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He laughed. “No. As long as she sees I am about to marry and provide her with grandchildren, she won’t care. Trust me on that.”
At the word, “grandchildren”, she suddenly suffered a wave of panic. “Do you really think I can do this? I mean, I have never attended anything of this sort in my life. I even had to borrow clothing from my sister.”
To her shock, Alex reached out, took her hand, and drew her to the side of the carriage where he sat. “Don’t look so frightened, little bird.” He put his arm around her shoulders and squeezed. “Just follow my lead.”
* * *
Alex leanedback against the carriage seat and didn’t release Natalie from his grip. He told himself he was merely getting her familiar with being held in a man’s arms. She had stiffened when he first pulled her over, but she soon relaxed as he spoke soothing words and rubbed his thumb and index finger over the back of her neck.
For as much as Natalie was nervous about their performance, he found his concern was more with the attraction he felt for her. Every time those big hazel eyes surrounded by long, dark lashes looked at him, he was lost. That would certainly make it easier for him to ‘pretend’ they were engaged, but he could be getting himself into hot water if he allowed the attraction to take its normal course.
He was not yet ready to trust a woman once again, and Natalie had made it quite clear that she had no desire to repeat the bonds of matrimony. But every time she was close to him, he was trapped in the scent of lavender and something sweet. Perhaps she spent time baking cookies for her daughter.
When she hadn’t stirred for some time, he looked down at the woman in his arms to see her fast asleep. Her plump lips were partly separated, giving him a view of her white teeth. Her eyelashes lay on her soft cheeks like two half-moons. He smiled at the trust she showed. Either that or she’d most likely spent the night tossing and turning, worried about the trip.
Luckily it was a mere four hours from Bath to where the Applethwaite estate was located. He didn’t think he could take much more of her leaning against him, her soft curves pressed against his side.
He thought back to his short meeting with Sterling in the man’s library, and the unstated—but obvious—warnings about behaving properly with his sister-in-law. If it hadn’t been a serious meeting, he’d have been tempted to remind Sterling of his own debaucherous past.
The tale was that Sterling had been dumped by friends on his future wife’s infirmary doorstep late one evening, passed out, seriously injured from being thrown from a carriage, and very drunk. Being under Dr. Rayne’s care and concern, the man had turned his life around. Now the proud father of two lively children and husband to an outstanding doctor, he was able to offer warnings about a woman under his care and protection.
When Sterling had first suggested Natalie, he didn’t care what the woman looked like; he was just relieved to have the problem taken care of if she agreed. However, now that he’d spent time with her and enjoyed her beauty and amusing personality, he had to continue to warn himself to keep his hands off except for when they were in public.
The carriage began to slow, which must have alerted her to their arrival. She sat up straight and began twisting her hands in her lap as they pulled up to the front door of Applethwaite Manor. He placed his hands over hers. “Be at ease, Natalie. It will go well.”
The door to the carriage opened and Alex climbed out, turning to help Natalie out while the footman helped Mary. He took Natalie’s arm and smiled at her. Her poor hands were ice cold which he could feel through her gloves. “Smile, my dear, it’s time for the curtain to rise.”
To his amazement, she straightened her shoulders and put a warm smile on her face as his mother and sister came hurrying from the front door. Egads, the two of them must have been watching through the window, waiting for their arrival.
“Alexander, so very pleased to see you.” Not more than three feet from them, Mother extended her arms and gave him a hug, the entire time looking at Natalie. Denise did the same and they both stepped back, looking at him with anticipation.
“Mother, allow me to introduce to you my betrothed, Mrs. Natalie Shaw.” He smiled at Natalie. “This is my mother, Lady St. John, and my sister, Miss Denise Hollingsworth.”
She offered a perfect curtsy, making him wonder if she’d been practicing.
Not able to help herself any longer, his mother moved forward and gave Natalie a hug. “I am so very, very pleased to meet you, Mrs. Shaw, but I do hope you will allow me to call you Natalie, since we will be related very soon.” She looked back at Alex, then looped her arm into Natalie’s and walked her forward toward the house where Lady Applethwaite stood waiting.
Alex waved toward his aunt. “Aunt Jane, may I present to you my betrothed, Mrs. Natalie Shaw.” Again he turned to her. “This lovely lady is Lady Applethwaite, my aunt and the mother of the bride.”
She also smiled brightly and hugged poor Natalie. He had to rescue her since the greetings were overwhelming and he could imagine what it was doing to her.
After they all made it to the entrance hall and he spotted several of his female relatives in the drawing room, he said, “Mother, I would prefer to allow Mrs. Shaw time to catch her breath before the swarm of ladies overwhelms her.”
Lady Applethwaite took Natalie’s hand in hers and smiled. “Yes, my dear, you must be anxious to refresh yourself after that ride. I will show you to your bedchamber.”
Natalie glanced at him over her shoulder as she was swept away with his aunt, mother, and sister.Bloody hell, it was ghastlier than he thought it would be. He was tempted to follow them up, but all that would result in was his mother shooing him away like some randy youth, making things worse.
Lord Applethwaite, his Uncle Morris, walked up and slapped him on the back. “A bit reluctant to see your betrothed hauled away, eh? Might as well get used to it. My wife and all her sisters and nieces have arrived early so they could get to visit with your gal before the rest of the horde descends upon us.”
Wonderful.
“Come on into the library for a drink. Your aunt has tea set up in the drawing room, but I have a few of the men in the library with me.”
Alex followed his uncle into the library where several of his uncles and a few cousins and friends were enjoying drinks. His uncle walked him to a man standing with a few others, each holding glasses. “Kenneth this is my nephew, Alexander, Viscount St. John.”
The man extended his hand as Uncle said, “This is the groom, Mr. Kenneth Walker. We’re keeping him busy, so he doesn’t escape.” With those words and a hearty laugh, his uncle slapped the poor man on his back so hard he moved a couple of steps forward.
“Nice to meet you,” Alex said. He rubbed his hands together. “Where do I get a drink?”
