In the dining room, tea had been served, and the chair at the head of the table had been left vacant for him. Normally, Christopher would be sitting at one of the chairs at either sideof him, and one of his brothers would take up the others, but not tonight. For one, Christopher was gone. And hopefully not falling deeper into any gambling debts. But two, to his right, Clarissa sat sipping her tea and chatting with Gwen, who sat beside her.
Her gaze slid over to him, and she gave him a shy smile before returning her attention to Gwen and engaging in whatever discussion the two of them had ongoing.
“Cook will be along shortly with something small to fill our bellies until this evening’s meal,” Alexander announced, before sitting down and pouring himself a cup of tea. Not his beverage of choice, but he supposed he could not drink whisky all day and night.
James appeared and bent down to Alexander. “A missive has arrived for ye, Your Grace.” He held out a tray containing the note, and Alexander accepted it.
“Thank ye, James.”
With a bow, the butler left just as quietly as he had entered.
He pushed away from the table and moved away from the women’s conversation. His friends, sensing that this was business, followed him over.
“What is it?” Finlay asked.
“Is it from Kitt?” Nicholas snarled.
By his reaction, Alexander could tell his best friend was ready to go to battle with the bastard. The thought brought a smile to his lips. He, too, would love to go to war with the louse.
Alexander broke the seal—a brown K—and read the note.
“Well. What does it say?” Gunn asked impatiently.
“He wants to meet. This eve. At his property.”
Malcolm nodded. “We will join ye. A collective show of support.”
Alexander shook his head. “Nay. Though I appreciate the offer. I believe he will perceive that as weakness. For a manof such small stature, he surely has an ego the size of the hemisphere.”
“I dinna like that.” Nicholas grumbled.
“Och, he willna attempt any such thing. He is no’ calling me to his estate to harm me. Nay, he wants to discuss something. I will go—alone—and see what his terms are. There is no need for a group attack.”
“’Twouldna be an attack.”
“Pray tell, how do ye think he would perceive all of us marching up to his doorstep for a meeting that was supposed to only be between him and me?” He pulled at his cravat to loosen it and rolled his head from side to side. “I can do this alone.”
*
Clarissa tried toconcentrate on what Gwen was saying, but her attention was drawn to Alexander and the group of men on the far side of the room. Hunched together, they were speaking in low voices, and she could not hear what they were saying, no matter how much she strained her ears.
Gwen placed a hand over hers. “Clarissa?”
She gave Gwen a guilty look. “I am sorry. I am trying to—”
Gwen smiled, “Hear what the men are discussing?” She clucked her tongue. “’Tis rude to eavesdrop,” she admonished teasingly as she leaned into Clarissa. “I bet ye if we stopped talking and focused, we could make out the conversation.”
Clarissa’s eyes widened with her sister-in-law’s willingness to help her. With a devilish grin, Clarissa put her finger to her lips to silence them both and they listened intently. But it was to no avail. The words remained a secret.
When Alexander’s gaze snapped to hers, she jumped. It felt as if he caught her doing something she was not supposed to do. Which, in a way, she surmised was true.
He nodded towards Nicholas and then the men returned to the table, but instead of taking his seat at the head of the table, Alexander announced that he would be taking his leave.
“I am sorry to leave ye all, especially since ye will be eating soon. ’Tis most rude of me, I ken, but there is an urgent business matter that I must attend to. I will check in on Cook afore I leave to ensure she will bring out the food shortly.”
He paused by Clarissa, confliction creasing his brows. But whatever it was passed and with a brief nod, he spun on his heel and left the room.
“What do you suppose that was about?” Clarissa asked. She did not address any one in particular.
