Alexander snorted.
“The day I need tips from you on what to do with a woman, is the day hell freezes over.”
Elliot didn’t respond with a witty rejoinder the way Alexander expected him to. He watched Elliot closely.
Something was… off.
And he suspected it had a lot to do with the innocent Jane Darington.
“Elliot,” Alexander began hesitantly, not entirely sure how to broach the subject. “You’re starting to seem – almost obsessive about the lady. Like your interest lies in something other than mere trifle.”
Alexander watched a flash of something dark flare in his friend’s eyes before Elliot schooled his features into impassivity once more.
“You’re wrong,” he said softly, and his tone told Alexander more than anything else that he was most definitely not wrong.
Damn it all to Hades. This was a bloody disaster.
Olivia would be fuming when she found out that Elliot had seriously dishonourable intentions toward Jane Darington.
Alexander groaned aloud and shook his head, knowing that somehow the little nuisance would find a way to lay the blame at his feet. He’d introduced them, after all.
“Just make sure that you don’t do anything to ruin the girl, St. Clare. Because -.”
“Oh, calm down Alexander. You are becoming hysterical.” Elliot was enjoying this more than he should.
Alexander snatched the tumbler of brandy that Elliot held out to him and downed the contents in one gulp.
“You’re asking me to turn a blind eye while you seduce an old friend, St. Clare. There’s only so much I’ll tolerate.”
Elliot’s smile widened.
“Come now, what’s brought on this hero complex, old friend? I was rather thinking that you could keep the girl’s watchful sister occupied.”
Alexander managed a strangled sound of protest but not much else.
“You’re not going to try and make me believe it will be a hardship? A whole Christmas season of moonlight, darkened corners, nobody around to witness your actions?” Elliot asked cajolingly. “I’ve seen your interest in her, Alexander. The way you watched her last night. You may as well have a sign painted.”
Alexander suppressed a shudder.
“Usually, I wouldn’t hesitate to agree with you wholeheartedly, Elliot. But the lady we’re talking about is Olivia Darington. Moonlight, darkened corners and no witnesses is not only a perfect setting for seductions…” Alexander swallowed noisily, “…it’s also perfect for a murder.”
Scowling at Elliot’s raucous laughter following his statement, Alexander turned his back to look out of the window that overlooked the gardens. And stopped dead.
Was that Olivia?
He squinted and stepped closer to the window.
Sure enough, there were her lustrous curls bobbing up from the bushes.
What on earth was she doing?
He watched in amused captivation as she spied him standing by the window and raised a hand to beckon him outside.
“What has caught your attention?” Elliot asked, stepping over to stand at Alexander’s shoulder.
Alexander watched as Olivia’s eyes widened a split second before her head disappeared once more. He could assume, then, that she didn’t want his friend knowing she was out there.
Biting back a grin, he turned to Elliot to make his excuses.
