“Why the hold up?” he said, moving a few steps closer to take a better look at this strange woman who had landed in his establishment. “Answer me.”
The woman seemed to have gone mute, which was interesting considering how, just a moment ago, he had heard her lecturing his daughter. His eyes raked across her appearance, taking in the sight of her gown.
In all his days of running the club, he had come across all sorts and shapes of people. But a bride that looked like she had just escaped the very pits of hell was a first, even for him.
“I…” the woman started, looking away from him. He noticed the tremble in her voice. Terrified little thing, he thought to himself. “My name is Penelope Morton.”
“I see. So, why are you terrorizing my establishment at this hour of the day, Miss Morton?” Alexander narrowed his eyes at her.
She moved a piece of her hair away from her face, letting Alexander see her face clearly.
She’s beautiful, he thought to himself. Whatever man she left at the altar must be a sorry lad.
“I did not mean to terrorize anything,” she exhaled, embarrassment coloring her voice. “I was running away in a hurry, and…and this seemed to be the only place I could go into without being noticed and…”
“Miss Morton,” he interrupted her gently, a hint of amusement marking his tone. “If it was safety that you were looking for then I would question your judgment as to why you thought thatseeking refuge inside a Gentleman’s club was the best course of action for a young lady like yourself.”
Alexander had been running the club for many years now. Even though it was not a gaming hell, and he tried to keep the place peaceful, he couldn’t control who frequented it.
His eyes darkened at the thought of some sleazy guest of his trying to chat up this young woman. For reasons he could not explain to himself, the thought bothered him greatly.
“It was the best available option to me, and I cannot blame myself though you might see things differently,” Penelope frowned. “But let me clarify to you that I only wish to seek shelter here. Just long enough for me to get my things together.”
It was an innocent request, and the look on her face as she said it was even more so. Alexander briefly considered it, but then shook his head.
“Considering how you ran away, I suspect that there will be people trying to find you,” he stated. “And the last thing I need is an angry father, or a scorned suitor marching down my door and causing trouble. I am running a business here, Miss Morton. Not a charity.”
Perhaps his words had come out harsher than he had intended. At least, that was the impression he got when he saw her frown deepen. Alexander was not one to take back his words, but seeing her reaction, he almost considered it for a moment.
“I urge you please,” she whispered, “to have a heart.”
“Miss Morton,” he stated firmly, straightening himself. It had been a long time since someone spoke so softly to him, and it was difficult not to be impacted. Alexander took a couple of steps back from her, if only to put some distance between them. “I do not know what reasons you had to leave the altar in this manner, which is rather unsuitable for a lady. But I do know that this is no place for you to be. It is in your best interest to return to where you have come from”.
She shook her head furiously and took a few steps closer to him.
“No, you do not understand. I simply cannot return now,” her voice broke as she spoke. “It was not my own wish to marry, rather it was imposed upon me by my father. Surely, you can empathize with me in a situation as desperate as that.”
His mind began to wander, and he found himself pondering why a woman like herself would not wish to marry. Looking at her, even in this state, Alexander could see that a horde of young men would be interested in proposing to her, based on her looks alone. She could have her pick of the litter. Why on earth was she forced to do anything?
“It was not my choice,” she reiterated. “But I only went through with it to appease my father, who does not listen to any opinion other than his own. But I could not shake the feeling that I was making a great mistake, and…”
Her voice broke, and Alexander felt a strange need to suddenly comfort her. He did not enjoy seeing something so beautiful in pain like this.
But he restrained himself and simply waited for her to continue with her story. Her pale fingers clutched the fabric of her gown tightly .
“Even till right before the ceremony, my instincts were telling me to run , as though I would be avoiding some sort of terrible fate by doing so,” she explained, her gaze trained firmly to the ground. “But I did not have the courage.”
“Well, you seemed to have mustered up the courage eventually,” Alexander pointed out, raising a brow.
“It was because he…” she stammered again, struggling to get the words out. “It happened the day before the ceremony. He had come for a last visit to my home, and then… he came into my room when no one was there… and he said that I am his, so he was free to do as he wishes.”
Alexander stiffened immediately. This was not the response that he had expected.
She did not explain further, nor did she have to. The implication was clear.
The bastard had tried to take liberties with her. Alexander felt anger surge inside him.
Penelope misread his silence as disbelief.
