4. Chapter 4

Chapter 4

“ T hey’re all coming, I think – it’s the draw of a conversation with you, Ernest,” Isobel said, and Ernest laughed.

It was the day of the garden part, and Leamington Grange was a flurry of activity. A marquee had been erected on the lawn, and the footmen were busy carrying tables and chairs from the house, whilst maids hurried back and forth with plates of dainty cakes and sandwiches. Ernest and Isobel were surveying the scene. There had been an annual garden party at Leamington Grange ever since either of them could remember, a tradition begun by their mother, and now continued by Ernest and his sister.

“Oh, don’t be silly, Isobel. No one wants to talk to me,” Ernest replied, and his sister laughed.

“Nonsense. Don’t you know how popular you are in the salons? They’re all talking about you,” she said, and Ernest groaned.

He did not wish to be the center of attention, though if it meant more money for the school, so be it. He planned to announce plans for expansion that day, having come across the family in Lancaster with a blind child they were struggling to bring up. Ernest had given them money for the boy’s schooling, but it seemed there was a need for a school here, too, and Ernest intended to see that need realized.

“I don’t relish the fact,” he replied, and his sister smiled.

“But you wouldn’t turn them away, would you? If a woman whom you liked showed an interest…” she said, and Ernest blushed.

“I don’t think that’s going to happen. Besides, I’ve got more important things to think about today,” he replied, and his sister rolled her eyes.

“Well, I happen to know several of the women coming today are interested in speaking to you. Make sure you find the time,” Isobel said.

“Do you mean Caroline Pickering? I don’t want to find myself cornered by her. She can be…very persuasive,” Ernest said, thinking back to a previous encounter with the daughter of the Viscount Pickering.

She was a formidable woman, and Ernest had felt somewhat intimidated by her overbearing presence.

“She’ll be here, yes, and Alicia Saunders, too – she’s a friend of Lady Oakley, the one I went to tea with the other day. I asked Anne to bring them both. You can talk to her – you liked talking to her before. She was full of praise for you,” Isobel said, raising her eyebrows and smiling.

Ernest made a face. He did not like it when his sister played at matchmaking, even as he could not help but feel just a little intrigued as to the thought of meeting Alicia again. She had been in his thoughts, and he had mulled their conversation over in his mind several times since the night of the assembly room’s ball.

“Well…I’m flattered, I’m sure. I only told her the facts. But look, Father and Mother are here now,” Ernest said, pointing to the terrace, where the duchess was leading the duke by the arm.

“Oh, I’d better go and change. I don’t like this dress,” Isobel said, but Ernest caught her arm.

“You don’t need to change, Isobel. You’re fine as you are. It won’t be long until the guests arrive, and I need you to talk to the dull ones,” he said.

His sister laughed, but she remained at his side, and now their parents came to join them.

“I can smell a dozen different flowers – the garden must be blooming by now, and isn’t it nice to feel the sun on one’s face,” the duke said, as Isobel slipped her arm into his.

“Come, Father – let’s raid the tea table before the plague of locusts arrive. I asked the cook to prepare those delicious tartlets you like so much,” she said, leading the duke towards the marquee.

Ernest was left alone with his mother, Grace. The duchess smiled at him.

“I must say, it’s nice to come to the garden and not have to organize anything myself. You and Isobel have done a marvelous job, Ernest. I hope you get plenty of support for your new endeavor,” she said.

“I hope so, too, Mother. It all depends on the generosity of the ton, but I’m sure I can persuade them,” he said, and his mother nodded.

“If anyone can persuade them, it’s you, Ernest. You managed it in Manchester, and you’ll manage it here. We’re very proud of you, after…well, you’ve done a great deal to make things better for yourself,” she said, and Ernest nodded.

He was proud of himself, and having made mistakes in the past, Ernest was keen to make amends. The school for blind children was just the thing to salve his conscience and give him a reason for waking up each morning. His mind was focused on the project at hand, and Ernest was determined to do all he could to realize it. Coming back to Lancashire had been just the right decision – a new start, and new opportunities.

