The bride business was only one problem. Cynthia’s reputation was at stake as well.
She was barely accepted as it was, due to her outrageous antics, but Alexander had never heard a whisper of gossip about her allowing some cad to take liberties.
Hewas the cad.
The doctor was right.
It was time to go.
When he stepped out into the corridor, he expected the flock to surround him with questions at once.
No one approached.
“The patient will survive,” said the doctor. “She’ll have a nice scar, but...” His eyes met Alexander’s. “She’s free to leave when she likes.”
“I’dlike to leave,” said one of the debutantes with tears swimming in her eyes. “We came here to spend Christmastide with the duke, but he’d rather not spend it withus.”
Murmurs of agreement rippled through the crowd.
Superb.
Independent of the bride hunt, Alexander had hoped to provide all of his guests a very merry holiday... and instead had ruined their Yuletide.
“Nottingvale was gone for two hours,” his sister Belle said firmly. “He has spent every other moment from dawn to... well, to dawn again, ensuring your comforts and providing your entertainment. One can hardly begrudge my brother a moment’s rest—”
“He wasn’tresting,” said one of the mothers. “He was sliding down a mountain on skis.”
Fair point.
Alexander appreciated his sister’s support, but even she had to see the gaping hole in her logic.
“We’re leaving,” said another mother. “If this is how His Grace comports himself when he’stryingto win our favor, then he is not the sort of ‘gentleman’ my daughter should marry.”
“I apologize,” he said quickly. “Nothing untoward occurred—”
“Besides spending the day unchaperoned in the company of woman who later turns up with an arrow sticking out of her chest?”
“Besides that,” Alexander muttered.
He’d never had to make excuses before. His behavior had always been perfect.
“If you two are leaving,” said another mother, “we’re leaving, too.”
Alexander’s muscles froze.
A beat of silence filled the entryway.
“So are we,” said one of the chaperones.
“Us, too,” said another.
“Ooh,” whispered one of the debutantes to her friend, “this is going to be inallof the scandal sheets by morning.”
“We’re going to besopopular,” her friend whispered back.
Wonderful.
Splendid.
