his response, she turned and began to make her way up the staircase toward the guest wing. All the way, she sensed Lord Warrington’s gaze upon her back. She felt the urge to turn around and run right back to him, to throw herself into his arms and tell him that she would meet him in his rooms once all the other guests had retired. Yet her stubbornness and the eyes of the servants would not allow her.
I will not visit you tonight, Lord Warrington,she vowed silently to herself,Nor any other night. Never again.