Alexandra moved to the door, and opened it acrack. “Lord Rutland.”
Nicholas and John Dabney entered. John’sdark hair and good looks at sixteen years, were probably from hisfather. He sat on the settee and put his arm around his mother. “Ihave had the most wonderful time with Lord Rutland. Mother, haveyou been crying?”
Six footmen entered and deposited threeheavy chests. At Nicholas’s nod, they departed He locked thedoor.
If Lady Dabney or her son thought hisbehavior odd, they did not indicate.
Alexandra stood next to the chests. “WhatI’m about to reveal, will give you the power to shape both you andyour son’s futures.”
“I-I don’t understand,” said LadyDabney.
“Captain Sharp’s last wish was for you tohave this gift,” said Alexandra.
Alexandra and Nicholas popped open thetrunks. Gold coins, pearls, and gemstones glittered andgleamed.
Lady Dabney’ jaw dropped open.
John Dabney was thunderstruck. “Mother, Idemand to know who is Captain Sharp and why would he give us histreasure?”
Alexandra lifted some gold pieces anddropped them into Lady Dabney’s hands. “This is why he left you,but unfortunate circumstances, meaning storms, and then beingenslaved by Barbary pirates, prevented him from returning to you ontime.
Lady Dabney broke into sobs again, andhugged her son. “Captain Sharp was your father. You are named afterhim. When we get home, we will have a talk.”
“I recommend you keep your treasure in ourcare until your husband dies,” said Nicholas. “That way, you cankeep it from dishonest creditors.”
Nicholas put his arm around a beamingAlexandra. “I have one request, Lady Dabney. I expect you and yourson to attend our wedding.”
ChapterTwenty-nine
Weeks of socials, balls, soirees, fittings,presented a whirlwind of activity and had drained Alexandra ofenergy. On top of that came the new responsibilities of herancestral estate. She and Nicholas had visited often, puttingAndrew Baines and Samuel in charge. Lady Sutherland and Willeanwere set to go on trial and had been placed in Marshalsea Prison,far away from causing any more harm.
Thankfully, Nicholas had seen Alexandra’smomentum waning and insisted on moving everyone to Belvoir Castlewhere she would have more privacy and rest.
Awestruck, Alexandra was speechless at herfirst glimpse of Belvoir, the Rutland ancestral home. StatelyEnglish oak trees lined the road with a glimpse of a stone edificefar up above. Truly having no idea of Nicholas’s wealth or the sizeof his estate, she could only stare. Manicured lawns, formalgardens, mazes, and a lake dotted with snowy white swans. Furtheracross the green valley, were vineyards, fields of young grain andverdant pastures that looked like crushed velvet. Sheep grazed on adistant high slope, enhancing the pastoral landscape. Taking in thespectacular scenery, Alexandra clapped her hands to her face.
How she itched to explore Belvoir’s grounds,so unlike the coastal village where she had grown up in, and a fardifferent topography of the Caribbean island she and Nicholas hadlived on. The coach lumbered up the mile-long, convoluted lane, herbreath caught when the grandiose stone edifice materialized on thehorizon.
“My goodness, Nicholas, it’s a castle. Arethose turrets?” She gaped, entranced by the castle’s enormity.
“Indeed,” he murmured.
She shot him a glance. His gaze was fastenedon the horizon, and a smile curved his lips. Unreserved pride shonein his eyes as he observed his ancestral home.
He loves Belvoir.
Alexandra smiled again and focused herattention to the carriage window once more. At least a hundredbeveled windows caught the afternoon sun, dazzlingly refracting thegolden rays. The castle glowed as if it were alive, a livingbreathing entity. She inhaled, overcome with the splendor of themagnificent castle and grounds.
How was she to be mistress of such amajestic estate? Nothing in her life had prepared her to run such avast household. Did Nicholas have any notion how ill-prepared shewas for such an overwhelming task?
Before the carriage rolled to a stop, twoliveried servants descended the manor’s granite steps. She claspedher skirts, pressing her fingers into her new brocade gown. Atleast this time she was properly attired before meeting theservants. Alighting, Nicholas then handed Alexandra down. She wasaware of the covert, curious stares sent her way by the footmen andline of servants. Smiling, she shook everyone’s hand, and thenNicholas whisked her away into the castle. She passed a doublestairway that climbed infinitely upward, and hosted rows ofancestral paintings.
She was out of breath. “Nicholas, where areyou leading me?”
He pulled her down a deep corridor where aburst of light glowed at the end. A conservatory with large glazedwindows on the sides and, sloping glass at the top, rounded up toan artful cupola. The minute they entered, heat and humidityswelled. Surrounded by tropical plants and rich vibrant tropicalflowers, she extended her arms and twirled with warm memories. “Oh,it is just like the island. How I miss our sojourn there and wishwe could turn back the time.”
She skipped under a bower, following along apath, delighting in brightly colored crotons, scorching bromeliads,and brilliant orchids. She turned and Nicholas was gone. Where washe?
She found him leaning against a smooth glassdoor, the light illuminating his fawn-colored breeches, whiteshirt, and dark hair. Like the light that surged on the crest of anincoming wave, he took her breath away.
