by Diane Darcy
“Ye gave me a great idea last night.”
Drake nodded. “Of course, I did. Now, remind me what I said again?”
Alexander laughed. “Ye told me the way to a woman’s heart is to understand her.”
Drake looked doubtful. “I don’t think that was me, but if you say so. I have been known to be wise on occasion. What did I mean by that, exactly?” Using both hands he lifted his injured leg up onto the coffee table.
Alexander sat down across from him. “Drake, ye know what I did in the military.”
That captured his attention and his gaze sharpened. “Yes?”
“I’m tired of not understanding what is going on in Lizzie’s head.”
“So you’re going to use your knowledge of how to defeat the enemy, to defeat Lizzie?”
“When ye say it like that, it doesnae sound verra nice.”
Drake took his feet off the table and straightened. He laughed again. “No, no actually this is perfect. I don’t know why more men haven’t thought of it before, in fact. No doubt, they lack your skillset.”
Drake suddenly started clearing off the coffee table, removing the base of fake flowers, the doilies, and the books of poetry, and setting them off to the side.
He jumped up and limped to the writing desk in the corner, scooped up paper and quill pen, and came back to the table. He spread the papers out, and then finally lifted the pen and held it over the paper.
Drake drew a square. “This is Lizzie’s house.” He drew another square higher up on the paper. “This is your house.”
He grabbed a handful of chess pieces from off a nearby board and glanced at Alexander. “Now, where have you engaged the enemy thus far?”
Alexander pointed. “The bookstore,” he pointed to a spot on the impromptu map. “And we attended a fortuneteller here.” He tapped the page. “Séance here, horse race here, and balls here, here, and here.”
Drake dutifully drew in all of the squares where Alexander had indicated, placing chess pieces on top.
Alexander laid another sheet of paper and placed a chess piece on top. “This is where her country house is. I have my suspicions that the family will be retreating there soon; what do ye think?”
“I suspect that’s a distinct possibility.” Drake sat back. “All right, we’ve set the stage. Are we going into attack mode? Or defense mode?”
Alexander tapped his fingers on his leg as he considered. He looked at the square that represented the country house, and then back to the London area. “I could probably talk her father into staying in town. If we retreat, and go into defense mode, then I’ll need access to Huntington Hall.”
“Do you think that would be a problem?”
“Lizzie might protest, but I do believe her father would allow me entrance.” He looked at the sheets of paper again. “On the other hand, if we were to stay in town, she might hole up, or keep visits to a minimum time, blocking my access.”
“I have friends near there.” Drake set one of the chess pieces on the paper near Huntington Hall. “The Covingtons, who live here. I could inveigle an invitation for us to stay.”
Alexander nodded. “There is also the cowboy, but in the country he wouldnae be a problem anymore.”
“And the gossips. In town we’d have to turn them to our way of thinking.”
“Not so easy to do.” Alexander considered. “Once they’ve sunk their teeth into a juicy bit of gossip, they’re like bulldogs, and rarely let go.”
Drake looked up. “The question is, which is the playing field that you wish to stage a battle upon?”
He still wasn’t sure. What would give him the best advantage? Her home in the country, where she would essentially be going to hide in disgrace?
Or the streets of London, with the backdrop of the ton?
In the country, she’d be living in ignominy, which would be an added stress.
In the city, she would be unwelcome in any of the homes or parties. Which would leave him very few places in which to court her.
“I believe a country retreat would be just the thing.”
Drake whisks three of the papers off of the table, leaving the one with the country house.
“All right. Strategy? In this area, where would you like to engage the enemy?”
“The enemy. Unfortunately, that feels a bit too apropos.”
Drake grinned. “Don’t think I’m not taking notes on this. When it’s my turn to tie the knot, I can pull these papers out so I can look at them.”
“I’d suggest waiting for the outcome of this war before making such a decision.”
“Now that you’re so obviously seeing things more clearly, I have no doubt you’re going to win. Now, let’s plan a few of these battles.”
Drake and Alexander put their heads together, and, using chess pieces, planned out Alexander’s strategy.
~~~
Lizzie finished packing with the help of her maid. Scurrying away in the middle of the season left her feeling vaguely humiliated.
She still couldn’t believe Mr. Russell had proposed. Two offers in the same day, if you counted the fact that Alexander had proposed to her after midnight.
Not bad for a girl suffering from public humiliation.
Mother poked her head in the room. “Are you ready?”
“You know, Mother. I could simply go on my own. The rest of the family could stay here and finish out the season.”
Mother’s jaw firmed. “Not for all the money in the world will I separate this family and subject you to further gossip.” Mother lifted her chin. “Besides, your siblings don’t truly wish to be here anyway. It’s for their own good, which is why I bring them, but neither one of them will shed any tears about going home. They’ve both had their fill of London.”
And that was that. Within an hour, all of the bags had been packed in the family carriage, the family stowed inside, and they were on their way.
As she petted Fluffy, asleep on her lap, she felt the burn of humiliation. With the whole family leaving at the height of the season, she had no doubt they would continue to be a topic of conversation, probably until they showed their faces again next year.
