The days leading up to the wedding, was happily met with anticipation and joy. Or it was suppose to be met that way. For when it came to dark moods, it was taken in form of his mother. Charlotte Abernathy. It seemed that as much as he did not want to see her, Charlotte was the most persistent, persuasive woman in all of Great Britain.
He was in his study, reading a letter; ignoring Dooley's persistence with having him see Charlotte.
"I must insist, m'lord, Mrs. Abernathy's in tears as to why ye 'ouldn't see 'er. Do reconsider, for the Lord's sake."
Edward whipped in the butler's direction, and faced Dooley, his hazel eyes cold as ice, as was his voice chipped, "I will not have her in my presence. She is nothing to me. Tell, Mrs. Abernathy that I am terribly busy."
Dooley sighed and said guiltily, "Tis unfortunate as I must tell ye, Lord Douro. But Mrs. Abernathy is currently takin' tea in the drawin' room."
"What?" Edward could not believe the idiot. Clearly what Dooley was told not to do, he always did the opposite. Father really should release him from service. As he stood up and marched his way towards the drawing room, his anger reeling like the flames of hell.
Charlotte was sipping delicately on her tea, like a proper lady, like a duchess, when Edward entered.
She placed the teacup down, and his mother stood up, in a most elegant blue dress and said, soothingly, "It's been awhile, Edward."
"It's been only two months," Edward chipped.
"Come now, Edward. Are you not happy to see your mother?" Charlotte asked, in cold politeness.
"I have no mother," Edward said, "And would like you to please leave the premise. I say it as a kindness to you, otherwise, you will have to leave by force."
"Come now Edward," said Charlotte, "I wanted to talk to you about Lady Alexandra. Do sit. Is she lovely? A beauty? Brunette or blonde?"
Edward stiffened. He was not going to talk to his mother about Lexa. Not now, not ever. "My fiancée is not a concern of yours."
"Pity," lied Charlotte, "She was such a lovely girl to talk to. Beautiful too."
Edward felt himself stiffen even more. "You spoke to her?"
Charlotte smiled, slyly, revelling in the horrific look on Edward's face. "Yes. She is such a sweet girl. She's perfect for you, Edward. I say, your father chose well."
Edward could not take it anymore. He approached his mother and took her arm. He dragged her with him; with her struggling against his grasp wildly, "I am your mother, I tell you!" she screeched in his ear, "How dare you! Unhand me at once!"
Just as they were nearing the main entrance, he released her, and she immediately slapped him across the face. The pain stung him hard, as a red hand imprinted on his cheek. Charlotte sneered as he glared. He pointed to the door, and said, coolly, keeping his temper in check, "Leave, ma'am. You are not wanted here."
She sniffed, tears brimming in her eyes, and then she sobbed. "H-how could you be so cruel, Edward? After everything we've been th-through?" she hiccupped as tears rolled down her cheeks.
Edward tried his hardest not to feel guilty for being harsh on his mother. But even through she was his mother; he couldn't forgive her for what she did. He couldn't forgive her for all those terrible, miserable years in Wales. He just couldn't.
Edward calmed down and walked towards the main door. He turned the doorknob and opened the door. His mother turned to him, her eyes red from crying, and he said, "Goodbye, Mother."
His mood was black as night. He felt depressed with what had happened. His mother's coming back plagued with memories of the past. Of his childhood in Wales. He needed a distraction. He needed a way to drown the away the pain. He entered his room, and in his hand was a large bottle of brandy. After uncorking it, he drank heavily until his senses were no longer there. He drowned in the brandy, blocking away an emotion that would come tonight.
Then he thought of Lexa. Did she truly meet Mother? What would Lexa think of him when she realized that she had met his mother?
That made him even more depressed.
Lexa questioned herself as she sat in the auditorium in the Royal Theatre, why Edward feign illness rather than come with to see Shakespeare's As You Like it that was to be replayed throughout the week. The acclaimed stage-actress, Giulia Verona was reprising her role as Rosalind and Lexa had been looking forward to seeing Signora Verona's performance.
But when Edward sent a letter to her, apologizing profoundly that he was unable to come, Lexa had felt a bit down by that.
So at that moment, Lexa decided to invite Julie (who she was forever grateful that Lord Ashdale had not left with his family to Gloucestershire). Julie was ecstatic to come along. Julie told her that she has always wanted to see the famous Signora Verona perform. Amara then decided to join them as she was stiffening bored at home, and wanted escape from her piano lessons.
"Oooh! A very scandalous lady," Julie had said, "Mother disapproved strongly when I suggested. She dislikes Signora's plays."
Lexa had rolled her eyes and had said, "Your mother disapproves with everything in London. And it's not Signora Verona's plays. It's Shakespeare's. She only acts."
