Cecily and their mother both seemed confident that Lord Wakefield was going to offer her marriage. Anne was silent when they discussed the subject, paying heed to her needlework or book instead of contributing to the talk. Each word broke her heart just a little more. Although she did not want to admit it, Anne had fallen in love with Lord Wakefield.
Richard dressed for the Remington ball that evening with more care than normal. His valet, Lowden, was appalled at the number of neck clothes that Richard ruined because he would not let Lowden help him. His stomach was in knots, yet at the same time, he felt at peace.
He had decided to ask Lady Anne to marry him that night at the ball. He was reasonably confident that she would accept, but not convinced all the way. Anne was so quiet. He thought that she liked him, but if he offered any personal conversation, she steered him towards Cecily. Lucy thought she only did that because it was expected of her and Richard hoped that his sister was correct in this.
Finally satisfied with his appearance, he bade Lowden a good evening and literally ran down the hallway to find Lucy waiting for him at the bottom of the stairs. She eyed him as he came down the stairs.
"Are you all right?"
Richard stopped about three stairs from the bottom and looked down at his clothes anxiously.
"No, you are dressed fine," Lucy huffed at him. "You just have a funny expression on your face."
"Funny? How do you mean?" He brushed at his coat sleeve.
"It's like the first time you rode a horse rather than your pony. You were excited, but a part of you was a little afraid." Lucy grinned. "That is the look you have on your face right now."
Richard scrubbed at his face and Lucy laughed, so he took her arm and hustled her out to the waiting carriage.
Lucy settled in her corner and smoothed out her pale yellow dress. "Are you going to tell me?"
He pretended not to know what she was talking about. "About what?"
She rolled her eyes, then asked, "Are you going to ask Lady Anne to be your wife?"
Richard swallowed hard and the roiling in his stomach increased. He gave a short nod and Lucy clapped her hands together. She leaned over and gave her brother a hug.
"I am so happy for you, Richard. It's an excellent match." Lucy sat back and studied her brother. "Why are you so worried? Anne is madly in love with you, you know."
His stomach leaped and then fell with a sickening plop. "What do you mean?" he asked. Richard's mouth was dry and the words came out with more of a screech than he wanted or intended.
Lucy sighed. She reached out and took his hand. "Richard, I do believe that Anne is in love with you. It's in her eyes every time that she looks at you." She squeezed his hand. "The same way that you look at her."
The carriage came to a halt. They had arrived at Remington House. Lucy released his hand and gathered her shawl and reticle, but Richard continued to sit, shocked by what she had said. Was he in love with Anne? He drew in a deep breath, then let it go. He might be. It was possible. Indeed, he had never felt like this before about another woman. But in love?
Richard had told himself that it was a good match. He and Anne would suit and for one of his class, that was sufficient. His own parents match had been a love match, but there had certainly been difficulties. They managed to overcome most of those, but it had not led to a tranquil life for them.
And Lucy. His sister had known love, or what she thought was love, and it had been a disaster. He had hoped that she would find it again during this season here in London, but the only suitor that she seemed interested in even slightly was the Earl of Rathburn, who was not at all eligible. He was a rake and a gambler, not at all suitable for Lucy.
He realized that Lucy was waiting for him to move, watching him with uplifted brows as he ran through his thoughts. Richard pulled himself together. "Ready?"
"Certainly," his sister answered.
Richard helped Lucy disembark from the carriage and together they walked up the brightly lit stairs to enter the ball.
Anne watched as Cecily danced the waltz with the young Burlington heir. They made a lovely couple, but then Cecily was so pretty that she looked well with most young men. If only she would settle on one of them, Anne thought, instead of the Earl of Wakefield. Cecily seemed set on him no matter what Anne might wish.
Before they left for the ball, Cecily and her mother had been bemoaning the fact that the Earl seemed to be moving so slowly in his courtship. Cecily wanted an engagement announced before the end of the Season. Miserable, Anne only hoped that the Earl might hold off his proposal until she could flee back to Shropshire. The dull ache that seemed to have taken permanent residence in her chest reminded her that he was only nice to her because she was Cecily's sister.
