She turned to him, her hand went to her throat. “I have been wearing this chain long before you understood it existed.”
He nodded, knowing it was true. “I also know it will not stop you from doing what you have to do.”
Bright tears formed in her eyes. “You have just set me free.”
“Have I really?”
Then Alexis knew his admission of her right to be free had bound her more surely to him than the circle of his arms around her waist or his lips in her hair. But to be with him later meant leaving him now. It was this she found so difficult to accept.
He pulled away from her, sensing her torment. After he brushed aside her tears he led her downstairs.
Harry and Mike watched Alexis descend the steps with a reverent gaze. They looked to Landis, who had once described her as an avenging angel, and thought they would never doubt anything the man had to say. Landis was smiling, recalling the young woman with angry eyes and fierce promises. If he could have dressed her then he would have chosen no differently than his captain did now.
The three men stood silent, taking great pride in knowing the woman was Captain Alex Danty.
“Captain Danty, you’re lovely.” It was Harry Young who found his voice first. He spoke as if he had never been more sure of anything in his life.
“Thank you, Harry.” Only Cloud knew she was thanking him for calling her Captain.
“Your carriage is outside, sir,” Mike said when he could think of nothing to add to Harry’s statement. He saw the slim hand that gripped the banister and he remembered the time he had taught that hand to grip a pistol. It did not seem incongruous to him now that the hand should be part of the woman who stood before him. He would not have understood how anyone could look at that hand and not also see a weapon or the wheel of a ship as a natural extension of it.
Landis followed them out to the carriage and helped Alexis in. When Cloud was ready to snap the reins, Landis turned to Alexis suddenly and asked, “Lady Guinevere?”
“Never!” Before she could say any more Cloud had started the horses and Landis was left behind, with the memory of her earnest expression as she had answered him.
“What was he talking about?” asked Cloud.
“He has some notion about me shaving my head to join a convent,” she replied. “Never mind.” Laughing, she slipped her arm through his.
Alexis held Cloud’s elbow firmly as they were led by Davidson’s butler to the drawing room. On the threshold she dropped her hand, smiling grimly at him. When the door was opened and they were announced to the four men inside, her mien was gracious, suggesting the honor was hers.
Cloud observed the astonished faces of the men and knew immediately why Alexis had responded as she did. Not one of these men believed the woman he had brought to them was Captain Alex Danty. Very well, he thought, it has begun.
Robert Davidson was the first to recover from the vision Alexis presented in the doorway of his drawing room. He crossed the room and took her hand, kissing it lightly.
“It is a pleasure to have you here, ah, Miss Danty,” he said as she withdrew her hand.
“But how could I resist such an invitation as the one you sent?” she asked. Only Cloud heard the steely edge in her voice. “You went to a great deal of trouble to secure your pleasure.”
Davidson smiled uncomfortably and introduced the others. Alexis greeted them all warmly, observing Richard Granger’s nervous, darting eyes; Senator Howe’s cold, appraising stare; Bennet Farthington’s flirtatious, almost hungry gaze. It was Bennet, handsome, well built, and obviously envious of Cloud, that she singled out to proceed with the deception.
“Gentlemen,” she said, standing beside Bennet, brushing his tailored smoke gray trousers with the azure folds of her gown. “I believe someone is missing. I was told the President wished to meet me.”
Howe offered the explanation. “The President has just informed us he cannot attend. You just missed his messenger.”
An alarm, faint in sound and brief in duration, went off in Cloud’s head. He was hardly aware of its existence before it was gone and the senator was continuing to speak.
“He has given us authority to present his views in his absence, Miss Danty. Rest assured, we will be speaking for Mr. Madison.”
Alexis nodded, making a smallmoue.She glanced covertly at Cloud and her eyes seemed to say: this changes everything.
“Let us not discuss business before dinner,” said Bennet, offering Alexis his arm. “I believe dinner will be the perfect occasion to determine the answer to the question which is plaguing all of us.” He had to say no more. They all wanted to put aside their business until they were satisfied as to the woman’s identity.
Alexis was beginning to enjoy this situation immensely. Her rather confused smile convinced the others she understood none of what was said. Davidson led them into the large dining room. Bennet held out a chair for Alexis, then took a place beside her. Across from her, Cloud observed her game with wry amusement as she flirted with the others. He had only seen this side of her once, briefly, when he had first known her, and he had punished her for it. The coy coquette had returned. She even appeared to have won the senator over with her light, witty conversation. After dinner, while the table was being cleared by the servants, Alexis rose from her chair and walked to the large bay window at the end of the dining room. Cloud saw her tense stance as she stared out the window.
Alexis sighed. How could they doubt who she was? How could they doubt Cloud? Nothing she had said or done this evening should have mattered if they trusted the man who was sent to bring her. She knew then that what she was prepared to do was as much for him as it was for her. Their pride demanded appeasement.
Bennet went to stand beside Alexis. Over the voices surrounding him Cloud strained to hear her conversation with the aide to the Secretary of War.
