A Scarlet Bride

by Sylvia McDaniel

  The older woman sat back in her chair and sighed. "I have a cousin who lives in New York, and recently she wrote to me about a book called Hester's Revenge. She suggested I acquire a copy and promised I would find it most interesting."

  "What's it about?" Connor asked, wondering why she would mention such a book when they'd been talking about his recent marriage.

  "It's the story of a young woman married to a banker. That's all I'm going to tell you. You really must get the book and read it for yourself."

  "Yes, ma'am. I'll see if I can find it," Connor said, though it seemed quite peculiar to him.

  Mrs. Jorgansen stood, indicating their interview was over. "I'm so glad you came by today, Connor. It's been much too long. Don't worry about Suzanne's tea. There will be plenty of ladies there to help ease your sister into her first social function. And congratulations on your marriage to Alexandra. In time, I'm sure everyone will accept your wife."

  "Thank you, Mrs. Jorgansen," he said, feeling immensely relieved.

  The butler showed him to the door and Connor couldn't help but almost skip down the steps. He knew he could depend on Mrs. Jorgansen to help make the tea party a success.

  But why had she mentioned Hester's Revenge? What did the book have to do with him?

  Chapter Nine

  Why had she suggested hosting this ridiculous tea? Alexandra's anxiety had been building for several days, and her nerves were strung tighter than a noose. What if nobody came?

  She knew Aunt Clara would attend, but how utterly deplorable to have a party with your relative as your only guest. A shudder ran through her, settling in her stomach as a wave of nausea assaulted her. Sighing, she took a long sip of water.

  Lord, she prayed she was not setting Suzanne up for failure. Though it would hurt terribly if no one came, Alexandra would survive. But to inflict this kind of snub and hurt on a seventeenyearold girl would be devastating. And it would be all Alexandra's fault.

  Alexandra, the adulterous divorcee, committing yet another misdeed.

  No, it had to be successful. She'd remarried, ladies would come—or at least she hoped they would.

  She hurried downstairs to make sure everything was ready. As she rounded the comer of the dining room, her skirts swishing as she bustled about. She ran straight into Connor. He grabbed her forearm to keep her from plowing headon into him. His white shirt was open to his waist, his naked chest mere inches from her face. He stood there in his stocking feet, his pants fitting snugly against his firm thighs, his hair in disarray. She took a gulp of air to still her suddenly racing heart. The pleasant aroma of horse, leather, and man assaulted her senses.

  He was devastatingly handsome and her longsleeping senses reacted swiftly.

  "You seem to be in quite a hurry," he said, balancing her until she was steady.

  She couldn't help but stare. They were so close, she could see the dark hairs on his chest. The trail of a scar ran diagonally across his shoulder, disappearing beneath his shirt.

  "Our guests will be arriving any time now," she acknowledged.

  Connor laughed. "Afraid the good ladies of Charleston will be offended by my dress?"

  Alexandra smiled. He must have just come in from the fields, and at least he'd been courteous enough to leave his muddied boots outside. "Everyone but ladies who wanted you for themselves."

  "Touche, my dear."

  He leaned forward and took a deep breath. "Hmm, you smell nice. It's a shame I'm on my way upstairs now to change."

  Alexandra's gaze was drawn to his cobaltblue eyes. With surprise, she realized his look was almost tender. What had happened to the angry man who thought she had a secret paramour? Though it had been several days, she couldn't help but wonder if he still thought her capable of such a heartrending crime.

  But for the moment, she didn't have time to dwell on Connor's moods. There were other details to take care of.

  "Though this is a ladies' tea, as Suzanne's brother and guardian, it would be nice if you were to drop in for a few moments," she said.

  Connor laughed. "Your message is clear, Alexandra. I will drop in later and say hello, then hurry to spend my time working in my office."

  "Thank you." She started to pull away from him, but he gripped her arms tighter. She looked up at him, startled. "I must check to make sure everything is ready."

  "Hold on for a minute." He gazed down at her, his eyes warm and inviting. "I don't think I've told you how much I appreciate what you're doing for Suzanne. She's very excited."

