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‘I heard that you stayed just a short while at the Clemences as you were more interested in your mistress than a roomful of débutantes.’
‘I doubt you would have been included in that conversation so I take it you were eavesdropping.’
‘I was not!’ Guilty colour crept up to the roots of Elise’s silky fair hair.
‘So who were you talking to?’
‘Nobody...’ Elise ejected through gritting teeth.
‘You didn’t enquire about me?’ Alex’s mouth slanted sardonically.
‘I did not! And I’m sorry your conceit has led you to imagine I ever would.’ She twisted aside her head.
‘And did you believe that?’
‘What?’
‘That I had left to seek other diversion because I had no interest in the assembled company?’
‘I gave it no heed,’ Elise returned icily. ‘And would sooner you didn’t hint at your sordid habits.’
‘You started it,’ Alex reminded, drily amused. But he shifted back from her, lounging into the wooden slats with his long legs stretched out, crossed at the ankles.
Elise moved pointedly sideways and turned her head away from him.
‘If you hadn’t annoyed me, I would have stayed longer. I might even have asked you to dance.’
‘In that case thank goodness you did not tarry. A refusal is not always well received.’ Elise continued squinting away into the distance.
He threw back his head to shout a laugh at whispering leaves. ‘You’ve obviously heard I’m out of practice on the dance floor.’
Elise knew he was offering an olive branch, but she felt too piqued to take it.
‘Our truce didn’t last long,’ he idly observed, studying his nails.
‘I should like it to,’ Elise answered after a short quiet in which she brought her temper under control. There were things she very much wanted to know and she regretted having jumped at the bait he’d dangled and acted hot-headed. She hoped he didn’t think her jealous.
That worrying thought spurred her to quickly face him, although she avoided looking into his sultry brown eyes. ‘I...I have been shocked by what you have said about our kin’s involvement, but will tell you what my conscience will allow.’
‘There’s no need to discuss it further,’ Alex said gently. ‘You’ve made it clear you believe your father will be distressed by unearthing the past. I shall let sleeping dogs lie so there’s nothing else to say at present.’ Alex pushed to his feet.
‘I have more to say, if you please, sir,’ Elise insisted, spontaneously and rather rudely pulling on his sleeve to make him again sit beside her.
Alex covered her quivering fingers with his, stilling them with very little pressure while he looked deep into her eyes. Mockery was still present in his long-lashed regard, but so was another emotion that tightened a coil of sensation in Elise’s stomach. He’d looked at her in that way when their bodies had been pressed together on the dark path at Vauxhall.
When he again took his place beside her his thigh nudged hers but she made no immediate effort to slide away from his proximity. To her consternation she sensed she wanted to cleave to his warmth and strength. She forced herself to put a seemly distance between them.
‘I don’t want to hurt you...any of you...’ Alex said, his face turned from her as he watched the approach of her friends. ‘But if you want to pursue the subject, let me say I’m aware your father’s financial position is such that he’d welcome repayment of a debt owed to him.’
‘Is it a good deal of money?’ Even if it was not Elise knew it might make a huge difference to her father’s household accounts. He moaned often about the cost of feeding them all and had made economies lately. The butcher’s visits had dwindled to once a week and she and Bea had accepted a small reduction in their already meagre allowances.
‘I’ve no idea of the amount; Thomas didn’t let on. That is why I wanted to speak to your father. I’ve no wish to insult him by transferring to him a woefully inadequate figure.’
‘So it might be a lot?’ Elise ventured.
‘It might...’
Elise digested that information. ‘Your uncle was indeed a wretched individual to take a man’s wife and his cash, too.’
‘I made a similar remark when I discovered what had gone on.’ Alex tipped up his face to frown at a canopy of leaves. ‘I know you consider me a reprobate and perhaps I am, but I have my own codes of conduct and would ask you to remember that no matter what tales you hear about me. They are almost upon us...’ He indicated the Chapman sisters by tilting his dark head. Jago was still at their side, keeping his mount to a sedate pace. Of Beatrice and Hugh there was no sign.
