The Aim of a Lady (6 page)

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Lord Franston had been more than a little annoyed when he read his daughter’s note. In spite of her plea he had no intention of approaching Vallert to have him withdraw the announcement, nor of doing so himself. He had seen four of her older brothers and sisters safely married off; Alonna was the last of them and he was intent on seeing the business settled once and for all. If Vallert wanted to marry her, he could have her. Not such a bad fellow, either. There was no reason why Alonna should refuse him, and she would thank her father in the future for his patience with her.

Ever since the announcement had appeared, Vallert himself had been a prey to misgivings. When his friends began to congratulate him and mere acquaintances stopped him in the street to express their knowledge of his impending marriage, he suddenly realized what he had done. If Miss Sanfield refused to marry him now he would be a laughingstock. With some trepidation he took himself to the Franston town house the day after the announcement appeared, only to be informed, as George Savile had been an hour previously, that Miss Sanfield was not at home.

Vallert, however, knew precisely where to find Lord Franston at this hour of the day, and he repaired to Batson’s Coffee House in Cornhill where he knew the old boy would be smoking his pipe and reading the papers.

Batson’s was a favorite meeting place for such as Lord Franston, and Vallert had been obliged to meet him there, rather than at his home, several days previously when he had sought to pay his addresses to Franston’s daughter. The old man was happily blowing his cloud in exactly the same chair Vallert had found him in on that other occasion.

“Lord Franston, I would have a word with you if I may,” he said crisply in an attempt to gain the upper hand from the start.

“Ah, Vallert. Have a seat, young man,” Lord Franston offered with a negligent wave of his hand toward a chair covered with newspapers.

The younger man removed these and seated himself as carelessly as was possible without indicating disrespect for his prospective father-in-law. “I attempted to call on Miss Alonna this morning and was told that she was not at home,” he said accusingly.

“Very true, dear boy. She has gone to her sister. About to have a child, you know.”

“Who is about to have a child?” Vallert asked, astonished.

“M’daughter Margaret, of course. Alonna says she will not have you. Very upset about the announcement you put in the papers. Must have made a mull of asking her, young man,” he grunted, with a piercing look at his companion.

Vallert waved the objection aside. “It is merely a maiden’s shyness. I feel sure that now the engagement is announced she will see the reasonableness of going through with it.”

“Much as I feel myself,” Franston agreed.

“She should not have left town just now when we should be seen together,” Vallert pointed out aggrievedly.

“Well, go and bring her back,” her father suggested as he calmly drew on his pipe.

“So I shall,” Vallert pronounced, bristling. “Where is she?”

“I told you, with her sister.”

“And where does her sister reside?” Vallert asked with exaggerated patience.

“Near Colchester. Trafford Hall they call it. Fancy place but not at all to my liking.”

“I shall tell her you sent me to fetch her,” Vallert suggested slyly.

“Good idea. Not one to disobey her own father, that girl. When will you leave?”

“Tomorrow. I have an engagement this evening with some friends, but you can look for us the day after, I have no doubt.”

“Indeed.” Franston smiled earnestly at the younger man. “Make sure you don’t muff it this time, my boy.”

Vallert did not consider this remark worth responding to. He bowed to the old man and took himself off feeling much better than he had since the announcement had appeared. Miss Alonna was mistaken when she said that her father’s permission was no more than that; the old man obviously intended that Vallert should have her whether she desired it or not.

Chapter Six

Alonna’s first thought on awakening at the inn was that perhaps today the retraction had appeared, if her father had gone to the Catherine Street office of the Herald the previous afternoon. No, probably it would be another day before it appeared, and even longer before she held it in her own hands. She sighed as Drucy assisted her into her long-sleeved, full-skirted blue muslin. Drucy left her in the dining parlor; the maid took her own meal in the noisy, bustling kitchen. Alonna shyly surveyed the room with its blazing fire and cheerful red curtains. She had never stayed at an inn with only a maid before but she did not wish to behave as though it were a new experience, so she seated herself and ordered a cup of chocolate and toast from the rosy-cheeked serving girl who approached her. There were a number of other occupants in the room, each intent on his meal, and not a glance was directed at her.

