Always
By Jerusha Moors
Copyright @ 2016 Jerusha Moors
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system is forbidden without the written permission of the author.
Jerusha Moors
Portland, Maine
Always
The girl he was dancing with was quite pretty, but so, so young. Perhaps not in years, as she was eighteen years old to his twenty-seven years, but certainly in her manner. Richard had grown up much in the last few years, though even in his not-so-distant youth he had been a serious lad, probably too somber on reflection.
Lady Cecily chattered at him every time that she met him again as they followed the patterns of the country dance. He did his best to respond as they twirled, but even if they had been sitting at the side of the room, Richard would have struggled to respond intelligently to her gossip and talk of fashion. His sister, Lucy, was not much interested in either topic and she would have been the only woman able to educate him in those subjects. Mercifully, Lucy had abstained.
Thankfully, the dance finally ended and he could take Lady Cecily back to her mother who was waiting for her with a small group of people. Cecily continued her cheery observations as they crossed the floor, waving at acquaintances and preening as she walked by other young girls. Richard took the opportunity to look around the room for Lucy. Thornton had already taken her off the dance floor and back to Lady Sylvia, his great-aunt, and Lucy's chaperone. Thornton was conversing with Aunt Sylvia, but Lucy was looking around the room, apparently uninterested in the man.
Richard sighed. He had hoped that Lucy might be attracted to his friend. Edmund Pryce, Earl of Thornton, would be a good catch for her and he was a kind, forgiving man. After all, that was the main reason that they were in London, well, that and to find himself a wife. He grimaced at the thought.
"My lord, is aught the matter?" Lady Cecily stopped and pulled on his arm.
Richard recollected himself and forced himself to smile. "No, Lady Cecily. Indeed, here we are, back with your mother and sister."
Cecily did not look pleased, but she curtsied and stepped next to her mother. Lady Warwick was a tall, imposing woman, still quite handsome and dressed in a beaded dark blue gown with a matching turban covering her dull blonde hair. Next to her stood Lady Anne, her oldest daughter. Anne was a pale blonde, washed out when she stood next to her vibrant younger sister. Anne never spoke nor smiled, instead quietly assisting her mother and sister, running their errands and seeing to their needs. She acted more as a paid companion than part of the family. She was wearing a modest gown in a pale green that complement her coloring. Richard was surprised to notice that Lady Anne had a lovely shape, slim and with more than sufficient attributes. Richard felt the back of his neck heat with that startling thought.
"Lord Wakefield," Lady Warwick said. "What a charming couple you and Cecily made on the dance floor." Lady Warwick bared her teeth in a smile and Cecily beamed and fluttered her eyelashes. "Anne and I so enjoyed watching you together."
"Lady Anne." Richard turned and bowed. He needed to disavow Lady Warwick of any hopes that she might harbor for him in marriage with Cecily. Cecily was not on his inventory of possible wives though that list was growing shorter and shorter as he associated with those women and checked them off. Anne's eyes widened in surprise at being addressed her, but she gave him a graceful curtsy in return. "Are you free for the next dance?"
Cecily fussed at her dress and Anne looked nervously at her mother who nodded in acquiescence. Anne held out her hand and Richard led her out onto the floor. He thought that she was going to flee when the strains of a waltz started playing, but Anne stuck out her chin and allowed him to take her into his arms. She was tall, like her mother, and the top of her head came to Richard's chin, so she fit comfortably as he swept her into the dance. A clean scent of violets coming from her hair teased his nose.
"Are you enjoying the evening?" he asked. There was a ritual in conversation at these affairs Richard had come to understand. He might despise it, but he did not know how to avoid it.
Anne looked up at him thoughtfully. "Truthfully, my lord, I find these balls dull." She laughed a little nervously and Richard smiled at the musical sound. "I would much rather be home with a novel to keep me company. I fear I have grown overused to this company."
Richard's eyebrow rose and he fought to keep from laughing. Lady Anne was most....unexpected.
"I'm sorry." She was nervous now, he had waited a little too long to respond. "I should not complain. I am here to support Cecily after all."
"My lady, I find your candor most refreshing. Please do not apologize on my account." He grinned and Anne responded by biting at her lower lip, a plump and very kissable lip, Richard observed. Anne was so bland most of the time. He was sure that he had never seen her smile in the few times that he had met her. This was an entirely new side of her.
Anne shrugged and looked off across the dance floor. She apparently thought he was being polite, but he wasn't. Her manner was a welcome change from the simpering young women who made up the Ton's debutantes. Of course, he reflected, Anne was no longer considered a debutante. Her seasons had been several years ago and most assumed she was now on the shelf. The family's hopes were pinned to Lady Cecily.
Anne sighed and looked up at Richard. Her eyes were a hazel color with a tinge of green brought out by her dress. Richard felt another jolt of interest as he studied her face. The more he inspected Anne, the more he found to like about her.
"My sister is beautiful and an accomplished young lady," Anne stated and bit her lip again. Richard felt an interesting stirring in his groin. Anne was unaware that the mannerism made her most attractive. It was a habit she must affect when she was nervous, Richard thought.