  His comment took her by surprise. Warmth pervaded her being. "Thank you. I like your sister, Connor. I just hope my past doesn't keep the ladies from attending."

  He smiled. "Nonsense. That's all behind you. You're a respected married lady now."

  Alexandra raised her eyebrows. "Is it in the past, Connor? The last time we discussed this subject you were insinuating that George Montgomery was more than just a friend. You were demanding knowledge of my affairs."

  Connor took a deep breath. "It's just that I've never been married before and I was totally unprepared for how angry I felt when that package arrived. I couldn't help but wonder if he was the man who caused all the problems in your first marriage."

  She broke into laughter. Of all the days for him to bring up the subject of her accursed adultery. She didn't have time to explain. "I wouldn't worry about George if I were you."

  "I'm sorry." He ran his hand through his hair, a perplexed frown crossed his face. "Maybe I don't know what to believe about you anymore."

  Alexandra was stunned. It appeared the man was apologizing for his behavior of the week before.

  He shuffled his feet, his eyes shifting around the room nervously. "I guess I assumed there were no other men in your life but me. I wasn't prepared to be a jealous husband."

  She couldn't help but smile. "Well, we know I'm the only woman in your life. At least this week."

  His eyes twinkled with amusement. "That's not fair. I'm a married man now."

  "Would that stop you?" she questioned, her voice suddenly serious.

  But before Connor could answer, the bell signaled the arrival of the first guest, abruptly interrupting them and the easy atmosphere that had enveloped them.

  "Oh, my God, they're starting to arrive and you've kept me from checking on the food."

  He reached out and patted her on the arm. "Everything is going to be just fine."

  "Where's Suzanne?"

  The young girl appeared in the doorway. "I'm here."

  Connor's eyes skimmed the women's attire. "You both look gorgeous. Go get 'em, ladies." He headed up the stairs to his room, leaving them to face their guests alone.

  Alexandra took a deep breath. Suzanne did look stunning in her white gingham dress with puffed sleeves overlaid with lace at the yoke and wrist. "It's time to receive our callers. Are you ready?"

  "I think so," she said, her voice shaky.

  Alexandra took Suzanne's arm, and together they went to greet their first guest in the parlor. The next twenty minutes were spent receiving visitors as, one after another, the ladies began to arrive.

  But the biggest surprise of the afternoon was when Mrs. Maddie Jorgansen, the most influential social matron in Charleston, knocked on the door. Though Alexandra had invited the woman, she hadn't expected the lady to honor her and Suzanne with her presence.

  "Mrs. Jorgansen, what a pleasant surprise. We're so glad you could come."

  "The pleasure is mine." As she stepped through the door, she turned to Suzanne. "Child, you're looking lovely, the spitting image of your dear mother."

  "Thank you, Mrs. Jorgansen." Suzanne gave the woman a shy smile and quick curtsy.

  At first, the ladies gazed at each other awkwardly, but Suzanne's training paid off as she served each woman a cup of tea and offered them apple scones or a slice of sponge cake. As she made her way around the room, she asked the ladies about their families or children. The women soon relaxed and chatted amiably.

  A
lexandra commented occasionally, but she was much too nervous to eat, and simply sipped her tea. Yet, as she sat there amidst the women, she began to feel accepted, to feel as if she belonged to this small community once again. It was nice to enjoy the company of ladies the way she had so many years ago.

  At least she felt that way until a certain lady cornered her in the room.

  "I don't believe we've met. I'm Mrs. Lizzie Rozili."

  "Nice to met you, Mrs. Rozili," Alexandra replied, feeling uncomfortable as she noticed the rest of the women gazing at them strangely.

  "Since my husband died several years ago Connor and I have been rather intimate friends, you might say."

  Alexandra felt blood rush to her cheeks. Could this woman be telling her what she thought she was insinuating?

  "It's good that you kept Connor occupied." Alexandra lifted her teacup to her lips to moisten her suddenly dry mouth.

  Mrs. Rozili smiled. "I just thought you should know about some of dear Connor's exploits."

