.
To say that the musical was a success would have been an understatement.
Justin watched the people mingle around him and only realized that he’d somehow found himself part of a Society party when the music ended and everyone besides the children were shown into a sitting room. The food was spread out and various members of the upper class spoke with Alicia and a few others from her staff about their plans for the money they’d be receiving that year.
Everyone who’d sat and listened to the children sing and play had pledged to sponsor for another year, because of Oliver.
He was the only child who’d been allowed to stay, and with the aid of his crutch, he found himself following Lady Charles around the room so that she could parade him around as though she’d taught him the skill herself. She’d already voiced plans for the boy. She wanted him to perform at other events, though she’d made it clear that she planned to hide his leg.
Justin watched them now as the lady spoke to Lord Iverstone, shouting as though his height made it impossible for him to hear her at a normal tone. Oliver had to be tired, but the boy kept his chin up and smiled genuinely. And why not? He was the star of the night. Lady Charles had requested he play two more numbers before the musical was over, and those pieces had been just as moving at the first.
“Lord Chantenny.”
He turned and stilled as Lord Tyrell brought over his wife and daughter. He’d only ever seen the daughter from afar, as the girl had been too young to be in Society when Justin had attended parties years ago.
It seemed Miss Tyrell would be the first woman of the peerage he’d met in nearly five years.
Lucky her.
Though they’d never met before, he noticed how Miss Tyrell’s pale blue eyes widened slightly as she extended her hand. Her breath was rushed, and her shoulders tight.
She’d heard about him, it appeared.
This was the moment when Justin would usually walk away, claiming to be ill or to need air.
Always, he did it for them, to keep the ugliness away from them, to leave them unblemished.
Lord Tyrell stiffened his back and lifted his chin in an effort to appear taller. The whole family was small, though it suited them. “Lord Chantenny, I would like you to meet my daughter, Miss Harriet.”
Justin lifted his hand and heard Harriet’s slight gasp as their fingers touched.
Immediately, his hand seemed hot. He wanted to snatch it away, but instead he grasped it, probably much too tightly, and then forced himself to take his time as he leaned over to brush his lips over her hand.
His stomach turned, and he had to fight back the urge to vomit as he pulled away. “Lovely to meet you, Miss Harriet.” He spoke faster than he’d intended, so he ended the statement with a smile.
Tyrell’s daughter brightened and looked ready to leap into his arms. Instead she rocked on her toes before leaning back, her face warming before ducking away with shyness.
She’d have a story to tell her friends in the morning. The Earl of Chantenny had finally touched a girl of blue stock. Justin only hoped that the girl didn’t think it was because he found her attractive.
She was pretty, he would admit. Her hair was a dark shade of blond and her face round and skin pleasant enough, but she was but a babe to him.
And besides, his heart already belonged to a woman he’d not seen for quite some time.
Alex had disappeared in the kitchens to help the staff once the musical had gotten underway, with Reuben and the two guards following her. Justin had gone with her when they’d first arrived and had watched her work the kitchens like a drill sergeant preparing for war.
Now, the scents from the buffet table called to him. So after a quick greeting to Tyrell’s wife and a conversation about the music, Justin excused himself and moved toward the food. The pleasant savory fragrances burned at his stomach, and his thoughts became more primitive, hunger overruling everything else.
When was the last time he’d eaten?
He lifted a slice of a dark and tempting meat pie in his hand, and it had barely touched his plate before he was taking some to his mouth.
Pleasure was triggered on his tongue and traveled through him before coming out in a deep moan.
“It’s the sauce,” a pleased voice whispered from behind a stone column and tree at the corner of the table. Alexandra peeked out before slipping behind the column and lush green branches once more.
Justin moved in her direction and slipped behind the tree, joining her in the shadows.
She was not to be out while the members of society roamed. He’d been there when Lady Charles advised this and had taken great care not to not give the woman a piece of his mind.
“What are you doing out here?” he whispered.
Her gray eyes looked darker without direct light, but just as stunning surrounded by her full lashes. “I wanted to see if everyone liked the food.”
Justin took another bite from his plate and had to hold himself together in order not to moan again. “You made this?” he said.
She nodded. “I started with a roux and added beef stock and a few seasonings before cooking the meat...” She used her hands as she continued to give him details as to how she’d prepared what would have been a simple pie in anyone else’s hands but hers.
Justin had no clue what she was speaking about but was fascinated by how her eyes glowed with warmth and the brilliant smile that stayed through it all. Even her hands and those small fingers called to him.
After realizing he’d finished the pie, Justin thought to get more… but then he thought to taste something else instead.
His mouth captured her next word, and Alexandria leaned in and placed a hand on the back of his neck before she broke away again.
Her eyes were closed. “Then you add the tomatoes in the end.” Her words came out in a flutter of breaths. “While the... sauce is still hot and... thickening.”
He grinned and kissed her again. Her cheeks flushed, and it trailed down her neck. Justin’s mouth followed, finding her just as good if not better than the pie. Or perhaps she was like a fine wine and paired with the dish very nicely.
She sighed and pulled away. For a moment, they did nothing but hold each other’s eyes, hers so warm and inviting.
“I saw you greet that woman.” She said this with a small smile. “You took her hand.”
His heart began to race, and he gave a slight nod.
“She wasn’t right, you know,” she whispered, her hand sliding from his neck down to his chest, over where his heart pounded away. He was sure she could feel it beat, pulsing underneath her hand. It was hers to take, to hold.
Even when she irritated him to no end.
The ‘she’ Alex referred to was his mother. His mother always stood between them, even though she’d been dead for years and Alex had never known her. Would she never just accept him for what he was and let the matter go?
He had a feeling she wouldn’t. She would chisel away at him until he broke and shattered into a million pieces, pouring his heart out before her in an endless river of blood.
He’d thought the change in her swift. She’d been hot then cold, believing it best they remain apart, but without notice becoming hot again, and Justin felt as though the sun shone directly on him in that moment.
He soaked it in, even though his heart knew it was pity that drove her back to him. She wanted to heal him, but what were her true feelings?
He knew what they would be if she learned the truth, learned that he could not be fixed, that he could only portray a man who was mildly civilized.
He took hold of her hand and kissed her fingers. “I’ll let you return to your duties.”
“Justin.” Her eyes pleaded with him. Pitying him.
He let her go, though it was hard, and turned away before walking back across the room. If she wished to continue in this way then they could very well continue as man and wife, because Justin was set on having her.