by Ella Edon
“What are you doing?”
Jane looked up. She hadn’t noticed Anthony come back. She drew her hand from Alexander’s.
“We were just…”
“I wasn’t talking to you, Jane,” Anthony snapped. His attention was focused on Alexander. His face was bright red. “I thought we had come to an understanding, Harrison. You stay away from my sister.”
Alexander sighed. “You do realize that I’m not one of your underlings, Tiverton. If I want to talk to Lady Jane, I will.”
“Not if I have anything to do with it,” Anthony growled. “Get up.”
Alexander stiffened.
“Make me.”
Jane tugged at his hand. Not now. Not tonight. “Alexander, enough…”
“You want to try it in my house, Harrison?” Anthony talked over her, his voice practically a snarl now. He looked like he was about to take a swing. “You may think you’re younger and stronger, but I can make sure you can never walk again.”
“Try it,” Alexander stated as he squared up to Anthony. “I dare you.”
Jane stared at them. They were actually about to fight over her? Jane had never experienced a brawl that was the result of her, and she didn’t like it. Anthony was throwing his weight around, trying to show that he was in charge. Alexander was close to snapping. Jane could tell. It was only going to take a slight push before the two gentlemen started fighting.
“That’s enough!”
Jane jumped so hard she stumbled. Lord Crawley had appeared in the doorway. He was scowling at his son, who looked about to explode.
“Anthony, back down now,” Walter ordered. “While I’m not happy about Mr. Harrison remaining in the house, there is not to be any bloodshed. And I can see Mr. Harrison making this family look foolish once he lays you out.”
“Father…” Anthony started to protest, but Walter silenced him with a wave of his hand.
“I said stop. I raised sons to be men, not brawlers.”
“And I was raised to stand up for myself when I get threatened,” Alexander hissed. He had his hands clenched at his sides, still glaring at Anthony. “I don’t like being threatened.”
Anthony sniggered. “You’re going to have to get used to it here, Harrison.”
Jane let out a frustrated cry.
“Stop it! No more, please!” She whirled around on Anthony, waving her finger in his face. “You are not my father, Anthony. And stop treating me like a child. If I want to converse with Mr. Harrison, then I will. I know my limits, and I know where my boundaries are.”
“Do you?” Anthony looked her up and down with a sneer. “Considering where you went a few days ago?”
Jane kicked him in the shin. Anthony groaned and bent over, trying to clutch at his leg without falling over. Jane backed away and started away from her brother, aware that her father was going to turn his anger onto her.
She needed to get out of there.
Chapter Fifteen
Jane ran up the stairs to her room. She needed to get away from everyone. They all seemed to see her as a piece of furniture they wanted to take claim of, something they could control. Jane had always bitten her tongue at this; these talks drove her mad. She hated them, and it seemed to be getting more intense.
Was this because Alexander was in the house? Did the family see him as a threat? Jane wouldn’t be surprised.
She was hurrying along the hallway towards her bedchamber when she heard footsteps hurrying behind her. Then she heard Alexander’s voice.
“Jane, slow down!”
Jane stopped and turned. Alexander slowed, keeping just out of reach. He was breathing heavily. Jane bared her teeth at him. She was not in the mood for any of them. Even Alexander Harrison.
“You come to claim your prize?” she sneered. “Show my brother and my father that you don’t bow down to them?”
“I wanted to make sure you were all right,” Alexander protested. “Is that a crime?”
Jane laughed. “Do I look all right? You didn’t need to come up here to find out! I just had to witness my brother physically threaten my brother-in-law’s nephew.” That was far too much of a mouthful. Jane took a deep breath. She needed to calm down. “Anthony had no right to talk to you like that, and you had no right to goad him.”
“I was goading him?”
“Don’t play innocent with me, Alexander! You were goading him. You were daring him to put his hands on you. And it was embarrassing to watch! Especially seeing as you two were arguing over me.”
Alexander was silent. He narrowed his eyes at Jane as he stepped towards her.
“Is there something wrong with two gentlemen arguing over you?”
“Yes,” Jane declared as she stepped to the side, trying to keep distance between them. “I’m not someone to argue over. I’m a person, not an object, and I want to be treated as such. I will not be the center of an argument between my brother and a scoundrel.”
“Oh, really?” Alexander was getting closer. “And you don’t think a scoundrel is allowed to argue over any lady?”
Jane bumped into the wall. She couldn’t get away; Alexander was so close. Her heart was pounding again, and she was feeling warmer. Much warmer. She lifted her chin and glared at him.
“Certainly not me.” She had no idea how her voice wasn’t shaking. “You don’t own me, and neither does Anthony. You don’t have a say in my life. I won’t have you thinking that you have a right to me at all.”
