thought about him being with her, but you haven’t seen them for yourself. And maybe, too, in your bitterness, you’ve forgotten that although Alicia may have a rather scandalous reputation, she’s still a very beautiful and fascinating woman, certainly beautiful and fascinating enough to keep her hold on a man like Ardenley.’ He got up then. ‘I’ll ask you again, Jane, and again, until you accept, of that you may be sure. And remember, if you need me to escort you later, just ask.’ Leaning over, he kissed her lightly on the cheek and then left.
Later, with the letter to her aunt completed at last, Jane went up to her rooms to begin her lengthy preparations for the ball, and in the first instance that meant taking a bath. Ellen undressed her and brushed her long dark hair before pinning it up into a loose knot on the top of her head. Then the maid drew a screen around the elegant copper bath tub in the center of the little bathroom, and Jane stepped into the deliciously warm, lavender-scented water. She leaned her head back against the soft pink cloth which had been draped around the tub, and closed her eyes. The bath was meant to be relaxing, but she had far too much on her mind for that. First there was Henry and his atrociously ill-timed flight to Brighton; then there was Charles; and finally there was Lewis….
Her thoughts traveled back to the first time she’d met him. It had been at Kensington Palace the previous June, when society had attended the christening celebrations of the little Princess Victoria, daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Kent. After a while, she and Lewis had slipped out into the gardens overlooking Hyde Park, and had walked between the flowerbeds which had been a riot of roses, geraniums, and honeysuckle. How sweet andwarm the air had been, and how still. Above them had wheeled the rooks and jackdaws for which the palace was famous, and the sound of music had drifted out from the great assembly within. Not a word had passed between them – indeed, they’d hardly spoken at all from that first fateful moment when Henry had introduced them. As he’d taken her hand and drawn it to his lips, his gray eyes so dark and clear as they’d gazed into hers, she’d felt a shock of emotion pass through her such as she’d never known before. Then, as they walked in the gardens, their hands had brushed together again, oh, so briefly. He’d pulled her into his arms, her body crushed close to his, her lips bruised with the passion of his kiss, a passion she’d returned. She’d lost her heart and soul to him, and both would be his until the day she died; but he’d only been toying with her, he had no heart, and his soul was cold.
‘My lady?’ Ellen’s voice roused her.
‘Yes?’
‘Your gown has been delivered.’
‘Oh, good. I don’t suppose there’s any word of the earl?’
‘No, my lady, I’m afraid not.’
Jane finished her bath and then put on her wrap. Ellen had turned back her bed for her to sleep, because the ball was bound to go on until almost dawn, but it was impossible with all the din still going on in the street. The queen had evidently appeared on the balcony again, for the noise was tumultuous.
She must have managed a little sleep in the end, for Ellen was suddenly bringing her some tea, and the crimson and gold of sunset was slanting into the room. The crowd was still chanting.
Jane sat up, looking hopefully at the maid, but Ellen shook her head. ‘There’s still no word, my lady.’
Jane’s heart sank. He’d forgotten completely, she knew that he had. What was she going to say to poor Blanche? And what was she going to do about her own escort? She didn’t really want to ask Charles, not so quickly after his proposal – she’d feel a little awkward being so alone with him. No, it would be better to take Ellen and trust that her predicament was understood .
‘Ellen, I’d like you to come in the carriage with me tonight.’
‘Yes, my lady.’
She
Later, with the letter to her aunt completed at last, Jane went up to her rooms to begin her lengthy preparations for the ball, and in the first instance that meant taking a bath. Ellen undressed her and brushed her long dark hair before pinning it up into a loose knot on the top of her head. Then the maid drew a screen around the elegant copper bath tub in the center of the little bathroom, and Jane stepped into the deliciously warm, lavender-scented water. She leaned her head back against the soft pink cloth which had been draped around the tub, and closed her eyes. The bath was meant to be relaxing, but she had far too much on her mind for that. First there was Henry and his atrociously ill-timed flight to Brighton; then there was Charles; and finally there was Lewis….
Her thoughts traveled back to the first time she’d met him. It had been at Kensington Palace the previous June, when society had attended the christening celebrations of the little Princess Victoria, daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Kent. After a while, she and Lewis had slipped out into the gardens overlooking Hyde Park, and had walked between the flowerbeds which had been a riot of roses, geraniums, and honeysuckle. How sweet andwarm the air had been, and how still. Above them had wheeled the rooks and jackdaws for which the palace was famous, and the sound of music had drifted out from the great assembly within. Not a word had passed between them – indeed, they’d hardly spoken at all from that first fateful moment when Henry had introduced them. As he’d taken her hand and drawn it to his lips, his gray eyes so dark and clear as they’d gazed into hers, she’d felt a shock of emotion pass through her such as she’d never known before. Then, as they walked in the gardens, their hands had brushed together again, oh, so briefly. He’d pulled her into his arms, her body crushed close to his, her lips bruised with the passion of his kiss, a passion she’d returned. She’d lost her heart and soul to him, and both would be his until the day she died; but he’d only been toying with her, he had no heart, and his soul was cold.
‘My lady?’ Ellen’s voice roused her.
‘Yes?’
‘Your gown has been delivered.’
‘Oh, good. I don’t suppose there’s any word of the earl?’
‘No, my lady, I’m afraid not.’
Jane finished her bath and then put on her wrap. Ellen had turned back her bed for her to sleep, because the ball was bound to go on until almost dawn, but it was impossible with all the din still going on in the street. The queen had evidently appeared on the balcony again, for the noise was tumultuous.
She must have managed a little sleep in the end, for Ellen was suddenly bringing her some tea, and the crimson and gold of sunset was slanting into the room. The crowd was still chanting.
Jane sat up, looking hopefully at the maid, but Ellen shook her head. ‘There’s still no word, my lady.’
Jane’s heart sank. He’d forgotten completely, she knew that he had. What was she going to say to poor Blanche? And what was she going to do about her own escort? She didn’t really want to ask Charles, not so quickly after his proposal – she’d feel a little awkward being so alone with him. No, it would be better to take Ellen and trust that her predicament was understood .
‘Ellen, I’d like you to come in the carriage with me tonight.’
‘Yes, my lady.’
She
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