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Chapter 29
Alexander stepped out of the carriage, gazing up at the rented London townhouse. He had left Cornwall that morning and it had been a long, bumpy journey. A carriage wheel had broken and had delayed him further. He was weary and hungry.
Lucy greeted him in the foyer, throwing her arms around him. “You have been gone so long, brother!”
Alexander smiled at her fondly. “Business, sister. But it is all done now. Here I am.”
They went to the parlour. Aunt Edwina greeted him, sending for tea and scones. When it arrived, he wolfed down almost the entire plate. Both his aunt and sister laughed at him.
“You always did have a good appetite, Alexander,” said his aunt. “I shall make sure that we have an early dinner. Then you can retire at your pleasure after your long journey.”
“Thank you,” he said, another wave of weariness washing over him. “And perhaps a bath, to wash off all the travel dirt.”
“I shall order hot water after our tea,” said his aunt, topping up his cup with fresh tea. “How was Cornwall?”
“Very good,” he said, sipping his tea. “I have negotiated a deal with old Milton. He is supplying me with good Cornwall muslin for my voyage to the Caribbean. There is always a market for it there—exiled Englishwomen pay a fortune for good cloth to make into gowns.”
“How wonderful,” said his aunt, smiling warmly. “You are still intending to sail theMary Elizabethto the Caribbean yourself?”
Alexander took a deep breath. “I think I will,” he said slowly. “I am restless in London, aunt. The idle life of an aristocrat is not for me I fear. I do not wish to disappoint the earl, but I must stay busy.”
Aunt Edwina nodded. Lucy looked sad.
“But that means you will be gone for months on end again,” said his sister, biting her lip. “I have so enjoyed you being home for an extended period, brother. I feel like we have grown closer.”
Alexander’s heart contorted. Lucy looked so woebegone. He hated hurting her. Guilt twisted like a knife in his gut.
He had spent much of his time in Cornwall pondering his future. In the cottage near the sea where Milton lived, he had time to think. London seemed an entire world away. The endless, pointless social engagements faded away. His mind grew calmer and clearer.
Olivia had, of course, been on his mind as well. The fierce attraction he felt for her was troubling, to say the least. But by the end of his time away, he had realised that he could not indulge it any longer. The connection between them was deepening, against his will. It was no longer just about kissing her and perhaps enjoying something more as well. And that was a dangerous thing.
He could not afford to lose his heart to her. Olivia Oakley was a spoilt lady who did not like him and most certainly did not like the fact she was attracted to him. It was as simple as that.
“I am sorry, Lucy,” he said, in a gentle voice. “But I must be true to myself.”
She nodded. “I understand. But I am still disappointed, of course.”
He smiled at her. “And what has been happening in London since I left? Any news?”
Aunt Edwina cleared her throat. “We have not seen the earl nor Lady Olivia and her mother for a while,” she said slowly. “But we have heard a rumour that Lady Olivia is engaged to Lord Bertram Langley.”
“What?” His mouth suddenly went dry. “What did you say?”
His aunt stared at him. “There is a rumour circulating that Lady Olivia is engaged to Lord Bertram,” she repeated. “We have not seen anyone from the family to confirm it, but surely such news is not out of the blue. They have been formally courting for a while.”
Alexander nodded. His head was spinning. He could not believe the shock he was feeling. It felt like someone had just kicked him in the stomach.
It was ludicrous. Of course, he knew that an engagement was imminent. His reaction was completely ridiculous. A sane part of his mind told him that. But it did not stop the outraged grief he felt at the news. As if he had just lost something he could never replace.
He was appalled to find his hand was shaking, almost spilling his tea. His aunt and sister gaped at him. He put down the cup, standing up.
“I might delay the bath,” he said, in an abrupt voice. “I am so weary I think I shall lie down for a quick while before dinner. If you will both excuse me.”
He walked out of the room without another word. He knew that he was acting strangely and that his aunt and sister had noticed. But the need to be by himself to absorb this and what was happening to him outweighed his desire to appease them.
In his room, he collapsed across the bed, not even bothering to take off his boots. He lay on his back, staring at the ceiling in a desolate way.
So, she had taken the plunge and decided to marry him. Of course, she had. Olivia had never been shy about articulating what she wanted. A grand love match with a fine gentleman. All her dreams were about to come true.
