The Runaway Chaperone: A Historical Regency Romance Book

by Alice Kirks

  The fellow snarled and punched him in the cheek. Matthew stepped back and, grunting, hit the fellow in the stomach.

  His punch winded the fellow, and he stepped back, rubbing his fist with his left hand. That had hurt! He looked across at Alexandra, feeling a small smile lift his lips.

  “Matthew!” Alexandra screamed. “Look out.”

  Matthew turned as the man he’d hit ran at him.

  Howling, the man launched himself at Matthew, who reacted without thinking. Years of training in swordcraft and boxing made him dance aside, then stick out his foot and trip the man, sending him sprawling on the road.

  “You…” the man swore, writhing and struggling to get up. Matthew stepped over and kneeled on him, keeping him in position.

  “I’d lie still, if I were you,” Matthew said, struggling to hold him in place. He was a big man, for all that he was Matthew’s senior, and he was struggling to hold him down. “Mr. Manderley?” he shouted to the man driving the coach. “Please, fetch some rope if you please? Thank you.”

  The coachman jumped down and passed Matthew some rope. He could see Alexandra was crying, hot tears running silently down her white cheeks. He needed to go to her, but he had to deal with the man who’d attacked her first. He took the rope and bound his hands.

  “Now…you’re going to stay here until we can get the Watch to deal with you,” he said. He cut the rope with the knife the coachman passed him, then bound the man’s feet as well.

  “May Hell take you…” the man started up as Matthew dragged him to his feet.

  “That’s enough from you,” Matthew said firmly. He took him to the roadside, struggling to move him as he made himself as heavy as possible, meaning Matthew and the coachman dragged him to the shelter of the hedge.

  “We’ll come back with the Watch,” Matthew promised. “Now, if you could take us to Blakeley House, please?” he said to the coachman. “Thank you.”

  “Of course, your Grace.”

  Matthew walked away, heading back up the slope towards where Alexandra waited by the coach. Her face was pale, tear-traces marking her cheeks and dripping down her neck. Matthew wrapped his arms around her and held her tight against him.

  “Shh, Alexandra,” he said gently. “It’s all well. It’ll all be well now. You’re safe now.”

  “Matthew,” she murmured, and he felt his heart lift as she used his name, without his title. “Oh, Matthew! Thank Heavens you came. That man was…was…”

  “Shh, you’re safe now,” Matthew said, feeling an all-encompassing rage at the thought of the man who had been dragging her. He felt blinded for a moment, wanting to go back and kick and punch until there was nothing of him left. The feeling passed, and he held Alexandra to his chest and stroked her hair until she was calm again. Then they walked slowly towards the coach.

  “Do you think you can get in?” he asked, taking her hand. “It’s freezing out here and you need to get inside and get warm.”

  “Matthew…” she whispered. “I need to tell you…”

  “Shh,” he said, taking her hand in his. “I need to tell you something, too. But it can wait. First, let’s get you home and get you warm, and then we can have a good long talk about all the things we need to talk about.”

  “Matthew,” she said.

  He held her close and he could feel her heart beating and the ache of her breathing, her softness against his hard chest. He helped her up into the coach and then, as soon as the doors were shut, he leaned in and kissed her.

  Chapter 39

  Alexandra shut her eyes, her heart melting as Matthew’s lips tasted her own. Warm and hard, they pressed to hers, clinging and eager and longing, making her body melt against his and her lips part under his warm tongue as he held her close.

  She gasped, pressing her body against his, feeling longing build up inside her and make her draw him against her, sighing as he kissed her and stroked her hair. She could feel the lean firmness of his chest pressed against her and she drew him closer, wanting the moment never to end.

  “Alexandra…” he murmured. He had leaned back, and was looking into her eyes, his own soft with tenderness. She took his hands and felt contentment and wonderment flood her as she grinned into his face.

  She said nothing, her heart too full of words to speak, to know what to say first. He cleared his throat.

  “Alexandra. I…I came back because I had to speak to you. I couldn’t bear leaving matters as they were in London. I regretted sending you away. I missed you. Nothing was even a little bit fun anymore. Nothing was good and honest and enjoyable as it was when I shared it with you. I love you, Alexandra. I want you to know that.”

  She stared. “Your Grace, I…”

  “Please, don’t call me that,” he murmured. “I am Matthew now. Your Matthew. And I want you always to remember that.”

  “Matthew,” she said again. She looked up at him, disbelief making her smile though tears of wonderment poured down her cheeks. “Matthew…I can’t believe it. Would you really…”

  “I know that I am a duke. I wish I weren’t. I don’t care anymore, Alexandra. We can find ways. We are intelligent people. I do not care anymore that you are of a different class. I should never have cared! I am a fool.”

