Lady Alexandra's Hunt Chapter 6, a pride and prejudice fanfic

Thanks for sticking with this story.

Some of you may recognise this chapter from 'It's a Duke's life'. This time you get it from Alexandra's perspective. If you don't know it, watch out for a character we all love to hate. 😉

Levenez – Unlike Darcy, Alexandra has lots of help. Not only was she intensively trained and supported by her father, initially she and Daphne have a guardian, who will still be helpful when her guardianship ends. Darcy was on his own, and had to look after Georgiana as well. Alexandra has Aunt Beatrice to share the burden.

~~H~~

New friends

1802

Lady Beatrice had accepted an invitation by Lady Markham to come for a visit to Cambridge. The two ladies had met at school and had become firm friends. Their friendship had survived nearly three decades.

'I am exceedingly pleased that you were able to accept my invitation. I am also delighted that you brought your niece.'

'I thought it would be a good opportunity for Alexandra to dip her toe in the water, so to speak. She will have her presentation in a few months, followed by her first London Season. Here she will have the chance to attend a few small functions, before the madhouse that is society in London.'

'Sound reasoning. Although the assembly at the University next week will not be exactly small, considering the number of students attending. But it will be much more informal than London. Although I would suggest a certain amount of caution. Some of the students tend to be rather wild. They think because of their heritage they are entitled to whatever they want.'

'I will be careful, Lady Markham, and only dance with gentlemen whom you have introduced. I presume you know which of the gentlemen will behave with decorum,' offered Alexandra.

'That is a wise decision, my dear, and yes, I know whom to trust.'

~~H~~

'Ah. Here is one of the Denton doubles,' said Lady Markham to her companions. They had arrived at the ball the university was hosting only a few minutes earlier. 'I am convinced you will enjoy his company. They have lovely manners.' The lady attracted the attention of a handsome young man, who approached and smiled at Lady Markham.

'Robert Flinter at your service, Lady Markham.'

'Thank you, Lord Robert, for identifying yourself. I would like to introduce to you two dear friends of mine. Lady Beatrice, the Countess of Marven and her niece Lady Alexandra Hunt, the daughter of the Earl of Herne. Ladies this is Lord Robert Flinter, second son of the Duke of Denton.'

'I am enchanted to make the acquaintance of such charming friends of Lady Markham,' said Lord Robert with an elaborate bow.

'I too am pleased to meet you, Lord Robert,' Lady Beatrice responded with a smile at his extravagant address.

'It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance,' Lady Alexandra said while she curtsied. She tilted her head to query, 'although I am puzzled why you needed to identify yourself to Lady Markham, if you are acquainted with our friend?'

'To my great misfortune, I am often confused with my twin brother Alistair, the Marquess of Denmere,' explained Lord Robert. He placed a hand dramatically over his heart. 'Although I cannot for the life of me understand how that can be, since I am the much more handsome of the two of us,' he added with twinkling eyes.

'I suppose that explains the soubriquet Denton doubles,' Alexandra laughed, amused at the antics of the young man.

'Now that my identity has been established, may I be so bold as to enquire if you have any dances available?' he asked of Alexandra.

'We are just arrived and since you are the first gentleman Lady Markham deigned to introduce, all my dances are available.'

'How fortunate for me. In that case, may I have the honour of the next set, Lady Alexandra?'

'You may indeed, Lord Robert.'

~~H~~

Lady Alexandra enjoyed the company of Lord Robert. His mannerisms, while extravagant, were obviously meant to be seen for what they were, simply some light-hearted flirtation.

His conversation, was quite delightfully lacking of any mention of the weather. When she made an off-hand comment about preferring the company of people with sense rather position, her dance partner exclaimed, 'Lady Alexandra, pray tell how you come to the exceptional attitude of not caring for rank?'

'My father taught me to be more interested in a person's character than their station. I find that to be excellent advice. It should help me to avoid fortune hunters when I officially come out in the next London season.' Alexandra explained.

'Your father must be an exceptional man. I admit, I quite agree with you. According to my brother, fortune hunters of either sex are the bane of our existence.' Lord Robert sighed theatrically. 'I would much rather be a poor but happy second son, than a miserable heir trapped into a marriage I did not choose.'

Instead of pointing out that her father was deceased and she herself held the title in her own right, Alexandra replied sympathetically, 'It must be very difficult for your brother then.'

'Indeed, it is. It is difficult enough for myself since some people mistake me for my brother. Whenever they do, I am subjected to the same fawning that he has to endure.

'You poor man,' laughed Alexandra, 'to have to endure the attentions of many beautiful and accomplished young ladies.'

'Please do not laugh, my Lady. You just wait until you have to listen to descriptions of the weather for six hours straight,' protested the gentleman.

'Touché,' acknowledged Lady Alexandra, wondering how she would stay awake in London society.

~~H~~

Lady Markham, aware of Lady Alexandra's inexperience with society, had made a point of only introducing her to young men who she knew would be pleasant company and respectful to the young woman.

Because the assembly was being hosted by the university, there were more gentlemen than ladies present. Therefore, Lady Alexandra kept busy, dancing every dance.

She was having a wonderful time dancing, but realised that Lord Robert had been correct in the level of conversation she could expect. Eventually she needed a break from discussions of the weather, and sought the ladies retiring room to refresh herself as well as rest her feet and mind for a few minutes.

When she returned to the ballroom, she was intercepted by two young men before she could return to her aunt's side.

