Behind Your Eyes

by Susannah Woods

  Leading her to the dance floor, he enfolded her in his arms easily and their dance was full of heat and electricity. Anne lost herself in the waltz and eagerly anticipated the night to come. It would take way too long for them to be alone and Anne felt her body hum with impatience.

  He chuckled, reading her mind and body with perfect clarity.

  “I know, love,” he whispered in her ear. The kiss he bestowed on her cheek left little doubt that he intended to keep that unspoken promise as soon as possible.

  After their dance, he escorted her to the refreshment table for champagne. She seized the opportunity to tell him about her new friend.

  They chatted along around the perimeter of the room, stopping to chat with acquaintances and friends, finally catching up to Julia Kent.

  “I wanted to introduce you to my husband, Alexander Montgomery, the Earl of Redbridge. Alex, this is Julia,” Julia stared at Alex in awe. She had never imagined to have to speak to the much-discussed, and very infamous, earl.

  Alex leaned over and kissed Julia's hand.

  “It is a very great pleasure to meet you, Miss Kent. Anne speaks very highly of you. I hope I am not presumptuous enough to count you among my friends, as well.”

  Julia was nervous, Anne could tell. She was standing with her mouth open, wide-eyed with astonished wonder. Alex had been so sweet to offer his friendship to her. It was certainly not an everyday occurrence that a famous earl offered kinship.

  Anne was about to break in when a unfamiliar and icy voice interrupted.

  “Close your mouth, you look like a fish. But then, you look like one when your mouth is closed, too.”

  All eyes stared at the newcomer to the group. She was gorgeous, a few years Anne's senior, but certainly not old. Her long blond hair was swept elegantly on top of her head and her eyes were the iciest gray Anne had ever seen. Diamonds dripped from her neck and wrists and her fingers were adorned with many colored jewels. She was everything the two girls were not.

  Louisa. Thus far, the three of them had managed to avoid her. No such luck now. Louisa ignored Julia after her sharp comment and turned to Alex.

  “Hello, darling, it is so wonderful to see you again. I am sorry we haven't seen each other in ages! How positively delicious you look.”

  Now it was Anne's turn to gape. The woman had audacity, to be sure, but to say something like that in public to a married man she wasn't married to was positively scandalous.

  Anne looked to Alex. His gaze had gone dead. Not one emotion betrayed his thoughts. But one thing was true, he knew the goddess standing before them.

  “Good evening, Your Grace, how are you?”

  Anne watched Alex closely for his reaction to his former flame. He smiled at her, but Anne could not tell if it was genuine or not.

  “I am fine, my dear, but I would be better if you would give me a kiss hello,” she purred.

  Not at all happy about the request, Anne itched to push the woman away from her husband. Nevertheless, she kept her cool and remained frozen in place as her husband took the duchess' hand and kissed her knuckles.

  “Have you met my wife, Anne, and may I also present, Miss Julia Kent?” Alex said, his face a mask of politeness.

  “I have met Miss Kent,” Louisa said, coldly. She looked Anne up and down, assessing her the way one would a horse. Anne squirmed under the perusal. “I have not had the, ah, pleasure, of meeting your wife.”

  “Pleasure to meet you,” Anne replied distastefully.

  The hatred was mutual and instantaneous. Louisa was about to say something vile when Alex abruptly turned to Julia.

  “Miss Kent, would you care to dance with me?” Alex asked sweetly, holding his arm out for Julia.

  “Excuse us. Your Grace, may I have the pleasure of the next dance?” Alex asked, gently guiding Julia to floor.

  Louisa smiled and nodded triumphantly and Anne silently fumed. It was clear that her grace was accustomed to getting what she wanted. And she was not about to let anything stand in her way.

  Louisa smiled venomously, turning her icy fury to her rival.

  “So, how is you came to marry the Earl of Redbridge?” Louisa baited.

  “That is hardly your business,” Anne countered.

  “Oh, but it is. I must warn you, my dear, that his heart is not available.”

