Dizzy Dilemmas (30 page)

              Standing in the centre of the front building on ground level, it was possible to view each of the four floors as they ran around the central square rather like balconies.  An ornate, shallow stepped staircase led one up; giving an excellent view out of the glass front of the street outside. An impressive entrance but only a small part of the shop as Fiona and Erica were soon to discover for moving away from the galleried area a hotchpotch of rooms and floors filled with all manner of things were waiting to be explored. The floors were all on different levels so one found oneself climbing three steps in one place only to go down five a little way further on. The items for sale were also organized in a peculiar way as in similar items were not all displayed in one space but rather down to style or size.

             
“I can see us being here all day!” Erica commented after they had been wandering around for ten minutes.

“I can see us being here all week! Tell me Dizzy, how often do they have to organise search parties for missing customers?” Fiona asked.

“Oh around one a sennight I believe, though in a bad week it has been known to be as many as four!” she replied all serious.

“Really?” Fiona queried with concern.

“Of course not!” Dizzy and Erica laughed.

“You are not normally so gullible, Fiona
,” Erica commented.

“No but
she is so good. Did you see her? So straight-faced that I thought it must be true!” Fiona argued in her defence. “We need to make you an honorary member of our family so that you can join our drama events.”

“I would be honoured but no; you are not off-loading that vase on me!”

“You are right, Fiona,” Erica pointed out “She is good. She has you pegged that’s for sure!”

With so many floors and so much to see, time sped by and both Erica and Fiona had accumulated a size
able list of items to purchase though a dinner service still eluded them but Erica was not too disappointed as she had decided to commission one from a pottery in Staffordshire explaining that then she could design it herself and have it made to her own specifications.

             
It was with a sense of a job well done that the three ladies again ascended into the carriage to be taken to The Pulteney Hotel for lunch. Dizzy had never enjoyed a shopping trip more nor laughed so much. It was amazing how, being in the right company, could make something as mundane as shopping so amusing.

             
Conversation when they first sat down to eat centred on their various purchases and what still needed to be bought. It was a natural progression then to ask Erica about the renovations to the house and when they expected to be able to take up residence. “We are hoping to move in right after Marcus’ house party, so not long now. We will certainly be in before summer.”

“Talking of that, do you know how many people Marcus has invited to the party?” Fiona asked.
“And do you know anything about it? All I can get from him is that it is not going to be like any other party we have attended.”

“
He told me the same when I quizzed him about it,” Erica confirmed. “What about you Dizzy, has he mentioned it to you? Can you throw any more light on it?”

“You know more than me already. All I know is he has invited all o
f us and everyone has accepted,” she replied with a shrug.

“We stay
ed at Brynston Hall last autumn,” Erica told them. “It is a lovely house set in beautiful grounds; not far from the coast. Marcus is very fond of the place and has been using it as a retreat whenever he felt the need to escape the shackles of the Dukedom. It has been a hard few years for him and is testimony to his strength of character and intelligence that he has not only learned but excelled in his unexpected role as Duke.”

“Tell us more about the house!” Dizzy
said, wanting to move the conversation away from the man himself but interested to know what to expect when they all travelled down the following week.

“It is large but comfortable. Marcus, recognising its potential as a holiday haven
, has had it modernized. It is also ideally situated between London and Dover so I know he has let close friends and family stay there on route to or from the capital.

The grounds are superb
so I am hoping the weather is good so that we can enjoy all they have to offer. As well as an ornamental lake there is also a river flowing through it which is ideal for fishing. The attached parkland is extensive and great for a good gallop so make sure you pack your riding habits.”

“I must say I am really looking forward to it!” Fiona said. “I have a feeling it is going to resemble our family gatherings we have each summer rather than the more stilted ones normally put on by the members of the ton.”

“Fiona, you may be insulting our guest!” Erica pointed out with an apologetic glance at Dizzy.

“No she hasn’t I can assure you.  I know precisely what she means. Grandmamma has dragged me off to a few in an attempt to marry me off. It is like doing the season only worse!” she said with a look of disgust. “In a confined space with all the ambitious mammas and
anxious daughters; young men strutting like peacocks because they are being fawned over by the female contingent. It makes me shudder just thinking about it!”

“But that isn’t even the worst of it!” Fiona announced. “What about all that dreadful
‘performing’ by young women who should not be allowed within twenty feet of a musical instrument.”

“Yes it is amazing how quickly musical instruments can be turned into instruments of torture, is it not? Especially the harp!” Dizzy added and they all laughed.

“It is perhaps here that I should make a confession,” Dizzy murmured anything but contrite.” I have never been able to master an instrument; my fingers just refuse to move in the right way at the right time. I am simply dreadful! But I have been known to take my place at the piano and play abysmally with great enthusiasm. My reasons have always been twofold. One is to annoy my grandmother; to exact a revenge for making me attend such affairs when my sisters get to go to much more exciting events and secondly, it is amazing how quickly the tea tray is wheeled in when I announce I wish to play. Barely have I thumped my way through four bars of music than it is time to stop!”

“How fantastic!” Fiona exclaimed. “I wish I had thought to do that!”

“But you play really well!” Erica reminded her.

“Yes I know but it would have saved us fr
om some really awful renditions,” she pointed out then turned to Dizzy “I expect lots of girls were grateful to you!”