"That's true. And Mama's fonder with living in Gloucestershire. City life isn't her forte," was Julie's reply.
Amara had laughed to that, and teased that Julie too would have liked to have gone as well to see Robert, whose family home was beside hers.
Julie had flushed red at the mention of Robert, and Lexa and Amara smiled secretly to each other.
Now she was watching Signora Giulia Verona act her part playing Rosalind and Miss Emily Dunn playing Celia. Everyone was silent as Lexa watched Signora Verona with admiration. Then it was act two, scene three where the characters entered the forest when Giulia spoke in her thick accent, "How say you now? Is it not past two o'clock? And here much Orlando!" Giulia exclaimed.
Miss Dunn's character Celia replied, "I warrant you, with pure love and troubled brain, he hath ta'en his bow and arrows and is gone forth to sleep. Look, who comes here!"
Then Silvius played by Mr. Jack Irving entered and spoke his line.
With gifted eloquence, Giulia replied her lines as Rosalind and the scene captivated Lexa.
After the play ended with great acclaim, Signora Verona was pleased that high society ladies had come to see her. As they were backstage of the Royal Theatre, Lexa knew with clear delight that Lady Pembroke would suffer from a fit if she ever heard that her daughters were becoming acquainted with a lowborn actress.
Amara was delighted was well and Julie had remarked seeing her best friend's joy: "This even very more scandalous!"
Signora's legendary beauty was not exaggerated. The Italian actress was indeed beautiful. She had night black, glossy hair that was held up in a bun. Her skin was lightly tan, an olive tone tribute to her Italian heritage. She had dark, low arched eyebrows, narrow nose, a heart-shaped face defined by her point chin, and deep red curved lips. She was still in costume from playing Rosalind, which made her even more beautiful.
"Signore," her thick accented voice said, "I am very pleased zat you have come zo zee me."
"We are honoured to make your acquaintance," said Lexa.
"Zis not often zat I'm greeted with guest," confessed Signora Verona.
"How so?" said Amara, "You are the best played actress since Violetta Di Medici."
"Ah," said Signora Verona, "Violetta Di Medici. Ze married zome 'uke, I h'ard."
"Yes," said Julie, "The Duke of Braxton."
"Humph," said Signora, "I never marry a 'uke."
Then amidst the conversation, the door to her room was opened and a dark, handsome Gypsy man appeared. His dark eyes sought out Signora Verona, and he said, in an unmistakable Irish accent, "Signora Verona. I've come to check upon on ye."
Signora Verona waved, unconcerned, "Vait for me in zat lobby. Can ye zee zat I'm busy, medico?"
"Signora," said the man, "As ye can see, I have a tight schedule and I haven't got the luxury of time."
"Very well, Dr. Boyd. I will zee you after I zee to my guests."
Dr. Boyd sighed and left. Lexa noticed that Amara was watching him with keen interest. And it made Lexa wonder.
When the doctor left, Signora turned to them, "What nuisance. Zat man will never budge with hiz work."
"He's a doctor," Amara remarked, "Caring for ill people is a serious matter."
"I think you like him," said Lexa teasingly.
Amara's cheeks turned slightly pink, and she glared at her eldest sister. "I hardly know him to take a liking to him."
"He's quite handsome," said Lexa, provoking her youngest sister even more, "Gypsies are deliciously mysterious."
Amara's eyes darkened and were deathly. If looks could kill, Lexa thought amusedly to herself, I would be flat out dead.
After Lexa exited the theatre alongside her cousin and sister returned to Montgomery House where they found Asteria playing Antonio Vivaldi's Four Seasons, on the piano. Unlike her sisters who favoured the piano, Lexa had her violin. Asteria stopped playing midway and looked up to see that Julie and her sisters wee watching her.
"About time you three returned," she scowled, "I'm never making an excuse for you three again."
"We only asked that you tell Mother and Aunt Arabella that we went walking around Bond Street."
Asteria snorted and said, "You know Mother as well as I do."
Lexa couldn't help but smile at her middle sister, "Yes. I do."
Asteria grumbled and went on to playing the piano.But then Lexa turned to her sister and said, "Oh, do wait. I wish to play my violin."
Before Asteria could refuse her, as she so often does, Lexa fled the room and made it upstairs to her bedchamber where she made a grab for violin case.
It had been awhile since Lexa had played on her violin. Lady Pembroke complimented once that it was one of her best skills as a lady. Once Lexa joined Asteria, Asteria was not pleased to be joined and play a duet. But Lexa, after opening the case and taking her violin out; looked to her sister and asked, "Canon D Major?"
Asteria sniffed and said, "Shubert's Ava Maria."
Lexa grinned as she rested her chin of the chinrest of the violin, her left hand grasping the handle. She hooked the bow and Asteria started playing. She soon followed and he sound of music filled the room. Lexa moved the bow along the violin, and felt drugged by the magic of the moment.
