.
“He’ll do rather nicely… I suppose,” Mary Francis said once Justin left the room. Her head tilted, and her eyes fixed in the direction that Justin had fled.
Alex was unsure where the woman was going but decided to dispel any notion that Justin was more than simply a friend.
She’d been foolish enough to think them more hours ago, only to be proven wrong, and though Justin’s kisses made her yearn for the next one, she had no illusions that he wouldn’t turn cold once more.
He was a lord, and she’d learned long ago that aristocrats always did as they pleased.
Mary Francis went on before Alex could stop her. “I like him much better than Michael.”
Alex pulled in a breath and released it, settling both heart and stomach at the same time. Michael was the very last man she wanted to speak of. “Lord Chantenny and I are simply friends.”
“Even I can see that isn’t true,” Nash said as he took to one of the chairs on the other side of the room.
She didn’t know what he’d seen, but she didn’t wish to explore it either.
Alex set her face as a blank mask, determined to end this conversation. Then she turned to Alicia. “How are you feeling?”
Alicia was already staring at her. “I’m fine for the moment, and Mary Francis is right. He’s a much better man than Michael.”
Francis grunted and stomped her cane. “Michael would have expected tea, the selfish fool. A simpleton in every way.”
Alex felt a headache upon her and reached toward her temple to give it a light massage, trying to find a way to both satisfy the only family she’d ever known and lead them toward another conversation.
She thought about what Chantenny had said about finding her mother. That topic seemed to have an even worse reaction on her body. She didn’t want to find her mother. She’d stopped wanting that years ago.
She knew the story about how she’d come to Best Homes. Everyone said it was her mother who had brought her, asking Mary Elizabeth to take care of her. The only thing the woman had given Mary Elizabeth was her name and the day she’d been born, nothing more.
She’d never returned.
At first, Alex had dreamed she would. She’d prayed earnestly as a child for her mother to return, but she never came.
Talking about Chantenny was a much better topic.
Alex lifted her head and stared at Mary Francis. “You raised Michael.”
“Doesn’t mean I have to like every child who comes through Best Homes,” the woman said without shame. “He was a bother from the beginning, cried for everything. He likely still cries when he doesn’t get his way and is willing to get others into trouble to get away with his own crimes. I’m glad I don’t see him anymore.”
Alicia put a hand on her great-aunt, her expression surprised. “Aunt Francis, don’t say such a thing.”
Francis made a clicking sound with her teeth. “I don’t care too much for adults either, but there was a reason I didn’t run Elizabeth’s projects until after her death. I never liked children. Everyone knew so. It’s the same reason I never bothered to marry and gave the business to you the moment you were of age.”
Alex knew that if she were ever looking to hear the truth, she could go to Mrs. Mary Francis Best. The woman did not mince her words. She didn’t like children. She’d only started to like Alex as Alex grew older, and Alex could only recall the woman being sweet on Sundays, since Sundays were bath days and all the children would be clean by noon. Mary Francis would braid Alex’s hair in a crowned style while letting a few hairs hang by her ears. To this day, Alex had never been able to duplicate it.
It was a blessing that Alicia had the heart that she did and chose a staff of similar nature. Any money she received went to the children, which was the reason that for all of Alex’s life, she’d never seen Alicia’s personal home change in any way. The house was clean from head to toe, but there was never a new book on the shelf or a new painting on the wall. The furniture was that of the past, and even when Chris tried to help, still Alicia refused. Always, the children came first.
Not even the fear of death would change that, Alex suspected. Alicia had been born to take Mary Elizabeth’s place.
Mary Francis had not.
But Alex took no offense in Mary Francis’ claim that she didn’t like children. For her entire life, she'd never let it show when near the children. She smiled and laughed with them. They were the only beings in the world that she didn’t speak sharply to. She had no mercy for a man who crossed her.
In the end, the people Mary Francis liked were very few and were currently in the room.
Now, she was adding Justin to the list.
Mary Francis went on, staring at Alex, and Alex knew she would not enjoy what was said next. “I should have warned you against Michael. He was always a beautiful child. Everyone thought so. The boy could run to the market and come back with treats that had been simply handed to him. Everything had been handed to him. He never appreciated you. Never a thank you was said and never an apology.”
Alex knew this, and the conversation always made her feel like a fool all over again.
One minute, she and Michael had simply been friends, but when she’d left Best Homes, they’d become more. She’d lived with him. She’d worked so he wouldn’t have to. She’d loved him.
And then he left her for someone else.
Alex turned to Christmas and found him watching her closely, as though he knew her thoughts and recalled the day she’d come to his door, crying about her woes. He’d not judged her. He’d simply let her in, given her the room next to Rose’s, and that was that.
