Page 13 of The Book of Lost Stories
Alys could only be deeply grateful that her aunt had not.
*
When the two girls were standing together later, sipping lemonade and fanning themselves, Alys described the encounter, especially the amazing coincidence of Lord Rayven’s resembling her villain to a quite extraordinary degree. ‘Except that I have givenmyvillain brown eyes, but perhaps it would be less commonplace to change them to dark blue, like his? And Lord Rayven has a scar across his cheek that would make an interestingly sinister addition, too.’
Nell agreed. ‘He was pointed out to me yesterday when we were coming away from the library and he does indeed look just the part. He’s so tall and forbidding that it would put mein a quake to speak to him. Neither does he sound in the least agreeable.’
‘Agreeable? No, he was certainly notthat. I did not like his manner in the least, and his singling me out in such a way has made my aunt quiz me on the subject until I could scream. But I do not suppose I will ever see him again, or if I do, that he will favour me with more than a common bow in passing, so she will very soon forget all about him.’
‘It is a pity Lord Rayven did not turn out to be that divinely fair young man we saw the other day, getting into a post-chaise,’ Nell giggled. ‘Such a profile! And I wish my hair was as golden.’
‘Hewasa veritable Adonis. I may have him for Malvina’s betrothed, Alfonz, for if the villain is dark, the hero should be angelically fair.’
Nell looked at her admiringly. ‘You are so much cleverer than I, Alys. Pray, will you read me a little more of your novel after dinner? I swear I did not sleep for hours last night, imagining that a ghostly monk was standing over my bed!’
‘Be grateful that my intention is marriage,’ said Raymundo Ravegnac.
‘But I am betrothed to Alfonz Montroth. He will seek my release!’
He uttered a bark of laughter that chilled Malvina to the bone. ‘Do not look for rescue there! Who do you think it was who betrayed you into my hands? How came we to find your secret trysting place, if he did not lead us there?’
‘How indeed?’ Alys muttered as, seated at her little travelling desk, she wrote furiously into the night, both disturbed andinspired by her encounter with the sardonic and discomforting Lord Rayven.
When the candles began to gutter and she went to bed, it was to dream not of the golden youth she and Nell had so briefly glimpsed, but of a darker and more brooding presence.
6
Dread Excitement
The dark shadows seemed to swoop and swirl around her head and she grew dizzy with a kind of dread excitement. ‘No, my beloved Alfonz would never do such a thing,’ she uttered weakly. ‘I know it in my heart, for he loves me.’
The Travails of Lady MalvinabyORLANDO BROWNE
Alys’s hopes were not realized, for Lord Rayven began to frequent Harrogate only, it seemed, in order to seek her out and tease her. Although she gave him no encouragement – indeed, she was reserved in manner to the point of rudeness – Lady Basset did all in her power to throw them together, contriving embarrassingly transparent reasons for leaving them alone.
‘Do you make a long stay in Harrogate, Miss Weston?’ Lord Rayven enquired one day as they strolled down the streettogether, Lady Basset having conjured up an imaginary item of shopping she must immediately obtain and requesting his lordship to walk on towards the green with Alys.
‘Two weeks only,’ she replied shortly. She had had perforce to take his arm, and was very conscious of the taut muscles beneath the coat of blue superfine – and also of the glances other ladies gave his tall, broad-shouldered and striking figure as they passed.
‘And do you think you will achieve your purpose in such a short time?’ He raised a dark brow. ‘That is confidence, indeed.’
Alys glanced up at him, frowning, although this did little to detract from the picture of innocent prettiness she presented in her simple sprigged muslin gown and chip straw bonnet. ‘Our purpose was to see if the waters would improve Lady Basset’s health, and I am happy to say that she does seem better.’
‘But not yoursolepurpose, surely? You have several admirers in the town, and I am convinced that old Colonel Lamphlet is trying to fix his interest with you. He gave me such a glare at the Assembly Rooms yesterday that I was in dread of being called out for my audacity in engaging you in conversation.’
‘Lord Rayven, such talk as this may amuse my aunt, but it does not please me,’ Alys said forthrightly, tilting her square chin upwards so that she could look him directly in the face. ‘Colonel Lamphlet was merely being gallant, and I have no thought of marriage with him or anyone else.’
‘Then you are entirely singular among young ladies of my acquaintance.’
Singular, Alys thought, summed up her probable destiny more aptly than he imagined!
*
With all the delights on offer, the distraction of new acquaintance, and the unsought and alarming attentions of Lord Rayven, it was perhaps not surprising that the end of their short visit had just begun to beckon before Alys gave much thought to poor Letty’s situation.
Although Miss Grimshaw had bravely expressed her willingness to take on her duties while Alys enjoyed her treat, Alys knew she dreaded it. Her soft voice irritated the major and she did not have the courage to keep any kind of control over the amount he drank, or the unsuitable foods he demanded, which would make him liverish and so lead to even more explosions of rage.
No, Alys guiltily feared Letty must be having a sad time of it, and remorsefully set out to describe at length her doings for her amusement, for other than a brief note dashed off assuring her of their safe arrival, including a description of Priory Chase, she had not written to her.