When the landlord came to inform her that the post chaise would be ready in half an hour, she thanked him and dawdled over her meager meal, stretching it over the necessary period of time. She paid the reckoning and sent for her maid as though it were a matter of course. Nothing raised her courage so well as imagining that George Savile was watching her as she climbed into the carriage. Soon the landscape began to look vaguely familiar, for she had visited her sister several years previously for a summer.

Once through the gates Alonna could see the ridiculous but loveable mushroom-shaped shrubs which dotted the space before Trafford Hall. The Hall itself was a courtyard house with its entrance in the side of one of the two projections on the main front. There were five-sided, square and plump semicircular bays parading across the front, and steep, finialed gables which vied with battlements and tall, slender chimney stacks. The house was close to two hundred years old and its facade had not been altered in any way. Even the stone-mullioned windows remained. Alonna had never been so pleased to arrive at any place in her life.

The postillions were paid and the post chaise dismissed before the butler arrived at the front door to ascertain who had arrived. He recognized Alonna immediately from her earlier stay in the house, and his astonishment was quickly masked. While she and Drucy were shown into the hall, a maid was sent to prepare rooms for them.

“Lady Trafford is at home, is she not, Lake?” Alonna asked anxiously.

“She has just been brought to bed, Miss Sanfield. We were not expecting you, were we?”

“No,” she laughed. “I will go to her at once if the doctor permits. Perhaps I can be of use to her.”

Though he did not say so, the butler doubted the possibility, but led her to her sister’s bedchamber where she found her brother-in-law and the doctor in the dressing room. Lord Trafford started when he saw her and the doctor looked aggrieved at her sudden advent.

“Philip, I hope all is well with Margaret,” she burst out anxiously.

“Alonna! Where have you sprung from? Yes, Margaret is coming along fine, but Dr. Newton has just advised me that we are about to have twins.”

“How splendid! And Mark—is he well?”

Lord Trafford smiled. “Yes, but he is very anxious to hear news of his new brother or sister.”

Alonna turned her gaze to Dr. Newton as her brother-in-law introduced her. “I do not wish to be in the way, Doctor, but if there is anything I can do to help I hope you will allow me.”

The doctor regarded her with more tolerance than when she had entered the room. “I feel sure your sister would welcome your presence for a few minutes. You may go in to her if you wish.”

The bedchamber was darkened and her sister Margaret lay on the enormous fourposter with a maid sponging her brow. As blond as her sister, and usually as well-groomed, Margaret’s hair was now in disarray and the blue eyes were not so alert and sparkling as usual.

“Margaret, it is Alonna.”

Margaret turned her head toward the door and her face broke into a smile which delighted her sister. “Oh, Alonna, how good it is to see you! Tilda was to have come but she has been indisposed these last two weeks, and Philip’s mother is not due until tomorrow.” She gasped as a wave of pain engulfed her.

In a moment Alonna was taking her sister’s hand in a gentle clasp. When Margaret’s face cleared again, she said encouragingly, “I hear you are about to produce two children, you clever girl.”

Margaret giggled. “Is Philip stunned? Dr. Newton will not allow him in here.”

“He seemed a trifle overcome, but I could not tell if it was because of the twins or my arrival.”

“Why are you come, love? Is Papa with you?”

“No, he is in town. I wanted to get away from London for a space,” Alonna said carefully, “and there was nowhere I would rather come than to you. The babies are a little early, are they not?”

Stoically enduring another wave of discomfort, Margaret was unable to answer for a moment. “Dr. Newton says it is often the case with twins. Tell me what you’ve been doing.”

Alonna drew a chair up to the bed and regaled her sister with stories of her activities in town, with never a mention of Vallert’s proposal. She paused each time her sister cried out or clenched her hand, only to continue again when the pain had passed. Eventually Dr. Newton came into the room to examine his patient and indicated that Alonna should leave.

Margaret turned to her with wistful eyes and Alonna smiled. “I shall stay, Doctor, since Margaret wishes it.”

A formidable frown creased his brow. “Lady Trafford, your sister is...young to witness such an event.”

Guiltily, Margaret said with reluctance, “Perhaps he is right...I did not think.” Another contraction seized her and her grip on Alonna’s hand tightened. Alonna sat calmly by her side, a hand soothing her sister’s brow. “I shall not mind, my dear. Depend on me.”

