Historical Romance – The Best Of The Year. Кэрол Мортимер

the first week she remained in the house, going out only with Lady Ribblestone on shopping trips, but by the end of Dominique’s second week in Brook Street, Gwendoline declared that her sister-in-law was at last fit to be seen.

      They were having breakfast and Lady Ribblestone suggested they should drive through the park at the fashionable hour.

      ‘I should like to go out,’ Dominique admitted, ‘but Hyde Park—will it not be very crowded?’

      ‘Oh, excessively,’ replied Gwendoline cheerfully. ‘The world and his wife will be there.’

      ‘So many people?’ exclaimed Dominique, dismayed. ‘I am not sure I am ready—’

      She broke off as Gideon came in.

      ‘Now, what are you two plotting?’ he said, smiling. ‘Are you off to spend more money today?’

      ‘Not at all,’ retorted Gwen. ‘I want Dominique to accompany me to the park. It promises to be a very fine afternoon and we could drive out in the barouche.’

      He sat down at the table and poured himself a cup of coffee. Gwen watched him in surprise.

      ‘This is a change, Brother,’ she said, momentarily diverted. ‘I thought you only drank ale at breakfast.’

      He grinned. ‘Bachelor fare, Sis. I am a married man now.’

      ‘Then help me to persuade your wife to drive out with me. She has been cooped up in this house long enough.’

      ‘I agree,’ said Gideon, ‘but I am not sure if riding with you in a stuffy barouche is how she should make her entrance into polite society.’

      ‘There is nothing stuffy about Ribblestone’s barouche,’ retorted his sister, offended.

      ‘Perhaps not, but I would rather drive Nicky in my curricle.’

      It was the first time he had suggested they go out together and Dominique felt her cheeks going pink with pleasure.

      ‘I cannot compete with that.’ Gwen laughed and wagged her finger at Dominique. ‘Accept immediately, my dear. I have never known my brother to take up a female in his curricle before!’

      ‘Quite true, Gwen.’ Gideon turned to Dominique, smiling. ‘Well, madam, will you give me the honour of driving you out for your first introduction to the ton?’

      * * *

      Dominique was in a panic. What to wear to drive out with Gideon? Her new riding habit had not yet arrived, and although her new promenade dress was beautiful it had been bought for the warmer months. She even ran out into the street to test the weather. The sun was shining, but there was a chill wind blowing and she did not want to make her first public appearance wrapped up in a shawl. After much deliberation she decided she would wear her new pelisse of crimson silk, with a matching cap. Gwendoline had persuaded her to have it trimmed with fur and frogged à la hussar, prophesying correctly that the chilly days of spring were not yet at an end. She had also added that not everyone could wear such a strong colour, especially not a blowsy blonde.

      * * *

      At the appointed hour Dominique made her way downstairs to find Gideon waiting for her in the hall. He glanced up as he heard her step on the stairs, then turned for a second, longer look. She saw the surprise in his eyes, but there was admiration, too, and her heart gave a little skip. She was emboldened to ask him if she would do.

      ‘You will do very well,’ he said slowly. ‘The colour suits you admirably.’

      She was relieved and said with a smile, ‘Remind me, then, to thank your sister for persuading me to buy it.’

      A gleaming curricle waited at the door, two beautiful grey horses in harness and his groom at their heads.

      ‘This is Sam, my tiger,’ said Gideon, a laugh in his voice. ‘And the reason he is looking so deuced savage is that we are not in the habit of driving females.’

      ‘Not if they’s gonna screech and frighten the ’osses,’ muttered Sam, giving a reluctant tug of his forelock in Dominique’s direction.

      ‘Mind your tongue, man!’

      ‘No, he is quite right,’ replied Dominique, cutting across her husband’s sharp reply and smiling at the groom. ‘I hope I know how to behave myself in an open carriage and think I can promise not to screech, unless of course we are about to be overturned.’

      ‘He ain’t likely to do that,’ opined Sam. ‘Top o’ the trees is Mr Albury when it comes to driving.’

      ‘Ah, then I understand why you are happy to stay in his employ,’ she said as Gideon helped her into her seat. ‘And since you have such confidence in Mr Albury’s driving, I am more than happy to drive out with him.’

      * * *

      ‘I think you have made a conquest,’ murmured Gideon as the groom jumped clear of the horses and waited to scramble up into the rumble seat. ‘Sam was not at all happy when he discovered I had fallen into the parson’s mousetrap.’

      Dominique said nothing, but she was pleased to have come safely over another small hurdle.

      * * *

      The spring sunshine had brought everyone out of doors and the journey to the park gates was slow. Gideon kept his attention on negotiating the busy roads and Dominique had plenty of time to admire his skill as he inched the curricle through the traffic. If she expected to enjoy a quiet drive, she was disappointed. As soon as they entered the park gates she saw the crowds. Ladies with parasols, gentlemen with their canes, all parading up and down beside a procession of carriages and riders. Their progress was very slow, for it seemed everyone wanted to stop and be introduced to the new Mrs Albury. Gideon was a little concerned at first about how Nicky would react to all the attention, but he discovered his worries unfounded. She was a little shy, but her manners were perfectly good and she turned aside the more impertinent comments and questions with a quiet dignity.

      ‘How did they know I was in London?’ wondered Dominique when they moved on from yet another introduction.

      ‘There will have been something in the society pages.’

      Gideon said no more. He had deliberately ordered Judd not to bring the newspapers into breakfast each morning after he had seen the first sly reference.

      The Hon. Mr A—has brought his new bride to town, but there are rumours that this is not the Bride he had been expecting, his intended having been replaced at the very altar by Another. The ceremony took place at the seat of that well-known trickster, the Earl of M—

      Gideon recognised Max’s hand behind that entry and he did not doubt there would be more, which was why he had been so keen that his wife should make her first appearance in his company. He knew speculation would be rife, but he had not expected quite so much interest. Why, the carriages were queuing up to speak to them.

      ‘A new bride always attracts attention,’ he remarked after a pause.

      ‘Undoubtedly, but I fear my cousin has been at work to advertise our situation,’ she said shrewdly.

      Gideon heard the uncertainty in her voice and briefly put one hand over hers.

      ‘I have no doubt he has.’ Damn Max. ‘Do not worry. If we present a united front the gossip will soon fade, dismissed as idle rumour.’

      ‘Of course, but...’

      He glanced down and saw the crease in her brow, the way she caught her bottom lip between her teeth. He said gently, ‘What is the matter, Nicky?’

      ‘Max and his friends are still at Martlesham. Would he really send word all the way to London, to make mischief for us?’

      ‘You should know your cousin doesn’t like to be crossed.’

      ‘True, and you did rather take the wind out of his sails by not calling for an annulment.