by Wendy Vella
“Unlike men,” Phoebe said, “we can do both.”
“Ah, there she is, the lovely Miss Wooller, and seated on the floor of all places.”
Hannah sent him a warning look that had him smiling.
“I have just learned of your blossoming friendship, Alex, and I have to say I am very pleased about this change in circumstances,” Phoebe said.
“As am I, darling sister-in-law.” Alex kissed Phoebe’s cheek before coming to stand before Hannah. Bracing his hands on his hips, he looked down at her, then bending, he blocked Phoebe from her sight. Hannah sent him another warning look, but he ignored it and kissed her on the lips.
“I told you to stop doing that,” Hannah whispered.
“Authenticity is everything in the art of deception, my sweet.”
Hannah inhaled as he ran a finger across her lips before standing upright once more and walking to a bench at the rear of the room, where he started looking through a sheaf of papers.
“Now you look like you’re besotted,” Phoebe said, her face smug. “I can quite believe you are in love now.”
“No one mentioned love—”
“You didn’t before?” Alex interrupted Hannah.
“I said she was quiet and pale, and that she should be smiling in her excitement, not scowling.”
“Phoebe, Alex does not need to hear this.”
“Oh but I do, my sweet. What’s more, I have been excited and smiling in a besotted manner, therefore I think it only fair you should too.”
He was shrugging out of his jacket, laying it carefully to one side. Hannah then watched him roll up the sleeves of his pristine white shirt. She saw muscled forearms sprinkled with hair leading to hands with long fingers and blunt pared nails. His waistcoat was deep green satin and the fabric pulled over the muscles running down both sides of his spine as he bent to retrieve something from the floor.
“That’s a very subdued waistcoat for you, Alex,” Phoebe said.
“I thought it would mark the transition into the next phase of my life,” he said, smiling at Hannah in such a way that she almost believed he was in love with her. How was he such a good actor when she was failing miserably?
“I’m not really the excited type,” Hannah felt she needed to say to cover her lack of enthusiasm. “My happiness just simmers silently inside of me.”
“That sounds hard on the digestion,” Phoebe said, getting to her feet. “But I suppose everyone experiences things differently. I like the world to experience life alongside me.”
“As they do, my dear sister-in-law,” Alex drawled.
Phoebe poked out her tongue. “I never professed to be the silent type, and yes I do shriek and laugh like a man, but at least everyone knows exactly what I’m thinking.”
“And we would have you no other way.”
“Have you told your brothers of this new development in your relationship, Alex?”
“Ben knows Phoebe, but not Finn. I shall leave that to you.”
“Excellent! How wonderful that I know something he does not. Now, what shall you wear to the Dillinger dinner, Hannah? Thea told me they are expecting many guests, and it will be a grand affair.”
“Lord, I’d forgotten about that.”
“See, Phoebe, she is displaying all the signs of a woman in love. Memory loss, silences.”
“Yes, thank you, Alex, you may return to whatever it is you are pretending to do, while we”—Hannah waved a hand at Phoebe—“do all the work.”
“Harsh but true. I cannot be the brains as well as the brawn, darling.”
Phoebe snorted and Hannah rolled her eyes and to her surprise felt herself starting to relax. This was how they always spent their time together. Plenty of banter and laughter, and she had not thought to have it again for some time, but as they continued to converse, discussing the business and what needed to be done, she found comfort in the very people she should be uncomfortable with.
“Your brother-in-law is trying to rob us blind, Phoebe,” Alex said, looking up from the book he was scribbling in. “I asked him how much for several bolts of silk, and he gave me an exorbitant price.”
“Did he, by God. I shall have words with William Ryder when next we meet.”
Phoebe never minced her words, and Will would be told in no uncertain terms what she thought of his price. He imported goods, and they often purchased fabrics from him for Madame Alexander’s. Phoebe loved to negotiate the lowest price possible.
“Did either of you see that man lurking about on our doorstep when you arrived?” Alex said. “I’m not sure what it was about him, but he looked suspicious.”
Hannah and Phoebe shook their heads.
“It is probably nothing, but I did not like the look of him.”
“And now I shall depart, as I need to rest before the Remington ball this evening. I will see you both there,” Phoebe said, and minutes later she sailed from the room, leaving Hannah alone with her fake beau and the sick feeling once again returning to the pit of her stomach.
“I have never seen that woman anything but radiant.”
Alex, like Hannah, had his eyes on the door through which Phoebe had just walked.
“Yes, it is most unfair. We, her sisters and I, have often discussed this matter, and Livvy assured me that she has looked pasty and horrid a time or two in her life, but I have my doubts as to the authenticity of these claims.”
“She’s like you, it’s the bone structure. Neither of you could look anything but elegant and beautiful no matter the circumstances.” He said the words with little inflection; he was just stating what he believed to be facts. Hannah should not feel a little tingle of warmth all over that he thought her beautiful.
“Do not think to put me in the same league as Phoebe, Alex. In fact, I don’t know anyone who is.”
His eyes lowered to where she still sat on the floor. They were intent, searching her face, running over her body, looking at the lines of her dress. This was what he did: Alex studied, observed, and then usually gave a verdict.
