Chapter Nineteen

Chapter 19 Alex had enjoyed the late-night supper his aunt had provided, it had been light fair followed by frozen sherbets, which was a rare and expensive treat considering the ice had to be brought in by special wagon from the mountains. Alex had the place of honor at one end of the table and his aunt had occupied the other end. Isobel had sat on his left, and Bowden on his right with Bridgette and his other friends. Ahern and Lady Lucy had joined them and it had been a jovial time filled with friendship and good food. The gong sounded, announcing that supper was over and that the dancing was to resume for another hour. Alex pushed to his feet, and then pulled out the chair for Isobel. He was moving to take her hand, and Roger appeared beside him. “Excuse me, sir, but the countess requests your presence immediately in her private office,” Roger said quietly. “Why?” Alex demanded in annoyance, as Isobel rose gracefully. “It has to do with a young lady, sir, and allocations against you,” Roger replied softly so no one would overhear him. “Hell, it has to be Lady Laura,” Alex replied. “I, no, we shall be there directly, Roger, can you ask for my man Marcus and Lady Isobel’s maid Vi to come as well?” Alex replied, the butler gave him a nod and walked quickly away as the others came up to Alex. “What is going on?” Giles asked, stepping up to them. “Lady Laura apparently made allocations against me,” Alex replied. “Could you come with me? I fear I shall need witnesses.” “Of course, we all shall come,” Bowden replied earning nods from the others. “Is there anything I can do?” Ahern asked as he and Lady Lucy stepped up. “No but, thank you for asking; you were not there to witness what transpired between Lady Laura and I,” Alex replied. “If you are talking about Laura, I saw her in the retiring room just after the dinner gong sounded; she did not see me, for I was behind a screen, but I saw her slap herself repeatedly across the face and then rip the bodice of her own gown. I thought it was rather odd, but as no one would believe me, I kept what I saw to myself.” Lucy stated nervously worrying her hands. “Hell would you be willing to say as much to the countess Lady Lucy?” Alex asked and the girl nodded. “But of course, it is the truth and I always try to tell it. Besides she has never been kind to me and would be a joy to bring her down a peg or two.” Lucy replied. “Thank you; let’s go get this farce over with,” Alex replied taking Isobel’s hand and placing it on his arm. “Don’t worry my love we shall sort this out quickly and then we shall return to the dancing I have no intention of letting that girl ruin our night.” “I do hope you are right but she is an evil and manipulative person who is used to getting her own way, I fear things may not be as easy as you think,” Isobel said. “Do not fear, together we can do anything now let’s get this over with,” Alex said giving Isobel a smile before whisking her out of the dining room and towards the ballroom steps at a rapid pace with the others close behind. Alex paused briefly before his aunt’s door to knock once and then opened it before being summoned, he strode inside followed by Isobel and the others as Marcus and Violet appeared at a brisk trot to slip into the room behind them. Standing by her desk a frown upon her face was her aunt, beside her in two of the chair were Sir Liam and Master Ogden from the school, in the corner of the room was sister Margaret who was comforting a sobbing Lady Laura. “What are they doing here?” Laura sobbed stepping away from Sister Margaret to dash at tears running down her face with one hand while with the other she held up the bodice of her gown which was ripped at the shoulder. “I asked them to come as they witnessed what happened earlier and can testify on my behalf if need be, now what is this about?” Alex asked icily. “Lady Laura said that you tried to seduce her in the guest chamber and when she refused you, you forced yourself upon her. She is demanding that you marry her.” Valencia said. “I don’t want them here, they upset me,” Laura said between great gulping sobs. “If they know what happened then they have every right to be here,” Valencia stated looking over at Master Ogden who nodded in agreement. “I agree, now sir do you disagree with the accusation made by Lady Laura?” Master Ogden asked. “Of course I do, yes I was in the guest chamber but I had slipped in there with Lady Isobel to have a few minutes alone, I wished to speak to her in private. When I heard someone coming I told her to hide behind a curtain so that her reputation would not be damaged, as soon as she did Lady Laura arrived and accosted me.” Alex stated folding his arms across his chest so that he would resist the urge to strangle Laura. “He’s lying,” Laura shouted and was hushed by Sister Margaret. “He is not, I was there and the door was cracked open, I heard the Duke repeatedly tell Lady Laura to leave him alone and to go away, I even opened the door wider so that the others standing outside could hear what was going on when I heard Lady Laura demand that he kiss her I stepped forward revealing myself as did the others,” Isobel stated giving Laura an icy look. “Can the rest of you cooperate her statement?” Valencia demanded. “Yes my lady we can, Violet and I were right outside the door, chaperoning his lordship and lady Isobel without actually being in the room and heard and saw everything. The lady there fairly threw herself on his lordship and he did all he could to tell her to leave him be.” Marcus replied. “Violet is this true?” Countess Valencia asked. “Yes my lady, Master Marcus and I were out on the balcony