Regency Collection 2013 Part 1. Louise Allen

much gilt edging, too fancy a script. The butler managed not to sneer at it as he laid it on a silver salver. The centre bore an engraved crest, elusive from years of polishing. ‘If you will wait in—’

      ‘Grimwade, his lordship is in the study.’ Lily turned and saw a tall, slender young woman emerge from a door between two massive pieces of tapestry. She was plainly dressed, but she had a style that gave the gown its own elegance. As she moved into the light Lily was aware of a pleasing, heart-shaped face, dark hair and a pair of familiar deep grey eyes.

      ‘You have come to see my brother? I am Caroline Lovell, Lord Allerton’s sister. Refreshments in the front parlour, please, Grimwade.’ Lily found herself swept into a room at least three times the size of anything she would have thought to describe by such a homely term as parlour.

      ‘Please, will you not sit down, Miss France? It is Miss France, is it not?’

      ‘Yes.’ Lily felt at a disadvantage in front of this self-assured young woman in her simple gown. She had taken enormous care to select the plainest of her own walking dresses, afraid of giving any offence by appearing ostentatious. Yet she still felt overdressed and awkward. ‘How did you know?’ She tried not to stare at the tarnished suit of armour in the far corner. Did people really have them in their homes?

      ‘Jack described you to me.’ Lily swallowed against the embarrassment. She had obviously not succeeded in muting her regrettable taste in clothes if she was instantly recognisable. This elegant young lady must despise her. But Miss Lovell was still smiling. ‘He said you were tall, lovely and red haired.’

      ‘Oh!’ Had Jack ever commented on her appearance? Is that truly how he thought of her? Lily shook herself mentally; this was not why she had come here. ‘I did not intend to disturb you, Miss Lovell, I simply wished to have a few words with Lord Allerton and leave.’

      ‘But you must have some tea at least before you go!’ Miss Lovell turned as the door opened. ‘You see, here is Grimwade with the tray, and my mother and other sisters. Mama, this is Miss France, all the way from London, who has called to see Jack. Miss France, this is my mother, Lady Allerton. My sister Susan, and my youngest sister Penelope.’

       This is a fairy story! I come here to confront an ogre in a castle and I find myself in a tea party with four ladies. I am trapped now, I can hardly insist upon seeing him …

      Lily smiled and curtsied and said everything that was proper and found herself seated while four pairs of dark grey eyes observed her with polite interest.

      ‘Have you come far today, Miss France?’ Lady Allerton was pouring tea into cups that seemed to be made of parchment, they were so thin.

      ‘From Newcastle only, Lady Allerton. I stayed at York on Sunday, having travelled up from London. What very lovely china.’ It was probably ill bred of her to comment, she realised as soon as the remark was out. The aristocracy took old things for granted.

      ‘Thank you. It is Sèvres, from my grandmother’s family.’ Lily could hear her own words echoing in her memory from when she had ranted at Jack about the upper classes’ obsession with all things old. How he must have laughed inwardly at her ignorant indignation when he owned such exquisite heirlooms himself. ‘A long journey, Miss France. How fortunate the weather has been clement. Do you visit family?’

      ‘No. It is a business visit.’ There was no point in pretending, even if her ladyship regretted offering hospitality to a cit. ‘I trade in tea and I have a branch of the business here. It is a long time since I visited my agent here. I think I may then go into the Lake District to see the sights, if the weather holds fair.’

      ‘Tea, how fascinating. Please, give me your opinion on this blend.’

      Surprised, for most ladies seemed not to have any understanding that tea blends might vary at all, Lily took a careful sip and rolled it around her mouth. ‘Essentially a green tea, with overtones of Oolong. I think it might be given a little more body with a hint of Nilgiri, but that is very much a personal thing.’

      ‘How clever.’ The youngest Miss Lovell—Penelope?—clapped her hands. ‘What lovely names and how wonderful of you to know all about it.’

      ‘Miss France is very clever, Penny.’

      The fragile cup rattled in its saucer and Lily put it down hastily on the side table. Jack came in, a smile on his lips and a decidedly chilly question in his flinty eyes.

      Chapter Seventeen

      ‘Lord Allerton.’ Lily swallowed the lump in her throat and managed not to squeak. She had last seen him on a damp heath, stripped to the waist with blood pouring down his arm. Now he looked relaxed, well and—surrounded by the thick ancestral walls of his home—formidably unapproachable. He was the same man as he had been in London, yet totally different.

      ‘What a surprise to see you again so soon, Miss France.’ He gave no indication whether he found the surprise a pleasant one or not, but Lily thought she could guess.

      ‘Miss France was just telling us about tea.’ Lady Allerton appeared not to notice the atmosphere. ‘Would you care for a cup, Lovell, or shall I ring for coffee?’

      ‘Neither, thank you, Mama.’ He did not sit down either and Lily could see both his younger sisters beginning to look uncertainly at him. He was waiting for her to explain herself, as well he might.

      ‘Another cup, Miss France? A biscuit?’

      ‘No, I thank you, ma’am. I … I must not take any more of your time. I came only to say something to Lord Allerton, then I must go.’

      ‘Really? But will you not stay with us a while? We would be delighted to have you, and you are so far from home.’

      Lily smiled distractedly at her hostess. ‘Thank you, Lady Allerton … but I must say this, and then—’

      ‘You wish to be alone.’ Lady Allerton got to her feet and gestured to her daughters. ‘Come along, girls, and let Miss France discuss her business.’

      ‘No! No, please do not go. I should say this in front of all of you.’ Now she had begun the words came more easily. Lily made herself meet Jack’s eyes, even darker now, his eyebrows raised in what seemed to be disdainful query.

      ‘I came only to apologise—to Lord Allerton for failing to thank him as I should for what he has done for me, and to his family for putting him in such peril.’

      ‘Peril?’ Lady Allerton half-rose from her chair, but Miss Lovell’s hand on her shoulder pressed her gently back down. Caroline’s gaze was fixed on her brother, but she remained standing quietly.

      ‘On three—no, four—occasions Lord Allerton has come to my aid. He rescued me when I was escaping the unwanted attentions of a gentleman. He was injured—you can see the scar on his temple—when a mob surrounded my house. He was struck down by that same man even though he was already hurt, and finally, when he called him to account for his behaviour, Lord Allerton was wounded in the arm.’

      ‘Duelling?’ From the expressions on the faces of at least three of the women in front of her, Lily realised they had not known about the duel. ‘Duelling?’ Lady Allerton repeated. ‘What wound?’

      ‘A flesh wound in the left upper arm,’ Lily explained, the words tumbling out now. Jack’s brows had drawn together thunderously. So, he had managed to conceal it from them. ‘But that is not all. I was tactless, insensitive, thoughtless.’ There was no denial on his face. She forgot the watching women and began to speak only to Jack. ‘I made things in London much more difficult for you than they might have been. I did not help your search for investors as I might have done. We parted in anger because I was too self-centred to see your point of view. And too spoilt to stand being thwarted.’ She might as well say it all now, humiliate herself thoroughly while she was about it.

      ‘I was brought up to take responsibility for my mistakes. I do not make many.’ There was a sudden glimmer of humour in his eyes and