An Unlikely Debutante

‘How many horses do you have?’

‘At the moment, fifteen. The number varies as I buy and sell them on. And they’re not all racehorses. I have two mares that I’m hoping to start breeding soon, four Cleveland Bays for the carriage and two old thoroughbreds for general riding.’

He saw the excitement in her eyes as he spoke and knew it wouldn’t be long before she had persuaded him to take her out riding. Not that Alex minded. As much as he enjoyed breaking in a new stallion or training a thoroughbred for a race, nothing could beat the feel of galloping over the fields purely for pleasure.

‘And the horse I saw yesterday?’

‘My latest project,’ Alex said. ‘An Arabian that had been giving its previous owners all sorts of problems. They haven’t been able to harness or ride him, so I took him off their hands for a very reasonable price.’

‘Will you race him?’

Alex shrugged. He hadn’t planned to initially. A large majority of the winning horses in the big races were thoroughbreds, but Arabians certainly took some of the titles. His initial plan had been to keep the new stallion for breeding, so good were his bloodlines, but after seeing his strength and spirit Alex thought he might well have a winning racehorse on his hands.

‘Can I race him?’

Laughing, Alex shook his head. ‘Most certainly not.’

‘You’d let me if I were a man,’ Lina grumbled.

‘I have no idea how good you are with horses or if you can even ride.’

‘I can ride. Give me ten minutes with your Arabian and I will have him eating from my hand and racing like a winner.’

‘Slow down.’ Alex laughed, although he had to admire her enthusiasm. ‘I’ll make you a deal. You show me you can care for a horse, and if you impress me, I’ll let you ride.’

‘The Arabian?’ Lina asked, her eyes shining.

‘Not the Arabian,’ he said firmly.

They entered the stables and Alex led her down to the very end where a gentle-natured horse was munching on a mouthful of hay.

‘This is Stormborn,’ he said, raising a hand to stroke the old thoroughbred’s nose. ‘My very first racehorse. He’s retired now, but still a joy to ride.’

He watched as Lina approached the horse slowly, lifting her fingers to rub his nose and murmuring reassuring sounds. Maybe she was good with horses, but Alex couldn’t risk letting her loose on any of his prize-winning racehorses.

‘Clean out his stall, rub him down, tend to the saddle and harness, and then I might let you ride him.’ He was certain Lina would argue; she argued about everything.

Watching in amazement as she hitched up her skirts, revealing two slender legs without any hint of embarrassment and vaulting over the stable door, Alex wondered what sort of deal he had just made. Still, Stormborn would keep Lina busy for a while and give him a chance to work with his new Arabian for an hour or two.

With a backwards glance Alex moved away to the other end of the stables, listening with half a smile as Lina introduced herself to the horse much more politely than he had ever heard her speak to another human.

* * *

Lina was in heaven. Rubbing down the old thoroughbred’s shiny coat might not appeal to many young women, but Lina could not think of anywhere she would rather be. She knew Alex had set her working in a bid to both stop her from asking to ride his precious horses, thinking she would not stick out the unglamorous work, and also to give him some time to work on his Arabian.

How he had underestimated her. She would be content to clean out the stables all day. In fact, she’d go as far as to say she preferred it to practising how to address people in Alex’s comfortable library.

It wasn’t that she was unimpressed with his house—she doubted there was a grander, more beautifully decorated dwelling in all of England, and certainly not one she’d ever be invited into. And Alex had been an exemplary host; he’d been kind and welcoming, even if his question as to whether she could read had stung her more than she cared to admit. No, her unease came from somewhere deep inside. Lina liked to think of herself as adventurous. The whole point of this escapade was to have a more exciting life. Well, that and to pay off the huge debt she owed Uncle Tom. But now she was here, she felt the first stirrings of inadequacy and she hated it.

All her life she had ranted against the aristocracy and the way they looked down on the ordinary people. She’d gone out of her way to avoid even the lower levels of the gentry, staying away from the country dances she dreamed about attending. Now she was here at Whitemore House and Alex and his sister were treating her with such kindness, Lina had to wonder if the problem was partly to do with her.

‘What do you think, Stormborn?’ Lina asked. ‘Am I the problem?’