"Lady Cecily is all that and more," Richard agreed, but his tone was dry.
Anne didn’t seem to notice. She nodded and looked away again as Richard maneuvered her past another couple. She had retreated back into her shy shell. He tried to think of something else he could say to her, something other than the usual banalities, but the music ended. He led her back to where her mother and sister were standing. He wished that he had had more time with Anne than the dance allowed. Anne was ... intriguing.
Anne curtsied and her sister narrowed her eyes at her, not realizing that Richard saw the gesture.
"Lady Cecily." Richard was speaking before he realized that he had the thought. "Perhaps you would be free to ride in my barouche tomorrow afternoon. There would be room for both you and your sister if you would care to join me."
Lady Warwick beamed and Cecily fluttered her eyelashes, but Anne looked appalled. Richard barely kept from smiling at the expression on her face. Anne must have been planning a leisurely afternoon of reading her novels.
"Of course, my lord, both Cecily and Anne would be most gratified to accompany you," Lady Warwick answered for both women. Anne's head whipped around, but she did not gainsay her mother. Her lips tightened as stared at her sister's evident gratification.
Richard bowed and removed himself from the ladies after confirming their plans. It was time for him to find Lucy and Aunt Sylvia.
Anne buttoned her pelisse in an uncharacteristic huff over the proposed outing with Lord Wakefield and her sister. She wasn't quite sure why she was upset. After all, the entire purpose of this season was to find a husband for Cecily. Lord Wakefield certainly qualified in that regard; he was rich, good-looking, and an Earl to boot.
Cecily's marriage to the Earl would solve the money problems that her fat
her's mismanagement of his estates had caused for the family. It would give Anne a home in the future and nieces and nephews to play with and spoil as their maiden aunt. Anne had thought that she was reconciled to the life that was now planned for her. Her parents had given up on a spouse for Anne after trying for three seasons. No one in the family was quite sure why Anne had not taken. She didn't have much of a dowry and while attractive when animated, Anne tended to be shy. Still, she was an Earl's daughter and that ought to count for something.
"Anne, come away from the window. The Earl will see you waiting and think that Cecily is setting her cap for him." Her mother was sitting in the drawing room with her daughters anxiously waiting for the Earl to arrive.
"Cecily is setting her cap for him," Anne replied, but she moved away from the window.
Her mother pursed her lips and Cecily rolled her eyes at Anne.
"Not so he knows," she said as she pulled on her gloves.
Anne laughed. "Of course, he knows."
Cecily started to reply, angling for a fight, but their mother interrupted.
"Stop it now, girls. This is a wonderful opportunity for Cecily and indeed, the entire family." She fanned herself nervously with one hand. "We must make the most of it."
There was a knock on the door and Anne tensed, then turned back to the window. It was very unlike her to be so disgruntled. She should be happy for her sister, but...
Watkins appeared in the doorway.
"The Earl of Wakefield has arrived."
Martin pulled the barouche up before the Warwick's townhouse at the appointed hour. Richard had insisted that Lucy should accompany him; it would be good for her to get outdoors on this fine day. She insisted on moping around at home, intent on getting through the season so that she could return to Wakefield Hall. She looked beautiful, clad in a dark green walking dress with a perky quail feather on her matching hat.
Lucy was not happy about this afternoon's trip to the park. She knew Lady Cecily from the different affairs that they both attended and did not care for her much. She had already made it plain to Richard that she did not consider Cecily a suitable match for him.
"I will collect the ladies. Lucy, you may wait here if you'd like. I'll only be a moment." Richard stepped down and walked up to the front door. It opened before he could lift the knocker and the butler stood there, ready to welcome him inside. Richard handed him his hat and followed him into the drawing room where Lady Warwick and Lady Cecily awaited him. At first, he did not see Anne, who was standing at the window, her brown pelisse blending in with the curtains. She turned a moment after his entrance while Lady Warwick was speaking her greetings and he felt a queer start in his stomach, possibly relief or more probably something he had eaten at breakfast, at the sight of her.
He replied to Lady Warwick and took Cecily by the arm to lead her out to the carriage. Richard was acutely aware of Lady Anne following behind them as her sister chattered away at him. He helped Cecily into the barouche and she sat next to Lucy in the forward-facing seat. Lucy had a mulish look that told Richard that she was not happy about sitting with Cecily.
Richard turned to help Anne into the carriage. He took her gloved hand and a spark seemed to blaze through the cloth. Anne blinked as if she felt it also and she hesitated just a moment before she recollected herself and stepped up into the carriage. She took her place opposite Lucy and Richard joined her, sitting across from Cecily. The clean scent of violets drifted to him as he turned to let Martin know he could proceed.
Lady Cecily continued her prattle and either Richard or Lucy responded when the occasional pause seemed to warrant it. Cecily did not appear to mind and turned her head back and forth once they entered the park, trying to see and be seen in the crowded venue. Anne was quiet, not speaking at all and seeming to shrink back into the carriage seat. Richard had somehow lost all power of speech because he could not think of a question to ask her; his mind had gone blank. Lucy looked at him quizzically, one eyebrow raised in query. Neither of the siblings was particularly garrulous, but they had both been taught the niceties of polite conversation. Richard's silence was noticeable to Lucy, who knew him well.