  “You cannot know that.”

  “I do. He still loves me,” Louisa said with certainty.

  “How can you be sure? You haven't seen him in years.”

  “He loved me once. He cannot forget that.”

  “Obviously, you did,” Anne replied, “You seemed to have forgotten him quick enough to get to the altar with another man.”

  “That is immaterial. One never marries for love. Don't be a fool.”

  “I'll take my chances,” Anne replied confidently. Louisa was trying to bully Anne. The only way to stop a bully was to stand up to them. Anne would never back down from this challenge.

  “He will return to me,” Louisa insisted. “Even if he did marry a pathetic nothing like you. He cannot resist me,” Louisa said, changing tactics from subtle warnings to out-right war.

  “Apparently, not many men can, given the number who seem to move in and out of your bedchamber with ease,” Anne replied sweetly, matching Louisa in insults. Anne was mistress of this plantation and Louisa couldn't do a thing to hurt her. If they were in London, Louisa could ruin Anne, but here, she had little power. Someone had to put her in her place. Confident she had her husband's attention, if not yet love, Anne stood her ground. Something about Louisa bothered her so much, she could not stand there and let her say these horrible things. She had no idea if Louisa was truly promiscuous or not but she could thank Janie's penchant for gossip. It was Janie who had filled her in on the rumored romantic exploits of the Duchess of Barnsley.

  Louisa was irate at Anne's show of courage.

  “You are naive and pathetic if you think he would ever love you. Don't think a slip of a girl like you can come in here and take my place. You are way out of your league,” Louisa sneered.

  Anne was furious. She wanted to punch Louisa but she had to remember that she was a lady and Louisa was a harlot, a woman with no morals who cared for no one save herself. It was sad, really.

  “Listen, your Grace,” Anne said after she calmed down, “you may think you own the Earl of Redbridge, but I can assure you that you do not. Much as you would love to believe in your own power, you are really just a sad little woman who gave up a good man to marry money. I am sure your conscience haunts you day and night at your decision to let him go and you feel that by making these little threats, your sad little fantasies might come true. Redbridge has a great life that doesn't include you anymore. I am truly sorry that your life is so pathetic that you have to make up these lies to convince yourself. The only one you are fooling, dear, is yourself. Good evening to you.”

  With that Anne walked away leaving Louisa flabbergasted.

  She was not the only one. Alex and Julia had heard the exchange too. Alex smiled at Anne's loyalty. He was glad someone had finally told Louisa where to go. Lord knows, he should have a long time ago.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  “Passion clouds a man's judgment. I failed to protect your mother because I couldn't see what was right in front of me.”

  Alex followed Anne to congratulate her on her marvelous set-down of Louisa. Never had he heard someone defend him so vehemently. He had feigned happiness at her appearance, but inside Alex was boiling. If he was going to gain her confidence, he had to play the forgiving host. He had reluctantly invited her to this reception because he was investigating her husband. Not the least desirous of her company or attention, he wished she would go away. He wanted nothing to do with her. Clearly Louisa had thought to worm her way back into his life now that he was an Earl. Wife of a Duke, mistress of an Earl. What a charmed life she thought she could have. But Alex wanted no part of her. Having always been a gentleman with her, he had never tried
to push his favor with her. He had been attentive and loving and she had taken advantage of him. When he had wanted to go to her father to ask for her hand, she had stopped him; had thrown it in his face that she had bed Barnsley and was to marry him. Stunned, he was hurt, at first. Then angry when she said he would never be anyone important because he was merely second-born. He was just not good enough for her and never would be. His world had shattered. So he joined the army and went to India to prove to himself he would be good enough.

  Alex shook off his revere as he searched for Anne. He finally located her in the library; mumbling to herself and pacing back and forth. He closed the door discretely behind him. What he had to say required a bit of privacy and he wanted to be alone with his wife.

  She hardly noticed him striding to her, wearing a goofy grin on his face.

  “Darling, you were brilliant,” he praised.