  Alexandra smiled. "It was good of you to tell me. After all, from what I hear there were several."

  Lizzie's face turned ashen.

  "Excuse me, I must see about my other guests." Alexandra walked away, her heart pounding in her chest. The audacity of the woman to come to their home and tell her of Connor's transgressions.

  Alexandra glanced around. The other women were busy chattering amongst themselves, but she knew they hadn't missed a single word of their exchange.

  Mrs. Jorgansen sipped her tea. "Clara, I hear you can't keep Sydney down. How is he feeling these days?"

  "Tired. He doesn't understand the meaning of the words slow down. He thinks he can train every new foal we have and still run the plantation."

  "That's how I lost my Henry," Mrs. Jorgansen said. "If only he would have taken care of himself."

  "Excuse me a moment. I want to check on those scones Leona promised us." Suzanne walked out of the room.

  Lizzie glanced at Alexandra and smirked. "I was visiting my sister last week in New York. The poor dear is married with three small children under five. Occasionally I go up just to do some shopping and get her away from the little darlings." She took a sip of tea."The whole town was abuzz about a new book that's just been released."

  Alexandra glanced at Lizzie and knew what the woman's next words would be. A thread of nervousness worked its way up her spine.

  "I simply love to read. What's the name of it?" one of the ladies asked.

  "Hester's Revenge."

  "I've read it," Mrs. Jorgansen replied, sipping her tea, her eyes downcast.

  "The reason it's caused such an uproar is because there are so many coincidences in the book that make the story closely resemble one of New York's best families," Lizzie said, knowingly glancing over at Alexandra, a smug smile on her face.

  The ladies gasped. "Oh, dear. Who?"

  Lizzie smiled at her captive audience. "I don't know if I should say."

  "Why not?" one of the ladies asked. "Tell us who it is."

  Lizzie's eyes widened with feigned innocence. "It's the Thurston family. Alexandra's exhusband."

  Everyone turned to stare at Alexandra, an uneasy silence penetrating the room. Alexandra was both excited and repelled. Repelled because Lizzie would bring up the book at Suzanne's first party, with the intention of ruining it. Excited because people were making the connection to Gordon.

  Alexandra smiled, her lips feeling stiff and unnatural. "It's fiction, isn't it?"

  Lizzie nodded. "Supposedly."

  "Books come and books go. It's not the first book about the Thurston family. This one too shall pass."

  Mrs. Jorgansen cleared her throat. "Do not give away the subject matter, Lizzie. My cousin sent me the book and I've read it. It's an excellent story of a young woman's triumph over evil in her life."

  "Whoever is the author?" Aunt Clara asked.

  "Someone I've never heard of. John Smith," Mrs. Jorgansen replied. "It sounds like a pseudonym, if you ask me."

  "It's a shame people try to profit from other people's misfortune. I doubt very seriously it's true," her Aunt Clara retorted, clearly angry.

  Alexandra glanced down and saw her hands were shaking. The book had come out, and just as her editor had predicted, the whole town was whispering about her story. This day had been five years in the making and she had felt it would never come. Even now it felt like a dream. A dream she had never thought would come true. She was surprised no one realized she had written this book, that she had set out to ruin Gordon. But sooner or later they would understand.

  Had Gordon heard of the book? Had he read it?

  She smiled as she thought of him searching for John Smith. Part of her wanted Gordon to realize she had written this book, while the other part wanted to remain hidden, never seeing the bastard again.

  Suzanne walked back into the room, and suddenly the conversation shifted. It was as if they didn't want to spoil the young girl's first experience and were protecting her. Alexandra felt grateful, though a trifle angry at Lizzie.

  The talk turned to who was expecting a child and who had just had a baby. Alexandra only half listened, until her name was mentioned.

  "I do say, Alexandra will be the next mother in waiting," a lady Alexandra barely knew replied.

  "Me?" she said with surprise. "I hardly think so."

  "But you are newly married," the woman insisted.

  "Yes, but..." How did one explain that you weren't intimate with your husband? She could feel a blush staining her cheeks. "We've only been married for a month. These things take time."

