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  “Lord Farringdon – what a pleasant surprise!” said the Marquis, rising to shake his hand.

  There was something about the man that instantly revolted Lilliana – he was very small, extremely ugly and stooped. In his hand he held a silver-topped walking cane and his dark hair was greasy and too long.

  As he shook the Marquis’s hand, he could not take his eyes off Lilliana.

  “It is very busy today, I had hoped to take tea, but the Head Waiter told me there was no room,” he said.

  “Then you must take tea with us!”

  “Oh, I could not impose upon you,” replied Lord Farringdon with a slight bow.

  “Nonsense! Look, here is a waiter. Will you bring us another chair, please? His Lordship is sitting with us.”

  The waiter bowed and sped off.

  “And who can this charming young lady be, whose acquaintance I have not been fortunate enough to make?” asked Lord Farringdon, smiling at Lilliana.

  “This is Miss Parker. Daughter of the MP.”

  “Ah, I have heard much of him. Your family lives in Downleigh, does it not?”

  “Y-yes,” stammered Lilliana, finding the repulsive man too hideous to look at directly.

  “Well, we are practically neighbours! My country estate is just outside of Downleigh. It is a terrible omission on my part that I have yet to call on your parents.”

  “Oh, Papa is always busy and hardly ever at home,” began Lilliana, hoping to put him off.

  “Then I will call upon you and your mother. Now, where is that waiter? I cannot stand for long on this leg!”

  Lilliana felt disappointed he had joined them. Up until that point, she had been enjoying the company of the Marquis and Marchioness.

  Furthermore she did not like the look of him at all.

  The waiter finally brought a chair and placed it next to Lilliana.

  “That is much better!” sighed Lord Farringdon as he sank down heavily into the chair.

  “How could I have failed to notice such a charming young lady living so close to me?” he muttered quietly, as more cakes and cucumber sandwiches were brought.

  Lilliana gave him a thin smile and tried to work out how she could take her leave without causing offence.

  ‘I shall wait until I have finished this cup of tea and then I shall go,’ she told herself.

  The Marquis and Lord Farringdon talked of politics and then the local hunt. It appeared that Lord Farringdon used to ride with the hounds regularly before he sustained the injury that now caused him to limp.

  “Had the horse shot, of course, I could not risk him throwing me a second time!” he commented, coldly.

  Lilliana was horrified!

  She loved all animals and, despite her upbringing, did not care for the hunt in the least.

  The whole table fell silent.

  “I no longer hunt,” came in the Marquis, “but when I was younger, I went to every meet. That is how I know Lord Farringdon.”

  “Come now, I don’t think that Miss Parker cares for the hunt and we should talk about other things,” said the Marchioness. “Might I suggest, Miss Parker, that you come and visit us with your mother for tea one afternoon? My chef is French and makes the most delightful pastries!”

  Lilliana laughed.

  “We, too, have a French chef, Lady Aldenham, and I am familiar with the culinary skills of the French!”

  “Then you must try our chef’s patisserie!”

  Lilliana gratefully took this as her cue to leave.

  “And it is with regret that I must return home,” she announced, putting down her empty cup.

  “You are leaving?” enquired Lord Farringdon with alarm in his voice.

  “Yes, and thank you very much for allowing me to share your table.”

  She waited while Lord Farringdon rose from his chair and allowed her to pass. As she brushed past him, he put out his hand.

  “You will allow me to call on you,” he asked with an eager expression that suggested he was taken with her.

  “Mama would be very pleased if you called on us,” she answered. “She often says that she wished more locals called at the house.”

  “Then I shall see you very soon, Miss Parker.”

  Bidding farewell to the Marquis and Marchioness, Lilliana made haste to her carriage.

  ‘I do hope that I can avoid Lord Farringdon!’ she thought, as they sped towards Downleigh, ‘but I fear I have not seen the last of him.’