Nash had come over the next day and asked if she wanted Michael’s legs broken, making her laugh for the first time. By then, Reuben had already left for the military, so he’d never known about Michael, but she watched his reaction when Mary Francis brought him up and it wasn’t pleasant. Reuben had known Michael as well. It seemed that only Alex had been blind to his nature.
For the first year after Alex left Best Homes, she’d worked as a laundress. Once she’d gone to live with Chris, however, she’d begun working at the Toy Store. It was a new life for her and one she’d done so well at that he’d left her to manage it while he went on to do only heaven knows what. Some days she was lucky to see him at all. She always wondered where he was. He’d simply tell her, “Business,” and that was it.
Alicia turned to Mary Francis. “Compared to Michael, you’ll likely approve of anyone else who takes an interest in Alex.”
Alex shook her head. “Chantenny is not interested in me.” She turned to Reuben and said, “Tell them.” Reuben knew. How many times had Reuben voiced the same thing over and over again the other day?
She waited for her brother to cut in, but when he spoke, they were not words she’d been prepared for.
“He didn’t have to come,” Reuben said.
“What do you mean?” Alex asked.
Reuben was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, his eyes set on her. “He’s here. He didn’t have to come.”
Alex didn’t know where her mind was going, so she said, “He came because she heard that Alicia was hurt and had information.”
“And who is Alicia to him?” Reuben countered.
Alex leaned back in her chair, the words delivering a punch with a strength that would have set her off her feet had she been standing. She shook her head. “He was concerned.”
“Maybe he was,” Reuben said. “But he came for you.”
“Doesn’t mean he plans to marry her,” Nash said.
“With the way he was a moment ago,” Chris said in a cold voice, “he'd better.”
She turned to Chris. “What way was he?”
Chris turned his head and met her gaze. “He was possessive.”
“Possessive?” She didn’t understand.
Chris leaned over to grip the couch arm, holding her eyes. “He placed his arm around you, and when I met his eyes he tightened that hold as though he had more claim over you than I did. It was a bold move and if he hurts you, Nash is going to break his legs.”
“Aye,” Nash said in agreement.
Alex’s stomach fell at the thought. She’d thought with certainty that Nash had been jesting when he’d suggested breaking Michael’s legs, but Chris never jested. He didn’t know how to. “You can’t break the legs of a lord,” she whispered.
Chris stared at her, and Alex knew why. He didn’t enjoy hearing the word ‘can’t’. Men and women had been telling Chris he couldn’t do things his entire life, but he’d proved them all wrong.
Alex tried again. “Don’t break Lord Chantenny’s legs.”
“I wasn’t asking your permission,” he replied and then stood.
Alex looked at the men who’d become her brothers; all of them looked menacing right now. They were handsome but had none of the flair of the upper-class without their rules and restraints. She knew they could be deadly. It had been years since she’d seen Reuben, but she’d read poetry about the kind of toll that war took on men and could only guess what his conscience would allow. On the other hand, she knew Chris and Nash well, yet still there were times when she thought she didn’t know them at all.
Alicia tried to lighten the mood with a laugh. “I’m sure Lord Chantenny will not do anything that will get his legs broken.”
“As am I, since we are nothing more than friends or rather simple acquaintances.”
Mary Francis sighed lightly and gave a far-off look into the corner. “I once had an acquaintance of my own. A dandy of a gentleman, always dressed immaculately... Actually, I had many.”
“Aunt Francis, no more!” Alicia said just as the sound of Justin’s feet were heard coming down the hall.
The old woman once again ignored her niece, but at least leaned toward Alex and spoke in a low voice. “Take my advice and enjoy the earl while you can, dear. You’ll never look as young as you do today. Don’t look a gift horse—”
“Be still,” Alicia said as Justin made it inside.
Alex leaned back and looked at the entryway.
Justin seemed slightly winded. “They’re gone.”
Alex took a deep breath of relief and was sure that only Justin could have succeeded at such a task. Reuben had tried to clear the street at the toy store, as had Chris. Justin had only been away for moments and already Alex felt a sense of peace.
But the feeling vanished at Chris’ next words to Alicia and Mary Francis. “Did Mary Elizabeth keep any other journals that you know of? Anything that could lead us to Alex’s mother?”
The two women looked at one another and shook their heads.
“I’ve never come across the journals,” Alicia said. “Though I don’t have much time to look over every book she kept. I’m quite busy usually.”
“Of course,” Chris said. “Do you mind if we search the house?”
“Not at all.” Alicia stood. “I’ll get Liz to help as well.”
“I’d like to help if I might,” Justin said. No one seemed to think it odd that the earl was choosing to remain yet another minute in a place that was far from what he was used to.
Alicia smiled at him. “Yes, that would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, my lord.” Then she left the room and everyone spread out. Reuben hesitated before leaving Alex alone with the earl, but eventually he left like the others and Alex was forced to meet Justin’s eyes.
There was nothing that said ‘acquaintance’ with the way she was feeling about him.