You, and Only You

by Jennifer McNare

  She was also in love with him. He’d suspected as much at Sethe, but now he was certain of it, and that knowledge made protecting her all the more important. He hated the damnable charade he was playing, but he knew that it was necessary. If she discovered what her father had done, that he’d wagered upon her future so callously, it would surely cause her a tremendous amount of pain. And of course, to learn of his part in it, would only make it that much worse. Though he wasn’t ready to classify his own feelings as love, he cared about her far too much to ever let that happen.

  Hearing the unmistakable approach of footsteps on the marble floor outside the closed door of his study, Alex’s thoughts were suddenly interrupted. Turning his gaze to the raised wooden panel, he watched as the door swung open.

  “Alexander Thomas Warrene, this had better not be a jest!” Still garbed in her coat and hat, Cecelia Warrene abruptly burst through the door without so much as bothering to knock, waving a wrinkled sheet of paper in the air.

  “Mother, you’re home,” he said, stating the obvious as he rose to his feet. She must have scheduled their return from France the moment she received his letter.

  “Alex, is it true?” Lizzie and Amelia chorused excitedly as they entered the room close on their mother’s heels. “Are you really going to be married?”

  “And hello to you too,” he replied with a teasing smile.

  “Alexander!” the countess exclaimed, her voice raising an octave, demanding his attention. Thrusting the paper forward, she eyed him impatiently.

  “I see you received my letter,” he said, walking leisurely around the side of his desk to stand before his mother and sisters.

  “Is it true then?” His mother’s eyes were wide. “You intend to marry the Marquess of Melborne’s daughter?”

  “Yes mother, it’s true,” he said, his tone purposefully nonchalant. “Your wish has finally been granted.”

  “Oh, how wonderful,” Lizzie cried, clapping her hands excitedly. “Are the two of you in love?”

  “Oh yes, is it to be a love match, Alex?” Amelia queried expectantly, her eyes wide.

  He hesitated for a moment, uncertain how best to answer. His gaze bouncing back and forth between his sisters, he finally turned to his mother for assistance.

  “Hush girls,” Cecelia ordered, accurately reading her son’s expression. “Do not be impertinent.”

  “But mama,” Lizzie began, while Amelia merely quirked her brow, regarding Alex curiously.

  “That’s enough girls, off you go for now,” Cecelia directed, shooing them toward the door. “I wish to speak with your brother in private for a moment.”

  Frowning in consternation, the girls grudgingly left the room.

  Alex watched them go, but knowing his sisters he doubted they’d go far. In all likelihood, they would soon be taking turns listening at the keyhole.

  Once the door was firmly shut, Cecelia immediately turned back around to Alex. “So, are you in love?” she asked in a hushed voice.

  Considering his prior reluctance to marry, the question wasn’t altogether surprising. “Have a seat mother,” he said, motioning to the dark leather sofa. “Shall I summon Hastings to take your hat and coat?”

  “That won’t be necessary,” she replied, shrugging out of her coat and laying it across the arm of the sofa. Sitting down, she removed her hat and placed it atop her coat, and then pinned him with her steady gaze. “Are you avoiding the question?”

  “I could use a drink. Shall I pour you a sherry, Mother?”

  “No thank you,” she replied, her tone growing impatient.

  Pulling the stopper from the decanter, he poured himself a brandy and then turned back to face his mother, raising the glass to his lips.

  “Considering your disinclination to answer my question, I can only assume that it is not a love match,” Cecelia said, narrowing her eyes suspiciously. “Shall I expect to welcome my first grandchild within the upcoming months then?”

  In the midst of swallowing, the unabashed question caught him completely off guard. As a result, he choked and spluttered, which quickly progressed into a full on coughing fit.

  Rising anxiously from her seat, his mother hurried over and began thumping him soundly upon the back. “Good heavens, dear. Are you quite alright?”

  Seconds later, once he’d gotten himself under control, he regarded his mother in utter disbelief.

  “There is no need to appear so shocked, Alexander,” she stated unflappably. “Do you think that I am unaware of your reputation?”

