The Hellion and The Heartbreaker

by McNare, Jennifer

  With Scarlett busied with wedding preparations, Alec took the opportunity to spend more time with his son. It pained him to know that Oliver was unaware that he was his father, but he knew the boy was still too young to understand the circumstances surrounding his birth. In time, he would learn the truth. In the meantime, Alec had already begun the measures to formally adopt Oliver and make him his legal heir. He had also begun making amends with Colin and his brothers. Though he wasn’t sure their relationship would ever be quite the same, at least they were no longer overtly hostile toward him.

  A week before the wedding, Alec’s mother hosted a lavish engagement party at her London home. There were more than a hundred people in attendance, and watching Scarlett move about the room, conversing with their guests with an inordinate amount of grace and charm, Alec felt a tremendous sense of pride. He also felt the occasional spark of jealousy whenever he happened to notice the eyes of another man lingering upon his intended for a moment too long. Over the course of the past several days, he had done a great deal of thinking and soul-searching and the feelings he had for Scarlett were starting to frighten him. He didn’t want to fall in love. He didn’t want to risk the emotional devastation of surrendering his heart to something that might well be destined for failure. However, despite his fears, he was afraid it might already be too late.

  From across the room, Scarlett noticed the somewhat troubled look on Alec’s face and couldn’t help wondering about its cause. Was he having regrets? Was the thought of their upcoming marriage, now only a week away, causing him increasing discontent? Saddened by the thought, she deliberately pushed it aside.

  Several hours later, as the last of the guests had taken their leave, Duchy and Olivia were chatting animatedly about the evening’s success, as Alec and her brothers enjoyed a final round of the rare and expensive French champagne procured especially for the party. The event had gone off without a hitch and they were all exceedingly pleased. Only Scarlett stood alone, silently contemplating the large, brilliant diamond surrounded by sparkling sapphires that now resided on her left hand. Alec had presented her with the ring earlier that evening, only an hour before the first guests had arrived. Lost in thought, she failed to notice that he had come up beside her.

  “Do you like it?” He’d asked her that earlier, but for some reason he felt compelled to ask it again. It wasn’t a family heirloom. In fact, he’d had the piece specially commissioned a week before. Scarlett didn’t know it, but he had spent an unwarranted amount of time with the jeweler, the same one employed by the royal family, selecting just the right setting for her delicate hand, and picking each and every one of the dazzling, perfectly cut stones himself.

  “It’s beautiful Alec,” she said, turning toward him. “I love it.” I love you, she thought to herself, wondering if she could ever hope to garner his love in return.

  “I’m glad.” When Scarlett looked at him as she did now, with her heart in her eyes, Alec felt his resolve to keep her at an emotional distance, slowly slipping away.

  “Scarlett…”

  “Alec…” They spoke in unison, but whatever they had been about to say was cut short by Colin’s sudden approach.

  “I don’t know about you two, but I am exhausted. Are you ready to head home Scarlett?”

  “Oh, yes I suppose so,” she replied, forcing her gaze from Alec’s as she responded to Colin’s question. “If you will excuse me, I’ll just go and say goodbye to Duchy and Olivia,” she said turning back to Alec, her expression slightly regretful. She couldn’t help wondering what he’d been about to say.

  “Conner and Julia are headed home, but Rory and Gavin are going out if you’d care to join them Alec.”

  “Actually, I’m with you,” he said, shaking his head. “I’ll spend a few minutes with Duchy and mother, and then call it a night.”

  When she and Colin arrived home, Scarlett immediately went to check on Oliver. Entering her son’s room, she sat down on the side of his bed, simply gazing upon his sleeping face, so utterly pure and innocent in slumber. She realized in that moment, that she needed to be completely honest with Alec. If they had any chance at happiness, there could be no more lies, no more deception between them. She had to tell him the truth about Ian McKinnon, her pride be dammed.

  Walking into her own room, she moved to her small writing desk and pulled a sheet of paper from the drawer. Penning a brief note, she sealed it and then rang for her maid.

  As Alec sat behind the desk in his study, staring pensively at the exquisitely painted landscape that was currently propped against the far wall, the very same painting Scarlett had taken such a liking to at the National Gallery, he couldn’t stop thinking about her and their upcoming marriage. He intended to give her the painting on their wedding night. He could no longer deny the truth. He was falling in love with Scarlett, and lord help him, there wasn’t a damned thing he could do about it.

  While the reality of that stunning admission ricocheted through his brain, a soft knock sounded upon the door to his study. Looking up, he glanced toward the heavy wooden panel. “Come in.”

  “Excuse me, Your Grace,” his butler said, entering the room. “This was just delivered for you.” Handing Alec the sealed missive, he then exited the room, pulling the door closed behind him.

  Curious, Alec broke the wax seal and quickly scanned the brief missive.

  At half past twelve, Scarlett silently made her way to the old iron gate. As she had hoped, Alec was waiting for her on the other side. Without speaking, they made their way toward the house and entered Alec’s study.

  Once he’d closed the doors and drawn the curtains, Alec turned to Scarlett, his expression questioning. “Your note said you needed to speak to me about something. Is anything wrong?” he asked, concern evident in his voice.

