An Affair Downstairs

by Sherri Browning

  “Alice, please.” He reached for her again, his large, warm hand closing on her shoulder. “Look at me. There’s nothing to forgive. You were unwell. He was there, ready to take advantage. How will he take the news?”

  “He has to understand that I have no intention of marrying him. He can’t hold me to a promise I made while impaired, as you’ve said.” With a sigh, she directed her gaze up at his and nearly melted on the spot. His eyes were filled with love and concern, all for her. She had to force herself to breathe. Merely looking at him had such a powerful effect on her that her knees began to quiver.

  Without another word, he pulled her into his powerful embrace and kissed her again—deeply, passionately, with every ounce of his soul. It was more than just a kiss. It was a promise between them, the promise of a love that would never falter or fade away.

  “I can accept that you might never want to marry me, or marry at all,” he said, his voice raspy and low. “But I could never stand back and let another man hurt the woman I love. Never again. Do you need me to come with you to give him the news?”

  “I think it best I tell him myself. He will be hurt, but the sooner I tell him, the better. Doubtless, Sophia has discovered me gone and is racked with concern as well. I should make arrangements to return to Thornbrook Park.”

  “But how will I bear to let you go?” He stroked a tendril of hair from her forehead.

  “I guess you’ll have to come back and visit as soon as you can manage it.”

  “As soon as I can manage,” he agreed, taking her hand as they walked together back to Stratton Place.

  ***

  He realized his time with her had come to an end as soon as they entered the house and he could vaguely discern the sound of Ellen’s voice mixing with another distinctly feminine tone. Sophia. His gaze darted to Alice’s.

  “Oh dear,” she said, apparently realizing it at the same time he did. “I underestimated the speed at which she would find me. Too soon, but it will save me the trouble of making arrangements.”

  “She was worried about you. I’m glad you have her to look after you.”

  “That she does. She looks after me very well.” She gripped his hand and let go only briefly as Barnett came to take gloves and coats, and then, bare handed, she laced fingers with his again. “I suppose it’s time.”

  Would she confront her sister? Be coolly polite? Tell her right away that she meant to break her engagement? She did mean to break her engagement? They hadn’t exactly had a chance to settle things. He would just have to stand back and give her a chance to deal with her sister as she saw fit.

  “Ellen, I see you’ve met Lady Averford. Lady Averford, welcome to Stratton Place.” Logan got the greeting out of the way and looked to Alice.

  “There you are, at last. I was worried we would have to send a footman out after you.” Sophia stood at once, her eyes drawn to their clasped hands. “We’ve all been worried about you. I was just telling Lady Emsbury how you’ve been unwell. She had no idea. I’m astonished.”

  “I’ve been perfectly well.” Alice said, not letting go of Logan’s hand. “Completely back to my senses at last. I had some things to discuss with Logan, so I found my way to Stratton Place.”

  “Well, you could have told me where you were headed. I had no idea you even planned to leave. Thank goodness for Aunt Agatha, or I might have been scouring London for you fearing the worst.”

  “Agatha told you?” Alice’s eyes widened in apparent shock. She’d trusted Agatha.

  “I had to coax it out of her, but yes. She gave in once she realized I would probably come calling here, anyway, once I realized…Well, we can discuss it on the way home, Pumpkin.”

  “Once you realized I’d found Winthrop’s letter? And please, don’t call me Pumpkin.” Alice waved a finger at her sister with her free hand. “Not ever again. I’m not a child, Sophia.”

  “Of course not.” Sophia flashed a sympathetic pout. “Adult enough to make your own decisions, in fact. I’m sorry. But you were sick only so recently that you can’t blame me for my concern.”

  “I don’t blame you entirely.” Alice softened her tone. “I know you were concerned. You can see that I’m safe. I’m a welcome guest here. They’ve treated me like family.” She smiled warmly at Ellen. “Possibly better.”

