“People have overcome less. Hell, my father didn’t even speak English when my mother met him. They’ve been together forty years,” Tonireplied.
Alexander cleared his throat from the doorway, and Elizabeth gasped. One look at his face and she knew he’d heard her confessing herfears.
Elizabeth rose, still unsteady, and he met her halfway across the room. “I thought we were past this,” he said quietly. “I love you. Isn’t thatenough?”
“I want it tobe.”
He slid his arm around her waist, and she melted against him, but when he spoke, his tone still carried an edge. “We’re expected outside. Ladies, Samuel will show you into the media room where you can watch ontelevision.”
“Lizzie?” Toni reached out and took her hand. “Are youokay?”
Elizabeth tore her gaze away from Alexander. Her friends pressed together, a united front ready to protect her or fight for her if she asked them to. “Go with Samuel,” she said. “Alexander and I will be a few minutes, and then we’ll havedinner.”
Alexander’s majordomo appeared behind him with a leather coat in his hands. “Miss Elizabeth, it’s freezingoutside.”
“Thank you,” she managed as Alexander took the coat from Samuel. Once they were alone, she stepped back, the hurt and confusion in the emerald depths of his eyes too much to bear. “You can’t tell me you haven’t thought the samething.”
“I haven’t. Notonce.”
“Alex,” Nicholas appeared in the doorway. “Whatever this is, we don’t have time for itnow.”
“Shut it, Nicholas. This does not concern you. The press will wait.” Alexander helped her into the coat, then wrapped his arms around her from behind. His warm breath tickled her ear. “I didn’t intend to fall in love you, Elizabeth. Honestly, I wasn’t sure I was capable of the emotion. But now…I can’t imagine my life without you. Don’t give up on us because of differences that meannothing.”
Elizabeth slumped in his hold. “The press is going to jump all over me. Maybe not tonight, but soon. I’m unemployed. They’ll dig up all the crap with my parents. My bank account, credit rating. All of it. Aren’t you worried about that? About what they’ll say about you for datingme?”
“No.” The single word carried his every emotion, and he turned her around with his hands on her waist. “I care aboutyou, Elizabeth. I can handle the press, and if they come after you, they’ll regretit.”
“Are we quite done with the carrying on?” Nicholas asked. “The longer we make them wait, the more rabid they’re going tobe.”
Elizabeth searched for any hint of deception in Alexander’s eyes, any sign he might be putting on a front so she wouldn’t worry. But she only found determination, love, and a hint of pain at her lack of trust in him. “I won’t give up on us,” she whispered, and his smile warmed her down to hertoes.
“You look lovely,” he said as Samuel opened the door forthem.
Bright lights blinded her, and she raised a hand to shield her eyes as they stepped out onto the porch. Camera flashes went off in her face. Philippa, a tall brunette in her forties, stood in a heavy coat at a small podium that had been erected on theporch.
“Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Fairhaven and Ms. Bennett will make a brief statement and take a few questions. Please do not interrupt.” Philippa stepped aside, allowing Alexander and Elizabeth to approach themicrophone.
Oh God. You can dothis.
Elizabeth gripped the thin wood sides of the podium with white knuckledfingers.
“Last night, a man broke into my apartment and tried to kill me.” A titter went through the crowd, and another few flashes had her raising a hand to her eyes briefly. “I went up ahead of Alexander while he handled some business. The assailant was already inside. He threw me into a table. I sustained a mild concussion. Alexander heard me scream and probably saved my life. He stayed by my side all night in the hospital because I needed him there. The notion that he could have done this to me—as theBeantown Babblerreported—is ridiculous and patently false. I won’t dignify their claims with any furtherdiscussion.”
Philippa joined them at the podium. “You’ve heard from Ms. Bennett in her own words. She and Mr. Fairhaven will take a few questions. Mr. Joont, I see yourhand.”
“Mr. Fairhaven, Ms. Bennett. Mark Joont, WGBH. Can you confirm that this has something to do with the lawsuit you’ve filed against Carter, Pastack, andHayes?”
Ben cleared his throat from behind them and raised his voice to be heard. “I’m representing Ms. Bennett. This isn’t a question we’re prepared to comment on at this time. However, I will confirm that she is a material witness in the tax fraud case and that Harry Carter threatened both of them last night at the governor’s ball. You can draw your ownconclusions.”
“Was the concussion the only injury when you were attacked?” another reporter calledout.
“The only serious one,” Elizabethreplied.
Philippa pointed to a woman with flaming red hair and lips to match. “Hilary Wasser, BBC, do you have aquestion?”
“Is Fairhaven Charities bringing its own lawsuit? What about you and yourbrother?”
Alexander leaned closer to the microphone. “Fairhaven Charities employs independent accountants. As for Nicholas and me personally, we have no current plans to sue CPH. I will not speculate on whether our lawyers will bring suits against theBabblerfor their false and hurtfulclaims.”
“What is the status of your relationship?” a woman called out from thecrowd.
Alexander started to reply, but Elizabeth squeezed his hand. “Let me.” She sought out the blond woman who’d asked the question. “Alexander is probably used to all this attention, but I’m not. No one reports on my relationships. At least not until now. How would you feel if a stranger on the T came up to you and asked you how your sex life was? Whether you’d made plans for Christmas? Or whether you were inlove?”
“I’m not news,” the reporterreplied.
“Clearly.” Next to her, Alexander stifled a chuckle. “I’m not going to comment on the intimate details of our relationship other than to say that Alexander has been nothing but kind and caring this weekend. There’s nowhere else in the world I’d rather be right now. Well, except inside, warm, and away from all of you finepeople.”
Half of the reporters laughed, and the others glared at her. She couldn’t tell if she’d just made a terrible mistake or a brilliant show ofbravery.
“That’s all for tonight, ladies and gentlemen. It’s close to freezing, and Elizabeth needs rest. I’ll thank you for a bit of privacy in the next few days. Any other questions you have can be directed to our attorney, Fairhaven Exports’ legal department, or my press secretary.” Alexander led Elizabeth back inside, Nicholas, Ben, and a chorus of camera shutters followingthem.
