CHAPTER SIX
Within days since they arrived back in England, Lexa found herself back in London with her ladies-maid, Anna. Her father had taken off to Whitehall in Hampshire to deal with the matters of the estate. He had taken Lucian with them and her mother and sister had voluntary joined them. That left her with the house staff and Anna. The first few days Lexa was bored to death, as she could not stand the loneliness. So, she had written to Caroline and told her of her dilemma, so Caroline had written back t her and said to come to London.
And now, as Lexa dropped her baggage on the pavement floor, with Anna following behind, she took a deep breath and sighed. She was again at Montgomery and she was rather coming to be fond of the place.
"I really don't understand why you had to drag me here," said Anna in a irritated voice.
"Dear," said Lexa, "What has gotten into you? You have been like this since I returned from Denmark. Are you alright?"
Instead of answering her question, Anna picked up her suitcase and marched her way towards the main entrance. Lexa sighed and rubbed her temple. Lucian, she concluded, he has something to do with this. She had known Anna since girlhood, and whenever she was irritated it was merely because she was confused.
As Lexa followed Anna, she muttered darkly to herself and cursed Lucian. As much as she knew that Lucian was pathetically in love with Anna, it did not meant that he had the right to toy with Anna's emotions.
When Lexa unpacked and set her belonging to her bedchamber, she made her way to the servants' quarter where she found Anna reading alone. Flipping the pages Anna didn't seem to notice Lexa's presence as Lexa closed the door behind her.
"Anna," said Lexa
Anna looked up and said, flatly, "My lady?"
Lexa flinched. Why on earth was she using such formality? She relaxed her expression and made her way towards the chair beside Anna and asked, worriedly, "Pray Anna, why are you angry?"
Anna sighed, "I'm not angry, Lexa. I'm...." she swallowed.
"Confused?" Lexa asked helpfully.
Anna said nothing but nodded.
"Pray tell me why you're so confused?"
Anna gently bit her lower lip, but confided in Lexa and told her what happened while she was away in Denmark. Her face was tomato red as she spoke and Lexa guessed that this was not easy for her.
"That bastard," said Lexa after Anna finished her story. "I knew that he fancied you, but I never thought he would take advantage of you."
"He...he didn't take advantage of me though," said Anna quietly, "He was drunk...but he looked as if wanted me."
"Of course he wants you, Anna," said Lexa, "He is in love with you."
After she said that, Lexa realized her mistake as Anna's blue-green eyes widened in shock. Poor girl, she had no idea. Biting her lower lip, she thought to herself, Lucian is going to murder me.
After recovering, Anna whispered, "Lucian loves me?"
Lexa sighed. What she to do?
Thankfully, Anna changed the subjected and asked, "What of your Edward?" Lexa blushed, "Good Heavens, Anna. You sound like my grandmother calling him 'your Edward'"
"Well, isn't he?"
"We're not even married yet."
"But you will be."
"In June, or so that is what my father tells me."
"On your twenty-first birthday?"
"Perhaps. Perhaps not."
Anna smiled at her, "At least, he won't have an excuse to forget your anniversary."
Lexa too smiled at that, and said shrugging, "I guess."
Anna ten placed her book, which by now, Lexa noticed was Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities, and stood up saying, "Let go out for a walk. I am in need of some fresh air. Care to join me?"
That Lexa was happy to do. After the two of them put their bonnets on, they placed their shawls around their shoulders and excused as Mr. Davis, the butler, opened the door and allowed them exit.
They decided to walk to Hyde Park that was near Her Majesty's grand palace, Buckingham Palace.
"It feels so good to be here," said Anna in a relaxed tone.
They were walking past Bond Streets, in the crush of the crowd, as marketers were busy selling things and others were purchasing. There were displays of elaborate fans that Lexa found to be beautiful. So she stopped and said to Anna as she approached the stand. "These are beautiful."
Anna looked at one and picked up a lavender fan that had flowers drawn on it. She opened it, and fluttered the fan in her face, and fluttered her eyes, "My lord. How do you do?"
Lexa grinned, "Show me the sign for 'kiss me'"
Anna closed the fan and pressed it to her lips. Kiss me.
Lexa took a fan, a turquoise color with Chinese dragons on it. As she laughed, she dramatically swooned and pressed the fan to her forehead and said, "Follow me, my lord."
Anna laughed but then stopped and her eyes widened, and a voice, smooth and familiar said, with humour, "where to, my lady?"
Lexa froze and felt her cheeks turning red and slowly turned to see no man other than her fiancé, Edward.
Edward was smiling at her, and from behind him, was her younger sister, Asteria holding what was her laughter.
Lexa didn't know whether she wanted to run or faint, the latter, she supposed as her feet was rooted on the spot still in shock to mov
Thankfully, Anna saved the say as she saw Asteria and exclaimed, "Asteria!"
Lexa turned to see her run to Asteria and embrace her. Asteria joyfully retuned Anna's embrace and said, "It is good to see you, Anna. Though, it breaks my heart that my dear sister, Lexa was not the first to do so."
