For a moment he stared down at her in a fulminating way. Then a grin split his face. “Should have known it wouldn’t be long before you broke out of that unnatural submissiveness. Do you want me to ask for a second room?”
Apple’s fury dropped right out as a giggle escaped her. “You are quite abominable, Alex. You know I can’t possibly ask that now. It would hurt Mrs Tinkler’s feelings.”
An odd expression flitted across his face. “Why should you care? As you said, you scarcely know the woman.”
Her mouth dropped open. “Have you run mad? What does that matter? Besides, if she is going to travel with me, I shall have to get to know her.”
Alex began to laugh. “Incorrigible, that’s what you are, Apple. First you ring a peal over me for making you share her bed. Next you’re berating me for suggesting I change the arrangements.”
Apple eyed him frostily, waiting for his laughter to subside. He stopped, but the amusement was still visible in his eyes.
“The point,” she began in a careful tone, “is that —”
“I should have consulted with you in the first place,” Alex supplied.
“Yes! It’s too late now.”
He gave a mock little bow. “As your ladyship pleases.” And then, to her astonishment, his cheeks darkened and consternation entered his eyes.
Apple gazed at him, a horrid suspicion curling inside her. “Why did you say that?”
“What?”
“Your ladyship.”
His shoulders shifted. “I was jesting, Apple.”
“No, you weren’t. At least, perhaps you were, but you look conscious, Alex. Why?”
He threw back his head and a sigh escaped him. “Wish to God you weren’t so cursed acute!”
A memory stole into Apple’s mind. He knew something about her past! How could she have forgotten?
“You weren’t going to tell me,” she accused.
A rueful look swept across his face. “No, I wasn’t. Not yet.”
“Well, you’ll have to now or I shan’t sleep.”
Alex glanced around the hall, and Apple followed his lead. The man who looked like a butler had gone, but there were a couple of gentlemen conversing near an open door from which emanated the sound of general conversation.
She allowed Alex to steer her to a small sofa set against the wall to one side.
“Sit here. If we look to be talking, we won’t be disturbed.”
“We are talking,” Apple pointed out as she sat down.
He took a seat beside her. “You know what I mean.”
“Oh, stop prevaricating, Alex, and tell me what you know!”
“Give me a chance, will you?”
Apple gripped her fingers together. “Please, Alex!”
The light from a massive chandelier above them did not fully reach the sofa, instead throwing shadows onto his face. Apple found herself hoping it was that which made him look grim.
“My mother thinks she knows the particular scandal that may have involved you.”
