Behind Your Eyes

by Susannah Woods

  “That was completely inappropriate,” she finally managed, her smile belying her reprimanding tone.

  “I know this is not ideal, but I am re-thinking the engagement. Should we announce it to your mother this afternoon?”

  “You want to go through with it?” Anne was startled. He was definitely worth getting to know, but a binding engagement so soon?

  Alex shrugged, “Why not? We get on well together. That is more than most can hope for. We will announce our engagement officially and I will return home to attend my business. After that is completed, I will come back and we will get married. Deal?”

  Anne had her doubts but nodded anyway. Do I really have a choice? Her mother would harp on her until Alex returned, if he ever returned. This way, at least, he would be the one to blame for his absence. Anne sighed again, not sure what to think. This engagement was a mixed blessing. Or a complete disaster, only time would tell.

  Admitting to herself that she had little options but to go along with the ride, she insisted on finishing her drawing of Alex. It didn't take long, as her heart had suddenly gone out of it. Putting on a brave smile, Anne finally gave him permission to eat. Ravenous, they dug into the the cold meat and bread, chatting happily.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  “When your brother's mother died, I truly grieved. I went to the Continent on extended holiday. It was there in Spain that I met your mother. I never loved Phillip's mother as I loved your mother.”

  The four gathered that night in Alex's townhouse for a private, celebratory dinner. Charles beamed all evening and Sophia pushed the newly engaged couple to make wedding preparations.

  As the third course was presently cleared from the table and dessert was about to be served, Alex took the opportunity to tell his future mother-in-law his plans for a long betrothal.

  Sophia blinked. “More than a year? Lunacy,” she declared.

  “Now Aunt Sophia,” Charles began in warning.

  “Yes, well, a year or so is not so long,” Alex supplied, “It will be over in no time and I will be back before Anne has the chance to miss me.” An encouraging wink to Anne bolstered her confidence. He had changed since their kiss this afternoon. There had been an ease with which they had related to one another, but it had been a cautious optimism on both their parts. Now, he was completely comfortable with her, smiling and winking at her as if they shared so much history, so many private jokes. Alex made her feel as if the two of them were a team, a duo to fight against her mother's interference. It made Anne feel warm and tingly. It made her feel as if she mattered, as if she belonged. And she loved that feeling. I suppose this won't be so bad, she thought with a silent laugh, a long engagement with a fiance far away. Mother no longer pushing me to flirt and trap a husband. This could work.

  Anne looked at Sophia just in time to see her shrug, obvious to the table that she was outnumbered.

  The raspberry tarts placed in front of the diners were so delicious that Anne wanted seconds. She declined, along with a sample of ginger ice cream, as she was stuffed. She excused herself to the retiring room and left her mother alone with her cousin and groom-to-be.

  With her daughter out of the room, Sophia went to work.

  “So, Redbridge, I am happy to see you finally came around. I was not sure if you would ever propose.”

  Alex laughed along with Charles.

  Sophia declined to join them and continued her interrogation. “Why an entire month? What, exactly, do you find lacking in my daughter?”

  The glass of wine never made it to Alex's mouth as he stared disbelieving at Sophia. His face turning red, he stammered.

  “N..Nothing. I find nothing lacking in your daughter.”

  Narrowing her eyes, Sophia humphed. “I am just relieved someone takes this betrothal seriously.”

  When no one responded to that, Sophia felt it necessary to fill in the blank for them.

  “My daughter. Such a good girl. Always doing as she is told.”

  “Told, Mrs. Stafford?” Alex inquired in a polite tone.

  Sophia sniffed, “Yes. She always does what she is told. I told her to take this betrothal seriously and she did.”

  It was Alex's turn to narrow his eyes. What game was she playing now? Uninterested in a duel with her, he suggested they retire to the salon for a drink. Charles escorted Sophia out of the room but Alex hung back, waiting for Anne. He had to know.

  Anne returned to the dinning room to find it empty, save for a shadow lurking in the corner. Alex.

  “Ah, there you are,” he said as if he had been about searching for her.

  “Yes. Where are mother and Charles?”

  “The salon. I would join them there, however, I wanted to see you first. I need to ask you something and it is important you tell me the truth. Understood?”

  Anne nodded, searching his eyes. There was something different about him now. A restless energy had settled over the room, beaming from his presence. He walked towards her slowly, with purpose. Startled, she discovered she wanted to touch him. Not just outside, but inside. She wanted to reach inside him and touch his heart; discover what secrets he held and why he seemed to change in a heartbeat. Much to her surprise, she wanted him to touch her too. The same way she wanted to touch him. She had no secrets, only a curiosity to experience passion, lust, even...love? She knew nothing of these emotions but he was beginning to inspire them. Her heart slammed in her chest. She couldn't understand why she was suddenly falling apart.

  Stopping just short of her, his hand brushed hers much the same way as it had earlier during their picnic. Anne pulled away from him as if she was on fire.

  “Did your mother ask you to push this engagement?” He asked so softly Anne wasn't sure she heard him correctly.

  “Sh...she did,” Anne admitted, suddenly breathless with Alex so close.

