Page 94 of Regency Whispers: Scandalous Matches

As they sat his leg brushed hers, and she glanced up at him. For a moment it seemed like they were the only two people in the room; everyone else had faded into the background. Then Cecil cleared his throat, and Alice was pulled right back to reality, sandwiched between the man who could ruin her future and the man she desperately wished she did not have to spend a lifetime tied to.

For one heady moment she wondered if Lord Westcroft had decided to come and rescue her, to declare himself in love after their one evening spent together. Then she looked at his serious expression and knew that wasn’t the case.

‘Miss James and I met through the course of some of her charitable works,’ Lord Westcroft said smoothly. Alice nodded a little too eagerly at the lie and had to tell herself to calm down. Her mother would think it suspicious she had not mentioned meeting a man of his status, although she was hardly going to contradict the earl to his face.

Alice had told Lord Westcroft the evening before of her scheme to pair some of the wealthier families in the village with some of the poorer ones, to provide support over the harsher winters, little parcels of firewood or baskets of food. By joining families one on one, she hoped the wealthier ones would start to feel a little responsibility to their less fortunate counterparts. It would make it harder to distance themselves from the tribulations and struggles of the people they could help.

‘I am very keen to get involved with your endeavours, Miss James. I wondered if you might be able to spare me some time to discuss things this morning.’

Alice searched his face, trying to work out what had prompted this visit, but his expression was impassive, a bland smile that was meant to alleviate the concerns of the other people in the room.

‘Miss James and I were planning on going for a walk over the dunes,’ Cecil said, leaning forward to insert himself into the conversation. ‘I understand Miss James’s friend is going to make herself available to chaperon.’

‘Excellent,’ Lord Westcroft said. ‘I apologise, Mr Billington, for interrupting your plans like this, but I will not forget your generosity in giving up your time with Miss James for me.’

Cecil opened his mouth and closed it again a few times. It was clear he had meant to accompany Lord Westcroft and Alice on the walk, inserting himself into whatever business they were about to discuss, but Lord Westcroft had quickly outmanoeuvred him.

‘Perhaps we should go now, Miss James. I have an appointment this afternoon I wish to keep.’

‘Lydia is planning on meeting you?’ Mrs James said quickly. Lord Westcroft might be an earl, but the rules of polite society still applied. Even though no one would ever think he could be interested in the likes of Alice, they still had to safeguard her reputation.

‘Yes, Mama. She is going to meet us on the beach in twenty minutes.’

‘Wonderful,’ Lord Westcroft said, rising to his feet. ‘It was a pleasure to meet you, Mrs James, and you, Mr Billington.’ He bowed to the older woman and shook Cecil’s outstretched hand, surreptitiously wiping his hand on his jacket after doing so. Then before anyone could think of any objections, he offered Alice his arm, and quickly they left the room together.

‘Let me get my bonnet,’ Alice said, running upstairs to fetch it and tie it securely under her chin. It was a glorious day out, but the wind was strong, whipping off the sea with a ferocity that was not common for this time of year. Her skin was so pale it only took a few minutes in the sunlight to turn pink and then burn, but with the wind it was even worse, and she didn’t doubt she would have red cheeks later despite her precautions.

They left the house quickly, and Alice was pleased to find they were, so far, unobserved. Her home was on the outskirts of Bamburgh village, at the bottom past the castle that stood proud on the rocky hill. It meant the beach was in easy reach, and they would not have to walk along the high street to get there.

For a few minutes they walked in silence, both looking around all the time to see if they were being watched. Only when they got to the edge of the dunes did Alice feel herself relax.

Waiting as she had promised was Lydia, her eyes alight with intrigue and excitement. As she saw Alice approach on Lord Westcroft’s arm she frowned, standing a little straighter.

‘This cannot be vile Cecil,’ Lydia said quietly as they approached, clapping her hands over her mouth as soon as the words were out in a bid to claw them back in. Her eyes narrowed, and she shook her head. ‘I recognise you.’ Five seconds passed and then ten, and then realisation dawned on her.

‘Lydia, please,’ Alice said quickly. ‘Do not make a fuss.’

‘This is Lord Westcroft, Earl of Northumberland,’ she said, jabbing a finger in his direction. ‘The most eligible bachelor in all of England. Last seen at Lady Salisbury’s ball last night with a mystery woman in blue.’ Lydia turned to her. ‘I saw you dancing with him. Although, I didn’t know who he was at the time. You’re the mystery woman people are talking about.’

Alice felt her heart sink. She had hoped Lord Westcroft was here for some other reason, but deep down she supposed she had known that it was as a consequence of their actions the night before.

‘Everyone is saying he was spotted kissing some unknown guest at Lady Salisbury’s ball in the gardens.’

Lord Westcroft groaned.

‘We were seen?’ Alice asked, turning to him.

‘It would appear so. I understand gossip and speculation is rampaging through the county.’

Alice felt the world around her tilt, and she clutched a little tighter at Lord Westcroft’s arm.

‘That is why I thought it imperative to come this morning.’

‘Do people know it was me?’

‘Not yet,’ Lord Westcroft said, stopping and waiting until Alice looked up at him, ‘but I think it is inevitable.’

Chapter Five