“I can double Ursula’s pay. No questionsasked. You gentleman could set yourselves up nice in a countryhouse. Take my deal now. You won’t have regrets.”
Right scar laughed. “We’re doing just fine,gent.”
“So, let me guess. You’ll tie us up. Deliverus to Lady Sutherland, and then hide in the Colonies.”
“Brilliant, yer lordship.”
“I have matchless deductive powers, able toread minds, and from time to time, give patronage to idiots.”
Left scar edged closer. “Ye think ye’refunny.”
Nicholas flexed his muscles, he itched forsome hard-knuckle fighting. “I am funny.” He moved a little closerto tighten up the triangle. Bainey reached for the candlestick. Theancient butler had more mettle than he thought.
Right scar lowered his gun. Nick hooked aright, thrust Right scar’s arm up. The pistol fired, the roundhitting the ceiling. Plaster showered over them. Right scar’s onlychance.
An object flew past Nicholas’s ear. Thecrack of glass against bone. Left scar went down. Effective,whatever it was.
“He’s mine,” Nicholas growled and dove forRight scar. He clubbed his fist into Right scar’s face, drove itthrough his cheek, toppling both to the floor. Right scar lay limpbeneath him, out cold. Nicolas twitched his nose, lifted off Rightscar’s body. He brushed off plaster. The lingering odor from Rightscar stayed.
Bainey fetched the two guns. Nicholas tookthem from the servant’s shaking hands. “Two guys. Two guns. Threeseconds.”
Nicholas did a double-take. Black liquidpooled around Left scar’s head. She had laid the wretched scum lowwith an ink bottle?
Alexandra threw her hands up. “What was Isupposed to do? Wait until you got around to clubbing them?”
He wiped the sweat from his head, and thenwrapped his arm around her. She would always be his Alexandra.“Let’s go before there are any more mishaps. My carriage is beyondthe tree line.”
ChapterTwenty-seven
Alexandra entered the ballroom, her gazedarting, hands fidgeting at her side. Her mouth fell open at theopulence, from the painted mural of the crowned Apollo and hisdrawn bow, joining forces with Poseidon punishing the people ofTroy. Huge chandeliers of gold and crystal flashed like tiny suns,the polished floors reflecting the candlelight. White marblecolumns lined-up along the walls, like soldiers reaching for thevault of heaven.
The Duke and Duchess of Somers had spared noexpense and the evening was trumpeted to be the marquee event ofthe year. Flanked by Rachel and Aunt Margaret, and waiting to beannounced, Alexandra stood at the top of the stairs looking overthe lords and ladies whirling about the ballroom in a colorfularray of silks and satins.
Tonight, was especially important. Nicholasand his father had been gone for the better part of the day. Shehad no idea what they had arranged, receiving a note at noon thatshe was to attend the Somer’s ball with Aunt Margaret and Rachel,and that everything was in place.
Butterflies flip-flopped in her stomach.
Aunt Margaret leaned over and spoke low andconfidingly. “In addition to other planned events tonight, we mustremain within the boundaries of polite society. Remember, only twodances with Nicholas, no more. And only one dance per eachgentleman. The subtlety conveys your coming out, and hints Nicholasis your intended, a strong statement to the rest of the world.
Alexandra was announced as Lady AlexandraSutherland. She halted at the top of the stairs, forcing herself tostep down in a graceful manner, attempting a ladylike glide towardthe bottom, instead of running like she did down the mountain onthe island. Was everyone in the room scrutinizing her because ofher name?
“They are looking at you because you are themystery woman who spent time on the island with Lord Nicholas,”confirmed Rachel. “With the powerful Duke of Rutland’s nod andNicholas’s, I predict, you will be asked to dance many times.”
Alexandra resisted the urge to tug her newgown upward. “This neckline is scandalous. I must look like acourtesan.”
“Look at Nicholas,” Rachel angled her head.“The desired effect is devastating.”
She scanned the crush for Nicholas. His darkhead was bent low as he listened attentively to a portly gentlemanbeside him. He laughed at something the man said, but he watchedher beneath hooded eyes and caught her anxious glance. A reassuringsmile tugged at the corners of his mouth.
As prophesied, Alexandra danced and danced.A legion of gentlemen’s faces blurred. Beneath her lashes, shestudied Nicholas, leaning indolently against a marble column. Darkformfitting evening clothes hugged the lean, taut lines of hisbody. Pale grey breeches clung to the defined curves of his strongthighs like a besotted lover. The clothing’s restrictive elegancesomehow enhanced the untamed, earthy quality that radiated fromhim. She giggled remembering his torn breeches on the island, andthen sighed, admiring everything about him, from the easy way hewore his elegant clothes to his sophisticated charm.
For a fleeting moment, the memory of the wayhis mouth had felt moving over hers tingled through her, causing amisstep. She begged her partner for refreshment.
Alexandra allowed the gentleman to escorther to the side. Her breath hitched. She faced Nicholas’s uncle,the Duke of Westbrook. His clothes were beautifully made and fithim well, and he possessed the pale petulant look of a truearistocrat.
“Good evening, my lady.” His tongue dartedover his lips.
Alexandra inclined her head inacknowledgment. How he watched her like a falcon does a rabbit.Intense, single-minded, and she, like the prey grasped within aperegrine’s claw, kicking and screaming to get free. She shuddered,and then gratefully accepted a dance from a flaxen-hairgentleman.