looking through the glass and listening. The lady there came into the chamber and acted most improper like, she practically stalked his lordship, he kept backing away and she kept following.” Violet said. “We can also confirm what they say; we had snuck out on the balcony for some air and heard everything through the open door,” Giles added. “They are all lying because they hate me and are jealous of me.” Laura sobbed. “How else did my gown get ripped and my face blemished? “If I may add something my lady, I was in the lady’s retiring room before the dinner gong sounded and saw Lady Laura come in, she didn’t see me as I was behind a screen but she was murmuring curses, and then she began to strike herself in the face and then she pulled one of the metal combs from her hair and used it to rip the stitches of her gown. Then she continued to strike herself, she was so absorbed that she did not notice me.” Lucy said stepping forward. “I see thank you, Lady Lucy, can the rest of you confirm what Lady Isobel and the others said.” Master Ogden asked. “Yes, sir we can,” Sasha said. “If I might add something Master Ogden, Lady Laura’s claim that she had been chaste till earlier is false, as you know I am frequently in the stables. Last year I was tending a sick foal and Lady Laura entered with a young nobleman, they went into a stall and well. I did not see what happened but I could guess from the sounds. In fact, Lady Laura has frequently slipped into the stables with young noblemen.” Bridgette stated earning a glare from Laura. “You are lying, you are jealous because I’m beautiful and you are nothing but a huge, ugly ungainly creature that smells like horses.” Laura screeched. “That is enough Lady Laura, those are serious allocations.” Sister Margaret replied. “Bridgette is telling the truth I have seen Lady Laura sneak into the garden and pick the ingredients for an abortive several times, my work room looks down over the gardens as you know, and why I am not as skilled a herbalist as Isobel I do know the ingredients needed to make one,” Sasha said. “Well, it will be easy enough to tell if Lady Laura was violated I have a midwife in my employ to tend to my female servants. She should be in her cottage at this time of night she can be summoned to inspect Lady Laura.” Valencia turned to Laura who began shaking her head. “No, no they are all lying because they hate me,” Laura whined. “You have made a serious allocation my lady, I am a magistrate among other things if you persisted in this we shall have to go to court and it shall be your word against all of theirs, you also will have to be examined by a mid-wife who in addition for looking for signs of forced intercourse shall check to see if you were ever with child and aborted it.” Sir Liam rose to face Laura. “Now do you wish to persist in your claims?” “Tell the truth, Laura, it will go easier for you if you do.” Sister Margaret said. Laura looked around the room and then pushed Sister Margaret roughly aside before racing towards the French doors and opening them. “I hate you all, I’ll tell my father what you did and he shall make you all pay.” Laura shrieked before racing out the door and slamming it behind her with enough force that one of the panes of glass shattered. Valencia sighed and turned to Roger who had been standing in the corner. “Please turn out the maids and the footmen to find her and see she gets into no more mischief, in fact, have the maids and the footmen go in pairs the last thing we need is any more false allegations.” “At once,” Roger said before racing out of the room. “I apologize for this my lady, when she came to me I had to act.” Sister Margaret said. “Nonsense it was not your fault,” Valencia replied. “The girl is obviously troubled.” “Nevertheless she made serious allocations, once she is found she will be sent back to the school and then home such behavior cannot be tolerated. If you will excuse me I shall go help search.” Master Ogden said. “I shall come help as well, again forgive me.” Sister Margaret followed Master Ogden from the room closing the door gently behind her. “I am sorry that happened; please don’t let it ruin your night,” Valencia said. “ And thank you for coming to help if you would all return to the ballroom I need a few minutes alone with the Duke and Isobel.” “Of course countess.” Ahern gave her a nod and then stepped back to open the door for the others. “Lady Lucy, would you do me the honor of the last few dances?” Ahern asked as he escorted her out into the hall. “I would be honored sir but do not think you have to I know there are many pretty young ladies here tonight,” Lucy replied. “I meant what I said, I think you are brilliant lady Lucy and very pretty besides you have to finish explaining to me about these colored rockets they sound fascinating,” Ahern said placing Lucy’s hand on his arm and walking down the corridor with her. Bowden exchanged looks with Giles, then shrugged. “He actually likes the girl, which is good I would not like to cause my friend a broken heart because I stole you from him,” Giles said giving Sasha a smile. “And who said I belong to you my lord you have yet to make any declarations.” Sasha retorted and Giles clasped his hand to his heart. “My lady you wound me,” Giles replied, he gave Alex a nod and closed the door behind him. “We are alone now you can take that off.” Valencia motioned her hand at Alex’s face. Alex gave her a puzzled look then pulled off the mask; he’d forgotten he’d still been wearing it. “I forgot the blasted thing was on.” “Thank you, I’m sorry that you had to be subjected to that but the girl is in my home and I am responsible for her,” Valencia