“You are Phoebe’s equal, even if you insist on wearing a dress that is not the right color for you.”
“There is nothing wrong with my dress.” Looking down at the skirt, she would not admit that when she’d put it on that morning she’d had her doubts.
“It’s the color of manure.”
“It is not!”
“It makes you look sickly and adds no luster to your hair.”
“Well, I like it,” Hannah said struggling to her feet and then stomping toward him. “What’s more, I will thank you not to comment on my clothing.”
“I have to comment when you are wearing a dress that looks like horse excrement, surely? It is my right as your beau.”
His innocent smile told Hannah he was needling her, goading her into a response, and she fought the need to laugh. He could always do that to her, make her laugh when she wanted to yell at him. She quickly turned away, but he grabbed her, spinning her back to face him.
“Laugh, woman, you know you want to.”
“I-I don’t.”
She felt his fingers on her neck. “What are you doing?”
“Phoebe said you’re extremely ticklish here, and as I am your cher amour for such a brief period, and after that I will not be able to touch you again, I thought I’d see if she was correct.”
“Alex!” Hannah started giggling. She couldn’t help it, she’d always been ticklish there. “St-stop.”
“I don’t think so,” he said pulling her closer. “In fact…”
Hannah lost the ability to inhale as he pressed his lips to her neck and licked her skin. Lord, it felt wonderful. Her body seemed to ignite, tiny shivers rolling through her.
“I-I don’t think—”
“Shut up.”
He kissed her, his lips hard and swift. It was over in seconds and left her reeling.
“Why did you kiss me again?” Hannah took a step back, needing the distance to collect herself. “You have done s
o many times now, Alex, and I-I don’t like it.”
He closed the distance between them and pressed two fingers into her neck once more. “Your pulse would suggest you are lying, Miss Wooller.”
“I don’t want you to kiss me again.”
He leaned closer, his eyes holding hers. “But it is such an effective way to silence you. Had I known its success, I would have used it sooner.”
“Don’t do this anymore, please.” Hannah didn’t want to beg, but heard the pleading note in her voice.
“Do what?” He touched her jaw, just a brief graze of his fingers, and she shivered.
“Touch and kiss me. Please, Alex, it will just complicate things more for when this ends.”
“We both enjoy it, so for a brief period, can we not indulge in the forbidden?”
“No.” Hannah stepped away from him. “We cannot, so please honor my wishes.”
“But you set this course we are currently travelling, Hannah, and I am simply playing by those rules.” His head was tilted slightly, and he was studying her as if he had never seen her before. It was thoroughly unnerving.
“Yes I did, but you are making things difficult with your endearments and kisses and it must stop, or it will be harder to finish.”
“For whom?”
For me, she wanted to yell, but instead said, “Our friends and family. If you are indifferent to me they will see that our parting is for the best, but if you continue to behave as you have, they will not.”
“Do you like my touch, Hannah?”
“It matters not what I like, Alex.” She dragged her eyes from his and dropped to the floor once more to finish picking up the buttons. “What matters is this is stopped in due course and all parties can move on without too much disruption.”
“Hannah, a young boy has just thrust this note into my hands for you.” Phoebe appeared in the doorway waving a piece of paper about. “He said it is most urgent you receive it.” She came into the room and handed it to her.
“Thank you, Phoebe.” Hannah didn’t look at Alex as she took the note. “I shall see you this evening.”
Phoebe flicked her wrist and was gone seconds later. Hannah could feel Alex’s eyes on her as she opened it and scanned the contents. It was a time and place for a meeting with her blackmailer, and she wondered again why he wished to meet with her now. If he demanded more, she would struggle to find the extra money, therefore she must be firm when explaining that to him. Should she tell her father now? No, that would only put more stress on his heart and he already had more than enough in his life at the moment. Therefore she must deal with this herself. The fact that the blackmailer was making contact with her when she was in company was disturbing, and she had a terrible feeling that he was doing so deliberately, sending her some kind of warning. I can reach you anywhere at any time, no matter who you keep company with.
“Is everything all right, Hannah?”
“Yes thank you, Alex. Just a note from Bridgette, wanting me to collect something for her on the way home.” What was one more lie, Hannah thought, tucking the note into her bodice. She did not want Alex trying to get his hands on it after the disastrous incident in the park.
“A book or sweets?”
“Both,” Hannah said, picking up a handful of buttons and then placing them carefully in the box. She tried not to appear as if she were hurrying, knowing Alex was still watching her.
“I find the toffee at Miss Castor’s shop to be above all others in London.”
“Yes, it is quite fine.” She placed the evening primrose buttons in a small pile.
“But there is no finer butterscotch than Peacock’s.” Alex made a small humming noise after these words. “Where do you get Bridgette’s sweets from? If it’s not a place I’ve been, I should try it, don’t you think?”
“I can’t remember the name,” Hannah said, trying not to trap herself in more lies. They were piling on so thick she didn’t know the truth anymore.
Two large black leather-clad feet appeared before her suddenly, but she kept her eyes on the buttons. The puce ones were next to go in the box.
