“The pleasure is all mine, Lady Tiffany, I assure you,” Alex replied courteously. “In fact, I had intended to pay a call upon you in the very near future.”
“You did?” Tiffany felt her heart lurch within her chest.
“Indeed, I was just speaking with your father about that very thing,” he said. “However, as I am here now, I wonder if I might be so bold as to request a few minutes of your time.”
Tiffany glanced hesitantly at her father.
“Perhaps I could accompany you on your walk?” he suggested, looking to William for approval.
“By all means,” William replied. “You two go on ahead.”
Tiffany had to fight to keep her mouth from falling open in astonishment as her father immediately offered his consent.
“Alright then. The garden is this way,” she somehow managed. Her mind spinning, she nodded to her father as she passed, leading Alex down the hall.
Exiting the house through a set of French doors a few moments later, they stepped out into the sunlit afternoon. In silence, they began walking along the stone footpath that meandered throughout the rear garden. Once they’d traveled a safe distance from the house, it was Tiffany who spoke first. “Did you really intend to call upon me, as you said?” she asked, casting a brief sidelong glance at Alex.
Considering how they’d left things, how he’d left things, he could hardly fault her for being skeptical. “Yes, I did,” he answered. It was true, but even so, it felt like a lie.
“Why?”
Despite the boldness of her question, her tone was surprisingly hesitant. Immediately halting his slow stride, Alex turned to face her, guilt tearing at his insides.
Tiffany stopped too, raising her eyes to his.
“I’m sorry, Tiffany,” he began. “I’m sorry that we didn’t have the opportunity to speak before you left. I’m sorry for the deplorable manner in which I behaved at the cottage, and yet again, later that night. And I’m sorry for…” he trailed off, shaking his head, struggling for the right words.
“That’s why you wanted to see me?” she asked, not bothering to wait for him to finish. “So that you could apologize?” Her spirits plummeted.
Alex could see the hurt and disappointment in her eyes. “Yes, I wanted to apologize,” he admitted. “But that is not the only reason I wanted to see you.”
She regarded him questioningly, fighting to forestall the tiny spark of hope that threatened to flare within her once again.
Now came the difficult part. To be as truthful as possible without revealing anything about the detestable wager he’d entered into with her father, for the last thing he wanted to do was to hurt her any more than he already had. “I came here today to discuss my intentions with your father.”
Tiffany’s eyes went wide, her breath catching in her throat. Had she heard him correctly? “Your intentions?”
“I know that I acted inexcusably before, flouting the bounds of propriety with my indefensible behavior,” he began. “But if you are amenable, I was hoping that we might enter into a more traditional relationship. A courtship,” he clarified, a slight, beguiling smile playing upon his lips. Though William had not been keen on the idea of remaining in the city overlong, fortunately he’d been able to convince him to stay long enough so that he could properly court Tiffany before announcing their engagement.
She understood then, but instead of filling her with joy, his words filled her with sorrow. He’d only come because he felt guilty about what they’d done. He blamed himself, and now, filled with remorse, he felt honor-bound to make things right. Because of that, he was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice. “I appreciate the gesture, but it’s hardly necessary. I was as much to blame for what happened as you were,” she said, trying her best to appear nonchalant. “You needn’t feel guilty, nor should you feel as though you must now put the situation to rights.”
“You think that I’m here, that I am doing this because I feel guilty about what happened between us?”
“Aren’t you?” she replied, her tone matter of fact.
“Tiffany,” he said, his expression sincere. “I assure you that guilt has nothing whatsoever to do with my presence here today.”
Though she wanted desperately to believe him, she wasn’t so foolish as to think that he had suddenly cast aside his aversion to marriage for some other reason altogether, such as love for instance. “If not guilt, what is it then?”
Hearing the unmistakable sound of a door opening and closing, Tiffany turned toward the house, as did Alex. One of the housemaids stood just outside the same set of French Doors she and Alex had exited from. Catching Tiffany’s eye, the young woman smiled self-consciously and then promptly turned her attention to her shoes.