“Thank you, Mother. I was touched when Father told me he was proud of me. That meant a great deal. And I’m so very grateful to you both. I really am,” Ernest said.

His mother smiled and slipped her hand into his.

“I know it hasn’t always been easy for you, Ernest. Growing up, your father’s affliction wasn’t understood, and other people were cruel. But you’ve done so much to take away the stigma of blindness – particularly in children. It’s admirable,” she said, just as voices on the terrace announced the arrival of the first guests.

Ernest turned to find a sudden influx of the great and the good of the county’s society entering the garden. There was much delighted exclamation at the sight of the flower beds in bloom and the abundant tea tables. Drinks were soon being circulated, and the ton settled into doing what they did best – having the same conversations as they had done at the previous social gathering, and the one before that. Opinions were exchanged, actions were debated, and news – or, rather, gossip – was shared. Ernest flitted from group to group, thanking them for coming and wishing them a pleasant afternoon.

“It’s really very good of you to invite us, Ernest. I must speak to your father before the end of the afternoon. I’ve got a proposal for him – dull business for the House of Lords, but it’s got to be done. I want to make a donation, though,” Ralph Oakley, the Duke of Lancaster, said, catching Ernest’s arm as he passed.

“That would be very kind of you, Your Grace. And might you consider sitting on the board of governors for the school I hope to establish here in Lancashire? Your patronage would make a considerable difference, I’m sure,” Ernest said.

The duke smiled.

“I’d be delighted, and I’m sure either William or Maximilian would be willing to do so, too,” he said.

Ernest thanked him, glancing over the duke’s shoulder and catching the eye of the woman he had danced with at the assembly room’s ball. She was a pretty creature, with blonde hair hanging down to her shoulders in ringlets, and a rosy-cheeked face with dark brown eyes. She was wearing a peacock blue dress, and looked extremely attractive standing next to Lily, Maximilian’s wife, and the Duchess of Lancaster, Miriam Oakley.

“Oh…that’s very kind of you, your Grace,” Ernest stammered, distracted for a moment by Alicia’s smile.

He excused himself, hurrying across the garden to where his sister was directing the servants to bring out the next round of refreshments.

“I think it’s going very well so far. I do love garden parties – in the sunshine, at least,” Isobel said.

Ernest smiled, glancing back over his shoulder to where Alicia now had her back turned to him, in conversation with Lily and Maximilian.

“Oh…yes, it’s going very well, isn’t it?” he said, and his sister smiled.

“Have you spoken to her yet?” she asked, and Ernest shook his head.

“No, I’ve been too busy,” he replied, and Isobel rolled her eyes.

“Oh, just do it, Ernest. You don’t need anyone’s permission, and certainly not Caroline’s, if that’s who you’re worried about,” she said.

Ernest had not yet spoken to the viscount’s daughter, either, though he knew he would have no choice but to do so before the afternoon was over. She had arrived with a grand entrance on her father’s arm, wearing a long, flowing yellow dress, and carrying a large parasol in hand. Ernest had no desire to speak to her, even as he knew she had the power to see his project for a school in Lancaster come to completion. Her father was amongst the richest men in England and had already done much to sponsor the school in Manchester. Speaking to her would be unavoidable, even as he now walked behind the marquee to avoid her…

***

“ I saw you looking at him, Alicia, and he looked at you, too,” Lily said, raising her eyebrows as Lily blushed.

“He was just being friendly. A smile doesn’t mean a courtship,” she said, and Lily sighed.

“A smile alone doesn’t mean a courtship, but a dance, a smile, a conversation, a compliment…all these things matter. It’s the little things that lead to the large things. Don’t you think so?” she said.

They had stepped away from the rest of the Oakley family and were talking quietly by the entrance to the marquee. Alicia had enjoyed the afternoon, even as she had found Lily’s constant agitations over Ernest somewhat trying. It seemed Lily was determined to make a match, and with Isobel having provided the perfect social setting, there would be little choice for Alicia but to allow herself to be carried along by the possibility of a further introduction to Ernest.

