Page 4 of An Impulsive Kiss (Captivating Kisses #2)

“H ow do I look, Annie?” Lucy faced her maid, smoothing her skirts.

“Very nice, my lady. That new gown from your modiste fits you to perfection.”

She was pleased with the gown. Because of her large bosom and small waist, she had to take care with the way a gown was cut. Not only had Madame Laurent helped in steering Mama and her toward not only gowns in which Lucy felt comfortable and fashionable, the modiste had also convinced Mama on colors which best flattered Lucy’s hair and complexion. Though she only had a small part of her new wardrobe, already Lucy felt confident entering the Season because of it.

“We should leave now for my cousin’s,” she told the maid.

On the way there, Lucy told Annie, “Feel free to stay and have a cup of tea or make your way home and do the same. I will be at Cousin Ariadne’s two hours before tea even begins, and then tea will certainly be a good hour or more. You will not need to serve as a chaperone home because I will go with Mama and Papa. Con, too, if he is also there. I think he is coming, as well.”

They turned onto the square. Three houses sat on it, two facing each other, with one at the end. The one on the left she recalled as the residence of her aunt and uncle. It saddened her that Uncle Charles was now gone, but Lucy thought Val would make for a marvelous Duke of Millbrooke. Though Val would remain in the country this Season with his mother and sisters, at least she would see some of Ariadne and Lord Aldridge. Her cousin was the first of the ten cousins to have wed, and Lucy couldn’t help but wonder what the marquess was like. She was also counting on Ariadne’s guidance as much as Mama’s as far as the Season went. With Ariadne having only made her come-out last year, she was more familiar with the younger set. Lucy hoped to become friends with her cousin.

She knocked on the door and was admitted by the butler.

“Lady Aldridge is awaiting you in her parlor,” he said. “Follow me, my lady.”

As they went down a hallway, she couldn’t help but admire the beautiful furnishings and paintings. The butler announced her and indicated for her to enter the room. She did, seeing Ariadne smiling widely.

“Cousin Lucy!” she cried.

Going to her, Lucy embraced Ariadne, thinking how beautiful she was. Her cousin’s hair was a distinct copper color, while her eyes were a sky blue. Even as children, Ariadne had had a maturity about her, and Lucy saw that was still evident.

“I love your scent,” she said.

“It is a vanilla which I mix myself. If you like it, I can give you a bottle to use. Only a dab is needed, and the fragrance lasts for hours. Or if you wish for something else, I would be happy to create that for you.”

“Thank you. I would appreciate that. I do love lavender.”

“Then lavender it is. Come and sit. We have so much to catch up on.”

Lucy expressed her condolences. “I am so sorry about the loss of His Grace. At least he and Her Grace called upon you before coming to town and got to meet little Penelope.”

Ariadne nodded sadly. “They were only moderately interested in her. After all, she is a female. Most men care little for females, Lucy. Thankfully, Julian is not one of them. He is enthralled with our daughter. She may only be six weeks old, but he loves to hold her and tell her stories. He tells me he will start reading to her soon.”

“My, that is most unusual,” she commented, not able to imagine any man doing so.

“Julian is most unique. I cannot wait for you to meet him.”

“May I see the babe?” she asked.

“She just went down for a nap, but we can sneak up to the nursery so you can get a glimpse of her.”

Eagerly, Lucy followed Ariadne up to the top floor. A nursemaid sat in a rocker, watching over the child. She smiled indulgently at her mistress, and Lucy gathered these trips to the nursery were commonplace.

They stepped to the cradle, and Lucy found herself agreeing with Val’s opinion of the babe. Penelope was absolute perfection. The infant had tufts of hair which was a soft red. Her mouth was a little rosebud. She frowned in her sleep, stretching, and then settling down again.

“Isn’t she lovely?” Ariadne asked, smiling fondly at her daughter.

“She is beautiful,” Lucy agreed. “I cannot wait to have children of my own.”

“Come. We need to talk about the Season. That is why I asked you to come early so we could have time alone together.”

