Page 51 of The Banished Bride
Jack was watching her just as carefully. “You think Woodbridge does not care what you choose to do?”
“Why should he?”
“Why indeed?” he said, so softly it was nearly inaudible.
“What lovely roses your mother has, Jack,” she said after a moment, abruptly taking hold of one of the lush stems growing up a fanned trellis. “Do you know its name?”
His lips quirked. “I believe it is called a wandering rose.”
She essayed a tight smile. “Really? It seems quite at home here.”
“Yes, well, some wanderers do indeed get lucky and find a spot that suits them.”
Her escort fidgeted from one foot to the other. “Can’t tell a dahlia from a daisy,” he muttered.
Aurora gave a small shiver, then turned away from both the gentlemen and the flickering lanterns. “His Lordship is right—the air has taken a decided chill to it. And in any case, I believe I hear the music beginning to start up. I had best be going in to meet my next partner.”
He would, however, not be the partner she longed for.
Fourteen
“Sick!” The heavy silk of her gown swooshed around her ankles as Aurora crossed the room in some haste. “Why, you are never sick.”
“I am on occasion. If you will remember, I was sick when you decided to set out for Scotland.” Miss Robertson pulled her wrapper tighter and took another sip of tea from the tray on her lap. “And as you keep so vociferously reminding me, you were able to manage everything quite well on your own. So I imagine that for a single evening, my company will not be missed.” A mournful sigh followed. “Though I was so looking forward to the fireworks.”
Aurora’s eyes narrowed in some suspicion. “What a corker,” she muttered under her breath as she began to pace before the hearth. “You hate loud noises.”
“Ah, but I find I’ve become used to them over the last little while.” Her former governess regarded her with a look of great innocence, then added a hacking cough for good measure.
“In that case, we could always postpone it to another time.”
“That would be a rather churlish thing to do, as Alex has already gone to the trouble of arranging the trip, and will be arriving any minute now.” Miss Robertson fiddled with theblanket covering her knees. “However, as it seems your nerves are all in a twitter about spending the whole evening alone with him, I suppose you may be allowed to cry off.”
The pacing stopped and her chin came up in a stubborn tilt. “Don’t be ridiculous. I am not the least affected by the prospect of His Lordship’s company—with or without your presence. After all, he and I have managed to put personal feelings aside and stick to our agreement to behave civilly to each other. This outing should prove no exception.” She turned her back to the burning logs and tried to ignore the hiss and crackle of her own emotions at the idea of being together with Alex for hours, just the two of them. “The only explosions this evening will be of the gunpowder variety.”
Miss Robertson ducked her head to hide a small smile. “Well, in that case, you might want to extinguish the sparks in your eyes..”
Before she could fire off a retort, a discreet knock sounded on the door and the butler entered. “Lord Woodbridge has arrived.”
Snatching up her shawl and reticule from one of the side chairs, Aurora made to quit the room.
“Why, aren’t you going to invite him in for a glass of sherry before you set out?” asked Miss Robertson. “It’s a rather long carriage ride out to Vauxhall Gardens.”
Aurora’s hand came to rest on her hip. “What?” she intoned with exaggerated surprise. ”And run the risk of having the earl catch your catarrh?”
A prolonged fit of coughing followed. “Quite right. Well, do enjoy yourself, my dear.”
Ha! Aurora arranged the folds of India silk over her bare shoulders and restrained the urge to behave like an unruly schoolgirl and stick out her tongue at her former governess. The last thing she expected was to enjoy the coming outing.
But as she descended from the elegant carriage at their destination, Aurora had to admit that so far, the evening was not proving nearly as dreadful as she had feared. In fact, the journey in close proximity with Alex had been quite pleasant, and had passed almost too quickly. A bit of their former easy banter had been recaptured as they exchanged their various impressions of London, from the latest exhibit at the Royal Academy to the shops on Bond Street to the daily promenade of people in the parks.
Alex had appeared perfectly content to avoid all mention of personal matters. His manner was friendly but distant, and he seemed not to be the slightest perturbed at finding himself alone with her. Indeed, it was clear that her presence had no effect on him at all.
She wished the same might be said for herself. He looked so impossibly handsome in his elegant black evening clothes and starched linen that she hardly dared venture a glance in his direction, for fear of how easily he would see the true state of her feelings.
He offered his arm and escorted her to the private box he had reserved for their late supper. Her chair was pulled out with a gallant flourish, then he seated himself next to her, close enough that his thigh brushed up against hers with disquieting frequency. Shaved ham and champagne appeared, and the conversation continued to flow as freely as the sparkling wine. Aurora could almost imagine that they were a normal married couple, out for a romantic evening under the stars.
So why did she feel that at any moment she was going to burst into tears?
