Chapter 16

Sixteen

" T he Miller Howe ball – it's a highlight of the season, or so they say," Alicia's mother said, as they sat over breakfast two days later.

Alicia groaned.

"They say everything's a highlight, Mother. But it's never anything like a London ball, is it? I don't even know who "they" are – foolish individuals who've never set foot out of the county. We've been to two balls so far, and I can't say I've found anything particularly exciting about either of them. Don't you agree, Lily?" Alicia asked, looking up at Lily, who nodded.

"Oh…yes, they're quite different," she replied.

Her mind was preoccupied with thoughts of the scandal paper. She had still not written her promised piece, for she had not had sight nor sound of Maximilian since last setting eyes on him at the ball hosted by the Count and Countess of Morecambe. It seemed he was lying low and had retreated to the safety of Burnley Abbey to lick his wounds.

The maid, whom Lily had previously gained her information from, had left for a new job in London, and thus Lily's sources of information were limited. She needed something to maintain the momentum, and she could only hope the Miller Howe ball would provide her with fresh inspiration.

"They're dull – whether someone writes about the apparent scandals or not," Alicia said, and her mother tutted.

"Well, you could liven things up a little by shopping for new gloves and bonnets. Why don't you go to the market and choose something new for yourselves?" she suggested.

Lily and Alicia looked at one another and smiled.

"That's a wonderful idea, Mother. Yes. Let's do that. We'll go after breakfast. It's market day today. I know we're in the provinces, but there's bound to be someone selling something of good taste, isn't there?" Alicia asked.

Lily agreed, and when they had finished breakfast, the two women set off together, walking along the country lane leading into Lancaster, and arriving in the market square just as the stalls were opening. There were all manner of things for sale – food and drink, lace and buttons, tools and equipment for tradesmen. One woman was selling freshly cut flowers, whilst another offered hot chestnuts and dried fruit. It was a delight for the senses, and Lily and Alicia wandered amongst the stalls, pointing at things to buy.

"Oh, look – silk shawls. They're really rather nice," Lily said, as they paused at a stall, where a wizened old woman was embroidering a flower onto the edge of one of the shawls.

"Something for the Miller Howe ball, is it?" she asked, and Lily nodded.

"That's right – but it's gloves we're looking for," she said, and the woman nodded.

"My sister sells beautiful gloves – you'll find her stall in front of the town hall," she said, pointing across the market square, and thanking the woman, Lily and Alicia made their way to the other stall, finding all manner of gloves neatly laid out.

"These are very pretty," Alicia said, trying on a pair of lace trimmed mittens and holding them up for Lily to see.

"Oh, yes, very pretty. But I want something more delicate. Ah, here we are," she said, taking up a pair of gloves, made of silk, and coming in three different colors.

The proprietress – who resembled the wizened old woman exactly, nodded to them.

"You'll not find finer gloves than these," she said, as Lily tried on several pairs.

"I think I'll take the white ones. They'll go nicely with a pink dress I've got," she said, and Alicia chose a pair in blue.

"A new hat, I think. We might as well treat ourselves. I haven't been shopping at an absolute age. It's fun, isn't it?" Alicia said, and Lily smiled.

She was glad to have Alicia's company. She was a dear friend to her, and the two of them acted as one another's chaperones. This was Lily's greatest advantage when it came to observing Maximilian. No one thought her out of place, or questioned why she was there. In Lancaster, Lily was Alicia's companion, and there was respectability in that, along with the reassuring presence of Alicia's parents. But as they made their way towards a stall selling hats, Lily could not help but notice the number of women – and some men – with their heads buried in the latest edition from The Broker Press .

"I just can't wait to read what's published next about him. Can you believe it?" one woman was saying, and others, too, expressed similar sentiments.

"He's a disaster waiting to happen. Can you imagine him as the Duke of Lancaster? Impossible. He'd be nothing like his father. It would be far better to make the Baron of Mowbray duke in his place – he's such a delightful man," another replied.

As they approached the millinery stall, with its impressive array of headpieces, it was clear as to the general consensus concerning Maximilian and the scandal sheets. Lily's words had been believed, and the heir to the dukedom was humiliated. One more paper, one more scandal – that was all it would take to bring down the dukedom and see her father avenged.

"Everyone's talking about the scandal papers. It's become a complete obsession," Alicia said, shaking her head and tutting.

