AllFreeNovel
Share Us
But Uncle Alfred still watched her closely, with those sharp, all-seeing eyes of his. “What did he say to you, exactly?”
Lottie hesitated. Uncle Alfred had always protected her, and yet a voice inside whispered,Don’t. “Nothing,” she answered. “Only that he didn’t want to miss the ball. I suppose I thought…” She hung her head, too embarrassed to finish the sentence.
I thought he came for me.
Uncle Alfred squeezed her hand. “He wanted you to feel special. Especially after that horrible Lord Exeter was so rude.” Lottie looked up in surprise, but of course Sir Alfred knew. Nothing escaped his notice. Ever. “And you did, didn’t you?” He waited for her reluctant nod. “It certainly wasn’t malicious, Lottie, but it was still inconsiderate in the end. That’s why he’s right for this kind of work, you see. Men like Alec need to act quickly. Decisively. Without regrets. They can’t waste time worrying about anyone else because it could expose them to danger. He saw the chance to do some good, to brighten your day, and he took action.”
Lottie frowned at this explanation. It didn’t match up atallwith the Alec she knew.
“You’ll see that now,” Uncle Alfred added as if he’d heard her protest. “You’re still thinking of him as that young boy you first met, or the charming fellow who comes round for holidays. But it will be different now that he has a life of his own. I’m afraid we’re much too stodgy for him. While we’re stuck in London, he’ll be off having great adventures, escaping danger, and meeting many glamorous people.”
Lottie flinched at the knowing look he shot her.
“He has a long and illustrious career ahead of him,” Uncle Alfred continued. “Of that I’ve no doubt. He has the best instincts I’ve ever seen. But that requires a great deal of sacrifice, you know. A willingness and an ability to do whatever it takes to win usingany means necessary.”
He paused, waiting for his words to sink in. Lottie had to bite her lip to keep it from trembling.
“And he’ll do it, Lottie. Actually, I think he finds that part the most appealing,” he said with a chuckle. “You’re an intelligent young woman. I don’t need to tell you what that will mean for a handsome man like him.”
Deception. Intrigues.Seduction.
Her uncle sighed. “In any case, that is not the kind of life for a man with a family. With responsibilities. Obligations.”
It went against everything Alec had ever spoken of wanting. Everything he had ever claimed to hold dear. Was all of that a lie as well? But it must have been. Otherwise, he would have stayed. He would have bothered to talk to her.
Still, Lottie made herself ask: “You’re sure that is what he wants?”
“Alec?” Uncle Alfred laughed, as if the very question was absurd. “Oh yes, my dear.Quitesure. In fact, I think he may be the best man I’ve ever recruited.”
Chapter Eleven
The door to the compartment swung open, and Lottie sat up with a start. She had only meant to rest her eyes for a moment but the gentle motion of the train must have lulled her to sleep. She turned expectantly toward the doorway, but instead of Alec an older woman dressed in deep purple appeared.
“Oh! I’m so sorry. Did I wake you?” The woman’s graying temples indicated she was likely on the other side of fifty, but her full cheeks gave her a distinctly cherubic appearance.
Lottie offered her a sleepy smile. “It’s all right. I hadn’t meant to doze off.” She glanced out the window. The train had stopped at a station. “Would you mind telling me where we are?”
“Padua. Only an hour or so to go before we reach Venice.” The woman returned her smile and settled into the seat across from her. “I am Mrs. Huntington.”
“Mrs. Gresham.”
“And are you traveling all alone, Mrs. Gresham?” There was the slightest note of censure in her voice.
Lottie shook her head and gave what she hoped was a bashful smile. “My husband is in the dining car.” How easily the lie slipped from her lips.
The woman’s eyes lit up. “Is this your honeymoon?”
Lottie paused. She and Alec hadn’t discussed their backstory, which now seemed like a rather large oversight on both their parts. “Yes,” she answered before the moment could turn awkward.
“How terribly romantic!” The woman punctuated her statement with a dramatic sigh. “I wanted to go to Italy on my honeymoon, but my dear late husband couldn’t bear the thought of Italian food, so we never went abroad.”
“I’m sorry for your loss.”
Mrs. Huntington waved a hand. “Oh, it’s been over a decade since poor Godfrey left me. But here I am, finally making the journey. Not alone, of course. I’ve a girl in second class. The daughter of my neighbor back in Milton Keynes. A Miss Abbott. She is about your age. I’d have paid for her to travel with me in first class, but the girl is such a chatterbox that I need the break.”
Lottie gave her an understanding nod, though she rather suspected Mrs. Huntington was a bit of a chatterbox herself.
The woman settled her hands onto her lap. “Now, you must tell me of your itinerary so far. I’m always curious to hear of other peoples’ travels. And please, spare no detail!”
