his cravat.”
“What?” Alice shot to her feet. “I was never in the study. I never exited the study. And I have never ever laid eyes on this…this duke!” She wrung her hands. “Why should I be punished for another’s actions? You know it was not me!”
Alice turned to her grandmother, beseeching her help. “Please, Grandmama! Please, tell Father none of this is true! Please, please, don’t allow this travesty of justice to occur. I am innocent. Innocent!” She covered her face with her hands, her tears now flowing freely.
“Now, now, child. All will be well. Allow your father to explain.” Her grandmother patted her arm.
Nathan cleared his throat. “As I said, my dear, it is what they perceive as truth. Whether you are guilty or not does not matter. As of two days ago your reputation is in shambles, and you are officially ruined as far as the ton is concerned.”
“Then send me back to Aunt Amelia, Father. Please! Send me back to America. I will continue to be a paragon of society, doing charity work and being content as a spinster. I am five and twenty, well on the shelf. No one will question my reappearance. There are several that would welcome it.”
The baron steepled his fingers and shared a look with his mother. Neither spoke words, but their eyes said much.
“What, Father? There is no reason for me to stay here. I can leave. This false scandal will blow over, just like the last. I can come back in a few years, and no one will remember any implied indiscretion on my part. I will just be…”
“You cannot return to America.” The harshness in her father’s voice sounded more pained than angered.
“Father?” Alice noticed the sheen of tears in her father’s eyes.
“Your aunt Amelia. She…she…” He removed a handkerchief from his breast pocket and wiped his eyes. Clearing his throat again, he continued, “She passed away a fortnight after your arrival home. Your grandmother and I made the decision to withhold this information until you made your reentrance into society.”
All the fight drained out of Alice’s body as she sunk back down into the chair. Her poor, dear aunt! Gone! Bless her, she had the soul of a saint and the patience of Job when it had come to her wayward, headstrong niece. But her unconditional love and faith in Alice had never wavered.
And now she was gone. Along with Alice’s sole avenue of escape from her impending nightmare.
She could barely muster the effort to whisper. “Why, Father? Why did you not tell me?”
Her grandmother reached over and took Alice’s hand in hers. “My dear, you needed a fresh start and deserved another chance. Your last debut was, er, somewhat short lived. Partly due to your mother’s death. We did not wish to have this season end before it had a chance to begin.”
“I wish I had known. I could have returned to help Uncle Henry and the boys. I could have been useful. I could have avoided the catastrophe that is my life right now.”
“Child, there was nothing that Henry and the boys could not handle. They are doing well and should be visiting with us in the country once the season has ended.”
“My season has already officially ended. Why not let me return to them now and come back with them to visit in the country?”
“Because the duke has offered for you, Alice.” Her father’s voice, as well as his eyes, was soft and compassionate.
Alice still wanted to stand her ground but chose to rest her arguments for the night. His revelation regarding her aunt had depleted her anger. His pain was as real and deep as her own with their loss. And Grandmama had lost a daughter. Now was not the time to add to their agony.
Releasing a breath, she spoke tenderly. “Father, please, explain the situation in which I find myself and your solution to the problem. I will try not to interrupt. But I do request I be allowed to discuss this rationally with you when you are done.” She gave him a gentle smile. “Mayhap there is room for compromise.”
Her father returned her smile, but, in his eyes, she could see his resolve. “My dearest Alice, the duke himself was here within the past hour. We discussed the situation in which we found ourselves and what might be the best resolution. There was only one. He offered for you, I accepted, and the marriage contract has been penned and signed. All that is left is the wedding. I am sorry, child. But there is no other option.”
Alice hung her head. It truly was out of her hands. For now. She would have to feign compliance until she could form a plan.
“How long do I have?” Alice managed to squeak out.
“Well, darling, as your grandmother and the one to plan the wedding, I will strive to allow you time to get to know your young man. I cannot expect you to willingly marry the gentleman sight unseen, now can I?”
Alice’s mind raced. From past experience, she knew she could bargain. First, she had to ask for the sky and settle for crumbs. But every crumb counted, granting her additional time to develop an alternative plan.
“I am a strong believer in long engagements, Grandmama. I think the year I turn thirty should be sufficient,” Alice said with a nod.
Silence reigned in the room. After a minute, possibly two, her grandmother laughed so hard she emitted an unladylike snort. “Excellent try, child! You know I was thinking in terms of weeks, not years. But I applaud your endeavor!”
Alice sighed. Grandmama wasn’t as susceptible to her ploys as she once was. Well, weeks were totally out of the question. She could work with months, certainly.
Attempting a counteroffer, she plunged ahead. “Grandmama, you know most engagements are for two years or more. Two years would do well for me.” And possibly be long enough for rumors to settle down, and she could figure a way to circumvent the contract.
Her grandmother shook her head. “You used to be better than this, Alice. You are stretching too far and revealing your hand.” She placed her hand on Alice’s arm. “Try again, child. Work within reasonable parameters. You might have better luck.”
Jumping Jinx! The years and distance had not diminished her grandmother’s ability to read her like a book one bit! She should have known better. She had learned at the knee of the best!
Jinx? Jinx! She started formulating a plan in her mind but kept a neutral look upon her face. She had already revealed too much to the Queen of Cunning, with whom she was attempting to negotiate.
“You are right, Grandmama. As always.” She gave her grandmother the most sincere smile she could muster. “One year should be adequate. I know you would like it to be sooner, but, honestly, my fiancé will need this time to publicly court me, and you will need it to arrange an elaborate affair. Besides, a year will put to bed all the rumors once they realize I am not increasing. Then there will be the engagement ball, availability of the church, and, of course, the trousseau! Why, it is going to take that long to fit all that in!”
Her grandmother narrowed her eyes. “Six weeks. Three for the banns to be posted, three to prepare for your wedding.”
Alice sputtered. “But, but…Grandmama! There is absolutely no possible way we can accomplish everything needed in that amount of time! Why, the trousseau alone will require six months!”