“You’re lying to me, Hannah, and that suggests that what was in that note had nothing to do with Bridgette, and everything to do with whatever was in the one you received in the park before you decided to go swimming in the Serpentine River.”
Hannah focused on the last handful of buttons. Scooping them up, she lowered them carefully into the box. Ignoring the large male standing over her, she attempted to get to her feet once more; he, however, had other ideas.
“Alex, get off the hem of my dress!”
“Hand over that note.”
“I most certainly will not, it is private.” Hannah attempted to wrestle her skirt from beneath his boot, with little success. “You shall rip it if you continue!”
“Excellent, then you shall not be able to wear the hideous thing again.”
“Move now, Alex.” Hannah tried again to tug the material free.
“I want to read that note.”
“No!” She glared up at him.
“Then I shall have to take it from you.”
Before Hannah could inhale, he had dropped to his knees before her, reaching for her bodice. She slapped his hands aside and tried to shuffle backward on her bottom now her skirts were free, but he grabbed her ankle so she didn’t get far.
“Alex, stop this!”
“Hand over that note, Hannah.”
“No!”
He braced his knees on either side of her thighs as he locked his fingers around her arms. “I want that note, Hannah, and I will get it no matter what it takes.”
She fought with the only weapon at her disposal. She bit his arm, hard. He yelped and fell off her. Hannah scrambled to her feet and ran for the door. Once through it, she continued down the hall and reached the front door seconds later. She could hear Alex gaining on her, so she threw it open, leapt off the front three steps and ran down the little lane. Reaching the end, she looked around for her carriage, but as it was not due to return for another hour, Hannah knew she was wasting her time.
“Hannah!”
Alex was almost upon her, and he would want the note. She could not outrun him, so pulling it from her bodice she tore it in half, then half again.
“What the bloody hell are you doing, woman!” Alex reached her as she was shredding the paper into tiny pieces.
“This,” she held the torn remnants out toward him, “is my business, not yours, Alex Hetherington, so I’m telling you to leave this matter alone.”
He was in his shirtsleeves again, hair standing on end, face flushed with anger, and he looked ready to throw her over his shoulder and head for his cave. Hannah ignored the betraying quiver of excitement at that thought and took a step backward out of reach.
“You,” he said, rudely pointing a finger at her, “are more troublesome than any woman I have met.”
Hannah couldn’t help it, she poked out her tongue.
“God’s blood,” he snarled. “You try my patience, and were everyone to wake tomorrow to the news I had simply given in to temptation and wrapped my hands around your elegant neck and squeezed, no one would blame me. In fact, it’s my opinion they would applaud… loudly,” he finished, before snapping his teeth together.
“Are we having our first tiff, my love?” Hannah wasn’t sure what was provoking her, or why she was poking at the angry man before her, but she was.
“Hannah.” He growled her name between his teeth in warning. “Be warned that I have your teeth marks on my arm and am in a towering rage.”
Guilt sliced through her again. “I’m sorry for that, but this is my business, Alex.” She lifted her hand high and threw the paper. The wind caught the tiny pieces and scattered them. “I would ask you to respect that,” Hannah added, now solemn.
“Are you in danger, Hannah?”
She didn’t answer him, instead walking back up the lane and into the house once more.
CHAPTER SE
VEN
“We shall build the shops along the bottom, and the small rooms above can house the tenants.”
Alex looked at the plot of dirt and tried to imagine what Ace was telling him, Ben, Finn, Luke Fletcher, and Will Ryder. Dillinger had approached them to invest in this project and he was interested, in fact he was damned excited, or he would be if the business with Hannah were not plaguing him. What the hell had been in those notes? She’d bitten him, for pity’s sake. What sensible woman did something like that? Even three days later, he still had the marks.
“So people will be able to walk along a covered lane and shop at several stores all under the one roof?”
Ace nodded his large head. “Exactly right, Ben.”
Alex wrestled Hannah to the back of his head, determined to concentrate on what Ace was saying. Neatly turned out in a black jacket, pale gray waistcoat, and gray breeches, Ace’s large feet were in polished Hessians and he should look the gentleman he now was, yet there was still an air of menace about him, and Alex never doubted what the man was capable of. Not for the first time he was glad that Oliver Dillinger, aka Ace, was his friend.
“So you are saying that a lady could walk along this lane and come out the other side having ordered or purchased everything she needs?” Luke whistled. “It would certainly save some time.”
“But not money,” Finn added.
“No indeed, they certainly like to spend that,” Will said.
“Do you think the merchants will show interest?” Alex questioned Ace.
“I have approached several already and each showed a great deal of interest, and asked me to approach them again when the project is complete.”
“Count me in,” Finn said, rocking back on his heels like he always did when he was thinking. “It’s a sound prospect and one I’m sure, given time, will interest many.”
“I may have someone who will be interested in one of your shops also, Ace,” Alex said. Madame Alexander’s may just acquire its second location in the coming months.
They all agreed it was a sound proposition, and after hands were shaken they decided on ale to secure the deal. Alex watched heads turn as they walked the short distance along the busy London street to the Bell. They were an unusual group, some titled, others not, and together they formed a formidable picture. They were also men Alex called friends and was proud to be seen with.