Tiffany felt her cheeks grow warm in embarrassment, for it was patently clear that the petite brunette had been sent by the marquess to serve as an impromptu chaperone.
“Shall we continue our walk,” Alex asked, turning his attention back to Tiffany.
Nodding, Tiffany moved forward, her eyes focused on the path ahead. “You haven’t answered my question,” she said after a while.
“I’ve been doing a great deal of thinking this past week,” he replied, “about my future.”
Tiffany peeked at him from beneath her lashes.
“And I’m beginning to see things… differently.”
Was he suggesting that she had something to do with that, she wondered? “Differently?” she prompted.
“I’ve been thinking that it might be time for me to make a change in my life,” he began, “that it might be time for me to settle down and look to starting a family.”
“Oh?” Tiffany’s heart seemed to skip a beat. Looking down, she nudged a pebble from the path with the toe of her shoe.
“Does that surprise you?” he asked, turning to look at her.
She could feel his eyes upon her. “Yes,” she admitted.
Alex chuckled softly. “To be honest, it surprised me as well.”
She looked up then, meeting his silver gaze.
“And now, Lady Tiffany, it is you who has not answered my question.”
She blinked in confusion. “Your question?”
He smiled good-humoredly. “Would you be amenable to a courtship between us, so that we might get to know one another better? In a slightly more orthodox manner, that is?” he added with a roguish wink.
Tiffany’s thoughts were spinning in a jumbled whirl. Although she’d fantasized about this moment time and time again, the reality of it was completely unexpected. Struggling to find her voice, she answered shyly. “Yes, I’d like that very much.”
Chapter 10
When Alex arrived at the appointed hour the following morning, Tiffany was dressed and ready to go. After carefully perusing her wardrobe, she’d chosen a simple but stylish muslin day dress in shades of pale green and blue that complimented her eyes and a matching hat that now sat atop her upswept curls. Tying the hat’s wide satin ribbon into a bow beneath her chin, she descended the staircase, doing her best to appear poised and self-assured as both her father and Alex turned toward her.
“Good morning, my lord,” she said, smiling at Alex.
“Good morning, Lady Tiffany,” he greeted warmly. “You look lovely as always.”
“Thank you,” she replied, her smile widening just a bit.
“As my mother and sisters are currently on holiday, I have asked my Aunt Rosemary, Lady Ainsley to accompany Lady Tiffany and me this morning. I hope that meets with your approval,” Alex said, directing the question to William.
“Yes, of course,” the marquess replied, nodding his consent.
“Excellent. She is presently awaiting us in the carriage.” Turning to Tiffany, he extended his elbow. “Shall we?”
Grasping his arm, Tiffany murmured a brief goodbye to her father and then walked with Alex out the door. Stepping into the sunlight, she saw that an elegant, open-topped barouche sat waiting at the end of the walk with a liverie
d footman standing beside the open door. As they approached, she could see an elderly woman seated on the rear-facing seat behind the driver, a lace parasol shading her from the morning sun.
“It’s such a lovely morning, I thought you might enjoy the open air,” Alex said. “But we can raise the top if you’d prefer.”
“Oh no, down is fine,” Tiffany assured him.
“Good. Up you go then,” he said, assisting her up the step and into the vehicle.
Entering the barouche, Tiffany was surprised to see that seated upon either side of Lady Ainsley was a small, multicolored pug. Raising themselves onto their feet, the dogs immediately started barking and wagging their tails in excitement as Tiffany settled herself onto the forward facing seat.
Dropping onto the seat next to her, Alex gave Tiffany an apologetic grin. “Forgive me, for I admit that I purposefully failed to mention our other traveling companions whilst we were inside, in fear that you might bow out of our excursion.”
As the presence of the dogs made it necessary for her and Alex to share the same seat, she truly didn’t mind at all.
“Hush now, Romeo. Quiet, Juliet,” Lady Ainsley ordered, though her tone was decidedly lacking in severity or volume. As a result, the dogs continued their frenzied yapping and tail wagging without pause.
