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‘Show him in, thank you, Martin.’ Lord Latimer usually entered every room with a certain swagger borne of an innate confidence as the son and heir of a dukedom and thousands of fertile English acres, but this time he appeared subdued. His gaze rested on Miss Fitzjames for a moment as he greeted both women and she was quick to gather her reticule and make her farewells. Angelica followed her to the hall where her maid was waiting. They hugged and she returned to meet Lord Latimer.
He took her hand and without saying a word they sat on the sofa together. Angelica was relieved that Mary had not been summoned by Martin to chaperone her as she wanted freedom to talk. ‘Miss Fitzjames has told me about your feelings and hers and I have assured her I am happy for you both.’ She was surprised at how formal her voice sounded.
He brought her hand to his lips. ‘Miss Leigh, my admiration and affection for you are undiminished. Thank you for settling her mind. But I’m afraid mine is troubled.’
‘How so, my lord?’
‘My love for you is not easily quelled. You excite my senses. I’ve never known anyone as beautiful. Or desirable. I don’t think I ever will.’ His head bowed over her hand again. Angelica had always been surprised by his frankness but was afraid now of what indiscretion he might utter next. ‘Miss Leigh, you will always be my first passion, like amaranth it will never fade.’
She placed her hand over his as he lifted his head and their eyes met, both pricking with tears. ‘That means a great deal to me, Lord Latimer. But I know you and Miss Fitzjames are so well-suited you will be happy, and make your family happy.’
‘You will always have a piece of my heart.’ He pressed her hand against his coat. ‘Dante thinks I’ve treated you as badly as Hamlet did Ophelia. But this was never my intention. While Miss Fitzjames and I were so concerned with your health, we grew closer. Then there came a moment when I realised I wanted to take care of her. I needed to take care of her. She seemed so vulnerable, like an orphaned bird in a storm in want of shelter and I could protect her.’
The salutary thought flashed into Angelica’s mind that perhaps her mother was right all along; to have a blithe spirit and to live confidently in the world made a young woman less attractive as a wife than the gothic heroine of fiction, frightened, fainting and grateful for Sir Galahad. She extricated her hand from Lord Latimer’s fervent grasp.
He looked at her with some of his old mischievous spirit. ‘Did your Cinderella flight from the ball have anything to do with the Countess of Bellingham I saw leaving your side looking triumphant? I knew that dreadful termagant had been up to some devilish dos.’
‘I’m afraid the devilment was entirely my father’s doing.’
‘So your battered face was not due to the Countess’ ministration.’ He chuckled.
‘No, more an altercation with the road.’
‘What with your father’s escape and this, you’ve had to deal with so much upset, I’m sorry. I hope you know you can call on me any time. I’ll do whatever you need me to do, Miss Leigh.’
‘That is a consolation. I am embarrassed by how often I have turned to your uncle for help. I have sworn I will not again.’
‘My dear Miss Leigh, please go on involving him in your troubles. He is so much more cheerful. Much more the man he used to be since you broke through his shell of propriety and restraint.’
Angelica looked at the young lord with startled eyes. ‘Lord Latimer! You are funning now. You cannot suggest the scandals besetting me and bothering him have made him happier?’
‘Well, something has. And I can assure you it’s not that mistress of discord, Lady Linus, always trying to batten him down with her philosophy of denial.’ He had stood up to take his farewell, serious again, his heart in his eyes. ‘Miss Leigh, never doubt my affection for you.’
Angelica saw his eyes darken and he took a step towards her. There was a tension between them and she knew he wanted to kiss her but as a gentleman he would not even presume to brush her cheek. Instead, she took his hand and brought their entwined hands to her lips then passed them back for him to kiss. ‘You are the best of friends. Thank you, Lord Latimer. You probably saved my life with your decisive action. And I wish you and Miss Fitzjames every happiness.’ She led the way into the hall where Martin was hovering.
He handed over his lordship’s coat and curly-brimmed hat and as the front door closed behind their guest, the theatrical butler grasped Angelica’s hand. He drew her away into the alcove under the curve of the stair. ‘Miss Angelica, there is so much chattering in the kitchens about last night!’ His kohl-rimmed eyes were round with apprehension and his words tumbled out. ‘Mary just returned with Robert and Miss Fitzjames and she was agog. The story in the servants’ hall is that you were attacked by the Countess of Bellingham because her son danced with you! And Mary is afraid that Lord Latimer is paying his attentions now to Miss Fitzjames. You’d be the perfect duchess, I don’t want to think of you not being married.’
Angelica laughed. ‘Oh Martin, don’t worry about me. I was not attacked for dancing with anyone’s son. I’m not yet such a dangerous woman! But I appreciate your concern.’ Martin readjusted his wig and his face relaxed. Angelica took his hand. ‘Now tell me where Mary is. I’ll explain it all to her. And apologise for worrying her so. We’ve got to prepare ourselves for rehearsals tomorrow. My new play opens in a week.’
The front door opened again and in a blast of cool air Angelica’s mother blew in, resplendent in a pale blue satin pelisse with matching corded tassels as trim. Ever since her return from Paris, Mrs Leigh had looked a picture of health and elegance in her new outfits, her mood still elevated by her social success with Mr Breville, being wined and dined by the great porcelain manufacturers. Her own household was much enriched with a new dinner service by the Duc d’Angoulême’s factory in Rue de Temple, decorated in pink and gilt swags and flowers, and two enormous faience vases to go either side of the mantlepiece in the drawing room, matching the Lawrence portrait for magnificence.
‘Angelica! You’re back. Come and tell me about the ball.’ She kissed her daughter, then noticing her grazed forehead said, ‘Oh Angelica! What now?’ She divested herself of her pelisse and flung it over Martin’s outstretched arm and tossed her bonnet onto the hall table. She led the way into the morning room and subsided onto the small sofa in the window. ‘Come and sit, dearest.’ She patted the primrose yellow satin beside her.
Angelica sat down reluctantly. There was so much to tell she did not know where to start, but it was such a litany of woe she was uncertain if she could even begin. She started with the innocuous. ‘The ball was a beautiful affair and my dress was perfect. Thank you so much, Mama.’
‘So?’ Amabel Leigh said with an abstracted air. ‘Did you dance with Lord Latimer?’
‘I did. But Mama, you have to give up your ambitions to be the mother of a duchess.’ Angelica smiled despite herself. ‘It’s as I’d always predicted. Lord Latimer’s interests are now with a more suitable young woman.’
Angelica was surprised that her mother did not seem in the least cast down by the news. ‘Dearest, I was about to suggest that you’d be far better suited as a French aristocrat’s wife. Now the war is over and the nobility are returning to Paris I was struck by how gentil they are, how full of joie de vivre, a little short, perhaps, but they can charm the secrets from the moon. Your lightness of spirit, I like to think it’s Irish wit inherited from me, is not so appreciated by the English. Paris deserves you. I think you would make a fine Comtesse!’
Angelica leapt up. ‘I have no time for any more matchmaking, Mama, and nothing would induce me to share a city with my perfidious father!’
‘Oh la la!’ Mrs Leigh trilled. ‘I hope this means you no longer blame me for trying to shelter you from the knowledge of his existence.’
‘I don’t know what I think any more,’ Angelica said bleakly. She bent and kissed her mother’s rosy cheek, disappointed that she had not shown any curiosity about the healing scab on her face. She returned to her room to continue learning her lines for the morrow.
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