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Elise blinked and swallowed, then did so again. ‘You weren’t at the Crown tavern this afternoon with Celia Chase?’ she whispered.
‘Yes...I was...’
A sob rasped Elise’s throat and she lashed out at him for daring to torment her and raise a tiny hope that he might be innocent.
He was ready for her this time. He caught one fist, then the other as they flew at him, forcing them down and pinning them on the hay above her head.
‘But the meeting was by accident rather than by design,’ he carried on as though there hadn’t been a break in his dialogue. ‘She was surprised and delighted to see me...I was astonished and angry to see her.’
Elise snorted her disgust. ‘I shall not even dignify such rubbish with a response. You were seen kissing her.’
‘By whom?’
‘It doesn’t matter!’
‘No, it doesn’t. Shall I tell you what matters, Elise?’
‘Nothing matters any more; it is all finished with,’ she cried, swinging her head to one side, chafing her cheek on her stubbly bed. She was far too aware of one of his knees wedged between her legs, of the vast expanse of his torso looming over her.
‘Well, I’ll tell you anyway. It matters that you have so readily turned your back on me and doubted everything I’ve told you without first allowing me to defend myself.’
‘You cannot blame me for that!’ Elise flared, her tawny eyes springing to his face like talons. ‘My aunt and her friend are not blind and neither are they liars. I’m grateful that they arrived unexpectedly bearing the news and saved me from making a dreadful mistake tomorrow.’ She flounced her face away from the grim humour slanting his mouth on hearing her betray her source.
‘Neither am I a liar,’ he said slowly. ‘I, too, am grateful that they turned up or I might have remained unaware that you are prepared to condemn me and act like a jealous shrew.’
‘Jealous shrew!’ Elise gasped, outraged by the description. ‘A jealous shrew might have found a gun and shot you. My papa said he would call you out if he were able.’ She strained to free a hand to reinforce her argument with a slap.
‘I’m sorry your father has been worried unnecessarily,’ Alex said, easily thwarting her struggle. ‘If he is still interested in having the details, and it will settle his mind, tell him I have a witness to my innocence just as you have people who imagine they observed my guilt.’
‘You think I, or my father, would believe a word your doxy says on your behalf?’ Elise choked scornfully.
‘I doubt she’d defend me,’ Alex muttered drily. ‘But others who know the truth of the matter would. I stopped at the Crown because one of my horses threw a shoe. I was on my way to do business in Enfield at the time. I did run into Celia Chase there and I also met your friend Mr Chapman.’
Elise whipped her head about to widen astonished eyes on him. ‘Mr Chapman also saw you having a rendezvous with your mistress?’ She raised despairing eyes to the timbered ceiling. ‘God in heaven! How many others have you shocked today with your disgusting behaviour?’
‘The only people shocked by my behaviour are those who’ve jumped to conclusions over it,’ Alex answered quietly. ‘Anthony Chapman was present when I made Celia Chase turn around and head back towards London in her carriage. She had it in her head to come to Hertfordshire to try to persuade me to resume our affair. Her disappointment at my rejection made her loud and argumentative.’ An acid smile twisted his mouth as the first glimmer of uncertainty clouded Elise’s eyes. ‘Mr Chapman would not only vouch for what he saw, but what he heard. And I have to say, sweet, that being ambushed twice in one day by jealous harpies is more than any man should have to put up with.’
‘Don’t you dare class me with her!’ Elise burst out in wrathful indignation. ‘I’m not jealous, I’m livid, and have every right to be so!’
‘No...you don’t, Elise,’ Alex contradicted, his voice roughened by bitterness. ‘That’s why you’ll listen to everything I have to say and I’ll warrant you’ll be haunted by it for the rest of your life.’ He shifted their locked fingers, ran the back of his fist over her satiny jaw in a specious caress. ‘Just as you’ll remember accusing me and rejecting me for no good reason.’ He paused. ‘After Celia had gone your friends’ father had a drink with me at the Crown. He said I had saved him a journey to visit you.’