Anne was so lost in her unhappy musings that she was unaware when Lady Lucilla approached her.
"Lady Anne! I am so glad that you are in attendance tonight."
She looked up at Lady Lucilla resplendent in pale yellow approaching, her brother in tow. Anne managed a genuine smile; she quite liked Lady Lucilla. She was a genuinely nice person. Also, Lucilla did not seem much happier to be in London than Anne herself, though she put up a better front. Anne thought Lucilla had a shadow of sadness in her eyes that no one else seemed to notice except her brother. The Earl worried about his sister, Anne could tell.
"Lady Lucilla. My lord," Anne responded. "I did not see you approach. I was so lost in thought, I must apologize to you both."
Lucilla waved a hand and shook her head. "Oh, no, I will not hear it. If you can find a momentary respite at one of these affairs, I say to grab it with both hands and hold on." She laughed and Anne smiled. The Earl was looking very stern tonight. His eyes were fixed on Anne and he did not smile. Perhaps she had offended him?
"Lady Anne, perhaps you would enjoy a walk on the terrace. I would be glad to escort you." Lord Richard was abrupt and both Anne and Lucilla looked in shock at him. He blinked, realizing that his brusque manner was off-putting and grimaced. "Please excuse me. I have a bit of a headache and the cooler air would be refreshing. Please accompany me, I beg you."
Anne looked askance at Lucilla, who nodded her acquiescence. "Go, Lady Anne. I'm sure that you can put my brother into a better mood." She winked at Lord Richard, or perhaps Anne, she didn't know, and Lord Richard's mouth tightened in response. He was in an uncharacteristically bad mood this evening. Perhaps he had expected to find Cecily waiting for him and was displeased that she was already dancing.
He held out his arm and Anne took it. She glanced over to where her mother was standing with several of her friends, but she had her back to them and hadn't even noticed the Wakefield party's arrival. Lucilla made a shooing motion and Anne let Lord Richard lead her to the doors facing out on the terrace.
This early in the evening there were not many people outside. One other couple were standing near the railing. Anne did not protest when Richard led her down the stairs to the garden though she was by rights unchaperoned and shouldn't go with him out of sight of others. Richard halted when they came to a marble bench still in view of the people on the terrace. He brushed at it although the white stone was immaculate.
"Would you like to sit, my lady?" Anne sat gracefully, her face solemn as she peered up at him in the dusk. Richard was too nervous to sit next to her.
"Thank you, my lord. It is much cooler out here than in the house," Anne said.
"Lady Anne, I brought you out here under false pretenses. I have a question for you that I wanted to ask away from the hearing of others." Richard paused and Anne nibbled at her lower lip. He was too nervous and could feel sweat dripping down his back. Richard was sure that he was botching this.
Anne nodded and looked down towards her feet. Suddenly, it was crucial that he see Anne's face when he asked her, so he sat down next to her and tilted his head to look at her. Startled, Anne looked up.
"Please, my lord. Feel free to ask me anything. I assume you have a question about my sister. I ca
n't betray any confidences..."
"Your sister?" Richard broke in. "Why would I ask about your sister?"
Anne looked bewildered. "Don't you want to marry her?" She gasped and put her gloved hands up to cover her cheeks.
"No, I don't want to marry her." Richard felt his nervousness fly away into tenderness as he understood Anne's misapprehensions. "I want to marry you." He pulled her hands down gently and clasped them in his own. Anne's mouth was agape as she stared silently at him.
Richard waited, then asked again, "Anne, what say you? Will you make my life complete?"
"My sister," Anne whispered. "What about Cecily?"
"I'm quite sure that Cecily will find some fine young man who will make her happy someday." Richard moved closer to Anne on the bench. "I am also sure that you are who will make me happy. Will you answer me, Anne?"
"Yes, of course."