She could be married by then.
To Mr. Noah Russell? She could be Mrs. Noah Russell, and then all would be forgiven, and her family would no longer be social pariahs.
She wondered how Alexander would take the news of her wedding. Would he be relieved? Thankful? Pleased to have escaped marriage to her?
She considered the jealous way he reacted to Mr. Russell. Perhaps he’d be indignant, irritated, or even outright angry?
She had no idea how he’d respond.
She saw her mother watching her with a slightly worried expression, and guilt once again consumed her.
“I just want to apologize to everyone for the unfortunate way we’re having to sneak out of London.”
Father snorted.
Mother nodded.
Matthew, sitting beside her and playing catch expertly with a ball and cup, laughed, his dark hair flopping over one eye. “I don’t care, Lizzie. I want to go home and see my dog.”
“I don’t care either,” claimed her sister Mary. “I’m tired of dressing up all the time for lunches and parties. It gets boring after a while. Anyway, Lucy McDonald came by earlier today and said some nasty things about you, Lizzie. So I don’t wish to be around her anymore.”
“Well, I appreciate the show of support, more than I can say.”
And she certainly did. She was sorry her family had to be disgraced along with her, but at least they were together.
Again, she considered Mr. Russell’s proposal. Perhaps she’d enjoy being a new bride in Texas.
Again, an image of Alexander popped into her head.
Perhaps she would have enjoyed being a new bride in Scotland.
Her anger at him had slowly dissipated.
He was trying, wasn’t he? None of this was his fault. He’d expected to come to London to collect his bride with m
inimum fuss and effort.
She continued to pet the sleeping dog, more to soothe herself than anything. She was officially tired of thinking about either man at this point.
She just wanted to go home, settle back into country life, and forget about all of this for a while.
Chapter Eleven
Within a couple of days, Drake had called in some favors, and Alexander was ensconced in the Covington’s home nearest to Huntington Hall.
His plan to call on the Huntingtons made him slightly nervous.
How was Lizzie going to react?
The plan he put in place would depend upon her cooperation.
Well, at least it would depend upon her parent’s cooperation.
Alexander knocked on the door, and the butler, Faraday, answered and greeted him enthusiastically. “Captain MacGregor. Come in, come in. I’ll let the family know you’ve arrived.”
His gracious welcome made him wonder if the staff had been made aware of their broken engagement.
If they had, then mayhap they’d be anxious to help him mend the breach.
Potential allies?”
He was shown into the parlor and assured the mistress would be there shortly.
It didn’t take long at all for Lizzie’s mother, Lady Huntington, to enter the room. She looked incredibly relieved and she hurried forward. “Oh, Alexander! I’m so happy to see you.”
That was encouraging. “I’m happy to see ye as well, Lady Huntington. I hope your family is doing well?”
She shrugged one shoulder. “As well as can be expected. Are you in the neighborhood long?”
She was naturally fishing for information, information that he was happy to give. “Lord Browning and I are actually staying with your neighbors, the Covington’s, for an unspecified amount of time.”
“Oh, Alexander.” She smiled at him, and he knew she had read his intentions correctly. “I would love to have you stay here as you did when you were younger, but perhaps staying with our neighbors is for the best in this situation. Please, let Lord Browning know he is welcome at any time.”
“Thank you. And did I mention my mother is to join me?”
Lady Huntington’s mouth fell open, before her hand rose to her mouth to cover it as she squealed! “Margaret is coming here?”
“Aye. Just so.”
“Oh, Alexander!”
Again, her knowing look gave the impression she knew exactly what he was up to, and fully approved.
“I was hoping to get a chance to see Lizzie today. Is she around?”
“Have a seat. I have some refreshments and tea, and Lizzie will be here as soon as possible.”
“Thank you. That sounds wonderful.”
He settled in to wait, confident that the first part of his plan had been executed beautifully.
~~~
“Lizzie, there is someone to see you.”
Lizzie looked up from the book she was reading, to look at her mother outlined in the bedroom door. Her first thought was that Mr. Russell had followed her to continue his courtship. But her mother looked too excited for that. And so …
“Is it Alexander?”
Mother pressed her lips together as if to hide the smile trying to escape. She nodded vigorously. “It is. He’s downstairs in the parlor waiting for you.”
Her heart started to pound in her chest as sudden hope swelled within her. “Why did he follow me here?”
“Oh, Lizzie. Isn’t it obvious? He wants to repair the breach between you.”
Lizzie wasn’t sure what Alexander’s motivation was. She never knew with him.
She put the book aside, and stood. She quickly crossed to glance into the mirror and then was immediately upset with herself for doing so.
What did it matter what she looked like? After all, her eyes would always be the color of mud.
She straightened, and ran hands down the front of her dress to smooth out any wrinkles. She wasn’t going to hold the words of his youth against him anymore, she reminded herself. They’d been children, and it was no longer an issue.
