She watched as he straightened his coat, his movements nervous."Good. I'm glad to see that bit of unpleasantness is settled. I think I'll remain in Charleston for a while. The chances of finding someone for you might be better here than in New York, where your name is much more prominent"
Alexandra shook her head. Why waste her time fighting him when all she had to do was wait him out? Soon, she would no longer need his money. Let him plan all he wanted. He couldn't drag her to the altar.
"Good day, Father."
She swept from the room, anxious to be away from his cold presence. The reunion was over.
***
Connor tied Jackson, his chestnut horse, to the hitching post in front of the twostory LaRoux home. He'd been here many years ago and remembered the screenedin porch that ran around the back of the house, looking over a lovely view of the Ashley River. The home had a quiet elegance about it that hinted at grandeur on a smaller scale.
"I can't believe I let you talk me into accompanying you on this trip," William said, dismounting from his black Thoroughbred.
"You wanted to watch this lady make a fool of me, remember?"
William chuckled."I remember. I just hope she doesn't have her servant throw us both out on our rears."
"What, you doubt my charm?"
"That charm of yours has gotten us in trouble before."
"Sit back and watch a master."
Though he spoke with confidence, doubt lingered. How would he be received? Would Alexandra welcome him or send him packing? Last night she had lied about her dance card being full, but he hadn't been able to put her out of his mind. Somehow her deception had only increased his interest.
He smiled at the memory of their innuendoladen conversation. She had returned his insinuations with stiff rebuffs. Never once had she acknowledged that she knew their banter was about anything other than horses. Never once had the lady lowered her guard.
The woman was a tempting morsel, much too sweet to resist. A woman who didn't easily fall for the considerable Manning charm always piqued his interest. He'd had his fill of easy women and their false smiles. And he knew Alexandra would resist him every step of the way to his bed, right up to the moment she let her passion overwhelm her.
"Come on, William, quit dawdling," Connor demanded as he strolled down the path lined with pink azaleas and wisteria. Bees buzzed around honeysuckle climbing the latticework that framed the stairs. Its sweet fragrance filled the air.
"I can't remember the last time you were in such a hurry for a setdown. This woman must have your blood simmering."
"She's an irresistible challenge." Connor smiled at William, who raised his eyebrows with disdain.
Reaching the door, Connor brushed the dust from his suit before he knocked. A few minutes later, a manservant answered his summons.
"Connor Manning and William Cunningham to call on Mrs. Thurston and Mrs. LaRoux."
The man swung open the door. "I'll show you to the parlor and tell the ladies you're here."
"Thank you."
Handing the servant his hat, Connor followed the butler down a short hall to a room elegantly furnished with a rosewood piano, surrounded by a love seat and chairs. A picture of a beautiful woman hung over the fireplace and dominated the room.
The same emerald eyes that had intrigued him the previous night stared down at him. The woman's head was tilted back, a smile on her lips. She looked as though she'd just whispered a secret to her lover.
The rustle of silk announced the arrival of Mrs. LaRoux, followed by an obviously reluctant Alexandra. "Good afternoon, gentlemen," Mrs. LaRoux said. "What a pleasure to have you call upon us."
Connor kissed the back of her hand. "My pleasure, madam." He glanced at Alexandra and nodded his head in greeting. "Mrs. Thurston."
She bobbed her head in return. "Hello, Mr. Manning."
Connor smiled. "You ladies look even lovelier in the daylight."
Aunt Clara laughed. "Always the charmer, Mr. Manning. And who is your friend?"
"I'm sorry. This is William Cunningham."
William bowed slightly from the waist. "Nice to make your acquaintance, Mrs. LaRoux." His gaze shifted to the Thurston woman. "I don't think you remember me, Mrs. Thurston, but my sister is Bernadette Cunningham Smythe."
Connor watched as she smiled at William, the corners of her mouth turned up sweetly. "Yes, I know who you are, though it's been years since we've met. How is dear Bernadette?"
"She's fine."
Aunt Clara pointed to the love seat against the wall. "Please, be seated."
