A Dream Come True (6 page)

“The Rolls Royce has a hood that comes over and protects one from the elements,” answered Lucia.

“Nevertheless, you cannot make a comparison with the comfort that a good, old-fashioned carriage offers,” he asserted sliding the carriage window shut.

“Personally, I find driving a thrilling pastime,” replied Lucia with a smile. “If you love the speed of horses, the motor car can provide just as much excitement.”

“I doubt it,” countered Edward with a confidence that bordered on arrogance.

Lucia regarded him closely as the carriage pulled off down the drive. He was not unpleasing to the eye and he was intelligent.

‘If only I did not suspect him of being a bit of an old fogey,' she thought, taking in the hazel eyes and neat, dark hair. ‘But he is a good man of that I have no doubt.'

The ball was taking place in the magnificent surroundings of Thorley House, a Queen Anne building that had been in the Thorley family for many generations.

Carriages and one or two motor cars queued along the drive waiting to disburse their passengers.

Lucia looked to see if she could glimpse the Rolls Royce as Sir Arthur had overtaken them some miles back.

Soon, their carriage was at the front of the queue and a liveried footman was opening the door. Edward helped Lucia down and up the steps to the house.

Lucia gazed up at the massive chandelier that lit up the hall. The Thorleys had been among the first to install electricity and it had cost a great deal of money.

She noticed one or two people she knew and waited while another footman took their coats.

“Shall we go into the ballroom?” suggested Edward taking her arm again. “Or would you prefer to go to the Grand Hall?”

“I should love a glass of champagne,” declared Lucia feeling full of excitement.

They had not gone more than a dozen paces when they met a group of friends.

“Emmeline,” cried Lucia. “How beautiful you look.”

“And your gown. I have not seen this one before, have I? Is it new?”

“It's from Paris,” answered Lucia. “Look, there is Tristram and Cecily.”

“Yes, I detect a whiff of romance there,” gurgled Emmeline. “Shall we join them?”

As they moved towards the couple, Lucia reflected how much she would have hated to leave the County.

As she took a glass of champagne, she noticed her stepfather standing in the corner of the room conversing with someone. She smiled thinly at him and only barely registered the man who stood next to him.

He was tall and dark-haired and she could not see his face as it was obscured by a woman standing in front of him.

‘Another one of stepfather's business associates no doubt.'

After a while, the music began and Edward accompanied her into the ballroom. Lucia loved to dance and was most disappointed when Edward trod on her toes twice during a Viennese waltz.

‘My slippers,' she thought anxiously. ‘If he stands on my toes once more they will be utterly ruined.'

The dance ended and gratefully she allowed him to escort her from the floor.

“Really, Edward dances like a carthorse,” whispered Emmeline, who had witnessed the whole affair.

“Oh, dear, here comes my stepfather. I shall have to dance with him, I suppose. I did promise Mama that I would look after him.”

“He has been talking to that gentleman over there for a very long time. Is he a family friend? asked Emmeline.

Lucia looked over and now saw the man to whom she was referring.

‘A handsome man for his age,' thought Lucia fleetingly before answering, “I don't know who he is. I have not seen him at Bingham Hall.”

“Ssh, here comes your stepfather.”

Sir Arthur had taken some time to cross the ballroom as there were so many guests thronging the floor.

“Lucia,” he said as he drew up beside her. “Would you care to dance?”

“Of course, stepfather,” she agreed, feeling unenthusiastic.

The orchestra had struck up a lively polka and Lucia almost winced at the first notes, fearing that her slippers would now be subjected to further damage.

However, to her surprise, he proved very light on his feet and, by the end of the dance, she had quite enjoyed myself.

“Who is the gentleman you were talking to?” she asked, as they danced.

“I am surprised that you have not met Lord Winterton,” he replied. “He is a very important man in this County and owns Longridge Manor. It is about fifteen miles from Shilborough.”