  “Matthew…” she said, clearing her throat. “I, um…I have to tell you something.”

  “You don’t need to tell me,” he said gently, taking her hands. “I know there must be some secrets in your past. I know you are not who you told me you were when you took this position. I don’t care. Whatever your past was, you have moved through it and are a wonderful, vibrant and magnificent woman. The past cannot touch us. You are the woman I love.”

  “Matthew,” she said, giggling. “Matthew…I really do think I have to tell you. I lied, yes. But I lied for a reason…and it’s not what you think. I lied because I am the daughter of the Earl of Westerly. I couldn’t tell you because, well…because I didn’t trust you at first. And then because I couldn’t bear to tell you I lied. I’m not the daughter of a schoolmaster at all and I never was.”

  “What?” Matthew stared. He was grinning, but his eyes were wide with disbelief. “Alexandra! Tell me that’s not true! Tell me I haven’t been…Oh! Why didn’t you tell me?” he said. He hid his face in his hands. “I ought to have known. It was obvious. I should always have known. Oh, Alexandra…can you forgive me, do you think?”

  Alexandra frowned. “Whatever for?”

  “Because, well…” he paused, leaning back, frowning at her. “Because I…well, I made assumptions about you. More than once, I told you that you were unsuitable to chaperone my sister. I can’t believe it!”

  Alexandra smiled. She couldn’t help but find it amusing, now, how many times he had come close to dismissing her. She had been terrified when he’d threatened her with unemployment, but now she could see how ridiculous it was. She should have told him ages ago! She hadn’t trusted him, and he hadn’t trusted her enough either.

  “Matthew,” she said gently. “I know you didn’t trust me. And I even understand why. You knew I was concealing something. I am sorry I concealed it for so long.”

  He nodded. “Yes. And I am so terribly sorry for being so difficult and proud that I was just the sort of person you could never confide in.” He shook his head, his eyes sad. “I think you would have tried, but I kept on pushing you away.”

  Alexandra shook her head. “I wasn’t exactly careful about what I said to you, either.”

  They shared a smile.

  Alexandra had stopped shaking. She still felt exhausted. Now that the shock was wearing off, she was feeling tired. The coach rocked and rattled on the road, the motion lulling her. So tired…

  She opened her eyes, which had drooped shut, stifled a yawn, and drew her cloak around her. It was cold! She looked up to find Matthew watching her, forehead creased. She blinked, focusing on his handsome face. His dark eyes regarded her fondly and he reached to take her hand.

  She let him h
old it, shutting her eyes a moment as his fingers, so strong and warm, squeezed her own. He was wearing a brown velvet coat, the color bringing out the color of his eyes. He looked so handsome, and yet a little shy.

  It was almost unbelievable to her how much they had shared in the last few minutes. But now she was so tired she could barely make sense of it all. She smiled at Matthew, eyes already closing again.

  Matthew coughed.

  “Alexandra…I do want to hear more of your story, and I think there is a great deal to tell. But I won’t hear another word until you are safe in bed and rested and eating a posset. I insist, Alexandra.”

  Alexandra laughed. “If you say so, your Grace.”

  He raised a brow. “And we shan’t have any of that. We are on far too familiar terms. It’s Matthew from now on. Just Matthew! Now here we are. If you will permit, I will help you down from the coach…”

  She nodded and let him take her hand, helping her down. She felt so exhausted! It was hard to walk up the path to the steps, her head swimming and all her thoughts coming so slowly.

  Matthew slid his arm in under hers and together they walked slowly up the stairs. Alexandra leaned against him, eyes drooping, already wishing she were off her feet and sitting safely in bed again.

  “Can I help you, your Grace?” the butler asked, coming over to stand by Matthew. He looked distastefully at Alexandra. “If this young woman is bothering you, I…”

  “I suggest you do not speak of her like that to me,” Matthew said stiffly. “And no, she is not bothering me in the least. You might care to get out of my way, however.” He looked at the man with a firm glance. The butler stepped neatly out of their way. “I’m sorry,” Matthew said to Alexandra. “I will reprimand him.”

  “No need…” she spoke wearily, leaning against Matthew for support as they went up the stairs. “I just want to sleep.”

  Matthew nodded.

  “Here you are. May I move you to the guest-suite?” he asked, frowning. She shook her head, feeling a small smile lift her lips.

  “No. Thank you, but I would like to just rest in my own bed for a while.”

  Matthew looked surprised but nodded. “As you wish. I will send up something for you to eat, though. And someone should bring you a bath.”