  His hand moved up her arm to cup her neck. Pulling her closer, his lips brushed hers.

  “Why didn't you tell me?” He whispered.

  “I...I didn't want you to find out,” she breathed, sure she would turn to ashes any minute now.

  “But why?”

  It felt sinful, being here with him. And she loved ever second of it. Knowing they might be discovered did little to curb her desire. It was freeing.

  When she didn't respond, he kissed her again, emboldened by her lack of protest. Deepening the kiss, he opened his mouth to hers. She followed suit, allowing his experience to guide her. His tongue tentatively sought entrance and found her receptive to the idea of this decadent interlude. Again relying on his knowledge, she met his tongue with her own. In and out, he played with her mouth; leaving her weak and breathless. She grasped hold of his neck so she would not fall; giving him the opportunity to slip his arms around her.

  When he finally broke the kiss, he asked her again.

  “I didn't know how you would respond,” she told him honestly.

  “Just so you know. You can tell me anything,” he breathed.

  A contented sigh escaped her lips, relieved at his understanding and caught up in this sudden fire that had exploded between them.

  Alex had merely wanted to ask her about her mother's intentions and what role Anne had played. When she had returned to the dining room, he had felt a stirring in his blood as his gaze roved up and down her body. He had noticed it, of course. Had appreciated her form from the moment they had met. But this time was different. Needing to touch her, needing to kiss her, to protect her from the world, he had gone to her. The way she molded to him had left him weak, tingly, and rather contented with himself. And she had been honest with him, at least that was what he wanted to believe. There was just one question left.

  “If you always do what you are told, then that pretty speech you gave me earlier was your way of ensuring this engagement, right?” He whispered into her ear.

  The words drifted through the haze of passion roaring in Anne's ears. His hands found the bare skin of her arms and his fingertips grazed the gooseflesh forming t
here. She couldn't form one coherent thought with his mouth so close to her ear, his breath teasing the lobe.

  “Anne? Did you manipulate me yesterday?” His voice was insistent now, growing colder, despite the heat of his body.

  It was the edge to his words that brought her back to earth, jumping away from him.

  “Manipulate you? What are you talking about?”

  The smirk on his face was enough to convince her he needed slapping, as his accusation finally took root in her mind.

  “Come now, Anne. The charade is over. You used the truth against me. You gambled that I would take pity on you and it worked. Well done.”

  “Pity on me! You took pity on me! Is that why you proposed? 'I have to marry her, she is a pathetic spinster. Her cousin and mother begged me to take her'! Is that what you thought?” She yelled, mocking him.

  He laughed, “Just admit it, love, you have some tricks of your own. You were just doing as you were told, after all. Always the good girl, huh, Anne?”

  “I cannot believe you think that of me,” she said quietly.

  “Sorry, that wounded look won't work again. You got your way once. No more, Anne. There is no wiggling out of this engagement for me now but I will not abide a manipulative wife. Put a smile on your face and we will go join the others. We have a wedding to celebrate after all,” he said icily.

  Holding out his arm to her, she took it reluctantly, anger pumping through her veins where passion once coursed. Damn him! I almost let him in! That's what I get for choosing to open up to him. I should have known better. Now I do. He will never have my heart.

  Despite their anger, they put on a good show for the remainder of the evening. Alex gave Charles a knowing look and he remained behind after the ladies bid him goodnight.

  **********

  Charles followed Alex into the study and made himself comfortable as his host poured two glasses of brandy. Alex handed Charles a snifter and drained his own in one gulp, preferring to stand for what he had to say.

  “Damn you, Charles! You know the hell I went through with Louisa and you set me up with another damn manipulator. I cannot believe I was so stupid as to let you talk me into something I didn't want to do in the first place. The lot of you are alike, scheming to get what you want. She played me, Charles. And so did you.”

  “What the devil are you talking about? Who played you?” Charles' face was blank, despite the confusion in his voice.

  “Your damned 'innocent' cousin. She plays innocent, right enough. Had me proposing all too quickly. Had me in the palm of her hand. Damned cheat, she is.”

  “Now, wait just a minute, Alex, my aunt may be a little....crafty, but I assure you Anne is nothing like her mother.”

  “No, Anne just does everything her mother tells her to do. Including trapping me into a marriage I didn't want in the first place,” Alex bit off a colorful oath and leaned his hips against his desk in defeat.

  “Anne should do as she is told, Alex. She is a lady,” Charles said quietly, head bowing.

  Admitting that was true didn't make Alex's nerves settle any faster. This whole idea was horse shit and Charles was no less culpable because his aunt was the marionette pulling the strings. Not for the first time Alex thought Charles should have been solicitor, he would have won all his cases.

  Anger still lighting between them, neither spoke a word, content to stir in their own frustrations.

  “There is nothing to be done about this, Charles,” Alex sighed after a time.

  “I know this doesn't make a difference to you, but she is nothing like Louisa.”

  Alex grunted and rolled his eyes. We'll see.

  “Come on, what is this really about? You know me well enough, why are you suddenly calling me out?”

