Page 6 of A Feud with the Duke

“You look spectacular, dear Alice,” Ruth enthused as she stepped into Alice’s dressing room.

Alice grinned, turning on the spot in her ball gown. It felt lighter than air, colored in pink, white, and pale blue. The jewelry that adorned her ears, neck, and through her hair, had belonged to her mother. Ruth had worn them on her debut and now it was Alice’s turn. Downstairs the guests had gathered in the main hall, adding their own glitter and splendor to the room.

“Truly beautiful,” Simon added, entering the room behind Ruth.

“Do you now, perhaps, agree that Simon and I were right to insist that we go ahead?”

Alice looked at herself in the full-length mirror that stood in a corner of the dressing room. She had never taken any particular interest in her appearance. A childhood spent exploring the woods and fields around Lindley Manor meant that her mother gave up trying to dress her in pretty clothes every day.

But not Ruth. She was always the one who wanted to stay indoors playing at being a princess or a queen. While I was climbing trees and falling into streams.

Seeing herself adorned in finely made silks and a few, well-chosen, precious stones, made Alice realize why Ruth had taken such delight in dressing up.

“I see what always appealed to you so much about fine dresses and sparkling jewels,” Alice said, patting her hair, which had been worked into silky ringlets.

Ruth laughed. “Better late than never. You look far prettier than I ever did. You always did take after Mama much more strongly than I did. I fear I have Papa's nose and eyes.”

“Nonsense. I am a wild animal playing at being a lady. You are a genuine lady, with all Mama’s grace and beauty.”

“You are both ladies. Do not forget, Alice, that you are a Hathway. Daughter of a Viscount and a member of an old English family,” Simon said sternly.

Alice suppressed the urge to stick her tongue out at him. There was a shortness to his tone, a slight hint of color to his cheeks, and a downturn to his lips.

He is under stress. Probably from all of the work that has gone into this event. All for my benefit. Well, I did tell you not to Simon!

Instead, Alice smiled, holding her hands at her waist demurely.

“I do always remember that Simon. Thank you both for arranging all of this.”

That is suitably grateful. It should mollify Simon and help him to relax. I want him to feel that this has been a success. He is too hard on himself sometimes.

“Simon, this will be a debut that will be remembered. All plaudits to you for arranging this,” Ruth said, echoing her younger sister’s unspoken thoughts.

“We will see,” Simon said, still with discontent written large across his face.

Alice wondered at that. The work was now done. The guests were here, the house decorated. Food and drinks were being served and there were musicians to provide music for dancing. In a few moments, Alice would make her debut to the gathered guests. What could be putting Simon out of sorts? She opened her mouth to ask, but at that moment, Ruth caught her eye in the mirror.

There was the smallest shake of the head and the merest suggestion of a finger raised towards the lips. Alice received the message and smoothed her frown.

Something is wrong and I am not to ask about it. The older children looking after the baby. Still! We stand here ready for my debut into society and I am still being treated like a child!

“Something wrong, Alice?” Simon asked.

Alice realized she had been chewing on her bottom lip, a habit formed in childhood when she was angry. Her governess had been a firm believer in the ethos that children should be seen and not heard.

“Just nervous,” Alice replied.

“Of course. I remember, Ruth’s debut…”

“Do not tell that story, Simon,” Ruth said warningly but with the overly stern expression that she always used when she was not being completely serious.

Simon grinned, the worry that had been shackling him seeming to slough away. For a moment, he seemed the bright and happy older brother that Alice remembered. Before the tragedies that had befallen their family and elevated Simon to the title of Viscount. Alice was glad to see it. The death of their parents, so close together, had been an unbearable trauma that had made the four Hathway children even closer. Then the loss of the eldest of their number.

Dear Teddy. My knight in armor. My hero. Why, Lord, did you take him away from us?

Now it was Alice’s turn to feel the weight of the world on her shoulders. She gave a sigh, the pain that always ignited within her at the thought of Teddy, burning brightly, and, for the moment, taking over her being completely. Ruth crossed the room to her in brisk strides and engulfed her in an awkward embrace, made difficult by the baby she carried. Alice rested a hand on the bump, taking comfort in the new life within.

“This is not a time for thinking of the past. It is a time for thinking of the future. Somewhere downstairs, there may well be the man who will be your husband. Think of that.”

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