She hurried past her mother, down the stairs and into the parlor. Lizzie’s heartbeat quickened. Sure enough, there he was, tall, lean, and handsome, his body perfectly suited to the elegant clothes he wore. His dark hair, the color of mahogany, was thick with a slight curl. Intense emerald eyes watched her, showing no emotion. A sensual mouth, high cheekbones. Now that he wasn’t hers anymore, had he actually become more attractive?
She took a steadying breath. “Captain MacGregor. It’s nice to see you.”
He quickly stood and crossed the room to her.
The closer he moved, the less she was able to keep her composure as a feeling of vulnerability swept through her.
He stopped in front of her, looked down into her eyes, and smiled. “Lizzie. ’Tis good to see ye again.”
“You as well.”
Was it her imagination, or was he tense?”
He always straightened his shoulders and spine and clasped his hands behind his back when he was nervous. Exactly as he was doing now.
“So, what brings you to the neighborhood?”
“Ye do, of course.”
There was no “of course” about it. After the way they’d parted company the last time, she wouldn’t have expected him to show up here. She’d thought she might never see him again, and hope and relief seemed to be the emotions rising to the top.
“I wondered if I might interest ye in a walk around Rutledge pond?”
The name of the pond brought a flood of memories. They’d spent a lot of time there when they’d been young, catching frogs, collecting pussy willows, and catching tadpoles in glass jars. He’d been a treasured friend at one time.
Once again, the memory was disconcerting. Had she truly forgotten so much because of the last ugly confrontation they’d had?
She glanced at the food on the table — the cakes, and the tea. “Have you had enough to eat?”
“I’m fine, Lizzie. I’d much rather go with you. If I play my cards right, mayhap I’ll get invited to dinner later tonight.”
She rolled her eyes at that. No doubt her mother was already ordering up a fatted calf. “Come on, then. Let’s go.”
As the two of them walked toward the front doors, she couldn’t help glancing at Alexander again.
The fact that he was here, after she thought she’d never see him again, was … well, it was slightly wonderful.
~~~
Alexander glanced at Lizzie.
Now that he was here, now that all of his schemes were focused upon this one girl walking beside him, he realized there was a gaping hole in his strategy.
He’d never had to court Lizzie before, because she’d always belonged to him.
Now she suddenly didn’t. He could set up as many stratagems as he wished, move people about as if on a chessboard, setting them here and there, but when it was just the two of them, it was up to him to charm Lizzie.
He never had to put himself to such an effort before for any woman.
Because he’d already had one.
Was this how other men felt as they walked beside the girl they’d chosen to court?
Conversational tidbits ran through his mind, one after another, and were quickly discarded as boring. Overall, he experienced a real feeling of insecurity, something he’d never felt with a woman before.
Without prompting, she reached out and took his arm, even though he not offered it, and satisfaction welled within him. Apparently he’d done something right.
He wondered if there was a book he could read on the subject of courtship. Or mayhap someone he could interview? He looked around, slightly desperate. “The place looks much the same.”
“What’s that?”
He gestured around the property, looked back at Huntington Hall, at the grass, trees, and gardens. “’Tis been at least a decade since I was here, and the place looks much the same.”
She looked around the property, and nodded. “You were wha
t? Fifteen when you were last here? That was the year we found Fluffy. Do you remember?”
He grinned. “The event is branded in my memory. I was able to play the hero, rescuing the little mongrel from the muck and the mud.”
“Don’t talk about Fluffy that way.”
He grinned at her. “If ye will remember, she bit me on the fleshy part of my thumb, which then became infected and the doctor had to lance the wound.”
“It wasn’t her fault; she was scared.”
“She must be ten years old now.”
“She’s led quite the life of leisure. How is your mother?”
Alexander wondered if Lady Huntington had mentioned that she was coming. “She’s fine. As ye will see for yourself when she arrives.”
Lizzie’s brows rose. “Truly? Your mother is coming?”
“Aye, she’s on her way.”
At that, Lizzie fell silent, and he couldn’t help but wonder at her thoughts. Was it obvious he was using his own mother as a lever to pressure Lizzie into accepting his suit once more?
No doubt, it was.
They were soon at the pond, and Alexander looked over the reeds, the cattails, and the algae covered water. “I remember it being bigger.”
She smiled. “That only makes sense, as I remember you being much smaller.”
“Mayhap we should have brought some glass jars? We could have captured some tadpoles.”
“They always died, and then we felt bad.”
Unable to help himself, he turned to face her. He took a breath, trying to find the right words, and then closed his mouth again. She was looking up at him, her beautiful brown eyes encouraging and he scrambled for something to say.
Did he talk of her exquisiteness? Her accomplishments? The fact that he wanted to grab her up and kiss her senseless? Obviously, he wasn’t very good at this courting game. “I remember catching frogs here, do ye?”
She turned away, and the moment was lost.
He thought himself a coward, but he wasn’t ready yet to make his case. He didn’t want to do so too soon, and risk losing her forever.
“Of course, I do. After all, I named one of them after you.”
He laughed. “I’d forgotten about that. Whatever happened to dear old Alex the Frog?”
