Chapter Fourteen
Lucy had taken extra care in the mirror to make certain she was at her best. It was important to her that Alex think her pretty. He confirmed her success with his appreciative look.
“Ready?”
“Wait. I want to ask you something.”
“Of course.”
“Why did you never mention Elizabeth?”
Alex shifted his weight to his other foot, took a deep breath, and released it. “Do you mind when you got the letter from the blasted viscount and I was so angry?”
“Yes.”
“Well, it occurred to me then to tell you, just to make you jealous, ken?” He scratched the back of his neck and squinted one eye shut. “But I reckoned that would only make us both miserable, so I didnae.” He shifted again and reached toward her, pinching the fabric of her skirt and rubbing it between his fingers in a half-curious way. “And then…well”—Alex stopped fidgeting and looked her straight in the eye—“I just forgot.”
He looked so boyish and so earnest, she believed him.
“Fine then. Just so long as she stays forgotten.”
He gave her a broad smile, and she slid her hand into the crook of his elbow.
“One thing,” Alex said. “I sit next to you from now on.”
“I think that is an excellent idea.”
They were the last to arrive at table. When Lucy entered, the gentlemen rose, and her heart fell. Two chairs remained empty. Elizabeth sat between them.
John, seated in his usual chair at the head of the table, stepped aside. “Alex, take my seat so that you may sit next to your Lucy. I’ll sit on the far side of Elizabeth.”
Elizabeth’s smug smile faltered, but she recovered quickly. Alex gave Lucy’s hand a light squeeze before she took her seat.
Supper started well. John made a warm and welcoming toast to his guests, after which Sir Ranald made an equally gracious toast to his hosts. Liam sat directly across from Lucy. She avoided eye contact with him despite his repeated attempts to engage her in conversation. Each time he asked her a pointed question Alex would answer for her or change the subject.
Alex, her champion.
As she had during dinner, Diana dominated the conversation at the other end of the table through sheer volume. Fortunately, Diana’s diatribe discouraged the need to chat with Elizabeth to her left. About a quarter of an hour into the meal, she felt a friendly foot nudge her under the table. She glanced at Alex. If he were flirting with her, he would surely signal her with his eyes. He did not. It was Liam playing footsies under the table. She tucked her feet under her chair to avoid further disturbance.
Moments later, Alex jerked. She heard a dull thud under the table and saw Liam wince. An impish grin appeared on Alex’s face while he continued to stare straight ahead down the length of the table, feigning interest in Diana’s oration.
Alex, her protector.
Lucy sucked in her cheeks and tried not to laugh.
At the height of Diana’s story, which included hand gestures and impersonations, Elizabeth spoke to Lucy.
“I’m so sorry,” Lucy said, indicating she couldn’t hear her.
Elizabeth repeated her question, even though Lucy had heard her the first time. The witch had asked, “Who did you say your mother was?” This was her code for, “I know your father never married your mother.”
She had always been an easy target for women like Elizabeth. Again, she shook her head and repeated, “I’m sorry.” Usually, people would give up after the second try. If their barb never hit its mark, they never scored.
Elizabeth leaned in and asked her question again, louder, as if she were speaking to a child. For the third time, Lucy shook her head.
“My God, Alex, she’s as deaf as my stepfather.” At that precise moment, Diana paused for dramatic effect. The whole table heard Elizabeth’s snide remark insulting not only Lucy, but Sir Ranald as well. Jaws and silverware dropped.
“I do apologize,” Lucy said sweetly. “I didn’t want to miss any of your mother’s story.”
At this, Liam broke into a rather vicious laugh. Apparently, he liked it when his sister stumbled publicly. Lucy’s brother George enjoyed teasing her mercilessly. But he never, ever humiliated her in front of others. These two siblings were loathsome individuals.
Diana took up her story again, calling attention back to herself. Everyone else resumed eating. Feeling victorious, Lucy enjoyed the sensation of Elizabeth’s hot, hate-filled glare on her shoulder.
Mrs. Swenson entered the dining room and placed a full platter of juicy roast beef and vegetables on the table in front of Laird John, who served himself. He held the steaming platter for Elizabeth. After serving herself, Elizabeth took the platter from John and held it for Lucy. However, when Lucy picked up the serving tongs, the platter slipped from Elizabeth’s hands, and its contents—scorching hot beef, potatoes, and carrots—emptied into Lucy’s lap.
The hot juices immediately seeped through the delicate silk of her dress and she cried out. Alex leapt to his feet and pulled her out of her chair, brushing away the scalding food.
“Oh dear,” Elizabeth said. “I am so sorry. Please forgive my clumsiness.”
Lucy pulled herself together and said through gritted teeth, “Not at all.”
“Excuse us,” Alex said. He wrapped a protective arm around her and led her out of the dining room. “Are you all right, sweeting?”
“Take me to my room.” She felt tears of pain pricking at her eyes. Merde. She would be damned if she let that horrible woman make her cry.
He escorted her above stairs, opened her bedchamber door, and brought the candle from the hallway inside.
“Lucy, are you hurt?”
“Get Haddie for me.” Her voice and her body shook uncontrollably, though from anger or from the struggle not to weep, she couldn’t tell.