"I suppose people believe what they read," Lily replied.

They had come to the stall now, and the two of them were set to try on new hats and bonnets. There were hats for every occasion – from flamboyant headpieces covered in wax fruit, to tasteful arrangements of feathers and lace. Bonnets for mourning, hats for church, and those more suited to celebratory occasions. It was fun to try them on, and both Lily and Alicia chose new pieces of millinery to complement their gloves.

"You look very pretty, Lily. You always do in hats. They suit you so well," Alicia said, as the milliner held up a mirror for them.

Lily was examining herself in the mirror, turning this way and that, adjusting the angle of the wide-brimmed hat she had chosen – the perfect choice for summer days, when the sun was strong. But as she tilted her head, a sight in the mirror caused her to startle. There, reflected in the glass, was Maximilian. He was watching them, and now he strode forward, as Lily's eyes grew wide with trepidation.

"Look, Alicia – look who's coming towards us," Lily exclaimed, her heart racing at the sight of Maximilian approaching.

She had not even thought he remembered her from the evening of her arrival, even as they had exchanged glances at the ball the other night. Alicia, too, looked anxious, and the pair of them turned, still with the hats they were yet to buy on their heads. Maximilian looked them up and down and smiled. Again, he seemed oblivious to the fact of his being the center of attention, and now he smirked, as Lily and Alicia hurriedly removed their hats.

"I thought they rather suited you both," he said, as Lily and Alicia stood meekly before him.

For all her bravado, Lily was not prepared to face him as she was. She conducted her affairs on her own terms and had not intended to approach him until the Miller Howe ball. She wondered now if he suspected something and was about to accuse her of being the author of the scandal sheets.

"We were just trying them on. We haven't made a decision yet," Lily replied, and Maximilian smiled.

"Is that so? Well, let me make it for you. The wide-brimmed one for you, Miss Porter, and the less…gregarious one for Miss Saunders," he replied.

Lily was surprised. She had not expected him to remember her name. The shock was evidently clear on her face as Maximilian laughed.

"I…I hadn't thought…" she said, but he waved his hand dismissively.

"I make it my business to know those with whom I'm to share the season. You were both at the assembly rooms, weren't you? And then at the ball given by the Count and Countess of Morecambe. Both quite interminable affairs, though few were unfortunate enough to attend both. But you two were," he said, raising his eyebrows, and fixing his gaze accusingly on Alicia, who appeared terribly uncomfortable under his unflinching stare.

"We were there, yes – as were so many others, your parents included," Lily retorted.

Maximilian looked again at her and smiled.

"Yes, and I suppose you've read all about me in the scandal sheets. They're everywhere. I've seen at least a dozen people reading them today. It's quite extraordinary. They seem to grip their readers with the force of their sensation. One wonders what they'll publish next," he said, glancing again at Alicia, as though he suspected her of being the author.

"We've certainly read about you, yes. That doesn't mean we've formed an opinion," Lily said, attempting to draw Maximilian away from the possibility of one of them being responsible for the authorship.

Lily knew she could not afford to make any mistakes in this unexpected encounter. He had taken them by surprise and was using it to his advantage. But to her surprise, Lily found herself thinking back to the strange events of her dream – of finding herself in the place of Amelia, seduced by Maximilian, and even enjoying it.

" He is handsome, I suppose ," she thought to herself, as Maximilian continued to complain about what had been written about him.

"I'm defenseless, of course. There's no right of reply in any of this. They could write anything they wanted – whether it be the truth or not. It's quite terrible. My reputation's in tatters, though it was already, I suppose. I'm a laughingstock. I'm surprised you're even talking to me," he said, raising his eyebrows.

Lily smiled.

"Like I said, we've not yet made our minds up about you. I hardly know you. We have scandal sheets in London. I don't pay any attention to them," she said, still attempting to deflect his suspicion.

"Oh, but I'm sure you do. You've already formed your opinion of me, Miss Porter. For example, I'm certain you won't dance with me at the Miller Howe ball," he said, looking pointedly at Lily.

Her heart skipped a beat. She had not been expecting him to be so forward. Was he baiting her? Was this a test? Lily was used to maintaining her composure, giving nothing away, and now she smiled at him, realizing this may also be the perfect opportunity to secure the information she needed.