  That thought alone caused a shudder to run through her – she had not cared for the way he had stared at her.

  ‘Oh, darling Robert! How I wish you would come home! I need you to be here so very much!’

  But where he was and who he was with she did not know.

  As they turned into the drive, she hoped and prayed that he was not holding Lady Marlow’s hand and looking at her the same way that Lord Farringdon had gazed at her.

  CHAPTER THREE

  For the next week Lilliana lived in dread that Lord Farringdon would eventually make an appearance.

  Then one day, when she was in the garden in spite of the cold morning air, Holmes came rushing over with his salver.

  Upon it was a calling card and before Lilliana even took it, she knew whose it was.

  “Please tell his Lordship I am not at home, Holmes,” she said, placing the card back on the salver.

  “At once, miss,” he answered, glad to be retreating back into the warmth of the house.

  Although she was shivering, Lilliana stayed in the garden until the time she felt that Lord Farringdon would have taken his leave. She took one more turn around the flowerbeds and then hurried back inside.

  She took off her muddy boots and shook her coat. Holmes appeared by her side and took it from her.

  “His Lordship seemed most disappointed that you were not at home, Miss Lilliana.”

  “Holmes, if that man should call again, I am never at home to him, do you understand?”

  The wise butler nodded. He had not cared for the look of this particular visitor at all and had found his manner a bit arrogant.

  Just as Lilliana was about to go upstairs, her father came in through the front door with Spot and Bang.

  “Papa!” she cried, rushing over to kiss him. “I did not think you would be at home today!”

  “The session finished in the early hours and I had a fancy to come right back home. But tell me, was that Lord Farringdon I saw going up the drive in his carriage?”

  Lilliana sighed and looked away. She stroked the warm head of Spot somewhat distractedly.

  “It was, Papa. I met him in Winchester last week and he asked if he could pay us a call.”

  Her father seemed deep in thought for a moment before replying.

  “Really? I have met him in my Club, but he has never indicated a wish to visit us before. A most unfortunate gentleman – he is forty at least and still needs to find a wife. Although, being so ill-favoured, I can understand why he has not had much success – young ladies today seem to desire good looks as well as breeding and standing!”

  She did not like to say that the reason he had come calling was to see her. She felt almost embarrassed that he appeared to be determined to woo her.

  “I gather he has a house close by?” said Lilliana, following her father into his study.

  “Yes, he has, but I believe he spends a great deal of time at his house in Park Street in London, so it is most unusual for him to be seen in the County. The Downleigh house is his country seat and he always says that he prefers the distractions of London life.”

  “At the same time I met the Marquis of Aldenham and his wife – they are very charming and want to invite us to dinner.” Lilliana continued, keen to change the subject.

  “I have not seen Aldenham for quite some time. He sits in the House of Lords naturally, but our paths have not crossed recently. It sounds as if my daughter is quite the Socialite these days!”

  “Oh, no, Papa! It was nothing like that! I went to t
he Winchester Royal Hotel for tea, but there was no room. I felt a little faint and the Marquis arrived in time to see my plight. He invited me to take tea with him and his wife.”

  “My dearest, I was only teasing! You must not take everything so seriously! I am pleased that you are amusing yourself. Has the Earl written to you from India?”

  “He writes frequently, although he said that he will not now be home for Christmas, which is such a pity.”

  “Yes, it is. Had he not departed when he did, I was expecting that he would request a private chat with me and that an announcement might follow!”

  Lilliana blushed to the roots of her hair.

  ‘How I wish I could tell him that Robert has asked me to marry him,’ she reflected, as she hung her head in embarrassment.

  Sir William took her silence to mean that this was not so.

  “Now, my dearest, I must ask you to leave me, as I have many important documents to read. My constituency is very demanding and I have a meeting with the Count in London this evening over dinner. I will remain there for a few days, so I will not see you for a while.”

  “You are seeing the Russian?” queried Lilliana.

