The Lydney carriage deposited Rosalind and Nell, together with a footman to carry their purchases, outside Grafton House on the corner of New Bond Street and Grafton Street. The pavement was thronged with pedestrians, the road itself crammed with all manner of vehicles, from elegant carriages to lumbering coal wagons. Rosalind viewed the scene with distaste, in the mood to find fault with everything after waving goodbye to Freddie half an hour ago.
After their excitedly waving brother had disappeared from view, Nell had taken one look at Rosalind and enveloped her in a hug.
‘We shall go shopping. That will take your mind off Freddie.’
She had refused to take no for an answer, harrying Rosalind without pause until she finally capitulated in sheer desperation.
Their first call was Wilding & Kent, where Lady Glenlochrie had commissioned them to purchase a length of Irish poplin on her behalf, as she had a fancy to have a new day dress made up. Despite her misery, Rosalind could not help but marvel at the sheer number of beautiful fabrics available to purchase. The shop heaved with customers, beleaguered shop assistants running hither and thither in their efforts to satisfy their customers’ every demand.
‘It appears we shall have a long wait,’ Rosalind said, as she and Nell worked their way further into the shop.
Eventually, they emerged from Wilding & Kent and made their way along New Bond Street, where the crowds were mercifully thinner.
‘Helena!’ A round, smiling face appeared before them. ‘And Miss Allen. How do you do?’
‘Lizzie, what a lovely surprise.’
‘Good afternoon, Miss Tubthorpe.’
As the two girls chattered, Rosalind scanned the nearby faces until she located Lady Tubthorpe, standing to one side in conversation with a stout, fashionably dressed matron. Lady Tubthorpe caught sight of Rosalind at the same time and waved her over.
‘Here is Miss Allen, newly arrived in town. Allow me to introduce you. Lady Tring, Miss Allen.’
Rosalind’s mouth dried and her hands turned clammy inside her gloves. This was her worst nightmare: a face-to-face introduction to her mother’s eldest sister. If only she had realised whom Lady Tubthorpe had been talking to.
Her Aunt Henrietta—the Countess of Tring since her marriage—looked her up and down.
‘Miss Allen?’ Her gaze narrowed, flitting past Rosalind to where Nell still stood with Lizzie Tubthorpe. Her nostrils flared and she stepped back, actually sweeping her skirts aside with one hand. Lady Tubthorpe’s expression changed to one of bewilderment as Lady Tring continued, ‘This is an introduction I cannot accept, Louisa. Pray, excuse me.’
‘Well, I am sure I cannot see any objection to Miss Allen,’ Lady Tubthorpe said. ‘Not when we made her acquaintance at Beauchamp House last evening.’
Her words prompted Lady Tring’s eyebrows to shoot skywards.
‘Lady Tring.’ Nell was by Rosalind’s side in an instant, dropping a curtsy. ‘I trust you are well?’
Her ladyship hesitated and Rosalind took pleasure at her predicament. She could not cut Nell—Lady Glenlochrie would not take kindly to her niece being snubbed.
‘Lady Helena. Good afternoon,’ she said in a strangled voice.
‘My dear sister, Rosalind, has come to town to chaperon me for my come-out, after my Aunt Glenlochrie broke her leg,’ Nell said. ‘Is that not kind of her?’
Stone-faced, Lady Tring inclined her head. At that moment, a masculine voice intruded.
‘Miss Allen, is it not?’
The contents of Rosalind’s stomach curdled, leaving her queasy. Lascelles. Could this day get any worse? She forced a smile as he moved to stand between Nell and Lizzie and bowed to each of the group in turn.
‘I beg your pardon for the interruption, ladies, but I was unaware until earlier today that Miss Allen was in London and, having spied her from the other side of the road, I could not resist crossing over to pay my respects.’
Miss Allen. Leo must have kept his promise and warned him of my change in name.
‘How do you do, Mr Lascelles,’ Lady Tring said.
Rosalind stared at the warmth in her voice. It was clear both she and Lady Tubthorpe were previously acquainted with Lascelles. Rosalind performed the introduction to Nell, her brain churning.
So neither Freddie nor I are respectable enough for my aunt to acknowledge, but Lascelles, who was born out of wedlock, is perfectly acceptable?