The two men sat down beside one another. Connor kept glancing up at the painting over the mantle, his eyes drawn to the lovely woman in the picture.
"That's my mother," Alexandra said when she caught him staring at the portrait.
Turning, he met her gaze. The afternoon sun touched her high cheekbones, turning her complexion rosy. He glanced back at the picture of her mother and raised a brow. "Now I know where you inherited your beauty. She's lovely."
"Thank you. What brings you to Summerwood, Mr. Manning?" Her voice was as distant and chilled as last winter's storms.
Mrs. LaRoux waved her hand in disdain. "Alexandra, where are your manners? I'm certainly glad you gentlemen stopped by to visit us. It's not often an old woman like myself gets a chance to be entertained by two young men."
Alexandra sat across from Connor in a wingedback chair, her hands demurely folded in her lap.
"I did come by for a reason," Connor said. "I brought this for you." He reached in his coat pocket and pulled out a small box of chocolates. "Since you gave me so many good tips on horses last night, I felt I owed you something in return."
She stared at him for a long moment as if she were contemplating telling him to keep the chocolates. Finally, she reached out and took the box. "Thank you."
Connor glanced into eyes the color of an emerald forest. "I had the feeling you weren't entirely pleased with me."
"Mr. Manning, I'm sure Alexandra thinks very highly of you,'' Aunt Clara replied, shooting her niece a warning glance.
He didn't dare look at William for fear of laughing. "It's quite all right, Mrs. LaRoux. Some of my gender make it difficult for those of us who genuinely appreciate women."
Alexandra raised a brow at him.
"You see, Mrs. Thurston, I'd be the envy of every man in Charleston if you were to walk down the street on my arm."
"I'm sure many ladies have walked down the streets of Charleston with you," she coolly replied.
Connor couldn't repress his smile. ''But none as lovely as you."
An overlarge graying man in a pinstripe suit entered the room. Alexandra stood. She glanced at the man, her manner becoming even more stiff and formal. "Gentlemen, let me introduce my father, James Halsted III."
The men stood as she made the introductions.
"Father, Mr. Connor Manning. He lives on a neighboring plantation and raises horses."
James Halsted gripped Connor's hand. "Nice to meet you, sir."
"And this gentleman is William Cunningham."
William grasped her father's hand. "Pleasure, sir."
The older man sized Connor up. "You raise horses, eh?"
"I own River Bend plantation."
The man glanced at Alexandra, then returned his attention to Connor. "Where did you meet my daughter?"
Connor smiled. "Mrs. LaRoux introduced us at the Rutherfords' ball last night. Your daughter's knowledge of horses intrigued me."
"Really? She's like her mother in that. Always has shown an inordinate interest in things best left to men."
Connor couldn't help but notice the sparks that ignited in Alexandra's eyes at her father's criticism. He watched as she took a deep breath. The bodice of her soft pink dress rose and fell as she slowly inhaled and released a sigh. Whoever had invented corsets that pushed a woman's breasts up and over their dress deserved a medal.
There was nothing more enjoyable than to watch the rise and fall of a woman'
s cleavage.
Alexandra cleared her throat in the uncomfortable silence, and Connor smiled, certain she'd known where his eyes had strayed.
He met her gaze. "There is another reason I came by today. A group of friends are going out to the Middletons' place. They have lovely gardens and I wondered if you'd like to join us for a picnic."
Alexandra stiffened, her eyes grew wide. "Thank you, Mr. Manning, but I'm afraid I cannot."
"Of course you will," her father declared. "You've nothing better to do."
She glared at her father, but Connor was quick to take advantage of the situation. "It's a week from today. We thought we would leave at ten o'clock in the morning."
"She'll be ready," her father replied.
Knowing Alexandra had never agreed, only her father, Connor couldn't help but feel it was time to make a quick retreat. "I'm honored you're going to attend." He stood. "Come, William. We'd best be going before we overstay our welcome."
"'Thank you for the pleasant company, ladies,'' William said as he tipped his hat in their direction.
"I'll walk you to the door," Alexandra said, her eyes clearly warning of retribution.