“How curious that we have not met,” said Lucia. “I thought we knew most of the County families.”

“I believe he spends a great deal of time in London these days and prior to that was in India. Lord Winterton is a very clever man and I admire his head for business. Since my arrival down South, he has often given me impeccable advice.”

Lucia was a little surprised. Her stepfather had the air of a man who was full of self-confidence.

“Are we so very different, we Southerners?” she asked with a hint of sarcasm creeping into her voice.

“Southerners are fond of giving themselves airs and graces, whereas Northern folk take as they find. In Lord Winterton, I have found a man who, although aware of his position, does not seek to flaunt it in order to make a man feel small.”

The dance ended and Lucia looked over to where Lord Winterton now stood. There was something about those dark eyes that made her feel uneasy as they burned into her face and then travelled up and down her figure.

‘He has an impudent manner,' she thought stiffly. ‘I do not care to be gawped at as if I were a prize heifer at a cattle fair!'

She coolly returned his gaze and thought him one of those men who made a great deal of their masculinity in an almost uncouth way.

‘It must have been the influence of the East that has caused him to forget his manners,' she thought, as she felt his stare following her around the room.

‘They say that some natives in India are prone to acting like courtesans when it comes to romantic affairs and he must have been tainted by them.'

There was something about the tilt of his head as he stood in the shadows and the expression on his face. A sensual smile played about his mouth and his eyes were fiery beneath strikingly dark eyebrows.

Lucia forced herself to look away, but there was something about him that even now compelled her to search him out.

He made her feel uncomfortable and as if she should have worn something more modest.

‘I despise men like him,' she said to herself, as she moved towards the Grand Hall in search of refreshment. Edward and her friends had left the ballroom and she expected she would find them in the adjoining room.

“Lucia.” Edward called to her from his place by the French windows.

“Would you care for something to eat? The buffet is excellent.”

“No, thank you. But I would like a glass of water – it is so hot in the ballroom.”

“Who was that man with your stepfather?” asked Edward later, as he brought her a glass of water.

“Lord Winterton.”

“I did not care for the way that he was staring at you as you danced with your stepfather. Had he persisted, I would have had words.”

Lucia laughed.

“Oh, Edward, don't be silly! You were mistaken.”

“I know when a man is staring in an uncouth manner and when he is not,” answered Edward curtly.

He took Lucia's hand and held it for a few moments. She felt a little awkward, but allowed him the liberty.

After a while, she went to withdraw her hand, but he held onto her fast.

“Would you care to walk outside? I would very much like some fresh air.”

Lucia nodded and put down her empty glass. A quick glance at her stepfather informed her that he was otherwise engaged and so she was happy to slip away from his scrutiny.

The moon was not yet full as they made their way along the path lit with Chinese lanterns hanging from graceful weeping beech trees.

“Come, there is a pond and fountain in the walled garden over there,” whispered Edward. “I have heard that it is illuminated at night.”

They walked under a pretty wrought iron arch and through a gate into a walled garden. Lucia gasped in wonder as they moved along the path as the fountain was lit with electric lights from inside the pond.

“Isn't it wonderful?” she murmured, admiring the effect of the water splashing out of the dolphin's spout in the middle of the fountain.

She turned to look at Edward and was stunned when he suddenly lunged forward and attempted to plant a kiss full on her mouth.

“Edward!” she cried moving to one side. “What are you doing?”

He leapt back as if he had been scalded.

“I'm sorry, Lucia. I did not mean to offend you. It was just that I was so intoxicated by the lights and your beauty.”

Lucia pushed him firmly away and turned back towards the house.

“I think we should go inside,” she said, hurrying back along the path.

“Lucia! Forgive me,” called Edward, as he tried to catch up with her.

Back inside he found her by the buffet.

“Lucia, I am sorry – I – ”

“Edward, we shall not mention it again.”

“I thought you might not find the idea of kissing me repugnant.”