The horse nuzzled into her hand, rubbing his head against her shoulder in a consoling manner.

‘How are you doing?’ Alex’s voice came suddenly from the other end of the stable. He’d left her for well over two hours, probably expecting her to give up at some point.

Lina didn’t reply, forcing him to walk the length of the stables to Stormborn’s stall. She saw the surprise on his face to still find her there, especially with his favourite horse nuzzling against her shoulder.

‘It looks like Stormborn likes you.’

‘We’ve had plenty of time to get to know one another.’

‘Sorry, I lost track of time,’ Alex said without a hint of remorse. ‘I’m sure you’re keen to return to the house for lunch.’

Lina had already opened her mouth to protest when she noticed the mischievous glint in Alex’s eyes. He was teasing her. Normally she was so good at reading people, but Alex she found a little harder than most. She’d been able to pick up the basics when they’d first met at the fair, but since she’d arrived at Whitemore House he hadn’t given much personal information away.

‘Shall we ride?’ he asked, grinning at her before tossing her the heavy saddle to strap on to Stormborn’s back. Lina staggered under the weight, wondering if he treated his aristocratic lady friends in such a manner. It was all very well him training her to curtsy and flutter her fan like a lady, but if he treated her like a common gypsy girl, no one would ever accept her as anything else. She nearly said something, but decided he might agree with her and put a stop to their ride in favour of another session with Debrett’s.

Chapter Six

Lina craned her neck, desperately trying to catch a glimpse of herself in the mirror.

‘Just be patient,’ Georgina chastised her. ‘The overall effect will be more impressive if you wait until Mary has finished with your hair.’

The wait was agonising. The maid—Mary, a shy, perpetually blushing girl who was skilled at putting together the intricate hairstyles Georgina favoured day to day—was pulling and clipping sections of Lina’s hair with quick, practised movements of her fingers. Lina hardly ever wore her hair up. It was too unruly, too wild to be tamed easily, so she favoured letting the loose curls cascade over her shoulders and down her back. Today, though, Georgina had insisted.

Ten minutes later and Mary declared her work to be done.

Nervously Lina stepped in front of the full-length mirror and let her eyes travel up her body. The shoes and dress were borrowed, quickly altered by one of Georgina’s army of maids, but they were the most magnificent garments Lina had ever worn. The dress was a deep crimson in colour, cut low but not scandalously so, nipped in at the waist to show off Lina’s figure, and with her hair pulled back into an intricate bun, she looked as though she might belong on the arm of a marquess.

‘I can’t believe this is me,’ Lina whispered.

‘You look beautiful.’

‘Thank you, Georgina,’ she said, turning to the other woman as her voice caught in her throat.

‘Now, don’t you start,’ Georgina admonished her, the tears swelling in her own eyes, ‘or you’ll have me weeping, and my face goes all blotchy and swollen when I cry.’

‘I feel so different.’

‘Let’s join the others and show them what a little effort can do.’

Arm in arm, the two women left Lina’s room and made their way to the staircase. Far below Lina could hear the murmur of voices and she felt her heart begin pounding in her chest. This was her first little test. She’d been staying with Lord Whitemore for just under a week and during that time he had worked her hard, teaching her basic etiquette and manners of address. Today they had practised how to behave at a dinner party, with Alex sighing as he’d repeated the different uses of the four forks, four knives and three spoons for the fifth time. After she had grasped the basics, Georgina had swooped into the room and declared it would be much more fun if they had a real dinner party.

Alex, of course, grumbled but Lina could see he wasn’t completely averse to the idea. It would only be the four of them present: Alex and Lina, Georgina and her husband, Mr Pentworthy, who up until this evening had been attending to business in London. Nevertheless, Lina felt a little nervous about it.

The two men paused as Lina and Georgina joined them and Lina watched as Mr Pentworthy greeted his wife with a warm look and a kiss on the cheek.

‘May I properly introduce Miss Lina Lock?’

‘A pleasure to meet you, Miss Lock.’

Like his wife, Mr Pentworthy seemed to be friendly and sincere in his greeting and Lina knew immediately that she was going to like him. She knew how Georgina adored her husband, she talked about him with love and warmth, and Georgina hadn’t been wrong about much since Lina’s arrival.