Alexander didn’t say anything for a moment. Then he rested his hand on the wall by Jane’s head, leaning in close. Jane couldn’t move even if she tried. She was transfixed by the dark look in his eyes. God, he was handsome like this. She could see why the females fawned over him.
“You’re right about me,” Alexander whispered. His face was very close to hers. “I am a scoundrel. But when it comes to you, it’s something else.” He reached up and cupped her jaw with his palm. “You’re going to have to get used to me arguing over you.”
Jane was frozen as he kissed her. He didn’t force anything, just a gentle press of his mouth on hers. His mouth was softer than she thought, warmer than she expected. What had she been expecting? Certainly not to be kissed right outside her bedchamber.
Someone could come along and find them, and Jane was not to be consoled with a kiss. She pressed her hands to his chest and pushed him away.
“Don’t touch me.”
“All right.” Alexander stepped back and spread his hands. “I won’t. I think I’ve made my point.”
He certainly had. Jane didn’t know much about seduction, or anything much to do with attraction, but she only needed one look at Alexander to know that he wasn’t messing with her. The tension in his body, the hungry look in his eyes, his nostrils flaring as he breathed heavily. He desired her, but he wasn’t forcing anything on her. Instead, he was taking a step back.
A scoundrel wouldn’t have done that, surely. But Alexander wasn’t just any scoundrel. He was something else.
Jane knew the sensible thing was to get into her room and lock the door. They shouldn’t be alone like this. But instead of backing away towards her door, she was walking towards Alexander. She grabbed his head and tugged him down, kissing him hard. She had never kissed anyone before. Was this how it was supposed to be done? She had no idea.
Alexander let her take charge for a moment before easing himself away. He gave her a bemused look.
“I thought you didn’t want to touch me,” he teased.
“Enough.” Jane tugged him back down. “Just enough.”
Alexander was smiling as he kissed her, but this time he took the lead, slipping his arms around her into a gentle embrace. He softened the kiss until Jane was practically melting in his arms. Alexander took time with the kiss, exploring every part of her mouth. His hand cupped her head, cradling her like she was made of glass. Jane wrapped her arms around his neck and held on, unable to do anything except enjoy the kiss.
God, he could kiss. Jane di
dn’t want to think about the multiple ladies who had experienced it. She also didn’t want to think that what they were doing was going to get her into serious trouble. As of right now, she didn’t care.
Alexander broke the kiss first, only to nuzzle her cheek.
“Who are you thinking about when you kiss me?” he whispered.
It took a moment for Jane to realize what he meant. He thought she was imagining Ian? She had barely thought about him all day. Someone else had taken charge of her thoughts. She leaned into him.
“You. Only you.”
“Prove it.”
Someone was trembling. Jane didn’t know which one of them was shaking. She reached up on her tiptoes and was just pressing her mouth to his when a sharp voice came from behind them.
“It seems that someone needs to keep a closer eye on you, Jane.”
Jane jumped out of Alexander’s arms and spun around. Robert was standing a few feet away with his arms folded, wearing a scowl she hadn’t seen on him before. Her heart still racing, Jane brushed her dress down. When did her sleeve of her dress slip down?
“He didn’t force himself on me, Robert,” she said, glaring back at her brother. “I wanted him to.”
Robert grunted. “Then you should be glad it was me who found you and not anyone else.” He glanced at Alexander before turning back to Jane. “I think it’s best that you retire for the night, Jane.”
“Robert…”
“Go, or I tell Father what I saw.” Robert shot Alexander a sharp look. “And you had better get to your room yourself, Mr. Harrison.”
He was right. Jane didn’t want him to be, though. Taking a deep breath, she walked to her door. Somehow, her legs kept her upright. She was opening the door when Alexander’s voice stopped her.
“Jane?”
She turned back. Alexander was watching her. The desire had been banked down a little, but it was still there.
“Scoundrels are allowed to care as well.”
Jane smiled. “I know.”
She wanted to go back to him, but Robert was still glaring at her. So, Jane stepped into her room and closed the door. On second thought, she also locked it.
Then she sagged onto the floor, waiting for her heart to stopping beating so fast.
* * *
Alexander’s heart was still racing as he lay in bed staring at the ceiling. He hadn’t expected to kiss Jane, not in such a carnal way, and it had left him shaken. Jane was an innocent, that had been evident in the way she kissed him, but it had been more arousing than the most experienced woman Alexander had encountered. If Robert hadn’t come along and made them stop, Alexander was sure he would have taken it further. Jane would have been wrapped around him as he took her in the hallway.
He had done many things in the past that could be considered foolish, but never had he wanted to make love to a lady in a place where they could be caught. It had always been done behind closed doors. Lady Jane Malcolm made him want to lose control of his senses.
