Chapter Seventeen

 

The Wentworth carriage called again at Grillon’s to collect Julia on the night of Caroline’s coming out ball. She had been invited to dine with the family at Lady Maria’s before the ball.

Julia could not but be aware of the admiring glances she received from guests in the foyer, as resplendent in the peach silk she made her way, escorted by Smithers carrying her shawl, to the waiting coach.

She was aware that she was looking her best, but on reaching her destination and greeting the family, she realised she was quite in the shade when she saw Caroline, a true vision of loveliness in her gown of spangled silver gauze over satin that glimmered every time she moved. The golden curls were piled up and her blue eyes sparkled with joy. This was a night to be enjoyed to the full, and she would most certainly do that.

Standing next to Susan as they watched Caroline open the ball dancing with her proud papa, they both agreed that there could be no doubt that she would be the outstanding beauty of the season.

Lady Maria regal in puce brocade, and Lady Wentworth handsome in blue satin, looked on benevolently as the second dance took place, while Caroline was surrounded by male admirers clamouring to fill her dance card. There was a tremendous crush, so there could be no doubt at all of the ball’s success.

Julia was led on to the floor by Anthony Wentworth looking grown up and handsome in his dress uniform, and took part in the quadrille.

On returning to join Susan and Toby, Julia was pleased to see that among the crowded throng Lady Maria had invited many that she was acquainted with, including Philip and Arabella, and Isabella Furnbridge with Colonel Fortescue in attendance.

Amongst the bachelors clustered around Caroline Julia noticed Dominic Sinclair-Wells and the ever cheerful Digby Mortimer, both of whom she had met at Sharnborough.

She became aware of yet another familiar, as Giles Arbuthnot appeared before her and asked her for the next dance. His face seemed paler than usual and there were dark circles under his eyes. He appeared to be under some sort of strain, though privately Julia thought that living with Lenore could not be easy. She did not have those titian curls for nothing.

‘I gather Miss Wentworth is a neighbour of yours at Winchelsea, Miss Farraday?’ he asked, his dark eyes seeming to probe into her.

‘Yes. The Wentworth family are great friends of mine, hence my appearance here.’

He seemed to brood on this, and for a while no more was said as he concentrated on his steps for the dance.

‘I understand you are visiting Lenore later this week?’

It came out so suddenly, so unexpectedly, that Julia stumbled for a moment before she collected herself and answered composedly. ‘Yes, I am.’

Whatever could have possessed him to bring up Lenore, his ladybird, and mistress, call it what you will, to her in public, at this ball? She felt shaken, and could feel her hand trembling in his.

He seemed to brood on this for the next few minutes and then said suddenly, ‘I know you are in her confidence Miss Farraday, and I need to speak to you if I may, in private, not here,’ and he looked about the room as if seeing it for the first time. ‘I understand from Lenore you are staying at Grillon’s. May I call upon you tomorrow morning at eleven? Or is that too early?’

There was intensity as well as anxiety in his voice as his eyes bored into her.

‘Why, yes… no. Eleven o’clock, of course. I will see you then,’ Julia answered in a faltering voice. She felt dazed. What on earth could he want to speak about with her?

The music stopped and they returned to where Colonel Fortescue and Philip were standing. They were rejoined by Arabella who had been dancing with Dominic Sinclair-Wells.

Greetings were exchanged, and presently Arbuthnot slipped away, while Julia took to the floor first with Hugh Fortescue and then Philip. Out of the corner of her eye she saw yet another familiar figure dance by with Caroline.

It was none other than Alain d’Augusseau, and oh, what a handsome couple they made, even if he was so much older than the beautiful debutante.

Julia felt a pang of envy, and thought with a feeling of nostalgia how just over a year ago how happy she would have been to be waltzing with Philip, who had been the man of her dreams at Court, and was now a happily married man to the lovely Arabella.

Strange, indeed, how things worked out.

As if he knew her thoughts the Chevalier arrived promptly at her side as soon as the dance was over.

‘May I have the pleasure of the supper dance, and escort you in?’

There was no refusing him, and in truth she didn’t want to. Harry Wentworth was waiting patiently for her hand for the mazurka, and soon she was expending all her energy in the boisterous dance.

As soon as it was over Harry gallantly brought her some punch, which she gratefully accepted as it had become somewhat warm in the ballroom, and her exertions had made her thirsty.

At last it was time for the supper dance and Alain claimed her for the waltz. She relaxed in his arms to the music and felt that she didn’t want this dance to ever end. Their steps matched so perfectly that she could see other couples watching them with admiration, and could not but help feel pleased.

Too soon the dance ended, and she took his arm as they walked out of the ballroom through the foyer towards the large salon that had been converted for the supper room.

To her surprise Alain suddenly opened the door to a room along the passageway and pulled her in after him. Amazement made her speechless! Fortunately the hallway had been deserted as they approached the large salon, and though through the open double doors she had seen footmen in livery and guests partaking of the refreshments, none had been looking their way.

