Dizzy Dilemmas (17 page)

             
Whilst Dizzy got ready, Sarah filled her in on all the gossip from below stairs and mentioned various incidents that had happened around London including an assortment of reported crimes that she thought might come in useful for her mistress’ stories.

“There is a report of a man being arrested for the murder of his wife, whose burned remains were found in their home two days ago. All that was left was her left foot and a pile of ashes. What is odd though is the man swears she just caught fire before his very eyes and he tried to save her but he could not get close enough for the blaze was too hot
and by the time he had raised help from the neighbours it was too late!”

“Surely he does not think anyone is going to believe that!” Dizzy said.

“You would think not but a doctor has come forward and says there have been other such cases,” Sarah told her. “But now you had best be on your way miss if you want to be ready for when his Grace arrives.”

             
Dizzy raced down to the stables, very conscious of the fact that she needed to be mounted and ready to go before Glenmore arrived if he was not to discover that she rode astride; unlike every other lady of his acquaintance. Thus it was that when Glenmore called for her a few minutes before eight she was already out front with her groom in attendance. She appeared to be frowning at something he was telling her and therefore after the preliminary greetings he asked her if her groom was in her bad books for some reason, because she could leave him behind if she wished.

“He was just informing me that Gideon went out about an hour ago and will not be joining us this morning. No doubt Grandmamma has been conspiring with him again.”

“Good morning Ted,” Glenmore greeted the groom with a friendly smile.

“Good morning, your Grace,
” replied the groom doffing his hat.

Dizzy looked from one to the other with suspicion writ all over her face.

“What is going on here? How do you know my groom?” she demanded to know.

“Ted will be coming to work for me in a couple of weeks. My head groom has expressed a wish to retire and your brother recommended Ted as a replacement. He will come and learn all the ropes from Salter before starting his new position towards the end of the summer.”

“Why did you not tell me Ted?” Dizzy asked, somewhat hurt that the groom who had patiently taught her to ride and picked her up on the numerous occasions when she had fallen off; had not told her he was leaving her brother’s employ.

“It was only settled late yesterday
afternoon Lady Dizzy; and I have not had a chance to tell you,” Ted explained. “It is a good position and one I could not refuse.”

“Of-course you could not. You thoroughly deserve it to
o and I am very pleased for you,” she was quick to reassure him. “It is just that I shall miss you.”

“
As to that, my lady, Lord Brockton seemed to think you would be moving on yourself before too long,” Ted told her. “He says you are about to be married.”

“Did he indeed?” Dizzy could not believe it and turned to Glenmore. “
I do not know why you find it so amusing; it is not only I who will have to put up with all the pressure he will bring to bear to get us to the altar. You need to put him straight and soon. I told you how it would be!”

“But Gherkin, I am happy for the world to know I am at your feet; wooing you.”

“He is not serious Ted! He wishes only to use me as a shield against all the women who want to be his Duchess,” Dizzy said and then urged her horse forward in the direction of the park.

“Is she not cruel
, Ted? I lay my heart at her feet and she stamps upon it,” she heard Glenmore say before he too set his horse into motion and came up beside her.

“Did all go well last night?” she asked when he drew level.

“Yes I am pleased to say. Colonel Thwaites retained his dignity and it was believed that he died peacefully whilst savouring his drink. Many of his friends expressed the opinion that it was a good way to go and hoped they would be so blessed. I shall call upon the Dowager later and give her an account.”

“She w
ill be most appreciative I know.” Dizzy assured him solemnly and then more teasingly added, “She will really enjoy your visit though you won’t. I can hear her now, openly quizzing you about your intentions towards me. She is blunt enough to ask when you plan to propose and I almost wish I could be there to watch you squirm.”

“
Why will you not be there?   I shall just tell her you are resisting my overtures of affection. Of course if you are not present to stop me I shall ask her to plead my case with you,” he threatened.

“I will not be there because Robert Prentiss is taking me for a drive
this afternoon. I am very excited about it for my brothers have never offered to drive me as they say I would be a liability and likely cause an accident. So although your threats worry me somewhat, they do not concern me enough to decline Robert’s invitation.”

“Robert! You have only just met him yet you are on first name terms already?” Glenmore was annoyed.

“He has been a friend of my brothers and sisters for years and therefore it is silly for me to continue calling him Mr Prentiss,” Dizzy said in way of explanation before adding, “Not that it has anything to do with you.”

Glenmore scowled at her. “Then I in
sist you call me Marcus, we are after all on more intimate terms.”

“Insisting does not mean I have to do it, Glenmore and no we are not.”

“So you have been kissing Prentiss too have you?”

“Of course I have not!”

“Then as I said we are on more intimate terms,” he said smugly. “If I had known you wanted to be driven, I would have offered to take you.”

“Robert did not know either but it did not stop him asking. You did not ask me and so I am going with him. If it is any consolation, I would not have gone with you even had you asked for it would cause the sort of gossip I am trying to avoid though you seem to be courting.”

“So you do not mind people gossiping about you and Robert?”

“He is known to be a friend of my family
and so there will be no undue attention paid to it,” she informed him with a shrug.

             
Having arrived at the gates, they allowed their horses to canter along the bridle path until they reached a stretch away from the other early morning riders and then they allowed their mounts to gallop to the far reaches of the parkland. Residues of mist hung around and with the orange tinge to the light it gave the place an ethereal feel.

“What a glorious morning. Today is going to be lovely and if I were at home in the country, I would take a picnic and wonder down to the lake with my notebook and spend a pleasant coupl
e of hours writing and munching,” Dizzy said, surveying the scene.

“Would you like to go on a picnic tomorrow? If we set off early enough we could go to
Richmond Park and I could arrange for a tour of Strawberry Hill Villa in the afternoon. It was the home of Horace Walpole and is built in the Gothic style. I am sure as a writer; you will find it very interesting.”

