“You shouldn’t stop fencing. You love it, and it obviously helps you feel better.”
“My duties are overwhelming. I barely have time to do anything else.”
“But you need it to find yourself again. Trust me, I know something about needing to be yourself.”
“Let’s make a deal.” He stretched out his arm. “You’ll play cricket more often, and I’ll keep fencing.”
She shook his hand. “Your Grace, I agree.”
Eleven
Esther was starting to despair.
She and Alexander had walked along the seaside back and forth and found nothing aside from seagulls, promenading people, and romping children. All lovely and pretty, but where was the blasted foil?
He didn’t complain or make comments, but she could sense his rising tension in the way he straightened his shoulders, and she had no solution to offer.
“We should try that shortcut through Preston Park to your house,” she said.
“Of course.” His voice didn’t hold any trace of reproach.
“Alex.”
His black eyes ignited at such intimacy.
“May I call you Alex?” she asked although the damage had already been done.
“By all means. I like it.”
“You can tell me the truth. You must be fuming and angry with me.”
“I’m sorry my foil is lost, but I’m not angry with you. You’re here with me when you could have left me on my own. That makes all the difference.”
She couldn’t resist and kissed his cheek quickly. “You make all the difference, too.”
Arm in arm, they ventured through a new set of alleys.
The cobbled streets, red-brick townhouses, and narrow passageways didn’t trigger any memories, not to mention they were similar to some parts of London, making everything more confusing.
If she pictured herself running with a sword through a busy town, laughing like a maniac, she wanted to hide somewhere and come out when everybody forgot her name.
The walk through Preston Park was wonderful with its bushes of English roses, the pond, and the tall poplar trees. But she didn’t find any clues of her nocturnal escapade. Empty handed, she sighed in despair when Alexander’s majestic house swept into view. They’d closed the circle, searched every route, and found nothing.
She climbed the stairs to his front door with heavy feet. She didn’t smile even when Mrs. Wilson assured her the cloak would be returned free of stains, or when she sat in the sunroom with Alexander for a quick repast. The table was set with plates of grapes, cheese, and slices of thick bread, but she couldn’t summon the enthusiasm to eat anything.
“Don’t be discouraged.” He offered her the salted meat, cheese, and grapes. “There are other places to search.”
“I can’t help feeling discouraged about everything. Myself included. What kind of person loses control like that, hurts a man, and steals from another? On top of everything else, my reputation will never recover from this situation, and I know your foil and competition are more important than that, but I can’t stop thinking of being at the centre of a huge scandal and gossip. My parents will be so disappointed.”
He sipped his black tea. “No, you won’t be at the centre of any scandal because I’m going to marry you, if you agree, of course.”
From his tone, she didn’t understand if he was joking or not, and her emotions were scattered and scrambled like mushy, gooey eggs.
She laughed. “Of course.”
He stared at her with a determination that sent a shiver down her neck. He had to look like that when he faced an adversary in fencing.
“I mean it. After this misadventure is over, I’ll be your suitor.” This time, there was no mistaking his serious tone.
