AllFreeNovel
Share Us
They stood around her in a flutter of silks and satins, each bright butterfly wing of gown separated from the next by the stark black of the men's jackets until the women stepped away to file out. Alexandra followed, murmuring pleasantries to the men she passed, and very aware of Robert Dixon's eyes on her.
A quarter hour passed. Fifteen minutes of torturous talk of babies and tatting and husbands and fashion. Alex spoke of gardens and thought of Collin. She laughed at a joke about waltzing and imagined his hand as it gripped her thigh.
She could not make herself forget him.
The men wandered out of the dining room in groups or pairs, trailing the scent of cigars and providing her with a distraction. She made her eyes look at Robert Dixon, made herself study him at his post near the door.
Aside from being handsome, he was cultured and polite, though his smile spoke of a steel will. And he would inherit the title of Viscount Landry from his father. In short, he was a man she would have found attractive during her Season. Regardless, he did not send any sparks racing through her veins. Had Collin ruined her for other men? Perhaps Mr. Dixon could help her find out.
His eyes met hers across the room and he moved immediately toward her.
"Mr. Dixon."
"Lady Alexandra. You look very. . . happy tonight."
She laughed at his choice of words. "You expected me to be withering away in exile?"
He smiled with an endearing touch of embarrassment. "Not withering away, certainly, but you seem almost content."
"I am. My life is much fuller now that it consists of more than dresses and parties."
"Surely you enjoyed life in London? You certainly seemed to."
"Yes. Of course I enjoyed London." His smile disappeared at her flat words.
"I'm sorry. That was a stupid thing to say."
"Nonsense, Mr. Dixon." She set her hand boldly on his sleeve. "I am not so fragile as that."
His hazel eyes warmed at her touch, and she blushed a little and removed her hand. She didn't want to lead him on, didn't want to deceive him, but she needed to know.
His shoulders eased the slightest bit closer to her as if he would speak softly, and Alex felt her heart speed. She had flirted entire days away in London, but now it felt unnatural, as if she were in danger. As his head dipped toward her ear, she spied Hart approaching from over his shoulder and nearly jumped with relief.
"Your Grace!" Robert sounded more than surprised to Alex's ears as he pushed to his feet. "Have you come to rescue your sister from my company?"
Hart smiled easily and took her hand. He kissed her cheek before looking down at his friend. "I only came to check on her, but seeing you here, I am now sure that she is near death from boredom."
She rolled her eyes. "Absolutely untrue, Hart. Don't be cruel."
Robert smiled ruefully as he bowed. "I'll leave you to your brother's attention, Lady Alexandra. I can see he wishes to speak with you."
"He seems like a nice young man," Alex offered as soon as he'd moved out of earshot.
Her brother glanced distractedly at his retreating back and shrugged. "Nice enough, I suppose. I wanted to see how you were doing."
She fought the urge to roll her eyes again. Hart was overprotective now. His guardianship in early years had been characterized by a marked disinterest in details. "I am fine, Hart."
"Are you sure?"
"You know, I was very good at this before. Chatting with people isn't difficult, even for someone of my limited intelligence and delicate health."
A wide smile spread across his face. The kind of smile, she suspected, that many women would swoon to see directed at them. "No, I suppose it isn't."
She gave in and rolled her eyes. "Really, Hart, there is nothing to worry about."
His blue gaze held her own for a long moment, the smile fading away, then he placed her hand on his arm and led her across the room to the open patio doors. She frowned up at him when he stopped to face her just outside the light that spilled from the house.
"You've been quiet the past few weeks, Alex." His words were soft as down.