  “Your fiancé is worried as well,” Sophia said, with a pointed glance at Logan. “Lord Ralston wanted to come with me, but he dared not risk it as you have yet to announce your intentions. We’re planning a party to celebrate. You’re all invited, of course. It will be a grand affair…”

  “There will be no grand affair. I don’t mean to marry Lord Ralston. But as you say, we can discuss it on the way home. I’ll gather my things.”

  She hadn’t arrived with many things, so it was a matter of moments before Logan rang for Barnett to bring Alice’s coat and, with Ellen, he walked the sisters to the door.

  Alice turned to him, tears shimmering in her eyes. “Thank you, Logan. For everything.”

  He wanted nothing more than to kiss away the sadness in her eyes, but he knew it would take a lot more than just a kiss to improve her situation. She had to let Lord Ralston down gently, or forcibly. Logan suspected it would take more than a gentle refusal.

  “Please, Alice. Do keep in touch. Lady Averford, thank you for coming.”

  “You’re welcome, Mr. Winthrop. You have a lovely place here with your family. I’m glad to see you back where you belong.” With that, she hustled Alice out the door to the waiting car without even allowing Alice a glance back until she was seated. Logan’s last glimpse of Alice was one of her sweet face, drawn with worry, as she waved out the rear window of the car.

  ***

  “I’m so sorry, Sophia,” Alice said, as soon as they were out of sight of Logan and the house. What if it was the last she ever saw him? She worried for a moment before pushing such concerns from her mind. “I know you must have been fearful about what had become of me.”

  “Fearful is an understatement. In your condition? I’m so glad I found you.” Sophia reached for her sister’s hand. “Lord Ralston was out of his mind, too.”

  Good, Alice thought. He should know what it feels like. “I simply didn’t believe that I could trust you to let me go once I found the letter in your writing desk. Why did you hide it from me?”

  “Why would I have allowed you to read it, in your condition? You weren’t equal to it. I was waiting for the right time, when you were well again.”

  Alice wasn’t ready to forgive so easily. “I’m well again. I finally regained my mind, no thanks to your coddling.”

  “My coddling? Nursing you back to health was a twenty-four-hour-a-day mission. A mission of love, because you’re my sister and I love you, which you seem to forget.”

  “I seem to forget? I wonder why that is… Oh yes. Because my lovely fiancé was drugging me.”

  “What? Ralston drugging you? That’s ridiculous. I was with you all the time. If he was drugging you, I would know about it. You can’t think I would let a man hurt you. Where do you come up with these ideas? Did Winthrop suggest such a thing?”

  “Winthrop did not. I came to the conclusion on my own.” Alice tapped her chin as if to think. “I seem to recall your back turned in many instances when he could have slipped something into my tea. Or perhaps you were in on it.”

  “In on it? Why would I drug you? I thought I would lose my patience having to take such care with you all of the time. I wanted you to be better, not worse.”

  “All I know is that I woke up in good condition, not great condition, mind you, but I was in possession of my mental faculties. And then gradually they began to slip away. I don’t think it’s supposed to be like that, Sophia.”

  “Dr. Pederson said it would be a gradual recovery.”

  “But I had recovered. And only after that did I begin to slip into the fog and get worse. Something is very wrong there, Sophia. And I think it has to do with Lord Ralston. Don’t you thi
nk it a little odd that he refuses to leave my side, except for sleep and the obvious reasons?”

  Sophia tipped her head, considering. “He cares about you. He’s very much in love.”

  “If he’s so in love with me, why is he always looking at you?”

  “At me? I’m married. He knows I’m married. His only interest in me is a sisterly one. He looks to me for advice on how best to look after you.”

  “Hmm.” Alice had no words.

  “What purpose would it serve for him to drug you? He doesn’t need to marry for a title or for money. There are a number of eligible young heiresses interested in him. Younger than you, so long on the shelf.”

  “Sophia.” Alice shook her head. “And you call me incorrigible.”

  “It’s true. You’re not getting any younger. And you finally have a wonderful man overcome with love for you…”

  “And you made me leave him behind…” She looked over her shoulder again, though Stratton Place had been long out of sight.