When she at last stopped, she looked to Asteria, and commented, "Mother always said that this was my best skill."
"As a lady?" Asteria asked, amused
"What else?"
"Well you ought to practice more," said Asteria. "More than your scientific writing."
"I do practice," said Lexa, defensively. But that was a lie, and she knew it. She had not practiced her violin for nearly a year. Asteria simply shook her head sadly and said, "What is going to become of you, Alexandra? You are to marry the future Duke of Wellington."
Lexa lowered her violin and felt her heart sink. You are to marry the future Duke of Wellington. Had Edward been heir to a different dukedom it would not mattered to her, but he was the future Duke of Wellington. He was from a prestigious family, descendant from the victor of Waterloo. The Wellesleys tolerated not scandal. They wanted innocent perfect wives, not eccentric naturalists. The thought of what was expected of her, made her want to cry, and it most certainly did break her heart.
The opening of the London Abernathy hotel was held the next day. Westminster has never seen such a grand hotel hat everyone in the ton came out to see the new hotel. Lexa had accompanied Lucian, after apologizing profoundly and making amends, was more than delighted to allow her to come.
Phoebe was splendid with her speech. Wearing a lovely dark dress and hat, she had the aura of a businesswoman. She stood graciously in front of the hotel, in front of a red ribbon of inauguration. When the ribbon was cut, roars of applaud filled the streets and only a lucky few including the Prince and Princess of Wales were invited inside.
Phoebe sought Lexa out while the guests were attending in the grand ballroom, her dark hazel eyes bright and she flung her arms around Lexa, and "I am soo relieved you came, Alex."
Lexa hugged Phoebe back, and then released her. A waiter came towards them and Phoebe took two champagne flutes and handed one to Lexa.
"This a time to celebrate, Alex," said Phoebe, raising her glass to toast, "For the successful opening of Abernathy and the future marriage of my dearest Alex."
"Cheers," Lexa said, and the two friends clinked their flutes and drank their toast.
As Phoebe was led a way in a dance, Lexa watched her friend from the sidelines. She thought she was alone, when she felt someone approach from behind. Lexa turned to see Lord James Bourne smiling down at her.
Lexa's mouth gaped in surprise as her gray eyes widened and she exclaimed, "James!"
Lord James Bourne laughed as Lexa flung her arms around him, hugging him as he crushed to his chest. Yes, it was he in flesh. He had returned from German East Africa.
When they broke apart, Lexa beamed at him and said, "I'm ever so glad to see you, Jamie."
James chuckled, "I was ordered to return from my father. He wrote a very convincing and angry letter."
"Is His Grace ill?" Lexa asked.
"Oh no. He is healthy a horse. Just rather annoyed that I have been travelling so often."
"I must ask," said Lexa, clamping her hands together, "In fact I am imposed to do so. Have you completed the travel guide?" she asked sweetly
James laughed and held out his hand, "Dance with me, and I shall reveal."
"Come now," said Lexa, as she did take his hand and led her to the ballroom floor, "Dora has been asking me as well."
James grabbed her by the waist and she placed her free hand on his shoulder. It was slightly slender than Edward's, Lexa noted. They started to dance, and James's lips curved as he bent to whisper in her ear. Lexa gasped, and smacked his shoulder playfully, "Jamie, that is not polite."
The first thing Edward noticed on the ballroom floor was Lexa dancing with a stranger. To be correct, it was Harry who noticed. They were drinking wine, when Harry exclaimed, "Say, is that Lady Alexandra dancing?"
Edward snapped and noticed indeed that his pretty fiancée was in the arms of another. She was ravishing in that red gown, but seeing her smile at the gentlemen dancing with her made his blood boil. God, he should be dancing with her.
"Who is he?" Edward asked, darkly.
"The gentleman?" Harry asked, observing. "Why that is Lord James Bourne. The second son of the Duke of Kilbourne."
Edward frowned, "Bourne...it sounds familiar."
Harry looked at his friend and then shook his head, "Do you not know? He is quite popular with his travel guides. Have you never read the 'The Writings of Lord James Bourne's Travels to China'?"
Edward nodded, "I have."
"Well," said Harry, "That's who he is." He gestured his head towards Lexa and Lord James. She was laughing. Lord James took her hand and kissed it. She smiled and Lord James left.
"I don't think there is anything but friendship between Lady Alexandra and Lord James. So there is no need to be jealous."
Edward felt baffled with what Harry just said. He jealous? Absolutely not! He just didn't like any man, even those who where "friends" with Lexa around her.The thought of any man touching her, making her laugh, made him angry. Edward then froze. Could his feelings towards Lexa--if one was to call them feelings--becoming stronger? Was he falling--?