Lina sank into a shallow curtsy, lowering her eyes as Alex had instructed her, then looking up at Mr Pentworthy from under her long lashes as Georgina had suggested when meeting a gentleman for the first time.

‘I hope your journey was not too arduous, Mr Pentworthy,’ Lina said, the picture of demure womanhood. Socialising in polite company did not seem that difficult.

‘Travelling is never my favourite pastime, but it is worth it to be here tonight.’

‘I am glad you could make it. I’ve been so looking forward to meeting you.’

Alex coughed and Lina risked a glance in his direction for the first time since she’d entered the room. For some reason she’d known he would knock her off balance and she’d been nervous enough without Alex adding to her apprehension. He was dressed in a crisp white shirt and blue cravat with dark, closely fitting trousers and a jacket over the top. Lina swallowed, trying hard to concentrate on anything other than her host. Just his presence was making her feel all hot and bothered.

‘Whitemore tells me you’ve been working hard these last few days.’

‘Lord Whitemore is a tough master, but I have survived more or less unscathed.’

Alex stepped forward, placing himself almost in between Lina and Mr Pentworthy, forcing her to look at him.

‘You look transformed, Miss Lock,’ Alex murmured.

‘Like an ugly duckling into a swan?’

‘Something along those lines.’

‘Do I at least look suitable for an intimate dinner party?’

Suitable had been the word of the week. Alex had lectured her over and over again about ‘suitable’ clothes to wear, ‘suitable’ topics of conversation, ‘suitable’ people to converse with.

‘I’m not sure what the society matrons would think of a debutante in that dress,’ he concluded after looking Lina up and down.

‘Pish-posh—’ Georgina breezed into the conversation ‘—Lina looks ravishing and she would have all the young gentlemen clamouring to escort her in to dinner.’

‘Maybe the unsuitable young gentlemen...’

Lina looked up and caught the humour in Alex’s eyes and felt the smile spreading across her face. He’d been a little distant the last couple of days. Whilst Lina had been reciting titles and practising enquiring about his health, she’d caught Alex staring off as if his mind were elsewhere.

‘Is it the colour you object to,’ Lina asked innocently, ‘or the cut?’

She felt all eyes on her, but was only really interested in Alex’s reaction.

‘Both,’ he said quickly. ‘A demure debutante is only ever really seen in white or pastel shades. And she tries to leave a little more to the imagination with the cut of her dress.’

‘So this doesn’t allow the gentlemen to imagine what might be underneath quite so well as a shapeless dress?’ Lina was enjoying herself now. The nerves she’d felt as she’d entered the room were lifting.

‘You know that is not what I mean,’ Alex said, his voice tight.

‘I think, my dear brother, that if more debutantes dressed like Lina has, then you would be a lot more interested in making their acquaintance.’

‘You judge me to be that shallow?’

‘All men are,’ Georgina said lightly. ‘What do you think, darling?’ she asked, turning to her husband.

‘I think you look beautiful in that dress, Miss Lock, but I’m sure you would look lovely in a shapeless sack, too,’ Mr Pentworthy said softly, putting an end to the argument between brother and sister in such a practised way that Lina wondered how many of these disputes he settled with a well-considered sentence.

‘Quite,’ Alex murmured. ‘Shall we go through to dinner?’

* * *

Alex placed his spoon in the bowl and sat back, watching Lina as she ate. It had been a most enjoyable evening, much to Alex’s surprise. When Georgina had suggested the dinner party he had been tempted to reject the idea, but seeing as Pentworthy was returning that evening anyway, putting a more formal name to them dining together hadn’t taken too much more organisation. Although no part of the wager required Lina to attend any dinner parties, he had to admit it was a good test of what she had picked up so far, in a safe and controlled environment.

‘The key to reading a fortune is observing people,’ Lina explained.

‘I thought you interpreted the lines on people’s hands or something?’ Mr Pentworthy said with a frown.

‘I’m letting you into treasured family secrets here—’ Lina dropped her voice as she spoke ‘—but no one, ever, has been able to tell anything about another person by the wrinkles on their hands.’

‘How fascinating. So what do you do?’

‘Would you like a demonstration?’

‘I’m not sure...’ Alex began.