  The women chuckled.

  Mrs. Jorgansen said, "I have to tell you, Alexandra, Charleston County's most eligible bachelor seems to have settled down into a good husband. I, for one, never thought I would see the day."

  Alexandra wanted the conversation away from herself and Connor. She didn't know if she could make these women believe they were a happily married couple, and it was important they think the two of them were extremely content.

  "We seem to be settling in quite comfortably," Alexandra responded, disturbed by the topic of conversation.

  A deep voice resonated from the doorway. "Speak for yourself, my dear. After my wife knocked me off my feet, our marriage has filled me with contentment like I've never known."

  Startled, Alexandra glanced behind her and watched as Connor sauntered into the room.

  He kissed Alexandra on the cheek. "Hello, dear."

  "Hello," she managed to say. The feel of his lips against her skin made her tremble inside. For just an instant, his eyes connected with hers, twinkling with amusement as if he'd felt her tremors. He turned his attention to the women in the room.

  "Oh, Connor, you always were a man who knew how to talk his way into many a woman's heart," Lizzie said, her words oozing with silk, her eyes an open invitation, though Alexandra sat two chairs away from her.

  Connor ignored Lizzie, and Alexandra felt the urge to grab the woman by the arm and drag her out the door, by the hair if necessary. Instead, she smiled at her and asked, "More tea, Lizzie?"

  With maybe just a touch of arsenic, she thought.

  "No, thank you."

  It was probably a good response, as Alexandra lifted the pot of water and the image of pouring hot water in Lizzie's lap made her smile.

  "My wife and I are pleased you ladies came out today for my sister's first official tea," Connor said. He clasped Suzanne's hand in his and pulled her against him. "I know that very soon I'll have every young man in the county coming to court my little sister."

  Suzanne blushed and ducked her head. "Please, Connor."

  Mrs. Jorgansen rose from her chair. "This has been such an enjoyable afternoon that I hate to leave. But I must be getting home before it becomes dark."

  The guests had been there for over forty minutes, which Alexandra knew was much longer than was required by polite society. Just the fact they had stayed this long let her know the tea had been a c
omplete success.

  One by one, the ladies began to gather their parasols and wraps. Suzanne stood at the front door and thanked each one for coming.

  When the last guest had departed, the girl threw her arms around Alexandra. "Thank you, it was wonderful."

  Alexandra patted her on the back. "It did go rather well, didn't it?"

  Connor came to stand beside the ladies as they broke apart. "I'd say it was a smashing success."

  Alexandra glanced over at her husband, unable to contain the smile that lit her face. "I still know how to hold a successful tea party. Even after all these years."

  Connor smiled. "Of course you do."

  "I guess sending Mrs. Jorgansen a note along with her invitation was the reason she decided to grace us with her company. You know, I was really afraid no one would come because of my past and our recent social fiasco."

  "I guess that just goes to show you, people are more forgiving than you think," Connor said.

  "No. Maybe it was because of Suzanne or out of curiosity to see if our marriage was happy."

  "Maybe," Connor murmured.

  "I'm just glad it turned out so well," Alexandra said.

  "You and me both," Connor said.

  ***

  Alexandra sat in church next to Connor and Suzanne and sang from the hymnal. She had not graced the inside of a church since her divorce and had not wanted to attend today, but Connor had insisted it was time they make an appearance for Suzanne's sake. How could she refuse? She really cared about the young girl and her welfare.

  Though the tea party had been a complete triumph, Alexandra couldn't help but wonder how she would be received when meeting those same ladies in a church.

  The darkened stones of the old church bore their age well. The stainedglass windows muted the light from outside, giving the interior an almost reverent glow.

  When the service was over, people filed out through the doors, past the pastor, who stood outside greeting his parishioners. The man shook Connor's hand. "Glad to see you and your lovely wife in church today, Connor. Come back again."

  "We will, Reverend," Connor acknowledged.

  As they walked down the steps, a man yelled at Connor, "Hey, Manning, come join us."