  “I don’t mean Mr. Winthrop. For Jove’s sake, Alice, you’re engaged.”

  “Engagements can be broken.” She flashed a challenge in her grin. “I don’t love Ralston, Sophia. I don’t know what I want, but I need some time on my own to figure things out.”

  “You have some time. You’ll be home for Christmas and then we’ll have our big party after the New Year, and we’ll tell everyone. I can’t wait to see Matilda Furbish’s face. She thought she bagged the catch of the season.”

  “Bagged? We’re not hunters. And she can have him. I’m telling you, Sophia, there’s something off about Ralston. You’re blind to his faults. It makes me wonder.”

  “Wonder? About what?” Sophia arched a brow, suspicious.

  “Gabriel hasn’t been around much lately. Is everything going well between you?”

  “Gabriel and I are perfectly well. We’ve been busy. He has been occupied with getting Winthrop’s replacement settled, and I’ve been looking after you. We’ll have more time to ourselves after Christmas. Sooner, perhaps, now that you’re better.” Sophia patted Alice’s leg, softening. “I was honestly worried about you when you went to nap and then were not there. You can only imagine what I went through, Alice. You’re my sister. I love you. I only want you to be happy. There was no need for running away.”

  “And if I’d asked you about the letter, you would have told me?”

  “Reluctantly, once I realized you were well enough to be reasonable. But yes, I would have told you. I didn’t burn it or toss it away. Honestly, I was saving it until I deemed you well enough to hear from Mr. Winthrop.”

  “I was always well enough to hear from a…friend. A good friend like Logan. There was no need to hide correspondence. And if you truly want me to be happy, you will help me be free of this engagement.”

  “Alice, no.” Sophia turned to her. “Please, give him a chance. He’ll be a good husband to you. You’ll be a countess, like me.”

  “I don’t care to be countess. And I’ve given him a chance. I don’t love him, Sophia. I’m not even sure that I like him. I know Mother has taxed you with the gargantuan task of finding me a husband, and you’ve made an admirable effort, but perhaps it’s just not in me to be a wife.”

  Sophia shook her head. “Like Agatha with her lovers. She really has been a bad influence on you. What kind of life is that?”

  “Agatha seems perfectly happy.”

  “And at our mercy. Without our providing a home for her, where would she go?”

  “Grandmother left us money. Perhaps she left Agatha a share, too. Agatha couldn’t bear to live all alone, though. She thrives on interaction. She needs people to spook.”

  “I suppose.” Sophia seemed unconvinced.

  “And you seem to forget that I do have money.”

  “Not yet.”

  “In three more years. I can lead an independent life if I choose. I have no need for this husband you seem to want to push on me. None at all.”

  “You don’t even mean to marry Winthrop?” Sophia asked, incredulous.

  “He would have me if I wanted him. I’m fairly certain of that. But I’m not sure what I want. I meant what I said. I need some time to think.”

  “You’ll have your time,” Sophia said with a sigh. “I got you into this mess, so I will help get you out of it.”

  “The engagement? You’ll help me speak to Lord Ralston?” Alice took back every horrible thought she’d had about her sister in the past hour. Except for one in which she wished for an enormous pimple to appear on Sophia’s chin. It really wasn’t fair for a woman to be so beautiful, with an enviable figure, lustrous black hair, and perfect ivory skin. It wouldn’t hurt Sophia to have to deal with the occasional imperfection, just like everybody else.

  “I will help you. The poor man. It’s going to break his heart. I don’t know why, but he really seems head over heels for you, Alice.”

  Alice started rattling off her attributes. “My eye-catching red hair. My scintillating conversational skills. My adorable sense of humor. My natural grace. What else…”

  “Humility.” Sophia shook her head. “Your strong sense of humility, to be certain.”

  “Yes.” Alice nodded along. “Poor Lord Ralston, indeed.”

  Nineteen

  “Stop pacing and go after her,” John said. “You know you want to go.”

  Logan gnawed his lip. “It’s not that easy. She’s engaged.”