  She stopped her pacing, startled. Collecting her wits, she hopefully replied, “Do you really think so?”

  “Most definitely.”

  “I sincerely hope I was not unladylike. I do not like that woman and I wanted to make it plain.”

  “I think she knows,” he was laughing.

  “I did not embarrass you? Oh, no. I didn't think of that.”

  Anne looked so crestfallen, his heart broke.

  His gaze turned serious, “No, not at all. I am very proud of you.”

  Anne beamed and his world shifted into the sunshine again.

  He wrapped his arms around her then, unable to control the desire; her cheek falling naturally against his chest. That moment felt so intimate, almost as much as when they shared their bed. They could feel the heat between their bodies grow and Anne felt as if she would spontaneously combust. She leaned into him a little closer and he pulled her tighter. It just felt so right. The world receded and all he could see was her.

  Jack's words came back to haunt him. Was he really forgetting everything else in his life? His brother was dead and his friend was missing, but he'd be damned if he could remember that now. It was easy to pretend there was no Barnsley, no murder to solve, no ugliness in the world. He could imagine he was really just a man holding his wife. It was so easy, he just had to pretend. So he did.

  He pushed her chin up to look into her eyes. What he saw startled him. Concern. Concern for his well-being. Concern that she had not offended him. She had been genuinely worried about him, given his history with Louisa. It rocked him, body and soul. Unable to curb the urge, he leaned down to taste her lips. It was so soft, she doubted it had happened. Then he tilted his head and did it again.

  He tongue gently caressed her lips, seeking permission for something he refused to steal. She obliged, opening to him. Sliding his tongue into her mouth, his hands roved up to her head, bringing her ever closer. She moaned and he nearly lost it. His lips left her mouth and she groaned, in protest, but she soon whimpered in pleasure as he found her earlobe. He nibbled and tickled all the way to her shoulder, where he was tempted to remove her dress. Reality set in before he could continue his journey. He couldn't do this now, not with a house full of guests.

  Pulling away, he assisted his wife in righting her clothes and hair. She turned, checking her face in the gold framed mirror that hung over the small fireplace.

  Sighing heavily behind her, Alex ran a hand through his hair and straddled a chair.

  “Sweetheart, we need to talk.”

  No five words had ever made a lead ball fall into Anne's stomach so fast. Turning once again to face her husband, she sought his eyes, which had now clouded to a misty green.

  “I need to tell you about the Duchess of Barnsley. Or, rather, I need to tell you about the Duke and Duchess of Barnsley,” he hastily corrected.

  “What about them?” Anne's blood iced over again, bringing a terrible sense of foreboding into the room.

  “When we were in London, a man in New Orleans was kidnapped and taken to a secret location. That man is actually a dear friend of mine named Christopher Taylor. Charles and I served with him in India. He is part of a partnership that he, Charles, Jack, and I share. Jack is Christopher's brother,” he paused, giving her time to absorb the people, places, and names. Anne nodded as she listened.

  He continued, “For more than a year now, someone has been trying to interfere in my business. At first, it was just a few minor things. Disruptions in the daily commerce, really. Someone wanted to put us out of business. They started by stealing goods, then burning them.. This angered me, but it was only the goods and nothing more. It wasn't human life, so I did not upset myself overmuch. I didn't realize then that they were ruthless, else I would have found out who they were before...” He shook his head, as if to clear it of an unpleasant thought. He turned to her then and continued. She sat stock still, her eyes intent upon him, the party forgotten.

  “The guilty party started to harass the laborers on my plantation. This I would not tolerate, since my workers depend on the jobs to feed their families. I have never taken my responsibility towards them lightly.”

  She nodded, knowing how much he had cared for William and Stephen. Enough to buy their freedom. She had seen him bestow teasing affection onto Mrs. Bainbridge; had witnessed first-hand how much they had done for their wedding. A man who cared that much about the people who worked for him was a beloved man, indeed.