They walked in silence to the foyer and she went with Connor down the steps. When they were out of the others' earshot, she laid her hand on his arm, halting him.
"A moment alone with you, Mr. Manning."
"Goodbye, Mrs. Thurston." William hurried to his horse.
"Good day, Mr. Cunningham. Give your sister my regards."
Coward, Connor thought of his friend.
She turned and faced him, her brows drawn together in a frown. "Why are you pursuing me? I promise you, my objections are not personal. I have my reasons not to be interested in you or any other man."
Connor smiled, aching to reach down and taste her cherry lips. It would take time, but she would soon realize she had nothing to fear from him. "I need a partner for the picnic. You're the loveliest woman in town. I only take the prettiest, so I chose you."
She stared at him, her eyes dark with suspicion. "You could get any number of women to accompany you."
He walked toward his horse and mounted. Touching the brim of his hat with his fingers, he smiled. "True. But I want you."
Chapter Three
The early morning sunshine sparkled off Aunt Clara's hat pin as she nudged her horse down Sycamore Road. "Dear, you don't know how much I've missed our rides together."
Alexandra couldn't help but think that at sixty years of age, her aunt still presented a graceful picture on a horse.
"In England, I missed spending time with you and Uncle Sydney and riding in the South Carolina sunshine," Alexandra said. "You know how I love coming here."
Her aunt turned and gave her an appraising look. "Is that why you came here first, instead of going home to New York, to your father?"
Alexandra sighed. Somehow she had the feeling this little excursion away from the house was the perfect excuse for Aunt Clara to probe her about her plans. "I have no intention of returning to New York."
"Dear, he is your father. A woman needs the protection of either a father or husband."
"Why, Aunt Clara? Are we such simpleminded creatures that we're incapable of living by ourselves?"
The mare her aunt rode bobbed her head as if agreeing with Alexandra.
"Of course not, dear. In fact, most of the time we control the home. Men simply don't realize it."
The thought of living with her parent, seeing him every day, was enough to send Alexandra fleeing back to England.
"I hardly think I need protecting. My plans do not include much of a social life," Alexandra explained.
Aunt Clara pulled up on her reins until their horses were side by side. She gazed fondly upon Alexandra. "It's truly tragic what happened between you and Gordon, but that is in the past. It's time you moved on and gave love a second chance."
"What is wrong with a woman choosing a life without love and family? I have no need to play the traditional role of wife and mother."
Alexandra felt a small ache in the pit of her stomach. Wasn't that exactly what she'd wanted five years ago? While she'd never actually loved Gordon, she'd wanted their marriage to be successful. To have a family and a home, to be a welcomed member of society. The death of that dream had been excruciating, but now she didn't have room in her life for those aspirations. Gordon's perfidy had replaced them with new ones.
"Being in England for five years may have changed your appearance from a young girl to a woman," Aunt Clara said. "But I know inside, you're still the same person. You wanted to be a wife and mother."
"Sometimes life changes the role we're expected to play. It certainly has in my case." Alexandra directed her horse around a tree branch in the road, the animal's slow, lazy steps gently swaying her in the saddle. A wren's delicate song filled the air with a happy note.
"Yes, but most of the time it's just a short side trip before we get back on the main path," Aunt Clara said. "When the right man comes along, you'll forget these foolish notions of living alone. You'll want to have your husband's children."
Alexandra pulled back on the reins harder than she intended, and her horse neighed in protest. "I'm never going to remarry. I'm finished with marriage and men."
"Oh, pooh! I don't believe it for one moment. One bad man doesn't mean it's time to give up on love. Gordon didn't deserve you, but that does not mean there's no one for you."
Alexandra sighed and reached down to pat the sorrel mare. She loved Aunt Clara dearly, but some of her ideas were exactly like society's and her father's ideas. Marriage and babies. What else did life offer a woman?
But Alexandra knew once Hester's Revenge was published, she could possibly be the center of scandal once again if people realized that she was John Smith. Yet this time would be different. This time Gordon would suffer as well, and she could hardly wait to see his reaction.