This encounter would not have been Rosalind’s choice but, now it had happened, she was unable to resist a mischievous urge to further discompose her aunt.
‘Your nephew, Freddie, is also in town,’ she said, facing her squarely, chin up. ‘And, as of this afternoon, he is employed by the Duke of Cheriton as his secretary. Is that not splendid news?’
‘Nephew?’ Lady Tubthorpe’s mouth hung open.
‘Indeed.’ Rosalind warmed to her role. This would teach her aunt to disown Mama all those years ago. ‘My mother was Lady Tring’s younger sister.’
‘You must be proud of your young relatives, my lady,’ Lascelles drawled. ‘When my Cousin Cheriton informed me Mr and Miss Allen had come up to town, he made particular mention of their Hillyer connection and how delighted you will be to renew your acquaintance with them.’
Lady Tring turned puce under her orange turban. ‘I do declare—’
‘Well, of a certainty she is delighted,’ Lady Tubthorpe said, looking anxiously from Rosalind to Lascelles to Lady Tring and back again. She linked her arm through that of Lady Tring. ‘I do beg your pardon, but I fear we must take our leave. It has been a pleasure to see you again so soon, Miss Allen. Come, Lizzie. Say your goodbyes to Lady Helena. Good day, sir.’
She nodded at Lascelles and then bustled Lady Tring away. Lizzie, with a shrug of her shoulders at Nell, followed. Rosalind bit back a laugh as she watched them go.
‘Thank you, Mr Lascelles.’ It went against the grain to thank him, but he had done her a service. ‘Your arrival proved most timely.’
‘Horrid woman,’ Nell said. ‘I wonder that you did not give her the cut direct, Ros. And I add my thanks to my sister’s, sir. That was a splendid notion, mentioning the Duke. Did you see her expression?’
‘No need to thank me, ladies. It was my absolute pleasure. May I offer you my escort to your next destination?’
She could hardly refuse, but Rosalind remained wary, their very first encounter stamped upon her memory. She pretended she did not notice Lascelles’s proffered arm as they all three strolled along New Bond Street.
‘Is this your first visit to London, Miss Allen?’
‘It is, although my sister has been before, when she was younger,’ Rosalind said. ‘This is her first Season, however.’
‘And I cannot wait for my come-out ball and to be presented to the Queen,’ Nell said. ‘Oh! Look, Ros. Are those parasols not darling?’
She darted across the pavement and almost pressed her nose against a nearby shop window. Rosalind and Lascelles followed slowly in her wake.
‘If your sister’s aunt is incapacitated, how is Lady Helena to be presented at Court? I assume—forgive me—that you will not be able to do so?’
‘You assume correctly, sir. We are lucky in that Helena has formed a close friendship with your cousin’s daughter, Lady Olivia. Lady Cecily has offered to present both girls in the Queen’s drawing room.’
‘Ah, Cousin Cecily. That is lucky indeed, but it is unfortunate you will be forced to miss the occasion.’
‘As I expected to miss Helena’s entire Season, I am not disheartened by my exclusion from that particular event.’
She paused. Should she broach such a subject? Curiosity got the better of her.
‘I hope you will not object to my next question, sir, but I was puzzled that my Aunt Tring appeared more accepting of you than she is of her own sister’s children.’
Lascelles laughed; a bitter sound. ‘Oh, I am tolerated in some circles. Cheriton deigns to notice me and others, keen to toad-eat my cousin, follow his lead, but I do not fool myself that I shall ever be fully accepted in society.
‘You and I have something in common, Miss Allen. We are condemned for ever to be on the outside looking in.’
‘Except that I, for one, have no desire to be on the inside, sir. I am content with my life.’
At Nell’s urging they entered the shop, where she purchased a pretty pink parasol, edged with Honiton lace.
‘It is a gift for you,’ Nell said to Rosalind, as she handed the package to the footman who still silently dogged their heels.
‘But...Nell...I have no need of another parasol,’ Rosalind said. ‘I already have one and—’
‘One is not enough. You cannot carry the same one every day.’
Rosalind raised her brows at Lascelles, who shrugged as he held the door open for Rosalind and Nell to exit the shop. ‘Your sister is a lively young lady,’ he said, low-voiced, as Rosalind passed.