  “There’s something I need to tell you Alec, something I have been keeping from you.”

  Her voice was barely audible, the look on her face apprehensive. Warning bells instantly rang within his head. “Perhaps we should sit down,” he said, motioning toward the sofa.

  Once they were seated, Scarlett summoned her courage and looked Alec squarely in the eye. “It’s about Ian, Ian McKinnon.”

  “You’re first husband?” It wasn’t what he was expecting to hear.

  “Yes, well no, actually.” She took a deep, steadying breath and then told him the truth. “Alec, there is no Ian McKinnon. There never was. Ian McKinnon only exists on paper.”

  Alec was stunned. As he looked into Scarlett’s eyes, he felt as if a load of bricks had suddenly been dropped upon his head. There was no Ian McKinnon! Scarlett hadn’t married another man; she hadn’t fallen in love with someone else. It was a staggering revelation. “You’re serious?”

  “When I discovered that I was expecting, I had already returned to Grey Oaks. I knew you didn’t want to marry me, and I couldn’t bear the thought of having my child labeled a bastard, not to mention the disgrace it would have brought upon my family. So, Colin had the documents falsified, the wedding license, the marriage certificate, Oliver’s birth certificate, everything.” She stood up and walked a short distance away, nervously wringing her hands as she continued. “I had to do whatever I could to protect my family and my child. I hope you can understand that.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me this before?”

  “I’m not sure,” she began. “I guess maybe a part of me wanted you to think that, well, that I had fallen in love with someone else.”

  Alec looked at her in confusion. What she was saying made no sense.

  Scarlett realized that Alec didn’t understand, he didn’t understand at all. She knew she had to tell him everything. When she was finished, she wouldn’t have even an ounce of pride left, but if they had any hope of making their marriage a success, she had to be totally honest with him. Turning away, she walked to the window. Parting the drapes, she peered out in the night, and then softly began to speak. “Do you remember the time you came to Grey Oaks, when
I was fourteen? The time we went riding and I told you about my fears of being sent away to school?”

  “Yes, of course I remember.”

  “Did you know that I fell in love with you that day, and that I’ve been in love with you ever since?” She didn’t wait for him to respond. “I know I told you I didn’t have any expectations, but that was a lie. In my heart, I always believed you would fall in love with me too,” she said with a slight laugh. “When you told me it was over, it felt as though my heart had been broken into a thousand pieces.”

  As Alec listened to Scarlett’s heart-breaking confession, he began to understand. She had selflessly offered him her love, and fool that he was, he had refused it. She hadn’t told him the truth about Ian McKinnon because all she’d had left was her pride. He’d taken everything else. He felt sick, sick to his very core. “Scarlett…”

  “I know you don’t love me Alec, and perhaps you never will, but I need you to know, to understand how I feel. I can’t pretend not to care,” she said, as tears began sliding down her cheeks. “I can’t pretend not to love you anymore.”

  Rising from the sofa, Alec walked to Scarlett, turning her away from the window and pulling her against him. Suddenly she was sobbing against the solid warmth of his chest.

  He couldn’t do it anymore either. He couldn’t pretend that Scarlett wasn’t the most incredible woman he had ever met. He couldn’t pretend that he hadn’t fallen hopelessly in love with the beautiful young woman who had taken hold of his foolish, cynical heart and filled it with love. Pushing his fingers into the depths of her fiery curls, he lifted her head and pressed his lips against her moist cheek. “I love you Scarlett. “God help me, I love you more than anything on earth,” he murmured against her soft, delicate skin. “I’ll never hurt you again my love, I swear it.” The truth of his words filled him with a profound sense of peace.

  Scarlett’s heart leapt with joy at Alec’s declaration, but she couldn’t help wondering if he truly meant what he said. “Alec, you don’t have to…”

  Pulling back, he cupped her face in his hands, forcing her to meet his unwavering gaze. “I love you Scarlett!” he said with conviction. Wiping away her tears with the soft pads of his thumbs, he looked deeply into her wide blue eyes. “I love you more than you can possibly know.”

  Scarlett saw the truth in his eyes, and it was one the most beautiful things she had ever seen. Unable to speak, she raised her hand and pressed it against his cheek. A moment later, Alec captured her lips in a soul-shattering kiss, pulling her against him so tightly she could hardly breathe, and she relished every minute of it.

  An hour later, they lay sprawled naked across Alec’s bed, deliciously sated from making love. And it was love, of that, neither of them no longer had any doubt. Lifting Scarlett’s hand from his chest, Alec eyed the magnificent engagement ring that encircled her finger. “This time next week we will be husband and wife.” The words he had never imagined saying to a woman he loved, filled him with a profound sense of tranquility and happiness.

  “Good heavens, I’m going to be a duchess,” Scarlett said, seemingly startled at the notion as she lifted her head and met Alec’s eyes.

  “You’ve only just now come to that realization,” he chuckled, twining his fingers through hers.

  “Duchy, Olivia, they’re both so dignified, so confident and poised and so utterly duchessey. How can I ever hope to be like that?”

