Page 11 of The Earl’s Inconvenient Nemesis

Her dress made her look younger than her eighteen years and it was not as sophisticated or fashionable as those of the other women here. She was clearly a country mouse not used to the town. She did not quite fit in with the others. But there was something captivating about her: she was so sweet and unsullied by all the usual coming out politics. And it clearly was not just him who thought so, judging by how swiftly her dance card filled up.

But he was deluding himself. As innocent as she may look, Alice was here for exactly the same reasons as all the other women: to find herself a husband, ideally a wealthy and handsome one. She might not be natural in this world, but she was doing her best to fit in.

She seemed to know most of the steps to the dances, he acknowledged, but she was hesitant and stiff and her smile seemed forced. She did not appear to be making much conversation. Did she like any of the men she danced with? Was she hoping for attraction in her quest or merely a suitable bank balance?

Anthony hated seeing Alice - his Alice - out there, being ogled by all those undeserving eyes. Sized up to see if she would make a good broodmare.

He could tell she was nervous and it took everything in him not to remove her from her current partner’s arms, escort her to his carriage and have his driver take her back to Fairfax Hall where she belonged.

He was brooding, he knew, and it was impolite of him not to be dancing when there were ladies without partners, but all he could think about was Alice and how to get her out of that stranger’s arms and into his own, despite his own resolution.

Chapter Five

Alice checked the little clock on her dressing table and sighed. She had hoped for enough time for a lie down to recover after her gruelling morning at the modiste’s with her aunt. Unfortunately, this was not to be the case. She made do with splashing cool water on her face and pressing a damp cloth to her temples.

The appointment had been far more exhausting than she had anticipated. She had stood for what felt like hours while bolts of silk, muslin, and gauze were draped over her, poked, pinned, and discussed at length. Not that she was not grateful for her aunt’s help: Jane knew the latest fashions and was always impeccably dressed.

Aunt Jane’s generosity had been overwhelming; she had dismissed Alice’s hesitant offer to contribute her own small savings and had ordered a complete new wardrobe with the calm authority of a woman who knew exactly what the Ton demanded.

“It is an honour to be able to do this for you and my sister, God rest her soul,” Aunt Jane had declared, before pulling out yet another roll of fabric.

Thank goodness for her aunt, Alice thought to herself, especially after her experience the previous evening. Alice felt she had stuck out like a sore thumb among the elegant, confident debutantes. Her outdated gown, hesitant steps, and sun-browned skin had marked her as an outsider. If she was to succeed in her plan and secure a husband who could save her family, she must adapt, and quickly.

The ball was supposed to have been a gentle introduction for her, yet it had felt anything but and she had had to keep reminding herself that she was Alice Fairfax and she had every much a right to be there as the other far more glamorous attendees. She had spent the evening waiting for it to be over.

A soft knock sounded at the door. “Come in,” Alice called.

“Lady Marlowe asks if you will be ready to join her in the drawing room shortly, miss?” her maid, Beth explained.

“Thank you. Please help me change.”

A few minutes later, dressed in a fresh sprigged muslin morning gown, Alice descended the stairs with reluctant steps. She had little taste for morning calls, but they were a necessary evil of London life and yet another reason why Alice preferred living in the country where visitors were far less frequent and interactions more relaxed.

Despite her misgivings and her wish to be alone with her thoughts, she could not help but wonder if she would have any callers. None of the young men she had danced with had made much of an impression on her if she were to be honest, and she was pretty sure they felt the same way about her. She had been so nervous and worried about stepping on her partners’ toes, she had been almost silent for the evening.

Her heart leapt when she entered the drawing room to see a tall, broad-shouldered gentleman already stood conversing with Aunt Jane in the drawing room. For one foolish instant, Alice’s heart lifted, until he turned and she recognised the familiar blond head and piercing blue eyes.

“Ah, here is my niece,” said Aunt Jane.

Alice dropped a neat curtsy. “How kind of you to find time in your busy social life to join us, Lord Tonbridge,” she said, glaring at him.

“No trouble at all, Miss Fairfax,” Anthony replied, his gaze moving over her new gown with unmistakable appreciation.

“Lord Tonbridge informs me he is in town for the season and that he had agreed with your brother that he would remain in London as your chaperone for as long as he is able. I imagine with all the excitement of my niece’s arrival in town she omitted to tell me this,” Lady Jane said, a smile twitching on the corners of her mouth. She was well aware of Alice and Anthony’s frequent bickering. As everyone who knew the Fairfax family was.

Alice scowled at Anthony as he replied, “Most understandable, but I am here to formally offer my services now.”

“Thank you, Lord Tonbridge. They are much appreciated. I know how active my niece likes to be, and it will be nice for her to have a companion to walk and ride with. My own daughters are all sadly too far away to join us.”

“It will be my absolute pleasure,” Anthony responded.

Alice felt her cheeks warm. “It is very good of you to visit, but I am sure you will need to be getting back to your own house,” she said, hoping to be rid of him before any callers arrived, or worse, before he saw that she did not have any callers. She would never live down that particular mortification. Wait until he told her sisters… “You must have so much to do with ….” What did he do in London other than drink, gamble and flirt? “Seeing to your horses!” she finished.

“Seeing to his horses?” repeated Aunt Jane, bemused.

“Why, of course,” explained Alice, feeling herself getting more flustered by the second as Anthony’s eyes bored into hers. “Anthony has horses here in town and he will be wanting to ride them and…”

Lady Jane rescued her floundering niece, “How is your London house, Lord Tonbridge? I understand you have not been there very much recently.”