  “Yes, private business. Now, I must be getting on.”

  Lilliana said no more – she left the room with her mind in a whirl.

  She had hoped that they had seen the last of Count Vaslaski. It did not feel at all patriotic to be involved with a Russian while she had a vested interest in events in India.

  And she felt disloyal having anything to do with a Russian whilst Robert was waging a war of nerves, if not action, against Russia.

  *

  The rest of the morning passed slowly and it was only when Holmes brought another letter from India that she felt her spirits rise.

  ‘He does not mention Lady Marlow this time,’ she murmured to herself, as she re-read the letter, ‘but even so, I sense her there between the lines!’

  She thought of what Elizabeth had said to her and she decided to attempt to put these worries out her mind.

  ‘After all, I have more pressing concerns at home, for instance whatever Papa is involved in.’

  After pacing the drawing room, she decided that the only way to be distracted was to seek company.

  Throwing on her thickest coat, she asked Holmes to order the small brougham to be made ready.

  ‘I will call on Elizabeth and see if she is available,’ she thought to herself.

  Half an hour later she was again seated in the elegant drawing room waiting for Elizabeth to appear.

  Before too long Elizabeth ran into the room and embraced her friend.

  “Lilliana! You must have guessed that I wished to see you!” she cried, “I have just received an invitation to a wonderful ball this Wednesday at the Duke of Harndean’s house in London. Would you like to come with me? We can stay with my Aunt Victoria.”

  Lilliana did not hesitate,

  “A ball! I would love to come! I am afraid that life is so dull here in Downleigh and Mama is so busy with the Church and Papa has his constituents.”

  “We shall have such fun, Lilliana! Every eligible bachelor in London will be there!”

  “Oh, Elizabeth, that is all very well for you, but you know that I could not think of looking at another man.”

  Elizabeth took her hand,

  “Oh, forgive me! Of course, but I do hope you will not mind if I seek to capitalise on the opportunity?”

  Lilliana now laughed. Elizabeth was wearing such a serious expression that she could not deny her anything.

  “Elizabeth, you would be most fortunate indeed if you met a man like my Robert! If you recall, I first made his acquaintance at a London dinner. There are few, if any, eligible gentlemen left in Downleigh.”

  In her mind she was referring to Lord Farringdon. Just the thought of him made her shudder. She wondered where Elizabeth’s aunt lived – she feared that if it was too close to Park Street, then they might bump into him.

  “Where is your aunt’s house, Elizabeth?”

  “Oh, it is just off Piccadilly – White Horse Street.”

  “Is that anywhere near Park Street, do you know?”

  “The other side of Mayfair. Why should you ask?”

  “Someone I wish to avoid lives there.”

  “A man?”

  “Yes, a Lord Farringdon. I was in Winchester last week and met him over tea with the Marquis of Aldenham and his wife. I confess I did not care for him in the least. There was something rather unsavoury about him, but unfortunately he took a fancy to me and called on me only this morning!”

  “Did you see him?” asked Elizabeth with a look of horror on her face.

  “No, I told Holmes that I was not at home to him. Now or ever!”

  “Goodness!” cried Elizabeth, her hands rising up to her face, “I would be quite terrified if a man I did not care for pursued me. Especially if he is as unattractive as you describe.”

  “He is worse! And I have the most awful feeling that he is not going to be easily put off.”

  “Then we shall have to avoid Park Street, but you must not let it dissuade you from coming to the ball. There is no reason to see him – London is a big City.”

  “Yes, you are right. I am being foolish.”

  “I did not say so, but I am keen that you should find some diversions from your concerns about the Earl. The best medicine is for you to distract yourself. Now, come, I want you to help me choose the dress I shall wear.”

  Taking Lilliana’s hand she led her upstairs to her bedroom and they spent the next few hours laughing and having a great deal of fun.

  “You will be the most attractive young lady at the ball!” she enthused, as Elizabeth twirled around the room wearing a buttercup-coloured gown with a long train.