  “Scarlett, you can’t honestly imagine that I would want you to be any other way than you already are. You, my darling, are perfect just as you are, don’t you know that?”

  Resting her chin on his broad chest, she smiled up at him. She had never imagined it was possible to feel so gloriously happy. “I love you,” she said softly.

  “I love you too,” Alec replied, with a tender smile of his own.

  “Show me how much,” she whispered, as she trailed her fingers tantalizingly down his smooth chest.

  Grasping her hand before it could reach its intended destination; he playfully flipped Scarlett onto her back. “I intend to.” And before the night was over, much to Scarlett’s delight, he did just that.

  Chapter 23

  The wedding of the Duke of Worthe to the infamous Scarlett Angel was expected to be one of the most spectacular events of the season. Hundreds of guests had been invited to attend the ceremony, and now, as they slowly began filling the seats within the magnificence of St. Paul’s Cathedral, the atmosphere was brimming with excitement.

  A lavish wedding breakfast had been held for close family and friends at the Duke of Worthe’s residence earlier that morning, and a reception for the newly married couple would be held at the home of the Dowager Duchess of Worthe immediately following the ceremony.

  Standing at her brother’s side, the nervousness that had plagued Scarlett just days before, now seemed just a distant memory. As she adjusted the delicate, gossamer veil that partially obscured her features, she couldn’t seem to stop smiling. It was her wedding day. She was finally marrying the man of her dreams, the man she had fallen in love when she was just a girl.

  “Are you ready?” Colin asked, looking down at Scarlett with loving eyes.

  Smiling up at her brother, Scarlett linked her arm with his as the immense double doors were opened wide. Turning, she saw Alec standing at the end of the long aisle, waiting for her. As she and her brother moved forward, Scarlett was oblivious to the enormous crowd of people rising to their feet including several members of the royal family, unaware of the audible gasps elicited from those close enough to see her stunning gown, and blind to admiring gazes of those who marveled at her breathtaking beauty. She saw only Alec, the man she adored, the man she loved.

  Epilogue

  “No violet, it’s not for girls, Henry said, shaking his head with its thick shock of red hair at his five-year-old sister.

  “But I want to play too,” the raven-haired little girl stated adamantly, her small features scrunched into a mulish expression.

  “Girls don’t play war,” seven-year-old Patrick stated matter of factly, agreeing with his twin brother.

  “Mama says girls can play whatever they want. You’re just being mean.” Violet’s tone was beginning to escalate in ire and in volume, attracting the attention of her eldest brother, eleven-year-old Oliver.

  “What’s wrong Violet,” Oliver asked, coming to stand beside his sister. Though Henry and Patrick were twins, Violet and Oliver bore the most striking resemblance to one another. Each of them had their father’s rich black hair and honeyed skin tone, while the twins had inherited their fairer skin, blue eyes, fiery red hair, and smattering of freckles from their Irish ancestors. Only Oliver had their father’s emerald green eyes however, for Violet had inherited her own lavender-blue eyes from her great-grandmother Weston.

  “Henry and Patrick won’t let me play with them,” she informed him angrily.

  “Oli, we’re playing soldiers,” Henry said, motioning toward the battle scene staged on the floor nearby, the very same military set Oliver had received for his third birthday.

  “It’s all right Violet, I’ll play with you,” Oliver said, attempting to pacify his little sister. “Let’s go outside.” He should have known it was a futile attempt.

  Stamping her foot in frustration, Violet Weston looked back and forth between her three brothers, her temper increasing with each passing second. Suddenly however, as if an unexpected thought had just crossed her mind, her countenance changed.

  Having prepared themselves for the inevitable tantrum that was certain to bring either their parents or their governess on the run, they watched in complete astonishment as Violet’s lower lip began to quiver, the look on her face changing abruptly from anger, to one of utter desolation.

  Casting her eyes downward, Violet looked up through the veil of her long dark lashes and presented her brothers with a heart-wrenching expression. She gave a dramatic sniffle, and in the very next instant two glistening tears began to roll slowly down
her delicate cheeks. Like her mother before her, Violet Weston would have done the most celebrated stage actress proud.

  “Don’t cry Violet,” Patrick said, immediately rising to his feet and moving toward his sister, his expression remorseful

  “Don’t be sad Violet,” Henry told her, at once contrite, as he too rose to his feet. “It’s all right, you can play.”

  As they motioned for her to join their game, they were rewarded with a slight, hesitant smile.

  Standing just outside the doorway, Scarlett and Alec gazed at their children with loving eyes. “I think your daughter has learned a new trick,” Alec said quietly.

  Actually, it was a rather old trick, but new to Violet, Scarlett thought, smiling at her daughter’s ingenuity.

  As Alec regarded his children, he felt only the tiniest bit of sympathy for his three sons. The boys had no idea that their little sister had just discovered how to wrap them neatly around her little finger, just as their beautiful mother had their adoring father wrapped around her own.

  Turning to the woman at his side, the woman who had proven to him that happy endings don’t only exist in fairytales, he smiled and bent to whisper in her ear. “I love you.”

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