  “You know that I have always promised my laborers that they would be free from harm here. I had no choice but to set up guards to protect them. Many of them had been indentured servants. Some had been brought by slave ships. I never would take their safety lightly.”

  He stared at her pointedly and she knew he was speaking about the slave question. Once telling her he would never make any man work for his leisure had impressed her. A man of his wealth had surely weight the pros and cons of slave labor. The look he gave her said he had never considered the option.

  The dilemma had been debated for many years at home, and, of course, in the Americas. She had never really thought about it before, because it never affected her. Why should she care about the plight of the African? She never owned a slave. She didn't know anyone who did. Now she was a landowners' wife and she was right in the middle of the debate. Inherently, she knew it was inhumane to own another human being. Guilt washed over her at having ignored the world she lived in. A sheltered existence is a disadvantage.

  She nodded because she could say little at that moment. She also wanted him to continue. She had no idea where this was headed.

  “Nearly a year ago they burned one of my ships as it sat in harbor. It was a message. They wanted to show they could get to me at anytime. Then, some of my men were brutally murdered whilst on another island, trading. They beat one man so bad, we could barely identify him. He was alive long enough to tell me what had happened.”

  Horror swept through her, causing her head to spin. Stumbling, she reached for the nearest chair as her husband appeared quickly at her side. Walking her to the nearest chair, she collapsed gratefully and smiled at her concerned husband.

  “Shall I stop? I am sorry, Anne. I didn't think....,” he trailed off, shaking his head.

  “No, please, go on,” she urged.

  Kneeling in front of her, he rubbed her hands and continued.

  “Somehow, the incident was dismissed as a random attack. The men were found near a disreputable establishment and the local authorities assumed it was nothing to worry about. That is when I became irate and wanted to know who was behind it. My brother offered to help me with anything. I did not want him involved. I did not want to spoil his reputation. He was an earl, a respected member of the House of Lords. I could not let him be involved in something so dangerous.”

  He leveled his gaze at her again and she could see the anger turn to sadness.

  “When my brother died, the doctor told me he had eaten a tainted piece of salmon. These things happen and no one thinks anything of them. However, I knew better.”

  Her husband paused for effect and she mov
ed closer, eager to hear the conclusion.

  “Phillip hated salmon, Anne. He never once touched it, from the time we were children. Suspicious, I hired another doctor and he confirmed it. Poison. It appears, Anne, that my brother was murdered.”

  She was astonished at his revelations. Murdered?

  “I was so angry that I had to find out who murdered my brother and why. Chris was helping me. He sent me a missive the day before our picnic, the day I proposed,” he smiled tenderly and she knew he was thinking about their first kiss in the park. The day they decided to give this marriage a try. It seemed a lifetime ago and she had to smile thankfully that this marriage was everything she never thought it would be.

  “All Chris said was that I should come home immediately and I was sure he knew exactly who had murdered my brother. But he was taken before I could return here.”

  “Is that why you took me from my bedchamber in the middle of the night?” she asked playfully.

  “We had to make haste. I thought that the less you knew, the better,” he stood, stretching his long legs.

  Anne mulled all this over while her husband paced.

  “So, what does all this have to do with the Duke and Duchess?” She asked, finally remembering the point of this conversation.

  “We suspect the Duke of Barnsley. Five years ago, he had requested use of part of this island to grow additional sugarcane. My uncle turned him down. His own sugar plantation is in the colonies. It has faltered in the past few years and rumor is he is desperate to regain his fortune. Barnsley's main buyers were in France. You see, he inherited his plantation from a distant cousin years ago when Louisiana was still in French hands. After we blockaded old Napoleon, the French learned to grow sugar beet domestically, thereby cutting off his biggest support. ”

  “I still don't understand?”

  “In Louisiana, the sugar only grows for about six months out of the year. In the Caribbean, it grows much longer. I think he wants to scare me into giving him control of part of the island.”

  Anne was dumbfounded. This was too much for her to take in. It all made perfect sense, and, yet, it was nigh impossible.