by Ella Edon
“I’m sure you’ve had ladies who believed they could turn you around.”
Alexander grunted. “They did, but it hasn’t happened yet.”
As if he had ever been turned away by a woman. From his good looks and his smooth, deep voice, Jane could very well believe that women were practically falling over themselves to get into his bed. Society may have focused on sensibility and that women needed to follow a strict set of rules, but everyone had a vice. Everyone wanted to break the rules just once. Alexander provided that for them.
Was he like this with all the women? Gain their confidence before he swooped in for seduction? If it was, Jane had a feeling it was working. He could ask her for a kiss right now and she would be willing, even with people close by.
Wait, what was going on with her? She was suddenly drawn to a gentleman who had notoriety for his actions? That couldn’t be right. Could it?
“Come on, My Lady.” Alexander moved to climb out of the carriage. “We need to get inside. It’s getting dark. The storm is almost upon us.”
As he spoke, there was a loud rumbling in the sky. Jane looked out and saw how dark the clouds were. They looked low enough to touch the top of the house, and she could see bright flashes behind the clouds. Alexander was right; the storm was closing in fast.
Alexander reached in and held out a hand. Jane hesitated before taking it, biting back a gasp as his fingers closed over hers. His touch was so warm, so gentle. Jane looked into his eyes and saw his expression warm. He smiled at her, and Jane felt her heart stumble a few beats.
She had to stop. This gentleman was the last person her parents would want around her. She couldn’t find him attractive, not with what she had heard about him. But Jane found herself drawn towards him as if he were some forbidden fruit.
He wasn’t Ian. But then, Ian had never made her feel emotions as intense as the ones in her belly.
Alexander helped her out and then put her cloak on her properly, clasping it into place. His actions were so gentle and caring, although he was careful not to touch her. Jane didn’t know where to look, instead looking at the pin in his cravat. She could feel her heart racing, her pulse stuttering as his fingers accidentally brushed against her cheek.
Was it accidental? From the way Alexander momentarily paused, it had to be. Then he cleared his throat and stepped away.
“Come on. I’ll escort you inside.”
“Where’s Rachel?”
“She’s already gone into the house to find your parents.”
Jane groaned. She was not looking forward to this. Walter and Faith Malcolm were going to be furious. When she sneaked out the day before with Rachel in tow, Jane had only left a brief note saying she was going to see a friend. From the way she had been acting, her parents would have known exactly what she was up to.
This was not going to be good.
With Alexander walking beside her, Jane braced herself as she went into the house. Hopefully, she would be able to speak to her parents separately and not together. When they were together, the Earl and Countess of Crawley were a formidable pair. Separately, they were softer people. The two of them looked after each other through everything, which Jane admired.
Yet she was still not looking forward to facing them.
A tall, statuesque lady with snow-white hair clasped tightly at the nape of her neck wearing a dark green dress was stalking across the foyer towards them as Jane and Alexander entered the house. Rachel was just behind her, hurrying to keep up with the older lady’s strides. She caught Jane’s eye, and Jane knew she had told her mother everything.
Scowling at her friend, Jane turned to Faith Malcolm, the Countess of Crawley, and dropped into a curtsy.
“Mother.”
“Jane.”
Lady Crawley’s mouth tightened, as she held her hands clasped in front of her. She looked cool and composed, but Jane could see the angry fire in her eyes. For eight-and-sixty years of age, she hadn’t lost the ability to make people squirm, even her own children.
“Rachel’s just told me everything.” The Countess’ voice was tight. “You said you were going to visit friends for a couple of days, not go and break up a couple at a wedding! Viscount Harrison’s wedding, at that!”
“I didn’t go through with it,” Jane protested. “I had a change of heart and I backed away. Nobody knew that I was there.”
“Nobody?” Lady Crawley looked up at Alexander, her anger seeming to build. “Then who’s this? I don’t need to guess that he’s a Harrison.”
Jane turned to look at Alexander. How had she known that? But Alexander simply smiled at Lady Crawley and bowed.
“Alexander Harrison, My Lady. My uncle was concerned about Lady Jane’s intentions and asked me to watch out for her. We had a conversation, and Lady Jane realized the error of her ways. Nobody at the wedding knew she was there.”
Lady Crawley snorted. Clearly, his charm wasn’t going to work on her mother.
“At least someone could talk sense into my daughter. We haven’t been able to do that since she started talking.” She turned back to her daughter. “What you did was foolish, Jane. It doesn’t matter if you stopped yourself in time or not, you were foolish. How could you do this to the family?”
That riled Jane up. “The family?” she asked. “What about me? It was my reputation I was risking, not yours.”
“When you do a pathetic stunt like that, it’s the family’s reputation at stake first and foremost.” Lady Crawley pointed at Jane, almost catching her in the face. “And you almost dragged us into the mud.”