Lexa glared at her. "You were laughing at me just now, Asteria."
Asteria, after Anna broke free of her, placed her hand on her heart, and said,
"Burr, Alexandra. So cold, I'm wounded."
Lexa rolled her eyes and swore deadly in Danish as she placed her fan down.
"I heard that," Asteria said, "Your use of profanity is entirely shocking."
"It was meant to," Lexa replied, curtly.
Asteria then came towards her and hugged her. With her younger sister's arms around her, Lexa surrender and sighed as she returned her sister's affection.
"I missed you, Lexa," said Asteria, as they broke apart.
Lexa smiled at her, "I missed you, too, Asa. But how did you come across him?" she turned to glared at Edward. He smiled at her, innocently, and she scowled. Odious man.
"I meet your sister on the way back to London," Edward said, "We were getting on board the Washington steamship."
"He mistaken me for you," Asteria told Lexa.
"Did he?" Lexa turned to face Edward, "And how did you manage to find each other in London?"
"When I got off of the steamship near Dover. I had no one to take me to Wiltshire. So I came across Lord Douro and he offered to take me to our London home. Ad no one was there, I decided to walk around the market. Where is everyone and what are you doing here in London?"
"I'm staying at Montgomery for a while and as you can see I dragged poor Anna with me," Lexa replied, "Father went to Wackpole. There was an urgent matter at the estate that needed his attention. He dragged Lucian as always and Mother and Amara went there voluntary."
"And you didn't want to go?"
Lexa shrugged, "Caroline asked me to come to London. Says that Rick's work with parliament made her yearn for company."
"Well," said Asteria, as she linked her arm through Lexa's, "At least I'm here now. And you must tell me about how you and Edward met. There is a lot to the story that I don't know."
Lexa blushed and turned back to see Edward talking to Anna.
"Before that," Lexa said, coughing dramatically, "Do you think Lucian will murder me?"
Asteria looked at her, and asked, "Why? Lexa what did you do?"
Lexa looked down guiltily and said, "I...may have slipped a matter of fact..."
Asteria's gray eyes widened and realized the mistake Lexa made, "Oh, Lexa how could you?"
While Edward was talking to Lexa's lady-maid, Anna, he heard Asteria shake her head, and said, sighing, "Oh, Alexandra, how could you?"
"It...slipped," he heard Lexa say, "Anna told me how he...." And she told Asteria only for Asteria to exclaim, "that bastard! I'm going to kill him. Poor Anna." "They are talking about me, aren't they," he heard Miss Keane ask.
Edward turned to see Miss Anna Keane beside him. Where Lexa was fair-haired, tall, and curvy, Miss Keane had dark chocolate hair, her eyes were a blue-green and she was short nowhere above five feet, reaching above his elbow.
"Something about you interested their conversation," Edward said, and he realized the threat that Lexa made against her brother about fancying a woman named Anna was in fact the woman he was walking beside.
"How long have you known Lexa," he asked.
"Since we were in the cradle. Our fathers were friends from Eton."
"I heard she was interested in science," he said, smiling, "fascination with the mating of animals."
Miss Keane laughed and said, "Very true. Lexa adores animals and made a stuy of them to her interest." She paused and asked, "Is that weird to you?"
It would have been weird to him, but his attraction to Lexa made him fascinated with ever aspect about her. So, he shook his head, and said, truthfully, "No. It's not weird."
Miss Keane blew a relieved sigh and she nodded, "That's good, Lord Douro."
That evening, when Asteria and Anna returned back to Montgomery and Edward had returned back to Drumbroke, Lexa made her way into the solitude of the garden, the evergreen grass felt cold under her back and she lay down. Her hair was unbound and cascaded into a wave on the grass as she opened her book. Perching her glasses on her nose, a she was terribly blind when it came to reading, she opening the passages of her favourite poem written by Alfred, Lord Tennyson 'Lady of Shalott'
While she read, surrendered by blossoming roses, she felt as if she moved with where the poem was heading. A curse on the Lady of Shallot, and curse not knows if she leaves, so she watches the world as she weaves...the lady of Shalott.
Lexa felt the need to make the poem her own, so she closed her eyes and whispered her poem.
By the curse was death for she did not obey,
She left the room when told to stay,
Carved her name the boat she lay,
The Lady of Shalott
Down the river
The boat did row
As she sang her heart got cold
As death came there was nothing but sorrow
The Lady of Shallot
Lexa opened her eyes and sat upright and turned the last page so she could read the final verse. Sir Lancelot admired the dead beauty as Dame and Knight gazed at her, lord and lady questioning who is the mysterious woman. Sir Lancelot saying the last lines
'She has such a lovely face,
God in his mercy lend her Grace'
The Lady of Shalott
Closing the book, She got to her feet, the damp grass tickling her feet, and made her way inside the house with her book in hand.. Before going to sleep, Lexa made the time to study the mating of lions. Her friend, Lord James Bourne, who was the second son of the Duke of Kilbourne, was currently writing his travel guide the Writing of Lord James Bourne's Travels to the Dark Continent was to be published sometime next year, told her in his letters of German East Africa. James clearly seemed to be enjoying himself. Lexa yawned and placed her book on the nightstand. Taking off her glasses, she closed them and placed them in its case and gently tossed them into her drawer before blowing out the candlelight and telling darkness overcome her.