When Cecily paused to take a breath, Lucy took advantage of the silence to ask Anne about an upcoming musicale. Anne replied to her, her voice low and pleasing, but Cecily drew Richard away from their conversation with a remark about the occupants of a passing carriage. Cecily was determined to monopolize Richard's attention and though he occasionally heard pieces of the tête-à-tête between Anne and his sister, he was mostly distracted by having to speak to other riders who came up to the barouche at Cecily's behest.
Richard was growing more and more agitated when Lucy tapped his knee to gain his attention.
"May we stop and walk a little, Richard? Lady Anne and I would like some exercise."
Richard nodded, relieved at the interruption, and motioned to Martin to stop. He helped the ladies down from the carriage, prepared this time for the slight charge that he felt as he took Anne's hand. Anne and Lucy hooked arms, apparently bosom bows, while he was left with Cecily once more. Disgruntled but polite, Richard nodded and took her arm. They strolled slowly along the path. It seemed to Richard that Cecily stopped every few moments to chat with other walkers while Lucy and Anne moved further and further away. He finally gave up, realizing that he had no other option since he was the one who had asked Cecily to come to the park this afternoon.
Eventually, they met Anne and Lucy back at the barouche. The two young women were giggling at something one or the other had said. A pang went through Richard to think that Lucy, not himself, had been the one to bring laughter to Anne. She caught his eye and stifled her chuckling, her gloved hand over her mouth, though she still hid a smile. Richard couldn't help himself; he smiled back. Anne blinked and stared at his mouth. Lucy had stopped her own laughter and was looking back and forth between the two of them, quite to pick up on their interaction. She rapidly moved to intercept Cecily and drew her away from Richard's side, taking over to talk to a small group of nearby walkers.
"Lady Anne, I trust that you are enjoying this outing."
Anne bit her lip and nodded. "Thank you, Lord Wakefield, I am. It is such a lovely day."
"Do you prefer the country? I confess, I weary of the city with the endless round of society events. I prefer a good gallop or a brisk walk which is hard to do here in the city." Richard moved slightly closer and Anne's eyes grew wider as she studied him.
"I do, my lord. I miss our home in Shropshire. It is lovely there at this time of year."
"Tell me about it." Richard was mesmerized as Anne's face softened and her smile appeared again.
"Ours is not a large home. In fact..." Anne stopped and her smile faded as Cecily took Richard's arm.
"My lord, perhaps we should step back into your carriage. The day is passing." Cecily pulled at his arm and Richard acquiesced. He had lost his chance. Anne had turned and already climbed up by herself, followed by Lucy. Richard helped Cecily into the barouche and took his own place. The horses pulled away and the occupants of the carriage fell silent except for Lady Cecily, who trilled away like a merry goldfinch. Richard looked at his sister who winked back at him, irrepressible as ever, and he started to make his plans.
Richard managed to spend some time with Anne at the musicale that evening. Lucy, in unspoken cooperation, distracted Cecily. Anne was withdrawn, but Richard managed to get a small smile from her at one point and he felt his heart lift.
In the carriage on the way home, Lucy mentioned that Cecily was glad that he was so kind to her sister.
"She also said that she was happy to be getting to know me so well. The unspoken addition to that was since I was to become her sister." Lucy fluffed out her skirts. "Richard, I am not going to become that empty-headed twit's sister, at least in any way that she might suppose."
Richard shuddered. "Absolutely not. You have my word on that, Lucy."
She let out a long sigh of relief.
He did not add that if he had his way, Lucy would end up as Cecily's sister, but not in the manner that Cecily supposed. He had decided that Anne was a good match for him. He had come to London to find a wife and it looked like he had found one.
Several weeks had gone by and Anne was both exhilarated and depressed by Lord Wakefield's attentions. He was subtle, but he made a point of approaching her at every affair that they attended. He also paid attention to Cecily, dancing with her as much as Anne. Cecily had remarked several times that it was so kind of Lord Wakefield to attend to Anne. Anne quietly agreed with her sister, but she could not help but wonder what he was doing. She watched him with Cecily and while always a gentleman, he seemed distracted when he was with her.
Yet with Anne he was interested, asking questions and listening intently to her answers. Lord Wakefield had a sly sense of humor that was at odds with his serious mien. His asides made Anne smile. She also liked his sister, Lady Lucilla, very much. Lucilla was dark and did not look much like her fair-haired brother. Lady Lucilla was a real beauty but she never made Anne feel plain though she knew that compared to her and Cecily, Anne was not a beauty.
Only at night, tossing and turning in her bed did Anne admit that she was growing quite fond of Lord Wakefield. She tried to remember that he was meant for Cecily, but in her heart, she wished that it was herself. She thought that she had reconciled herself to spinsterhood. However, every day that passed made her doubt that resolution. And if Lord Wakefield asked Cecily to marry him, Anne did not know how she would ever be able to live with them. That had been the plan, but Anne knew that with the way that she felt, she would not be able to live in their house, watching them together as they grew their family.