The more handsome of the two men bowed and said, 'My Lady, my friend and I have been admiring you all evening. We are both hoping we are not too late to secure dances with you.'

Alexandra was surprised that the men would approach her directly, rather than ask to be introduced by Lady Markham. She looked at the speaker and his friend and found that the second appeared like he had had too many visits to the punchbowl.

The first man, while apparently handsome and charming, had an air about him that was oddly familiar even though she had never met him before, and it set her teeth on edge. She suddenly realised he reminded her of the undergardener, whom she had been fired for importuning one of the maids.

'I am sorry, sir, I cannot dance with you since we have not been formally introduced.' Alexandra said as she tried to sidestep the men.

The man blocked her and in his most ingratiating manner said, 'My Lady, one does not need a formal introduction in a ballroom simply to dance. Please do me the honour of the next dance.'

'Wickham, you heard the lady. She does not wish to dance with someone she does not know.' One of the Denton brothers stepped up to Alexandra's side and faced the man, whose name appeared to be Wickham.

'You know the lady?' asked the second man.

'I have had the honour of an introduction,' was the cold reply by the gentleman, who, since he claimed to have been introduced, must be Lord Robert.

'Splendid,' exclaimed the inebriated man. 'Since you know us as well, you can introduce us.'

'My Lady, do you wish to be introduced to these persons?' asked Lord Robert in his most polite manner.

'I would be most happy to be introduced to gentlemen,' Alexandra replied with her sweetest smile. 'Since there are none present, whom I have not already been introduced to, I would rather return to my aunt. If you would be so kind as to escort me?' she asked the gentleman at her side.

The second man exclaimed, 'you little…' and tried to grab Alexandra's arm, only to find his wrist held by the second Denton brother, who had been standing unnoticed behind him.

'My dear boy, it is not gentlemanlike to try to grab a lady,' the gentleman purred.

"My Lady.' the first brother said while offering Alexandra his arm with a small bow.

'Thank you, Sir,' she answered politely, taking the proffered arm.

Her escort, with a challenging look at Wickham, led the lady away.

The drunk shook off the restraining hand. 'You are welcome to her, she is too scrawny for my taste anyway,' and walked away trying to regain his composure, while Wickham tried to appear nonchalant as he followed his friend.

When Lady Alexandra and her escort reached the Countess of Marven, her escort's brother caught up with them.

'Thank you for rescuing my niece, Lord Robert.' Lady Beatrice addressed Alexandra's escort. 'Judging by your looks, you must be Lord Denmere.' She smiled at his brother. 'Thank you also for your assistance.'

The first gentleman quickly glanced around and judged that they had privacy. 'Lady Beatrice, I must apologise for a small deception. Would you allow me to introduce my brother, Lord Robert Flinter?'

Lady Beatrice smiled graciously. 'I am delighted to meet you, Sir. Alexandra, I would like you to meet Lord Robert Flinter,' the countess indicated Robert with twinkling eyes, 'and I believe you already know Alistair, the Marquess of Denmere.'

Alexandra curtsied somewhat impertinently and acknowledged the introduction, 'it is my pleasure to finally meet you properly, Sirs.'

The Countess smiled mischievously. 'I must congratulate you on your fortune to have an identical brother. Considering how practised you are, I would guess this is not the first time you both act as each other?'

'Alistair hates being hunted, so I let him use my name when he needs to.' Robert grinned at the ladies, who were amused rather than offended that they had been fooled.

Alexandra laughed at Alistair. 'No wonder you are so familiar with the trials of being prey. But I must add my thanks for your timely rescue. Who were those men?'

'They were Gerald Stone, Viscount Braxton and George Wickham, sycophant of Braxton. Wickham's father is the steward at Pemberley. I presume you know of the Darcy estate in Derbyshire?' Lord Denmere explained.

'I am familiar with the names of Darcy and Braxton,' Lady Beatrice replied. 'To the best of my knowledge, they are the opposites of each other. Mr Wickham I had obviously not heard of, but considering the company he keeps…'

'According to my information, you are correct, my lady.' Alistair confirmed her unvoiced suspicions. 'Although, I admit I was surprised at how persistent Wickham was. He has a reputation to prefer easy prey.'

'He may have been trying to show off to Braxton,' surmised Robert.

'In that case, I am doubly grateful for your assistance.' Alexandra said. 'To both of you.'

'Any time,' the brothers said in unison. 'It was our pleasure. We enjoy foiling scoundrels and rescuing damsels in distress.' Robert continued.

Alexandra smiled at the brothers. 'Let us make a pact then. Whenever we are in company, we will rescue each other from tedious conversation, fortune-hunters and scoundrels.'

'A pact it is,' agreed Alistair with a grin.

~~H~~

'What did you think of Lord Robert Flinter?' asked Lady Beatrice the following day.

'He is intelligent, charming and good fun,' replied Alexandra.

'And…' prompted her aunt.

'There is no and. I hope you are not suggesting I should already be looking for a husband already,' Alexandra was horrified.

'He would be an excellent match. His brother will be Duke one day, and he seems to have no problem with being a second son. From what I hear, he is wealthy in his own right and he seems intelligent as well as good looking. You also seem to like him.'

'Aunt, you promised to give me time. I am only seventeen, and have not even been presented yet,' Alexandra protested. 'I would like a chance to look around before I make a decision…'

'Very well, you shall compare the merchandise on the marriage mart,' Lady Beatrice laughed. 'Although I must warn you, Lord Robert is probably the best match you will ever meet.'

~~H~~