Chapter Nine
The duchess gasped, tears springing to her eyes. “You found it where?” Their mama held out her hand, her face a mask of disbelief and happiness. “Let me see.”
Alice placed the little keepsake into the palm of her hand and smiled at the love in which her mama looked down on the brooch.
“I cannot believe I have it back.”
“We were riding home from Ashford and as odd as it is, Victoria and I noticed something glistening on the road. We stopped to see what it was and you can imagine our shock and delight upon seeing your jewel. We rode home as soon as we could, to tell you of our marvelous find.”
Alice caught Victoria’s gaze and smiled. On the way home, after they had changed in the hunting lodge a few miles from the estate, they had agreed on a story as to how and when they’d found the brooch. And if their mama’s overwhelmed happiness was anything to go by, she believed them.
Their mama pinned the brooch to her gown and eyed it lovingly. “I am overjoyed that I have it back. Oh, thank you, daughters. You’ve made me most happy.”
Alice sat, pouring herself a cup of tea. “It was a lucky find, Mama, and nothing more.”
“Even so,” the duchess replied, “I’m in mind to treat you both for your splendid service to me today. On the morrow, we shall travel to Ashford where I shall buy you whatever you wish. Victoria, I know you admired that pink shawl in La Mariette’s store.”
“Thank you, Mama. I would like that very much.” Victoria sat also, admiring the brooch as much as their mama.
Alice pulled her legs up beside her and settled back in her chair. “If you wouldn’t mind Mama, I would like for my gift to be held off until we reach Town. I haven’t found anything in Ashford that I desperately need.”
Their mama raised her brow in surprise. “Truly, daughter? Are you sure there is nothing you would like me to buy or help you with?”
Alice noted her amused tone and wondered at it. Was she teasing her in some way? “I don’t believe so.” She frowned, wondering what she was missing in the conversation.
Her mama laughed. “I merely meant that if you wished for help with the houses you’re refurbishing, I’m willing to donate. Just tell me what you would like me to do.”
“Truly, Mama?” Alice leaned forward, excited at the thought of what she could further do to improve the small homes. “Well, there is something that I think the cottages will need, but haven’t looked into it a lot yet, as we’re a little away from being at that stage of the build.”
“Tell me, and I will see what I can do.”
Her mother’s generosity was more than she thought returning a brooch deserved, but it seemed, when one did a good deed, sometimes good things happened in return. “As you know, the families who live there have very little, and I’m having the builders make all the beds in the cottages as a permanent fixture in the rooms, but I have no linen. No straw or feather mattresses, for that matter. And as much as I would love them to sleep on feather, I know that is an extravagance, but would you help me fit out the cottages with bedding? That would be the best gift in the world, and I’ll not ask for a new wardrobe again unless it’s my husband who’s purchasing one.”
“As much as I’m thrilled you’re still talking of marriage, preparing the bedding for your tenants will be my pleasure. Finding this brooch is something I could never thank you girls enough for. So, it will be an honor to help you.”
Alice stood and hugged her mama. “Thank you so much. This is beyond all my expectations.”
Her mama laughed. “That would make two of us, my dear.” She paused, gathering her wits. “But speaking of your renovations, there is talk in the town of you taking control of the builders, being quite forthright and demanding when it comes to the work commencing and such. I can’t help but think, no matter how fantastic your venture is to help the needy, that your brother would be much better suited to doing what is rightfully a man’s employment.”
“I disagree, Mama. And I’m sorry you’re worried about what people are saying, but I am not. I will help the people of Ashford, and the old fuddy-duddies can go hang.”
“You may be the daughter of a duke, but someone mentioned that your gown was covered in dust and your hair was gray with cobwebs.”
Alice shrugged, taking another sip of tea. “The townspeople ought to be thankful their patron’s daughters are not frivolous and cold-hearted, but wish to make the world a better place and help those who are less fortunate.”
A resigned sigh sounded from her mama and Alice smiled, having won the argument.
“Very well, but try not to make so much of a spectacle of yourself. You are to travel up to London soon for the Season. And I do believe smooth hands would be better met by your gentlemen admirers than calloused ones.”
Victoria chuckled.
“Talking of my cottages, I have another meeting in Ashford tomorrow with Josh and the cabinet maker, so I think I’ll go upstairs and have my dinner sent up tonight. If you don’t mind, Mama. I feel a little tired after today’s adventure.”
“Are you well, my dearest?” her mama asked, concern tinging her voice.
“I’m very well. I just want to relax and rest in my room.” Alice ignored her sister’s concerned glance and stood. “Good night.”
“I’ll come with you. I, too, am feeling a little weary.”
“Will you be down for dinner, Victoria, or should I let the servants know it’ll only be me and Josh?”
“I’ll be down for dinner, Mama, I’m just having a little rest beforehand.” Victoria leaned down and kissed her mother’s cheek, and clasping Alice’s arm, pulled her from the room.