‘Oh, yes, please,’ Georgina countered. ‘How fun.’

‘This isn’t really an appropriate topic for the dinner table,’ Alex grumbled, feeling like a decidedly old killjoy in the process.

‘You’ve already told Alex’s fortune, why don’t you do my husband’s?’

‘She knows everything about him already,’ Alex said. ‘You two chatter incessantly. Lina probably knows more about your husband’s life than I do.’

‘Well, maybe you should pay more attention, then,’ Lina murmured.

He watched as she turned to Pentworthy, adjusting her position in her chair and flashing the man a sweet smile. She’d never smiled at him like that before.

‘Would you like to know your future, sir?’ she asked, her voice dropping so it sounded almost seductive to Alex’s ears.

‘Please, go ahead,’ Pentworthy replied.

‘First your name—your full name.’

‘Richard Pentworthy.’

Lina took his hand in her own and caressed it for a second before turning it over and studying the lines across his palm.

‘You’re a powerful man, Mr Pentworthy,’ Lina said. ‘And a happy one. I can see you work hard for what you have, but life has not always been easy. You are married and you take your vows seriously, I would say that your wife and children are even more important to you than your work.’

‘You’re just telling him what he wants to hear,’ Alex muttered. Lina flashed him an irritated look, before turning back to Pentworthy.

‘You are a wealthy man, very wealthy, but you were not born into wealth in the same way your wife was. You’ve worked to get where you are today.’

‘I never told her that,’ Georgina whispered at Alex.

‘As for the future...’ She traced her fingers across Pentworthy’s palm in a way that made Alex want to stand up and pull her hand away. ‘I see more children, many more, in fact. You will have a large and happy family. I see success overseas. A business venture, perhaps?’ Alex saw how she watched for Pentworthy’s reaction before continuing. ‘Yes, business—the deal you are working on at the moment—soon all those long hours will pay off. And I see recognition, perhaps in the form of a title, for all the services you have provided to the Crown.’

‘That’s incredible,’ Pentworthy said. ‘How on earth did you do all that?’

‘You don’t actually believe any of it?’ Alex asked.

‘What’s not to believe?’ Lina countered. ‘I gave an accurate description of his life and what’s important to him in the present, and extrapolated his dreams for the future.’

‘You have to teach me,’ Georgina gushed.

‘Go through it all again, but slowly, explaining step by step,’ Pentworthy instructed.

Alex sat back and folded his arms, but listened all the same. Although he was sceptical about this sort of thing he had to admit Lina must have wonderful powers of observation to describe his brother-in-law quite so accurately on their first meeting.

‘I started out with a statement about your status and happiness. I know you are powerful by the people you associate with and also by the royal seal on the documents you left in the hallway. I can tell that you are a happy man by the laughter lines around your eyes. Our wrinkles never lie.’

‘Such simple observations, but so effective. Go on,’ Pentworthy urged.

‘I can tell you work hard, as you have brought a pile of papers home with you to work on after we have finished dinner, and I know you are happily married by the way you look at your wife as if she is the only woman in the world.’

‘How did you know my husband wasn’t born wealthy?’ Georgina asked.

‘He wears very fine clothes, but there are signs of wear on the elbows and down the seams. If I’m not much mistaken, a tear in your jacket has been mended recently,’ Lina said.

Pentworthy raised his fingers to the almost-unnoticeable piece of damaged material.

‘You are obviously wealthy, Mr Pentworthy—you arrived in your own private carriage and your wife has the finest of clothes and jewellery—but you are more thrifty than most gentlemen, allowing your clothes to be mended instead of just purchasing new ones. This hints at a past where money was not so freely available.’

Alex shifted, leaning forward. He knew of his brother-in-law’s modest beginnings and admired how Pentworthy had made his own fortune, but there was no way Lina could have known. He felt a grudging respect blooming for how she had determined that little insight.

‘As for the predictions about the future, all you have to do is look at what is important to the client and build on that. In your case a larger family, an expanded business empire and recognition for the work you have done.’

‘Impressive,’ Alex murmured.

Lina turned to face him, her eyes shining with triumph. ‘I’ve even converted you?’

‘I’m impressed by your powers of observation.’