“I have heard of it and would love to go there, the gardens are supposed to be delightful too. Can you really arrange a tour at
such short notice?” Dizzy asked excitedly.

“I shall make arrangements an
d confirm them with you tonight,” he told her.

“Oh but you will not see me tonight as we are having a family dinner at home for
Mrs. Honey Dew’s husband, Alfie is celebrating his birthday,” she explained. “But if you send a note, Coulton will make sure I receive it.”

             
Instead of answering Glenmore dismounted and came to stand beside Dizzy and looking up at her, said, “Come down and walk with me for a while. Here let me help you.” And so saying he raised his hands to her waist. Dizzy momentarily panicked and Taboo shied away.

“I would rather not, Glenmore. I should be getting back.”

“We have barely been out half an hour so it is early yet. Come along, a stroll will be lovely,” Glenmore assured her, once again holding up his arms to her.

Her groom perceiving his mistress’ difficulty rode up to them and asked, “Is everything alright, Lady Dizzy?”

“Yes Ted, thank you. His Grace wishes to go for a walk but I have explained that we need to be getting back.”

“Is it because you are riding astride?” Marcus asked then laughed at the shocked and guilty expressions on the faces of his companions. “I a
m neither blind nor stupid, you know,” he told them. “It is cleverly hidden and would no doubt remain unnoticed by less observant people but I realised fairly soon after we set off. Do not worry. Your secret is safe with me! Now let me help you down.”

             
Within moments, Dizzy was sauntering across the grass beside Marcus and Ted had retreated to a nearby bench where a young woman was already seated. Very soon they were deep in conversation as if they were known to each other.

“Do you know who that young woman is, Glenmore?” Dizzy asked.

“It is Doris,” he replied; most unhelpfully.

“And?”

“And what?”

“Who is she?” Dizzy bit out, exasperated by his lack of cooperation.

“I told you. Her name is Doris!” he responded provokingly and then taking pity on her continued, “She is a servant in my employ. She has been walking out with Ted for a while and now he has received a promotion, they plan to marry.”

“He has kept that quiet. My maid normally informs me of all the g
ossip of who is seeing whom!”  She said then chuckled. “Wait until I tell her! It will be a first; me knowing something before she does!”

“Having satisfied your curiosity concerning Ted’s marital plans can I now tell you wh
y I have brought you to this secluded part of the park?” Marcus asked.

Dizzy looked at him suspiciously for a moment and then glanced over to the bench which seemed to reassure her. “With our servants within sight it cannot be anything too disreputable so go on, enlighten me.”

“I am going to teach you to waltz!” he announced and then had to turn back when he realised Dizzy had stopped dead several paces earlier.

“
I know how to waltz, Glenmore. I just cannot do it so thank you but no you are not.”

Grabbing her hand, Marcus pulled her along until they were in an area partially obscured by shrubs and trees. “I am confident I can get you waltzing as elegantly as any other young lady in the ballrooms.”

“You are either incredibly optimistic or just incredibly dense. Numerous dancing masters have attempted just such a feat with a promise of a huge bonus should they succeed. None of them did. They all left, shaking their heads and dejected; each swearing they had never come across anyone as hopeless as me before,” Dizzy informed him. “So why do you think you will succeed where they failed?”

“Ross taug
ht Erica and so I can teach you,” he said, placing her hand on his shoulder before sliding his arm around her back.

“Erica is not clumsy! Give it up now, Glenmore.”

In answer he just claimed her other hand and smiled down into her worried face.

“Ready
?” he asked and when she sighed resignedly and gave a nod he took the first step.

Dizzy had not lied when she had told him she knew how to waltz. She could envisage all the moves in her head and follow them but unfortunately what she knew in her mind did not adapt well to the physical
world for no matter what she ordered her feet to do they always did something different. Thus it was when they took their first step she somehow managed to hook her foot around his in a move of which any wrestler would have been justifiably proud. Struggling to regain his balance, Glenmore pulled her close thereby getting himself tangled in her long skirts and together they toppled over to land in a laughing heap.

“Now do you see what an impossible task you have set yourself?” Dizzy asked but Glenmore only jumped nimbly up and pulled her onto her feet.

“If it went smoothly on our first attempt then there would be no need for these lessons now would there?” he said, once again holding her in the correct position. 

             
Several false starts and tumbles later, Dizzy sat next to Glenmore and rubbed her arms where she was sure quite a lot of bruises were beginning to appear. She desperately wanted to massage other parts of her body which were similarly afflicted but with the Duke and their servants looking on it was just not possible. Glancing at her dance partner she could not believe he had come out of their lessons unscathed yet he sat there; at his ease and not looking in the least bit uncomfortable. He had his long, legs stretched out before him and was leaning back on his arms with his face tilting up to enjoy the warmth of the sun and as his eyes were closed and he seemed deep in thought, Dizzy took the opportunity to study his features. He was certainly the epitome of every fairytale prince; every young girl’s knight in shining armour with his striking good looks and perfect physique. It was little wonder numerous young women had set their caps at him for he was certainly the stuff of which dreams were made. She had no doubt that many a damsel had woven fantasies around him in which he rescues her from some dreadful plight and immediately falls in love with her; proposing on the spot. Of course he had already rescued her on a couple of occasions, though the fact that she had needed rescuing was largely down to him in the first place, was immaterial. And as for falling in love with her; if he had his wish the ton would certainly believe it even if she knew it was all a ruse. So that only left the proposal she mused, and her falling in love with him which had already happened. Dizzy gasped, totally taken aback by that thought that had just popped into her head. Where it had sprung from she had no idea but it could not be true; definitely and irrevocably not true!