“Please, love, are you hurt?”
“I won’t know until I take off my gown.”
“Let me see.” He reached for her hem.
“Stop it.” She batted away his hands. “Leave me be and just…go get Haddie.” She couldn’t let him see her like this. So out of control.
“I cannae leave you alone.”
“Go away!”
…
Alex flew down the stairs, through the back hallway, and around to the kitchen where he knew he’d find Haddie. “Miss Lucy needs you, lass. Go to her. And bring some of Mrs. Swenson’s burn ointment with you, just in case.”
Haddie found the earthen jar of salve and sprinted out of the kitchen.
“What’s happened?” asked Mrs. Swenson.
“There was an accident.” Alex leaned against a breakfront, trying to catch his breath, his heart thundering in his ears. “And Lucy may have been hurt.”
“Did Miss Elizabeth have anything to do with this accident?” Mrs. Swenson asked, the anger in her voice unmistakable.
Alex confirmed her suspicion with a sharp nod.
The cook made the sign of the horns with her fingers to ward off evil spirits, then whispered, “The spawn of Satan.”
She surprised Alex. As kind and fair a woman as his mother, he’d never heard Mrs. Swenson utter a mean word about anyone. His father had pointed out Elizabeth’s dark side earlier in the day, and now, Mrs. Swenson—two people who were sound judges of character. How could he have been so blinded by Elizabeth’s charms not to notice her true nature?
He left the kitchen and headed back to the house. Finding the dining room empty, he assumed the men had settled themselves in the library for a whisky. He heard Diana’s voice coming from his mother’s parlor upstairs. No doubt Elizabeth was with them. Damn her.
Worry over Lucy plagued him. Seeking refuge from his relatives, he slipped out of the house and wandered into the garden Lucy liked so much.
Gowans. Gowans might make her feel better.
He’d bring her more gowans, and she would smile again. As he reached down to pluck a few stems, he heard Elizabeth.
“Oh, Alex. I am so sorry. I feel awful.”
She stepped out of the house and crossed the yard to him, wiping her eyes and sniffing. Alex gritted his teeth.
“I hope she’s all right. I don’t know how I could have been so clumsy. Please, please forgive me, Alex. The platter slipped from my hands.” Her voice had a small, helpless quality quite unlike any he’d heard her use. She fell against his chest and sobbed. He was always at a loss when women cried. She seemed genuinely distraught. Perhaps it had been an accident after all. The platter was heavy and so full it could have happened to anyone.
“It’s all right. No one blames you,” he said, patting her on the back.
“But the way you looked at me. Like you hated me. Alex, I couldn’t stand it if you hated me.” She sounded truly contrite.
“I dinnae hate you.”
She let the length of her body lean against him, the lavender in her silky blond hair tickling his nose. His body remembered the last time he’d held her like this, and he became aroused despite his mind telling him you are betrothed to another.
The woman’s hands slid from his chest up to his shoulders. “I made a terrible mistake sending you away. I didn’t realize how much I loved you until I saw you today. My heart will break when you marry Lucy.”
Before he knew it, her lips were on his, kissing him with a passion she had never demonstrated before. He pulled away from her mouth.
“Kiss me again, Alex. I can tell you still want me. Kiss me once more, plea—”
“No.” Alex grasped her by the shoulders and held her away from him.
She smiled a joyous smile. Six months ago, he would have done anything to make her smile like that. When she turned her face up to the second story of the house, Alex followed her gaze. Lucy stood at her window, staring down at them, her beautiful face twisted in agony. At first, Alex thought she must still be in pain from the accident.
Then Elizabeth laughed. “Oops.” And she covered her mouth.
For a second, he forgot how to breathe. Then the horrible weight of understanding nearly sent him to his knees.
Lucy. Oh God, Lucy. Bloody hell, what have I done?
…
Liam waited in the shadows until Alex went inside the house before he started to applaud. “Well done, dear stepsister,” he said, grinning. His admiration for Elizabeth’s malicious nature deepened.
She rounded on him. “You can go to hell.”
Liam was less intimidated than aroused by the venom in her tone. “I’m congratulating you. You’ve played your part expertly.”
“Do you know how humiliating that was for me? Prostrating myself at that oaf’s feet?”
“Keep your voice down.” Liam took her roughly by the arm.
She yanked her arm away but followed him to the side of the house where they would not be seen. “You’ll have to give her the letter. She won’t take anything from me now.”
“Give it to me. She’ll be needing solace tomorrow, and I will be there to give it to her.”
Elizabeth removed a folded parchment from her reticule. She handed the missive sealed with red wax bearing the emblem of a fox to her stepbrother. “I want my letters back. Now.”
“I don’t have them with me, dear heart. But don’t worry. You’ll get them just as soon as my business is done.” He reached up and pinched her nipple through the bodice of her gown.
His stepsister took a vicious swipe at his face with her claws. “If you ever touch me again, I will kill you,” Elizabeth spat. She turned on her heel and marched into the house.
Liam tucked the parchment into his waistcoat and patted it gently. If all went according to plan, within forty-eight hours his financial troubles would be behind him. He touched his face. No blood, but her nails would leave a mark, three welts, rising as steadily as his cock.