He watched as her cheeks flushed at the compliment and felt a primal stirring deep inside. Alex tried to suppress it, but as Lina stood, guided by Georgina, he couldn’t help watching her hips sway as she walked away.

‘Wait,’ he called as they reached the door. ‘Lina, I need to talk to you for a moment.’

Georgina shrugged, returned to the table and allowed her husband to escort her from the room instead.

‘Shall we take a stroll on the terrace?’

Gently Lina placed her hand on his forearm, just as he had taught her to, and accompanied him outside.

‘You did very well tonight,’ Alex said as they walked side by side.

‘It was hardly much of a test,’ Lina said with a shrug. ‘Your sister and her husband are not exactly judgemental. They are very easy to spend an evening with.’

‘Nevertheless, I think we might just win this little wager of ours.’

‘My behaviour wasn’t too scandalous?’

‘It wasn’t impeccable,’ Alex said after a moment’s thought, but regretted it as he saw Lina’s face drop. He could have just kept the tone light, congratulated her again, and enjoyed their time together, but something was gnawing at him, making him lash out uncharacteristically.

He stopped, turning to lean against a stone column to try to regain his equilibrium. Throughout the entire evening, ever since he’d seen her walk into the drawing room dressed in red and looking beautiful, he’d had the urge to pull her into his arms and kiss her. He’d barely been able to tear his eyes away from her lips and all the time he’d been imagining what her body would feel like under his, what her skin would taste like and what her breath would feel like on his neck. He wanted her more than he’d wanted any woman in a long time.

Alex didn’t like this feeling—the sensation of being out of control. These last three years he had trained his mind and body to live by his strict rules, but suddenly they were rebelling.

Maybe he needed a mistress. Not Lina, of course—she was entirely inappropriate. His past lovers had mainly been young widows, but he had once been attached to an actress for a few months and before that an opera singer for nearly a year. Never had anyone he knew kept a gypsy dancer as a mistress.

Alex’s eyes flitted to Lina’s and for a moment he didn’t care about her background. A mistress was to be kept secret anyway, so perhaps it didn’t matter that Lina was from a different world.

‘What did you want to talk to me about?’ Lina asked. She’d turned half-away from him and was looking out over the gardens, her face illuminated by the moonlight.

‘I wanted to give you this.’ Alex reached into his pocket and pulled out a small package, handing it over to Lina. He felt a spark as their fingers touched that sent a shudder of desire through his whole body.

‘What is it?’

‘Open it and see.’

Deftly her fingers undid the small bow on the top of the box and pulled off the lid.

‘It’s beautiful.’

‘I’m sorry I can’t pay you.’

Not looking up, Lina gave a small nod, running her fingers over the sparkling silver hair comb.

‘Thank you,’ she said, her voice tight. Alex scrutinised her face, wondering if he’d done something wrong.

‘I know it’s not much.’

She shook her head. ‘I think it’s the most beautiful thing anyone has ever given me.’

Despite the words of reassurance Alex could tell something wasn’t quite right.

‘If you would prefer something else we can always return it,’ he added. He didn’t have much experience of buying women gifts, not recently.

‘It is perfect. Thank you.’

‘Allow me.’ He took the comb from her, placed his hands on the thin material that covered her shoulders and spun her round so her back was to him. Against his better judgement he allowed his fingers to trail across the soft skin at the nape of her neck, wishing it was his lips instead. He felt her stiffen beneath his touch and quickly, before he could do anything he might regret, he pulled his hands away. Gently he slid the comb into the back of her hair, adjusting it so it was straight.

‘Thank you,’ Lina said, raising her hand to her hair and gingerly touching the comb. She turned and for a moment they were standing far too close, their bodies only inches apart. It would be so easy to lean forward, take her in his arms and kiss her until she begged him for more. Alex felt his body sway slightly, closing the gap between them, but at the last second he gained control of himself and stepped away.

‘Shall we return to the others?’ he asked stiffly.

He saw her hesitate. ‘I’ll follow you in a minute or two.’

Normally Alex would not let a young woman remain outside by herself, even somewhere as safe as his own home, but right now he had to put some distance between them and if that meant being ungentlemanly, then so be it. He knew if he stayed out here with Lina any longer, he would do something he would regret.