Tiffany merely giggled as Alex rolled his eyes.
“Romeo, Juliet, do shush,” Lady Ainsley chided as the door swung closed and the footman resumed his perch on the back of the carriage. Once again, the dogs failed to take heed.
“Quiet!” Alex commanded then, his voice stern and uncompromising.
The dogs quieted at once, looking at Alex in surprise, as did Lady Ainsley.
“Now sit.”
Romeo and Juliet complied at once.
“Now then, Aunt Rose, please allow me to introduce you to Lady Tiffany Marlowe.”
“How do you do, dear?” the elderly lady replied, appearing somewhat flustered as the dogs abruptly settled at her sides.
“Tiffany, may I present my aunt, Rosemary Spencer, Viscountess Ainsley.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lady Ainsley,” she responded with a warm, genial smile.
“Rose is my late grandfather’s younger sister, my mother’s aunt” Alex clarified.
“Oh, I see.”
“I shall be seventy-two, next month,” Lady Ainsley stated proudly. “Four brothers and three sisters and I have outlived them all.” She smiled amiably, her tone simply matter of fact as she relayed that random bit of information.
As, congratulations didn’t seem altogether appropriate considering the latter part of her statement, Tiffany said instead, “How remarkable. And seventy-two you say? Why I wouldn’t have guessed you a day over fifty.”
Lady Ainsley nodded, beaming from ear to ear. Then, promptly returning her attention to Romeo and Juliet, she began crooning to the pugs in a high-pitched, babyish voice.
As the carriage pulled into the street, Alex chuckled softly under his breath.
When they entered Hyde Park, a short while later, Alex could see that there were numerous other carriages moving in both directions along the graveled roadway. There were dozens of riders traveling upon horseback as well. With the Great Exhibition taking place, the park was far more crowded than usual. Since its opening in May, it was reported that over four million people had already visited the international exhibition of culture and industry. “Keep to the east side of the park,” he instructed the driver.
“The east side?” Tiffany eyed him questioningly.
“With all of those attending the exhibition, that portion of the park will be far less crowded,” he explained.
“Oh yes, I’d forgotten that the exhibition is still underway. Have you been?” Tiffany asked.
Alex nodded. “Yes, several times in fact.”
“And you?”
Tiffany shook her head. “No, my father’s been of course, but I…haven’t had the opportunity,” she said. It was a rather embarrassing admission, for nearly everyone she knew had attended the notable event at some point during the past months.
Alex detected the slight hesitation in her answer and quickly deduced the reason for it, mentally cursing William Marlowe once again. “Well then,” he began,” we shall have to see about rectifying that, won’t we.”
“Oh no, that isn’t necessary,” Tiffany said quickly, not wanting him to think that she’d been fishing for an invitation.
“Nonsense, dear, you must go,” Lady Ainsley said emphatically. “The Crystal Palace is extraordinary. Alex, you simply must take her.”
“Don’t worry, Aunt Rose, I shall,” he assured her. “Perhaps sometime next week?” he suggested, turning to Tiffany.
“Alright then,” she agreed. “I would like that, thank you.”
As their carriage moved toward the east end of the park, Alex’s attention was drawn time and again to the occupants of vehicles passing in the opposite direction. Much to his chagrin, he was a well-known member of Society and easily recognized. Stopping briefly to converse with those who hailed him, he graciously introduced Tiffany to several of his acquaintances, many of whom displayed obvious surprise upon seeing him out and about with the Marquess of Melborne’s daughter. At the rate they were going, he mused, speculation about their relationship would be making the rounds within the hour.
It wasn’t until they’d gone a considerable distance that the traffic finally thinned and they were able to move more than a quarter of a mile without stopping. Not surprisingly, it didn’t take long after that for his aunt’s eyes to begin to droop. With the constant rolling of the carriage wheels and the gentle swaying of the vehicle, her head lolled and fell forward shortly thereafter. Taking their cue from their mistress, Romeo and Juliet promptly followed suit and soon all three were snoring softly.