With an exasperated shrug, Dr. Newton desisted. Aristocratic ladies were not to be argued with. “It will not be long now, my lady.” He turned to the maid and gave her some low-voiced instructions which sent her bustling from the room.

From the bedside table Alonna picked up a book and opened it to the leather marker. She read in an even voice, pausing when her hand was gripped painfully, and continuing when the hand relaxed. After a while there was a change in the movements of the woman beside her and Alonna looked questioningly at the doctor.

“She is about to push the babies out now. Put the book aside,” he said gruffly.

For the next half hour Alonna encouraged her sister to do as the doctor instructed. Margaret seemed dazed with the effort and Alonna felt concerned for her, but Dr. Newton continued to guide her gently and imperturbably. Alonna gazed in wonder as he lifted a squalling infant, and a few minutes later another, and handed one to the maid and another to her, each child wrapped in a blanket.

“Oh, Margaret, they’re beautiful,” she gasped, the tears streaming down her cheeks. She handed the infant she held to her sister to see and Margaret smiled, weary but pleased. “This one is a girl.”

“The other is a boy,” Dr. Newton said, with an enormous grin. He proceeded to instruct the bathing of the babies and calmly explained what was happening when there was activity about Margaret once more.

When everything was quiet and a second cradle had been procured from the nursery, Philip was allowed into the room to view his two new children. He went first to his wife, though, to sit by her and speak quietly, holding her hand. She had to urge him to leave her to see the babies, but her face was radiant when Alonna slipped from the room.

The housekeeper indicated the chamber which had been prepared for her and promised to have a meal sent up directly. Alonna dropped into a chair in her room, exhausted by the strain of seeing her sister in pain and exhilarated by the miracle she had witnessed. A smile crept over her face and she laughed out loud at the pure joy of witnessing the arrival of a child, nay, two children, into the world. When there was a tap at the door, Drucy brought in a tray for her and proceeded to listen spellbound to her mistress’s excited tale of the arrival of her newest nephew and niece.

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Allison and Walter Dodge arrived at the Park at midmorning. Alma had put in no appearance since his return from the stud farm, so Diana sent a message to inform him that her guests had arrived if he would be interested in seeing them. Mrs. Lewis had wandered off to chat of their mutual acquaintances with the housekeeper, so Diana greeted the Dodges in the main parlor alone.

“Has Lord Alma left, Diana?” Allison asked, surprised.

“No, but he may be indisposed. He had an accident a few days ago and is unable to sit, which is very irksome,” she said ruefully. “I had hoped that Walter might have a game of billiards with him. You cannot imagine how difficult it is to think up activities that do not involve seating oneself.”

Allison giggled. “Does he come to meals?”

“Not usually, though we did eat at the sideboard at luncheon yesterday.” She sighed. “I caused his accident, so he is none too happy with me.”

For the first time Walter spoke, a martial light in his serious brown eyes. “That is not very polite of him. A gentleman should not hold a grudge against a lady.”

“Well, Walter, if I were a total stranger to you and I shot you with an arrow, even you might be vexed with me.”

Allison’s eyes widened. “You shot him?”

“Yes, for he galloped behind my target just as Rogue jumped on me and made my arrow go astray. I do not blame Lord Alma for his irritation, nor for being sadly out of countenance, but there is so little I can do to keep him busy. George had invited him to stay for a few days but unexpectedly had to drive to London on urgent business.” Diana gazed out the window thoughtfully and wondered if her brother was engaged by now.

There was a movement at the door and Diana glanced up to see Alma enter. He bowed formally to the Dodges and began a conversation with Allison, who was to leave for London with her brother and parents in a week’s time to be introduced to London society; she was delighted to meet someone so well acquainted with the metropolis.

Walter welcomed the opportunity to speak with Diana. She had kindly but firmly refused his offer of marriage at Christmas, but he hoped that with time he would be able to overcome her reluctance. Diana trusted that he would meet someone to his liking while in London with his family and she had therefore determined on a ruthless course of assuring him that she would not change her mind. Only if he reached London with that understanding would he make some effort to enjoy the company of the young women he would meet there.