  “For God’s sake, mother!”

  “It’s a reasonable question,” she insisted. “And one you have yet to answer, I might add.”

  He ran his fingers through his hair in agitation. “No, you will not be becoming a grandmother within the next nine months,” he assured her. Although, he reminded himself guiltily, if things had progressed much further at the cottage, his mother’s assumption might not have been entirely off the mark.

  “Well then, if not love or necessity, what is it that has prompted this sudden change of heart?” she asked pointedly, resuming her seat.

  “Is it so difficult to believe that I have simply reassessed my outlook on the matter?”

  The countess emitted an unladylike snort, eyeing him dubiously.

  “Bearing in mind that you have been beleaguering me for years to marry and start a family, I thought that you would be delighted with my decision. Was I mistaken in my assumption?” he asked, meeting his mother’s gaze with a look of feigned incredulity.

  “You are not mistaken, and of course I am delighted by your decision,” she replied in a more agreeable tone. “I’m merely surprised, that is all.”

  “Yes, well, I suppose that is to be expected,” he acknowledged. “Although, you may be even more surprised to learn that Aunt Rose has been put into service as our chaperone these past weeks,” he said, smiling good-humoredly.

  “You’re joking?”

  Alex chuckled. He’d known that particular bit of information would easily serve to redirect his mother’s thoughts. “As Tiffany has no female family members residing in London, I was forced to make do.”

  “Good heavens! Much as I adore her, your Aunt Rose is an absolute featherbrain,” Cecelia said, looking aghast. “The poor girl must surely think us a family of clodpolls by now.”

  “Hardly,” Alex said with a laugh. “As a matter of fact, Tiffany seems quite fond of her. I believe she’s taken a similar liking to Romeo and Juliet as well,” he added devilishly. As he’d anticipated, his mother looked even more horrified.

  “Oh my,” she said, shaking her head in obvious dismay as she once again rose to her feet. “Clearly, I must remedy the situation at once.”

  As she turned to leave, Alex was fairly certain that he detected the telltale patter of footsteps hastening away from the door.

  “Excuse me, my lady.”

  Having just left the breakfast room, Tiffany turned to see Penrose approaching.

  “Yes?” she queried.

  “This arrived for you while you were at breakfast,” he said, holding out a cream-colored envelope.

  “Thank you,” she said, taking it from his hand.

  With a slight bow of his head, he left, returning to his duties.

  Walking into the morning room, Tiffany slid her finger beneath the envelope’s wax seal. Pulling out the single sheet of paper, she quickly scanned the page. It was an invitation to tea from Alex’s mother, the Dowager Countess of Chesterfield. Apparently she and Alex’s two sisters had returned from their trip abroad and the countess was now eager to make her acquaintance. Oh dear, she thought, feeling a touch of anxiety. However, as she had no plans for the day, she moved to the small writing desk that sat in the corner and immediately penned a note of acceptance, for postponing the inevitable would surely only increase her nervousness.

  Chapter 13

  Arriving at the Chesterfield residence later that afternoon, Tiffany felt as if a dozen butterflies
had suddenly taken flight in her stomach. In spite of Alex’s assurance that his mother would welcome her with open arms, she felt apprehensive nonetheless. Exiting the carriage, she took several deep, calming breaths. Then, after instructing the driver to return for her in just over an hour, she made her way slowly to the front steps.

  “Hello,” she said as the front door swung open a mere second after her soft knock. “My name is Lady Tiffany Marlowe. I believe the countess is expecting me,” she continued, handing him her card.

  “Of course, my lady, welcome to Chesterfield House,” the butler responded, stepping aside so that she could enter the foyer, then closing the door behind her. “If you will follow me to the Emerald Parlor.”

  Walking down a short hallway, they stopped before a closed set of double doors.

  “Come in,” a female voice called, responding to the butler’s light knock.

  Opening the doors, he announced Tiffany’s presence in a refined voice. “Lady Tiffany Marlowe to see you, Madame.” Stepping back, he motioned for Tiffany to enter the room.

