Page 53 of Dropping the Ball

Ivy didn’t seem to mind the question. “I suppose because the whole thing will be over after tonight,” she said. “Which is sad, if you ask me.”

Immediately, Ivy hunched her shoulders, as if she knew she’d overstepped her place.

Alden was glad she had. “I am asking you,” he said, taking a step closer to her. “I suppose I should ask the opinion of everyone belowstairs, since you all put up with my eccentricities.”

“Oh, we don’t mind ’em at all, my lord,” Ivy said with a smile. “We all enjoy working for you. You’re so kind and fair, and there’s never a dull moment at Lyndhurst Grove, if you don’t mind my saying so.”

“I don’t mind at all,” Alden said, smiling. He liked the fact that his servants were happy.

He wondered if they would be so happy with Lady Gladys as the mistress of the house.

No sooner did that thought come to him than Ivy pressed her lips together, then squared her shoulders and said, “To be honest, my lord, we have all grown very fond of Lady Bernadette. And not many of the young ladies, your guests, have come close to our admiration for her. There’s many belowstairs whowould have you send the young ladies packing and keep Lady Bernadette instead. Begging your pardon.”

She finished with the fire, then stood, keeping her eyes downcast.

“Thank you for your honesty, Ivy,” Alden said, smiling again to set her at ease. “I truly do appreciate it. I strive to deserve your good opinion.”

“That’s a sweet thing to say, my lord,” Ivy said, grinning and blushing. She hesitated, then whispered, “I’ve two pennies wagered on you choosing Lady Bernadette in the end.”

Alden had started for the door, but nearly missed a step. The servants were betting on who he’d end up with? He let out a laugh and nodded to Ivy before continuing out to the hallway.

If all else failed, he must act to win Bernadette for the sake of the servants. Two pennies was nothing to him, but to Ivy, it must have felt like a massive wager.

Alden’s mood was improved further when he entered the surprisingly crowded breakfast room to find Bernadette already there, looking radiant as always, though devilishly busy. She seemed to be brokering some sort of discussion between two of the meddling mamas while their embarrassed daughters looked on. Alden had every intention of rescuing his beloved from whatever nonsense she had to endure and started across the room in her direction.

“Yes, I understand that you find it unfair to be seated at the far end of the table for a second time, Lady Ingred,” Bernadette was saying to one of the mamas, “but I can assure you, I do not know which part of the table Lord Alden will choose for his breakfast.”

Bernadette glanced Alden’s way at just that moment. Their eyes met, and for Alden, it was as if everyone else in the room ceased to exist.

Bernadette was so lovely and pure. She was far more competent and commanding than her sweet visage would leadanyone to believe as well. And a slight flash of green under her fichu where Egbert had concealed himself against her person was a delightful reminder that she had grown as comfortable with the things that were important to him as he was.

What arrested Alden halfway across the room was the strained, almost melancholy expression in Bernadette’s eyes. It caused Alden to lose his smile at once. His beloved had the look of someone who had lain awake fretting all night and who had come to an unhappy conclusion about her situation.

Alden absolutely was not having that.

Two seconds later, as he moved determinedly closer to Bernadette, a hand caught his elbow, pulling him back.

“Lord Alden. Aren’t you looking handsome this morning.”

Alden grimaced as he turned to find Lady Gladys anchoring him to his spot and keeping him from approaching the woman he loved.

“Lady Gladys,” he greeted her with a curt nod, then faced Bernadette once more, as if he would pull away from her and walk on.

Lady Gladys’s grip was as firm as ever, and Alden could not break away from her. Particularly when she asked, “Might I have a word with you, my lord?” Alden turned back to her, and she added, “Alone?”

Alden wanted to sigh and throw up his hands. He would never be free from Lady Gladys’s machinations until she either got what she wanted or had a greater reason to give up her chase. Neither of those things would transpire unless he faced the problem she presented head-on.

“Yes,” he said, shifting direction and heading out of the breakfast room once more. “This way.”

Lady Gladys smiled with a level of self-satisfaction and gloating that made Alden lose his appetite for breakfast. Theanxious yet resigned look Bernadette sent after them as they left the room did not help the gnawing feeling in Alden’s gut.

Alden drew Lady Gladys across the hall to one of the empty parlors, then turned abruptly to her. “Say your piece, madam,” he told her. “And then we will consider the matter done.”

“Well,” Lady Gladys said, striking a coquettish pose and making eyes at Alden. “Is that the way one speaks to a lady?”

Alden huffed a breath of annoyance. “Please, Gladys,” he said, hoping that using her given name would cut through the nonsense. “I’ve no interest in playing this game with you for a moment longer. I know your aim. The least you could do would be to speak openly with me about it.”

“Do you know my aim?” Lady Gladys asked, a sharp edge appearing in her flirting.

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