Chapter 2

Chapter 2

“I’d take it as a compliment, Alexander,” Gregory Beechwood said, as another pair of young ladies hurried past them, giggling behind their fans, and whispering to one another.

“I think it’s awful,” Alexander Dacre replied, shaking his head and sighing.

They were standing in the corner of the ballroom at Rankin Grange, and despite having made no moves towards seduction – or even a mere introduction – Alexander appeared to have caught the attentions of the entire room.

That of the fairer sex, at least. Young women attempted to attract his attention, while older ladies eyed him as a potential suitor for their daughter – or themselves in widowhood. He felt like a prized animal on display, waiting for the highest bidder.

“But it’s hardly surprising, is it? You’ve just inherited your father’s title. You’re the talk of the ton. And isn’t it a truth that a man of good fortune, with title and good prospects, must be in want of a wife?” Gregory asked.

Alexander raised his eyebrows.

“No,” he replied, and his friend laughed.

“Oh, come on, Alexander. Would you prefer to receive no attention at all? And why shouldn’t you marry? You’re an eligible bachelor, and you could have your pick of any woman here. Some of them are very pretty,” Gregory said, glancing around the room, his gaze resting on a young lady talking to an older woman and gentleman.

“You’re welcome to her,” Alexander said, following his friend’s line of sight.

Gregory laughed.

“She looks very nice – a charming young lady,” he said, and Alexander groaned.

Marriage was the last thing on his mind, though he knew he would eventually have to do his duty in that regard. But for now, he was content with his life as it was – though the new responsibilities of his inheritance weighed heavily on his mind.

His youth had been spent avoiding responsibility, but now, as the new Marquess of Cavendish, Alexander had inherited responsibilities previously unknown. It was taking some getting used to, and Alexander had no intention of complicating things further by introducing a woman into his life. He was content with the occasional flirtation, though he had no intention of doing so that evening.

“Then what are you waiting for? Go and introduce yourself,” he said, and his friend laughed.

“Perhaps later. Shall we get some punch?” Gregory asked, but Alexander shook his head, glancing towards the refreshment table, where several young women were watching him and giggling.

“No… I think I’d prefer my own company for a while. Would you excuse me?” Alexander replied.

He was tired of being looked at and whispered about. He had only agreed to come to the ball because Gregory was Lady Rankin’s nephew. He did not feel like dancing, or rather, he did not feel like asking one woman to dance over all the rest, knowing how easily jealousy could be aroused. Instead, he slipped out of the ballroom, breathing a sigh of relief at finding himself alone. Alexander knew the house well.

He and Gregory had spent many happy days there in childhood, for Lady Rankin was also Alexander’s godmother. But just as he was about to make his way upstairs to the peace and refuge of the library, a familiar voice interrupted him.

“You can’t leave us to fend for ourselves,” his sister, Claire, said, and Alexander turned to find his twin sisters – Claire and Alice – looking at him indignantly.

They were ten years younger than him – in the prime of youth. Pretty creatures. They wore matching blue dresses, and from their identical looks, they were indistinguishable from anyone who did not know them. But Alexander could always tell them apart. Claire had a slight dimple in her nose, and Alice had the smallest hint of a birthmark on her neckline. Like Alexander, their hair was dark blonde, and their eyes were bright blue. He smiled at them, ever as their looks remained indignant.

“If you hadn’t noticed, you’re the only two women in there not continually looking at me expectantly,” he said, and his sister both pouted in unison.

“How can we dance without you being there?” Alice asked.

“Gregory’s there, isn’t he? Allow him to chaperone you – I give you my permission,” Alexander said.

Their mother had told him to keep an eye on his sisters, but Alexander only wanted to be alone, and he was certainly not about to return to the ballroom for the sake of Claire and Alice.

“Oh, but… why can’t you dance with us?” Claire said, and Alice nodded.

“Please, Alexander. Won’t you dance?” she asked, but Alexander shook his head.

“No, I don’t want to, Alice. I just want to be on my own for a while,” Alexander replied, and again, the twins pouted in unison.

“Well, if neither of us ever marry, we’ll… we’ll be a burden to you for the rest of our lives, and it’ll all be your fault,” Claire said, and the two of them now turned on their heels and marched back to the ballroom, leaving Alexander shaking his head and smiling.

He loved his two sisters dearly, but he had no intention of remaining in the ballroom just for the sake of their finding partners to dance with. Besides, Gregory was more than capable of chaperoning them, and Alexander was content to trust his friend with their honor, while he himself sought out some peace and quiet.

He had intended to go to the library, but instead, he made his way through the house towards the orangery. Alexander had always been fascinated by Lord Rankin’s collection of exotic citrus plants, and he remembered he and Gregory once getting into terrible trouble for picking the last lemon growing on a tree that then never gave fruit again.

I wonder if there’re any oranges growing at the moment, Alexander thought to himself – for the thought of the sweet flesh and juice of the fruit made his mouth water.

But as he came to the door leading into the orangery, where tiled steps led down to the mass of plants and trees growing beneath the glass roof, he realized he would not find the solitude he craved there. A woman in a peach-colored dress was sitting with her back to him at the far end. He vaguely recognized her from the ball that evening, though he did not know her name.

“Is there nowhere in this house where I can hide myself away?” he thought to himself – but that was being unfair, and now he wondered if the woman, too, had sought refuge away from the crowd in the orangery.

Her dark red hair fell down the back of her dress, and now she rose to examine a nearby plant, revealing a slender figure. Alexander smiled – she was pretty, from the back, at least – and for a few moments, he watched as she stooped down to smell the flower, promptly sneezing as she did so.

“Goodness me,” she exclaimed, and Alexander could not help but laugh.

The sound caused her to turn in surprise, gasping at the sight of him standing on the steps leading down into the orangery.

“Forgive me. I’m sorry if I startled you. Some of these plants can be quite heady, can’t they? Several of them make me sneeze, too,” he said, stepping towards her as she blushed.

“I… yes, they can. But the scent – it’s like being in a perfumery. It’s quite delightful,” she said, as he pointed to one of the plants close to where she was standing.

“That’s one of my favorites – the orange lily. But I always marvel at anything growing here. It’s like stepping into another world,” he said, and the woman nodded.

“That’s why I’m here… well, because I wanted to get away. From the ball, I mean,” she said, resuming her place next to one of the orange trees.

Alexander nodded. He was doing the same, though he had not expected to find anyone else in the orangery, hoping to have it to himself for the remainder of the evening. He had intended to sit there and… think. Alexander had a lot to think about it, and he had found precious little time lately to do so.

His inheritance had come as a surprise – his father had always been in rude health and inheriting the title so soon had come as a shock. He was now responsible for the estate, and for his mother and sisters. He had gone from a carefree existence to one where duty was paramount, and he had not found the change – and the expectations – easy.

“So did I. May I join you?” he asked, and the woman nodded, as Alexander now came to sit opposite her, smiling as he did so, for her had not expected to meet anyone in the orangery, and certainly not a woman of such pretty looks, and who seemed entirely disinterested in pursuing him, as so many others had done.