They returned downstairs, and her cousin spent an hour telling Lucy about the various events. How to dress. What to expect. The strict etiquette to follow. She learned so much that her head swam from all the information.

“I am grateful for you taking the time to share this with me,” she told her cousin. “Mama has been more interested in what I look like than how I should behave.” She smiled ruefully. “I have always been the good child of the family. Con, being a boy, was always free and a little wild. Mama and Papa always forgive him everything.”

Nodding in agreement, Ariadne said, “It is the same with Val. As the only boy, he is the obvious favorite. Thankfully, Val never let that go to his head. He and I are quite close. What of Dru, though? I recall she did not want to play dolls with us.”

Lucy chuckled. “Dru is a tomboy, through and through. When Mama and Papa leave for town and the Season, out come her breeches. She marches about Marleyfield in them—and even rides astride. Dru has always done as she pleased, which often gets her into trouble.”

“She is what, a year or two behind you?”

“A year. She is supposed to make her come-out next spring, but she tells me she has no interest in marriage or babes. That she will never wed. I, on the other hand, have always looked forward to making my come-out and starting my own family. I suppose that is why Mama has not lectured me on particular etiquette.”

Ariadne continued sharing her own knowledge with Lucy, explaining how conversation at balls could be limiting because the dancing was so strenuous. She also told her if a gentleman asks her to dance twice in an evening, that showed his particular interest in her.

“But never, ever dance thrice with a man at the same ball,” her cousin declared. “It simply is not done.”

“What else?” she asked, interested in all that was being revealed.

Her cousin spoke about suitors calling and the arrangements of flowers they would send. How they only stayed a quarter-hour or so.

Mystified, she asked, “Then when do you get to have a decent conversation and learn anything about a gentleman?”

“Alas, many couples only see one another a handful of times before a betrothal is announced.” Ariadne paused. “Are you looking for a love match, Lucy?”

“No,” she revealed. “Although I know they must occur, I do not wish that for myself. I only need a husband who will be kind to me and give me the children I want. I do not even expect him to be like Lord Aldridge and see our children very often. It will not matter. I will devote myself to raising them.”

Ariadne studied her. “What of when the Season begins? Will you leave those babes in the country?”

Lucy recalled what Val had said earlier. “I do not want to, but I realize that is what is expected,” she said, wondering if Ariadne would truly bring her children to town each year.

Determination filled her cousin’s eyes. “Let me tell you this. You will run your household. You must use your authority and insist that your children be brought to town with you. I have done so with Penelope, and I plan to always bring all our children to town.”

Shock filled her, realizing that what Val had said was true. She. “I... I only thought Penelope came with you because she was so young.”

“No. She will come next year. And the next and the next. So will her brothers and sisters. I have spoken of this to Val and Con. To Tia and Lia. We all have expressed how we felt deserted by our parents for months at a time when the Season rolled around. We have vowed to do things differently. I hate that I only saw you and our other cousins for that one week.”

“It was because we live so far from one another. We Alingtons are in Somerset in the west. The Fultons are far north in the Lake District. And you Worthingtons reside in Kent.”

Ariadne sniffed. “I can understand that travel between our families’ country estates would have proven difficult, but what if all ten of us had been brought to London each year? We could have grown up together. Enjoyed our extended family. That is my plan. I want my children to know their uncle and aunts. As I said, Val and the twins have agreed that is a solid plan. Con has said he would join us in this when he weds and has children. I believe the Season is not merely for social events. It is time well spent with family.”

This was something Lucy had never considered. She rarely had seen her parents when they resided at Marleyfield. Mama was always going and visiting her friends during the autumn months. Papa often would go to town when she did so. When her parents were in residence, she barely saw them, and that did not even count the months they were gone for the Season. Ariadne’s idea of all the cousins bringing their children to town every year was unique.

And she liked it. Quite a bit.