“You are right. Those who had the sense to know they were not very good would hang back dreading the time when they would be called upon to play by their mammas. Their sighs of relief when I stood to play almost drowned out the groans of despair coming from everyone else. My Grandmother is forever taking me to
task for growling in public but even she does it when I volunteer to play.”

“She is not one of the forceful matrons pushing you forward then to perform?” Erica laughed.

“Absolutely not!” Dizzy said emphatically “She is beyond frantic in her efforts to get me hitched and knows that if any sane, hearing man were to listen to me perform they would run a hundred miles. Whilst every other matron is urging their offspring forward, she is pulling me back with a vicelike grip on my arm!”

“Dizzy
Brockton; I am so glad we have become friends!” Fiona declared. “You are my kind of girl!”

              The Brockton carriages arrived at their destination in Kent in mid afternoon after a relatively pleasant journey; the weather being overcast was comfortably cool for travelling. Marcus met his guests on the steps and welcomed them all to Brynston Hall. “I trust you had a good trip down? Everyone has arrived now apart from Fiona and Stephen and they sent a message to say they would be here for afternoon tea.”

             
As the family were taken off by the butler and housekeeper to be shown to their rooms, Marcus forestalled Dizzy by placing his hand on her arm. “One moment please Dizzy. Can you spare me a few moments?”

She hesitated. She had not
seen him since the night they had been intimate for he had not called on her or been at any of the social events she had attended. Two thoughts troubled her therefore. Uppermost was that his absence was a sure sign that he was distancing himself from her both physically and metaphorically and was probably regretting inviting her family to a house party. Secondly was her own embarrassment that had been increasing with every day that went by that she did not see him. Pride made her hold her head up but meeting his eye was another matter. She wondered if his desire for a private word was to make sure she understood that nothing had changed; they had embarked on a game and the same rules applied. From her point of view she would rather nothing be said; that they could be politely distant and pretend nothing had occurred between them. Her heart was breaking as it was so she did not need him trampling on it too.

             
“Please Dizzy; I will not keep you long!” Marcus said holding open a door and indicating for her to enter before him.

She inwardly sighed and walked into a room that turned out to be an office. A large desk stood before the window but the room also boasted two winged
chairs placed either side of an ornate fireplace; their worn, green leather bespoke comfort and enticed one to sink into them but Dizzy ignored them and turned to face Glenmore; wanting this interview to be over as soon as possible.

“Did you enjoy your shopping trip with Erica and Fiona?” he asked as he walked over to her and when she looked puzzled continued
, “I called to see you but a young footman said you were out shopping. Did he not tell you I had called?”

“No he did not,
” Dizzy replied, secretly relieved that he had not been avoiding her after all although it did not explain why he did not call again. Something of her thoughts must have been displayed in her face for he came up to her and pulled her into his arms.

“I am so sorry Gherkin. Did you think I had abandoned you? The truth is I had to leave town almost immediately to sort out this house party. I should have written to explain. Can you forgive me?”

If he had looked in the least bit contrite she would have happily forgiven him but he was smiling in such a way that it appeared he found the whole thing funny.

“We have no claims on each other, Glenmor
e that we must always be informing the other of our whereabouts. I have not been looking to see you.”

“So you have not missed me at all?” he asked; amusement lacing his voice.

“Not at all,” she informed him primly.

Before she could request that he release her, he raised her chi
n with his finger and lowered his lips to hers in a gentle but insistent kiss. She held firm against his coaxing; refusing to respond to his overtures but when his hand cupped her breast a bolt of desire ricocheted around her making her gasp and it gave him the opportunity he sought. He plunged his tongue between her lips; opening them so that he could taste her; devour her. As he deepened the kiss, he ran his thumb over her nipple, erect and hard at his caress. She moaned and gave in but barely had she begun to respond than he pulled away.

“Liar,” h
e murmured and laughed at her look of chagrin.

Reluctantly he released her and walked over to the desk, where he open
ed the drawer and removed a black leather case, embossed with gold.

“I have a gift for you
,” he said holding it out to her but when she made no move to take it he opened it, revealing an exquisite diamond necklace fashioned to resemble a daisy chain. Each daisy had diamond petals and a golden sapphire in the middle. They were intricately joined by a metal Dizzy did not recognise.

“It is platinum.
A very rare metal not often used in jewellery. Gold would not have been nearly as affective but what do you think?” Marcus explained.

Dizzy tentatively touched the necklace, unable to believe she was really seeing it. “Where did you get this?” she demanded.

“Garrards,” he told her hiding a smile at her obvious confusion. He then asked innocently, “Is there anything the matter? Do you not like it?”

She loved it! But then why wouldn’t she? She had designed it; every tiny detail described both in word and picture form although she had used silver and not platinum. It was a piece of jewellery at the centre of one of her crime novels.

“Here let me fasten it,” Marcus said lifting the necklace from is bed of black silk but Dizzy stepped away.

“Regardless of our actions the last time we met,
I am not your mistress Glenmore,” she declared.

“But we are lovers!” he replied
, his eyes following the movement of the necklace as it swung too and fro; balanced on  his middle finger.

“No
we are not. I have no intention of behaving in such a manner again,” she told him.

“If you think that then you are
only fooling yourself, my girl,” he said.