Dizzy Dilemmas (6 page)

“Never mind that either!” Erica said. “Let us just agree that it could happen, and does happen Marcus,” daring him to deny it again; “to everyone and anyone.” She looked around to make sure everyone had been silenced but before she could continue Ross jumped in.

“She is very commanding isn’t she?” Ross asked the gi
rls. “Can be a bit scary too when she takes charge like this.”

“Dizzy is the same. She has the look you know! One that can freeze you at a thousand paces!” Georgiana said impulsively.

“Georgie!”

“Sorry! But it is true!” Georgiana apologised but felt the need to justify her comment.

The shout of laughter that echoed around the gallery from Ross and Marcus, fortunately forestalled either Erica or Dizzy from exacting retribution for such disloyal utterances.

“What is all this hilarity? May I remind you there
are sleeping Mummies within hearing?” Gabriel and the rest of the Brockton clan, including Mrs Honey Dew, had at last caught up with the sisters.

“There you are!” Dizzy said, visibly relieved and hoping to move on without any more to do. “Georgie and I were wondering where you were but now you are here we can go and find those slumbering Mummies.” Turning quickly to
the three strangers in front of her, she hastily added with a quick curtsey for good measure. “We are so sorry to have troubled you. I hope you enjoy the rest of your visit.”

“Glenmore, it is
good to see you again so soon. I was not aware you had been introduced to my sisters.” Gideon ignored Dizzy’s attempt to escape and spoke jovially to Marcus.

“Actually, I haven’t. They mistakenly thought we were you and began talking to us before they realised their mistake. Happens regularly or so Lady Trevellyn informs me, although I cannot recall ever doing it myself.” Marcus explained, tugging gently on his right ear whilst trying to remain straight faced.

“Do not start that again!” Erica warned him. “Nor you!” she turned to her husband before he could say anything.

“I would
not dare to say anything, sweetheart,” he laughed, putting his hands up in mock defence.

Gideon thought it prudent to
refrain from asking what was behind the comments.

“With your permission, then
, Your Grace?” and when Glenmore nodded, he introduced his siblings in age order before adding. “And most importantly, this is Mrs Honey Dew; our cousin.”

“We are pleased to make your acquaintance, your Grace” Mrs Honey Dew spoke for all as they curtseyed and bowed.

Once Glenmore had made the Marquis and Marchioness of Trevellyn known to everyone, Erica asked “Your names all begin with a G and therefore I am assuming that Dizzy is not short for Desdemona or something like that?”

“No, it is a pet name of many years standing; my Lady and I no longer answer to anything else.” Dizzy told her. “I do not think even my parents remember the name
thy chose to give to me at my birth.”

“No-one with any sense would recall it!” Gabriel snorted, “For a most mismatched…”

“Thank you, Gabriel. I think everyone takes your meaning so there is no need to finish that sentence,” Dizzy interrupted.

“Mismatched in what way?” Marcus was not slow in getting under his adversary’s skin by taking up on any opportunity presented by her brothers and sisters.

“Mismatched in that it did not match!” Dizzy replied hoping to dampen any more enquiries but the Duke of Glenmore was enjoying himself hugely and was as tenacious as a small dog with an oversized bone.

“In what way though did it not match?”

“As in that is was mismatched. I do not think I can make it any clearer, Duke!” Dizzy had been about to use the term of address; ‘Your Grace’ as befitted his title but recognising the irony of it all at the last possible second, had bit out ‘Duke’ instead. The absurdity must have occurred to at least one of the Brockton clan for she was sure that she heard a smothered snort or two coming from the vicinity in which they stood; avid spectators.

“Oh, I think you could be much clearer, Lady Dizzy. In fact I would go so far as to say yo
u are being deliberately vague.”

“How so? Mismatched is concise enough, I feel. It says everything it needs to say, quite
,” she paused pondering her words. “Well; concisely!”

Marcus leaned in towards her, arms still folded across his chest. “Perhaps you should tell us your given name.
We would then be able to determine ourselves whether it is mismatched or not.”

Dizzy knew he was hoping that having been asked directly, good manners would dictate she relinquish her name forthwith but he was to be sadly disappointed. She was no mismatch for his wiliness that was for certain.

“On the acquaintance of less than twenty-four hours, my Lord Duke; not to mention an introduction performed a scant ten minutes ago; do you really believe you are in a position to judge a mismatch? One moreover that by its very nature is based on an understanding of my character, behaviour and actions.”

“Time is relative, Lady Dizzy. Some people one could be acquainted with for ten years but still do not re
ally know them whilst others one knows intimately within moments. I am confident I have the measure of you,” he smiled wolfishly.

“First impressions are so rarely correct but in this instance I am inclined to almost agree with you
, for I feel I have your measure too,” Dizzy returned.

“Allow me to escort you into the Egyptian room then. Whilst under the watchful glare of the mummies we can allow ourselves a few extra moments in which we may both take the opportunity to ascertain whether we are indeed correct in our appraisal of the other’s character.” Straightening up, he uncrossed his arms and gestured for her to walk beside him
. Dizzy hesitated a moment then looked beseechingly at her family to jump in and rescue her which of course none of them were inclined to do. Shrugging her shoulders in resignation, she stepped up beside him and together they walked purposefully on.

Silence reigned behind them but grins were careening around the circle none the less.
No-one thought it prudent to make any comments however, and so Genevieve suggested they all move along to see the exhibit. By mutual consent they ambled along at a pace much slower than that set by Marcus and Dizzy.