That was all Richard needed to hear. He bent forward and gently kissed Anne. Her lips were soft and tasted of orange from the orgeat that was served at the ball. He pulled her closer, letting go of her hands and putting his arms around her shoulders as Anne placed her hands on his chest. He kissed her harder and she responded, opening her lips slightly. Richard wanted more, but this was not the time nor place. He pulled back, smiling as Anne opened her eyes slowly, blinking as if waking from a dream. He could not wait until the time that he would see her wake just so every morning.
"I will speak to your father tomorrow." Richard watched as Anne's smile faded. "Is there a problem with that? Truthfully, there will be no issues with the settlements. I would like our marriage to take place as soon as possible if that is all right with you."
"Lord Richard..."
"Call me Richard and I will call you Anne. I would expect that we are beyond social niceties now."
"Richard." Anne licked her lips nervously as she adjusted to speaking his name. Richard watched, fascinated as the tip of her tongue appeared and disappeared. His eyes flicked back up as she continued. "I expect that my father will be pleased, but my mother and my sister had different expectations. They..." Anne waved a hand in the air helplessly, unable to form the words.
"I will make that clear. I never was more than polite to your sister. My interest, from the first, was in you." Anne's eyes widened and a pleased smile curved her lips.
"Then my father should be home in the morning." Anne looked away, back towards the house, then turned back to Richard. "I do not care about a society wedding or waiting for any reason. Cecily can have all that."
"We are in agreement then," Richard replied. "Come, we should go back inside. I have kept you out here too long even if we have an understanding." He squeezed her hand and she smiled again. They rose and Anne took his arm. Richard realized that all the knots in his stomach were gone. Anne was his and all would be well.
Anne felt that she floated across the lawn and up the stairs to the terrace. Richard wanted her, not Cecily. That was going to be an issue, but she was confident that Richard would manage her mother and sister. Meanwhile, she would bask in her happiness.
As if she had conjured her up, Anne saw Cecily standing on the terrace as they reached the top of the steps.
"Lord Wakefield, there you are." Cecily ignored her sister. "Lady Lucilla was looking for you."
"Thank you, Lady Cecily. I will find her right away." He turned to Anne, an eyebrow lifted in question. Anne's smile became broader.
"Anne, will you stay with me? I'd like some fresh air also." Cecily took Anne by the arm and smiled prettily. "My lord, you should find Lady Lucilla."
Richard bowed and went inside while Cecily dragged Anne over to an area by the railing.
"Well, Anne, what have you to say for yourself?" Cecily's smile was gone.
Anne tried to stall for time. "What do you mean?"
Cecily hissed, "I saw you in the garden kissing Lord Wakefield."
Anne's stomach sank. Cecily was not going to make this easy, but Anne despised dishonesty. "Lord Wakefield has asked for my hand in marriage."
Cecily’s nails dug into Anne's arms as her mouth dropped. "What? That can't be. He is my suitor." Cecily whirled and slammed her hands down on the railing.
"Truthfully, Cecily, he made no promises to you." Anne looked at Cecily's rigid shoulders and decided that this wasn't the right time to put her arm around her sister in comfort. She was sure that with a little time, Cecily would get over her disappointment.
Cecily continued to stare out into the garden, so Anne turned parallel to her and looked out at the landscape also. Her eye was caught by movement on the opposite side where there was a gazebo set in a small copse of trees. Cecily had not yet spoken, so Anne leaned forward, peering into the dusk as a flash of pale yellow once more showed in the dim light. Someone was there and it looked like a struggle was going on.
Anne turned and raced down the steps. She heard Cecily call behind her, but Anne didn't stop until she reached the trees. Cloth ripped and Anne heard a gasp as the struggle resumed.
"Stop!" she called as firmly as she dared. Movement stopped and there was silence. Cecily ran up beside her and they watched as Lord Rathburn turned to them. Lady Lucilla stood behind him, the sleeve of her gown ripped and her dark hair, which had been up and entwined with yellow roses, now fallen on one side of her head.
Lord Rathburn straightened his clothes. "Good evening," he said with a smirk. "I believe that you are interrupting a tete-a-tete with my betrothed."
Lady Lucilla stormed past him. "I am not your betrothed. I will never marry you."
"Oh, but you will. We have witnesses. If you do not marry me, your reputation will be ruined."
