What this lovely woman had faced. Risingabove her misfortunes, she had the ability to hope and emergetriumphant. She had the capacity to find light in the darkestcorner.
She was an angel.
“All this time, Alexandra you have beenpositive and I’ve been moody and recalcitrant. You have survivedfar more than I ever have. I’ve been an idiot, an ogre and anythingelse you wish to call me. I want to apologize to you.”
“There is nothing to forgive, Nicholas.”
“Alexandra, I vow if we ever get back toEngland I will help you gain what is rightfully yours, and findjustice for Molly and your father, Baron Sutherland. I will protectyou.”
ChapterEight
From what seemed a wild and horriblenightmare, a semblance of life on the island emerged. Theychattered excitedly, digging hands into the soil, feeling itstexture. They cleared away the brush from the wild orange and otherfruit trees, allowing the caressing warmth of the sun to encourageproduction.
Nicholas had set spade to earth, and whathad been a wasteland of tangled weeds, was now planted with neatlittle rows of growing lettuces, cabbage, tomatoes and othervegetables. Automatically, Nicholas and Alexandra responded to thenovelty and primitive call of the land.
Nicholas was more content than he had everbeen in his life.
Days passed and he discovered an order towork on the island that satisfied something deeper in him. An ordercame from the union of skill and passion. But he had to admit, thedriving energy came from working with Alexandra and always toward agoal. Each knowing their role, yet tripping over boundaries to helpthe other. There was no pause in Alexandra. She worked doggedly toget the job done, and then she would give him that challenging liftto her brow that told him she expected the same or more fromhim.
Meat had been smoked and hung in thelean-to. The daily routine of obtaining water, although onerous,was maintained. They collected fruit, rendered tallow from theanimal fat for lamps, which cut down on the need of their limitedbeeswax candles. They collected sea grapes on the beach and hadgreat fun crushing the lot so they could ferment in a crock to makewine. He’d gathered a large pile of driftwood and set it on thebeach to light a signal fire. He hunted.
As the weeks wore on, he admired herknowledge more and more. She was far better prepared to survive,teaching and inspiring him about planting, food preservation, andcollecting healing herbs. He was surprised how much he liked beingwith her.
A day didn’t go by that he didn’t try to winher warm smile, taking pleasure, delighting her by something hecould accomplish. And those accomplishments were increasing daily.He surprised himself by how much he could do without commanding aservant to do it for him.
With a loop trap, he snagged a female goat,dragging the obstinate bleating creature through the jungle to thegarden’s edge. Alexandra was on her knees, weeding.
The goat’s cries caused her to raise hergolden head. She clapped her hands. “Nicholas, you astonish me withyour cleverness. How perfect to have a nanny goat to milk and tomake cheese and puddings.”
He never tired of her exclamations. She madehim feel like an emperorand over a silly goat.
He was free of the awkwardness that comes ofthe mismatching of two people who are not suited to be together. Aswith Lady Susannah Tomkins.
He gritted his teeth until his jaw ached. Hehad promised his father he would marry Lady Susannah Tomkins. Ifhis father were alive, he’d have to honor his wishes.
Alexandra took the tether from him, herhands warm upon his. He jerked back.
She blinked. “Is something the matter?”
“No,” he said, harsher than necessary.
She tied the goat in the shade of aPoinciana tree. Flower petals had fallen, creating a thick brightorange carpet on the earth, and like a painting, framed amagnificent backdrop for Alexandra. So happy with her simple gift,she cooed to the beast, calming the animal with her words. Like shedid with him.
Nicholas exhaled, so many contrasts betweenAlexandra and his fiancée. Lady Susannah would be horrified withsuch an offering. Nicholas’ nerves grew taut. He clenched his jaws.To be yoked to a shallow woman satisfied with nothing less thanjewels, furs, and the finest of clothes, left a sour taste in hismouth.
“I like your idea of trying differentplantings. I think your experimentation will give us a greateryield, Nicholas. I can’t wait to see the results.”
Alexandra’s enthusiasm was infectious. Shetook joy in what he found important, embracing the simplest thingsand making every occurrence of every day worth remembering.
Next to Alexandra, Lady Susannah’s negativetraits magnified. Would Lady Susannah talk about crop rotation? No.She’d yawn, look him up and down with disdain, and then nag him toaccompany her to the next ball, tea or entertainment.
He had seen Lady Susannah’s sharp tonguetoward her servants, giving criticism and instruction rather thanpraise, even taking a riding crop to a groom who had not helped herdismount quickly enough.
On one occasion, he had business to attendfor his father, and was therefore unable to escort her to an opera.How she loved to play the martyr, insisting he reward her tenfold.From his sister and friends, he had learned of Lady Susannah’s,constant checking of his whereabouts, and then venting to others,making him look like a fool. He had chosen to be oblivious to allof this…until now.
Nicholas’s mind spun, torn between wantingto stay here and continue the pleasant life he and Alexandraenjoyed together, or return to England and take up the mantle hisfather commanded—if the opportunity ever came to get off theisland.
Alexandra’s lineage was nebulous, unprovenand would be impossible to verify, a result of Lady Ursula,covering her crime well. His father, if alive, would demand anauthentic pedigree.
