Priscilla leaned forward and placed a kiss on Alice’s head before leaving her alone to observe the man she couldn’t dare to want. Could she?
CHAPTER 20
Ethan took in a lungful of fresh air as he hobbled out to the garden to meet with Johanssen. The steward had arrived at last, and his timing was a blessing as Ethan’s movements were still restricted by his ankle. Staying inside and immobile the past days had severely affected his temper, and he was about at his wits end if he couldn’t do something useful.
He begrudgingly acknowledged that being forced to delegate and lean on others was good for him, but having time on his hands also allowed Ethan’s mind to wander to Alice. It was almost impossible not to think of her as much as he tried to focus on other things. Picking up a book and attempting to get lost in the story inevitably led to something on the page as simple as a passing reference to a flower reminding him of her, diverting his imagination from fiction to that which he remembered all too clearly.
Ethan could still feel her in his arms, skin warm from sleep and eager for his touch. The taste of her mouth lived vividly in his mind, and her hair—oh god, how he was obsessed with her hair. Anything even close to resembling red within his line of vision would send his thoughts and desires spiraling.
Shaking his head and attempting to also shake his thoughts away, Ethan was startled to see how far the masons had progressed on the stone wall, already finished with the westernmost portion and now onto the northern side. How had he not noticed?
This was the trouble with Alice, she consumed his waking thoughts and he lost track of his responsibilities. She was a danger to all he was striving to achieve, not only for West but for everyone who relied on the estate. Almost the entire time they’d been stranded, Ethan hadn’t spared a thought for anything other than Alice, everything else he needed to worry about simply out of his mind.
In some ways her effect on him was a blessing, quieting the thoughts that ceaselessly swirled about in his head. She lent a sense of calm that he’d been longing for all his life without ever knowing it—part of the reason he loved being here in the countryside and away from Town. But it was also dangerous—Ethan couldn’t just forget his obligations and exist in a world with only Alice, as much as he might like to. It simply wasn’t practical.
Finally making it out to the wall, he saw Matthais and Johanssen who were busy studying Alice’s garden plan. He studiously ignored the fact that he was thinking about her once again while extending his hand to the new steward.
“Johanssen, I am so glad you made it to Hampton House. I’m sorry I couldn’t welcome you properly until now.” The steward shook his hand vigorously and dipped his head.
“Not at all, everyone has been extremely kind. I heard about you getting stranded in that storm a few days ago. I understand why you’ve been unavailable. I’m just impressed with how put together my place was, knowing you had to shelter there.”
Ethan cleared his throat, forcing his mind to stay in the present, as mention of the cottage and the storm made visions ofAlice’s copper curls and soft skin flash behind his eyes. “I’m glad it was put back to rights before you arrived. Your hospitality was appreciated, even if you were unaware.”
Johanssen and Matthias both laughed, easing him back to the present, focusing on the work that lay ahead of them.
“Matthias was just showing me around the glasshouse, it seems most of the starts are ready to be transplanted into the prepared beds. We came out here to get a sense of the progress on the wall.”
The three men wandered about and proceeded to talk through designs for the next hour or so until Ethan, irritated, had to sit, having exceed the amount of time allowed to use his ankle.
“I feel damned useless,” he grunted. “I never should have gone out looking for the wood anemone that day, I knew it was likely to storm.”
“From what I understand, the request came from a fetching young lady. I don’t think many of us would have refused,” Johanssen said, a small snort escaping Matthias as he tried to conceal his laughter. Ethan glowered at Johanssen’s easy referral to Alice. Not picking up on his supervisor’s sour mood, Johanssen unwisely continued.
“I have yet to meet Miss Pembroke, I understand she has taken ill after your time together in the rain,”—the steward leered, the corner of his mouth turning up—“but I understand she is most agreeable to work with. Too bad I wasn’t around to share close quarters with the lady.”
“Watch the way you talk about Miss Pembroke if you wish to keep this position,” Ethan ground out, his jaw tight with outrage as he lunged to his feet. “You are talking about a lady and the cousin to the marchioness.”
Johanssen held up his hands and took a step back. “I meant no harm, simply trying to have a laugh. I promise I’lltreat her with respect. I do admire the plan she’s put together, shows an innate talent for form and function.” He tipped his head respectfully, and Ethan grudgingly lowered his own before turning away on a grunt, leaning heavily on his walking stick.
Of course, it was just his luck to discover West standing only a few yards away, observing the interaction.
“What was all that about?” his cousin asked with a frown.
“Nothing you need to worry about, my lord.” Ethan was beyond exasperated and immediately hated himself for the sarcastic tone. Sighing, he hung his head and closed his eyes, hoping to recenter himself but finding Alice’s dainty face imprinted on the back of his eyelids instead. “Forgive me, I’m irritable from being cooped up for so long. All is fine with Johanssen, we’re just feeling one another out.”
“It didn’t look like nothing. And your continued perturbation worries me.” West studied him. “What’s rubbing at you?”
If he was going to insist on answers, maybe Ethan should just tell him everything and get his advice on how to free himself of Alice. Ethan began staggering toward the house, and West turned to walk with him. “Let’s get settled back at the house so I can prop up this damn leg, I can’t talk while doing a balancing act.”
“See? Another reason settling in my study is better than your office,” West said, holding up a bottle of scotch and grinning.
Pouring a finger full into two tumblers, West ambled over to Ethan who was scrubbing his face while leaning back in the desk chair.
“Whoa. That bad, is it?” West asked, watching Ethan promptly drain the glass after depositing it into his outstretchedhand. He politely sipped his own drink while raising a brow in his cousin’s direction.
“Everything is fine. I merely had strong words with Johanssen when he spoke impertinently about Al—about Miss Pembroke. He implied I might have taken advantage of the situation we found ourselves in, and I didn’t take kindly to the suggestion.”
It was quiet for a moment, West appraising him. Only the crackle of the fire broke the deafening silence that grew as Ethan squirmed uncomfortably.
