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Alec put his arm around Cara for moral support but she didn’t need it.
She studied Chet’s expression for a moment before laughing and shaking her head. “Oh, Chet, at least I have you to help me when I’m wrong. As we both know, I was wrong a great deal of the time.”
Alec was glad Cara said something because he was close to punching Chet in the mouth. “The special tour tonight starts at five. We should be done by seven. Do you think you can join us, or should we plan for another time?”
Chet put his arm around Alison, and smiled at her, and then at Alec. “I’m afraid we already have plans tonight. But thank you for thinking of us. That was very good of you.”
Chapter Seven
Cara glanced atAlec as they walked back to his car. “What was that all about? You invited Chet to tonight’s tour?”
“Yes.”
“Why? It was obvious you didn’t like him.”
“Because he’s impressed with money and status symbols,” Alec said.
She frowned. “And you wanted to impress him?”
He shrugged carelessly. “I already did. Inviting him to join the VIP tour was to show him that you’re not his to manage. You deserve better and you’ve moved on.”
She finally understood what Alec was saying and she stopped to face him. “You let him think we’re together.”
“I wanted him to know your value. That I value you. For a man too easily influenced by status and power, it will make an impression. And it already has, which is why he’s not coming tonight. The power imbalance is too great. He’s a little man that likes to dominate women. Why on earth did you let him dominate you?”
“I didn’t. I was never dominated.” She held her breath, then released it. “Maybe squashed is the better word.”
“Do you know he’s already toured Langley Park? He was there with Alison last Sunday, and he was the one who told me it’s owned by the Earl of Sherbourne. So yes, I wanted him to think we were together. Yes, I wanted him to know you’re not missing him in any shape or form.”
She slowly smiled as his words sank in. “You did it for me.”
“He’s a horrible human being. What did you ever see in him?”
“He’s changed. He wasn’t always so…”
“Awful?”
Cara searched Alec’s eyes. “You were exceptionally chivalrous. Thank you.”
“Don’t ever let a man disparage you again. It infuriates me. You’re worth one hundred of him.”
Despite the cold and the biting wind, Cara’s heart raced and her face burned. She stood up on tiptoe, kissed his cheek, and then still self-conscious, continued walking down the hill to the parking lot.
“On the other hand, he did you a favor,” Alec said after a little bit. “He’s left you open to bigger things, better things and perhaps it doesn’t feel like much now, but down the road, you’ll be thankful.”
“I’m thankful already. I wouldn’t be here in England if we’d stayed together. I wouldn’t have ever met you.”
“True. You’d be on your honeymoon.” Alec’s eyebrow lifted. “Where were you going to go?”
“Sun Valley. We were going to rent a condo and ski. That was our winter activity. In summer it was hiking and rock climbing, kayaking when we could get on the water. We didn’t do trips overseas. There were no European vacations. I’m surprised they’re honeymooning here. England was never an option when we were together.”
“It’s a good thing Chet won’t be coming tonight,” Alec said. “I have a feeling I’d want to show him the dungeon—”
“Is there really a dungeon?”
“It’s the wine cellar now, but we wouldn’t tell him that.”
Cara laughed. “Now I wish he was coming. I don’t suppose the wine cellar could have any tools of torture in it?”
