by Alice Kirks
She could feel a sensation of intense longing rushing through her, filling her with an ache she couldn’t describe. She felt her own hands stroke his back and he, gasping, drew away, a small laugh at the corner of his mouth.
“If I stay, now, I am afraid I will, well…get carried away,” he said with a small smile. “I am going to have to depart, I am afraid. I will see you at dinner?”
“You’re staying?” Alexandra asked, surprised. He nodded.
“Tonight, I will stay. Tomorrow, I think we can return to London and explain matters to Arabella. Then we can decide if you would like to stay in London for the Season, or if you would like to return here. We should wed as soon as possible.”
“Matthew!” Alexandra murmured. “This is so…astounding.”
“And perfectly unsurprising,” he said with a chuckle. “Now, if you’ll excuse me for a moment, I must like down a while too. I will see you at dinner when we can decide what to do next.”
“Thank you. I will see you then,” Alexandra agreed.
He bowed and she stood and went and took his hand. He squeezed her fingers, looking into her eyes. She felt the need for him grow until she was sure she could resist it no longer. She could understand why he’d chosen to leave! He bowed low.
“See you at dinner.” His voice was low.
“Yes,” she murmured. “See you at dinner.”
He went out of the room, closing the door behind him and leaving her to think on what had happened. She sat down on the bed, head full of thoughts, and, with a wide smile, she wiped a tear from her eyes. Everything had worked out so well! She could not wait to tell Arabella. It would be wonderful to see her face as they relayed their news.
Chapter 40
Matthew looked up from the breakfast-table as Alexandra came up the hallway. He felt a smile lift the corners of his mouth and he stood, feeling nervous. This was the first time they would eat breakfast together – just him and Alexandra, without Arabella or any other guests being there. He saw her and bowed low.
“Good morning, Alexandra.”
“Good morning,” she said.
She was, he noticed, wearing the cream day-dress she had worn when she first arrived. Severe and unmodish it was, but not nearly as bad as the ones she’d had sewn for her later. Those were truly severe, and he was glad to see her in something else. He made a mental note to have some proper clothes organized for her – ones that befitted her station.
Beautiful clothes, he thought with a small smile. Ones that would bring out how elegant she truly was.
“I’m very pleased you can join me this morning,” Matthew said, sitting down. She was across the table, and he smiled as her eyes met his face. She was looking over the array of delicious things and he caught his breath as she smiled at him.
“It is rather lovely, to have breakfast together,” she said.
He nodded.
She poured tea, and he found himself staring at her slender arms, as if, now that he was free to do so, he had a lifetime of staring to catch up on. She saw his gaze and smiled up at him, her cheeks flushing delicately.
“Have you had tea?” she asked.
“Um, yes,” he said, clearing his throat. She was so lovely; he could barely think straight. Being in the room with her the other day, just the two of them and a bed, had overwhelmed him, so that he could hardly think. Now, he was having almost as much trouble again.
He winced as he gripped the teapot she had passed him – his knuckles were still raw from the fight the previous day. He had sustained no serious injuries, and unfortunately the fellow he’d attacked also didn’t. He regretted that – it would have been good.
At this time, all the Watch had confirmed was that the man worked for Lord Westerly, and that if they wanted to take any legal action, they would have to confront Lord Westley as well. Matthew hadn’t discussed that with Alexandra yet. He looked across at her where she smiled up at him, looking up from her plate as if she’d been considering what to eat.
She smiled. “I will have some pastries, I think,” she said, reaching into the basket for a raspberry pinwheel. Matthew grinned to himself.
“My favorites, too,” he commented, taking the other one.
She giggled.
They sat quietly for a moment. The air smelled of tea and the sweet baked scents of their breakfast. Matthew felt peace settle on his soul for what felt like the first time in months. Maybe, if he was truthful, in years. He’d never felt this restful since becoming Duke, he thought. Now, he finally felt a wonderful calm settle within him.
“So,” he said, after swallowing a substantial bite of pastry. “Shall we travel to London this morning?”
Alexandra looked up, wide-eyed. “Yes. I would like that. Arabella should be told as soon as possible.”
“Yes,” he agreed. “Yes, that is what we’ll do, then.”
He was reluctant to rush the morning, and they sat together for a long while over breakfast. He marveled again at her lively conversation, at the way she knew something on almost every topic they raised, from kingship to the wool-tax. He could talk with her about anything!
“More tea?”
“Thank you,” she said.