  In mid-thought, Alex stopped cold. What was this really about? He was angry, dammit, and someone was going to feel the brunt of it.

  A scratch at the door interrupted the tense stand-off. Stalking to the door, Alex yanked it open and growled at the servant behind it.

  “What?” The master barked.

  The butler handed him a missive without a word, bowed, and returned to his post. Tearing open the envelope, Alex's eyes flew over the page, becoming wider with each word.

  “Charles, Chris has vanished! Someone knocked him out and took him away. The abductor is unknown and no one knows where they took him.”

  Tossing the letter on his desk, Alex removed his jacket, rolled his shirtsleeves to the elbow, and loosened his cravat.

  Equally alarmed, Charles picked up the missive to examine it himself. It was nearing midnight but neither one had any intention to bed.

  Alex took up his restless walk around the study, moving from wall to wall, window to window, staring at and unseeing everything his eyes fell upon.

  “I must away. Tonight.”

  “I'll pack as well. What time does the ship sail?”

  “Just get to the docks as soon as possible,” Alex instructed, heading for the door.

  “Oh, what should I tell Anne?”

  “Sot your bloody cousin,” Alex murmured.

  “Pardon?”

  “Nothing, nothing. I'll deal with all that when I return.”

  “No, I mean, should I just tell her you have pressing business?”

  “Yes, do. No, wait,” Alex put a hand on his friend's arm. “I'll do it. You just get Sophia packed. We are all going.”

  “What? Why?”

  Alex smiled without humor and declined to answer, stomping out of the room and barking orders to his staff.

  ***********

  “Lunacy,” Sophia stated.

  Sophia and Anne had just arrived at Charles' townhouse and her mother had spent the entire carriage ride murmuring insults toward Anne's intended. Thankfully, and for once, Anne barely heard her. She was too hurt and too angry at Alex's accusations. Manipulative! Ha! I don't have a manipulative bone in my body. That, that...blackguard. Finally, he was acting as heartless as Anne initially thought him to be. If anyone had arranged this situation, he had. With his confusing kisses and pretense of friendship. In her foolishness, she was all too eager to play along. Without a word to her mother, Anne went to her bedchamber. The fire burning in her chest subsided after a time and she slept uneasily.

  *********

  Sophia had settled herself for bed when Charles came knocking on her bedchamber door.

  “Aunt Sophia, the Earl of Redbridge requests the pleasure of your company aboard his ship.”

  “What?”

  Charles nodded, “We are all bound for Colinas Verdes. Wedding voyage,” he clarified.

  Sophia shook her head, not at all pleased.

  “We are to have a large Westminster wedding, Charles. There will be no traveling until after that.”

  “No. We are to away tonight. The earl has business at home and he wants his intended by his side,” Charles shrugged, his voice flat.

  “I'll not have it,” Sophia was adamant.

  “You have no choice. If you do not want to go, Anne will go with him. Unescorted,” Charles pointed out.

  Sophia rolled her eyes. This was certainly unacceptable. If he wanted to take his bride with him, that was one thing. The betrothal had not even been publicly announced.

  “When will this voyage take place?”

  “Immediately,” he replied, his voice strong.

  Narrowing her eyes now, Sophia grew suspicious, “Why does he need to go so soon?”

  “Business.”

  “Indeed?” The set of Charles' jaw signaled that this would happen with or without her consent and it ruffled her a bit that her nephew had suddenly grown a backbone in her presence.

  Seeing no way around this, Sophia decided to play along for the moment. If she had some time to think, she could figure this out. Nodding to Charles in dismissal, she drew the bell pull to summon her maid.

  ************

  Charles let Alex into the townhouse. It was now nearly four in the morning and the group had
to arrive at the dock before sunrise. A coachman waited in the shadows for the secret travelers. Alex really hated this idea, but felt he had little choice, given the circumstances. His anger at playing the dupe still burned strong and he needed to show Anne that he wouldn't let her pull his strings all their lives. The house was silent as he stole through the darkness.

  Charles waiting downstairs, Alex carefully lit a candle and held it out just far enough to see immediately in front of him. His tread was feather-light on the steps leading to the second floor. As he came closer to Anne's bedchamber, his heart beat louder and louder in his ears. He could swear the entire household could hear it too. Certain he would wake everyone at any moment, he tried holding his breath. The walls seemed to watch with disinterest at his moonlight dance.

  Finally, he found Anne's bedchamber door. Knowing several servants and her mother were in earshot, he carefully turned the nob, wincing as he did so. He almost laughed at the absurdity of the situation, but thought better of it. Cupping his hand around the flame to conceal the flicker, he opened the door to find it in semidarkness. A lone candle burned by the bedside. A fully dressed female was sitting on the bed with her back to the door, head hung over, one leg crossed over the other, foot shaking.

  Beyond her, he could see little of the room but large shadows where furniture would be. He crept behind her to the bed and set the candle on a low table. Anne barely stirred.

  Silky brown hair spilled over her back and he wondered, briefly, what it would be like to see it strewn about his own pillow. Pushing his random lust aside, he decided to try to talk to her. Cursing Charles once again for his absurd plans, he sighed.