A Season for Honour

Chapter 19

Alex had been standing in the drawing-room of Holloway House, waiting with bated breath for her to walk through the door. Over the past year and a half, since he had talked to her in the library at Northleigh, a day had not passed when he had not thought fondly of her. She was the reason why he was here today, doing something worthwhile with his life, and putting to rights the wrongs he had perpetrated while he had been under the influence of alcohol.

When he had been told by the new Duchess, that her good friend from school, Lady Kendall, was to be invited, he could hardly believe that he would finally see her again. The Dowager Duchess, the duke's formidable mother, had not been impressed with the late addition to the guest list. She had wanted what she called "an informal dinner with her dearest friends," to be a way of introducing her daughter-in-law into society. The late inclusion of a young woman, who she had never met, and was also the subject of unsavoury gossip regarding her marriage to the notorious Lord Kendall, was not her idea of a respectable dinner guest.

However, the new duchess, who also had a will of iron, was not easily intimidated by her redoubtable mother-in-law. The duke, when he had been drawn into the disagreement by his mother, had told her that Lady Kendall was quite respectable. He had also told her that his wife, who was now the new mistress of Holloway House, could invite anyone she wanted to dine. It was with the greatest reluctance that the disgruntled dowager duchess, who was not used to having her own will overruled by members of her family, had instructed Alex to include Lady Kendall on the guest list.

Alex had been standing by one of the windows that were located at the front of the house. He was talking to an old acquaintance, Lord Tonbridge. Alex had never like Tonbridge. However, he was Tyne's second cousin and a guest in his employer's house. He was a member of the dandy set, and consequently, his dress and deportment were far too extravagant for the occasion. Alex paid little attention to what he said, he just nodded and smiled politely as he was given a detailed description of a new horse that he had just purchased at Tattersalls. Tonbridge, who was in the middle of his lengthy monologue, stopped abruptly when the door of the drawing-room opened and looked over with wonderment towards the new arrivals, who had just entered the room.

'Oh, I say,' he said in appreciation as he lifted a quizzing glass to his right eye to observe the two women who had entered the room.

Alex was dumbstruck, as a hush descended on the room as everyone looked appraisingly at the new arrivals. Even though he had had a few days to prepare himself for her arrival, it had all been for nothing. His heart had quickened when he had seen her walk through the door. She looked beautiful in a deep orange dress, the colour of a summer evening's sunset, that glistened with gold as it caught the light from the many candles scattered around the room. Her shining brunette hair was coiled artfully around the crown of her head in a classical style that made her look like a Greek goddess.

Lord Tonbridge, his new horse now forgotten, looked over at the two women standing by the door. 'They are a pair of beauties,' he said as he leaned over to Alex. 'The tall one is the duchess,' he said to Alex in an exaggerated whisper, 'but I have never seen the other one. She's rather a pretty little thing. I wonder who she is?'

Alex clenched his jaw in anger. During the last season, he had attended some respectable society functions with his brother and mother and had tried to repair the damage he had done to his character. He had not been to any of the disreputable establishments he had frequented in the past. However, he was finding it far more difficult to rid himself of the rackety reputation that he had developed over the years in Ellington's company. Unfortunately, Tonbridge was no exception. He had been one of Ellington's regular customers. Alex, in his capacity as Ellington's right-hand man, had known him well. 'Oh, I say!' he whispered loudly to Alex, 'I do believe she is the lovely Lady Kendall. I was told that she was tolerable to look at, but I must say my sources did her no justice at all. She is a tasty little morsel and a widow to boot.'