said walking to the sideboard to pour herself a glass of wine, then motioned at the bottle. “No thank you, but surely you know I am incapable of doing something so despicable,” Alex said. “Of course, I know that but you are a masked unnamed man in my home I could not just ignore her claim.” Valencia took a sip of wine. “It was rather obvious to me that the girl was lying but I had to hear both sides of the story.” “Alex do not be angry with your aunt she is right.” Isobel laid her hand on Alex’s arm and he gave a nod. “This little meeting however does not protect Alex from another accusation nor does it protect him, Lady Laura is a noblewoman with a rich father. There will still be those that believe her unless something is done to protect Alex.” Liam said. “And what do you suggest, I am not leaving until Isobel and I are wed and she has finished school, I gave her my word.” Alex was worried enough about Isobel’s safety, he didn’t need the added worry caused by a deranged girl, nor was he going to let one girl’s plots drive him away from Isobel or break his word. “I would not suggest such a thing when it is obvious that you and lady Isobel are deeply in love and perfect for each other. No, I was going to suggest that you and Isobel get married and soon, very soon in fact. As a married man with a beautiful young wife people will not believe that you would try to seduce Lady Laura.” Liam said. “How can we marry, if I wed Alex I will be let go from the school.” Isobel looked torn between her love of Alex and her desire to finish her schooling, for years it had been all she had, the thought of just giving it up without her master’s certificate was painful. “You can wed in secret, tonight or tomorrow, if you believe your friends can keep a secret they can be witnesses. I know we have two members of the clergy in attendance and I am a magistrate, which means I can write out a special license and have it witnessed by one of the clergy men who can then perform the ceremony.” Liam paused. “If anything regarding Lady Laura were to arise then we can announce your marriage, and people would think that Lady Laura is nothing more than a spiteful girl.” “That is brilliant and might actually work but the choice would be Alex and Isobel’s,” Valencia said. Alex looked at Isobel who looked stunned. “Excuse us for a moment we need to speak in private. Isobel, would you step into the hall with me?” “Of course.” Isobel gave Alex a forced smile as he opened the door for her and held it open so that she could step into the hall. Isobel nervously chewed her lower lip as she tried to decide what to do, faint strains of music could be heard coming from the ball which was to end soon. She thought of how wonderful it had been to be held in Alex’s arms, how his kisses made her toes curl and her insides turn to mush. Then she thought of the college and Sister Margaret, of her friends and how it had been her sanctuary and her home since the murder of her family. “I do not want you to feel pressured into doing anything that you do not want to, I promised you I would wait for you. I don’t want to disrupt your life because I was foolish.” Alex caught Isobel’s hand. “I am sorry about what happened, I had wanted tonight to be special.” “Alex kiss me,” Isobel said. “What?” Alex asked in confusion. “Kiss me and I will answer your question.” Isobel stepped closer placing her hands on Alex’s chest. Alex didn’t have to be asked twice, he caught Isobel’s chin with his fingers lifting her face to his he covered her lips with his, as Isobel tightened her hand about his jacket. Alex nipped her bottom lip and her mouth softened beneath him as he eased his tongue into her mouth. Isobel let Alex into her mouth, felt his tongue twine with hers as he deepened the kiss and slipped his hand about her waist pulling her closer, want and heat spiraled through Isobel as well as the knowledge that Alex truly loved and wanted her. She was being foolish; she would not be losing her home she would be gaining a new one, a protector and so much more. She broke the kiss stepping back from Alex to smile up at him, seeing love and confusion in his deep blue eyes. “Yes, I will marry you tonight,” Isobel murmured. “You will, but I wanted to give you more time to be sure, time to finish your dreams, I do not want you to have doubts or regrets because we rushed into marriage.” Alex felt happiness fill him knowing that soon Isobel would be his. “I will have no regrets as long as you promise to love me and accept me as I am,” Isobel said. “That is an easy vow to keep for I think you are perfect as you are and I already love you, in fact, each day I love you more than the last. You have turned my world upside down and I have no regrets.” Alex cupped Isobel’s face looking deep into her lovely eyes and saw no doubts only love. “We had better tell them that we wish to be wed, it is getting late.” Alex took Isobel’s hand in his and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Yes it is, but are you sure? You could have any girl you wanted at the crook of your finger; you are a prince after all.” Isobel said. “But that is why I love you because you wanted the flower seller, you saw the man I am and did not care if I was rich or poor. You believed in the man and wanted the man, not the prince, you are the first and only woman to ever do that how could I not love you?” Alex lifted Isobel’s hand to his lips placing a kiss on her fingertips. “Then we had better get married because I love you too.” Isobel saw Alex smile broadly and taking her hand in his he reached for the door and Isobel knew that no matter what the future would bring she would never be alone again.