Lucilla shrugged. "I don't care. I'm not marrying you." She grabbed Anne's hand and pulled her away, Cecily following. No one spoke as they crossed the lawn and went up to the terrace. Lucilla quickly pushed her hair back up in a semblance of the style she had worn and frowned at her ripped sleeve. "I need to get this repaired." She gave Anne a quick hug and turned to go inside.
"Lord Richard is looking for you." Cecily stopped her before Lucilla could move far.
"Why?" she asked looking over her shoulder. Anne looked over at Cecily, puzzled herself. Cecily had originally said that Lucilla was looking for Richard, not the other way around.
"He thought you were looking for him," Cecily responded. Lucilla gave her a long stare, then nodded and proceeded on her way. Anne followed her inside intending to help Lucilla with the repairs when Cecily grabbed her arm again and pulled her to the side.
"Wait! I need to finish talking to you."
Anne frowned but followed her sister to a corner. She knew that Cecily wouldn't stop until she had her say. She was surprised at what her sister said next, though as it seemed far from Cecily’s primary concern.
"Lady Lucilla is going to have to marry Lord Rathburn, no matter that he is just after her money."
"Why would you say that? No one but us saw anything. As long as we deny it...." Anne's voice trailed off as Cecily's eyes flashed in triumph. "Cecily, you would not force Lady Lucilla. She does not want to marry him and nothing happened that actually compromised her. You know that."
Cecily shrugged. "Perhaps it would be better for you not to marry into a family that is connected to such a rogue. Lord Rathburn is well known as a rake and a gambler who has lost his estates and is merely looking for a wealthy bride. He will probably give his wife a disease that he has caught from his low associates. He has some looks, but no good family wants anything to do with him."
"You would force Lady Lucilla to marry such a man to stop me from marrying Lord Wakefield?" Anne was aghast. Cecily had always been spoiled, but never so bad as this.
She needed to find Richard.
Richard had been around the ballroom twice looking for his sister. Great-aunt Sylvia had not seen her for a while but did not seem concerned. Once more Richard doubted the efficacy of his great-aunt as Lucy's chaperone. Once he and Anne were married, he would not ha
ve that issue any further. Anne could act as Lucy's overseer, a much better choice for Lucy. Anne had good sense and would steer Lucy appropriately in society. Yet he felt a tremor of unease as he looked once more around the ballroom for his sister.
He still couldn't spy her dark hair, but he relaxed as he saw Anne making her way towards him. She walked gracefully and in an unhurried manner, yet he could see that she was tense. He had thought to let the sisters air their differences, but perhaps Cecily had been more difficult than he had foreseen. Richard could not understand her attitude. He had been circumspect, nothing more than polite to the girl at all times. Still, Cecily would be his sister-in-law once he and Anne were married and he would get along with her for Anne's sake.
Anne stopped in front of him and he could see the worry in her eyes. "Lord Wakefield, I have come to tell you that Lady Lucilla had a mishap with her gown. It is being repaired now and she should be here soon."
Even as she spoke, Richard could see Lucy crossing towards them. She looked pale and upset though no one else could probably detect it. He looked down at Anne, noticing the faint lines of worry on her brow and her tightened lips.
"Richard, Lady Anne." Lucy greeted them with a smile that did not reach her eyes. Richard was concerned but knew better than show it in front of the gossips of the Ton.
"Lucy, Lady Anne was saying that you felt faint. Perhaps we should find a quiet space where you can recover. The room is quite warm."
He took Lucy's arm and Anne took the other and they left the ballroom. Richard found a hallway that led to Lord Remington's library. After checking that the room was empty, he closed the door and turned to his sister.
"Lucy, what is going on? Are you all right?"
Anne sank down into a leather chair, but Lucy stood in front of a table holding a vase of flowers. She seemed to vibrate with energy and Richard recognized that his sister was furious.
"There was an incident with Lord Rathburn out in the garden." She held up her hand as Richard started to interrupt. "Yes, I know that I should not have ventured out there unchaperoned, but I did not believe myself to be in any danger."