Out on the street once more, Rosalind said, ‘Is she too lively? Ought I to contain her high spirits?’
‘I am hardly the person from whom to seek advice about correct behaviour,’ Lascelles said. ‘Particularly that of young ladies. If you feel in need of guidance, there can be no better person to consult than my Cousin Cecily.’
‘We have arranged to meet her and Lady Olivia in the park later,’ Rosalind said. ‘I shall take the opportunity to ask her advice.’
‘Speaking of my cousins,’ Lascelles said, ‘I was surprised to hear Cheriton had appointed your brother as secretary. I wonder what happened to Capper?’
‘Capper?’
‘Cheriton’s secretary... Former secretary, I should say, as he is clearly no longer employed by my illustrious cousin.’
The sarcastic note in his voice as he spoke of Leo stirred a warning deep within Rosalind—within just a few short minutes she had again been in danger of forgetting this man’s true nature. How had his superficial charm so readily overridden her former caution?
‘I am afraid I have no idea,’ she said, as repressively as she could.
‘Nor I. One can only hope Cheriton did not dismiss Capper merely to provide an opening for your brother. You will miss him, I make no doubt. I trust you will not be too lonely. I know my cousin and he will expect his secretary to be at his beck and call at all times. Has he moved to Beauchamp House yet?’
‘He left earlier, before we came shopping,’ Nell said. ‘And Rosalind will not be lonely. She still has me, sir.’
‘But you no doubt hope to wed, Lady Helena. Who, then, will keep your sister company?’
‘I still have Susie,’ Rosalind said.
‘Ah, Susie. Poor, unwanted child. I had forgotten all about her. You have brought her with you to town, Miss Allen?’
‘I have. And she is not unwanted. She has me. The circumstances of her birth are hardly her fault.’
‘Indeed not and I am delighted to hear such sentiments fall from your lips. She is a fortunate child.’
Nell had once more stopped to examine the contents of a shop window and Rosalind and Lascelles paused, waiting for her to catch them up.
‘I do hope my cousin approves of your plan.’
‘Susie is no longer the Duke’s concern,’ Rosalind said.
Lascelles leaned towards Rosalind, bending so his lips were close to her ear, the smell of bay rum filling her nostrils. ‘Do I detect a touch of resentment when you speak of my cousin?’
A shiver of warning tracked across her skin.
‘Resentment? Why should I resent your cousin, sir?’
‘Why, he has enticed your brother away, has he not? That cannot be an insignificant occurrence.’
‘Insignificant, no, but I dare say I shall become accustomed to it. There is no need for resentment.’
The lie slid readily from her tongue, but his words revived her angst over Freddie leaving and, at Lascelles’s knowing smile, Rosalind knew she had failed to conceal her distress. She marvelled at the man’s ability to manipulate others’ feelings.
He inclined his head. ‘My mistake, ma’am.’
Nell joined them at that moment and Lascelles continued, ‘I fear I have monopolised you enough, dear ladies—I know from experience that shopping is one activity at which the male of the species is distinctly de trop.’ In one smooth movement, he captured Rosalind’s hand and she braced herself against the impulse to snatch it away. ‘Might I beg your leave to call upon you tomorrow, Miss Allen?’
His eyes were hard, even though his lips curved in a smile, reminding Rosalind of the danger of antagonising him. But she could not bring herself to give him encouragement.
‘I am sorry, but I must decline, sir.’ Rosalind tugged experimentally at her hand, but Lascelles did not relinquish his hold. ‘My sole reason for being in town is to chaperon my sister, not to pursue my own social agenda.’
He bowed over her hand, then released it.
‘But you shall not deny me, Mrs P—I mean, Miss Allen.’ Those few softly spoken words sent apprehension rippling through her. ‘I bid you both good afternoon.’
He walked away, disappearing around a nearby corner into a side street. Rosalind’s shoulders sagged as the breath left her lungs.
‘Well, I am pleased he has gone,’ Nell said. A frown creased her brow. ‘I am sorry, Ros, and I cannot say why, for he seemed polite, but there is something about that man that makes me feel...uncomfortable.’
The habit of protecting her sister was so ingrained, Rosalind shrugged off Lascelles’s threat.
‘Oh, he means no harm, Nell, but if he does make you uncomfortable we shall try to avoid him in the future.’