sharper than crystal as she relived moment by moment all that had happened next…
It was the supper interval and Alicia was swept up into the group of people surrounding her friend, Caroline Oxley. She felt immediately welcome in the circle of friends, included in their light-hearted banter and with several of the young men making their admiration for her very plain. The food was delicious, the company great fun, and Alicia was thoroughly enjoying her introduction into society.
There was a lull in the conversation, and Alicia looked up to see a girl seated further down the table who was simply sitting staring, her spoonful of strawberries suspended inelegantly halfway to her mouth. Following her rapt gaze, Alicia realised that her eyes were riveted on a man who was threading his way between the tables and was being hailed on all sides. His tall, broad-shouldered figure seemed to draw all eyes and Alicia’s neighbour was not the only lady who was frankly staring.
The stranger had reached Lady Stansfield now and was bowing elegantly over her hand before straightening up to give her a wicked smile. Alicia was amazed to see her grandmother positively preening herself—she who reduced most fashionable young men to stammering incoherence! Still, Lady Stansfield was not completely immune to good looks and this was a very personable young man indeed.
At that moment, Caroline Oxley looked up, gave a shriek and dug her brother Charles painfully in the ribs with her fan.
‘Charles, only look! It’s James Mullineaux, of all people! He never usually attends these affairs!’
‘Too afraid of being pounced upon!’ her brother agreed caustically. He turned to Alicia. ‘You must know, Miss Broseley, that James Mullineaux is considered one of the biggest catches on the marriage mart and is always fighting off eager women! He came into the Marquisate last year, and has been under siege ever since! But I suppose one can’t blame him for that and he’s a capital fellow, really!’
Caroline tutted. ‘Really, Charles! Must you give Alicia the wrong impression from the very start? James Mullineaux is all very well as long as one does not take him too seriously!’ Her perceptive blue gaze swung back to Alicia, and there was the tiniest shadow of concern inher eyes. ‘James is a reckless but charming flirt. He has an air of careless arrogance which many women seem to find fascinating, but, Alicia—’ again, there was that hint of concern ‘—do not believe a word he says, I beg you!’
The Marquis had reached their table by now and was greeting Caroline’s cousin, Charlotte Anstey. Watching Charlotte blush becomingly, Alicia felt a hitherto unexperienced emotion sweep over her which she had no trouble at all in placing as pure jealousy. Judging by the expression on the faces of other ladies nearby, she was not alone.
Fool! she chided herself, but it was without heat. The impact of this man hardly lessened at close quarters, and she could scarcely expect herself to be immune when all about her were devastated by his charm.
Then he was beside her and was demanding an introduction. There was an odd moment of tense silence before Peter Weston complied—as Alicia’s self-constituted beau for the evening, Weston was not best pleased at the sight of such a rival. James Mullineaux noted his friend’s reluctance and the possessive way his arm lay along the back of Alicia’s chair, and his smile deepened.
‘Miss Broseley, this is James, Marquis of Mullineaux.’ Weston sounded even more sulky than he looked. Charles Oxley caught his sister’s eye and they exchanged a meaningful glance.
The Marquis took Alicia’s hand. His dark eyes trapped and held Alicia’s startled green gaze for what seemed like forever. Then he smiled and spoke as though they were quite alone.
‘My grandfather told me once that he had been one of Lady Stansfield’s greatest admirers in their youth. He said that she was the most beautiful woman he had
It was the supper interval and Alicia was swept up into the group of people surrounding her friend, Caroline Oxley. She felt immediately welcome in the circle of friends, included in their light-hearted banter and with several of the young men making their admiration for her very plain. The food was delicious, the company great fun, and Alicia was thoroughly enjoying her introduction into society.
There was a lull in the conversation, and Alicia looked up to see a girl seated further down the table who was simply sitting staring, her spoonful of strawberries suspended inelegantly halfway to her mouth. Following her rapt gaze, Alicia realised that her eyes were riveted on a man who was threading his way between the tables and was being hailed on all sides. His tall, broad-shouldered figure seemed to draw all eyes and Alicia’s neighbour was not the only lady who was frankly staring.
The stranger had reached Lady Stansfield now and was bowing elegantly over her hand before straightening up to give her a wicked smile. Alicia was amazed to see her grandmother positively preening herself—she who reduced most fashionable young men to stammering incoherence! Still, Lady Stansfield was not completely immune to good looks and this was a very personable young man indeed.
At that moment, Caroline Oxley looked up, gave a shriek and dug her brother Charles painfully in the ribs with her fan.
‘Charles, only look! It’s James Mullineaux, of all people! He never usually attends these affairs!’
‘Too afraid of being pounced upon!’ her brother agreed caustically. He turned to Alicia. ‘You must know, Miss Broseley, that James Mullineaux is considered one of the biggest catches on the marriage mart and is always fighting off eager women! He came into the Marquisate last year, and has been under siege ever since! But I suppose one can’t blame him for that and he’s a capital fellow, really!’
Caroline tutted. ‘Really, Charles! Must you give Alicia the wrong impression from the very start? James Mullineaux is all very well as long as one does not take him too seriously!’ Her perceptive blue gaze swung back to Alicia, and there was the tiniest shadow of concern inher eyes. ‘James is a reckless but charming flirt. He has an air of careless arrogance which many women seem to find fascinating, but, Alicia—’ again, there was that hint of concern ‘—do not believe a word he says, I beg you!’
The Marquis had reached their table by now and was greeting Caroline’s cousin, Charlotte Anstey. Watching Charlotte blush becomingly, Alicia felt a hitherto unexperienced emotion sweep over her which she had no trouble at all in placing as pure jealousy. Judging by the expression on the faces of other ladies nearby, she was not alone.
Fool! she chided herself, but it was without heat. The impact of this man hardly lessened at close quarters, and she could scarcely expect herself to be immune when all about her were devastated by his charm.
Then he was beside her and was demanding an introduction. There was an odd moment of tense silence before Peter Weston complied—as Alicia’s self-constituted beau for the evening, Weston was not best pleased at the sight of such a rival. James Mullineaux noted his friend’s reluctance and the possessive way his arm lay along the back of Alicia’s chair, and his smile deepened.
‘Miss Broseley, this is James, Marquis of Mullineaux.’ Weston sounded even more sulky than he looked. Charles Oxley caught his sister’s eye and they exchanged a meaningful glance.
The Marquis took Alicia’s hand. His dark eyes trapped and held Alicia’s startled green gaze for what seemed like forever. Then he smiled and spoke as though they were quite alone.
‘My grandfather told me once that he had been one of Lady Stansfield’s greatest admirers in their youth. He said that she was the most beautiful woman he had
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