Page 49 of The Book of Lost Stories
But the chapel with the rather decayed effigies particularlytook her fancy. Lord Rayven watched her in some amusement as she carefully looked over each, before standing in the middle and murmuring, with her eyes half-closed, ‘At night, illuminated only by rays of moonlight shining through the windows? If this should be the chapel of some Gothic mansion, and she is locked there, alone … She tells herself there is nothing to fear from the dead or from the waxen figures, but then one begins to slowly move towards her …’
She opened her eyes and saw that Rayven was watching her with a very odd expression on his face. ‘Oh, pray excuse me,’ she said with an unconvincing laugh, ‘for I have been reading too many novels, you know, so that my imagination runs away with me.’
‘Yes, so I perceive. Perhaps you should read the more sober works of Miss Austen until you have recovered from such fits of fancy?’
‘I very much enjoy her books already, for her heroines are sensible and she sorts out the tangles so neatly—’ She stopped.
‘Well, if you have seen enough, perhaps we should return home?’ he suggested.
Alys cast a last lingering glance at the still figures around her, then reluctantly accompanied him out, intending to write down the scene that had occurred to her the very second she could, for it was so vivid in her mind.
Lord Rayven left her at the Rivers’ house with an admonition not to walk Pug alone any more, to which she answered nothing, not meaning to let one unfortunate accident stop her – although she might, for the time being, avoid crossing the road …
*
Alys just had time to pen a description of her accident and her impressions of the chapel at Westminster Abbey before breakfast. They would have to be written up later, for not only was she to learn the steps of the quadrille that day, but also visit her grandfather again.
An escape from under the wheels of a mysterious carriage would become an exciting new chapter inDeath or Dishonour, a deliberate and murderous act on the part of the villainous Sir Lemuel Grosby, who wished to kill his wife and so leave the way clear to marry Drusilla, who was an heiress, although she did not yet know it.
Perhaps when she snatches Lady Grosby from under the very wheels, Drusilla catches sight of the fury on Sir Lemuel’s face, but he explains it as being directed at the driver …? Alys mused.
But in her own case, of course, no one could desire her death. It had been an unfortunate accident and the driver had been too afraid of what he might have done to turn back.
*
The Misses Chibberly were both sad romps and had brought their lively younger brother with them to be her partner. Alys found the dancing practice somewhat exhausting, especially since she was already conscious of stiffness and bruising in places a lady was not supposed to mention, from her sudden contact with the hard road that morning.
But by the end of it she thought she had a reasonable grasp of the complicated steps of the quadrille and even the rudiments of the waltz. However, she did not think herself likelyever to be confident enough to take to the floor in that dance, even had she the opportunity.
She arrived at the Hartwood mansion just as a gentleman strangely attired in striped pantaloons of voluminous cut, caught in at the ankle, was coming out.
When she was shown up to her grandfather’s room, she found him brooding over a fine ivory chess set.
‘I do not suppose you play chess? Lord Petersham has just given me a game, but his play is damned erratic!’
‘Oh, isthatwho it was I saw leaving the house?’ Alys had heard of the rather eccentric peer. ‘Yes, I do know the rudiments of chess, for my cousin James Basset taught me, although he would play no more once I achieved proficiency at the game and always won. It was unfortunate, for I enjoyed it. I tried to teach it to Miss Grimshaw, my companion, but she could never quite grasp it. Papa had not the patience for it.’
‘Then you may give me a game,’ Titus said, beginning to set out the pieces.
‘Very well, although I warn you I am very out of practice,’ Alys replied, casting her bonnet on to a chair and sitting down opposite him. She started with caution, finding him as hard and wily an opponent as she would have expected, but soon began to gain enough confidence to give him a run for his money. He had the final victory, but it was hard fought.
‘You play well – for a girl.’
‘Thank you,’ she said drily. ‘That is a compliment indeed. I hope, if you will give me a little more practice, to play even better.’
‘You can come back tomorrow.’
‘I am afraid I cannot; I am driving out to Kew with Mrs Rivers. She interests herself in a charitable house run by anevangelical group of ladies, designed to take poor children and fit them for respectable occupations as servants, and I am looking forward to the visit.’
‘Then the day after. I do not suppose that your days are yet so full of engagements that you cannot spare your grandfather an occasional hour of your time?’
‘No, and of course if you wish it, I will come.’
‘I hear that Rayven was squiring you about Town this morning.’
She stared at him in astonishment. ‘How quickly news travels, but I should not be surprised when the very day after we met, half of London seemed to know of our relationship. But you must know that I am the most complete country bumpkin and wish to see all the sights of London, and Lord Rayven insists on going with me, although I have no need of an escort.’
‘Yes, he wrote to me himself to say he was to do so, for he knew I would not like you to go alone. But your cousin Nat would do the same office.’
