Page 43 of The Banished Bride
“My, my, getting right down to business, I see,” he murmured.
Her face scrunched into an odd grimace. “Why else would we be sitting here talking with each other?”
He looked at her with an equally odd expression. “Why else indeed.”
She thought she finally detected a hint of emotion beneath the show of sang froid as his fingers moved away from their position by her ear to give a nervous tug at the corner of hiswaistcoat. Her suspicion was further confirmed by what looked to be a slight tensing in the muscle of his jaw.
Ha! So the Earl of Woodbridge was not quite as at ease as he wished to appear either.
Alex seemed to be inspecting the polished tips of his boots. “Very well. I was going to suggest that, given we are both adults with a modicum of intelligence and common sense, we might agree to act as in a rational, civilized manner in each other’s presence.”
“You are, in other words, suggesting that we don’t go at each other like cats and dogs.”
He gave a nod.
“That seems to be assuming we are going to be having some sort of contact in the future.” Her brows came together. “I thought everything had been settled. The papers have been signed, and as I told your man of affairs, you may make any changes you wish to the exact wording. From what Mr. Seymour said, there is no reason?—”
“There may be one or two, ah, minor details that still have to be attended to. The solicitors may require us to meet again, and the atmosphere might be more conducive to reaching a mutually acceptable resolution if there was not the threat of flying inkwells. Or reticules.
“I-I suppose that makes some sense,” she mused.
“I thought I could count on your practical bent of mind to see the advantages of such an agreement. In the meantime, it would not be advisable for you to leave London until everything is settled once and for all.” He reached down to flick an invisible speck from the mirror like leather. “As it is impossible to predict just how long that will be, I thought that perhaps you and Miss Robertson would care to see some of the sights the city has to offer. I believe I remember you mentioning that neither of you had ever been here before.”
“You are offering to squire us around Town?”
“The acrobats at Astley’s Amphitheatre, Mrs. Siddons at Haymarket, the menagerie at the Tower, the fireworks at Vauxhall Gardens. That sort of thing.” He gave a low cough. “Polite Society deems it a tad more acceptable if females, especially ones new to theton, are accompanied by a male escort when they go out. I don’t believe you know anyone else in London.”
Aurora chewed on her lower lip. “Robbie would adore the chance to visit all the places she has read about.”
“The ices at Gunter’s are also said to be delectable,” he murmured.
“I-I shall think about it.”
“Do.”
It would mean spending a good of time in Alex’s company, she reflected. Sitting with him in the theatre, close enough to breath in the subtle scent of his musky cologne. Strolling down a torchlit path, her arm resting on his sleeve. Conversing during the carriages rides, forced to watch every nuance of expression that played on the molded curves of his lips.
Aurora set her jaw and turned slightly. “On further consideration, I don’t believe your services will be necessary, my lord.” The words came out rather more sharply that she intended.
His expression remained neutral, but the color of his eyes clouded to a stormy shade of blue. “May I ask why?”
“Don’t you see, sir, how it would be all very confusing. Not to speak of creating a good deal of gossip that would surely cause you embarrassment when the time comes to seek a real wife. ” Her chin rose a fraction. “I mean, we can hardly appear as a married couple on intimate terms, then announce an annulment, without giving rise to all sorts of awkward speculation.”
“If that is your only concern, you needn’t fret overly on it. Since some story was needed to explain your presence in my great aunt’s townhouse, I have already seen to it that she has written to several of her friends who can’t resist a bit of gossip. By now, all thetonwill know that you are Mrs. Sprague, a family connection from the country who has been invited to make use of her townhouse while she was away. I would be seen as merely doing my duty by escorting you and your companion around Town,” he answered quietly.
“You appear to have given this some thought, sir.”
“Why not discuss it with Miss Robertson?” He rose and walked to the bank of high Palladian windows where the sunlight silhouetted his chiseled profile. “Have you had a chance to drive though Hyde Park?” he asked abruptly.
“No.” There was a wistful note to the word. “Not yet.”
“I shall bring my carriage around at five, when all of fashionable Society comes out for the grand promenade.” Aurora looked about to speak, but he went on too quickly to allow an interruption. “You and your friend should at least see such a grand sight while you are here. As for the rest, well, you may tell me your final decision at that time.” He gave a hurried bow and left the room before she could think of any reply.
“We are invitedfor a drive in Hyde Park? Past the Serpentine? Down Rotten Row? At the height of the Season, when the crème de la crème of thetonwill be on parade?” An expression of delight slowly split Miss Robertson’s broad features as the import of the words sunk in. “Oh, what fun!”
“What fun, indeed,” muttered Aurora through gritted teeth.
The older woman put down her teacup and fixed her former charge with a searching look. After some moments she brushed a wisp of grey hair away from the bridge of her spectacles. “Mydear, you needn’t do this for my sake. If the prospect of riding out with the earl is repugnant to you, we shall of course not even consider it.” Her lips pursed in a wry smile. “Since I have managed to exist for over fifty five years without seeing the Tulips of thetoncanter through the park or the young bucks ogle the actresses treading the boards, I imagine I shall not go into a state of permanent decline if the opportunity does not present itself now.”
