Lady Alexandra's Hunt Chapter 21, a pride and prejudice fanfic

I'm glad you enjoyed the scene with Robert. I've been wanting to write that for weeks. It is one of the reasons why A&M are taking so long.

LFU Marcus isn't perfect, but I agree with you. I think he is better than some men who would expect the lady of their choice to be thrilled by their addresses and immediately accept their proposal - no matter how insulting. Hmm… like some gentleman from Derbyshire perhaps? 😉

~~H~~

Reciprocity

1806

Lady Alexandra was frustrated yet again, or perhaps still. Her interactions with Sir Marcus had been confusing. When he was a guest her house-party, he had usually been reserved, acting with all due propriety and as a platonic friend. But sometimes she thought that she detected a spark of something else.

Eventually, she decided to speak to him candidly, but he had received an urgent message informing him that his sister had passed away. He rushed to his brother-in-law's estate without even saying goodbye to her.

Since then, due to the dictates of propriety, she was not able to correspond with the gentleman, not that she would have liked to discuss such a delicate topic in writing.

When her aunt suggested a brief visit to Town, Alexandra was in favour of the distraction, especially as she hoped that the gentleman would also attend the season.

Within days of her arrival in London, Lady Sefton paid her a visit and insisted that she simply had to come to Almack's for their next ball.

~~H~~

Since Alexandra did not have a polite reason to refuse the invitation, she decided on a small subterfuge.

She arrived at Almack's in company of her aunt, having an ankle bandaged and using a walking stick.

'My dear Lady Sefton, I could not miss this ball to which you have so kindly invited me, although I am afraid that I will be unable to dance.'

'My dear Lady Herne, I do hope you were not injured rescuing another small boy from a large folly.'

Alexandra laughed at the reminder. 'Not at all. It was merely a careless move on the stairs. I will be perfectly recovered in a few days… as long as I do not engage in any strenuous activity.'

Alexandra spent a few hours chatting with the other guests. Her supposed injury allowed her to avoid the more persistent gentlemen. Every time one became too assiduous in his attentions, she introduced him to another young lady.

She became quite popular with her supposed rivals, with perhaps the exception of Miss Simpson, who cooed insincerely, 'it is such a shame that you cannot participate in the dancing tonight, Lady Alexandra. I do hope that you will not be incapacitated too long. It would be such a shame if you missed your chance to catch a husband for yet another season.'

'Do not trouble yourself on my behalf, Miss Simpson. Unlike most ladies, I have no need to catch a husband.'

'But do you not wish to be well settled and Mistress of you own home?'

'Since I am already the Mistress of my own home, as well as the Master of my estates, I believe that I am quite well settled,' Alexandra smiled innocently at the obnoxious young woman.

Her friend, who was better informed than Miss Simpson, urgently whispered into her friend's ear, 'Lady Alexandra is the Countess of Herne in her own right. She has more status and wealth than you could ever aspire to.'

Alexandra was blessed with exceptionally acute hearing, and caught the gist of the whisper, but gave no indication of having heard the advice, instead she pretended to be interested in watching the dancers.

Meanwhile, Miss Simpson coloured an interesting shade of red, although it was uncertain whether it was due to embarrassment or jealousy. At last, she managed to grate out, 'I congratulate you on your good fortune, Lady Alexandra.'

'Thank you, Miss Simpson. I must confess I find it an exceedingly pleasant circumstance that I can attend a ball purely for the pleasure of the company in general, without any other concern.'

'You are fortunate indeed.' Miss Simpson managed a tight smile at the reminder that she was desperately trying to catch a husband, who could provide her with the kind of lifestyle to which she would like to become accustomed. Such as Lady Alexandra already enjoyed.

~~H~~

Alexandra was in the ladies' retiring room to adjust the bandage which was starting to come loose. Since she did not wish to be observed in her activity, she had chosen a spot behind a screen in the furthest corner of the room.

She was bent down, adjusting the wrapping, when she heard two ladies enter. She was about to sit up and make her presence known when she heard them mention Lord Denmere. Something in the tone of voice induced her to keep quiet.