Aunt Clara suddenly pulled her horse to a stop. "Oh, my goodness. Look."
Alexandra turned her attention toward the meadow to which her aunt pointed, and gazed in amazement. Two riders, a male and female, were racing across the countryside, jumping fences, galloping toward them at full speed.
For a moment, she simply stared. The gracefulness of man and animal were an awesome sight. She truly loved horses, their strong powerful legs pounding against the earth while the man perched precariously atop the animal's back. The woman racing toward them rode almost as well as she pushed her horse onward.
"Who are they, Aunt Clara?"
She laughed. "Who else? My neighbors."
A nervous tremor crawled up her spine. Connor? She squirmed uncomfortably in the saddle. "Let's go, Aunt Clara, before they reach us."
Alexandra had no desire to meet Connor Manning's latest conquest. She had no wish to see what kind of woman would ride with such unrestrained passion, with a scoundrel like her aunt's neighbor.
"No, dear, they're racing to us," Aunt Clara said with certainty.
The urge to kick her horse and ride away was strong, but Alexandra resisted because of Aunt Clara. Yet the closer Connor galloped to her, the warmer the sun seemed on her body. His shirt was partially unbuttoned, the wind pushing it open to reveal the tanned muscles beneath.
The nearer the pair came, the more she realized that the second rider was a very beautiful young girl, barely out of the classroom.
Alexandra's jaw tightened as she gritted her teeth. The cad was chasing schoolgirls! Innocent children who knew nothing of handling a randy man like himself.
She bristled as the riders came to a halt beside them. Dust sprayed from their mounts' hooves, the horses' eyes wild from the chase. The pretty young girl sat her chestnut horse better than most men.
Laughing, the girl exclaimed, "You lost again, Connor."
The girl's smile was easy and relaxed. Whoever she was, they were obviously very comfortable with one another. For just an instant Alexandra felt resentful, but then she pushed the feeling aside. Why in the w
orld should she be jealous of a young girl under the influence of a knave like Connor? Pity would be more appropriate.
Both the man and the horse were winded, and for a moment, Connor gasped for breath. "Luck was on your side this time, but the next opportunity, I win."
"Prove it," she taunted, before turning to Clara. "Hello, Mrs. LaRoux."
"Suzanne, it's been a while, child. How you've grown," her aunt cried in obvious enjoyment.
"Thank you. It's nice to see you again."
Suzanne smiled shyly in Alexandra's direction, and it was then she noticed the resemblance between the man and girl. The same skyblue eyes, full lips, and upturned nose. Who was she?
Connor tipped his hat in Aunt Clara's direction, then turned his attention to Alexandra. "Good morning, Mrs. Thurston." He pulled his mount alongside hers. "You weren't exaggerating. You do indeed sit a horse well."
His eyes twinkled with mischief as a slow heat infused Alexandra's body. She felt a blush creep up her neck onto her cheeks. "Thank you, Mr. Manning."
"Let me introduce you to my sister. Suzanne, I'd like you to meet Alexandra Thurston."
Alexandra felt almost giddy with relief. He was still a knave, but maybe not as much as she'd thought.
"Hello. You're prettier than your brother," Alexandra said.
The young girl giggled.' "Thank you. You like horses?''
Connor grinned."Mrs. Thurston is very knowledgeable on the subject."
Alexandra gave Connor a look intended to clearly warn him that she remembered their banter from the Rutherfords' ball. The man had done his best to provoke her the other night with his innuendoladen conversation regarding horses, and she was not going to let him resume their previous conversation on the subject.
"I'm fond of horses," Alexandra replied. "You ride very well."
The young girl smiled, clearly pleased. "Thank you. Connor started me riding ponies when I was very young."
"Why don't the two of you follow us back to the house. We'll have lemonade on the terrace," Aunt Clara said.
Alexandra wanted to moan. But instead she smiled politely, being pleasant, yet refusing to encourage him. At every turn, this man seemed to be lying in wait for her. He'd made himself abundantly clear the other day.
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