Jane wanted to argue back. She had already been scolded in different ways by Rachel and Alexander, as well as telling herself that she had been stupid. She didn’t want her mother reprimanding her also. That was guaranteed to make Jane feel worse than she already did.
Before she could protest, Alexander spoke instead. “If it’s any consolation, Lady Crawley, Lady Jane was about to walk away from it all when I caught up with her. She was not going to embarrass anyone, at least not in public.”
“That is no consolation at all, sir,” boomed a low, bristling voice from the corridor.
Jane’s heart sank when she heard the voice. Her father had arrived. Indeed, striding across the hall from under the u-shaped stairs, was Walter Malcolm, Earl of Crawley. For a gentleman of seventy years, he moved very quickly with hardly a stumble. He was much thinner in recent years, his face gaunt and pale and his iron-gray hair thinning. But the light in his eyes was always there and it was intense. Jane found herself shuffling back, almost putting Alexander between her and her father. Alexander glanced back at her, his expression not changing but the look in his eyes softened and he gave her a brief nod. At least someone was there to protect her.
Crawley scowled at Alexander as he moved to join his wife. Rachel darted out of his way, dropping into a low curtsy and bowing her head. It was a wonder she didn’t fall over.
“There is no consolation here, sir,” Lord Crawley growled. “Our daughter should not have been there at all. She could have brought this family into ill-repute with her actions. I’m sure everyone knows about her behavior towards Viscount Harrison by now, which is embarrassing enough. Having a fancy for a gentleman about to marry is one thing, but when it’s your brother-in-law…”
“I was instructed by my uncle to intercept Lady Jane before there was a scene,” Alexander cut in abruptly. “I made the decision to escort her home, so she didn’t come to any harm. Viscount Harrison cares enough about her to keep her safe, even if her comportment had been frustrating.”
Jane stared at him. Nobody spoke up to her father. Never. They weren’t brave enough to do so.
Lord Crawley grunted. “At least he didn’t feel the need to make a scene with my daughter, but this shouldn’t have happened in the first place.” He fixed his harsh glare on Jane. “You’re not to go off this estate, Jane. I want you to stay in this house, and you are not leaving to go anywhere without either myself or your mothe
r present and with our express permission.”
“But Father…”
“Don’t.” Just that one word had Jane falling silent. “That’s what I’ve decided. Or do you want to be locked in your room for the foreseeable future?”
Jane closed her mouth. Arguing with him was going to be futile, and in front of Alexander as well. Things just couldn’t get any worse. She lowered her head and stared at the floor.
“No, Father,” she mumbled.
Alexander watched as Jane went to the stairs and started up to the next floor. Rachel went after her and touched her arm, but Jane pulled away abruptly, giving her friend a glare. Then she glanced back at Alexander, who felt it like a punch to the gut. That look of sadness. It made him want to run to her and hold her again.
This lady was far too dangerous to be around, and Alexander knew he had to get out of there. But he just couldn’t. He couldn’t walk away from her.
As Jane disappeared upstairs, Rachel hurrying after her, Alexander turned to Lord Crawley. Both he and his wife were looking at each other with an expression of despair. They were Jane’s parents? They looked more like her grandparents.
“That was a little harsh, Lord Crawley.”
The words were out of his mouth before Alexander could stop himself. Lord Crawley turned to him and raised his eyebrows.
“I beg your pardon, sir?” His voice was startlingly quiet. “Did you say something?”
That was the same type of voice Alexander’s father used on him. It had an effect on him and would make Alexander tremble. Not now.
“Lady Jane is already upset about it all. She realizes that she’s done wrong and she backed away before she made a bigger fool of herself. She didn’t need her parents admonishing her when she’s already beaten herself up about it.”
Lady Crawley was watching him with a bewildered expression. Clearly, they didn’t often have people talking back to them. Lord Crawley stalked towards him. He was not quite as tall as Alexander, barely coming up to his chin. Alexander could see a slight hunch in his shoulders. Old age catching up to him?
“You will not tell me what to do in my house, sir.” Lord Crawley’s voice was tight, almost a growl. “I don’t care who your family is, I am the one in charge in this house. Not you.”
His words had Alexander wanting to take a step back. For an old gentleman, he was certainly formidable. But Alexander held his ground. He wasn’t about to be bullied into silence, and Jane needed someone on her side. He was probably not the best person for her, but he wanted to be the one in her corner.
Suddenly, there was a loud rumble outside the house. Lady Crawley looked up at the ceiling and pursed her lips.
“There’s a storm coming, and it’s getting late.” She sighed and looked at Alexander. “You can stay here for the night, Mr. Harrison, and then you’re going home tomorrow. While I’m grateful that you decided to be a gentleman and bring our daughter home, I don’t want you in this house for longer than you have to be. Not after questioning us over how we punish our daughter.”
