Page 60 of An Unlikely Debutante

Chapter Nineteen

The sky was overcast as they said their farewells to Georgina and Pentworthy, the brilliant sunshine of earlier in the day a distant memory.

‘There’s going to be a storm,’ Lina observed, looking at the sky with a knowing expression.

‘Probably just a little rain.’

‘There’s a storm building,’ Lina insisted. ‘Tonight or tomorrow. Feels like a big one.’

‘How can you tell that?’

She gave him a small smile, not her normal cheeky grin, but at least it was better than the emotionless facade she’d adopted for most of the afternoon. ‘You don’t spend twenty years sleeping under the stars and not develop a feel for the weather.’

When he thought about it he supposed it was a vital skill, knowing when it was safe to sleep outside and when it was prudent to find shelter somewhere.

As Alex helped Lina into their carriage, he felt the first heavy raindrop fall on his head and before he could climb up after her a few more splattered his jacket. With a quick glance at his coachman and groom, who sat huddled at the front of the carriage, he satisfied himself both men were suitably protected against the weather. It appeared it was only him oblivious to the impending storm.

‘Did you enjoy your day?’ he asked as he settled on the seat opposite Lina. It felt a lifetime since he’d been squeezed in next to her on the way to the races and although he would like nothing more than to sit with his arm draped casually around Lina’s shoulders again, her expression told him that was not a good idea.

‘Yes, thank you.’

‘I appreciated your company.’

They fell silent. It felt awkward, too stiff and formal, and Alex cursed himself once again for the foolish words he’d spoken earlier in the day. The excitement of the first race, with Dawnbreaker winning and Lina collecting her first racing winnings, had helped in knocking down the protective barrier Lina had raised between them, but that change in mood had been short-lived. For the rest of the afternoon she’d remained polite, replying to his enquiries with a word or two, but never initiating a conversation of her own. She seemed lost in her own mind, preoccupied, and Alex knew that could not be a good thing.

‘I was thinking of moving to my London house next week. Would this suit you?’ Alex asked, hating the way he felt unsure about his plans for the first time in many years.

Lina shrugged. ‘Whatever you think best.’

‘That way we will have a little while before the Wilcox ball and the final challenge of the wager.’ His heart sank a little at the prospect, but he continued, ‘I need to visit my tailor and you will need at least one new dress. It will also give us the opportunity to take in an opera and anything else you’d like to do whilst we’re in London.’

Another shrug, this time accompanied by a weak smile.

‘Perhaps a trip to Astley’s,’ Alex suggested.

‘Astley’s?’

‘Astley’s Amphitheatre. There is a circus there, mainly great feats of horsemanship, riding standing up, that sort of thing.’

‘Of course I’ve heard of Astley’s.’ Lina’s hushed voice belied the excitement on her face. ‘I’ve always wanted to go.’

He saw the flames of excitement in Lina’s eyes that she could not dampen no matter how hard she tried. For a moment, he pictured her trying to emulate the performers at Astley’s and shuddered as he realised it was exactly the sort of thing she would try to do.

‘Only if you promise never to try the tricks you see,’ he added quickly. The idea of Lina galloping through the countryside hanging upside down from the stirrups made his stomach churn with worry.

‘Will Aunt Lucy accompany us to London?’ Lina asked after a few minutes of silence.

‘No, her leg will heal better if she stays at Whitemore House—a long carriage journey wouldn’t be practical or comfortable. I will ask Georgina to reside with us when we arrive in London, I’m sure she will be amenable.’

‘I wouldn’t want to inconvenience her.’

For a moment Alex felt a surge of hope, wondering if Lina was suggesting she would prefer to stay with him alone, but one look at her subdued visage and the hope dwindled and died.

Deciding to sit back and stop trying to force the conversation, Alex closed his eyes. Things would seem better in the morning. Hopefully Lina would have time to work through whatever it was that was concerning her and tomorrow they could return to their normal, easy relationship.

Outside, the rain was pounding on the carriage now and whenever they travelled over an exposed stretch of road, the carriage rocked from side to side as it was buffeted by the wind. The trees groaned and rustled, their branches creaking. It was a foul night to be out and Alex spared a thought for the coachman and groom braving the elements to hurry them home.

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