“I suppose so, but he’s busy – he’s going to announce something, Isobel said – something about a new school in Lancaster. That’s why we’re here, isn’t it?” Alicia said.

Her father had agreed to make a substantial donation to the project, as had Maximilian, William, and the Duke of Lancaster. It seemed the plight of the blind children had touched the hearts of many, and there was a genuine desire to see the project established.

“Oh, yes, but that won’t take long. Why don’t you get us both a glass of punch. I’ll go and look for him,” Lily said, and before Alicia could protest, Lily had hurried off in search of Ernest.

Alicia sighed. There could be no persuading Lily – once she had an idea in her mind, she was like a horse chomping at the bit. Alicia made her way into the marquee. It was open at both ends and attended by several footmen.

“Two glasses of punch, please,” Alicia said, and the footman poured out the two glasses with a ladle from an enormous punchbowl on a table decorated with flowers.

The refreshments had been delicious – all manner of dainty cakes, sandwiches, and morsels. Alicia thanked the footman, but instead of making her way back out to where the guests were congregated, she made for the open back door of the marquee, hoping for a few moments’ respite from Lily’s attentions. She did not resent her friend for her efforts, but she was simply not interested in pursuing a man who clearly had more important things to think about than courting a vague acquaintance like her.

Why would he be interested? she thought to herself, shaking her head.

But as she emerged from the marquee, her thoughts distracted by her frustrations at Lily, she collided head on with a figure coming the other way. The glasses of punch flew into the air, covering the man with the sweet-smelling liquid, as Alicia let out a cry.

“Oh, I’m so sorry,” Alicia exclaimed, realizing to her horror who it was she had just covered in punch.

Ernest smiled, stepping back, his shirt and cravat now stained red. He looked down at himself and laughed.

“Well, I suppose it’s better to be turned red this way than stabbed. I’m sorry, Miss Saunders, it was my fault. I didn’t see you. I was thinking about…well, something else. You’re not similarly covered, are you?” he asked,” and Alicia shook her head.

The punch had gone forward, and the soaking was entirely his. She blushed with embarrassment, feeling terrible for what she had done, even as she could see he was treating the whole thing with amusement.

“No…but look at your shirt. It’s completely ruined. I’m so sorry. I was daydreaming, and…” she said, blushing as much at the object of her daydreams as her encounter with that object.

“There’s no harm done. I can slip inside and change my shirt. It’ll give me an excuse to get away. I don’t really like these sorts of things. That’s why I’m hiding back here, I suppose. I detest talking to people… I mean, not that I detest talking to you, but…” he said, looking suddenly embarrassed.

“I understand. I often feel out of place at these sorts of gatherings. Everyone’s got a title but me,” she said, revealing her insecurities to him.

He looked at her sympathetically and shook his head.

“There’s really no need to feel like that, Miss Saunders, though some of the people here can be terrible snobs. But one has to tolerate them – I need their money,” he said, raising his eyebrows, and Alicia laughed.

“I’m sure you can be very persuasive, my Lord. I asked my father to give a donation and he was more than happy to do so. I believe a lot of people are doing so. It’s an admirable cause,” she said, and Ernest smiled.

“It’s good of you to say so, Miss Saunders. Not everyone understands it, of course. They question the point of educating children who can’t see – they ask what possible contribution they can make. But the answer’s clear – an educated child, whether blind or not, can make a difference. My father’s living proof of that. He’s my inspiration, you see. I’m doing what I’m doing because of him,” he said.

Alicia could not help but admire Ernest in turn – he was an inspiration, and Alicia felt a sudden and strong desire to do something to help, even as it seemed the duke did not recall the two of them having danced at the assembly rooms ball. At this thought, she felt something of a disappointment, even as the duke could not possibly be expected to remember everyone he had met or danced with. But as their conversation continued, the two of them hidden behind the marquee, Alicia could not help but be caught up in the pleasantness of his company, and whilst she felt embarrassed at having covered him in punch, she wondered if there was not something providential in this unexpected encounter.