He smiled at her, shaking his head. “You know, I can’t believe I didn’t know, for so long, who you really are.”
Alexandra raised a brow.
“Who am I, really?” she challenged, with a smile. “Am I any more myself, as Lady Alexandra, than I was as Miss Alexandra, the chaperone? I don’t know. You tell me, your Grace. I can say that I didn’t feel any different. Or really that I acted any differently, I admit.”
He laughed. “Yes! A breath of fresh air, that’s what you are! I couldn’t believe it the first time you argued with me. It was…so different to what I expected. It was different compared to everyone, no matter what their status. So many people tend to be deferential andfavor-currying, simply because I am a duke. You were never like that, and I will never cease to love that about you. I love everything about you.”
“And I love you, too, Matthew,” she said.
He looked at her and blinked, feeling his eyes fill. Somehow, he had never thought to hear that. It had seemed like an impossible desire, something that could never actually happen.
“I…thank you,” he murmured.
“I can’t help it,” Alexandra said with a grin, making her eyes sparkle brightly. “I mean, it’s entirely your fault, for being so loveable.”
He laughed, resting his hand on her own.
“Thank you,” he said, feeling a flush warm his cheeks. “And I charge you with the same accusation…you are far too loveable.”
She blushed and looked down and he held her fingers in his own and ached to kiss her. She looked up and those dark eyes, so full of wisdom, held his own. He swallowed hard. He loved her so much he found it hard to breathe.
“So, shall we go?” she asked softly.
“Yes.” He bent to kiss her fingers, lifting them to his mouth. “I suppose we should. Should we leave within the hour?” he asked, half-expecting her to say no; that it would be too short notice and that they needed more time to pack. She shrugged and nodded.
“Let’s go,” she said.
Matthew nodded. He himself still needed to pack. He pushed his chair back and went up to his bedroom, to complete the task. While he was up there, he found himself humming to himself, a small, joyful tune.
“You’re merry, your Grace,” his manservant commented. Matthew jumped.
“Knightsbridge! Do try not to sneak up on me – you’re liable to give me a fit of the apoplexy one day.” He said crossly. He couldn’t help grinning though – he was in such a good mood today that even his manservant and his cheery good humor couldn’t get on his nerves.
“Yes, your Grace. Can I pack your case?” He frowned. “You did say you would go back today?”
“Yes. Please do, Knightsbridge. And take the brown evening suit with me this time, will you? I need something particularly elega
nt.”
“Yes, your Grace.”
Matthew went down to the coach a half an hour later. Alexandra soon came out to join him. Together, they set off to London.
When they arrived, Arabella ran down the steps almost before they were announced.
“Brother! You’re back! Alexandra!” she cried out, and wrapped her arms around Alexandra, nearly knocking her off her feet. “You’re here! It’s so wonderful to see you! Oh! I think I might cry.” She said, sniffing as she looked up at Alexandra.
Matthew felt his own heart ache, seeing how happy she was. He had been so wrong, sending her away. It had been so hard for all of them to let her go, and he was so glad he’d finally seen sense and brought her back!
“Brother! Let’s go upstairs. I’ll call for tea,” Arabella said, surprising him. She had grown into an elegant hostess almost overnight. And to think, he’d hesitated to bring her to London or to leave her alone, thinking her not grown up enough to manage the household! He watched her turn to Mr. Leighton, the butler. “Please see that my brother and Alexandra have their luggage taken up to their bedrooms.”
“Very good, my Lady.”
“Oh, Alexandra! It’s so good to see you! We’ll have so much to talk about! And I hope this means you’ll be accompanying me to the salon on Friday! I know you’ll enjoy it…Mr. Simonstown, the famous poet, will be there to discuss his latest anthology work!”
Matthew looked at Alexandra, who smiled up at him.
“Um…Arabella,” he said shyly. “There’s something we need to tell you about.”
Arabella looked at him and then at Alexandra.
“What is it?” she asked. Her green eyes were bright with excitement. Matthew felt that mix of guilt and love that he’d felt earlier. She had always been like a small angelic creature – so innocent, in her white gown with her hair curled around her face. She looked at Alexandra. “Should we go upstairs? You can tell me over tea.”
Matthew nodded, again stunned by his sister’s poise, and went with her to the drawing-room.
Mr. Leighton brought the tea. Matthew looked at Alexandra, who nodded gently to him, as if to tell him to begin with the story. He nodded.
“Um…Arabella. Alexandra and I have decided to…to wed.”
