Struggling to free herself, it took far too long before Alice stood apart from Lord Diamond. And when she looked at the young lady, she simply didn’t know what to say.
What could she possibly tell her to make it any better?
“How could you?” Susanne asked, sounding wounded and confused. “Withmysuitor? It’s indecent.”
“I am sorry,” Alice said, her voice coming out barely louder than a whisper. Her mouth felt strange. But when she raised her hand to her lips, only to find it shaking, she lowered it again.
She hadn’t changed at all, hadn’t learned anything from her wreck of a life.
“Mrs. Malcolm has nothing to be sorry for,” Lord Diamond said firmly. “I found her overcome with emotion from the music and sought to comfort her. I then took liberties with her person.”
“You did!” Susanne agreed. “Grave liberties. I saw you. But...” She looked from one to the other. “But Mrs. Malcolm appeared to beallowingthe liberties and taking some of her own.”
“Nonsense,” Lord Diamond said.
All Alice could do was stare at his profile as he tried to save her reputation, something no one had ever done for her before.
“I am taller and stronger,” he insisted. “I wanted to kiss her, and I did. There was little she could do to stop me.”
How chivalrous of him!Normally, she would gainsay him and take her share of the responsibility, but not for this. She couldn’t. She was as low as she could go, and the thought of seeking employment again, perhaps landing somewhere far less acceptable left her frozen with fear.
Thus, she let him heap the blame upon himself and hoped he understood.
Chapter Seven
Adam hoped he had said enough to save Mrs. Malcolm from losing her position with the Beasley family, not to mention her good name. Lovers kissing in Sydney Gardens was probably nothing out of the ordinary. But a gentleman kissing a governess and being discovered by the lady he was supposed to be courting — that was beyond the pale, especially when the governess was supposed to be chaperoning.
Besides, it was indubitably his fault. Both times. This instance had been far better than the first. Instead of being punched in the stomach, he’d felt her body melt against his, inflaming his passions. He’d never experienced anything like it. Raw and hot and overwhelming until he had truly forgotten they were in a public place.
It must have been the darkness and the fact that they were practically alone with everyone in the Gothic Hall, listening to music. Or they should have been, except Lady Susanne had come out!
What now?
Lady Susanne allowed him to escort them home, although she would hardly look at him and wouldn’t speak to either one of them, not even when he addressed her directly.
“Will you keep what you saw to yourself, my lady, to avoid embarrassment to Mrs. Malcolm, or any greater harm?”
The greatest harm would be if Alice, as he now thought of her, was sacked. He didn’t know her circumstances but assumed her dead husband had not left her with much money, or she would not be working for the Beasleys.
For her part, Alice had shrunk into herself, turning away. If she behaved in such a guilty fashion, Adam feared Lady Beasley would know something had happened even if her eldest daughter said nothing about what she’d seen.
“Mrs. Malcolm, please do not accept any blame,” he added, trying to warn her to stand tall, chin lifted, and maintain her innocence. “I hope you accept my apology. And to you, too, Lady Susanne. I should not have left you alone in the Gothic Hall. But if you speak of this, how will your sisters’ governess be able to continue her lessons with a hint of ignominy hanging over her?”
Still, Lady Susanne said nothing. Nor did she bid him good night when he helped her out of the carriage.
Alice, on the other hand, looked him directly in the eyes. Instead of fury at his reckless behavior, she sent him a message of gratitude, which he did not deserve.
“Good night,” she said softly, her voice still subdued. Then she disappeared inside.
He barely slept, wondering over her fate, although he also marveled at his obsession with this woman who had been a stranger to him not long ago. She made his pulse pound like horse’s hooves and his heart soar, despite her being a widow and from a different class. He wanted to be near her, to find out everything about her, and mostly to kiss her again. Turning, he punched his pillow.
Was this how love started?Adam thought perhaps it was. Something inside her called to him in a way he had neverexperienced. And it certainly wasn’t happening with Lady Susanne.
On the other hand, it was inconceivable to take this beyond a summer dalliance — love or not. He knew from Lady Beasley that Alice was finished with London, whereas the city was his beloved home. In any case, he could not be seen with her there. As soon as her station was discovered, the assumption would be she was loose, maybe even accepting money from him.
In Bath, though, if she were willing, he could bring her to his private residence and tup her soundly. Perhaps she was lonely and would enjoy such a respite, even if that was all he could offer her.
Unable to let matters rest, he stopped by the Beasleys’ home as soon as the hour could be considered polite for visiting. Once inside, he wasn’t sure what to do.How could he speak to Mrs. Malcolm privately? And what of Lady Susanne?
