Lexa was exhausted.
As the new Marchioness of Douro, the ball that was held in her honour ran late until half past midnight when she and Edward thanked their guests and bid them a good night. Now the manor was empty and silence nearly befell the halls. from where she lay in her bedchamber , she could hear the occasional foot falls of the servants scurrying around not to disturb the people of upstairs.the door opened and Selena Lyons entered. She had been recently promoted to a ladies-maid.
Miss Lyons curtsied.
Lexa smiled, "Do come in, Miss Lyons."
Miss Lyons entered and said, "I'm here to help you prepare for bedtime, my lady."
Lexa nodded and Miss Lyons went straight to work helping Lexa in and out of ball gown.
After Miss Lyons helped her into her nightgown Lexa wanted led to her bedchamber. The candle lit on her dress drawer beside her bed flickered it's light and as Lexa got on to her bed , she bent forward and blew its light out.
Edward and his father where in the breakfast room when Lexa joined them. They looked up when they noticed Lexa and His Grace acknowledged her with a smile. "I see that you are afresh from last night, Lady Douro."
"I am feel very much better, Your Grace," Lexa replied.
She looked at Edward and said, "Good morning, my dear."
Edward smiled slightly at his wife and said, "Good morning, Lady Douro."
Lexa felt her cheeks warm. Lady Douro. The way Edward said her new title sounded almost romantic. smiling to herself. Lexa picked up her teacup and poured herself a hot cup of chocolate.
After that delightful breakfast which the Chef prepared, Lexa decided that she would make a call on her cousin, Julie. standing up from her seat, she turned to her husband and father-in-law and informed them. "I would like to make a call on Miss Kingsley. Would you care to accompany me, Edward?"
For the second time, Edward looked up from his newspaper and said, looking at his lady wife. "Miss Kingsley?"
"Yes," replied Lexa, "Their London townhouse is not far from us."
Edward thought for a moment and then decided hat perhaps it would be best for the two of them to get out and reintroduce themselves. he too rose from his spot and after bidding his father a good day, Edward followed Lexa out.
****
After Lexa was dressed for the outdoors, she and Edward exited Drumbroke and made way towards the Wellington coach. After a few blocks and a reasonable distance, the coach stopped in front of the Ashdale townhouse. Edward got out of the coach first, followed by Lexa, whom Edward.
When the coach rolled away, Lexa and Edward made their way up the steps of the townhouse and knocked the door. Immediately, the door clicked open and the Ashdale butler appeared.
"May I help you?" the butler asked.
"Is Miss Kingsley home?" Lexa asked.
"And to whom wishes to call on Miss Kingsley?" inquired the butler.
"The Marquess and Marchioness of Douro," Edward replied.
The butler paused and said, "Please come inside."
He moved aside and allow access for Lexa and Edward to enter. They did and followed the butler. The butler made his way towards the Ashdale drawing room and stopped.
"The Marquess and Marchioness of Douro are here to see you, Miss Kingsley."
The butler moved away and Lexa and Edward entered and there sitting in the drawing room close to each other was Julie, her sister, Rosemarie and her mother, Viscountess Ashdale.
Julie was the first to speak. "My Lord, my lady. What great pleasure it is to see you after your wedding."
"It's a pleasure to see you, Miss Kingsley," replied Edward. "Is Lord Ashdale here?"
"My husband is in his study, Lord Douro," said Lady Ashdale. She turned to the footman in the room and asked him. "Will you take Lord Douro to Lord Ashdale?"
"Yes, my lady," said the footman. And with that the footman led Edward out of the drawing room. After they left, Julie sprung from her seat and went to hug Lexa.
"Oh Lexa! " she exclaimed, "How glad am I to see you!"
"It's Lady Douro now," said Rosemarie.
"It is indeed," said her aunt. Lady Ashdale called for the nearest maid and informed her to bring a tray of hot tea and biscuits.
Julie released her cousin and wasted no time. She dragged Lexa to the settle and as the two of them sat down, Julie asked, "How was Scotland was it wonderful?"