  As Tiffany walked into the room, she could well understand how it got its name, for emerald green was the primary color in the elegantly decorated space.

  “Lady Tiffany, thank you so much for coming.”

  The woman who rose to greet her was a vision in burgundy silk, and as she approached Tiffany could clearly see from whom Alex had gotten his striking good-looks. The countess possessed the same silver-hued eyes and chestnut-colored hair as her son, and her welcoming smile reminded her of Alex’s. However, aside from a few tiny wrinkles around her eyes and mouth, she hardly seemed old enough to be his mother. “Thank you for inviting me, Lady Chesterfield,” she replied politely.

  “It’s so lovely to meet you,” the countess proclaimed. Reaching out, she took hold of Tiffany’s hand and pulled her further into the room. “Come and sit so that we may become better acquainted,” she said, leading her toward a delicate-looking settee covered in green and gold striped jacquard silk. Sitting down, the countess motioned for Tiffany to take the seat next to her.

  Lowering herself onto the sofa cushion, Tiffany felt her anxiety gradually begin to lessen. The countess wasn’t nearly as imposing as she had feared, and in fact, appeared to be quite warm and friendly.

  “Would you care for some tea, dear?”

  “Yes, please,” Tiffany nodded, turning her attention to the lavish tea service set out upon the low table before them. As the countess filled two cups from the matching floral-patterned china teapot, Tiffany glanced briefly around the room. It was beautifully decorated in contrasting shades of green and gold and the magnificent artwork and opulent furnishings displayed within were a tasteful mixture of various European styles.

  “Here you are,” the countess said.

  Taking the delicate teacup, Tiffany smiled graciously. “Thank you, my lady.”

  “Please, call me Cecelia,” the countess said amiably, as she lifted her own cup from the tray.

  “Alright, Cecelia. And please, call me Tiffany.”

  Over the course of the next hour, the countess went out of her way to put Tiffany at ease as they chatted pleasantly about a wide and varying range of topics. And though they touched briefly upon Alex, Cecelia didn’t press her for the details surrounding their relationship. All in all, it was an enjoyable conversation. And before long, Tiffany’s nervousness was all but forgotten as she and Alex’s mother eagerly got to know one another.

  Hearing a light knock upon the door, Tiffany and the countess both turned just as it swung open. It was Alex.

  Entering the room, Alex smiled at the two women. “Forgive me for intruding, but as Hastings just informed me that the two of you have been closeted away in here for nearly an hour, I thought I had best check to see if Tiffany needed rescuing,” he teased.

  “Rescuing? From me?” the countess retorted in mock affront. “Honestly Alexander, you will have the poor girl thinking that I’m some sort of tyrant.”

  Alex’s grin merely widened.

  “I’m hardly in need of rescuing, my lord,” Tiffany said with a tiny laugh. “In fact, your mother and I have been having a lovely conversation.”

  “There, you see,” Cecelia added, with an I told you so look. “You needn’t have worried, for clearly I haven’t frightened the dear girl away as you so obviously feared.”

  “I suppose that will be left to Amelia and Lizzie then,” he said in a jesting tone.

  The countess shook her head. “Do not listen to him, dear,” she said, turning to Tiffany. “Elizabeth and Amelia are delightful girls.”

  “They’re a couple of hoydens,” Alex refuted good-humoredly as he walked over to the silver tray that held a variety of scrumptious looking tidbits. “But even so, they’re relatively harmless.” Lifting one of the sweets from the tray, he smiled broadly and then popped it into his mouth.

  Observing the playful banter between mother and son, Tiffany couldn’t help but smile herself. It was obvious that the Chesterfields were a warm and loving family, so unlike her own, and it was truly wonderful to see. Even more so, knowing that one day she might very well be a part of it.

  “Do mind your manners, Alexander,” his mother gently scolded as he lifted another morsel from the tray and promptly bit into the sugary sweetness. “Sit down and I shall pour you a cup of tea.”

