Page 87 of A Stolen Heart

Therefore, she was greatly disappointed when their hackney disgorged her and Sebastian in front of her house, and they entered to find that not only her aunt was waiting for them, but also the Countess, Penelope and even the redoubtable Lady Ursula. Alexandra let out a groan when she walked into the drawing room, followed by Sebastian, and saw the group sitting there.

“Alexandra!” Aunt Hortense jumped to her feet, a broad smile of joy spreading over her face. “My darling girl!”

She hurried to Alexandra, laughing and crying all at once, and pulled her against her substantial bosom for a long, hard hug. “I was frantic about you!”

“We all were,” agreed the Countess, who had risen from her seat and followed Aunt Hortense at a slower pace. When at last Aunt Hortense released Alexandra from her embrace, the Countess took her hand and leaned in to press her cheek against Alexandra’s. “It is such a relief to see you alive and well.”

“Thank you. I am very glad to be here, I can tell you.”

The Countess turned to Sebastian. “Thank God you were with her. That is the only thing that kept me from worrying myself into an early grave—or, perhaps, not such an early one, but not a place I wish to be, nevertheless,” she added with a wry smile. “It is good to see you, Sebastian. It would appear that the two of you have had quite an adventure. You must sit and tell us all about it.”

“Yes,” Aunt Hortense agreed. “I’ve already rung for tea. I am sure you must be in need of refreshments.”

Alexandra sat on a chair near Penelope, resigned to not being able to escape for another few minutes. “First I want to hear what happened to the fellow who attacked me.”

“Oh, Bucky and the others took care of him,” Penelope assured her, her eyes shining. “The balloonists tried to hold the man, but he tore away. Bucky—that is, Lord Buckminster—came up just at that minute, though, and he planted the fellow such a facer that he fell to the ground.”

“Penelope, such language!” her mother remarked with a frown. “You know I hate it when you use pugilist cant. I lay it at your brother’s door, but a girl should know better than to use such words in polite company.”

“Yes, Mama.” Penelope subsided, the excitement in her eyes dimming.

“It sounds to me as if Lord Buckminster was quite a hero,” Alexandra said, hoping to revive Penelope, but she offered only a wan smile at Alexandra’s remark.

“I’ve always thought those exhibitions were not the thing,” Lady Ursula announced. “That’s why I never allowed Penelope to attend one before.” She fixed her daughter with a stern gaze and added ominously, “And never again, I must say.”

“I really doubt that the balloons had anything to do with that ruffian attacking me,” Alexandra retorted. “Doubtless he had been following me, waiting for an opportunity. It could have happened right outside the front door, I suppose.”

Lady Ursula looked shocked. “I’ve never heard of such a thing. Why are these people attacking you, that’s what I wonder,” she went on darkly, her tone implying that the attacks were somehow Alexandra’s fault.

“If I knew that, Lady Ursula, I wouldn’t be as worried.”

“I, for one, am certain that it has something to do with who you are,” the Countess said. “If I needed any further proof that you are my granddaughter, that is it.”

“Now, Mother, that doesn’t follow. Just because someone tries to steal her purse or something does not prove that she is our Alexandra.”

“It was scarcely a purse snatching, Ursula,” the Countess commented mildly. “Thieves do not try to kidnap you. And while they may climb in windows, they don’t knock people over the head or try to strangle them and take absolutely nothing with them.”

Lady Ursula, for once, looked slightly abashed and lapsed into silence. Aunt Hortense seized the opportunity to ask a question. “What happened to you two? I was afraid you’d been blown out to sea or some such thing. I presume you must have landed.”

“Yes. Quite far from here,” Sebastian replied dryly. “It took us all day to get back to London on the mail coach.”

“The mail coach!” Lady Ursula looked shocked. “Are you serious?”

“Very much so. It was not an experience I care to repeat.”

“We spent the night at a highwayman’s hideout,” Alexandra added, aware of an impish impulse to shock Lady Ursula again.

“What!” The woman’s bulging eyes were ample reward.

Alexandra hid a smile. “A highwayman. He very kindly gave us a meal and a bed—beds.” Color rose in her cheeks at her mistake.

“Yes, and took my purse for his trouble,” Sebastian added, but his words could not divert their attention from Alexandra’s embarrassed face.

“Lord have mercy!” Aunt Hortense exclaimed.

“Indeed.” Lady Ursula raised her brows. “I shouldn’t spread the fact around if I were you. There is already quite enough scandal regarding your little trip.”

“It’s scandalous to be nearly abducted and escape?” Alexandra asked coolly, giving the older woman a level look.