AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Caroline stepped back, avoiding her touch, and made her way to the door. "I never asked you to do any of this, mother.I am embarrassed on your behalf. If Sir Mannfield uncovers your deception, your plans will be ruined." Caroline slammed the door shut behind her, unable to contain her rage.
In fact, pray that no one else ruins your plans.
…..
Alexander felt dazed as the butler showed him out of the Campbell home. As he stood in front of the gates, he could not help feeling like a child in need of guidance. He dug his nails into his palms, almost drawing blood as the scene that had just taken place played in his head repeatedly.
How can this be happening? What am I supposed to do now?He pressed a hand against his forehead, trying to massage away the headache he could feel forming. He wished there were something he could do to make the situation go away. He could not even pretend to be calm. The last of his composure had been spent getting through the group of Lady Campbell’s friends.
“Master Alexander?” his footman, Matthew called out to him as he walked past the carriage, confused about why he was choosing to walk.
“Master Alexander?” Matthew repeated, running to catch up with him. Alexander was startled when his footman called his name close to his ear. He could not remember walkingpast the carriage. He needed to clear his mind after today's dramatic event, and walking would help him more than sitting and stewing.
“I shall take a walk, Matthew. You can go on without me.” He watched as Matthew and Brunswick, the coachman, turned to stare at each other in bewilderment, knowing that it was out of character for him. Deciding that he did not care for their confusion, as he had bigger problems to worry about, he turned and continued on his way.
He walked on, the sound of the wheels and the clop of horse hooves as his servants trailed behind him fading out of hearing as he focused on his thoughts.
He knewthat the Campbells intended to take matters into their own hands if he did not propose marriage to their daughter soon to quell any gossip. If he refused to accept responsibility, they would almost certainly take the issue to his family and demand that he do so. He frowned as he thought of how his father would react to the news. The Campbells would probably make it seem like he was toying with their daughter. He imagined that was what Lady Campbell would do, given how she had reacted during their talk.
As he walked, it suddenly hit him. If the gossip was as widespread as they had claimed, then it would not be long before it reached his parents. Lady Campbells’ friends were agents of the gossip mills after all. His mother would hear it soon, even if his father did not. He had to have a discussion with them both as soon as he got home.
The next moment, he came to another realization and froze in his tracks, a weird groan emanating from his lips as the blood drained from his face leaving him pale. He was so stupid. If the rumor had already spread so far, then what if it had already reached Isabella? She would be going about her day only to suddenly hear that the man she was in a relationship with was marrying another. She would think the worst.
Alexander spun on his heel, running toward his carriage, which was still following him. “To the Levingston house at once, Brunswick. Hurry,” he breathed heavily.
On his way to Isabella, Alexander thought of what he would say to her. She was probably heartbroken, thinking he had taken liberties with her and shunned her. He tapped on the roof of the carriage, telling Brunswick to pick up the pace. He was out of the carriage the moment they stopped in front of the Levingston house, flying up the stairs to the front door after he was allowed through the gates.
“Sir Alexander, welcome,” the Levingston butler said. Even though this was the first time he had come face to face with the man, Alexander knew from previous conversations he had shared with Isabella that his name was John.
“Thank you, John. I apologize for my unannounced visit, but I really must speak to Lady Isabella at once,” Alexander said. He knew her father was not usually in at this time, so he was not worried about bumping into him, but the sudden visit also meant he was not sure if she too were around.
“Certainly, Sir Alexander. The lady will join you in a moment. Please follow me to the drawing room, while I alert her of your presence,” the butler said. Alexander followed him, unable to stop his eyes from wandering. It was the first time he was seeing these parts of the house, after all.
He was drawn back to the butler very quickly however, as the man said, “Ah, congratulations on your betrothal, sir.” With a smile, the butler shut the doors of the drawing room, leaving Alexander with his thoughts.
CHAPTERTHREE
“Damnation!” Alexander muttered. He had been right after all. The newshadreached Isabella. He wondered if the butler knew of their relationship. He assumed he did, since he delivered the letters Alexander sent. With nothing to do but wait, he found himself a seat on one of the comfortable couches.
His eyes began to wander again, as everything was new to him. The room was well decorated. The furniture was old, but it was not in bad style. He couldn’t help but admire the woodwork. As his eyes trailed on, they fell on the life-size painting of Lady Levingston hung up on the wall. He did a double take as the woman looked so much like Isabella save for her eyes, which were brown. His heart felt heavy with guilt as he stared at the portrait. He had been courting Isabella for so long, yet this was the first time he was seeing the painting since he had never properly called on her.
Although he had been young when it happened, Alexander knew that Lady Levingston had died trying to give birth to a son. Unfortunately, the baby followed a few minutes later. It had been the talk of the town for a while, and he remembered his own mother talking with her friends about what a good lady she had been and how the Levingston family had become the most unfortunate household in only a matter of days. Not only was Lord Levingston left without an heir, but little Isabella was ten years old and left without a mother to guide her.
A few women had tried to court Samuel Levingston, with him being a good man and widower with no heir, but he never married again for none of them got along with Isabella. They either accused her of being an unruly child and tried to send her away, or they were overly strict with theirdiscipline as they tried to teach her etiquette. There were still women who kept an eye on Isabella, scrutinizing her every action, looking for a flaw they could claim she had because she grew up motherless.
Alexander could not help but feel judged by the woman in the portrait, despite knowing it was his own feelings he was projecting. It occurred to him as he sat there, waiting on her, that if her mother had been alive, their relationship would have been very different from how it was right now. There was no way she would not have discovered his clandestine visits with her daughter, and she would have demanded he take responsibility for her in the public eye. Just like Lady Campbell was doing now.
His thoughts drifted to Lady Campbell, and he could not help but admire the woman’s resilience and protective instincts. He wished it did not have to come at a cost to his relationship, however. Her protection of her daughter’s honor filled him with guilt. He was completely to blame in this situation, and he knew it. He should have been more responsible.
Alexander squeezed his eyes shut, welcoming the darkness, wishing he had done things differently. If he had made his relationship with Isabella public and met with her father to make his intentions for her known, none of this would have happened and he would be able to court her in the open. He was guilty of trampling a woman’s honor, the honor of the one he claimed to love so dearly.
Hearing the door open, Alexander turned his head just in time to see Isabella step into the drawing room.
“Alex,” she said, her voice slightly strained, stretching her hands out to him. As a man bewitched, he walked toward her and took her hands in his, planting a kiss on the palm of each as he bowed at the waist.
“Isa, you look captivating.” Alexander felt all other thoughts melt away as he took her in. She had always had that effect on him, right from the moment he first set eyes on her. He could not help but marvel at her as he ran his fingers through the beautiful dark red hair that fell almost to her waist. It framed her face so perfectly and contrasted beautifully with her deep blue eyes that twinkled like gemstones.
Alex smiled sardonically, thinking of the many nights he had laid awake dreaming about these very blue eyes. For such a long time, they had been the subject of his poetry. Looking at her now, he felt certainty in his heart that she was the woman he wanted to marry and build a family with. She was wearing a blue dress that gave her a softer look than he was used to seeing her in, and it still managed to take his breath away.She is surely the one for me.
