Belle's eyes narrowed. "This isn't one of your Smythe-Smith cousins again, is it?"
"I'm afraid so."
"I thought I told you that I would never attend another one of their recitals. After the last one, I am convinced that I know exactly how Mozart would sound if performed by a herd of sheep."
"What can you expect when you've been cursed with a name like Smythe-Smith? At any rate, you haven't much choice. We've already decided that you've got to get out and about, and I don't see any other invitations coming your way." "How kind of you to point that out." "I'll take that as a yes and come by to escort you tonight. And don't look so glum. I suspect this beau of yours will come sailing into town any day now, and then you'll be saved from all future butcheries of music."
"He won't show up for at least two weeks, actually, because Emma is acting as my chaperone until my parents return from Italy. She can't very well be in two places at once, and anyway, I doubt he'd believe I've fallen in love with someone else so quickly. I'm afraid you're stuck with my company for a fortnight. Provided, of course, that I don't have to attend any more musicales."
"I would never be so cruel. Until tonight, then, Belle." With a rakish smile, Dunford rose, bowed smartly, and left the room. Belle sat on the sofa for several minutes after his departure, wondering why she couldn't have fallen in love with him instead of John. It would make matters ever so much simpler. Well, maybe not that much simpler, as Dunford wasn't the least bit in love with her, at least not above the love of one friend to another.
Belle rose and headed up the stairs, wondering if she had set herself on the right course of action. Failure would be exquisitely painful, but she knew that she wouldn't be able to live with herself if she didn't at least try to carve out a life with John. She'd just have to wait a couple of weeks.
Chapter 10
As it happened, Belle did not have to wait two weeks to set Dunford's plan into motion. Precisely one week after she and Emma arrived in London, Alex strode purposefully through the front door with a slightly plump, middle-aged lady scurrying at his heels.
Belle happened to be walking through the hall when he burst into the house. "Oh my," she breathed, observing the commotion with an amused eye.
"Where is my wife?" Alex demanded.
"Upstairs, I think," Belle replied.
"Emma!" he called loudly. "Emma, get down here."
Within seconds Emma appeared at the top of the stairs. "Alex?" she said disbelievingly. "What on earth are you doing here? And who might your, er, guest be?"
"Your one week is up," he stated flatly. "I'm fetching you home."
"But-"
"And this," Alex cut her off forcefully and motioned to the lady at his side, "is my great-aunt Persephone who has kindly agreed to act as Belle's chaperone."
Belle surveyed Persephone's disheveled appearance and decidedly harried expression and wondered if the lady had had any choice in the matter. After shifting her gaze to Alex's determined visage, she decided that Persephone most assuredly hadn't.
"Persephone?" Emma echoed weakly.
"My parents were interested in mythology," the lady said with a smile.
"You see," Alex said, "her parents liked mythology. That explains everything."
"It does?" Belle asked.
Alex shot her such a withering glare that Belle closed her mouth with alacrity. "Emma," he said softly, beginning a slow march up the stairs. "It's time to come home."
"I know, I miss you, too, but I was only going to be another week, and I cannot believe you dragged your aunt halfway across the country."
Persephone smiled. "All the way across the country, actually. I'm from Yorkshire."
Belle swallowed a laugh and decided that she and Persephone would suit each other very well, indeed.
"Pack your belongings, Emma."
Belle and Persephone watched the couple with unconcealed interest until they melted into each other's arms and Alex's lips captured Emma's in a scorching kiss. At that point, Persephone turned away. Belle kept one curious eye on the couple but had the good grace to blush.
But they just kept on kissing and kissing until it grew quite awkward for Belle, Persephone, and all six servants who were standing in the front hall. Trying to make the best of a very strange situation, Belle smiled brightly at Persephone and said, "How do you do? I'm Lady Arabella Bly-don, but I expect you know that already."
The older woman nodded. "I am Miss Persephone Scott."
"It is nice to meet you, Miss Scott."
"Oh, please call me Persephone."
"And I am called Belle."
"Good, good. I imagine we will get on very well together." Persephone glanced stiffly over her shoulder and cleared her throat. "Are they still at it?" she asked in a whisper.
Belle looked up and nodded. "It's only for a week you know."
"They're going to do that for a week? "
"No," Belle laughed. "I meant my parents are due to return in a week. Then you'll be free to do whatever you want."
"I expect I shall. Alex paid me a king's ransom to get me to come down here."
"Really?"
"Yes. Of course, I'd have come if he'd only paid my traveling expenses. I don't get down to London very often. It's quite an adventure. But before I could say a thing, he came out and offered me a stupendous sum. I accepted immediately."
"Who wouldn't?"
"Who, indeed." Persephone made a few awkward jerking motions with her head.