She was glad that she did, as Miss Simpson thanked her friend for providing the sleeping draught which she planned to use to incapacitate Lord Alistair, the Marquess of Denmere, and getting him into her bed. Since Alistair had a reputation for being honourable, Miss Simpson was looking forward to being the next Duchess of Denton.

Alexandra kept as quiet as she possibly could, until the two women left.

Soon after, she joined her aunt. 'I need to find out where Lord Alistair is to be tomorrow, and get an invitation to the same event,' she told Lady Beatrice quietly. Seeing the quizzical look, she added, 'I will explain later.'

By noon the following day, Lady Beatrice had not only been informed of the threat to their friend, but she had also arranged for an invitation to Lord Sulwood's dinner party that night.

~~H~~

Alexandra was chatting with her friend, Lady Cordelia, at Lord Sulwood's house.

'You were lucky not to be in our area the other week. We had the worst snowstorm in years,' Lady Cordelia told Alexandra. 'We were quite snowed in for several days.'

'How terrible. I hope no one was caught out in the storm.'

'No, we were all quite safe. Although I heard that Sir Marcus had an unexpected visitor who sheltered for the duration of the storm.'

'How is Sir Marcus? Is he still mourning his sister?'

'I believe he is quite recovered. He indicated that he was considering coming to Town. Although it could be several weeks before he arrives. He needs to oversee some repairs.'

Lady Cordelia watched Alexandra light up when she imparted that news. She wondered what it would take for these two to work out that they were perfect for each other.

~~H~~

When Alistair arrived, she rushed up to him and gushed, 'Lord Denmere, how lovely to see you again. I have not seen you in much too long. So many things have happened. You simply must call on us so that we can have a nice long chat.'

Alistair was happy to see his old friend again, but there was something in her manner that gave him pause. She was not normally this effusive.

'It would be my greatest pleasure to call on you at any time, my Lady,' he replied in the same vein. Then he asked in an undertone, 'What is wrong?'

'I will tell you all tomorrow. In the meantime, be careful of Miss Simpson,' Alexandra replied in the same way while he bowed over her hand. 'In that case, you simply must come to tea tomorrow afternoon. My aunt will be thrilled to see you again. She was saying just yesterday that it was such a shame we have not seen you lately.' She babbled on, again at full volume.

After a little more meaningless chatter, Alistair turned to Lady Sulwood, who had been delayed by Miss Simpson.

'Ah, there you are Lord Denmere. I am thrilled that you accepted my husband's invitation,' gushed Lady Sulwood. 'Have you met all our other guests? No? Let me introduce you. We should have a charming evening. We have such diverse guests.' Their hostess proceeded to suit her actions to her words.

When everyone went in to dinner, Alexandra was pleased to note that Alistair was seated opposite her. She was less pleased that that Miss Simpson had been placed next to him. At lest Alexandra could keep an eye on the pair.

During dinner, Alexandra had an interesting discussion about the current political situation. Mr Courtenay was pleased to inform her about the Ministry of Talent which had been instituted by Lord Grenville.

At the end of dinner, when the ladies rose to retire to the drawing room, Alexandra's route took her past Alistair and Miss Simpson, who was having trouble with her reticule. The port had been poured by the time she untangled it from the lace of her gown. She appeared to become so flustered that she dropped the reticule as she rose to leave.

Alistair, ever the gentleman, bent to pick it up for her.

Since Miss Simpson's hand had come too close to Alistair's port, Alexandra pretended to stumble as she walked past him, just as he was trying to hand the object to its owner. Her seemingly reflexive grasp to catch herself from falling, jostled his arm, which in turn sent the reticule on a collision course with his glass of port.

Alexandra appeared mortified. 'Lord Denmere, Lord Sulwood, I must apologise for my clumsiness. Maybe the wine was a little strong for me. I am not normally so unsteady.'

'No harm done, my Lady. There is nothing broken, and there is plenty more port.' Lord Sulwood assured her.

