That shattered the stillness between them, for Lord Foster immediately began to protest, but Alice ignored his concerns. She was not about to permit him to refuse her.
“Lord Montague is not a man to be trifled with, as you have said yourself, I cannot permit you to be in danger.”
“He has all the more reason to behave a little more carefully if a woman is present,” she reminded him. “Please. I must hear Lord Montague’s defense for what he has done. Thetonshall have to know of what takes place, and I can only speak of what I have seen.” Lord Foster shook his head. “Please.” Putting her free hand over their joined ones, she looked earnestly into his face. “We have been together all through this, have we not? Let us be together until the very end of the matter. I am not afraid, despite the danger. I must be there in support of you. Not only because I care for you, but also because I am angry about what this gentleman has done to you. Allow me to stand to one side - behind the door if it is required - but please, Lord Foster. Allow me to be present.”
Lord Foster searched her eyes, dropped his head, and then let out a small sigh.
“I believe you could ask me anything and I would not refuse you, Miss Lawrence.”
His eyes caught hers again, and Alice’s heart beat with a wild hope.
“Then you will allow me to be there when you speak to Lord Montague?”
“Yes, I shall. I could not do anything but oblige you, despite my misgivings. You shall remain silent, however, and out of sight. Those are my requirements. I do not wish you to draw attention to yourself for your safety.” His smile was tight. “I cannot say what Lord Montague will do.”
There was no reason for her to refuse his request.
“Of course, my Lord, but I cannot state that I will remain entirely silent for, if Lord Montague should think of stepping forward to engage you in anything… physical, then I would find myself eager to do what I could.”
It seemed that Lord Foster was not about to permit her to eventhinkof doing such a thing, however. He shook his head firmly, moving even closer still so that there was barely an inch between them.
“You must do nothing of the sort. If there is to be any altercation, then I must beg of you to stay far from it, for that is the only way that I can protect you. Besides which, I shall have Lord Wiltsham with me also.” His fingers threaded through hers. “I could not live if you were to come to harm. Promise me, my dear, that you will not come near Lord Montague, no matter what he does or what he says.”
Alice wanted to refuse, wanted to tell him that she could not stay away should the worst happen, but at the same time, she saw the desperation in his eyes.
“No matter what happens, I will not reveal myself to Montague,” she promised, her voice soft.
“Do you swear it?”
His face was so close to her that his breath was catching her lips, almost drawing her to him. Her eyes flickered closed as she took in a shaking breath. Had they not been very much hidden by one of the large pillars in Almack’s and by the shadows of the room, she might well have reconsidered her nearness to him, but as it stood, she could not help but stay close to him.
“I swear it.”
There was the briefest touch of his lips against her own. Alice caught her breath, desperate for him to linger, desperate for him to pull her into his arms so that she could be his, body and soul, but emptiness appeared where he had been. The warmth of his body was gone, his breath only a distant memory. Opening her eyes, Alice found herself quite alone, her eyes fixed on the retreating back of Lord Foster.
* * *
“You remember your promise.”
“I do.” Alice gripped her reticule tightly with both hands. “And I have every intention of keeping it.”
Lord Foster smiled, but it did not bring even the slightest spark to his eyes.
“Thank you. That is a relief to me. Lord Montague is expecting a gentleman by the name of Lord Peters, a gentleman he is well acquainted with. Of course, it is not Lord Peters who will be attending him, but myself and Lord Wiltsham. There will be no opportunity for him to escape our presence.” Taking a deep breath, Lord Foster turned to face her, instead of looking towards the door. Lightning bolts were in his eyes; he was somewhere between anger and fervent hope. “I must go in. The door will be ajar. You may listen to everything that is said, but I beg of you, my dear Alice,pleasestay out of sight. It is for your safety that I say such a thing with such fervency.”
Alice could only nod. Her heart was already beating furiously, and she was suddenly afraid of what would happen to the man she had come to care so much about. Lord Montague might not just take away Lord Foster’s fortunes this time, he might take away his life. The fleeting kiss they had shared flashed through her memory, and before she knew what she was doing, Alice found herself standing on tiptoe, her mouth pressed to Lord Foster’s. It was a desperate, beautiful, overwhelming moment, for in that kiss there was all the hope for her future and all the fear of what could happen next.
Lord Foster’s mouth was soft beneath hers. His arms went around her waist, and he held her close, not pulling her tight against him, but the gentle embrace seemed to take all of her fear and tug it away from her so that he might carry it himself. When he broke the embrace, his thumb ran across her cheek, and he smiled down into her eyes.
“You have given me this, Alice. You have given meallof this. Whether or not I am successful, I shall be forever grateful for what we now share. In a strange way, I do not think it would have taken place had I not lost everything in this manner. I think you can tell that I find myself bound to you. Our marriage, whether in poverty or in wealth, will be a happy one, I am sure.”
Alice tried to find something to say. Her lips parted, but no words came out. The next moment he was gone, leaving her standing there alone as tears pricked in the corners of her eyes. Blinking furiously, not wanting a single one to drop to her cheeks, she whispered aloud to herself.
“All will be well. I must believe that all will be well.”
* * *
It did not take longfor the conversation between Lord Montague, Lord Foster, and Lord Wiltsham to begin. Alice remained hidden behind the door. It was half closed but left ajar so that she might hear what was being said. Lord Foster had arranged this meeting, pretending to be an acquaintance of Lord Montague’s, and begging him for a private audience in one of the smaller rooms at Almack’s. Lord Montague had not appeared to take much convincing, evidently believing that this was, in fact, his old friend. Of the large, broad-shouldered man, Alice could not yet see or hear anything. Perhaps, if they were lucky, he would not make an appearance. She only hoped that would be the case.