“I believe we’ve worn them out,” Tiffany said softly, eyeing the sleeping trio.
“It would seem so,” he agreed, smiling benevolently. “Fortunately, my mother and sisters should be returning in the not too distant future, and when they do she will no longer be required to act as our chaperone.”
That was too bad really, Tiffany thought, for she had taken an instant liking to the elderly viscountess. “What are they like, your mother and sisters?”
“You’ve no need to worry. They are relatively harmless, I assure you,” Alex teased, detecting the subtle note of anxiousness in her voice, “and I guarantee that all three will be absolutely delighted to meet you.
“Do you really think so?” she asked, not bothering to deny his spot-on assumption.
His expression was reassuring. “They will adore you, Tiffany, just as I do.”
Although he spoke in an offhand manner, the last part of his statement caused Tiffany’s heart to flutter nonetheless. And now, with only a few inches between her and Alex and the viscountess fast asleep, she was becoming increasingly aware of the meager distance that separated them as they journeyed through the tree-lined park. Knowing that she had only to reach out her hand to touch him was beginning to play havoc with her senses and memories of his drugging kisses soon flooded her thoughts.
Not surprisingly, Alex too, grew more and more aware of his and Tiffany’s physical proximity with each passing minute. Casting a sidelong glance in Tiffany’s direction, his eyes fastened upon the slender column of her throat. Recalling how his lips had traced along that delicate skin, he felt the unmistakable stirring of arousal.
Sensing his eyes upon her, Tiffany slowly turned to face him.
Lifting his gaze, Alex focused it upon the brilliant blue of her eyes, and what he saw there caused an immediate stirring in his loins.
Tiffany felt the heat rise to her cheeks, fearing that her scandalous thoughts were most likely reflected in her eyes.
They sat that way for what seemed a timeless moment, neither of them able to look away until Alex ultimately broke the silence. “Lady Tiffany, whatever are you thinking that has brought such a lovely blush to
your cheeks?” he asked in a roguish whisper.
Tiffany dropped her gaze, ducking her head in embarrassment. If not her eyes, the irksome reddening of her cheeks had surely given her away.
Reaching out, Alex placed a finger under her chin, tipping her head up. “Tell me,” he encouraged softly. Suddenly he wanted, no needed, to hear her say it.
There was a husky timber to Alex’s tone and the smoldering look that had entered his eyes sent a delicious chill racing down her spine. “I was thinking about the last time you kissed me,” she murmured truthfully, her voice barely more than a whisper. “And I was wishing…” she trailed off, suddenly self-conscious.
Moving his finger from beneath her chin, Alex ran his thumb slowly along the line of her jaw. “What were you wishing?”
His silver gaze was nearly hypnotizing in its intensity. “I was wishing… that we were alone.”
Alex nearly groaned aloud. At that moment he would have gladly applied for a special license and hastened Tiffany to the altar, for waiting to make love to her until their wedding night was going to be torture. “No more so than I,” he uttered in a ragged whisper.
Like before, Tiffany’s awareness of her surroundings seemed to fade away as she fell completely under Alex’s captivating spell. It was only the sudden lurch of the carriage as it hit a dip in the road that managed to shake her from her blissful daze.
Across the aisle, Rosemary’s chin bounced heavily against her chest, rousing her from her slumber.
Alex dropped his hand at once, sitting back against the seat.
Tiffany immediately followed suit.
Mercifully, Romeo and Juliette were undisturbed by the jostling of the carriage and the two dogs continued their peaceful snoring.
“Filbert, the door,” the viscountess called out, lifting her head and blinking her eyes open.
“Aunt Rose,” Alex said softly, drawing her attention as she attempted to focus.
“Oh, good heavens,” she said, taking note of her surroundings. “I must have dozed off.”
“Only for a moment,” Alex assured her with a kind smile.
You, and Only You Page 14
