Chapter Twelve

Chapter 12 Alex knocked on his aunt's office door and waited impatiently till he heard her call to enter and then stepped inside easing the door shut. "How is my favorite nephew today, did you have a good day at the market? " Valencia asked looking up from her workbench where she was crushing herbs with a pestle. "Very well, if I was actually a merchant I could be making a comfortable living, by the way, I have been giving my earnings to your butler every day I told him to split it among your servants since they are the ones loading my wagon each day." Alex stepped forward to examine the herbs and dried flowers that covered his aunt’s workbench. "That was kind of you, now what do you want to ask me? I don't think you stopped by just to chat." Valencia wiped her hands clean on a nearby cloth and looked up at Alex. "You are very astute, not that I don't enjoy our chats. I was hoping we could move forward with the idea of a ball to introduce Lord Alex to local society. I am tired of lying to Isobel, the sooner I can tell her who I truly am the happier I will be. While I have no doubt she would believe me if I said I was a prince it would be easier to do it at a ball or party." Alex stated. "Also I have the feeling Isobel will be angry. I'm hoping if I tell her the truth in a public setting she will be less likely to overreact." "You think she will react badly?" Valencia asked. "Yes, no, I'm not sure. I have told her I have a secret that I will tell her soon and that I am not marrying her for her wealth but it bothers me that I can't be honest with her. I agreed to this fool plan to find a woman I liked who would like me for myself, I never thought I would find one I actually cared for. Now that I have I no longer wish to lie to her, after everything I learned about her she has faced enough hardships and lies, I don't want to add to her problems." Alex replied. "From everything I have learned of the girl I do not think she will be too mad, but I understand your concerns. I have already begun planning for the ball; on my desk, you will find the guest list." Valencia pointed towards her desk, and Alex crossed to it pulling two sheets of parchment from the desk with a list of names. "The lady Laura is on here." Alex protested. While he still found the girl attractive her abrasive and abusive nature had far outworn her charms, in addition, he had learned that she was often cruel to Isobel and her friends. "Yes she is, I thought you liked the girl." Valencia came over to take the list from Alex. "I did until I became aware of her true nature, she is an ill-tempered shrew who has been cruel to Isobel, and as I wish the night to be special I would prefer she not come," Alex replied. “I’m afraid that is impossible her family is well-known and important if I didn’t invite her it would be seen as a social snub. I can see that she is watched and chaperoned so that she stays out of mischief.” Valencia said setting the list on her desk again. “I understand but I am not pleased, I need you to do me another favor. Isobel and her friend lady Bridgette are not as well-heeled as some of the other ladies; I do not think they would have the means to purchase the correct gowns nor the means to pay for a carriage to bring them here. I was hoping you would have a suggestion.” Alex said. “The same thought had occurred to me, I shall invite some of the senior students here before the ball, I am already having the servants open and prepare the west wing, it has a separate entrance so that the ladies are unlikely to accidentally run into you and your friends before or after the ball.” Valencia fluffed out her skirt to settle behind her desk. “Do you perhaps know which dressmaker your lady uses?” “Ahh no, it is not something we have ever discussed,” Alex replied thinking that in their stolen moments together when they were not discussing their day they were stealing kisses. “It shall be simple enough to discover, as there are only a few dressmakers in town. I shall dispatch my servants tomorrow to make discrete inquiries and to commission gowns; you do know that it shall have to be a masked ball.” Valencia scribbled something on a scrap of parchment and then looked up at Alex. “Otherwise people shall wonder why a flower merchant is invited; I shall also have to call in a tailor to make you and your friends the proper clothes.” “You are correct on all counts,” Alex replied. “Of course, I am, now when shall and the others end your pretense as merchants?” Valencia demanded. “I don’t know, if we give up the pretense then we shall have no excuse to go into the city and be close to our ladies,” Alex replied. “Bowden is as smitten as I am and would take it hard if he could not see his lady.” “I see, I shall arrange to have the ball in one week’s time afterward you shall have to give up your ruse.” “I know but I am torn if and when we do how shall we keep an eye on our ladies?” Alex shook his head. “For a bright fellow, you are rather dense at times, had you not noticed that the college is hosting scholars for the next several weeks, male scholars? On the night of the ball Alex, the flower merchant shall be replaced by young lord Alex the visiting scholar. I fancy with a good haircut, perhaps the subtle use of hair dye, and a change of clothes, and few would think that you were the same man.” “You are a genius and I love you, aunt Valencia,” Alex said. “Yes, well and you are a terrible liar, now go bathe dinner is in an hour, and tell your friends we shall finalize plans over dinner,” Valencia said giving Alex a dismissive wave. “I really do love you.” Alex kissed his aunt on the cheek and then hurried away happier than he had the right to be.