Chapter 3

Almack’s. London, 1815.

“I’ve suddenly forgotten why I did this.” Kenneth said irritably. The debutantes on the other side of the hall were watching him like hawks and his black expression didn’t seem to be disturbing them in the least. His mother looked at him and hid a smile, although he didn’t seem to notice and she had no intention of telling him, the Marquis of Hawksende was sulking. “Well if you just danced with someone, you wouldn’t be so bored.” She said and returned to her conversation with Lady Leila Fairfax, Countess of Merybrone and one of the duchess’ good friends. “Your daughter is quite a success,” the countess said.

“Yes isn’t it lovely; the other debutantes just hate her.”

Kenneth was only paying half of his attention to this byplay when he saw her. Her red hair amidst the powdered wigs was what caught his eye first. She was heading outside to the gardens and for some inexplicable reason he followed her out. He walked for a while wondering whether she was even there when he walked into a clearing and there she was.

“Good evening,” he said, attempting a smile. “Good evening,” she replied, her voice indicating her irritation at being disturbed. “I’ll leave if you plan on staying here.” She offered.

“No don’t…You don’t …I just saw you leaving…” Bloody hell had that been him talking?

“Are you always this articulate?” she asked raising an eyebrow.

He grinned and said, “Actually no. I seem to be at a disadvantage now however so I’ll start by introducing myself. Kenneth Macintosh, Marquis of Hawksende, at your service.” He gave a bow as he said this and asked with a smile, “And you are?”

“I heard you never ventured near debutante balls. What brings you here?” She asked instead.

“My mother insisted on my coming.”

“Your mother forced you here?” she asked, incredulous. “I find that very hard to believe”

“Alright then. I let her force me here; I have a soft spot for my mother.”

“I see.” They were walking aimlessly in the garden and Madeline smiled despite herself at the thought of the scandal if someone were to find them here; alone in the garden in the middle of the night.

“You never answered my question.” He said.

“What question?” She asked even though she knew.

“I asked you who you were.”

“Oh. I know.”

“You know?”

“I know I didn’t answer your question.” She said this with a smile. After a short period of silence she said, “Madeline Covington”

“What?” he asked.

“My name is Madeline Covington.” She repeated.

“Covington? Where did I hear that name? Ah yes; now I remember; your father… he’s the Marquis of Chastenborough?”

“Yes. You know him?”

“My father does; they move in completely different circles than I do.”

“And what circles would those be, my lord?” She asked this in a (in her opinion) rather forward way and was stunned at the realization that she was flirting with a man and not just any man, a marquis. She who had never flirted in her life was doing so without any qualms. He didn’t answer her however and just smiled then asked, “Why did you leave the ball?” The abrupt change in topic caught her off guard and she replied without thinking. “I couldn’t stand the other debutantes; they’re aggravating to say the least. They way they practically salivate over anything in buckskins or breeches disgusts me and their constant primping was enough to drive a person up the wall. I just left for some air and maybe a little privacy when...” She suddenly stopped and rounded on him, “Why am I even telling you all this?” He shrugged saying, “Maybe because I asked.” At that moment the music from inside stopped and a new one began and floated out into the garden. Since they had made a full circle, they where back to where they had first met. Madeline smiled nostalgically and said, “My mother used to hum that tune to me.”

“Used to?” He asked raising an eyebrow.

“Yes. She died a long time ago.” At this she turned to go back in when he called, “Wait! Would you like to dance?”

“You mean inside; in front of everyone?”

“Where else. Come now, what are you scared of. I won’t step on your toes.” He said with a grin.

“It’s not that; people will talk; we’ve been out here for so long and then we just waltz in there. Besides, I’m promised for this dance.”

“We’ll just have to disappoint whoever he is.”

“Lord Richard Bigsby. I believe he’s the son of the Earl of Claremont.”

“I know the Bigsby. I’m sure he’ll be willing to acquiesce to my request. Or perhaps not when he sees you. Why don’t you go back in and I’ll come and find you. We haven’t been properly introduced after all.”

“I don’t think…” she couldn’t finish as he had already shooed her to the entrance leading into the ballroom and was headed in the opposite direction. She walked into the ballroom trying to look as inconspicuous as possible and moved towards her father. She attempted to make conversation but couldn’t concentrate as she kept glancing towards the doors leading to the garden. A while later, when she began to doubt if Kenneth would ever come, she heard his voice behind her. “Excuse me, but I don’t believe we have been properly introduced.” She turned in her seat and stood up facing him.

“No sir. I don’t believe we have.”

