Page 19 of Lady Elizabeth's Winter Stranger
Elizabeth looked her best when she ventured downstairs for the family Christmas celebrations.If she’d had the faithful Flossie helping her dress, she might have been able to contrive an unflattering appearance.But her mother had sent her daunting lady’s maid Josette in to ensure that no curl remained unarranged and that Elizabeth wore her prettiest gown.If she’d hoped to look like a total fright to deter Stanton Morley-Bridges from pursuing her, those hopes died the moment Josette appeared.
As Elizabeth approached the drawing room, she felt queasy.Gales of laughter and the buzz of happy conversation emerged from behind the closed door.It seemed that everybody except her was getting into the festive spirit.
Things had been bad enough when she’d learned that her father intended to foist her off onto an unknown and unappealing suitor.They were worse, now that she’d met Tom and had a very different beau in mind as a potential husband.
At least she’d managed to slip back into the house unnoticed.Although only by the skin of her teeth.She’d just hung up Mrs.Dawkins’s cape when the housekeeper herself bustled into the kitchens.Thank heavens, the woman was too focused on getting the extravagant meal started to notice the garment’s damp hem.
Not long after that, the family had arrived.If Elizabeth had succumbed to temptation and lingered even a few minutes longer with Tom, she’d have come undone.
Before dressing for dinner, all the Tierneys had congregated in front of the drawing room fire for spiced wine and mince pies and the exchange of gifts.Guy was there, and her mother and father, and her two younger sisters and little brother.
Elizabeth had tried to corner her father to talk about his absurd ultimatum, but he was canny enough to avoid a tête-à-tête.Not for nothing was he known as one of Westminster’s slipperiest politicians.Amidst the uproarious chaos, there was little chance for a serious discussion anyway.Which wouldn’t have irked her nearly so much, if she wasn’t sure that her father had arranged the timing of his letter precisely to match all the distracting activity.
When she gave him a gift and a dutiful kiss – Elizabeth wasn’t feeling particularly fond of her papa right now – he’d asked if she’d received his letter.Her cold response hadn’t dampened his mood at all.Nor had he lingered with her.Instead, he’d patted her cheek and turned away to give a present to her sister Susannah.Elizabeth could see that it would be Boxing Day before she found an opportunity to beg him to relent.
She’d tried to waylay her mother, once everyone went upstairs to prepare for the evening’s festivities.Lady Tierney could generally bring her husband around.But Mamma had chased her away, saying time was too short for a coze when visitors were due in an hour.
So now when Will the footman opened the door to the crowded drawing room, Elizabeth felt frustrated and trapped and ignored, and very sorry for herself indeed.She was so upset that it took her a few seconds to see the people inside as individuals and not just a solid wall of humanity.Humanity amidst masses of holly and mistletoe, hauled down from Cumbria to adorn the house.
Apart from her little brother Peregrine, everyone was drinking champagne.Her mother and father stood in front of the hearth, looking very pleased with themselves.Her sisters, Susannah and Marianne, were talking to Lord and Lady Shelburn who had stayed in Town for Christmas this year.As had the Colvilles, and Lord Denton and his new bride Anthea, all of whom were deep in conversation in front of the tall window with its amber velvet curtains.Her father’s two widowed sisters, who lived at opposite ends of the country, sat exchanging gossip on the brocade sofa near the fire.
A peal of masculine laughter made her glance toward the far corner, where Guy was talking to Ivor Bilson and another man who had his back to her.Her heart surged up to lodge in her throat, as she took in broad shoulders and glossy black curls.The stranger was very tall, a few inches over Guy’s six feet.
This must be the dreaded Stanton Morley-Bridges.The urge to turn on her heel and flee back to her bedroom rose, but she knew that wouldn’t help her.Let her at least meet her nemesis and work out how best to discourage any interest he showed.
Whatever happened, she refused to buckle under her father’s tyranny.She was braver than that.She leveled her shoulders and raised her chin and told herself that she’d come out of this somehow.
Her father looked toward her and had the nerve to send her a beaming smile.Very pointedly, she didn’t smile back.“Elizabeth, we wondered where you’d got to.”
No, he hadn’t wondered, the lying snake.He knew that she’d stayed upstairs as long as she could to put off the promised introduction.
Her father’s greeting created a lull in the conversation.All attention fixed on her, and the unknown young man turned slowly in her direction.
When she met a familiar pair of silver eyes, a haze descended over her and her heart stuttered to a stop.She felt like someone had punched her in the stomach.
Through her speechless bafflement, she saw Tom smiling at her as if she was exactly what he wanted for Christmas.What on earth was going on?How could this be?Was Stanton Morley-Bridges yet to arrive?And what in blazes was Tom doing here?Her heart thudded in her ears, as she struggled to make sense of what she saw.
Tom noted her appalled reaction.His spontaneous joy at seeing her faded, replaced by concern.She was too shocked to know what she felt.Or to hide it.The haze around her thickened.The room receded down a long tunnel, and she reached out with a shaking hand to clutch the bronze doorknob behind her.
“Elizabeth, I’ve been dying to introduce you to my friend, Tom.”Guy clapped Tom on the shoulder and urged him toward her.“Tom, this is my sister, Elizabeth.I’ve told you all about her.”
“Yes, you have.”Tom approached with a worried frown and an audible note of caution.“Lady Elizabeth, I’m delighted to make your acquaintance.”
Without thinking, she extended her hand and he caught it.Rather than a polite gesture, his grip felt like the only thing keeping her upright.It was the first time that they’d touched each other without gloves.Even through her turmoil, she felt a wave of heat wash over her.
“I don’t…” What could she call him?She couldn’t call him Tom when everyone here thought they were meeting for the first time.While all the time, the horrifying truth pounded through her over and over.He knew who you were.He knew who you were.He’d deceived her from the first.
Tom bent over her hand and glanced up.“Breathe,” his lips formed soundlessly.
She blinked and realized at last that she was making an exhibition of herself.Her hand clenched on his, as she sucked in a shaky breath.Straightaway the room’s details sharpened, including the curious gazes aimed her way.Still grasping Tom’s hand, she stepped away from the door on shaky legs.
Guy was talking about something.Through the rush of blood in her ears, she heard him say the impossible.“This is Stanton Morley-Bridges, Viscount Fairchild.We met while I was in Paris last year.I saw at once that he’s a thoroughly good chap.”
“Good chap” was the highest praise in her brother’s vocabulary.Elizabeth however remained bewildered.“But isn’t your name Tom?”
Tom had straightened.Now he cast her a faintly apologetic look.“When I was born, my older sister couldn’t manage Stanton, so she used to call me Tom.It stuck.”
Elizabeth supposed it made sense, if anything about this farcical encounter made sense.When Tom’s hand tightened on hers, she realized that she still clutched at him.On a surge of anger, she snatched her hand back.