As soon as their slippered feet hit the foyer tiles, Victoria rounded on her. “You said once we returned home and Mama accepted our story that you would tell me what happened with Lord Arndel? You went behind the carriage and were awfully quiet. I demand to know what you’re playing at.”
Alice scoffed and went to walk away, but her sister squeezed her arm—hard. “What are you doing, V?”
“What happened, Alice?”
“Nothing occurred.” The lie, a betrayal to her sister, threatened to release every word, every thought, and action she’d done behind that carriage. To confess how much she had loved every moment of it. How much she longed to experience another such kiss.
“You’re blushing brighter than Mama’s favorite roses.” Victoria threw her an assessing stare, before pulling her toward the staircase. “You kissed him, didn’t you?”
Shame, mixed with excitement, ran through Alice, and heat suffused her face. “I didn’t think my taunting of him would lead to such an action.” But in truth, Alice had instigated the kiss. For weeks she’d wanted to see what it would be like to kiss a man, and not any man, but Lord Arndel.
The thought of his lips against hers, his slightly roughened jaw that told her all too well that the man before her was a virile, suitable gentleman. Not that she’d allow him to court her—he was a liar, a thief, and the Surrey Bandit—which she couldn’t forget. But…maybe, if he redeemed himself in some way.
“Well, I can see it has. How could you? He stole from us.”
“I know he did. I haven’t forgotten, and I intend to make him pay for his crimes. And one kiss does not equal marriage. I merely trifled with him, that is all. No need to get your shift in a knot.”
Victoria gasped. “My shift? Seriously, Alice. I know you’ve always been the wildest of us all, golly, even Josh isn’t as wicked as you can be, but you cannot go kissing gentlemen on the sides of roads. Especially, not Lord Arndel. If Mama ever found out what he’s done, and you marry him, well, it will kill her for sure.”
“As I said, I don’t intend to marry him. Stop worrying.” They continued up the stairs, the frown line between Victoria’s eyebrows becoming deeper with each step. “It won’t happen again. I promise.”
Her sister nodded but didn’t look to be consoled by her words. “Now that I’ve scolded you, I hope you keep your word.” Victoria bit her lip, a light flush marking her cheeks. “Will you tell me what the kiss was like?”
Alice laughed, hugging her close to her side. “All that I hoped it would be rolled into one. He kissed me with such passion I thought my stomach, which was full of butterflies, would float away.”
“Wow,” Victoria said dreamily. “I’ve heard men can kiss quite enthusiastically. Did he?”
Alice thought back to his strong arm that had wrapped about her waist, the other holding her head firmly against his. Their breath had mingled with each stroke and glide of their mouths, the delicious spike of her heartbeat that she wanted to feel again, if only one more time. It was any wonder her older sisters, who were now respectfully married, always seemed to disappear from balls and parties at the oddest moments. For, if what they were doing with their gentlemen admirers was anything like she had done with Lord Arndel, well, it certainly explained a few things she’d been wondering about.
“Yes, I do believe he did, but then,” Alice said, smiling. “I have nothing to base the kiss on, for it was my first, so perhaps he was merely amusing himself with me.”
Victoria scoffed. “I’ve seen the way Lord Arndel looks at you, and believe me, even if I don’t know much about the opposite sex, he does not look like you’re merely being trifled with to cure his own boredom. And that’s why I feel I must caution you against teasing such a gentleman, for after what he’s done and what we know as fact, you cannot marry him.”
“I know that.” Alice stopped outside her bedroom door, knowing only too well what her sister meant. “I will see you at breakfast.”
Victoria smiled. “Good night, Alice. I hope you’re feeling more reinvigorated come the morning.”
“I’m sure I will.” Alice walked into her room and rang for her maid, deciding that a bath was in order, too. Perhaps that would wash away the day’s trials and like her sister said, come the morn, all would be better and life would seem less troubled.
Not that she could guarantee the same for Lord Arndel. She would have to think about his punishment. She did not like to be judge and jury to a fellow peer, but when one wanted to keep said peer from the gallows, due to the fact he was the sole parent to a child, exceptions must be made.
When her maid appeared, Alice ordered her bath, sat down at her writing desk, and pulled out a piece of parchment. She scribbled a short note for Lord Arndel, notifying his lordship of her intention to visit in two days and that she expected him to be at home. Alice didn’t sign the note, but she had no doubt that he would know who the sender was nor did she need her mama to find out who she was sneaking out to visit, unmarried as she was.
She sealed the note and sat it where her maid collected all her mail from the little silver salver on her desk. Out the window, she looked toward where Kester House stood and wondered what he was doing right at this moment and what he was thinking.
After today’s adventure, something told her tonight would be a restless sleep for his lordship and, even with all that she was aware about Arndel, the thought didn’t fill her with pleasure, but sadness.