  “I don’t think so if I am with you!”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Lilliana, you are the most beautiful girl I have ever seen. Do you wonder why you have so many admirers?”

  “I am presentable enough, but beautiful? I do think you are being too kind.”

  “Then, look in the mirror and see for yourself!”

  She thrust her friend in front of the pier glass and made her study herself, long and hard.

  “There! Lilliana, you are exquisite!”

  Lilliana felt coy at Elizabeth’s praise. Although her parents had often told her that she was beautiful, she had not truly believed them.

  “If I was not your friend, I would be so jealous of you!” teased Elizabeth, as she changed into her day dress. “You will be the belle of the ball!”

  “I only wish that Robert could be there too, but don’t think I will not take pleasure in your having an exciting time. You are like a sister to me, Elizabeth.”

  The two girls embraced. Lilliana had often wished that she had a sister, so her friendship with Elizabeth was all the more precious to her as a result.

  “I will make certain that you have a wonderful stay in London,” said Elizabeth, as she went to see Lilliana off, “Aunt Victoria is a wonderful hostess and she will plan lots of activities for us.”

  Lilliana smiled back gratefully at her.

  ‘She is so very sensible,’ she thought, as she waved out of the window. ‘A short spell in London is probably just what I need at the moment – as long as I don’t bump into Lord Farringdon!’

  She was still smiling to herself when the brougham arrived back home.

  *

  Her mother was delighted at Lilliana’s news.

  “A London Ball – how exciting! And at the Duke of Harndean’s house! I have heard that he owns the most valuable art collection in the whole of London! How does Elizabeth know him?”

  “It is her Aunt Victoria’s connection. I believe that the Duke was a friend of her husband.”

  “Ah, yes, when Lord Walsington died, they say that the Church was so full of aristocracy that it was almost as if a member of the Royal Family had died!”

  “I did not know he
r aunt was such a Socialite.”

  “Yes, I do believe so, but you do know that your father will be in London whilst you are there?”

  “I think he may be far too busy to see me, Mama. When I saw him this morning, he mentioned that he had some urgent business with Count Vaslaski.”

  Her mother sighed and looked out of the window.

  “I had hoped he would not be seeing that particular gentleman again.”

  Lilliana did not answer, but she was glad that her mother agreed with her.

  *

  When the day arrived, Lilliana found herself swept up in the excitement of her visit to London.

  Elizabeth’s carriage arrived promptly to pick her up and it groaned under the weight of their combined luggage.

  Antoinette was set to accompany her, as she did not trust a strange maid to do her hair and dress her.

  “Goodness! Can it be possible to need so much for just a few days?” commented Lady Parker, as the footman piled the last trunk onto the rear.

  “Mama, I don’t want to let you or Papa down! The eyes of London Society will be on me and it would not do for the daughter of a distinguished Member of Parliament to look as if she did not care about her appearance.”

  “You will write to me every day?”

  “Yes, and I will keep a weather eye on Papa too. Goodbye, Mama!”

  She kissed her and climbed into the carriage.

  Elizabeth took Lilliana’s hand and squeezed it. Her maid, Janet, sat opposite, next to Antoinette. Janet was as fat as a butterball and took up a great deal of room.

  “I am so excited!” cried Elizabeth, her eyes shining. “It has been simply ages since I was last in London. We shall have a wonderful time!”

  “I do hope so, Elizabeth. At the same time I am so worried about Robert. He will still be stuck out in India for Christmas and I don’t even know if they celebrate it there!”

  “Silly, of course they do! Haven’t we, the British, brought civilisation to that Continent?”

  “I suppose so,” agreed Lilliana, sighing.

  “And think of all the shopping we shall do whilst we are there – and the carol concerts – ”

  All the same Lilliana could not help thinking of the Earl in India. Would Lady Marlow invite him to share her Christmas? Or would he be in the barracks with his men?