"It was," said Lexa. It was a pity how little time they spent enjoying the beauty Scotland had to offer. "Scotland is ever so beautiful."
"I'm so glad you're happy," said Julie, giddily.
Lexa peered at her cousin and wondered where her extreme good mood was coming from. "You seem in a good mood, Julie."
Rosemarie snickered, knowingly. "Lord Anglesey came home from the university."
Immediately after the mention of Robert, Julie blushed and turned away to hide her red cheeks.
"Has Lord Anglesey returned?" Lexa questioned. She looked at Julie, who turned to face her, despite her embarrassment.
"He has indeed," said Rosemarie, "he has grown taller the last time I saw him too."
The maid had returned and set the tray of tea and biscuits between them and left. Lexa picked up her teacup, gently blew on it before taking a sip. She looked at Rosemarie.
"Where is he?" Lexa asked.
"He went to see his parents in Gloucestershire,"Â Rosemarie replied.
She took a biscuit and ate as a whole before taking her cup of hot tea. Julie did the same, while remaining silent.
"Gloucestershire?" Lexa questioned.
"His family lives near the Cotswolds," Rosemarie told her, "Braxton Manor has been their ancestral seat for nearly three hundred years."
All this mention of Lord Anglesey made Julie feel more mortified as when Lexa looked at her cousin, she noticed that her face had turned bright red.
To save Julie from further embarrassment, Lexa turned to Rosemarie and asked, "Has anyone caught your fancy?"
Rosemarie, nodded her head and said, sighing sweetly, "Lord Carrington has captured my heart."
Lexa turned to Lady Ashdale and asked, "Lord Carrington?"
"Baron Carrington," said Julie speaking at last. "He is only son of late Baroness Carrington and Sir Miles Rayburn."
"He is a fine choice," said Lady Ashdale. "Titled and wealthy. Rosemarie is very much fortunate."
"Well," said Rosemarie, "Nothing has been made official."
Lexa smiled at her cousin, and said thoughtfully, "Perhaps there will be another wedding soon."
After a few hours enjoying the company her aunt and cousins, Lexa and Edward departed the Ashdale townhouse and made their way towards the fashionable part of London. Old Bond Street was a well-known area for luxury shop where the majority of the aristocracy loved to do their shopping.
Lexa was no different. Despite being in London a handful of times prior to her marriage, visiting Old Bond Street was one of the hallmarks of her day. she would often drag Anna with her and the two girls would admire the luxurious products being sold there.
Edward took a deep breath as he and Lexa made their way down Old Bond Street to look at the shops. Nearing the Arcade which was connected to Albemarle Street, Edward relaxed as he followed Lexa to the indoor shopping arcade.
"It would be wonderful to find something at a good price," Lexa said as Edward looked at what shop to enter.
"What is that you wish to buy?" Edward asker her as they pushed a door open, the bells chime signalling to the owner that he had customers.
"Hello good sir," said the elderly man at the counter,"How may I be of any assistance?"
Lexa and Edward looked at each other and Edward said, after a moment, "Thank you good sir but no."
The shop owner nodded understandably and walked away in silent. When he left, Edward and Lexa scoured the store to see what they wanted to buy.
In the end, they declined the idea of buying any goods and left the shop entirely.
They moved away from Old Bond Street and decides to make their way towards Trafalgar Square.
Trafalgar Square seemed to be busier during this hour. Normally an isolated area was swimming with members of the genteel ton. Edward felt nothing but content until he heard her.
"Edward."
His name was said with such finality that chills went down his spine and he knew who it was before he even turned around.
As for Lexa, she was stunned by the woman who approached then so suddenly. Lexa recognized her from the painting of the marchioness in Drumbroke prior to her marriage.
It was her. In the flesh. Her blue eyes stared back at Lexa with cold curiosity and time made her look older and hardened.
Lexa exhaled and inhaled as the woman's rosebud lips curled into a cold smile. Lexa looked at Edward to see his reaction.
He glared at the woman and said, coldly,
"Mother."