“Indeed, I do not,” she replied. “But there is a time and a place for that sort of thing. We must take things slowly.”

“Of course, dearest. I am sorry. Say you'll come riding with me tomorrow otherwise I will not sleep tonight. I must know that I have not offended you so much that you will not continue to see me.”

“Shall we ride out on your horses?” asked Lucia craftily. She harboured a desire to try out the fine chestnut stallion he had ridden to Bingham Hall when he came to call on her.

“Of course. My stables are at your disposal.”

“Very well, I accept,” she replied a little haughtily.

She had remembered what her French friend, Janine, had said to her about treating gentlemen coolly as it only increased their ardour.

“Thank you. Thank you.”

‘It may be easier than I had believed to ensnare him,' thought Lucia, as they sought out a place to sit down.

She had barely taken a few mouthfuls of the prawn vol au vents when her stepfather came through the crowd towards her.

“Lucia, I would speak to you privately. I confess that I have tired of this ball and wish to return home. Are you ready to leave?”

Lucia looked at the clock. It was only half-past ten, but the incident with Edward had somewhat soured her evening.

“Let me finish these few morsels and I will come home with you,” she agreed.

“Edward, you will not mind if I leave now with my stepfather, will you?”

He hesitated for a moment and did not look at all pleased.

“Of course not,” he answered, as etiquette demanded. “I will send my carriage for you tomorrow afternoon at two o'clock.”

He took her hand and kissed it.

As he moved away, he gave her a look that convinced her she had wounded him enough to make him want to come back.

“Goodnight, Lucia. Goodnight, Sir Arthur.”

He turned round and was soon lost in the crowd.

“I will have the footman fetch your coat. I will wait for you at the entrance,” said Sir Arthur dourly.

Lucia went to find Emmeline to bid her goodbye and then hurried out of the ballroom.

As she left, she caught a glimpse of Lord Winterton. He appeared deep in conversation with an attractive middle-aged woman who was wearing just a few too many diamonds.

His hot eyes followed her and she felt herself flush.

‘He is so impudent,' she said to herself once again.

Sir Arthur was waiting for her along with a footman who held her velvet coat.

Briggs was already in the motor car with the engine running when they emerged into the chilly night air. The hood had been pulled down and he pulled a warm woollen rug over her legs.

As the car drew away, her stepfather announced,

“Well, I have found a solution to our little problem.” Lucia felt sick.

‘Why do I believe this might involve me?' she asked herself as her heart raced.

“I have struck a most agreeable deal with Lord Winterton,” he continued. “He tells me that he finds himself lacking a good secretary and I happened to mention how good you are at replying to correspondence. Your Mama is forever praising your ability to write letters and so, when he said he required someone, I suggested you. In return for your services, he will lend me the money we need to get ourselves out of trouble.”

Lucia was half elated and half horrified – she was not averse to the idea of working. After all, it would take her out of the house, but this was so sudden.

And the details of the deal were yet to be revealed. She assumed that she would be working for no remuneration in order to repay the debt.

“That is very generous of him,” she answered slowly, “but I find it hard to believe that he will be happy with my working for him for nothing. I shall not accrue enough earnings in a million years, even if I work all day, every day”

Sir Arthur also took his time in replying. He did not meet her gaze, he simply continued to stare straight ahead as he answered her,

“You are a clever girl and I will not seek to pull the wool over your eyes. I have agreed to Lord Winterton marrying you after six months, should he find you agreeable.”

Lucia felt as if the bottom had just fallen out of her world. She gripped on to the side of the car as it rocked around a corner and could hardly speak.

“You – have – bargained with me – as the security and deposit?” she stammered. “How could you do that? I do not wish to marry the man! Edward de Redcliffe – ”

“Edward de Redcliffe is not offering me twenty-five thousand pounds to get us out of the trouble largely caused by your father's imprudence,” he shouted flying into a rage. “I am now head of the house and, if you know what is good for you, you will do as I say without a word to the contrary!”