  A bath! It was a wonderful thought, and Alexandra smiled up at him. “A bath would be very welcome, thank you.”

  Later, when she’d got out of the deliciously-warm bath – brought to her by one of the maids who eyed her with immense suspicion – and dressed in a clean dress, she heard a knock at the door.

  “May I come in?”

  “Oh!” She blushed. It was Matthew! Fortunately, she was still in her day-dress. She opened the door. “Come in, please.”

  He smiled, though his dark eyes were uncertain. “I brought you this. I don’t know if you feel well-enough to eat?” He was carrying a small tray with a fruity syllabub. Alexandra beamed.

  “I certainly feel well enough to eat that,” she agreed. “Thank you, Matthew.”

  He blushed. “I was worried about you. You looked so pale, and so frightened. If that man harmed you, in any way, I swear I’ll…”

  “He didn’t,” Alexandra interrupted, seeing the intensity in his expression. “I assure you, he didn’t. I need to tell you some things, though. If you will sit down?”

  He nodded. “Of course.”

  He sat down on the small chair by the table, which meant Alexandra was left sitting on the bed. She placed the syllabub carefully to one side and looked nervously at Matthew. He was smiling at her, leaning a little back as if he waited for her to speak, ready to hear what she had to say. She coughed nervously.

  “Matthew…I have told you I am the daughter of the Earl of Westerly. Now, I need to tell you that, well, my father is not a kind man. Not in the least. He was always distant, hard and uncaring. Essentially, after my mother’s passing, I would not have known I had parents, save that he wanted me to help him form alliances. He chose a husband for me after barely one season – a man I could not bear to wed. I ran from home, to avoid that marriage.”

  “Alexandra! I wish you had told me! If I’d known, I would have…”

  “I couldn’t know what you would have done. I thought you would be angry with me for endangering your sister. And you were. That night at Almack’s, I…”

  “I understand it now,” Matthew said softly. “I understand you were running from this man. The one your father tried to force you to marry. I wish you’d told me!” He looked away, watching his thumb run across the wrist of his shirt, a repetitive, nervous gesture. “I would have been able to help you.”

  “How could I know that?” Alexandra said softly. “All I could see was a man who is very protective of his sister, who had hired someone who used a false name and identity. I couldn’t risk your anger – which would, after all, have been justifiable.”

  He shook his head. “I could never be angry with you.”

  He looked into her eyes and Alexandra felt her body melt under the touch of that brown gaze. There was longing in his eyes, so intense that it made her body throb with the same emotion. She longed for him to take her in his arms.

  “Matthew…” she murmured, but he had stood up.

  “Alexandra,” he said. He came across the room and stood a step away from her where she sat on the bed. He took her hand in his, sinking down to sit at her feet. “Alexandra…I have not known you that long, perhaps, but I have learned to know you a great deal in that time. We have fought, joked and discussed ideas. We have shared views and argued and made up. You have confided in me and withheld information, and I have done the same with you. I have come to respect and admire you more than anybody I have ever had the privilege to meet. I love you, Alexandra. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

  “Matthew?” Alexandra stared. “Matthew!” She felt her cheeks flush and, suddenly, tears were flowing down her cheeks. “Oh…you don’t mean that…you…”

  “Yes, I do,” he said, grinning as he took her hand. “And I want an answer, Alexandra. Will you make me the happiest man alive? Agree to be my wife?”

  Alexandra stared. She had never imagined anything like this. For weeks, she had barely imagined he would talk with her, never mind that he would sit before her on the floor and reveal his heart. She swallowed, feeling tears well.

  “Yes. I do,” she said. “I do, with all my heart.”

  “Well, then,” he said, and she could see the joy and wonder in his eyes, the same feelings that raced through her and made her heart feel as if it was flying. “Well, then. I am…well, I’m the happiest man ever.”

  They both started laughing. Alexandra felt tears run down her face and she was surprised when he fished a handkerchief out of her pocket and dabbed the tears away, a tender gesture. She looked into his eyes.

  “Thank you,” she said softly.

  “No,” he said. He lifted her hand to his lips, kissing the fingers. “No. You never need thank me for anything. All that I do for you, I do with the purest joy in my heart. It is an honor, Alexandra, to be able to do things for you. Finally, I have the chance to help you and to speak with you as I wished! I am happy.”

  She grinned. “So am I.”

  He leaned forward and kissed her, and she leaned into his kiss, drawing him against her, his arms wrapped around her so that her body melted into his, her heart pounding where it pressed against his chest. His hand stroked her hair and his lips tasted hers.