“It is only a matter of time, you know
,” the Duke eventually broke the silence and when Dizzy did not respond he continued. “A well placed question in the right ear will soon furnish me with your name.”

“Perhaps so, Duke but it would also set the gossip mongers off and they would come to all the wrong conclusions and before you know it, they would be linking our names; matrimonially speaking. Is that something you are prepared to risk over a name?”

“The thought makes me shudder!” he replied more prompt than gentlemanly.

“And me!” Dizzy laughed.

Marcus was surprised at how pleasant he found the sound and felt the urge to make her laugh again just as soon as may be. It was a melodic sound, almost angelic which seemed in contrast to the imp of mischief presently looking up at him.

“One of your brothers or sisters is likely to inform me. I o
nly need to find a worthy bribe,” he was all confidence.

“They would not betray me so readily!”

“Do you not think?” he asked. “Are you so sure of that? I only ask because if I had taken Gideon up on his offer to introduce us last night, he had promised to furnish me with your real name!”

Dizzy frowned suspiciously at him. “You are just trying to divide and conquer. Gideon would not betray me!” Then she added for good measure. “He wouldn’t dare!”

“You know him best, I am sure but as I say he gave his word as a gentleman!”

“Bitterba
llens”

“I am sorry. Did you say something? I did not quite catch what you said?” Marcus lied.

“Nothing, I said nothing!” Dizzy also lied.”

“Gideon and I attended university at around the same time. It was good to catch up
with him last night at the ball,” he carried on, pleased to see that she was frowning quite markedly now.  “Although ‘catch up’ is perhaps misleading as we did not really talk about our recent histories. It was really more of an interesting tale about one of his sisters; namely you!”

“I am sure you are exaggerating in some misguided belief that it will affect my equilibrium but I have to warn you it will fail. Gideon witnessed our unfortunate encounter last night and was probably just trying to make you see it for what it was; an accident. He would have known you would be reluctant to be introduced and was therefore assured that he would not have to reveal my birth name. Something, I might add, he has not done since I was a child.” Dizzy’s smile was rather smug she knew
, but honestly, the man would have to try harder if he wanted to truly cause her any real concern.

“Yes a child of seven
was you not, when your brother tripped you over and sent you sprawling among the breakfast dishes? A Dizzy Disaster I believe was the term he coined. He waxed lyrically about your childhood,” Marcus took great pleasure in informing her.

“Is that so
? It is so unlike dear Gideon to be such a loose tongue!” Dizzy’s lips barely moved as she forced the words through gritted teeth. What her oldest brother was up to she could only guess and what she guessed seriously worried her! 

She decided to find out her companion’s thoughts on the matter. “How well do you know my
brother? I mean, I know you attended university around the same time but I do not recall you being a particularly close friend of his. I am sure I would have remembered if you had ever come to stay when he entertained friends over the holidays.”

“I’m flattered,
” Marcus smirked.

“You shouldn’t be.”

“Oh I should be! But in answer to your question, your brother was the year above me and so we were mere acquaintances; having rooms on the same corridor,” Marcus told her.

“So what then do you make of him sharing childhood reminisces
with you?” she asked.

“He witnessed you molesting me with water and thought to perhaps pour calming oils on by explaining your tendencies towards clumsiness.”
Marcus offered in way of explanation. “But I don’t know him as you do. What are your thoughts?”

“You are probably r
ight,” she said although she did not sound at all convinced. She decided it would be prudent not to delve too deeply into Gideon’s motives with the Duke and so upon seeing they had reached the Egyptian exhibition she changed the subject. “Here we are. I must find the mummies and before Genevieve arrives.”

Marcus looked around. “I think I
see them. Come this way. Why do you need to get there before Lady Genevieve?”

“Because she will want to give me a history lesson all about the ceremonies and techniques of mummification used by the Egyptians and from there she will go onto the Gods and before we know it we will be onto the political structure!”  Dizzy replied.

“Do you not enjoy the history?” he asked.

“Yes of-course but not as much as Genevieve and she does tend to lecture one rather
than discuss. She is only two years my senior and therefore we were taught all our lessons together but I think sometimes she forgets and feels the need to educate me all over again. Of-course, in her defence, she has continued her own research and keeps abreast of all the latest historical theories and discoveries but it is more than I need, or indeed want, to know. ”

They stopped next to the first display case in which reposed a mummy still completely encased in bandages yellowed by age and the ointments used at the time of wrapping.

“Is it what you were expecting?” Glenmore asked, as he observed her taking in all the detail.

“Shorter than
I thought. Do you think he has shrunk over time or was he only tall to start with?”

“H
e is a she for a start,” he corrected her; reading the information card at the foot of the case. “How can they tell? She is still wrapped?” Dizzy asked, perplexed.

“The archaeologist, who found her, was meticulous about keeping notes and preserving evidence
at the site of excavation. He is a leader in his field,” he replied before walking over to the next exhibit. “Over here is a partially unwrapped one. It is amazing to think that this person was alive around three thousand years ago and yet his skin and features have all been preserved.”

Dizzy came to stand next to him and looked at the leathery face su
rrounded still by wisps of hair, now orange in colour but recognisable in texture and appearance as human tresses.

“He is a very long way
, is he not, from home both in years and miles? If he were to come back to life now, you could forgive him for thinking he was on another planet. The question is how would he act?”

“What do you mean, act?” Glenmore asked.

“Would he cower and cry or would he brazen it out and fight ferociously with everyone he met? Or then again, would he bide his time and sneak away when the museum closed and everyone has gone home?”