  “Engaged?” John sounded incredulous. He hadn’t been in the room when Sophia pointedly mentioned Alice’s fiancé. “How could it be? It’s obvious that she loves you. The two of you belong together.”

  Ellen didn’t say a word, but she nodded her agreement.

  “I tend to agree.” Logan sighed. “But the fact is that she accepted Lord Ralston when he asked her. Of course, she was under the influence of a head injury at the time.”

  “She can’t be held accountable,” John said matter-of-factly. “It’s unconscionable that he would even ask her at such a time.”

  “I thought so, too. A wonder her sister didn’t stop him. Unless…she wanted Alice to say yes, too, and she knew it was her only chance. I can’t blame her entirely. Sophia has wanted Alice to marry and stay close to Thornbrook Park for quite some time, and marrying her sister to an earl would be ideal.”

  “An earl, bah. To marry for love would be ideal,” Ellen said. “Without love, what is there?”

  “We can’t expect everyone to see the world as we do, my love,” John told his wife. “Though I quite agree.”

  “I’m not sure Sophia married her husband for love. They’ve had some trying times. But I know Lord Averford loves his wife beyond measure, and I know that love is strong enough for the both of them. But it is possible that Sophia doesn’t understand the power of love, the necessity for it, any more than she truly understands her sister. She would never do anything to hurt Alice, not on purpose.”

  “But would she have encouraged the Earl of Ralston to propose at a time when she suspected her sister was more or less powerless to object to him?” Ellen wondered.

  “I won’t let her marry him out of duty or obligation. If she loves me, she should be with me.”

  “Hear, hear!” John raised a fist. “So get on your white horse and charge! Or have Evans drive you.”

  “Perhaps I’ll pay a social call on Lord Averford’s brother and his wife. Eve Thorne was quick to warn me off when she thought I had an interest in Alice, but I think she would be equally quick to help me once she realizes that Alice really loves me in a way she could never love Lord Ralston. Yes, I’ll visit the Thornes. One can never have too many allies in such a situation. If all goes well, Alice will have broken her engagement before my return to Thornbrook Park.”

  “And if not?” John looked concerned.

  “I’ll just have to convince her to make haste. I’m the only one for her.”

  ***

  When they arrived home, Gabriel informed them that Lord Ralston h
ad left.

  “He said that there was no sense in him pacing the floor with worry when he could be at Holcomb House placating his aunt. Lady Holcomb keeps asking after him. Now she has him back. But he means to return to celebrate Christmas with us.”

  “So much for his broken heart. Clearly, he wasn’t all that concerned with my welfare after all.” Alice turned to her sister, hands on her hips.

  “Nonsense. The poor man probably needed a distraction to keep him sane until he could hear what became of you. It’s good that he’s catching up with his aunt. He will be back for Christmas, after all. We’ll have to send word that you’re back where you belong and feeling better.”

  “Must we? Perhaps we could simply tell him I died.”

  “Alice!” Sophia gasped. “What a terrible thing to say. We were all so worried about you.”

  “I’m sorry for causing a panic.”

  Lord Averford shrugged. “Aunt Agatha said that you were safe and well. I wasn’t worried at all. If anyone would know, she would.”

  Sophia narrowed her eyes at her husband. “I thought you doubted Agatha’s abilities.”

  “The woman is uncanny sometimes. But mostly, I believed that Alice wouldn’t run off without giving Agatha word of her intentions.” He kissed Sophia on the cheek. “Now that you’re all safely home, I’ve got to ride with Kenner out to the McGinty place. We’re meeting a prospective new tenant.”

  “A new tenant? Logan’s plan worked? What I mean to say is, what you planned with Mr. Winthrop, to attract a new tenant to the old farm. That’s wonderful news.” Heat flooded her, rushing to her cheeks and elsewhere, at the very thought of the McGinty house.

  “It seems that it has. Mr. Higgins is a promising candidate. He had a farm over in Teckford but the estate was broken up and the land sold. He’s looking for a new situation, and we’re happy to welcome him.”