“Brother!” Arabella stared. Her eyes were wide and shining, her mouth a wide grin. “Brother! That makes me so happy!” she said, delighted. “I had been so worried that you would marry Lady Christina or one of those other cold, unfriendly women you were visiting at one time! But Alexandra is…already like a sister to me.” She beamed at Alexandra. “And now you’ll be part of the family! Just like you always have been! I’m so happy.” She turned to Alexandra and gave her a big hug.
Matthew looked across at Alexandra, who embraced his sister, her eyes wet with tears. He blinked, too. Seeing the two of them together, their brown hair tumbled into a jumble of chestnut-toned and dark, made his heart ache. He couldn’t believe how foolish he’d been, resisting this for so long. And his sister had accepted it, even though she didn’t even yet know the best news.
“I have been so foolish,” Matthew cleared his throat. “I didn’t know who Alexandra was, and I should have asked an age ago! It would have made so many things so much clearer, had I done!”
Arabella looked up. She was sitting next to Alexandra on the chair, holding hands. Alexandra had one arm wrapped around her slender shoulders and was watching Matthew with a calm expression.
“Who she is?” Arabella frowned. “Brother, of course we do.”
“No, I didn’t,” Matthew said, clearing his throat. “I didn’t know that Alexandra is the daughter of the Earl of Westerly. She told me yesterday.”
Arabella looked at him, her eyes round with astonishment.
“Alexandra!” she said, turning to her. “You should have said something!”
Alexandra smiled. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t tell anyone. I wished I didn’t have to conceal the secret. But, you see, my father is not a nice man. I had to make sure that nobody could ever find me.”
Arabella looked into Alexandra’s eyes. Her green eyes were suddenly full of tears. “Oh, no…that’s terrible. Alexandra, I’m so sorry you had such a father.”
Matthew nodded, his own throat tight. He still couldn’t believe it, either. He wished again that Alexandra had told him, and he longed to be able to have a word with this man.
“It’s all well,” Alexandra said. She sniffed. “Now I don’t need to fear him anymore.”
No, Matthew thought. No, you don’t.
They sat and talked for a long while. Arabella decided to come back to Blakeley House after another week in London. She said she could always return to the Season afterwards, but she was not going to make them postpone the festivities just because she wanted to stay and attend parties!
“No,” she said firmly. “We will come back after the wedding.”
Alexandra kissed her fondly, and Arabella wrapped her arms around her. Matthew wondered how he had ever been so foolish, and how he had not known that love was always the right path to follow.
Chapter 41
Alexandra looked across the room as Christiana brought her dress in. She had no maidservants for her here at the townhouse, so Arabella’s maids were doing the job for her. Not, she thought with a smile as she got ready to dress, that she needed any help.
I’ve been dressing myself every day for the last month!
She smiled to herself, thinking it. It felt so strange, to be Lady Alexandra again. They had gone to the park and a teahouse the previous afternoon, and it felt so odd to be herself again – Lady Alexandra, daughter of the Earl of Westerly. It was odd to see how people who, before, might have ignored her, suddenly took notice: friends of Matthew and Arabella, other nobles and even the teahouse-owner, all seemed much friendlier all of a sudden.
“Thank you, Christiana,” she said, noting that the dress was one of Arabella’s – one of her older ones, which was very elegant but a bit too staid for Arabella: one with a sprig pattern and a low oval neck.
“If you need any help…” Christiana began.
“No. Thank you, I’ll manage quite well by myself, thank you,” Alexandra nodded.
She looked around. She was in a different room, she noticed with amusement – one which was bigger, with white bedlinen and wallpaper that was soft and white, with a decoration of little flowers.
“And the fireplace is bigger,” she commented to herself, grateful for the warmth as she took off her nightgown and slipped into her shift. Fastening stays by herself was very tricky, and she couldn’t lace them tight, but she had been doing very well for the last weeks, and so she was soon dressed and in the breakfast room.
“Alexandra.”
Matthew stood and bowed low, lifting her hand to his lips. His eyes danced and Alexandra felt her heart jump, her cheeks flushed with color.
“Matthew,” she said.
“May I say, you look ravishing,” he said. His lovely voice held real warmth and she felt that make a slow heat race up her body, making her smile warmly at him.
“You look good, too,” she said. He was wearing gray velvet and she thought he looked exceptionally handsome. He went pink.
“Thank you. Will you take breakfast? Arabella is going to join us later, I am sure.”
