He laughed. “Shouldn’t, of course, but I’d find more gentle means to persuade you if you refused me.”
“Refuse you?” Georgy was indignant. “Good heavens, Alex, she won’t do that! She wears her heart in her eyes whenever she looks at you.”
Lady Luthrie tutted. “Do be quiet, Georgiana!”
His father gently steered Georgy out of the way and took her place. “I suggest, my dear boy, that you retire with Appoline to discuss the matter.”
“Mean to do so, sir, but must settle this first.” He turned to the duchess. “I’m not going to have Apple subjected to all this legal argy-bargy, ma’am. Trust you to do the business while we’re away. By the time we get back the tabbies will have ooh-ed and aah-ed to their heart’s content and gone on to something else.”
Apple’s suspicious tones cut in. “Get back from where?”
His father forestalled him before he could answer. “Ah, you mean to take Appoline away for the duration? That sounds an excellent plan, my dear boy.”
“I agree with you, Charles. That is well thought of, Alexander.”
“And so also am I in agreement,” said Lady Mere, surprising Alex. “Amongst the four of us, I dare say we may contrive to brush through the business without too much fuss.”
“Indeed, yes,” agreed the duchess with enthusiasm, “loath as I am to lose her so soon, it will be much more comfortable for her.” She reached out to Apple and stroked her face. “I will hope to have plenty of opportunity to get to know you, my dearest girl.”
“I too, ma’am, to get to know you.”
Alex was touched to see the unaccustomed shyness in Apple, but the duchess’s evident pleasure was echoed in her eyes.
“Take her away with confidence, my dear Alex — if I may acknowledge our coming closer relationship? We will make all right here in the meanwhile, and give it out that my daughter has gone upon her wedding trip.”
Georgy clapped her hands. “A honeymoon! How excessively romantic of you, Alex.”
“Not a honeymoon, though I dare say it will be that too.” He took Apple’s hand in his and smiled down at her. “Going to take Apple adventuring — if she’ll have me.”
Chapter Twenty-eight
Dragged willy-nilly back towards the Little Parlour, in a whirling kaleidoscope of confused emotions and a trifle out of breath besides, Apple’s first coherent thoughts concentrated upon Alex’s conduct.
“This is typical of you, to be rushing me hither and yon.”
He slowed a trifle, but grinned down at her. “Can’t wait to get you to myself.”
“To tell you the truth, I could do with a period of quiet reflection.”
“That’s the last thing you’re going to get. Right now at least.”
Apple was torn between indignation and a lively curiosity to know what he meant to do with her. She was not left long in ignorance. The moment he thrust Apple through the door and closed it behind them, he captured her into a stifling embrace, hugging her so tightly she uttered a faint protest.
“I can’t breathe!”
His hold relaxed a fraction, but he clasped her head against his shoulder and seemed as if he would never let her go.
Her heart filled to bursting and her throat ached for several moments until the warmth and comfort of her position, enclosed in so strong and possessive a hold, began to permeate through her body. A sensation of utter bliss made the desire to weep recede, and she sighed in deep content.
Alex released his clutch upon her, enough to allow Apple to raise her head. She looked into his face and tenderness rushed through her as she saw a trace of moisture on his cheek.
She put up her hand and smoothed it away. “Oh, Alex…”
He caught her fingers and pressed them to his lips, sighing deeply. “My Apple.”
“My Alex,” she returned, and the beam of his smile lit up his whole face in a way she’d never seen before.
“I think I must have fallen in love with you the moment you produced that pistol in my coach.”