Alexander knew he needed to keep his distance from Jane. She was going to make him break all of his self-imposed rules, and Alexander knew he was teetering on the edge now. He should back away now, but the amount of times he had come back to Jane, just to see her, Alexander knew that his decision to keep away was slipping. She was the last person he should be interacting with, but he couldn’t help himself.
She had shown him so much compassion and kindness, more than anyone else. She didn’t judge him for what had happened to him, and Alexander had never told anyone about his past and why he became the Society rake. Something about Jane had him wanting to share everything with her. She saw past his previous actions, seeing just him.
That was humbling.
Alexander could still feel Jane’s lips on his, her body against his. She had such a soft, sweet body, and Alexander wished he could touch her again. The temptation to sneak through the house and slip into her room was great, just so he could slip into her bed and feel her body again. That would just result in Jane slapping him, quite rightly, and someone would catch them. Even with her self-control slipping a little, Jane had more respect for herself. She wouldn’t jump into bed with him because he looked at her in a way she liked.
Hell, he shouldn’t be jumping into bed with her at all. Jane was dangerous for him. Alexander could easily see him falling for her if he pushed further.
Falling for her? It felt like he was halfway there already. Alexander didn’t know, and that shook him.
He wasn’t going to get to sleep anytime soon. It was nearly midnight, and Alexander just couldn’t settle. Thoughts of Jane kept passing through his head, and it was leaving his body in a state of arousal, one that just wouldn’t disappear. Alexander had tried to rid himself of it, but it hadn’t worked. He just felt sore.
Maybe getting up and going for a walk would help. No one else was going to be up, not even the servants. There wouldn’t be anyone to confront him about his actions or anyone to pick a fight with him. Alexander was too tired and too frustrated for a fight. He just wanted to be left alone.
Perhaps he should get a book and try reading for a while. Pass the time instead of wandering aimlessly around the house. That sounded like a good idea.
Alexander put on his trousers and shoes, buttoning his shirt most of the way and rolling his sleeves up. A state of undress, but it was more decent than the lack of clothing he had been wearing in bed.
He headed downstairs and made his way to the library, using a candle to light his way. As he neared the library, Alexander saw that the door was partially open. He was sure that he had closed it when he left earlier. He peeked through the gap and saw Anthony Malcolm standing in front of the fire, also dressed in just trousers and a shirt, holding a glass of something while he stared into the flames. He looked like he was lost in thought.
Alexander did think about backing off and leaving him be - Anthony clearly didn’t want to be disturbed - but then he remembered the family portrait from earlier. Something had been bothering him since he laid eyes on it, and Alexander couldn’t shake it. Maybe Anthony would be able to give him the answers he needed. Even if it was inviting another confrontation with the heir to the Earldom.
Taking a deep breath, Alexander pushed the door open and stepped inside. Anthony looked up and scowled when he saw Alexander.
“What do you want?”
“I don’t want to fight, Lord Tiverton.” Alexander held up his free hand in surrender. “I just want to talk.”
“About what?”
“Jane.”
Anthony’s jaw tightened. “You shouldn’t be uttering her name at all. She’s nothing to do with you.”
“But I consider her a friend.” Alexander carefully put the candlestick holder down on a nearby table. “I am concerned about her.”
“I noticed,” Anthony grunted. “Seeing as you were almost all over her earlier this evening.”
“If you think what happened earlier was all over her, I shudder to think what you call just smiling in her direction.”
Anthony bared his teeth. Then he turned away and stared at the fire again.
“I must be mad talking to you.”
“You wouldn’t be the first.” Alexander approached him, keeping his distance. “Why are you and your family so protective over Jane?”
“We’re family and she’s the youngest. Why wouldn’t I be protective over her?”
“I would call it over-protective.”
Malcolm snorted. “You would, would you?”
“Yes, I would. Your parents are the same as well.” Alexander folded his arms. “I know Jane did some questionable things lately, but she was coming around to the realization that what she was doing was wrong. There are some morals in there still. She’s not as childish as you seem to think.”
“I never said she was childish.”
“You treat her like she is. The only one I’ve seen treat her like a member of the family, a lady, is your younger brother. I never saw how Aunt
Elizabeth was around Jane, but I would like to think she was the same as Lord Robert.”
“How we treat Jane is none of your business,” Anthony snapped. “Nothing to do with you at all. You’re not family.”
“Your sister was my aunt.”
“By marriage, you were Elizabeth’s family. You’re nothing to do with me, thank God.”
Alexander was silently agreeing with him. He and Lord Tiverton would butt heads too many times if they really were family.
Alexander decided to try another tack. Addressing the thoughts that had been bothering him since he saw it.