Lady Ashcroft, who had been a friend of her mother and was seated behind them suddenly gave an exclamation, “Oh, Lord Macintosh, you haven’t met Lady Madeline, have you? Madeline dear, this is his lordship, Lord Kenneth Macintosh, Marquis of Hawksende. Lord Macintosh, this is Lady Madeline Covington, and this is her father, Lord Nicholas, Marquis of Chastenborough.” Kenneth gave a bow and said, “I’m pleased to have made your acquaintance, sir.” To which her father replied, “The pleasure is all mine.” And turning back to Madeline, Kenneth took her hand and lightly brushed his lips on the back. A shiver went through Madeline and she felt slightly hot around the ears. “And I am very pleased to have made your acquaintance, Lady Madeline.” He made an emphasis on the word ‘very’ which was not lost to anyone least of all the one or two debutantes who had managed to edge their way towards the Marquis without being noticed. Madeline sketched a curtsy and said, “Why thank you, Lord Macintosh.” He was still holding her hand and she found it hard to make any coherent speech. He hadn’t touched her once in the garden and now it was as though he would never let her go. “Would you care to dance?” He asked. “Of course.” She replied and followed him as he led her to the floor.

“That was interesting.” She said as they danced. “How so?” He asked.

“Well for one I never realized you were such a good actor.”

“I wasn’t acting.” His voice was low and yet forceful. The combination made Madeline feel slightly giddy. He asked her something but she wasn’t sure what it was and asked, “What?”

“I asked if you had a nick name; something other than Madeline.”

“Why?”

“Because Madeline is a mouthful and I can’t keep calling you that.”

“Isn’t that a tad presumptuous, sir? After all, we only just met.”

“Are you always this difficult to get anything out of?”

“Yes.” Then with a laugh she said, “My friends call me Maddy. But then I’m not sure I should consider you a friend. Or should I?”

“You should but I don’t like Maddy. I’d rather call you Del.”

“Del.” She said testing the name. “I like it and I suppose you can call me that…if we ever meet again.”

“Oh we will. Trust me we will.”

“Is that a promise, Lord Macintosh?”

“I do believe it is. You have such beautiful eyes.”

She blushed furiously and focused her attention on the floor. “That is a very inappropriate thing to say, my lord.”

“I am a very inappropriate person.” He said this with a rather rakish smile but, as she still had her head bent, his smile faded.

“I’m sorry. I have offended you.”

“No I’m not very offended.”

“Then why won’t you look at me?”

“Because I might be compelled to pay you the same compliment. You see I’ve thought you had very beautiful eyes since I met you.”

His laughter was catching and she soon joined him. “And I have thought that you had the most glorious smile since I was fortunate enough to glimpse it in the garden.”

“Now you really mustn’t say such things.” She said with a laugh. “I’m now compelled to say your smile is as brilliant as the sun.”

“I only say such things because they are true.” He said in an attempt at a serious tone that turned into a joking one as he finished with the question: “But really, do you think my smile is brilliant?”

“You really are the most vain creature I have ever come across.” She said, shaking her head with a smile. “Yes I suppose your smile is rather…nice.”

“Why thank you.”

“When compared to some of the gentlemen I’ve danced with.” She finished.

“You really are too hard.”

“On you?” She asked now looking up at him.

“No. On the poor souls who you compare me to who aren’t fortunate enough to have this dance and see your exquisite smile as an example.” All laughter was one from his eyes and he looked deathly serious.

“My lord, the dance is done.”

“I fear I cannot let you go now especially if you are going to dance with one of those fops surrounding your father.”

She turned to see that quite a crowd of men had gathered around her father and were waiting to be introduced to her.

She moved slightly in an attempt to leave the marquis but he held her in place.

“My lord, you really cannot do this.” She frowned admonishingly at him.

He sighed looking down at her with an intensity that made her look away. “I suppose I really shouldn’t…but then again nothing really stops me from…”

“Kenneth!” She clapped her hand over her mouth in horror. “I’m terribly sorry; I should not have done that.”

“No don’t apologize. I like hearing you say my name.”

“I’m afraid I can’t.” she said rather stiffly. “Now please lead me to my father.”

“Not until you promise to call me ‘Kenneth’.” His smile was contagious and she couldn’t keep the frown on her face long enough to make a point. With a very dramatic, lugubrious sigh she acquiesced.

“Alright then. If you insist.”

“I do.” He said and his voice sent waves of heat to her stomach. She swallowed and allowed him to lead her back to her father.

At which point he bowed, kissed her hand again, said farewell to her father and herself and left. That was the last she saw of Lord Macintosh that night but all the other men in the ballroom seeing that the Marquis of Hawkesende (who never came to debutante balls, much less dance with one of the debutantes) had taken an interest in her, sought her acquaintance and began asking her to dance in quick succession. Madeline hardly paid attention to anything after Kenneth left but smiled and hoped she was making suitable statements in response to the gentlemen she danced with. Sometime in the night she was introduced to Kenneth’s sister or rather Kenneth’s sister introduced herself to her.

Apparently Lady Valerie Macintosh was curious to know who it was that had managed to get her brother to dance. Those where her exact words. She seemed nice enough; frank, funny and with a wit to match Madeline’s. Madeline sensed that they would become friends; after all if she ever planned on seeing Kenneth, she would have to get used to his sister. As she thought this she wondered at what point she had decided she was going to be ‘seeing’ Kenneth. She dismissed the thought and threw herself into the night, which went by in a blur. Somehow or the other she managed to get home. She let her maid help her out of her dress and into her night things then promptly fell asleep.