  Unrepentant, Alex swallowed the bite size confectionary and then licked the few lingering crystals of sugar from his lips. “Actually, mother,” he began, “if you don’t mind me depriving you of her company, I was just thinking to invite Tiffany to take a turn about the rear garden.”

  “Oh, what a wonderful idea,” the countess said agreeably. “The late-blooming flowers are so lovely this time of year.”

  “Would you care to join me for a walk?” Alex asked, turning to Tiffany.

  “I would love to,” she replied eagerly. As she stood, Alex moved to her side and extended his elbow. Taking his arm, she smiled at the countess and then allowed him to lead her from the room.

  “It appeared that you and my mother were getting on quite well,” Alex commented as they made their way along a wide hallway, moving toward the rear of the house.

  Tiffany nodded. “Yes, we were.”

  “I told you that she would adore you,” he reminded her.

  Tiffany merely smiled in response. Just as I do, she added in her head, recalling those wonderful words he’d spoken days earlier.

  As they continued down the hallway and then made their way out to the garden, Alex was in remarkably good spirits. Although he’d known that his mother would like Tiffany, it was still gratifying to hear that they had gotten on so well together during their first encounter. And despite his teasing, he had little doubt that Tiffany would get along famously with his sisters as well. “After you,” he said, opening the door for her as they reached the end of the hall.

  Stepping out into the late afternoon sun, Tiffany was instantly rewarded with the sight of one of the loveliest flower gardens she’d ever seen. There were blossoms everywhere in nearly every color imaginable. “Oh, how beautiful!”

  “These are mother’s pride and joy,” Alex told her.

  “I can understand why,” she said appreciatively, as her gaze skipped eagerly from one grouping to the next.

  “My grandfather had an avid interest in horticulture and he shared that interest with my mother,” Alex explained. “She spent countless hours with him as a child, designing and cultivating the gardens at her childhood home, and she’s continued the tradition here, as well as at Chesterfield.”

  “Well, she’s certainly done a marvelous job,” she said as they strolled along the narrow walk.

  “There’s a gazebo just up ahead,” Alex said a few minutes later, as they neared a bend in the path. “Just beyond those trees.”

  “Oh my, it’s lovely,” Tiffany exclaimed as they rounded the corner and the wooden structure came into view.

  “Would you like to go inside?”
<
br />   She nodded eagerly as he led her to the steps.

  “My father had it designed and built for my mother shortly after their marriage,” Alex said as he guided her inside.

  Glancing about the small room, Tiffany could see that a tremendous amount of time and effort had gone into the crafting of the gazebo. In addition to the structure itself, the interior was a superb display of detail and artistry. From the elegantly carved benches, upholstered cushions and beautifully embroidered pillows, to the intricate scrollwork and colorful friezes that adorned the walls and ceiling, the space was utterly enchanting. “What a wonderful gift,” she breathed, as she spun about in a slow circle, taking it all in.

  “Would you like to sit for a moment?” Alex asked, motioning to one of the benches.

  “Alright,” she agreed eagerly. Settling her skirts around her, she lowered herself onto the thick cushion. As Alex sat down next to her, Tiffany suddenly realized just how secluded the gazebo was. Surrounded by leafy trees and tall hedges, it was completely hidden from the house. Casting a sidelong glance at Alex, she felt her pulse quicken, for this was the first time they had been alone together in weeks. “It’s so quiet and peaceful,” she said softly.

  “My father said that he had the gazebo tucked away back here to give my mother her own private sanctuary from the city. However, I’ve always suspected that he had an ulterior motive,” he said with a mischievous grin.

  “An ulterior motive?”

  “A place where the two of them could be alone.”

  “Oh.” Tiffany grasped his meaning at once, and in turn, felt the heat rise to her cheeks.

  “And there it is,” Alex said with a light chuckle, eyeing her reddening cheeks, “another of those charming blushes that I’ve grown so fond of.”

  “My blushes? Why ever are you fond of those?” Tiffany asked, embarrassed and curious at the same time.

  “They remind me how delightfully innocent you are,” he said softly.