“She’s not a child anymore, My Lady.” Alexander pointed out.
Lord Crawley snorted. “She acts like a child, so that is how she’s going to be treated.” He turned away and stalked back in the direction he had come. “Now, get out of my sight before I decide to rescind my wife’s invitation and turf you out into the impending storm.”
Alexander watched him go, Lady Crawley following quickly after him. He could understand the Earl’s anger over his daughter’s behavior, but it felt like Lord Crawley was cracking down a little too hard. Jane had understood the error of her ways before she did anything and was trying to come to terms with it on her own. Still, everyone around her seemed intent on telling her what she did wrong. It was just going to make her feel even worse than she already did.
Alexander could understand her plight. He had been there before. Even now, his parents and his older brother kept telling him what he was doing wrong. It just made him want to push back.
“Father’s a little intense, isn’t he?”
Alexander spun around. A tall, slim gentleman in his forties was crossing the foyer from an open door to his right. With his complexion and blond hair, there was no doubt that he was related to Jane. An uncle, perhaps? Alexander adjusted his coat.
“You could say that. I’m surprised he’s still going.”
“He’s seventy years old and still going strong.”
“Impressive for this day and age.”
“Fifty years ago, it would have been a miracle for anyone to reach seventy without becoming infirm.” The newcomer shrugged. “Not everyone is like him, I’m afraid.”
“You mean not everyone is a cantankerous old gentleman who treats his children like they’re still ten years old?” Alexander snapped. Then he winced. That was not something he should have said out loud. “Forgive me, I do tend to talk out of turn. Force of habit.”
“But what you said was true.” The other gentleman stuck out a hand. “I’m Robert Malcolm, Lord Crawley’s second son and spare.”
A strange way to announce himself. Alexander shook his head.
“Alexander Harrison…” Then he realized what the other gentleman had said.
Chapter Five
“Lord Crawley’s son? Lady Jane’s brother?”
“Yes.” Robert raised his eyebrows. “Why is that a surprise? Am I not attractive enough to be related to Jane?”
“That’s not…” Alexander had to backtrack quickly. That had not come out as he wanted. “Aunt Elizabeth would be in her late forties by now. I’m guessing you’re near the same age.”
“She was my twin sister.”
“But...Jane is my age.” Alexander made a mental calculation. At least twenty years difference, if not more. “That’s a bit of an age-gap between siblings.”
“We’re a surprising family.” Robert spread his hands. “Jane was not planned. Mother was eight-and-forty years when she gave birth. It was not something we were expecting at all. Mother’s doctor thought she had a growth of some sort.”
She had had a growth, all right, but of a different kind. Alexander had heard of women giving birth in their fifties, so it wasn’t that unusual. However, something was niggling at him. Something wasn’t quite right about this, and Alexander couldn’t put his finger on it. He decided to let it go. For now.
“It looks like she’s still treated as a little girl.”
“That’s what comes with being the youngest by a long way, I suppose. Jane tended to get away with quite a few things when she was a child.” Robert paused. “But not everything. And certainly not when she came of age.”
“Did your parents know about your sister’s infatuation with her brother-in-law?”
“Viscount Harrison?” Robert nodded with a sigh. “They knew. Jane’s not exactly subtle about it. She may not have said anything, but you can tell by her actions. It was uncomfortable to watch, to say the least. Mother told her that she couldn’t even contemplate anything with the viscount, but Jane just wouldn’t listen.”
Alexander smiled. “She’s a very headstrong woman when she wants to be.”
“Much like all the women in this family. When her mind is set, it’s very difficult to get her out of it. It’s just one of those things.”
Stubborn to the last. Alexander liked that. Most ladies in Society, especially the younger ones looking for a husband, were supposed to be docile and quiet, do exactly what they were told. They were the easiest ones to corrupt because they were drawn to the forbidden. Alexander liked to corrupt, but he knew when to take a step back. He could judge a lady enough to know which ones would regret their actions and those who were willing to have a bit of fun.
At least, he thought he was a good judge of women. Marissa Preston had proven that he could be a little off. But Alexander knew one thing about Jane Malcolm; she was not someone he should be around. She could knock his resolve completely off-balance if he wasn’t careful.
“Jane�
�s not a bad person, Mr. Harrison,” Robert said. “Just misguided. She’s still young and doesn’t quite understand different kinds of love.”
“You believe my uncle may had led her on?”
“No, I don’t. I’ve met Ian Harrison, and he’s a good gentleman. He loved Jane, but like a little sister, while he was devoted to Elizabeth.” Robert rubbed a hand over his head. Already, his hair was starting to thin out at the hairline. “Jane just didn’t understand it. She’s still very naive. She saw Viscount Harrison as something she wanted but didn’t understand that she could never have him.”