'You are too kind, my Lord.' She raised a hand to her forehead. 'I believe a cup of coffee with the ladies will set me right. Miss Simpson, shall we join the ladies?' She politely asked the other lady, who had again taken possession of her reticule. She then took Miss Simpson's arm and led the lady out of the dining room.

After that excitement, the evening seemed interminable. Alexandra was grateful that Alistair was ready to leave at a reasonable hour.

~~H~~

At two o'clock the following afternoon, Alistair presented himself at Hunter House. He was shown into the family parlour, where he was greeted by Lady Beatrice and Lady Alexandra.

Both appeared anxious to see him. 'I hope nothing untoward has befallen you since last night?' asked the Lady Beatrice.

'I am perfectly well. What is this all about? Why are you so anxious?' Alistair was puzzled.

Both ladies smiled in relief. Lady Beatrice explained. 'Alexandra overhead a conversation to the effect that Miss Simpson is trying to compromise you. We had heard that she was to be at the dinner last night. Alexandra managed to get herself invited to give you warning.'

'But I could not go into detail while there was a chance we might be overheard.'

'Can you give me the details now? Miss Simpson seemed quite harmless when I met her last night. She is not a lady I could ever be interested in, but she did not seem desperate enough to force a compromise.'

'Yesterday I was at Almack's. While I was in the lady's retiring room, I was sitting down and fixing one of my shoe roses, when two ladies came into the room.' Alexandra told him, since she was not going to explain the pretended injured ankle. 'Since it was not obvious that I was present, they discussed a plan of putting a sleeping draught into your port and then placing you into bed with Miss Simpson. Unfortunately, I do not know where or when.' Lady Alexandra explained.

'I was rather concerned that when we were getting up to move to the drawing-room. Her hand was very close to your glass.'

'Was that why you jostled my elbow and made me spill it?' Alistair asked concerned. 'I know that you are not usually so clumsy or prone to fainting.'

'I am more prone to feinting of a different kind.' Alexandra grinned. 'Although I am not certain that it was necessary under the circumstances, I did not wish to take a chance. She may try elsewhere.'

'I would assume it would be at a private function.' Alistair mused. 'Otherwise, they will not have access to a bedroom. Do you know where she is staying? She mentioned last night that she was only visiting London.'

'I heard her mention a Cousin George, but I do not have a surname,' Alexandra replied.

'Maybe for the foreseeable future, I should not accept invitations by anybody named George until we find out where she is staying. But why did you not simply send a note?'

'As you well know, Ladies are not supposed to correspond with men to whom they are not betrothed. It was also somewhat nebulous, and I truly did not wish to put that sort of information into a letter.'

She now grinned, 'although I was quite prepared to make a scene if you did not leave on your own feet last night.'

'I appreciate your concern, but I would not want to place you in an untenable position. And although I like you well enough, I do not wish to marry you.'

'Ever the charming gentleman,' Lady Beatrice teased.

'You know perfectly well that I think of you as two of my best friends. I simply have no wish to marry a friend, who is only a friend. And you never know, one of these days Alexandra might meet someone she wishes to marry. It would be a shame if she were shackled in a marriage already.'

'Aunt, you know well enough that the feeling is mutual as far as Alistair is concerned. I have someone else in mind.'

'You do? Who is the lucky man and when should I congratulate you?' Alister asked with a relieved grin.

'His name is irrelevant since he does not yet know. He is proving rather myopic.' Lady Alexandra shrugged. 'But there is no hurry for me. You, on the other hand, need to ensure that you are on your guard. It is a pity that Robert is away again. He makes such a wonderful decoy.'

Lady Beatrice chimed in, 'ladies are rarely interested in younger sons. Especially when they appear not to have a title or fortune.'

'Robert is very happy that the family decided on keeping his prospects very quiet. I only wish I had had the same opportunity,' sighed Alistair.

'It must be terrible to be so very desirable,' teased Lady Beatrice. 'Console yourself, it's a Duke's life, but someone has to do it.'

~~H~~