"I'd be delighted," she said, and Alicia caught her by the arm.

"Lily? What are you doing?" she hissed.

Maximilian, too, looked somewhat surprised at this agreement, appearing he had expected an immediate rebuttal.

"Ah, well, I'm glad to hear it. I'll be there then, and I'm sure you'll look very pretty in your new hat and gloves," he said, giving Lily a curt bow, and glancing at Alicia as he slipped away into the crowd.

"What were you thinking? You can't dance with him. It's…no, he'll do something awful with you. You know what he's like – you've read the scandal sheets. Why do you think it'll be any different with you? I knew you were looking at him. You like him, don't you? You think there's something to him – handsome looks, wealth, and title. Well…if that's all it takes to sway you," Alicia exclaimed.

Lily might have reminded her friend as to how many women had been easily swayed by just those things, but instead, she shook her head and smiled.

"I'm willing to give him a chance. Don't you think I can take care of myself, Alicia? I'm not some innocent lamb waiting to be devoured by the wolf. I know just what he's like. Besides, it's only a dance," Lily replied, even as she knew she was stepping into the lion's den.

She had not intended to make herself the subject of the scandal. That was one of her rules – to observe at a distance and never interfere. But this was different, or so she told herself – and the end would justify the means. Maximilian had presented her with a possibility, one she could hardly refuse. Lily had promised The Broker Press her copy. It could not just be a regurgitation of past events – as intriguing as they might be – but had to be of such proportions as to entirely ruin those about whom it was written. She would not lie, but by making herself the center of attention, Lily knew she could write an account which would spell the end of Maximilian and his family.

"Only a dance? And what then? He'll expect more of you. I saw the way he looked at us. It was as though he thought us easy prey for his attentions. Oh, it makes me shudder to think of him, and yet you seemed entirely at ease with the prospect of finding yourself in his arms," Alicia said, shaking her head.

They paid for their new hats, and having made a tour of the remaining stalls, purchasing new handkerchiefs and ribbons, they made their way back to Alicia's parents' house. Lily knew Alicia was entirely against her intention to dance with Maximilian. She could not understand it and said as much when her mother asked if they had enjoyed themselves at the market.

"I think Lily's enjoying herself too much. She's only agreed to dance with Maximilian Oakley," Alicia exclaimed, tutting and shaking her head.

Mrs. Saunders, too, looked somewhat perturbed, raising her eyebrows, as she sipped her post-luncheon coffee in the drawing room.

"Really, Lily…I'm not sure about that. I know he's the son of a duke, but…one only has to read of his reputation," she said, glancing at the pile of periodicals on a table in the corner of the room.

Lily was well aware of the risks, even as Alicia and her mother knew nothing as to the truth of her motivation. She was taking a great personal risk – more so than she had ever done before. In the past, Lily had merely been a passive observer in the downfall of others. She had documented it, being careful to ascertain only the truth from her sources. She was always one step removed, and never directly involved. But this was different. It was the Duke of Lancaster who had ruined her father. He and his family were responsible for her father's incarceration and humiliation. It was personal, and thus her approach was entirely justified.

"Well…I see no reason to believe the scandal sheets. Perhaps they're wrong about Maximilian. I prefer to make up my own mind, rather than reading what someone else writes," Lily said, knowing just how hypocritical she was being.

Alicia's mother looked perturbed, and Alicia, too, shook her head.

"It's not a good idea, Lily," Alicia said.

"It's only a dance. And if he behaves inappropriately, I'll stamp on his foot," Lily said.

Alicia smiled.

"I suppose…if anyone's going to be a match for him, it's you, Lily," she replied, and Lily nodded.

She was a match for Maximilian, and she was not about to have her identity as the author of the scandal sheets revealed. The Miller Howe ball was the perfect opportunity to realize her ambitions against Maximilian, and open the possibility of scandal, in whatever form it might take. As she and Alicia prepared for the ball, Lily knew this was the moment she had been waiting for. Her father would be proud of her, and she would vindicate him in the eyes of the world. For too long, men like the Duke of Lancaster and his aristocratic friends had lauded it over ordinary people and placed themselves beyond rebuke.

"But not now," Lily said to herself, smiling at the thought of what might happen when she found herself in Maximilian's arms – hope it was something entirely worthy of scandal.