“Count me in,” she said, breaking out in a smile. “As I said, I doubt my husband will be much involved in the rearing of our children, but I would love to see them year-round. It would be a real treat for them to grow up in the company of their cousins.”

Ariadne nodded approvingly. “I am glad you think so. I also hope you do have a husband who will be involved in their upbringing. And who knows, Lucy? You might even make a love match. I did—and it has been the best thing that has ever happened to me.”

The door opened, and in strode a tall man, lean yet muscled, with an air of danger about him. His pale blue eyes were a contrast to his dark brows and hair. If Lucy had seen him on the pavement, she would have crossed to the other side to avoid passing him. Yet as he came toward them, a gentleness filled his face. He bent, brushing his lips against Ariadne’s cheeks.

This was the Marquess of Aldridge.

He gazed at his wife with such great tenderness, Lucy almost burst into tears. She had never witnessed such a look before.

Then he turned his attention to her as Ariadne said, “Julian, this is my cousin Lucy.”

The marquess took her hand and kissed it. “My wife has been so happy to hear you were making your come-out this year, my lady. We are both quite fond of your brother. Please know that our house is your house.”

Lord Aldridge was such a contrast. Her first impression of him, with his fierce looks which frightened her a bit, now altered considerably.

“I am delighted to meet you, my lord.”

“Oh, please. Call him Julian,” Ariadne instructed. “Tia and Lia do. We will be in one another’s company frequently. Only when we are amongst others not in our family should you behave more formally toward him.”

“If you insist,” Lucy said, thinking this quite different from expectations her mother might have. Then again, Ariadne’s unusual idea of bringing her children to town during the Season would no doubt shake Mama to her very core.

They enjoyed a wonderful conversation, with Julian and Ariadne telling her about Aldridge Manor, his country estate in Surrey, as well as their work at Oakbrooke Orphanage.

“Oh, that reminds me,” Julian said. “I have asked someone to tea this afternoon.”

“We are already hosting Lucy, Con, and my aunt and uncle,” Ariadne protested. “Who is it?”

“Con introduced us this morning at White’s. A Lord Huntsberry.”

“Huntsberry?” Ariadne asked. “You actually met Lord Huntsberry?” Turning to Lucy, she said, “Huntsworth is the estate adjacent to ours in Surrey, but we have never laid eyes upon the marquess. We have learned, thanks to our steward and his, who have grown close, that Lord Huntsberry gained his title when he was but ten years of age. The Huntsworth steward said the marquess never goes to the country. That the house is shut up, and he remains in town.”

“From what we have learned, as a boy, Huntsberry came home to Surrey during school terms. His uncle was his guardian. But after he went to university, he never graced the property again.” Julian thought a moment. “I believe Ross, the marquess’ steward, said it is going on ten years or more since his employer visited his country estate.”

“That is most unusual,” Lucy said.

“So, you have met the elusive Huntsberry and invited him to tea?” Ariadne said.

Julian shrugged. “He told me he wished to make a contribution to our orphanage. He was also interested in hearing more about your latest project regarding the poor. I told him to come to tea, and we could speak about his donation and more.”

“Well, one more for tea will not upset Cook,” her cousin said.

A knock sounded, and the butler entered. “It is drawing close to four, my lady.”

“Oh, thank you, Grigsby,” Ariadne said. “Shall we go freshen up and continue to the drawing room, Lucy?”

“If you will be there to greet our guests, I will come shortly,” Julian said, leaving them.

Lucy wondered why he was vanishing as Ariadne chuckled.

“You must think Julian a terrible host. He isn’t. He merely is going to the nursery to see Penelope. In all likelihood, he will bring her to tea to meet you and your family if she is awake. If not, he will join us, but he will have asked the nursemaid to bring Penelope to him the moment she finishes her nap.”

She marveled at a titled gentleman who took such interest in his child. And wife. Julian had been most attentive to Ariadne. He had even held her hand. Lucy was unused to seeing any kind of physical affection, certainly not from her parents. It made her think on her cousin’s words.

Was a love match a possibility this Season?