Caroline was most pleased to see Lexa call on her the next day. It had been awhile since Lexa had been to Hereford House, so she was glad that Caroline exclaimed joyfully and hugged her.
"Come," said Caroline, as the to of them made their way toward the drawing room. As Lexa entered the Hereford drawing room, she frowned. Somehow it looked different. The last time she had been here, the wallpapers were of a burgundy colour, with fresh prune-coloured sofas and chairs. Everything had been of a dark colour. Now, it had a refurbished look. New fresh sea green wallpapers with gilded flowers designs. The windows were draped with dark green mixed with gold .The furniture was of a deep navy blue with dark brown wooden handles and legs. The floor was also newly carpeted and the colour matched the new furniture. The only thing that remained the same was the paintings that hung on the wall.
Caroline gestured for Lexa to sit beside her near the fireplace and as Lexa looked in awe, she turned to Caroline, and said, "When did you refurbished this room?"
"After Richard and I returned from Italy. I felt the need to brighten the entire household and I told Rick that some things had to change. His family isn't big on modernizing the house, you know."
"And what did Hereford say?" asked Lexa as she watched Caroline pick up a sliver bell and ring in for the servants. Immediately, a maid entered with a tray of tea and biscuits and set it on the table in front of them. Caroline picked up the delicate teapot and slowly poured herself a cup, before looking up at Lexa and asking, "Tea?"
"Of course," said Lexa, and Caroline poured her some. Picking up her teacup, Lexa asked, "What did Hereford say about you renovating the house?"
"He said it was my duty as Countess of Hereford," said Caroline, "Thankfully, I managed to complete the renovation before he could hold an all-male party for hunting."
"Hunting?"
"Rick's fond of hunting on the estate grounds. He managed to share this pastime with His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales."
Lexa took a sip of her tea, "Where is Hereford anyways?"
"He's held up at Parliament, remember?" Caroline said.
"Not anymore," said a deep voice coming from the doorway. Both Caroline and Lexa looked up to see Richard Crawford, Earl of Hereford leaning against the doorway. Lexa grinned at him and she smiled back. When Hereford had first married Caroline, Lexa had despised him for her best friend's sake, but she had eventually warmed up to the man whom her best friend had fallen in love with, and after two years of marriage the earl and countess where still head over heels in love with each other.
Really, in truth, who couldn't fall in love with the Earl of Hereford? Prior to his marriage, Hereford raged the scandal sheets. He was one of the most sought out bachelors in London, for he was a handsome man. Handsome enough that even Narcissus would envy his looks. He was tall standing at six feet, muscular and burly. He had the face of which sculptures inspired. Thick, glossy, golden-blonde hair neatly combed and tended to. His eyes were a light brownâalmost amber âbeneath those thick lashes. He wore the latest fashion, and as Caroline stood up from her chair and made her way towards her husband, Lexa noticed that he was smiling at her, his thin lips stretched a dimples appearing on his cheeks.
"I'm glad you manage to make it home, dearest," said Caroline, lovingly as Hereford drew her into his arms.
"And miss time with you? Never," replied Hereford.
"Oh Rick," said Caroline, sweetly
And the two were kissing. Lexa frowned and felt uncomfortable with the loving couple. It was bad enough that she had to endure kissy-kissy feelings from her parents, who after twenty-something years of marriage couldn't still take their hands off each other.
She cleared her throat and the Hereford stopped kissing and turned to Lexa. Lexa cocked an eyebrow, and said, "Should I come tomorrow, Caro?"
Caroline broke from her husband and said, "Please don't." she blushed red, matching her hair, "We...seemed to have gotten carried away."
"Yes, apologizes Lexa," said Hereford as he came to sit beside his wife.
Lexa ignored what happened and picked up a biscuit. She broke a piece a munched on it, before she sighed, "Ah. Love."
Hereford took a cup of tea and said, "Caroline tells me of your engagement to Douro."
"Are you familiar with Lord Douro?" Lexa asked.
"We are not friends," said his lordship, "But are well-acquainted. We are in the same house in Parliament, so we do see each other often."
"Working on the bill, " said Lexa.
"Yes," said Hereford, "It is to come effect in August."
Caroline rolled her eyes and gently patting her husband's arm, she softly chided him, and said, "Dearest. Now isn't the time for parliamentary reports. We are to talks about Lexa's engagement to Lord Douro."
"I was rather enjoying the discussion," Lexa murmured, "Before you turned the topic on me."
Caroline chuckled softly, and said, "I told you that before you left to Denmark that we were going to have a serious discussion about your impending nuptials."
"Did you?" murmured Lexa, "I don't ever recall us discussing it."
"Well we are now," said Caroline, "And we shan't waste time over it."