Strains of music reached her ears through the closed door, and looking around her Julia surmised from the books lining the wall that the small room they were in was the library of Lady Maria’s late husband. Fortunately, the room was dimly lit by several sconces of candles around the room. Otherwise, it would have been in total darkness.

‘Julia, I need to speak with you alone. Away from prying eyes.’ His voice was urgent, and she was aware that he was still holding her arm, but she did not attempt to free herself.

‘My reputation sir, is at stake.’ She was aware that her voice sounded pitifully week and feeble, though she had meant it to be flippant, but the intensity of his gaze held her mesmerised.

‘I am aware of that, though no one saw us. I was lucky that this room is unoccupied, for it gives me the chance at last to explain my feelings.’ He took both her hands in his and stared directly at her, his eyes burning bright, though his face was pale. ‘I have fallen in love with you Julia, and beg you to do the honour of becoming my wife.’ The grip on her hands intensified, and his face was only inches from hers, so that she could see the tension that expressed itself on his countenance as he awaited her reply.

‘Alain, why… This is so sudden. I hardly know what to say.’ This was so true. Her heart was beating strongly, and if there had been a chair beside her she would have fallen into it. ‘I know so little about you. This is indeed an honour you do me but…’

‘Say yes, ma cherie, say yes, and be mine.’ His breathing was heavy with desire, nervousness, she knew not what, for the next moment he had crushed her into his arms and was kissing her with such passion that she forgot all else until he released her.

They stood a little apart, both breathing heavily, trying to read the other’s expression, when the door behind them opened and Susan Kinston walked in.

The look on her face was one of sheer incredulousness.

‘Julia,’ she gasped.

‘I felt a little dizzy, Susan, on the way to supper, and the Chevalier very kindly brought me in here to sit down to recover,’ Julia gabbled. ‘I’m feeling so much better now and we are going into supper. Won’t you join us?’

Indeed she could feel the heat in her cheeks as she took Susan’s arm, preparing to withdraw.

Susan looked from one to the other, but was too well bred to make a further inquiry.

‘I felt that way myself,’ she said, looking down at her expanding figure. ‘I think I will just sit here and rest for a moment or two.’ And she made her way over to a chair beside the desk.

‘Should I fetch your mama, or Toby?’ said Julia, wildly grasping at straws. ‘Or would you like me to sit with you for a while?’

Susan looked from one to the other again. ‘No, I do not want to disturb mama, tonight especially, and you are going into supper.’

‘That can wait. I can go in later.’

‘Then perhaps you could stay with me for a little while.’

‘But of course,’ Julia answered, moving over to assist Susan to the chair. ‘Would you fetch Mr Kinston for his wife, Chevalier?’ she asked beseechingly.

‘Naturally.’ Alain gave a stiff bow and withdrew, while Julia espied another chair in the far corner and fetched it over to sit beside Susan.

‘Were you really feeling dizzy?’ inquired Susan, her eyebrows raised.

‘Well, no, not really,’ admitted Julia. ‘The Chevalier wanted to speak to me privately, and…’

‘And I’m afraid I interrupted him.’

‘No, no, not at all.’

‘I watched you dancing with him, and I would say by the way he was looking at you that he is very much smitten,’ said Susan simply.

‘Well, yes. As a matter of fact…’

Julia was saved from any further inquiry by the door being flung open, and a flushed Toby Kinston, followed by Alain, rushed over to his wife to kneel by her chair.

‘Are you not well, my love? Should I take you home, or do you want to retire to one of Lady Maria’s bedrooms? Should I call the doctor…’

‘No, no, Toby. I just felt a little dizzy before but I am quite better now. Come and sit with me, while Julia goes in to supper with the Chevalier.’ She smiled reassuringly at her husband and indicated for the others to go. ‘Thank you sir,’ she told Alain, ‘for fetching my husband so promptly, I am most grateful.’

‘It was my pleasure ma’am,’ and he offered his arm to Julia. Together they left the room, almost colliding with Philip and Arabella who were also going into supper.

Arabella’s rather startled expression at seeing them leaving the library together called for an explanation, and in a hurried whisper Julia explained about Susan being enceinte, feeling dizzy, and how they had sat with her and then fetched Toby.

This seemed to satisfy all parties, and they entered the supper room, Julia feeling apprehensive as to what was going to happen next. She did not have long to wait, as Alain whispered in her ear, ‘I shall wait upon you at Grillon’s tomorrow, as it seems impossible to talk to you here.’

Remembering Giles Arbuthnot had arranged to see her at eleven, Julia answered in a low voice. ‘Come at three o’clock, and we can talk then.’

He smiled suddenly and said, ‘Must I wait so long, ma cherie?’ Then seeing her startled expression, softened his and said, ‘I shall count the hours.’

He turned then to answer a question that Philip had put to him.

Her mind in a whirl, Julia tried to concentrate on the invitation Arabella was proffering for dinner before she left London, and she politely issued her thanks. In reality though, she could only think about tomorrow, and what she was going to say to Alain d’Augusseau.