Page 56 of The Earl’s Inconvenient Nemesis

Alice gave him a little smile. None of her plans had come to fruition and she had managed to get herself in a far worse state by attempting to take matters into her own hands rather than just trusting her brother and staying to support him. But then, if she had not come to London she never would have had the opportunity to know Anthony better. Or to meet Sarah and Charlie. Never gone riding with Anthony in Hyde Park. Never known what it was like to waltz with him. Or to kiss him. And all those memories were so incredibly precious to her.

Would she really be better off not having experienced any of that, even if thinking about it now brought her so much pain?

Chapter Twenty-Three

As they came to a stop in front of Aunt Jane’s townhouse, a groom Alice recognised from Anthony’s stables came forward to help her dismount from Rosalind and, presumably, return the mare to his master’s care.

“Thank you for coming to see me,” Alice said to her brother. “It was good to talk things out.”

“That was not quite all I needed to speak with you about,” Henry replied, swinging down from his own horse. “I am not entirely sure what has passed between you and Anthony . . . ”

“Nothing has passed,” Alice said quickly.

Henry rolled his eyes. “Whatever it is, I have a message from him: he is giving you Rosalind. He sent you a note.” He reached into his pocket and handed her an envelope bearing Anthony’s familiar seal.

Alice opened it and gasped as she read the brief lines, She was always meant to be yours. A.

“He says she is happiest when ridden by you,” Henry explained.

“That is extremely generous of him,” Alice murmured, “but I could not possibly accept.”

Henry shrugged. “If you have an issue with his gift, you will have to tell him yourself. I am not acting as go-between, especially when neither of you will explain what you are quarrelling about.”

“We are not quarrelling,” Alice insisted.

“Then you will have no difficulty either thanking him or returning Rosalind to him. He is in London again, so it should be easy enough for you to do one or the other.”

Alice shot him a glare.

“He says she may remain in his London stables for as long as you wish, or be sent to our own stables at home.”

“I would like her to stay in London while I am here,” Alice said quietly, thinking what a comfort the mare would be. Of course she must accept her.

Henry nodded. “I shall arrange for her to be brought to Kent when you come back. While you are in London, simply send a message when you wish to ride, and Anthony’s grooms will bring her to you or escort you to her. Aunt Jane and I will discuss a suitable companion for your rides.”

“Thank you,” Alice said. “Could you please pass on my thanks to Anthony?”

“I think you ought to do that yourself,” Henry replied firmly. “A horse of Rosalind’s quality is an exceedingly generous gift and, as I have already said, I am not carrying any more messages between you two.”

Alice nodded. He was right. She would write to Anthony.

Alice dismounted and gave Rosalind a final pat before handing the reins to the waiting groomsman.

“I shall see you very soon,” Henry said gently, his frustration apparently faded. “And remember, you are welcome to come home whenever you are ready.”

Alice managed a small smile and went inside, her head full of Anthony and why he would make such a generous gesture after the way things had ended between them in the gardens. Did he feel guilty? He certainly should. He had followed her outside, deliberately sent Sir Marcus in the wrong direction, and placed her in a most improper situation. Yet she had kissed him back with equal passion . . . Great, now her mind was filled once more with memories of his hands on her, his lips claiming hers. Would she ever be able to banish him from her thoughts?

The following day, Alice sat in her bedchamber with ‘Mansfield Park’ open on her lap. Her mind, however, was occupied entirely with Anthony and the thank-you note she had yet to write. Rosalind was such an enormous and thoughtful gift, what words could possibly do it justice? Was this his way of apologising for what had happened in the gardens? Probably a short, formal note would be best . . . nothing beyond gratitude for the horse. It would mark a polite end to their friendship, she supposed, though they were bound to encounter one another again in the future. Something Alice was definitely not thinking about.

A knock sounded at the door.

“Come in!” she called.

One of Aunt Jane’s maids entered. “Your aunt and a gentleman are waiting for you in the drawing room, miss.”

“Oh,” Alice said, immediately flustered. Her thoughts flew first to Anthony, but she quickly dismissed the idea. The servants all knew him and would have said if the gentleman was him. It was outside the usual hours for morning calls, so it must be someone Aunt Jane was well acquainted with.

“Please tell my aunt that I will join them shortly. And then send Beth to help me tidy myself.”