“It was supposed to convince you to leave.”
She closed her eyes, as if searching for strength. “I will go if Lord Lindley and my aunt get too much to bear after Sunday. That’s three days from now. Do I get that long?”
He smiled. “You are a tough negotiator, but one so beautiful that I can’t seem to say no to anything she asks of me.”
“Alexandra!Have you been listening to anything I’ve said?”
Lexie glanced up at her aunt with what she hoped was a look of chagrin. They were in the parlor working on their prospective embroidery hoops, but her thoughts had drifted, as they had done so often this morning.
After she’d parted ways with Dominic and made her way back in the house and up to her room without incident, she’d found it difficult to fall asleep as her body was still humming with the delight she’d experienced in his arms. All morning, as she’d performed her ablutions and taken a warm bath, she’d sighed, thinking of his arms wrapped around her, but more than that, his wicked fingers bringing her body to such heights of ecstasy that she had found it difficult to put her feelings into words. All she could say was that being with him was wonderful and she was looking forward to the life they weregoing to build together. He hadn’t approached her with a romantic proposal or professed his undying love, but neither did she care if there was a grand gesture attached to their union. So long as she could call herself his bride, that was all that truly mattered.
It had humbled her when he’d asked her to move to the estate, even if he had not planned to do the same just yet. She was curious about his mother, but she knew there would be plenty of time to make her acquaintance after she could be assured that Dominic would live to see another day. It unnerved her to know the assailant was still out there roaming the streets and watching from afar, waiting for the moment when he might strike again, except this time, be successful in his endeavors.
She shuddered to think that if something happened to Dominic, she would have no other choice but to wed Lord Lindley. While she hadn’t thought he was the worst choice when they’d first met, after what Dominic had revealed to her, as well as her own personal experiences, she was coming to believe that he wouldn’t be a good choice at all.
“I’m sorry, Aunt Bonnie. I fear I was woolgathering.”
The older lady harrumphed. “You’ve been doing that all morning. I daresay your head is in the clouds, and I can only guess as to the reason behind your sudden inattention.”
Lexie said nothing, deciding it was better that she remained silent or suffer another lecture about how terrible the Duke of Cuthbert was while extolling all the dramatic qualities that the earl possessed.
“I shall be out this afternoon making a few calls.”
Lexie waited to see if she would be forced to attend as well, but when she said nothing more, she inclined her head. “I am sure I can find something to entertain myself here.”
“I had no doubt of it. You are a smart gel. For the most part.”
Only her aunt could manage to add a compliment and then end on an insult. With a roll of her eyes, Lexie returned to herembroidery and decided to put her aunt’s opinions to the side of her thoughts.
Later, when Lexie was left to her own devices, she decided to pen a letter to her father. She had never had much of a chance to talk to him during his hasty visit and she had thought to thank him for his intervention on the duke’s behalf. She was grateful that he had taken her side and she intended to express her gratitude. She didn’t expect a reply, but at least she could hope that it would go further to bring their strained relationship even closer.
A footman appeared at the doorway of the parlor as she was finishing up her missive and announced the arrival of Lord Lindley.
She wasn’t thrilled to hear this, but she knew she had to be polite. If she turned him away, she knew she wouldn’t hear the end of it from her aunt even if entertaining the earl sounded completely dull in the extreme.
She waited patiently for him to enter the room and as he bowed over her hand, she greeted him coolly, so he would understand this was a social call and nothing more. Perhaps since they were alone together, she could stress the importance of his acceptance of her betrothal to another.
“I trust you have been well, Miss Givenwald?” he asked cordially as he took a seat on the settee. He was near one end, obviously expecting her to sit beside him, but she perched on a chair opposite.
“I have, thank you.” She clasped her hands together in front of her. “I’m rather glad you stopped by today. I have been meaning to talk to you about?—”
He exhaled heavily and smiled so broadly that she was momentarily taken aback by his immediate reaction to what she had yet to say. “I feel the same way.” He moved to kneel in front of her. “I knew I could not wait any longer to ask you to be my wife.” He reached into his vest pocket and withdrew a lovely emerald ring surrounded by sparkling diamonds. “This was mygrandmother’s. I vowed never to give it to anyone unless I was confident in my love for her. And the truth is, I love you, Alexandra. With all of my heart. Will you not make me the happiest of men and say yes to my proposal?”
Lexie wished the floor would open up and swallow her whole, but since she didn’t have any hope of that occurring, she reached out and slowly closed the lid of the ring box. The earl looked confused at first, and when she disentangled herself from his presence and moved to the other side of the room, she turned to see that he was still crouched on the floor as if in disbelief that she hadn’t leaped with joyful glee into his arms.
“I am honored by your proposal, my lord, and had I not already been engaged, I would happily accept your offer, but you have to understand that I am spoken for. I have accepted the Duke of Cuthbert’s suit.” She paused and hoped she was letting him down gently enough. But either way it couldn’t be helped. He needed to realize where her heart stood.
He said nothing for a moment and then slowly stood. Tucking the ring back into his vest pocket, his lips tightened. “I am sorry to hear that. I think you are making a mistake. You don’t know who the duke really is.”
“I know enough,” she countered. She couldn’t very well tell him that she knew of his secret dealings in the East End, as that would not only break his confidence and trust in her, but it could be detrimental if that sort of information fell into the wrong hands. She was wont to believe the earl might just be underhanded enough to take out his frustration on the duke by revealing Avalon’s true identity to his enemies.
“I don’t think you do.” He stepped toward her, his face a mask of intensity that nearly caused her to take a step back, but she held her ground. “He is a charlatan who spins a web of lies. I have it on good authority that he masquerades about Whitechapel under a pseudonym with a gang known as the Blue Boys. He is dangerous, and you would do well to steer clear of him.”
A sudden frisson of unease trailed up her spine. She was afraid that if Lord Lindley knew about Dominic, it would soon spread throughout the rest of London and that would be perilous in the extreme. “How did you hear about this?”
“I have my sources,” he returned cryptically. “The point is that you are choosing the wrong man to share your life. He is a confirmed libertine. He will only bring you heartbreak where I can offer you security and stability.” He reached out and grasped her hands. “Don’t discount my offer just yet. Give it some thought. You will see that I’m right.”
He released her and offered a slight bow before he turned on his heel and quit the room.
